Kathleen St. Louis Caliento

Dr. Kathleen St. Louis Caliento has spent nearly three decades focused on issues of social justice, including educational equity, workforce development, and economic empowerment. She is the Chief Executive Officer of The Revel Group, a multi-brand experiential hospitality company dedicated to creating extraordinary experiences and building people-centered, values-driven workplaces. In this role, she leads national growth, innovation, and culture across Revel’s expanding portfolio.

Previously, Dr. Caliento served as President & CEO of Cara Collective, a Chicago-based social impact enterprise dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals affected by poverty and advancing a more inclusive economy. During her tenure, Cara Collective produced nearly 1,000 jobs annually and exceeded national job-retention benchmarks by nearly 20 points.

Prior to Cara Collective, Dr. Caliento served as Chief Learning and Design Officer at The Academy Group, where she helped students access highly competitive mentorship and internship opportunities across Chicago. Her earlier leadership at Spark Program included driving a threefold increase in revenue, corporate investment, and workplace apprenticeship opportunities.

Dr. Caliento is deeply committed to civic leadership and community engagement. She serves on the Adler University Board of Trustees and the Leadership Greater Chicago LFA Board. She is a Fellow of the 2020 Leadership Greater Chicago class, a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, and a graduate of the University of Chicago’s Civic Leadership Academy.

A published author, Dr. Caliento earned her Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Secondary Science Education from Columbia University and her Master of Business Administration from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Originally from New York City and a Chicago resident since 2003, Kathleen enjoys running, live music, and traveling with her family.