Philip Kovoor – Founder and Executive Director
Philip was raised in Warren, Ohio. While studying at the University of Chicago, he discovered his passion for service by volunteering at a local domestic abuse shelter. As the Student Director of the Men in Service Program at the University Community Service Center, Philip founded several programs to marshal university men in service of the surrounding communities. He devoted many hours working with students from public and parochial schools in the Hyde Park, Woodlawn, and Kenwood neighborhoods. In 2006, Philip interned in the Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs Departments at the City of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Office. After graduating, he joined Teach For America. He worked for months in the worst performing school in the lowest performing state in the nation. After resigning, Philip returned to the Midwest and launched National Coaching Fellows. These days he works relentlessly on corporate strategy, fundraising, management, finance, and operations. Teach For America’s theory of change is to transform the educational system by developing lifelong leaders in the pursuit of educational equity. Now more than ever, he strives to live up to this ideal.

Cody Meirick – Regional Manager, Chicago
Cody was born and raised in rural Missouri and attended college in Columbia, Missouri and St. Louis. He has advanced degrees in English but also began a love of nonprofit work in college, working for the American Youth Foundation as a Community Coordinator. With several positive experiences developing small arts organizations, he eventually brought his strengths to Third Degree Glass, an art studio and event company based in St. Louis. After over two successful years as Event Manager, he made the move to Chicago in 2009, looking forward to the nonprofit world that resides there. He currently works as Program Coordinator for an educational project within the Erikson Institute and works to expand National Coaching Fellows to its full potential.