Thomas Keenan - Chairman of the Board

Thomas Keenan is an attorney specializing in construction law and compliance matters. A graduate of Georgetown University and Notre Dame Law School, Thomas previously clerked for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and practiced at a litigation firm in Washington, D.C. He looks forward to supporting Lakou's mission with his construction and legal background.

Darryl Auguste

Darryl V. Auguste is a trial supervisor at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Juvenile Delinquency Division. Previously, he worked as a Staff Attorney at the Office of the Chief Judge at George N. Leighton Courthouse.

Darryl received his Juris Doctorate with honors from University of Illinois-Chicago Law School [formerly The John Marshall Law School]. He also received his bachelor’s degree in history, minor in Criminal Justice, from University of Illinois-Chicago graduating with honors. Darryl is an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago Law School teaching legal writing and argument and is also a supervising professor for the UIC-Law’s externship program. He is the former President and current Vice-President of the Haitian American Lawyer’s Association [HALA]. He is the financial chair of the Coalition of Haitian American Organizations in the Chicagoland area. Darryl was recently named the 2023 Hot-List Attorney from the Lawyers of Color. He is the trustee of Grace Haitian Alliance Church in the Southside of Chicago. Most importantly, Darryl is a husband of nine years and a father of two wonderful children.

steve cook

A 35-year hospitality veteran, Steve has directed the overall organization for multiple Hotel Management companies, comprised of multi-branded hotels. Responsible for hotel performance, budgets and business plans, pricing strategy, staff development, customer and employee satisfaction, profitability as well as being involved in the acquisition of over $300MM in hotel assets. Steve grew up in Argentina and attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.

Dave Haracz

David Haracz has been a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County for many years. Prior to taking the bench, he spent his legal career at Legal Aid Chicago serving the poor and homeless. He focused on public housing and eviction issues as well as domestic violence matters. He attempts to focus on the dynamics and interactions between people and using a more holistic approach at problem solving. It is important to be on the ground and listening.

Bill murphy

Bill is a practicing architect based in Chicago with 35 years experience, and founder of William Murphy Architect, Ltd. in 1993. Project types include residential, educational & religious facilities, and range from new construction to adaptive reuse. Bill believes that each step of the architectural process involves collaboration, between client, architect, and builder. This interaction is also at the heart of the Haitian tradition of Lakou.

MICHAEL PETERSEN

Mike holds a distinct place in the Chicago design community, having founded the creative agency, 50,000feet, in 2001 after climbing up the ranks over a 10-year career at VSA Partners. With a deep understanding of design thinking, Mike has produced numerous campaigns that reside in collective memory, not only for artful expression, but also for delivering results. Mike graduated cum laude from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Visual Communication, and his work has been widely recognized by design publications.

CARL-HENRY SAJOUS

Carl-Henry is a Haitian-American professional working in the HR Tech industry. His family roots are in both Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien, and he personally believes in the Lakou mission - to build a stronger Haiti. With a professional background in business development and strategic initiatives, Carl uses his experience to motivate and inspire those around him to achieve a greater good.

Jack Scapin

Jack Scapin is a Senior Project Manager for a commercial general contractor in the Chicagoland Region. Jack specializes in ground up construction and renovation for various segments. Prior to becoming a general contractor, Jack worked with his father in the family sewer and water business and has been in construction for over 20 years. Jack studied in West Lafayette, earning a Management degree from Purdue University that provides the foundation for his approach to business and relationships. Jack is an Eagle Scout and looks forward to providing leadership and construction insight to assist Lakou in rising to new heights.