Board of Directors
Nisha Asarpota , Hindu
Nisha Asarpota is a Research Manager with Ipsos ASI, an advertising research company. She originally got involved with Faith in Place to help develop a business plan for The Good Loaf organic bakery. She has done market research and provided marketing consulting to several food businesses and non-profits, including Kraft Foods and The Enterprising Kitchen. Nisha grew up in a Hindu community in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. She received an MS in Integrated Marketing Communications from Loyola University in 2002.
Percy Bell , Reformed Jewish
Percy Bell is the chairperson for the environment committee of Beth Emet Synagogue in Evanston, Illinois. Percy has been active with Faith in Place since its founding. He has a myriad of experience as a senior executive in management, and is a member of the Round Table Group. This group has over 3,000 international speakers on subjects such as law and business.
Paul Heltne , Lutheran
Dr. Paul Heltne is the Senior Research Scholar at Center for Humans and Nature where he is the Director of its "Cities" project. Paul completed his PhD at the University of Chicago, specializing in primatology. He taught at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and is President Emeritus of the Chicago Academy of Sciences. He was instrumental in development of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. He is a member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.
Steve Perkins , Roman Catholic
Dr. Steve Perkins is Senior Vice President of the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) and founder of Faith in Place. CNT is an innovations laboratory for urban sustainability. Steve received his BA from Harvard University (1965) and his MA (1969) and PhD (1971) from the University of Chicago in the Psychology of Religion. Steve’s sabbatical semester in 1996 at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary led to the creation of Faith in Place. He is a member of St. Nicholas Church in Evanston and a Trustee of the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions.
Rohinton Rivetna , Zoroastrian
Rohinton Rivetna is a retired environmental engineer and founding vice president of the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, where he continues to serve on the board. He was founding president of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America. In 2000, Rohinton spearheaded the founding of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce and presently serves as its first president. He received a B.E. in Baroda, India and a Masters in Industrial Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He is a member and former president of the Zoroastrian Assembly of Chicago, located in Burr Ridge.
Martha Phillips , United Church of Christ
Martha Phillips is the principal of Phillips Horticulture and Landscape Design, a seasonal business which focuses on environmentally responsible design and is committed to inner city open space. Her extensive corporate background in creative communications and marketing inform her perspective on business operations and development. Currently, Ms. Phillips is working as an education administrator. She is a member of St. Pauls UCC in Chicago, and serves on its Faith and Public Issues Task Force.
Rashmi Ramaswamy , Hindu
Rashmi Ramaswamy is a principal at Shed Studio in Chicago, a new architectural and sustainable design collaborative. She has worked as an architect in Chicago for 12 years, and has a diverse background in architecture, education , public housing and environmental issues. Rashmi worked for 9 years at McBride Kelley Baurer as project manager and senior associate prior to opening Shed Studio with Mike Newman. She has also been involved in several projects for non-profit clients including a campus for at-risk teens, a transitional shelter for women, HUD 202 senior housing and a day care facility. She has also worked on an assortment of projects for faith based clients. Rashmi is a LEED professional, and a USGBC member.