Andy Shaw - Executive Director

Andy Shaw is an award-winning Chicago journalist who spent 35 years covering politics, business, education and day-to-day news at the City News Bureau, Chicago Sun-Times, NBC 5 and ABC 7. He retired as ABC 7's political reporter in January, 2009 after covering the Obama inauguration.   More

Patrick Rehkamp - Chief Investigator

Patrick Rehkamp came to the BGA in November 2008, bringing four years of experience in newspaper reporting from five Chicago area papers. He spent more than three years at the Chicago Sun-Times, covering various aspects of government, crime, human interest and sports.

Since taking over the investigative program, Rehkamp has continued to build strong relationships with sources from his newspaper days and BGA media partners. His role as manager of the program includes evaluating whistleblower leads, obtaining evidence using public records laws and surveillance, and facilitating the release of BGA findings. In addition, he supervises the activities of interns and investigative staff, and maintains the BGA computer network, databases, and website.

Patrick is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago.

Heidi Grossenbacher - Development and Communications Director

Heidi Grossenbacher joined the BGA staff in July 2004. She brings a strong background in fundraising, marketing and stewardship from her four-year post as Assistant Director of Development at Northwestern University School of Law.

As the Director of Development and Communications, Grossenbacher runs the BGA marketing, fundraising and membership programs. In addition to soliciting individual and major gifts and grants, Grossenbacher’s duties include publishing BGA newsletters, managing the logistics for the fall kickoff event and annual benefit, and overseeing the organization’s operating budget.

Grossenbacher began in the non-profit world in 1998 as a research assistant for the Celebrity Entertainment and Development offices of the United Service Organizations (USO) in Washington, DC.

Grossenbacher has a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from St. John’s College, Annapolis, Maryland.