About the RPC Directors: 

Randi Merel, President and Director, retired from Merrill Lynch where she worked as a Wealth Management Advisor. She and her husband moved to Riverwoods in 2013 to follow their passion for Midcentury Modern architecture and her husband’s desire to own “a lot of land.”  With no prior training and little knowledge of environmental issues, Randi became in involved with RPC in 2022  because of her interest in protecting our woodlands and to help educate others to do the same.  She organized the first Community Garage Sale in 2022 and launched the RPC newsletter in 2023 with contributions from the RPC board.

Laurie Breitkopf, Vice President and Director, is a retired attorney who practiced environmental law among other areas. She has been a passionate environmentalist since high school and graduated from college with a major in Environmental Studies. Laurie is Chair of the Riverwoods Plan Commission and created and co-chaired the Riverwoods Sustainability and Climate Action Task Force with Director Julie Varvaro. She has lived in Riverwoods (two homes) for 38 years. She and her husband have been restoring their property with native plants (zero turf grass!) for 20 years.

Lora Millman, Secretary and Director, retired from her Pharmacist Manager position in 2020 after working 38 years as a pharmacist in hospital, home care, and retail. She now works as a Teacher Associate in District 103. Lora and her partner, moved to Riverwoods in 2017.  They enjoy being surrounded by the woodlands and have been restoring their property for the past 2 years. She has always had a passion for improving the environment and is very concerned about our ever changing climate. Lora became involved with the Riverwoods Preservation Council in 2022 and has been the RPC secretary since 2023. She  She is excited to work with knowledgeable directors from whom she constantly learns new ways to be active in the sustainability cause. 

Sarah Merritt, Director, has developed a deep love and respect for the natural world from an early age growing up in the lush, wooded community of Riverwoods, where she has been a resident for 32 years, her whole life. She is an elementary school teacher with a Master’s in International Education, who strives to pass that passion on to the next generation, both in the classroom and in the community. Whether tending to her garden or exploring nature, she believes that preservation is more than just protecting the past; it’s about cultivating a future where beauty, biodiversity, and community thrive together. Sarah’s mission is that through education, advocacy, and hands-in-the-dirt care, she hopes to inspire others to protect and improve the spaces we call home.

Janine Gray, Director  a resident of Riverwoods since 2003, possesses a background in environmental conservation from the University of Colorado. She subsequently transitioned to the field of special education, where she obtained her master’s degree from Northwestern University. Drawn to the natural splendor and tranquility of Riverwoods, Janine relocated from Chicago. Her primary objective for Riverwoods is to safeguard and augment its serene atmosphere. She is ardently committed to environmental concerns and sustainable practices, particularly recycling and harnessing renewable energy sources.