A shared purpose.
A wider perspective.

Jessica George is the Founder and Executive Director of The Apareció Foundation, which she established in 2009 to empower girls and young women from underserved communities through mentorship, education, leadership development, and meaningful access to opportunity. With more than 15 years of experience across financial services, nonprofit leadership, strategic operations, and media, she brings a rare blend of mission-driven vision and institutional insight to her work. Her professional background includes experience with J.P. Morgan Private Bank and UBS Financial Services, which helped shape her approach to stewardship, partnerships, and long-term impact. Jessica is also the Founder and Publisher of Félix Magazine, the Foundation’s wholly owned media platform, and a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she studied Political Science and Philosophy.

Elaine Madsen is Editor-in-Chief of Félix Magazine and a longtime volunteer, mentor, and writer whose involvement with Félix Magazine and The Apareció Foundation spans more than 12 years. An Emmy-winning documentarian, playwright, author, and poet, she brings a distinguished creative voice and a deep commitment to storytelling, mentorship, and editorial excellence. Elaine’s work includes the acclaimed documentaries I Know a Woman Like That and Better Than It Has to Be, as well as her poetry collection Crayola Can’t Make These Colors. Through her editorial leadership and volunteer service, she continues to help advance the mission and voice of both Félix and The Apareció Foundation.

Justin Arnett‑Graham is the Creative Director at beCo, a Chicago‑based creative agency that fuses art, media, and hospitality into immersive, culturally resonant experiences. A veteran of Michelin‑level service—directing front‑of‑house at a 3‑Michelin‑starred restaurant in Lincoln Park—he later consulted on a variety of food & beverage endeavors before founding beCo - The Interdisciplinary Agency. At the Aparecio Foundation, Justin looks to serve as brand‑outreach lead, leveraging his storytelling acumen and hospitality network to elevate the foundation’s mission. Through strategic partnerships and authentic community connection, he amplifies the organizations advocacy efforts and fosters meaningful engagement across platforms. Known for deep-rooted curiosity and energetic collaboration, Justin also co‑hosts the Terms of Service podcast—an honest, no‑BS exploration of service‑industry culture Balancing creative vision with actionable insight, Justin champions Aparecio’s values and extends its reach both in Chicago and beyond.

Emely Matus is a founder and marketing leader building intentional brands at the intersection of design, technology, culture, and community. As the Head of Marketing at 1871, Chicago’s leading technology and entrepreneurship center, Emely applies her 8+ years of experience developing and scaling startups, including high-profile partnerships to curate unique experiences and support projects that grow the tech ecosystem. Her passion for amplifying underrepresented voices extends beyond her marketing role; she serves as Co-chair of LTNtech Voices, committed to advancing Latin representation in technology.

Meagan Shuptar is a Chicago-based commercial photographer whose work blends people, products, and interiors into lifestyle imagery that feels both polished and deeply authentic. Known for her strong compositional eye, technical fluency, and consistent visual style, she brings versatility to every project, whether working on location or in the studio. Meagan is widely recognized for her genuine, approachable nature and her belief that collaboration is at the heart of great creative work. Her calming presence and thoughtful creativity help foster a collaborative environment on set, allowing clients and subjects alike to feel at ease. Based in Chicago and available for both local and travel assignments, Meagan also enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, traveling, collecting eclectic art and home finds, and savoring a good Mezcal Old Fashioned.

Pamela L. Cox is talented at unraveling complex deal structures and devising creative agreement solutions. Starting her career in-house, Pam focuses her practice on intellectual property transactions, protection, and dispute resolution for clients ranging from multinational corporations to non-profit institutions. She is a patent attorney who understands her clients’ intellectual property and agreement needs, and remains passionately engaged until their strategic objectives are achieved. Clients consider her an invaluable member of their team: “Pamela Cox is one of the country’s leading licensing authorities. Nobody works harder than [this] thoroughly commercial lawyer who can quickly get her head around even the most labyrinthine deals. She quickly comes to your rescue with practical guidance in very tight timeframes and is an indispensable ongoing resource who can navigate worldwide negotiations with ease. She is [also] a pre-eminent authority on university technology transfer and licensing acting for commercial and non-profit clients. Her ability to forcefully protect your rights while quickly and nimbly resolving the most complex issues in negotiations is remarkable.” – IAM Patent 1000 “Pam has an exceptional legal mind. She is able to grasp and parse complex legal issues independently, yet with great sensitivity about keeping the client informed. She’s an outstanding negotiator and is able to take a strong position without being disagreeable. She plans ahead for expected compromises downstream, and finds creative solutions to apparent impasses.” – Client Quote (LMG Life Sciences) "The recipient of much praise, Cox is responsive, pragmatic and experienced. She really understands her clients and is phenomenally quick on the uptake, with an ability to spot issues that others do not. She is a delight to work with on cross-border pharmaceutical and biotechnology deals." - IAM Patent 1000 Pam’s clients are not alone in recognizing her skills: "Highly recommended" for licensing, honored as one of "The World’s Leading IP Patent and Technology Licensing Lawyers" and "The World's Leading IP Strategists", and a Global Leader: USA – Illinois by Intellectual Asset Management "Patent Strategy & Management Attorney of the Year – Midwest" and “Life Sciences Star” by LMG Life Sciences

Christina Anastasiou is the Editor-at-Large of Félix Magazine and a seasoned writer, creative collaborator, and construction consultant with more than a decade of involvement with both Félix and The Apareció Foundation. With a sharp eye for emerging talent and untold stories, she has built a career at the intersection of fashion, beauty, entertainment, and culture, bringing a distinctive editorial voice and strong cultural perspective to her work. She is also deeply committed to empowering young girls, mentoring them to pursue their goals and believe in their potential. Her experience spans work as a red-carpet producer, publicist, correspondent, and consultant in both New York and Los Angeles, giving her a well-rounded perspective across media, business, and entertainment. As a writer and industry expert, Christina’s work and commentary have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Wall Street Journal Asia, Fusion TV, Telemundo 52, Hollywood Weekly, The Arizona Republic’s Style Section, Esquire Latino, Fox News Latino, KCAL9 CBS, Lucky Magazine, and Empowher.com, among others. After gaining experience in independent film and local theater in Phoenix, Christina returned to Los Angeles to continue building her career in media and storytelling. Now based in California, she is expanding into filmmaking, with plans to work on projects in Arizona, El Salvador, Panama, and Alaska as she develops her first feature film and reality series.