Allyson Laackman is a finance and operations professional who has served in senior leadership roles in Federal government, non-profit, political, and private sector organizations throughout her career.
She earned an A.B. in Finance and a Masters of Accountancy Science at the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign before joining Arthur Anderson as a Certified Public Accountant. She later served as the Chief Financial Officer of a publicly-traded capital markets firm.
In 2008, Allyson joined the Obama for America 2008 Presidential Campaign and Obama-Biden Transition Team. She then worked for the Obamas in the White House, where she served for three years as the Chief Financial Officer for the Executive Office of the President. In this role, she was responsible for strategic budgeting, financial management and reporting, travel, and procurement services for the President and his senior policy advisors. Allyson also managed, for a time, the day-to-day operations of the Executive Residence, a national landmark that serves as the First Family’s home, event and office space, and a museum. In 2012, she left the White House to serve as First Lady Michelle Obama’s Chief of Staff on the 2012 Presidential Re-election Campaign.
Following the election, Allyson became a principal at Civic Consulting Alliance, a Chicago-based non-profit that provides pro bono consulting to the City of Chicago and Cook County. While at Civic, Allyson wrote the City’s technology plan, improved I.T. and procurement processes for the County, and helped develop the City’s tourism plan. She then joined the Museum of Science and Industry as Vice President of Finance and Administration/Chief Financial Officer.
In 2014 Allyson moved to Burlington, Vermont to join her husband, Don, when he became President of Champlain College. In addition to her involvement at the college, Allyson served as the Executive Director of Burlington Housing Authority, an organization that provides affordable housing to low income residents. She also served on a number of boards during her time in Vermont, and continues on the Executive Committee of the Vermont Community Foundation.
Currently residing in Chicago, Allyson is proud to have joined the team of the NCoC, serving as the Chief Strategy and Financial Officer during this exciting time of expansion of operations and social impact.
Besides her commitment to public service, Allyson is most proud her family, which in addition to her husband Don, who is currently the Chief Program Officer of Heartland Alliance includes her son, Don III, who is works for BEAM, a nonprofit that helps students develop the same joy in advanced math that led him to achieve his PhD in theoretical math; and her daughter, Emily, who is in her final year at Tuck, Dartmouth College’s business school. She and Don love to travel and share their lives with two lively goldendoodles.
