Meet the Candidates

Emily Bernahl is a resident of Lake Forest. She and her husband have two children who attend District 67 schools, one in elementary and one in Deerpath middle school. Emily is the owner of Bernahl Development Services, LLC. In this position, she provides a variety of land development services to residential, commercial, and retail clients, including administrative support, municipal research, and project management services, to aid architects, engineers, and developers with site development and municipal approvals and permits.

Emily graduated from Saint Joseph’s University with a degree in Political Science. She started her career in real estate, where she has worked in both residential and commercial real estate for over 20 years. Over the course of her career, she has consistently demonstrated leadership as a Development Manager with the successful construction of over 275 restaurant projects nationwide. Her development portfolio includes big box stores, grocery stores, banks, senior living facilities, and retail developments throughout the Midwest. Emily’s primary responsibilities as a land development consultant include coordinating, directing, and organizing architects, civil engineers, site planners, landscape architects, surveyors, traffic engineers, and geotechnical engineers to successfully maintain the project schedule and budget for her clients. Emily’s past experience includes paralegal capacities through lease/contract administration with a large REIT and other commercial real estate consultants.

Emily is a member of the International Society of Female Professionals, ICSC, and American Association of Planners and has been named to the Leadership Council for the SBA.

Anne Geraghty Helms is a resident of Lake Forest. She and her husband have two children who attend District 67 schools. As Director and Counsel for US Pro Bono Programs at a global law firm, she helps lead the firm’s pro bono program in the United States. Annie’s practice often involves representing children and families, including those in juvenile justice and immigration proceedings, and advising parents as they navigate issues that impact their children, such as child support, domestic violence, guardianship, and housing.

Annie serves as co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Children’s Rights Litigation Committee, as well as on the boards of the Chicago Bar Foundation and the Georgetown Law Chicago Alumni Council. She is a member of the 2012 class of Leadership Greater Chicago and in 2017 was named one of Crain’s Chicago Business Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago.

Carl Kirar is a resident of Lake Forest. He and his wife have two children who attend District 67 schools. Carl currently serves as a District 67 board member. Professionally, he is the Director of Facilities and Construction Services for Lake County government. In this position, he provides strategic, administrative, and technical oversight of the County’s facilities maintenance and management, capital construction, and long-term capital planning processes. He leads a talented team of 56 dedicated professionals committed to providing quality services to Lake County and its residents.

Carl graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in civil engineering. After graduation, he entered the US Navy as a Civil Engineer Corps officer, where he served over 21 years. During the course of his naval career, he served around the world and demonstrated servant leadership in management and organizational governance as a Senior Program Manager at the Pentagon, an Assistant Director of Operations and Engineering in Washington, DC, and, most recently, Director of Public Works and Infrastructure at Naval Station Great Lakes right here in Lake County.

Carl is a veteran, holds multiple master’s degrees in engineering and business administration and is a certified professional engineer.

Alice LeVert is a 27-year resident of Lake Forest. She and her husband have two sons, both of which graduated from Lake Forest Schools. Alice has two bachelor’s degrees from Miami University (Oxford, OH) and an Executive MBA from The University of Notre Dame.  Alice is a Senior Client Executive for Verizon in their Media, Entertainment, Technology & Strategic Accounts group.

As a current District 67 board member, Alice has been on the Education Committee, Policy Committee, and Finance & Operations Committee and currently serves as the Board Secretary and Legislative Liaison.

Alice will continue to work toward the mission, vision and milestones for District 67 and looks forward to serving for another term.