…America’s Voice for Safe Food

Deirdre Schlunegger

Chief Executive Officer

Deirdre joined STOP Foodborne Illness as CEO on August 16, 2010 and has taken a strong leadership role at the only national organization that serves as America’s Voice for Safe Food.

Deirdre has initiated steps to build the capacity of the organization, including increasing and diversifying funding, broadening the scope of the work of the organization including building national and international awareness of the organization and the issues it addresses as well as stepping up the services to its members.

Prior to joining STOP, Deirdre served as the President & CEO of Make A Wish Foundation of Oklahoma, the Vice President of Chapter Relations for Network of Strength, (formerly known as Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization), Executive Director of Pathways Awareness Foundation and Executive Director of Rainbow House in Chicago. She served as an Adjunct Faculty Member at the School of Allied Health at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta Georgia.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University, completed an internship program at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and a program in Nonprofit Management for Kellogg School of Business. She has served on the Chicago Mayor’s Office on Domestic Violence Advisory Committee, the Juvenile Court Domestic Violence Committee and was a Board Member of the Illinois Coalition of Domestic Violence.

Margaret Quinn

Director of Programs

Margaret is a 2003 graduate of Alfred University in Western New York. She has a BA in Communications and Business, but a long-lasting commitment to non-profit work. Her previous employment includes working for programs such as Camp Good Days and Special Times, the CURE Childhood Cancer Association and Rural Health Community Systems. She came to STOP after being recommended to interview by a former employer and dear friend. She enjoys working on safe food issues but her favorite part of the job is her direct work with families across the country and providing them the assistance and resources they cannot get anywhere else.

Susan Vaughn Grooters, MPH

Director of Research and Education

Susan received her Bachelor’s of Science in Nutrition and Food Sciences and Certificate in post-baccalaureate pre-medical studies from the University of Vermont, and her Master’s of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has earned many honors including the David Hosmer award for academic scholarship and promise in the field of epidemiology, as well as induction to Delta Omega, the National Honorary Society for Public Health. Susan has conducted research on the epidemiologic response to foodborne illness at the state level, and is continuing work to quantify the burden that long-term consequences place on the survivors of foodborne illnesses. At STOP Susan also works on individual cases, and helps victims navigate the public health and medical systems during both acute and ongoing medical care. She has been an invited speaker and presenter at numerous meetings and conferences. Susan is also ServeSafe certified and prior to her academic pursuits enjoyed work as a chef and kitchen manager.

Maria Krysciak

Operations Manager

Maria has been working at STOP for the past year. For the first six months she worked as a part time accountant and for the second part of the year she has been holding a full time position as an Operations Manager. Her job responsibilities are; Finance and Accounting, Human Resources and Office Administration work. Maria has twenty years of accounting, administrative and member services experience at the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, a not for profit organization. In her last two years at the Bureau, she served as a liaison with the state government grant administration as a Grant Coordinator.

Maria is a graduate of Northwestern Business College in Chicago. Maria is excited to contribute to the growth and success of STOP Foodborne Illness organization.

Margo Willard

Director of Development and Marketing

Margo Willard joined STOP as the Director of Development and Marketing in the spring of 2012 and is eager to diversify the organization’s funding sources and further cultivate corporate partnerships, both locally and at the national level. Prior to joining STOP, Margo served as the Director of Fundraising for Meals on Wheels Chicago, serving the city’s homebound elderly and individuals with disabilities. To this position, she brings a background rooted in practical social science education, having earned her Master's Degree in Public Service Management from DePaul University. Margo’s most recent work as Director of Fundraising included identifying and cultivating potential funding opportunities and writing all grants, requests, funding reports, and internal messaging, skills that will serve her well in her position with STOP. Margo previously served Meals on Wheels as the Development Associate, overseeing the planning and execution of events, donor database management, and working with the Associate Board. Aside from her interest in food safety issues, Margo is passionate about animal rights and volunteers locally with Mercy For Animals, an organization dedicated to preventing cruelty to farmed animals and promoting compassionate food choices and policies. Margo lives in the South Loop and is especially fond of her Shih Tzu mix, Benny.

Stanley Rutledge

Program Assistant

Stanley Rutledge is originally from southwest Iowa, where they’re famous for corn and naps. He read his first novel at age 28 (yeah, you read that right!) and he’s always ready to hear about your travels. He has a BS in Pastoral Ministry, a BFA in Interior Design and a lot of hours in the school called “Life.” His varied work experience has given him opportunities in such diverse fields as design, books, travel, food and now non-profit where he gets to put all that experience to good use. As a STOP volunteer, Stanley wrote letters, organized the office and printed some pretty awesome labels. In his current position he wears the hats of research assistant, event planner and website administrator. He likes answers almost as much as he likes questions.