Liz Jellema

Liz thrives on guiding CFA’s growth from a startup to a leading nonprofit consulting firm. Through thoughtful business planning and execution, she cultivates operational excellence while maintaining strategic alignment with long-term objectives. Drawing on her talent for transforming bold visions into practical systems, Liz is focused on scaling CFA’s capacity and deepening its impact in the social sector, enabling the firm to better serve its growing portfolio of mission-driven clients.

Previously serving as CFA’s Chief Operating Officer, Liz joined CFA in 2021 from the University of Chicago, where she served as director of operations and strategic initiatives for the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation at the Booth School of Business. Prior to joining the Booth School, Liz served as vice president of engagement for CityBase, director of research at World Business Chicago, and as a senior consultant at AECOM Economics. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in real estate and economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master’s degree in urban planning at the University of Michigan, and a certificate of civic leadership at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.

Liz and her husband live in Chicago with their two kids and rescue dog, Maizey.