The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago is proud to announce the appointment of Karen Murphy, Executive Vice President of Stadium Development and Chief Operating Officer for the Chicago Bears, Rahul Nalgirkar, Deputy Chief Financial Officer for BMO, and Frank Velez, Executive Director of the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications to its Board of Directors as newly elected members.

Karen Murphy, now in her 26th season with the Chicago Bears, became the organization’s first-ever Executive Vice President of Stadium Development and Chief Operating Officer in 2024.

Over the course of her 25-plus-year career with the Bears, Murphy has played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s strategic direction and operational excellence. Her leadership spans finance and accounting, stadium and event operations, building operations, grounds, IT, procurement, and innovation. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President of Business Strategy and Chief Financial Officer, where she led major initiatives including the renovations of Soldier Field (2003) and Halas Hall (2013, 2019).

Before joining the Bears in 1999, Murphy worked at Ernst & Young Global Consulting Services and The Walt Disney Company, gaining invaluable experience in finance and corporate management. Raised in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Earlier this year, Francisco “Frank” Velez was appointed to lead the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) as Executive Director. A nearly 30-year public safety veteran, Velez previously served as Deputy District Chief for the Chicago Fire Department, where he specialized in special operations and large-scale event coordination.

Velez has worked extensively with local, state, and federal partners and brings a deep understanding of incident command and emergency coordination, having supported public safety efforts for major Chicago events.

Born and raised in Chicago, Velez began his career as a paramedic with the Chicago Fire Department and later served as an instructor at the Chicago Fire Academy. He remains dedicated to mentoring youth through public safety training programs and to serving his community with integrity and compassion.

Velez lives in Chicago with his wife, Margaret, and is the proud father of three and grandfather of five.

Rahul Nalgirkar serves as Deputy Chief Financial Officer of BMO, overseeing all aspects of financial operations, reporting, business planning, and treasury management. Before joining BMO, Nalgirkar was Group CFO at Fifth Third Bank, where he led financial and strategic planning across multiple business lines. His career included leadership roles with General Electric, Citigroup, and CIT.

A graduate of the University of Delhi and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Nalgirkar was named a 2024 Daniel Burnham Fellow by Leadership Greater Chicago, recognizing his commitment to advancing the region’s economic progress through innovative leadership.

“We are honored to welcome Karen, Rahul, and Frank to our Board of Directors,” said Kellie O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Illinois. “Their leadership, compassion, and deep connection to the Chicago community perfectly align with the Red Cross mission. Together, we’ll continue to build a stronger, more resilient region for all who call it home.”

The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago volunteer board includes more than thirty civic and corporate leaders from a range of professional backgrounds for the Greater Chicago chapter that serves 7.6 million people in four counties. A full list of members is located at https://www.redcross.org/local/illinois/about-us/locations/greater-chicago.html

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.