Meet Hannah: Spark’s Newest Board Member
A warm welcome to the newest member of Spark’s Board of Directors, Hannah Prevost-Schultz!
We are thrilled to introduce you to the Spark community, Hannah! Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a lifelong learner, people enthusiast, and someone who believes that when individuals and organizations thrive, entire communities benefit. Professionally, I serve as a Principal Consultant at sr4 Partners, where I work with executives and senior leadership teams as a strategic advisor, facilitator, trainer, and coach. My work focuses on helping leaders, teams, and organizations become healthier, more effective, and better equipped to navigate change.
I’m a graduate of North Park University, where I earned both my Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. My career has taken me through community leadership development, higher education, healthcare, and consulting, and a common thread has remained throughout: helping people exceed what they thought was possible and creating environments where they can thrive. Outside of work, I live in Chicago with my husband, Justin (also a longtime Spark supporter), and love spending time with family and friends, exploring the city, traveling the world, and creating memorable experiences that bring people together. I’m energized by meaningful conversations, learning from people with different perspectives, and building connections that make communities stronger.
What are your hobbies and interests?
One of my favorite things to do is bring people together. Whether it’s hosting a dinner, planning a gathering, facilitating a workshop, or organizing a unique experience, I love creating spaces where people can connect, learn from one another, and build relationships.
I also enjoy traveling and experiencing new cultures, which has shaped how I see the world and deepened my appreciation for different perspectives. Living in Chicago, I try to take full advantage of everything the city has to offer, especially during the summer months. You can often find me exploring a new neighborhood, attending Chicago sporting events, trying new restaurants, golfing across Chicagoland, or making memories with friends and family. I’m endlessly curious about people. I love learning what motivates them, hearing their stories, and discovering the experiences that have shaped who they are.
How did you get connected to Spark?
My connection to Spark goes back nearly two decades. I had the opportunity to participate in two of Spark’s earliest trips to Zambia in 2007 and 2008, and those experiences left a lasting impact on me. They challenged me to see the world differently and reinforced the importance of approaching service through partnership, humility, and mutual learning.
What stood out most was Spark’s commitment to building authentic relationships and investing in local leaders and communities. Rather than focusing on short-term solutions, Spark was creating opportunities for sustainable impact and empowering people to lead change within their own communities.
Since those early trips, I’ve remained connected to the organization as a supporter and advocate. I also had the privilege of serving on Spark’s Associate Board from 2015 to 2017, which allowed me to become even more involved in supporting the mission and engaging with the broader Spark community.
What are you looking forward to most as a new director on Spark’s board?
I’m excited to be joining the board as Spark approaches its 20th birthday year. It’s an exciting time for the organization to be thinking about what the next 20 years of impact can look like, as we get ready to celebrate all that has been accomplished so far. I’m looking forward to helping connect more people to Spark’s mission and sharing the stories of impact that make this community so special. I’m especially energized by the opportunity to build on Spark’s strong foundation and work with the board to sustain and expand it’s impact for years to come.
One of the things I appreciate most about Spark is that it brings together people who genuinely care about learning, serving, and building meaningful relationships.The experiences I had with Spark early on helped shape how I think about leadership, partnership, and global citizenship. It feels especially meaningful to now have the opportunity to give back to an organization that has influenced my own journey. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve on the board and excited to be part of co-creating what comes next for Spark.