Who We Are
Community Council | Ambassadors | Supporters
Ambassadors of RoCo
- The Romanian Community Center of Chicago -
You belong here.
This incredible community is composed of generous, passionate, and determined people—like you. They’re movers and shakers, and history makers. And you’re going to fit right in. See also: Ambassadors Resources and Donors Honors Wall.
Claudia graduated from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine with a Masters Degree in Medical Science as a Physician Assistant.
Cristian Merdariu
Board of Directors
Founding Angel
ROCO Biz
Founding Angel, RCC Chicago Ambassador
Founding Member
Cristian is co-founder and owner of City Habitat Realty, a successful real estate company in Chicago. He believes Romanians should work harder to express and identify themselves as one nation, to earn their own sense of value and the right to be proud.
Marian Petruta
Honorary Member
Editor In Chief: Lumea Libera; Founder: Chicago Community Council; Honorary Member of ROCO, the Romanian Community Center
De 15 ani activez in presa de limbă romană din Statele Unite, iar despre comunitatea românească din Chicago am scris și am promovat-o frecvent. Consider că este absolut necesar constituirea unui Centru Comunitar care să deservească românii din zonă.
Diana Muresan
Founding Angel
Founding Angel, Honorary Member of ROCO, the Romanian Community Center
Volunteer
Diana Muresan is Mortgage Banker with The Federal Savings Bank, member of the Chairman Club and currently creating the first Senior Housing Department at the TFSB. She has a master degree from DuPaul University, Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.
Alexandra Costin
Ambassador of the Romanian Community Center Chicago, Volunteer Storyteller
Volunteer
Teacher
Graduated with a Bachelor's in Business Administration and is currently working as a paralegal and billing manager at a law firm in Chicago. She is a former professional swimmer and handball player, passionate about reading, sports, and helping people.
Since she moved to Chicago, Ariana earned two Master's degrees, International Public Service and Leadership Communication . Thanks to a local NPO, Upwardly Global, she was able to start her career in the US in international higher education.
Renata Gherghiceanu
Member
Volunteer, Teacher Liaison, Supporter of ROCO - the Romanian Community Center of Chicago
Ligia Apostoaia
Board of Directors
Founding Angel
Secretary of the Board, CEO of MDL Investments
Founding Member
Volunteer
Teacher
Ligia’s charity involvement began at a very young age, helping her family foundation with the distribution of humanitarian aid to the families in need in the area immediately. Today she continues to do what she is most passionate about: doing good.
Georgiana is bringing extensive experience in Communication & Marketing gained from her previous roles as a journalist in the biggest media trust in Romania and coordinator of international campaigns for well-established clients at Ogilvy and Grey G2.
Ciprian is the owner of Chicago Clean Home since 2013. The company was founded with a great desire to offer top-quality, detail-oriented cleaning services to home and business owners that aim at having not just cleaner spaces, but also healthier ones.
Alina Cumpan
Founder: Authentic Society, Founding Member of RUF, Founder: Chicago Community Council, Volunteer, Honorary Member of ROCO, the Romanian Community Center
Founding Member
Volunteer
I believe in Unity, in long-lasting programs, and in open doors for the ones that are willing to build bridges to a beautiful tomorrow. Join us today!
Graduated from UIC, College of Business, with a degree in finance and works as a Digital Manager at Mainland. Fun facts: prefers a camera, unable to make a choice between hiking a mountain or walking in the sand, an incurable optimist.
Mihai Lehene
Board of Directors
Founding Angel
Founder, Romanian United Foundation
Founder
Volunteer (full)
Teacher
Mihai is the Owner of MDL Investments, a real-estate and VC family-office with a focus on emerging technologies, including fintech, biotech and crypto. In 2020 Mihai resigned his business roles to run RUF, and in 2022 he was elected as President of FORA.
Mihaela is the founder of the Psychotherapy and Transformational Movement with over twenty-two years of clinical experience. She received an MA in Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, specializing in Counseling Psychology.
I always felt that something was missing in our Community, in Chicago, a central point of connection for our people. It was a dream "if somebody would open a Community Center for all of us, that would be nice ..."
Cristian works as a Heavy Duty Sales Consultant at Compass Truck Sales, a Transportation/Trucking/Railroad company.
Since she moved to Chicago, Gabi’s Romanian roots became stronger. She believes in community and giving back and wants her children to be proud Romanians. She’s been a passionate teacher of Italian for over 25 years.
Ioana Savos
Founding Angel
RUF Founding Angel, Member of the Chicago Community Council, Honorary Member of ROCO, the Romanian Community Center
Volunteer
