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Governance

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Welcome to Quest Academy

Greetings and welcome to our community!

Warm wishes and a heartfelt welcome to another exciting year at Quest Academy! I hope this message finds you and your family in good health and high spirits. As we embark on this new academic journey together, I am honored to begin as your Head of School and thrilled to be a part of your child’s exceptional future at Quest Academy.

First and foremost, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new families joining the Quest Academy community this year. We are delighted to have you and are eager to witness the incredible talents and abilities your children bring to our school. To our returning families, welcome back! Your continued trust and support are invaluable, and we are grateful for your ongoing partnership.

At Quest Academy, we firmly believe that giftedness comes in many forms, and each child’s unique abilities should be nurtured and celebrated. Our dedicated faculty and staff are passionate about fostering an environment that challenges and inspires gifted minds to reach their full potential. We are committed to providing an exceptional education that not only meets the academic needs of our students but also cultivates their creativity, critical thinking, and social-emotional well-being.

Communication and collaboration play a crucial role in maximizing your child’s educational experience. We encourage you to actively engage with us throughout the year. Our faculty and staff are readily available to address any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have. I personally look forward to meeting each and every one of you.

Finally, I want to express my sincere appreciation for entrusting us with your gifted child’s education. We are privileged to be a part of their journey, and we share your commitment to their exceptional growth and development. Together, we can provide the nurturing environment and educational opportunities that will enable them to flourish and make a positive impact on the world.

On behalf of the entire Quest Academy family, I extend my warmest wishes for a successful and fulfilling academic year. We are excited to embark on this extraordinary journey with you and look forward to celebrating your child’s accomplishments and milestones.

Please feel free to reach out to me at any time with questions or concerns. We value your partnership and are here to support you in every way we can.

With warm regards,

Dr. Vicki Phelps

Head of School

Nader Qaimari, Incoming Board Chair

Dr. Vicki Phelps
Head of School

Quest Academy Board of Trustees

The Quest Academy Board of Trustees promotes and safeguards the school’s mission, strategically plans for the future of Quest Academy, appoints and oversees the Head of School, establishes broad policies, and develops and shepherds the capital resources of the school. The individuals on the Board serve Quest Academy with a wide range of experience, interests, and expertise. All board members are volunteers and Quest Academy expresses its gratitude for their guidance and commitment to gifted education.

 

Board of Trustees Officers
Nader Qaimari – Chair
Brad Schulman – Vice Chair
Luke Praxmarer – Treasurer
Don Mitckess – Secretary

Nader Qaimari

Nader Qaimari

Board Chair

As Chief Executive Officer of Edcetera, Nader Qaimari leads a group of companies in the adult and trade education space across numerous channels and verticals.  Nader joined Edcetera in January 2022, hired by Eden Capital to help scale the founder-led business. Prior to Edcetera, Nader worked at ISACA, responsible for ISACA’s learning and certification offerings for individual professionals, as well as all software products and services in 220 countries.  Previously, Nader led Follett School Solutions, as Group President, where he launched a digital curriculum business. Prior to Follett, Nader was a senior executive at Cengage, a leading higher education company. Nader earned his undergraduate degree from Kenyon College in Literature and Creative Writing and a Master’s in Business Administration from University of Michigan.

Nader lives in Inverness with his wife Ahlam and two children who attend Quest Academy, Reed and Calla.

Board Member since 2019

Dr. Seema Awatramani

Dr. Seema Awatramani

Board Member

Dr. Seema Awatramani is a pediatric emergency medicine physician in Naperville,
Illinois. She earned her B.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and received her medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.
Seema and her husband live in Barrington and are the parents of two Quest students.

Board Member since 2022

Amy Byrne

Amy Byrne

Board Member

Amy is a Human Resources executive with more than 30 years of corporate and consulting experience, most recently as EVP, Chief Human Resources and Communications Officer at CDK Global. Previously, Amy held leadership roles at Avon Products, US Foods, Boeing and Mercer. Amy holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Amy and her husband, Andrew, have two children at Quest Academy and live in Inverness, Il. Amy enjoys tennis, international travel, and cheering on the Chicago Cubs.
Board Member since 2022
George Reichl, CFP, CIMA

George Reichl, CFP, CIMA

Board Member

George attended Maine West High School in Des Plaines and DePaul University in Chicago where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science with Honors as well as a Masters of Business Administration. He has been with Morgan Stanley over 40 years and is the founding partner of the Reichl Munao Jensen Fosteras Pavelski Group. He maintains the designation of Executive Director at Morgan Stanley as well as CFP® and CIMA® certifications. A Chicago-area native with a strong commitment to his community, George is currently in his third term on the Board of Trustees and is a member of the school’s finance committee. He also served as Trustee from 2016 through 2022. George’s hobbies include bowling and tennis. He cherishes time spent with his family and his 98-year-old father.

Don Mitckess

Don Mitckess

Board Member

Don lives in Bolingbrook with his wife Lora and their two children, Maya (Quest alumna) and Julian. Don has been a therapist in the behavioral health field for over 25 years, receiving his MSEd in Counseling from Northern Illinois University and BS/BA in Psychology/Theater from Loyola University of Chicago, and currently is the Director of Business Development for Banyan Treatment Center in Naperville. Don most recently served as Quest PSA Vice-President during the 2017-18 school year and was on the PSA Board for two years prior to that. He is the Cookie Dad for Quest Girl Scout Troop #41592 and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Northern Illinois Employee Assistance Professional Association.

Board Member since 2018

Dominique Kendrick RPh

Dominique Kendrick RPh

Board Member

Dominique is Vice President, Technical Operations for West Therapeutic Development, LLC. Ms. Kendrick holds both a B.S. in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and B.S. in Environmental Health from Purdue University; a Master’s in Business Administration from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and is a Licensed Pharmacist. She and her husband Kevin have one child at Quest Academy.

Board Member since 2019

Sedhu Krishnamurthy

Sedhu Krishnamurthy

Board Member

Sedhu serves as the Great Lakes Region Digital Transformation Leader for Microsoft. Sedhu holds an undergraduate degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from Guindy Eng. College, MS in Computer Science from Illinois Institute of Technology and an MBA in Strategy and Finance from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He is passionate about the role of education in shaping the society. Sedhu & his wife, Radha, have one child, Vedant, who graduated Quest Academy in 2025 and they reside in Long Grove, IL.

Board Member since 2018

Jordan Sadoff

Jordan Sadoff

Board Member

Jordan is the founder and CEO of RESTORE Hair Restoration, and the founder/CEO of GoldMax.  He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, where he earned a B.B.A in Marketing. Jordan and his wife, Katie, have two children at Quest Academy and live in Palatine, Il.  In his spare time, Jordan aspires to be an average golfer.

Board Member since 2022

Deepika Duggirala

Deepika Duggirala

Board Member

Deepika is the Executive Vice President of Technology at Alight, a leading provider of human capital solutions. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the technology strategy and development of the company. With over two decades of experience, Deepika has held leadership roles in both large enterprises and start-ups. She holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering and a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering.

Deepika and her husband Rahul, have one son, Rohan Miglani ’17, who is currently attending Wake Forest University. In her free time, Deepika enjoys reading, traveling, and supporting Chicago sports teams.

This is Deepika’s second time serving as a Quest Academy Board Member, having previously served from 2014-2017.

Board Member since 2024 (second term)

Luke Praxmarer

Luke Praxmarer

Board Member

Luke is the father of two Quest Academy alumnae, one of whom is an officer in the US Navy and the other is an insurance broker, after having been a high school math teacher for six years. Luke has had three stints as a trustee; first from 1997 to 2003, then from 2006 to 2015, then rejoining the board in 2016. He has served on or chaired every committee at Quest, but has always served on the Development Committee, chairing it a few times over the years. He also served on the school board at Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic School in Arlington Heights, IL, chairing the board in 1996-1997. Luke is president and partner of Corkill Insurance, an independent insurance agency in Elk Grove Village. As an insurance agent, Luke served as the president of the Independent Insurance Agents of IL in 2009-2010. Luke is perhaps best known, however, for his award-winning, organically grown tomatoes in his suburban garden. He has a BS from DePaul University and resides with his wife, Carol, in Palatine.

Board member since 2016 (second term)

Brad Schulman J.D.

Brad Schulman J.D.

Board Member

Brad is an attorney at Motherway and Napleton, LLP where he specializes in medical malpractice litigation. Mr. Schulman graduated from Lehigh University, where he played baseball for four years. He continued his education and obtained his J.D. at The John Marshall Law School where he graduated Cum Laude. He and his wife have one child who graduated from Quest Academy in 2025 and they reside in Deerfield, Illinois.

Board Member since 2019

Dr. Amjad Safvi

Dr. Amjad Safvi

Board Member

Dr. Amjad Safvi is a board-certified radiologist, physician leader, and Illinois resident with a strong commitment to education and community service. He and his wife, Fauzia, are proud parents of three children currently attending Quest.

Dr. Safvi joined the Quest Board in 2024 and serves on the Finance and Development Committees. In his professional life, he has led medical teams and served as CEO of a healthcare enterprise, experiences that have honed his skills in accountability, strategic planning, and organizational growth. He brings these leadership qualities to the Board with a focus on advancing Quest’s mission.

He is particularly passionate about ensuring responsible financial stewardship, strengthening community partnerships, and expanding educational opportunities for all students. Dr. Safvi believes in preparing the next generation for success in a rapidly changing world by supporting both academic excellence and character development.

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