Meet Elka
Board President Elka Nelson is a social justice activist and organizer who is dedicated and diligent with outstanding communication, client service, and relationship management skills. A licensed Illinois attorney, Elka has over 30 years' experience in providing legal counsel and advisement to individuals and corporations.
Elka currently serves as Legal Counsel at Byline Bank in Chicago, IL. In that role, Elka provides legal support on a broad range of commercial and retail banking matters pertaining to real estate, operations, lending, leasing, retail banking, legal compliance and regulatory, human resources, facilities and marketing. Elka also assisted Byline in completing its initial public offering (IPO)land several acquisitions. Prior to her role at Byline Bank, Elka served for over 25 years as Founding Partner of Elka Geller Nelson and Associates, a law firm concentrating in business transactions as well as transactional real estate, real estate consulting, and real estate development.
In addition to her role in private practice Elka has publicly served as Town Council President in Porter, Indiana. In addition to serving as Redevelopment Commission member overseeing grant funding and TIF funding as well as various economic development projects - ranging from strategic business and development planning, development of hiking and biking trails, and ADA accessibility improvements. Rounding out Elka's work in the Town of Porter was her service as President of the Town of Porter Police Commission and Duneland Economic Development Commission. Elka was a proud attendee of the 2018 Obama Foundation Summit.
Elka holds a Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Management from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Elka is passionate about child welfare reform advocacy and believes that the family unit is foundational to a well-functioning society. Elka is a proponent of families remaining together when it is safely possible.