Susan J. Curry

Executive Director

Susan Curry joined PILI as its Executive Director in 2004.  Her public interest law career spans over 20 years.  Admitted to the bars of both Illinois and Minnesota, she has served as the Executive Director of the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago, the Minnesota Justice Foundation and the P-Fund Foundation.  She began her legal career in Chicago as an associate with the law firm of Gardner, Carton & Douglas, then moved to the public interest sector where she served as a staff counsel first for for the Better Government Association and, then, for the Illinois Guardianship & Advocacy Commission’s Legal Advocacy Service.  She is a past Chair of The Chicago Bar Association’s Legal Aid Committee and serves on the Board of Directors of Illinois Legal Aid Online and the Illinois Equal Justice Coalition. 

Susan earned her J.D. from the University of Notre Dame College of Law, and also holds a Master’s degree in public affairs/nonprofit management from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute. 

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Michael G. Bergmann

Director of Programs

Michael is responsible for overseeing each of PILI's Programs.  Prior to joining PILI in 2006, Michael served as the Guardian Ad Litem Program Director for Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.  An active member of the American Bar Association, he is the ABA Young Lawyers Division Secretary-Treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee of the Lawyers Conference of the Judicial Division. He previously served for three years on the Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity in the Profession. Michael is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association where he serves on the Assembly and Young Lawyers Division Council, is Chair of the Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services and Immediate Past Chair of the Child Law Section Council. He is a Vice Chair of The Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section. He also serves on the boards of directors of several community organizations. Frequently recognized for his contributions to the bar, Michael was also named the 2005 recipient of the Kimball and Karen Anderson Public Interest Law Fellowship from The Chicago Bar Foundation and the 2007 Outstanding Young Alumnus from DePaul University College of Law.

Michael attended The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Politics. He received his Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law. Prior to and during law school, Michael was a consultant with the Financial Planning Solutions Group of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, responsible for project management and business development.

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R. Alex Kliner

Development Associate

In December of 2009, Alex Kliner joined PILI’s staff as Development Associate. Prior to arriving in Chicago in September of 2009, Alex served as Development and Awards Associate for the American Society of Hematology in Washington, DC and as Proposals Coordinator for Fawn Industries in Baltimore, MD. Alex is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and is currently pursuing a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) credential. An ardent supporter of the performing arts, Alex volunteers as Executive Artistic Director of Lights Out Theatre Company and Director of Development for the Chicago Fringe Festival. As a theatre artist, Alex has been acting, directing, sound designing, and composing on the east coast (and now Chicago) for several years.

Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance from Towson University (Baltimore, MD), and a Graduate Certificate in Arts Management from American University (Washington, DC).

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Michael Mollet

Financial Assistant

Michael Mollet joined PILI as its part-time Financial Assistant in 2002 and is responsible for keeping the agency's financial records and reconciling accounts.  Currently pursuing his Master's degree, Michael also holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and has worked at the Chicago Board Options Exchange since 2005.