Holly Copeland is responsible for creating, building and executing Horizon’s Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability & Impact Work. Prior to joining Horizon, Holly served as Deputy Director of the Office of Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Technology, which involved the direct oversight of more than 20 staff members and a $144 million portfolio that provided technical assistance & financial support for Illinois’ small businesses and innovation ecosystems.
Holly has also served as CEO of a privately-held boutique consulting firm, was the President of the Illinois Inaugural Committee, Illinois Governor Quinn’s Chief Operating Officer, and Director of Development for a statewide non-profit organization. Holly is a founding mentor of Chicago Innovation’s Women Mentoring Co-op, as well as a board member of Chicago Innovation, Perspectives Charter Schools, the Chicago Council on Science and Technology, and on the President’s Council of the Museum of Science and Industry. She is in the Chicago Ideas Co-Op and an advisory board member of MATTER, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Women & Global Development Forum, Shopping.Gives, and the EPEC at Loyola University.
Holly has a Masters Degree in International Affairs/International Political Economy from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Illinois, Springfield (where she also earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration). Holly was a YWCA Woman of Excellence nominee and is an active volunteer at her local food pantry. Holly is the proud mother of two curious and creative daughters, with whom she co-wrote the children’s book ‘Teca, the teeny, tiny, teacup pig & her BIG world.’
