ROBERT BLACK (Past President & Senior Advisor) retired from the CSEC in December 2011, after a 34-year career with the organization. He is a graduate of Wheaton College (Illinois) where he majored in economics, with minor concentrations in music and theater. Following graduation, he was an executive in the retail sector and Senior Account Manager in NCR Corporation’s retail services division. In 1977, he joined the Chicago Sunday Evening Club Chorale, the professional choir that appeared for many years on 30 Good Minutes, and in 1987 he was appointed Executive Director and Producer of the broadcasts, becoming President and CEO in 1994. Robert’s television work has received a Telly Award, an Aurora Ward, a Columbus International Film Festival Bronze Plaque and several DeRose Hinkhouse Awards from the Religion Communicators Council. Robert is an active member and lay leader at St. James Episcopal Cathedral, and received the Bishop’s Award in 2008 from the Diocese of Chicago in recognition of outstanding service to God, church and community.

TERRY BRACKNEY (Associate Producer and Executive Assistant) has been with the Chicago Sunday Evening Club for over ten years, first in a part-time capacity and then full-time since 1995. A graduate of the University of Illinois, he continued his education in the health care field and, prior to joining the CSEC staff, served as a health care professional for almost 20 years. As Associate Producer of 30 Good Minutes, Terry works closely behind the scenes with our program guests, assists in coordinating all facets of production, and oversees closed-captioning of the program. His association with the Chicago Sunday Evening Club has provided an enjoyable learning experience in the world of broadcast media as well as an enriching and gratifying second career in this unique television ministry. 

Lillian Daniel (Co-host) is Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church, UCC, of Glen Ellyn, where she has served since 2004, following eight years as Senior Minister of the Church of the Redeemer, in New Haven, Connecticut. She is the author Tell It Like It Is: Reclaiming the Practice of Testimony and This Odd and Wondrous Calling: The Public and Private Lives of Two Ministers, co-authored with Martin B. Copenhaver. Lillian is an editor at large for the Christian Century Magazine, and has written for The Huffington Post, Christianity Today, Leadership Journal, Books and Culture, and The Journal for Preachers. Lillian has taught preaching at Yale Divinity School, Chicago Theological Seminary, and the University of Chicago Divinity School, and serves on the Board of Trustees of Chicago Theological Seminary and the Board of Advisors at Yale Divinity School. She is married to Lou Weeks, a labor union organize, and is the mother of two teenagers.

TIM FRAKES (Field Producer/Editor) is an award winning videographer, video producer, script writer and editor. A 1984 graduate of Harding University his videos are broadcast on major television networks and distributed world wide on DVD. From 1993 to 2007 Mr. Frakes served as the principal videographer for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In March, 2007, he launched, Tim Frakes Productions. Tim Frakes' videos can be seen on this web site as well as You Tube, and Vimeo. Tim Frakes has produced documentary, image and educational programs in twenty three countries across Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, Europe and the Middle East, including many productions in the United States. Mr. Frakes makes his home in suburban Chicago.

PATTY KANIFF (Editor/Graphic Artist) has been an editor 30 Good Minutes since 2003. She has also edited projects such as The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special, An Evening With Quincy Jones, Rome Pilgrimage: Journey into Jubilee, and many programs for WTTW Channel 11.  Her work on a documentary for The Illinois Department On Aging garnered a Telly Award.  As a graphic artist, she has created multimedia programs for The Chest Foundation Series and the National Association of Realtors.  Ms. Kaniff's other interests include singing opera and creating fine art.  Her demo reel can be viewed at www.pkcreativevisuals.com.

DANIEL PAWLUS (co-host) has been delighted to be a part of 30 Good Minutes since 2005.  He currently serves as Vice President of Communications for Interfaith Youth Core and has an eclectic professional background that includes extensive work in the entertainment business, corporate communications industry, and non-profit world.  Prior to his IFYC role, Dan worked as the Director of Development for Catholic Church Extension Society.  His writings on various faith issues have appeared in The Faith Divide/Washington Post blog, Good Morning America’s Spirituality blog as well as Chicago Catholic News. Dan has been active in music ministries at St. Monica’s Parish Community in Santa Monica, CA and as a current member of Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago. He feels deeply blessed by his family that includes his wife Leanna, son Luke, and beautiful twin girls Sofia and Alayna.

The Rev. Dr. ED PRATT (Vice President for Development) is an ordained Presbyterian Minister.  Ed received his Master of Divinity degree (1981) and his Doctor of Ministry degree (1992) from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.  His undergraduate degree is from the University of Illinois in Chicago, with a major in Psychology.  For twenty years Ed served as pastor to congregations in Illinois, Kansas, and Arizona.  During his career as a pastor, Ed started several not-for-profit organizations including a hospice, a youth center, and an endowment for minority education.  While serving as a pastor, Ed often helped other pastors and organizations adopt better fund-raising practices.  In 2001 Ed moved into development work full time.  Ed was most recently Vice President for Development at Chicago Theological Seminary, and was formerly Senior Consultant and Vice President for Client Services at IDC, a fundraising firm in Henderson, Nevada, where he developed a successful practice for faith-based clients.  Ed worships at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. Ed has two sons, one grandson and one granddaughter.

LYDIA TALBOT (co-host) has been a host on 30 Good Minutes since 1992. She is Executive Director of Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries, which produces Sanctuary on ABC Chicago and Different Drummers on CBS Chicago. Lydia serves on the boards of The Christian Century, Chicago Bible Society, and the Chicago Sunday Evening Club, producers of 30 Good Minutes.

KHIEM TRAN (Webmaster/Photographer) is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is the Webmaster/Photographer for the Chicago Sunday Evening Club and is also the developer and designer of our 30 Good Minutes website and Reflect e-newsletter. He is our staff photographer and in-house video editor. Khiem’s photos and videos can be seen on this web site as well as on You Tube, flickr, and his web site ktranchicago.com

JUDITH VALENTE (Field Producer) is an awarding-winning journalist, producer, poet and essayist whose work has been featured on 30 Good Minutes since 2005. She began her career in journalism as a staff reporter for The Washington Post, later joined The Wall Street Journal, and was twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Since 1998, Ms. Valente has been an on-air correspondent for the national PBS-TV news program Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly. Her reporting has also appeared on The News Hour with Jim Lehrer and on National Public Radio and Chicago Public Radio. She has won nine broadcast awards. Ms. Valente’s first full-length collection of poems, Discovering Moons, was published in 2009 by Virtual Artists Collective, and in 2004, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver selected Ms. Valente’s chapbook, Inventing An Alphabet, for the national Aldrich Poetry Prize. She is co-editor of the anthology, Twenty Poems to Nourish Your Soul (Loyola Press, 2005). Ms. Valente is married to Illinois Circuit Court Judge and poet Charles Reynard. They live in Chicago and Normal, IL.