Midwest Veterans Closet’s
Board of Directors
Our board’s directors serve for a two year term, but are allowed to serve multiple terms. Our current slate of officers are Robin Korom, President, Dan Weitzman, Treasurer, and Arlene Messner-Peters, Secretary.
Tom Crichton began investing in and renovating small homes in Northwest Lake County at the age of 17. Over time, his work expanded into the construction of rental properties, as well as the development of strip malls and industrial buildings.
Crichton was invited to join Midwest Veteran’s Closet to assist with the development of a new facility during a period of organizational growth. Crichton remains involved, inspired by the organization’s meaningful mission and impact, and in honor of his father, an Air Force veteran, and his mother.
Gracelyn Goldensoph, MBA, is a Human Relations Business Partner at Consumers Credit Union in Lake Forest, Illinois. At Consumers, Goldensoph provides coaching and consultation to nearly 100+ leaders managing a workforce of 600 employees. Her role aims to maximize employee engagement and productivity while also creating an environment that is constantly improving.
Goldensoph joined the board of Midwest Veterans Closet in April, 2026.
Robin Korom, MBA, brings 47 years of experience in the financial services industry, with many of those years in executive leadership. During her tenure with the board of Midwest Veterans Closet, Korom has helped oversee the vision, construction and relocation of Midwest Veterans Closet to its current location at 1720 North Green Bay Road in North Chicago. In January, 2026, she retired from Consumers Credit Union and looks forward to having time to give back to the community.
Korom’s inspiration for working with Midwest Veterans Closet is her father, who served in the United States Army and was her personal hero. It is in his memory that she serves our veterans, active duty military personnel and their families at Midwest Veterans Closet.
Arlene Messner-Peters, LCSW, is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional with over 30 years of experience working with clients with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder, high conflict families, and domestic violence. Some of her professional career includes working in the juvenile and adult court systems, teaching, trauma therapy, parenting skills training, mitigation specialist and custody evaluator.
Working with Midwest Veterans Closet, Ms. Messner-Peters is able to leverage her joy of connecting people to resources to find solutions to living life to its fullest.
Andrae Sutherland, brings more than 25 years of military experience to the Midwest Veterans Closet board. Sutherland served as a Senior Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy, with eleven of those years serving at Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago. Among his many positions during his tenure are Fire Fighting Instructor, Management Expert, and Recruit Division Commander.
Sutherland is a fixture around Midwest Veterans Closet organizing groups from the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) to volunteer with our organization. Sutherland joined the board of Midwest Veterans Closet in April, 2026.
Weitzman has been Treasurer of Midwest Veterans Closet since December, 2022. With Midwest Veterans Closet, he is devoted to helping veterans, current military, and their families in tribute to his father, who flew 40 missions in the South Pacific as a B24 bombardier in WWII.