Theresa Forthofer

Theresa Forthofer is a passionate, driven and dedicated non-profit administrator with more than twenty-five years of well-rounded executive experience. She has a proven track record of successfully leading organizations during times of transition and challenge while maintaining the history and values the organizations were built upon. She is committed to building collaborations that advance an organization’s service delivery system and mission. She is inclined to think of new possibilities and opportunities instead of being tied to a status quo. 

Forthofer is active at the Federal, State and Local government levels. She has represented Easterseals at the White House during the Obama Administration and continues to serve as a federal advocate for individuals with disabilities. Currently, Forthofer serves on Governor Pritzker’s Council on Women and Girls, the State of Illinois Inclusion Subcommittee of the Integration and Alignment Committee of the Early Learning Council, and the Autism Task Force. She previously served as a member of Easterseals Inc. Affiliate Leadership Council and as Co-Chair for the Easterseals Great Lakes Region for eight years. Locally, she serves on the Board of the DuPage Federation. 

Forthofer’s career aligns with her personal passion of supporting individuals with disabilities and their families. She is inspired by how much is possible for a child when early diagnosis and treatment are provided.

 “There is nothing more inspiring than watching a child do something their parents were told would never be possible,” she says. 

Forthofer holds a master’s degree in education and an undergraduate degree in gerontology.