OUR TEAM
Gregory has been a part of educational furniture business for over 40 years now, and as his experience has grown immensely, so have his responsibilities. As the manager of marketing and the design team, Gregory holds a vital role in producing top results for his customers. He strives to take part in all aspects of the projects that the company takes on and works face-to-face with clients. As an owner of Frank Cooney Company, the business his own father started, you’ll see that Gregory brings passion and integrity into all of his work.
With more than 40 years of educational furniture experience at Frank Cooney, Peggy has learned the business from the ground up. Throughout her career, which began as a customer service rep, Peggy has taken on positions of increasing responsibility in preparation for her current role as Chief Financial Officer, which she was named to in 1997. Since that time, her experience in payroll, accounts receivable and cash management has made her uniquely qualified for the CFO position. As a key member of the management team, Peggy not only makes invaluable contributions to the organization but also helps clients maximize their financial investment as partners with Frank Cooney. Away from the office, Peggy continues to be very active in the UPS for DownS (United Parents Support for Down Syndrome) organization, which has benefited greatly from her passion and commitment.
For over 30 years, Julie has been a cornerstone of our team and the furniture industry. She’s not only managed all purchasing with our manufacturer partners but also built and refined the purchasing systems we rely on today. Her strong relationships and deep industry knowledge ensure our Sales Team can deliver seamless, on-time solutions to clients of all sizes. Julie also leads all of our IT operations, overseeing everything from our ERP system to office phones and employee software. She wears many hats - and she wears them well. Her ability to keep complex systems running smoothly while supporting the entire team makes her truly indispensable to our success.
Eileen has been with by our side since 1988, and continues to follow trends in the ever-changing educational environment. With her expertise, she informs our A&D partners on education trends, providing insight second to none. As a previous EDmarket board member, and current member of A4LE Chicagoland Chapter, her knowledge on furniture is extensive. She is a mother of four, and her definition of R&R is read and run. Fun fact: She had her own radio show at Illinois States student radio station.
Our director of Project Management, Caroline never stops short of excellent customer service. With her efficient communication, Caroline here to accompany you from the earlier stages of design to final installations. Both Project Management and ECLPS Certified, Caroline has gone the extra mile to develop her furniture and career knowledge, to ensure all customers are satisfied.
Director of Operations Roberto Cadenas has been kickin’ it with the Cooney team for 25 years and counting. Roberto oversees our in-house install and warehouse team on top of managing and scheduling both inbound and outbound shipments, always ensuring a smooth and efficient process. He loves finding new restaurants with his wife and daughter, and watching a good sporting event…with the exceptions of golf or tennis.
Joe Ingolia leads our team of Account Managers and is integral in our sales strategy. Since 2013, he has been working diligently to find new business opportunities in existing and developing markets. Joe has also been on the EDmarket Distribution Council since January 2024. Kansas Jayhawk alum - and current super fan – he enjoys experimenting in the kitchen and hitting the links whenever Chicago weather permits; and when it doesn’t, he heads west for the snowcapped mountains to get in as much skiing as possible.
Rounding out our incredible logistics team, Phil has possessed unwavering dedication to managing our warehouse for the past 10+ year. Assisting in both receiving incoming orders and staging outbound shipments, Phil is here to ensure all orders are in perfect shape before they get to you. Phil is an avid love of anything he can drive, be it cars or boats. If not in the warehouse, Phil is fixing up a car or enjoying a cruise on the lake.
Stephanie has been leading our design team since 2014. She brings her innate style and extensive knowledge to every project she is a part of. Besides her degree in interior design, she also has a background in graphic design and photography. She is a collector of all things vintage which helps dictate her personal design style: vintage fused with modern. When she is not designing or shopping, she enjoys sharing laughs with friends and family, especially her husband and young sons
For nearly 30 years, Erin has been a trusted partner to schools. Her collaborative style, extensive knowledge, and commitment to education make Erin an invaluable resource for districts seeking spaces that truly support learning and working More recently, Erin has focused on pairing furniture selection with professional development. She partners closely with educators to help them understand and confidently use their new spaces, ensuring teachers don’t just receive attractive furniture but gain practical strategies to make the most of it. After 30+ years with us, her contributions have gone above. Fun fact-Erin was a major contributor to the Frank Cooney bowling team back in the 90s.
Collaboration and customer-service is key for Elizabeth. With over 24+ years of furniture experience, and a bachelor’s degree in design, Elizabeth offers excellent recommendations to make your environments come to life. Well traveled, Elizabeth’s favorite trip has been to Italy, with hopes to soon cross Greece and Africa off her bucket list.
Paige is always on the go working on site to ensure smooth deliveries and installations. From quoting, on-site punches to general furniture expertise, you’re in good hands with Paige on your project. Her project management certification gives her unique insight and rationale in guaranteeing your needs are met. Paige loves the energized feeling from a great workout, almost as much as she does trying new foods/restaurants around the area.
With a bachelor’s degree in interior design, Haydee is inspired by unique interiors that will have a positive impact on functionality and creativity. She has a great personal style and quality of detail within her work and applies these concepts daily in her role as a member of our design team. In her spare time, she loves to travel, exploring different cultures, and spending time with family.
Lisa is no stranger to the accounting world, with over 30 years of experience. Ask her about any term, and she’ll know that and more. Contact Lisa for your billing needs - her expertise ensures that all finances are in order. For Lisa, her furry friends are her world, she wouldn’t change a thing.
John has been creating educational environments with us since 1995. When not in a school, reading a case study or drawing a library on his computer, you can find him in a flower garden, health club or listening to an audio book. John is proud of his family, and a big fan of his Chicago teams. (Go Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Black Hawks and Bulls.)
For the past 6+ years, Jim has been accumulating furniture experience and knowledge. ECLPS certified, he is there on-site to make sure everything from presentation to finishes is up to your standard. In his free time, Jim likes chasing thrills – frequently indoor rock climbing/bouldering.
Working alongside account managers, Madyson is here to guide you through from the beginning to the end of a project, providing site visits to ensure your installation is up to our standards. Graduating from Illinois State University with a bachelor's degree in marketing and professional sales, Madyson brings her A game at Educational Environments. On her days off, you can expect Madyson to be at the Stevenson High School pool, managing their youth team swim team, or reading a good thriller book at home.
With 5+ years of experience, Susan has made major contributions creating stunning spaces with Educational Environments. With a degree in design, she has a keen eye for interior layouts and decor, always seeing spaces from all angles. Graduating magna cum lade from Central Michigan University’s interior design program, and with parents teaching, Susan works to be mindful of both students and staff when creating her designs.
Kelly Kramer is racking up her experience in the furniture industry as we speak, since 2010 at EE by FCC. But Kelly doesn’t cap her skills at furniture. She is the loving Grandma of two grandsons that steal her heart every day, an avid golfer, and dedicates her time to Canine Companions, an organization that provides service dogs to individuals with disabilities.
With decades of experience in the furniture industry, Jon is known as the Cooney Team’s “encyclopedia”. From finishes to functionality, it’s harder to find something he can’t answer. Since 1990, Jon has successfully led large-scale school district remodels from early learning centers to high schools, offering a deep understanding of how environments shape learning. In the summer, you’ll find Jon and his wife Brenda spending their weekends on Local Baseball and Softball fields, watching their son and daughter play the sport they love. Jon also volunteers with the Glen Ellyn Softball and at PADS Nights though Church
From a library refurbish or office redesign to a classroom renovation, Emily is with you every step of the way. 6+ years of experience at Educational Environments, bachelor’s degree in design, and CIDA accreditation has given Emily a keen eye for customer’s wants. Her experience doesn’t stop when school lets out, as she also has experience working with municipalities.
With both brains and brawn, Mando has spent 20+ years building, delivering, and installing furniture. He also manages the installation teams and timelines on-site, guaranteeing everything goes smoothly. If you swing by our warehouse, you may find him cooking up his family’s taco recipes. And yes, they are a secret.
MANDO rodriguez
lead on-site logistics coordinator
630-694-8800
armando@frankcooney.com
With a bachelor’s in design at Illinois State University. Kaitlin fits right in at Educational Environments. Along with the rest of the design team, Kaitlin has been working to bring your spaces to life. Before joining us, Kaitlin won the Kimball International Student Design Competition! Her love for visual arts extends into photography and storytelling, with a camera roll full of animals, family, and the world!
When an issue arises, Jose is first on the case. Keeping track of all customer service inquiries, he assures that your problems are quickly resolved. With 3+ years on the Cooney Team, he has continued to foster positive customer relationships. During his time off, Jose chases thrill, racing Go Karts or RC cars, topping off the day with some home-grilled food.
They say left-handed people are more creative and Lisa proves this theory to be a perfectly valid one. With over a decade in the industry, she has provided the Cooney team with her canny take on design, putting her Interior and Environmental Design degree to work. Lisa enjoys staying up to date with all the latest furniture trends in the industry. As a proud wife and mom, Lisa has become a master of juggling a heavy workload while still enjoying time with her family.
A bachelor’s degree in international business as well as 10+ years in sales has made David uniquely qualified in his role as account manager. A proud (insert hometown native), David is our central & southern Illinois account manager, transforming learning spaces from Peoria to the St. Louis border. If you ever want to brush up on your language skills, ask David – who can also speak Polish, French, and Spanish.
Since 2000, Jesus has been working to bring your spaces to life! He likes being a truck driver because he gets to meet new people every day. He enjoys being part of a great team, here at Frank Cooney. Jesus also enjoys playing with his son on his days off. His favorite past time is working on remodeling his house, which is his happy and relaxing place.
JESUS SOTO
lead on-site logistics coordinator
630-694-8800
jesus@frankcooney.com
If you’ve ever called our office, you’ve probably spoken to the wonderful Ale. She has been working as support staff here at Educational Environments for two years now, ready to assist with any and all questions/needs you may have. For Ale, learning and growing never stops. In her free time, she loves to learn about different cultures and their customs or cozying up to watch a good docuseries.