(Brittany Photo Designs)
The BBB of Chicago and Northern Illinois announced seven new Chicago-area business leaders were elected to the Board of Directors at the organization’s June meeting. These esteemed individuals were chosen for their unparalleled expertise and leadership qualities, which will be instrumental in guiding the BBB's strategic direction and ensuring the organization's continued success.
Steve J. Bernas, President and CEO of the BBB, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We are honored to welcome such a distinguished group of individuals to our board. Their collective skills and business acumen are invaluable assets that will undoubtedly enhance our mission. The strength and prosperity of our organization are a direct reflection of the exceptional caliber of our board members and their commitment to excellence."
The BBB remains steadfast in its dedication to fostering an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other. With the addition of these influential leaders, the BBB reaffirms its commitment to upholding the highest standards of business integrity and consumer trust.
The newly elected Board Members in alphabetic order are:
David A. Escontrias -- Agency Director, Illinois & Indiana - Combined Insurance a Chubb company - Chicago
David Escontrias is an Insurance Executive who has delivered impactful results in new sales growth, operational excellence, and best-in-class leadership development. David serves as the Agency Director for Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin Markets at Combined, a Chubb company. David is accountable for the growth, sales, training, and development of over 50 sales agents and leaders across the Agency Market.
David has 10+ years of experience in the insurance industry. During his tenure at Combined, a CHUBB company, he was a key contributor to various organizational transformations. During his 10 years at Combined, David held roles in Training, Field Development, Sales Operation, and Sales. A multiple-award winner, David is committed to sustainable and scalable growth in the supplemental insurance marketplace.
A graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy and The Chicago School, David holds a B.A. in
Psychology and an M.A. in Industrial Organizational Psychology. David is an avid Chicago sports fan and a devoted advocate for the Hispanic Community in Chicago. David sits on the Board of Directors for Casa Central – one of the largest social service agencies in the Midwest since 2019.
Alex Lopez -- Senior Global Corporate Research Manager - RB Global Inc.
With over 20 years in the auction industry, I am the Senior Corporate Research Manager and head of Customer Experience (CX) at RB Global Inc., a global auction marketplace.
My expertise lies in CX Governance, Strategic Planning, Agile Development, and Product Management. I have a strong background in Usability and Design. I excel at enhancing customer loyalty through innovative research and customer-centric strategies. I hold a BA in Human and Computer Intelligence (HCI) from DePaul University.
I am a Chicago native, my homeowner's association president, and a dedicated dad to two senior dogs. My commitment to integrity, clear communication, and trust aligns perfectly with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) values.
Matt Lynch – V.P., Branding and Development – MembersAlliance - Rockford
Matt began his work in banking with a local internship available through his high school. After graduating with a BS in Marketing and a short stint in insurance sales, he began his career at MembersAlliance in 2006 – first in retail banking as a Lead Special Service Representative and then as a Branch Manager. In 2016, Matt was promoted to Director of Marketing, where he began setting up marketing strategy and overseeing all creative, ad placement, lead generation, product development, and community engagement. In 2022, Matt was promoted to Vice President of Branding and Development, adding both the Business Development Department and the Training Department under his purview, where, along with overseeing marketing and branding, he guides community partnerships and training strategy, respectively. In 2020, he completed the Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Rockford program, and in 2023, graduated with honors from CUNA Management School’s 3-year program, receiving the Certified Credit Union Executive designation.
He is a member of the Rockford Area Chapter of Credit Unions board, as both the Marketing Representative and Legislative Forum Representative, collaborating with other local credit unions and engaging with local legislators over issues important to credit unions. Matt also serves on the advisory board for the Rockford office of the Better Business Bureau (since 2018). When not working, you’ll find Matt focused on family and fun, on or close to a body of water, something related to sports (spectator for most, recreationally playing soccer, basketball, and golf.
Nubia Murray - Senior Director of U.S. Brand Communications - McDonald’s - Chicago
Nubia is the Senior Director of Brand Communications, with her team focused on deploying consumer-facing communications campaigns to ensure that McDonald’s remains famous for its impact on people and communities and stays at the center of the cultural zeitgeist. Before this role, she was Director of North America Impact Strategy and Director of Planning and Operations for the Global Impact Communications Team. Nubia joined McDonald’s in 2017 with over a decade of experience in sponsorship and partnership marketing, spearheading various global properties across the US, Frankfurt, South Africa, Sydney, and Singapore. As a Global Family Marketing team member, she was responsible for the Happy Meal Strategy, ensuring that McDonald’s remains the number one QSR destination for families.
Before the Golden Arches, Nubia spent nearly nine years in roles across Corporate Philanthropy and Sports & Entertainment Marketing at JPMorgan Chase in New York. She started her career at Harriette Cole Media, crafting fashion editorials for the famed EBONY Magazine. Nubia is a proud HBCU graduate, earning her BBA from Howard University. She holds professional certifications from New York University, The George Washington University, and a Master in Business Administration from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
Nubia is a native Chicagoan, a dutiful daughter, an opinionated sister to her three older siblings, and a proud aunt to her eight nieces and nephews. Nubia is married to her elementary school sweetheart, Brian, and they reside on Chicago’s Southside.
Marv Nyren – V.P./Market Manager - Cumulus Media Radio Station Group - Chicago
Marv Nyren is the Vice President/Market Manager for the Cumulus Media radio station group in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a BA in Communications and a minor in Economics. After graduation, Marv began his career in radio as an Account Executive for Western Cities Broadcasting. His childhood passion for radio turned into a career that would take him back to his hometown of Chicago, where he worked for the Katz Media Group.
After three years selling national radio for Katz, Marv’s career offered opportunities to manage radio stations in Atlanta, Phoenix, and Jacksonville before returning to Chicago.
Marv lives in Northbrook with his wife and three children and is within walking distance of 36 family members. Family, travel, and local community involvement, both personally and professionally, are the focus of his life.
Bruce O’Neal – Matthew’s Roofing - Chicago
I have dedicated over 45 years to Matthews Roofing Co., where I began my journey as a roofer and worked my way up to become the vice president. My commitment extended beyond the company as I served on the Board of Directors for the Better Business Bureau for many years, leveraging my extensive experience to enhance industry standards.
Though retired, I remain actively engaged with Matthews Roofing Co. as a consultant, sharing my expertise to guide the company's future. My personal life has been rich with love and music, having been married for almost 47 years until my beloved wife passed away and went to heaven two years ago. I am blessed with two sons who have carved their paths in the music business—one in Nashville and the other in London. I have five granddaughters, six to twelve years old. Some are mild, and some are wild! I cherish the moments spent visiting them.
Currently residing in Wheaton, Illinois, I care for my two Maltese puppies and my elderly parents. An avid enthusiast of both on- and off-road motorcycling and bicycling, I find solace and joy in these activities. Since my wife's passing, I have found a supportive community in my church in Geneva.
With my wealth of experience and personal resilience, I am confident that I can contribute effectively to the Better Business Bureau and continue making a positive impact.
Paul Rosen – ShipBob - Chicago
Paul has extensive experience helping venture-backed tech companies grow and scale. Mr. Rosen joined On Deck as the Chief Sales Officer between the "B" and "C" funding rounds when the company had a 10M revenue run rate in the summer of 2011. Over the next 6 years, On Deck grew to over 400M in revenues, and the company was made public on the NYSE in December of 2014. Mr. Rosen led all the organization's sales and retention/growth functions (which grew from 15 to 200 team members over the 6-year run).
Paul joined Chicago-based ShipBob in the summer of 2018, also in between the "B" and "C" rounds of venture funding. Over this period, ShipBob has raised over 200M of additional capital, was recognized as Crain's 13 fastest-growing company over the last five years, and has grown from a 20M run rate in mid-2018 to 542M in revenues in 2023. Mr. Rosen is responsible for the go-to-market and retention/account management teams (which have close to 300 team members).
