mHUB welcomes three new members to its Board of Directors. In this post, learn about their expertise, what got them interested in mHUB, and what tech they have their eye on.
Travis Hunter – Managing Partner, Chicago, KPMG LLP
Travis C. Hunter, Jr. is office managing partner for KPMG LLP’s Chicago office where he leads more than 3,000 professionals in providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services. Beyond Chicago, Travis facilitates collaboration with eight Midwest markets as the Chicago market Hub Leader. He has over 20 years serving KMPG in operational leadership, business development, people development, and client service. Before taking on this role, Travis served as the Dallas Business Unit Partner in Charge (BUPIC) in the Audit practice with a specialized focus in healthcare.
Travis is committed to giving back to the community and, in Chicago, is deeply involved with United Way of Metro Chicago, Civic Committee of Chicago, World Business Chicago, The Executives Club of Chicago, and the American Cancer Society, as a chair of its Discovery Ball. He has previously served as a member of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas Board of Directors, the Board of Directors for Hargrave Military Academy and the Texas Christian University Neely School of Business Inclusive Excellence Board. At KPMG, he has served as a member of the KPMG Board Nominating Committee and is currently on the Women’s Advisory Board.
Shelli Nelson - Managing Director, Talent Acquisition at Madison Industries
Shelli Nelson is the Managing Director, Talent Acquisition at Madison Industries. Madison builds entrepreneurially driven, branded market leaders that are committed to making the world safer, healthier, and more productive. Shelli formerly served as the President of the Board of Directors for the Chicago Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), one of the country’s largest HR professional societies. Previously, she led HR teams at Spot Trading, Morningstar, and Legacy Marketing Partners, consistently achieving organizational transformation by identifying the best talent to build a culture of engagement, agility, and innovation.
Shelli serves on the Board of Directors for Project RELO, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating business executives on the benefits of hiring military veterans. She is also the podcast co-host of Innovation and the Digital Enterprise and serves on the Chicago membership committee for the International Women’s Forum (IWF), which connects leaders in the common mission of advancing women’s leadership and championing equality worldwide. Shelli graduated from Drake University and earned a master’s degree in HR Management from Keller Graduate School.
Jessica Strausbaugh - Chief Financial Officer, Chicago Community Trust
Jessica Strausbaugh is Chief Financial Officer of The Chicago Community Trust, a community foundation aimed at improving the Chicago region, where she manages $4.5 billion in assets and a team of 25. Jessica joined the Trust from the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, where her role as Treasurer included oversight over Lurie Children’s endowment and pension investment portfolios, enterprise risk management, tax compliance, and debt issuance. Previous roles include First Vice President at LaSalle Bank (now Bank of America); manager in KPMG’s financial risk advisory group; and new product development at Standard & Poor’s in New York and Paris.
Born and raised in Chicago, Jessica holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BSBA from Washington University.
Q&A
What was your first introduction to mHUB?
Travis: I was introduced to mHUB through KPMG's partnership with the organization.
Shelli: I learned about mHUB through our Founder, Larry Gies. Since then, I have been fortunate to experience the impact and innovation being driven by this community through programs, research, and membership.
Jessica: I first heard about mHUB when my daughter came home with a plastic green alligator necklace she had made at a STEM-for-girls event hosted at mHUB.
What background and areas of expertise will you bring to the board and mHUB community?
Travis: I bring over 25 years of financial accounting and process experience with small, medium, and larger organizations. Additionally, I bring my experience serving on numerous boards and a curiosity for innovation and technology.
Shelli: My experience identifying talent aligned with mHUB’s mission and values will help accelerate the organization's growth, fuel the success of its community, and create opportunities for the future. I look forward to ensuring that mHUB members have the resources, culture, and connections to reach their highest potential.
Jessica: I bring to the board a focus on nonprofit finance, culture building, and expertise within the healthcare industry.
What areas of technology for the physical world excite you most?
Travis: I am excited about technology that will have a significant impact on manufacturing and logistics of products in America and technology that will impact the healthcare and life sciences industries.
Shelli: I'm particularly interested in connectivity, battery advancements, and 4D printing.
Jessica: I'm enthusiastic about technology that removes plastic from the places it shows up in nature but doesn’t belong and saving the planet generally.
When you’re not working or contributing to organizations like mHUB, what do you enjoy doing?
Travis: I enjoy traveling, sporting events, reading and listening to books and podcasts, and spending time with friends and family.
Shelli: I enjoy spending quality time with family and friends, traveling, exercising, and not taking anything for granted.
Jessica: I enjoy hanging out with my extended family, laughing with friends, and travelling.
