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CROYA Staff

CROYA adult staff are trained professionals, always on site, who guide and assist young adults. CROYA adult staff are trained and experienced in guiding young adults in learning valuable life skills including accountability, ethics, values, civility, and service; teaching Peer Training to equip young adults to manage complex social-emotional issues; assisting young adults in managing their lives while developing coping skills for the future; fostering the importance of respect for selves, peers and adults; facilitating the development of leadership skills through team building, decision-making, and group processing; and helping young adults bring their creative ideas to life in realistic and appropriate ways.

Todd Nahigian

Todd Nahigian

CROYA Manager

Todd grew up in Northfield and attended Glenbrook South High School. He studied Psychology at Miami University (Ohio), and earned his Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, now Argosy University. Todd began working at CROYA as the High School Youth Worker in 1995, and became the Assistant Director of CROYA in 2000. Todd and his wife Amy have twin daughters (Addison & Brooke). Todd is an avid Cubs fan and still plays on a men's baseball team in Chicago. On working at CROYA, Todd says he “most enjoys working with youth to provide them with opportunities where they can feel good about themselves as a person. Adolescence is a challenging time. Anything I can do to help kids in their social-emotional development is rewarding to me."

P: 847-810-3982 E: nahigiat@cityoflakeforest.com


Rick Day

Rick Day

CROYA Student Union Program Manager

Rick grew up in Lake Forest and attended Deer Path Middle School and Lake Forest High School, where he was Chairman of the CROYA High School Executive Committee. He received his BS in Agricultural and Consumer Economics from the University of Illinois. Before becoming the Student Union Program manager, Rick worked for the National Headquarters of his Fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma, in Warrensburg, MO.

As the Student Union Program Manager, Rick looks forward to developing new and exciting programming for after school and weekend hours. Rick loves CROYA because “CROYA is an amazing organization that not only provides leadership and service opportunities, but also provides a space for youth to be themselves and have fun. CROYA truly helped shape me into the person that I am today, and I’m so excited to be able to share the CROYA experience with the youth of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.”

P: 847-810-3984 E: dayr@cityoflakeforest.com


Leslie Walton

Leslie Walton

CROYA Middle School Youth Worker

Leslie grew up in Bushnell, Illinois and attended Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin for high school. She received her degree in Communication from Lake Forest College in 2015. Before working at CROYA, Leslie worked in the athletic department at her alma mater, Wayland Academy, a boarding school in Wisconsin. Leslie is an avid tennis player and tries to play as much as she can. In 2016, Leslie joined the CROYA staff as the Student Union Youth Worker, where she planned and organized after school programs and weekend activities. Leslie is currently the Middle School Youth Worker and hopes continue to build relationships with the youth and local middle schools in addition to planning programs and community service opportunities that the youth are passionate about and want to participate in.

P: 847-810-3999 E: waltonl@cityoflakeforest.com


Catherine Grey

Catherine Grey

High School Youth Worker

Catherine grew up in Champaign, Illinois and attended Champaign Central High School. She received her undergraduate degree in Community Wellness from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois where she was the Director of Friendship and Social for her Sorority, Chi Omega. Before becoming the High School Youth Worker, Catherine was the Coordinator of Prevention and Education for Rosecrance Central Illinois.

P: 847-810-3999 E: greyc@cityoflakeforest.com