Best Startup
At Best Startup US we track over 1,000,000 US startups and over 3 million people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United States based President operating in the Communities space. If you think a President is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.us.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Richard Lovett
President of Creative Artists Agency
Richard Lovett is president of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the world’s leading entertainment and sports agency, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Nashville and Beijing. Lovett’s personal clients are among the world’s most accomplished actors, directors, writers and producers. Lovett began his career in the mailroom at CAA, rising the ranks to become president in 1995. Since then, he has led the company in unprecedented innovation and growth, creating a new model for client representation in the 21st century. In addition to representing many of the most successful professionals working in film, television, music, video games, theater, and digital media, CAA provides a range of strategic marketing and consulting services to corporate clients. Under Lovett’s leadership, CAA has also launched a highly successful investment banking affiliate, Evolution Media Capital (EMC); a private equity firm, Star Avenue Capital; five venture-financed Internet companies, including comedy content creator Funny or Die; and a digital media and consumer technology venture fund. In 1996, Lovett and his partners created the CAA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the agency. Lovett has received numerous awards for his activism, including the Shoah Foundation’s Ambassador for Humanity Award, presented by Steven Spielberg. A native of Milwaukee, Lovett attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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About Creative Artists Agency: Leading entertainment and sports agency
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Jennifer Perri
Vice President, Univision Creator Network of Univision Communications
Jennifer Perri is Vice President of the Univision Creator Network. For the last two years, Jen has lead the charge in cross platform integration of influencers and brands within Univision. She’s been with UCN since 2015 and helped build an in-house multi-channel network that is now the No. 1 Hispanic focused MCN on YouTube in less than two years. Under Jen’s leadership, UCN has attracted and signed over 200 young and diverse digital talent and has fostered a real sense of community. UCN creators have been integrated across digital, linear and live events, and have expanded Univision’s content offering and have helped us to connect with Hispanic millennials. Prior to her role at Univision, Jen held strategy and development positions at Seventeen (Hearst and Awesomeness TV), Collective Digital Studios (now Studio 71) and co-founded BigFrame. Jen also was a producer and production manager on Current TV, which won the first Emmy award for Best Interactive Television Series at the Primetime Emmy Awards. She is a graduate of the University of San Francisco in Communication studies.
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About Univision Communications: Univision Communications is a media company that provides media-related services.
Justin Stewart
President & Co-Founder of Industrious
ustin is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Industrious. Previously Justin served as Director of Acquisitions and Operations at Windham Development and Windham China, where he headed their US Real Estate operations. He was previously a Vice President at Madison Realty Capital, but his career highlight will forever be the time he worked for the writing team at the Late Show with his childhood idol, David Letterman. He is the childhood next-door neighbor of Industrious co-founder Jamie Hodari, allowing them an early start dreaming about the future of office space. Justin can be found living with his fiancé in New York’s Lower East Side, along with their dog, confusingly named Chicken. Justin holds a Graduate Certification in Real Estate Finance and Development from NYU and a B.A. from Indiana University.
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About Industrious: Industrious is a premium flexible workspace provider that redefines the workplace experience.
Dunia Shive
President & CEO of Belo
Dunia Shive was elected to the Dr Pepper Snapple Group board of directors in November 2014 and sits on the Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee. Ms. Shive serves as senior vice president of Gannett Co. Inc. She previously served as president and CEO of Belo Corp. from 2008 to 2013, when it was acquired by Gannett. She joined Belo in 1993 and served in various leadership positions prior to becoming president and CEO. Ms. Shive has served as a director of Trinity Industries, Inc. since March 2014. She also serves as a member of the Associated Press board of directors, where she is the chair of the audit committee, and as a trustee of the Belo Foundation. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Texas Tech University and in 2008 was recognized by the university as a Distinguished Alumna.
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About Belo: From its beginnings as a Texas newspaper company in 1842 through the explosive growth of the past 20 years, Belo has prospered because of
Rand Harbert
Senior Vice President of State Farm Insurance
Rand Harbert is Senior Vice President at State Farm.
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About State Farm Insurance: State Farm is a insurance company that offers insurance and financial services.
Candice O’Denver
Founder and President of Balanced View
Candice O’Denver is an innovator in the practical application of philosophy as a means to benefit all. She is the inventor and founder of Balanced View, a standardized education in the nature of mind used throughout the world. Balanced View’s unique methodology applies algorithms to reach the consistent result of the beneficial empowerment of mind, speech, body, qualities and activities. Comprehensive order becomes spontaneously obvious through recognizing intelligence as inexhaustibly open in a vast space that is not restricted by the body. When Candice O’Denver was 7, a Bermuda neighbor read her “Awareness Nakedly Seeing” from the Oxford University translation of “The Tibetan Book of the Dead.” The clear perspective of mind as an inexhaustible open intelligence was newly invigorated in within her upon hearing this important text. It gave Candice O’Denver the courage to continue in her firmly held belief that everything is beneficial by nature. Candice found no distinction between Tibetan timeless awareness and the Christian God that was so important to her family. She learned that each culture has its own system for bringing out the best in people, and that each system is a perfect fit for that particular culture. Candice O’Denver felt a strong urgency to bring unity to the people of the world through a standardized means of bringing out the best in people which is Balanced View In Bermuda, European Catholic pageantry and British royals were blended with celebratory Caribbean Christianity and early steel drum music — the roots of reggae, rapped out on large discarded oil cans. Every night, the sound filled the air from nightfall to 2am, becoming the vibration of the Caribbean countries and their people, including Candice. Although the 50s occured after World War II, Jewish people were not permitted entry to the country or its lodging through a variety of devious means. Candice O’Denver’s parents gave refuge to visitors and immigrants who were not allowed in Bermuda, giving all 6 of their children a rich background in international community and friendship. Candice O’Denver studied in a Yale mathematics program for gifted children. At the age of 18, she attended a UCLA international program for young philosophers where she focused on the pragmatic application of philosophy to be of immediate, permanent benefit. Bypassing undergraduate school, Candice was accepted into and completed graduate school, studying both critical theory and fine arts with a variety of professors at California College of the Arts, Stanford, and UC Berkeley. Early in childhood, Candice O’Denver was introduced to computer science and the use of original algorithms to reach consistent results. In the seminal years of computer history, her father began the high level design of the first international computer network for food distribution. He later led the team that developed and implemented this system when technological innovations matched his aspirations. Inspired by her father’s drawings of bar codes and stories about a future of food distribution to everyone in the world based on the bar code, reducibility became Candice O’Denver’s innate way of problem-solving. Candice O’Denver is particularly interested in utilizing the philosophy and mathematics of computer science as the basis for a revolution in social science, particularly philosophy of mind, which always has been left to vague levels of abstraction with no result of permanent benefit. Candice applies precise levels of organization and explanation used in computer science to arrive at specific results in the philosophy of mind. Advancing theories of information, reducibility, organization, and explanation, Candice has developed a comparative analysis and then a comprehensive map of all known systems of education in the nature of mind and in human nature. Candice O’Denver is very involved in the Massive Vibe Project. The lyrics that we’re putting out there in the Massive Vibe project are very special lyrics and will the very core of people. We want these lyrics always to be very, very special direct communications of open intelligence. Nature’s vast, open intelligence speaking to everyone everywhere so that everyone everywhere is very simply, yet radically, developing a universal revolutionary language that has never existed before between beings of all kinds.
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About Balanced View: A global grassroots movement empowering people to use their innate power for the benefit of all.
Janna Potts
Executive Vice President and Chief Stores Officer of Target
Janna Potts is executive vice president, chief stores officer for Target and a member of its leadership team. In this role, she is responsible for leading more than 300,000 team members and operating more than 1,800 stores. Janna joined the company in 1989 as a campus hire and worked in its Mervyn’s stores in variety of leadership positions. She was promoted to vice president, employee relations and distribution human resources at Target in 2004. She held a number of other key leadership positions and spent nearly five years as senior vice president of store operations, before she was promoted to senior vice president, human resources in 2015 where she was focused on stores and supply chain. Janna graduated from Southwest Texas State with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1989.
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About Target: Target is an American retailing company providing access to a wide selection of products such as furniture, electronics, toys, and more.
Jackie Hourigan Rice
Executive Vice President and Chief Risk and Compliance Officer of Target
Jackie Rice is executive vice president and chief risk and compliance officer for Target, and a member of its executive leadership team. She is responsible for the centralized oversight of enterprise risk management, compliance, vendor management and corporate security. She leads a team focused on evolving and enhancing enterprise risk and compliance standards to protect Target and its stakeholders, including guests, team members and vendors. Jackie has more than 18 years of legal and compliance experience. Prior to joining Target in 2014, she served as chief compliance officer and legal counsel for a major global automotive manufacturer. She led a global team of lawyers and compliance professionals to develop programs focused on global compliance including anti-corruption, export controls, data privacy and ethics. Jackie also served as legal counsel across several business areas, including marketing, information technology, transactions and retail finance, including overseas assignments in Zurich, Switzerland and Melbourne, Australia. Jackie graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, where she was editor-in-chief of the Law Review. She obtained her undergraduate degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University.
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About Target: Target is an American retailing company providing access to a wide selection of products such as furniture, electronics, toys, and more.
Laysha L. Ward
Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer of Target
Laysha Ward is president of Community Relations for Target and a member of its executive committee. She oversees the corporation’s domestic and international grant making, community sponsorships, cause marketing initiatives, volunteerism and other civic activities. Ms. Ward serves on the board of directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Executive Leadership Council, and Denny’s Corporation. She is a member of the Aspen Institute’s Commission on No Child Left Behind, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and The Links, an international woman’s service organization. She is also a member of the advisory committee for The Shriver Report, a project founded by Maria Shriver that examines current cultural transformations affecting American women and families. Ms. Ward received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University and a master’s degree in social services administration from the University of Chicago.
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About Target: Target is an American retailing company providing access to a wide selection of products such as furniture, electronics, toys, and more.
Tomas Kadlec
Senior Vice President Infrastructure & Operations of Target
Tom is an IT professional with a powerful combination of technology and business skills in USA, UK, and international environments. He has a wealth of in-store and online IT experience in both mature and growing businesses and markets. Over the past 20 years, Tomas has played a number of leadership roles in technology management in the USA, UK, the Czech Republic and Hungary. He has also undertaken technical roles within service provider organizations. Currently Tomas is working as a Senior Vice President of Infrastructure and Operations at Target.Previously as principal consultant in finance sector and was involved in new technology and start-up businesses. During his time at Tesco, Tomas displayed clear, forward-looking vision and embedded a culture of innovation into his teams, enabling them to rapidly deploy new technology solutions as well as meet the changing demands of business stakeholders. He transformed the siloed country IT teams into a centralized, global IT Services function. His responsibilities included managing a large international teams.
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About Target: Target is an American retailing company providing access to a wide selection of products such as furniture, electronics, toys, and more.
Carlos Saavedra
Vice President – Brand Marketing of Target
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About Target: Target is an American retailing company providing access to a wide selection of products such as furniture, electronics, toys, and more.
Rick Gomez
Senior Vice President, Brand and Category Marketing of Target
Rick Gomez is executive vice president, chief marketing and digital officer for Target and a member of its executive leadership team. He is responsible for overseeing marketing and media strategy, creative, guest research, loyalty, and corporate responsibility efforts. In addition, Rick is the head of Target’s e-commerce business and oversees the company’s digital strategy.
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About Target: Target is an American retailing company providing access to a wide selection of products such as furniture, electronics, toys, and more.
Stephanie Lundquist
EVP and President of Food & Beverage of Target
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About MBOLD, Target: Target is an American retailing company providing access to a wide selection of products such as furniture, electronics, toys, and more.
Mike McNamara
Executive Vice President, Chief Information and Digital Officer of Target
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About Target, Target: Target is an American retailing company providing access to a wide selection of products such as furniture, electronics, toys, and more.
Joel Crabb
Vice President, Architecture and Chief architect of Target
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About Target: Target is an American retailing company providing access to a wide selection of products such as furniture, electronics, toys, and more.
Scott Swartz
Vice President of Target
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About Target: Target is an American retailing company providing access to a wide selection of products such as furniture, electronics, toys, and more.
Krish Srinivasan
Vice President of Target
Krish is the Vice President for Cloud & Compute with over 18 years of Technology experience. Prior to that he was the Vice President for Security Solutions. In his current role, Krish is responsible for engineering solutions that protect Target, reduce friction for its guests and team members. He is supported by a diverse and high performing security engineering team at Target.
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About Target: Target is an American retailing company providing access to a wide selection of products such as furniture, electronics, toys, and more.
Charles Knippen
National President of The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS)
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About The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS): The NSLS is the nation’s largest and only accredited leadership honor society with more than 1.5 million members.
Keith Kocourek
President and Owner of Kocourek Auto Group
Keith Kocourek is the owner and president of Kocourek Automotive, an automotive company that currently has six dealerships in Wausau, Wisconsin. An avid pilot for over 25 years, Keith has flown medical flights for Angel Flight and has been a supporter of the EAA Young Eagles program, as well as EAA’s Gathering of Eagles. Keith is also a member of the President’s Circle for EAA. He currently owns and flies a Beechcraft King Air, a WACO ZPF-7 and a Super Cub float plane.
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About Kocourek Auto Group: Here at Kocourek Auto Group, we take pride in providing friendly and honest service to the Wausau, Wisconsin community.
Robert Hisaoka
President of Venture Philanthropy Partners
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About Venture Philanthropy Partners: VPP makes the future brighter for youth living in the National Capital Region by tackling the largest barriers
David Lightburn
Co-Founder, President of Atlanta Tech Village
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About Atlanta Tech Village, Clickscape: Atlanta Tech Village is a tech hub for entrepreneurs that promotes a connection between talent, ideas, and capital.
Jon Roberts
President, Dotdash Finance of Dotdash
Dr. Jon Roberts has a PhD in theoretical high-energy physics with ten years of research experience in high-energy particle physics and ultrahigh energy cosmic rays. At Dotdash, Dr. Roberts leads a team of researchers deriving insights from more than 20 years of Internet data across thousands of topics. As a Marie Curie research fellow at Warsaw University, Dr. Roberts studied how dark matter might appear at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. After Poland, Dr. Roberts spent five years as a researcher at New York University, where he made predictions for solar system cosmic rays, currently being tested by NASA’s AMS detector on the International Space Station. He also worked on the Pierre Auger telescope in Argentina, tracking the detected ultrahigh energy cosmic rays back to their origins outside our galaxy.
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About Dotdash, Dotdash, Investopedia: Dotdash’s vibrant brands help over 100 million users each month find answers, solve problems, and get inspired.
Tre Jones
Senior Vice President, Growth of Dotdash
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About Dotdash: Dotdash’s vibrant brands help over 100 million users each month find answers, solve problems, and get inspired.
Ronald Lauder
President of World Jewish Congress (WJC)
International philanthropist, investor, art collector, and former public servant, Ronald S. Lauder has served as president of the World Jewish Congress since June 2007. President Lauder also demonstrates his deep commitment to his Judaism through a wide range of other philanthropic endeavors that reach around the world. As president of the WJC, Amb. Lauder has met with countless heads of state, prime ministers and government representatives in advancing those causes that are of most concern to Jews and Jewish communities internationally. He firmly believes in the importance of supporting Israel, especially in times when the State, and its citizens are under attack, whilst also encouraging and aiding the development of vibrant Jewish communities around the world. From 1983 to 1986, Ronald S. Lauder served as United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Affairs. In 1986, he was appointed by President Reagan as US Ambassador to Austria. During his posting there he built strong diplomatic bonds between the two countries while personally repudiating Kurt Waldheim who became Austrian President. Amb. Lauder’s experience in Austria heightened his deep appreciation of, and his commitment to, his Jewish heritage. Afterwards, he sought to revitalize Jewish life across central and eastern Europe in communities that had been devastated by the Holocaust, and remained suppressed under Communism. In 1987, he established The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, which now supports 37 Jewish schools, camps and community centers in Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine. Amb. Lauder’s efforts have awakened thousands of Jewish youngsters to their Jewish heritage. Amb. Lauder also created an International Student Exchange Program between Jewish high school students in New York City and Vienna, which has now grown to include students from Berlin, Budapest, Prague, St. Petersburg, Sofia and Warsaw. In 1997, Amb. Lauder was elected as President of the Jewish National Fund and after a successful 10-year tenure became Chairman of the Board. From 1999 until 2001 Amb. Lauder served as Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Amb. Lauder’s passion for art and his commitment to justice led him to create and head the Committee for Art Recovery that has helped establish international laws to recover art stolen by the Nazis during World War II. The Committee continues to help retrieve important paintings and deliver them to the heirs of their rightful owners. In 2008, Amb. Lauder was elected as President of the World Jewish Restitution Organization. President Lauder also serves as Chairman of the Jewish Heritage Council; Director of the International Board of Governors of the International Society for Yad Vashem; Member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council; Member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Theological Seminary; Member of the Board of Directors of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee; Member of the Board of Trustees of the Anti-Defamation League Foundation; Member of the Board of Trustees of The Abraham Fund; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sakharov Archives at Brandeis University and Member of the International Board of Governors of the Tel Aviv Museum. Amb. Lauder has been a major supporter of The Shalem Center since its founding. He is also an Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Modern Art.
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About World Jewish Congress (WJC), Yad Vashem: World Jewish Congress, an international organization, represents Jewish communities and organizations in 100 countries around the world.
Dave Savage
Vice President, Client Services of Communispace
As Vice President of Client Services at Communispace, Dave leads teams of consulting professionals who help clients connect with their customers in new and insightful ways. He is focused on aligning community efforts to clients’ business priorities, and provides strategic direction for clients on how to get the most out of their private online communities. As one of the founding members of the Communispace Corporation, David is deeply involved in the design and implementation of Communispace. From the initial prototype of the software in 1999 to the present and upcoming releases of the product, David has been listening to our growing number of customers and exploring web-based technologies. Prior to his work with Communispace, David has more than 10 years of experience in the production of multimedia-based training programs. With Micromentor and Omega Performance, David managed the design and production of numerous technology-based training programs where he worked with a diverse client base. At Babson College, David served for three years as the Multimedia Coordinator. David has a BA from Fairfield University in Connecticut. Outside of work, David spends most of his free time with his wife and five children. David enjoys travel, competing in road races, and has been known to shoot a decent round of golf from time to time, though he admits his best rounds were played when he was about seventeen years old.
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About C Space, Communispace: Communispace is now C Space.
Anjali Peri
Vice President Business Development of SitterFriends
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About SitterFriends: Book your community’s most trusted babysitters, in a second, for free
Carlyle Singer
President of Acumen
Carlyle joined Acumen in March of 2013, as Chief Operating Officer, responsible for Acumen’s core operating activities.”
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About Acumen: Acumen is a non-profit venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty.
Marc Penzel
Founder and President of Startup Genome
Marc is Founder and President, leading global growth and impact. Prior to founding Startup Genome, he co-led the startup ecosystem development unit at Silicon Valley-based Startup Compass. At PwC, KPMG, and Bayer Group’s internal management consultancy, Marc advised top executives across various sectors.
He also founded a nonprofit organization to catalyze social innovation and was appointed Expert in Entrepreneurship, IT and Future of Economic Progress by the World Economic Forum. In 2017, his work to develop startup ecosystems everywhere has led him to receive a U.S. Visa for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability.
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About Startup Genome: Startup Genome is a research and policy advisory organization for governments that helps accelerates the success of their startup ecosystem.
Patricia Lancaster
President, The Lancaster Group; Professor, NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate of rabble
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About : An impact investing platform that connects people with projects that strengthen communities
John Lowery
President and CEO of Wholelife Companies
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About Wholelife Companies: WholeLife Companies is a real estate developer and operator of active adult luxury class A rental communities.
Mukesh Sehgal
Founder, President & CEO of RSG Media
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About RSG Media: RSG Media is a media-tech supplier specializing in rights management, whose customers include industry-leading TV networks, studios.
Tom Burt
President and Chief Executive Officer of ES&S
Tom Burt is President and CEO of ES&S. He became CEO on January 1, 2015, succeeding Aldo Tesi. Mr. Burt joined ES&S in 2008, leading the company’s sales, customer service, operations, and product departments. Before joining ES&S, Mr. Burt developed his general management and sales leadership at McMaster-Carr Supply Company and Andersen Consulting, where he served in executive management roles. More recently, Tom worked as an Associate Partner of Gallup Organization, where he was responsible for managing relationships with multiple Fortune 500 clients. Tom earned Gallup’s Biennial Award for overall client satisfaction ratings. His passion for “Customer Comes First” brought him to ES&S. A native Nebraskan, Tom graduated summa cum laude from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s of science degree in Business Administration.
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About ES&S: ES&S takes great pride in their opportunity to support clients with their election administration needs.
Tom O’Brien
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of ES&S
Tom O’Brien, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, joined the company in 1999 as Senior Vice President and CFO. Mr. O’Brien is responsible for all corporate administrative functions, which include Finance, Human Resources, IT, Legal, Pricing, Intellectual Property and Risk Management. Before joining ES&S, Mr. O’Brien served as CFO for Cornhusker Motor Lines, where he oversaw Finance, Treasury, Pricing, Risk Management and Facilities Management. Mr. O’Brien is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He is a certified public accountant.
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About ES&S: ES&S takes great pride in their opportunity to support clients with their election administration needs.
Kathy Rogers
Senior Vice President of Government Relations of ES&S
Kathy Rogers is Senior Vice President of Government Relations. She serves as ES&S’ government liaison for federal and state agencies. Additionally, Ms. Rogers is responsible for public relations and is a media contact for ES&S. Ms. Rogers joined ES&S in 2009 with the desire to build upon her state and local elections knowledge by including development and manufacturing experience. Before joining ES&S, Ms. Rogers was State Director of Elections for the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. She was responsible for a statewide implementation of a new voting system in 2002. Ms. Rogers participated in several national election organizations, including The Election Center and the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers (IACREOT). She served on the Election Center’s National Task Force and the Election Center’s Professional Education Program Board. She also represented the State of Georgia on the Election Assistance Commission Standards Board. Ms. Rogers served on the Voting System Certification Board for the National Association of State Election Directors and was honored to serve as President Elect for that same distinguished organization. She is a Certified Elections and Registration Administrator (CERA) graduate through a program administered by the Election Center and Auburn University.
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About ES&S: ES&S takes great pride in their opportunity to support clients with their election administration needs.
Michael Bender
Vice President of Kennedy Krieger Institute
Michael Bender is the vice president of educational programs and legislative affairs at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. He is also a professor of education, with a joint appointment, in pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University and School of Medicine. Dr. Bender specializes in curriculum development for individuals with disabilities. Dr. Bender graduated from a State Teacher’s College in Massachusetts in 1966 with a bachelor’s of science in education. He received his master’s and doctorate degrees in special and industrial education from the University of Maryland at College Park in 1969 and 1971, respectively. While at the University of Maryland, he was a doctoral fellow of the United States Office of Education and taught undergraduate students. He also has been a public school teacher in Massachusetts and Maryland, and for the past 30 years has been on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University. In the later capacity, he is a member of the Universities Academic Council, Promotions Committee and the Johns Hopkins Council on K-12 Education. Dr. Bender has served on numerous community boards of directors. He has been appointed by the Governor of Maryland to chair the State Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers, and has been a Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation Scholar, a consultant to the United States Office of Education and a consultant to Sweden and Spain in the area of developmental disabilities.
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About Kennedy Krieger Institute: Kennedy Krieger Institute helps children and young adults with disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and musculoskeletal system.
Linda Brandenburg
Vice President, School Autism Services, Research, & Professional Development of Kennedy Krieger Institute
Dr. Linda Brandenburg is the assistant vice president of School Autism Services for the Kennedy Krieger Institute. In addition, she holds a faculty position as an assistant professor in the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) where she has taught graduate classes and trains graduate students.Dr. Brandenburg holds a master’s and a doctoral degree in special education from JHU. She has over 20 years of experience in the field of special education with expertise in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dr. Brandenburg served as a coordinator/facilitator on the Maryland State Department of Education’s Autism Task Force, which published Early Intervention Guidelines for young children with autism. She also serves on the state’s Advisory Committee for the Autism Waiver. In addition to her work in Baltimore, Linda has provided training to staff overseas in the areas of functional behavioral assessments and instructional interventions for students with autism. As assistant vice president of School Autism Services at Kennedy Krieger, Dr. Brandenburg is responsible for organizing the delivery of comprehensive high quality evidence-based practices for students with autism in the areas of curriculum, instruction, employee training in autism, behavioral interventions and best clinical practices, and insuring collaboration in admissions procedures across all Kennedy Krieger School programs. Prior to holding her current position, she has served as the educational director of the Schools’ Life Skills and Education for students with Autism and other pervasive behavioral challenges (LEAP) Program. LEAP serves students with severe forms of ASD, ages 5-21 years old.
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About Kennedy Krieger Institute, The Johns Hopkins University: Kennedy Krieger Institute helps children and young adults with disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and musculoskeletal system.
Harolyn Belcher
Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer of Kennedy Krieger Institute
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About Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Kennedy Krieger Institute: Kennedy Krieger Institute helps children and young adults with disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and musculoskeletal system.
Brian Timpone
Founder & President of BlockShopper
Brian Timpone, President of BlockShopper, founded the company in May 2006. Formerly a television reporter, Brian is the founding publisher of courthouse legal journals in Southern Illinois, South Texas and Charleston, WV, as well as LegalNewsline.com, a national news service covering state supreme courts and attorneys general. He also serves on the board of directors at Manifest Digital , an interactive web design and development agency based in Chicago. In 2003, he founded Greater Illinois Newsgroup, four community newspaper chain in Central Illinois. It was purchased by the Champaign News-Gazette in 2005. In 2001, Brian founded 1871 Media, a content management software provider for newspapers and associations. Brian is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He lives in Lincoln Park with his wife, Patricia, and three children.
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About BlockShopper: BlockShopper is a local news and market data service for current and seeking homeowners, home buyers, and home sellers.
Thomas Priselac
CEO & President & Board of Directors of Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Thomas Priselac is President & CEO at Cedars-Sinai. An advocate for improving quality and access in healthcare, Thomas M. Priselac has developed strategic and operational innovations to foster high-quality, safe and efficient care for patients. Under his leadership, Cedars-Sinai has earned an international reputation for quality care, community service, research and education while evolving from a community hospital to a major health system that continues to expand to better serve patients. Priselac, who holds the Warschaw Law Chair in Healthcare Leadership at Cedars-Sinai, first joined Cedars-Sinai in 1979, and has been president and CEO since 1994. Before being appointed to his current role, he was executive vice president of Cedars-Sinai from 1988 to 1993. Earlier in his career, he was on the executive staff of Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh. An authority on healthcare delivery and policy, Priselac is a past chair of the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees and a past chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges. When he was chair of the American Hospital Association in 2009, he had an instrumental role in the development of Affordable Care Act. He also formerly chaired the California Hospital Association and the Hospital Association of Southern California. He is a member of the Board of Councilors of the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Civic Alliance, the Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy and Jobs, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation and he Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. Priselac has received numerous awards for his leadership in healthcare and his commitment to improving the health of the underserved, including the American Hospital Association’s Distinguished Service Award, B’nai Brith International’s National Healthcare Award, the Special Needs Network’s Distinguished Community Champion Corporate Leadership Award and the Charles R. Drew University Board of Trustees Medal of Honor. Priselac writes and speaks on a variety of policy issues related to the delivery and financing of healthcare, healthcare quality and safety, and the adoption and implementation of information technology. He is an adjunct professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, where he teaches principles of organizational leadership. Priselac earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree in public health, health services administration and planning from the University of Pittsburgh.
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About Cedars Sinai Medical Center: Cedars-Sinai is a non-profit, academic, community-centric medical center in Los Angeles, California.
Thomas Gordon
Consultant to the President of Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Chairman of the Board at DSL Construction Corp.
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About Cedars Sinai Medical Center: Cedars-Sinai is a non-profit, academic, community-centric medical center in Los Angeles, California.
Linda Bolton
Senior Vice President & Chief Health Equity Officer of Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Dr. Linda Burnes Bolton is Vice President for Nursing, Chief Nursing Officer, and Director of Nursing Research at Cedars-Sinai. Her research, teaching and clinical expertise includes: nursing and patient care outcomes, improving organization performance, quality care, and cultural diversity within the health professions. She is co-investigator of the regional Collaborative Alliance for Nursing Outcomes research team. Dr. Burnes Bolton is a past president of the American Academy of Nursing and the National Black Nurses Association. She has provided leadership for several state and national programs including service as chair of the National Advisory committee of Transforming Care at the Bedside, Veteran Affairs Commission on Nursing and vice chair of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing at the Institute of Medicine. She is a trustee at Case Western Reserve University and a board member of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She was named one of the top 25 women in health care in 2011 by Modern Healthcare magazine. Dr. Burnes Bolton serves on the American Organization of Nurse Executive Board of Directors and will assume the role of President-Elect in 2014. Dr. Burnes Bolton earned her bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing from Arizona State University (ASU). She completed her master’s of Science degree in Nursing, Master in Public Health, and Doctorate in Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
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About American Academy of Nursing, Cedars Sinai Medical Center: Cedars-Sinai is a non-profit, academic, community-centric medical center in Los Angeles, California.
Shlomo Melmed
Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs & Dean of the Medical Faculty of Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Shlomo Melmed, MB ChB, MACP, FRCP received his medical degree with distinction from the University of Cape Town, School of Medicine in 1970. At Cedars-Sinai since 1980, he is now Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs, and Dean of the Medical Faculty. He is also Professor and Associate Dean of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine, and Director of the Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He holds the Helene A. And Philip E. Hixon Chair in Investigative Medicine. Dr. Melmed is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, certified in Endocrinology and Metabolism; a Master of the American College of Physicians; an elected member of the Association of American Physicians and the American Society of Clinical Investigation; recipient of the Endocrinology Medal of the Royal Society of Medicine; the Endocrine Society Clinical Investigator Award; the Society of Endocrinology Transatlantic Medal; Ipsen Fondation Endocrine Regulation Award; the Pituitary Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award; and is listed in BEST Doctors of America. Dr. Melmed’s laboratory has been consistently funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1980, and he has trained over 70 physicians, scientists and graduate students who occupy leading positions in academic endocrinology worldwide. His research is devoted to molecular pathogenesis and treatment of pituitary tumors and growth factor regulation of anterior pituitary function. He has pioneered the discovery and application of novel treatments for endocrine tumors and is a recognized international authority on pituitary medicine. Dr. Melmed is acknowledged as a plenary speaker at multiple national and international meetings and is the author of over 300 peer-reviewed articles in prestigious publications. He edits The Pituitary, co-edits Endocrinology: Basic and Clinical Principles, is the Neuroendocrine Section Editor for DeGroot and Jameson’s Textbook of Endocrinology, and Williams Textbook of Endocrinology; and is pituitary section author for Harrison’s Textbook of Medicine. In addition to being the Editor-in-Chief of Pituitary, he is on the editorial board of Journal of Clinical Investigation and past Editor-in-Chief of Endocrinology. Having served on the NIH Endocrinology Study Section, he also has chaired Special Endocrine Study Sections. He was President and founding member of the Pituitary Society, co-chairs its Program Committee, and was an elected member of the Endocrine Society Council. He was President of the International Society of Endocrinology and a member of the Executive Board Committee, Program Chair of the International Congress of Endocrinology, a Director of the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP), and is a Board Member of the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). At Cedars-Sinai, Dr. Melmed has spearheaded major academic growth and development by leading building efforts, recruiting talented nationally recognized faculty leadership, establishing new programs and maintaining standards of excellence for educational programs. His executive leadership continues to maintain Cedars-Sinai as a top tier academic medical center.
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About Cedars Sinai Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles: Cedars-Sinai is a non-profit, academic, community-centric medical center in Los Angeles, California.
Mike Thompson
Vice President, Enterprise Data Intelligence of Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Vice President, Enterprise Data Intelligence at Cedars-Sinai.
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About Cedars Sinai Medical Center: Cedars-Sinai is a non-profit, academic, community-centric medical center in Los Angeles, California.
Richard Jacobs
Senior Vice President of System Development & Chief Strategy Officer of Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Richard B. Jacobs is Senior Vice President of System Development & Chief Strategy Officer at Cedars-Sinai.
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About Cedars Sinai Medical Center: Cedars-Sinai is a non-profit, academic, community-centric medical center in Los Angeles, California.
Jeanne Flores
Senior Vice President of Human Resources & Organization Development of Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Jeanne Flores is Senior Vice President of Human Resources & Organization Development at Cedars-Sinai.
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About Cedars Sinai Medical Center: Cedars-Sinai is a non-profit, academic, community-centric medical center in Los Angeles, California.
Marc Butterfield
Sr. Vice President of First National Bank Of Omaha
Marc currently serves as Sr. Vice President, Digital & Payment Solutions for First National Bank of Omaha. He is responsible for leading the Bank’s overall strategy and vision for digital & payment solutions. Marc leads the organization in the delivery of the Bank’s digital experience and manages the digital payments landscape. This role also includes accountability for FNBO Direct (a digital-only savings bank), assessing and benchmarking current digital capabilities, identifying and prioritizing key gaps, and demonstrating cost/benefit rationale for investments. Marc began his career at First National Bank in 2001, joining First National from Nexterna, a wireless technology company owned by Union Pacific Railroad. In his tenure at First National Bank, Marc has served in management positions in Marketing, Credit Risk and Product Development. Marc completed his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a Marketing specialization from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
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About Eleven19, First National Bank Of Omaha, First National Bank Of Omaha: First National Bank of Omaha provides banking services for corporate, small business and personal clients.
Richard Walden
Founder, President & CEO of Operation USA
For 35 years, I have run Operation USA, an international relief and development nonprofit based in Los Angeles, CA. Operation USA has sent over $450 million in aid to 100 countries. We are currently active in California with material aid to community clinics, the Oklahoma City tornado disaster, the Hurricane Katrina-affected areas of the US Gulf Coast, the Pine Ridge S.D. Native American Reservation,Cuba, China, Haiti, Japan, Chile, Nicaragua, East Africa, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, The Philippines, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In China, we built 2 primary schools and 5 health clinics in Sichuan Province following the earthquake of May 2008. A large Operation USA-built primary school has opened in Jacmel, Haiti. In a tsunami-affected port town, a Seniors Community Center project was opened in Ofunato, Japan. We combine agile and rapid response to disasters with long term recovery projects. Specialties: international conflict resolution & mediation; international development strategies, microfinance, water resources, public health
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About Operation USA: OpUSA helps communities overcome the effects of disasters, disease and endemic poverty by providing privately-funded relief and development.
Tom Shoop
Executive Vice President & Editor in Chief, Government Executive Media Group of Atlantic Media
Tom Shoop is vice president and editor in chief at Government Executive Media Group, where he oversees both print and online editorial operations. He started as associate editor of Government Executive magazine in 1989; launched the company’s flagship website, GovExec.com, in 1996; and was named editor in chief in 2007.
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About Atlantic Media, Nextgov: Atlantic Media is dedicated to equipping opinion leaders with breakthrough ideas and original insights.
Lindsay Andrews
Vice President & Principal of Sard Verbinnen & Co
Lindsay assists clients with a broad range of media, crisis, and investor relations support. She has assisted with activist defense planning, primarily for companies in the technology industry. She has also developed crisis communications plans and provided strategic counsel to clients facing a range of situations, including litigation, government investigations, national product recalls and accounting restatements.
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About Juul Labs, Sard Verbinnen & Co: Sard Verbinnen & Co is a leading strategic corporate and financial communications firm.
David Isaacs
Vice President of Sard Verbinnen & Co
David Isaacs is a Vice President based in the San Francisco office. Since joining the firm, he has worked on a number of corporate positioning programs, transactions and special situations, including unsolicited takeover proposals, proxy fights, product recalls and management changes.
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About Sard Verbinnen & Co: Sard Verbinnen & Co is a leading strategic corporate and financial communications firm.
Ippei Takahashi
President & CEO – Founder of RideGuru
Ippei has worked in web development and sales roles for over 15 years in the high-tech industry. Since founding Unleashed, LLC in 2007, he has designed products, developed strategy for the company, and led various initiatives as a project manager. As a passionate entrepreneur, he continues to build the vision for Unleashed, LLC and its future products.
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About RideGuru: RideGuru is the trusted resource, tool, and community for everyone engaged in ridehails, rideshares, limos, and taxis.
Ingrid J Keiser
General Counsel & Executive Vice President of People Strategy of ClubCorp Holdings
Ingrid Keiser has served as our general counsel, secretary, and executive vice president people strategy since July 2008 and previously as chief legal officer from July 2007 to July 2008. Prior to that, Ingrid Keiser served as an attorney at American Airlines from August 2004 to July 2007. She previously served as assistant general counsel and assistant secretary for Vail Resorts, Inc. from January 1997 to August 2004, and as senior counsel and secretary for Ralston Resorts, Inc. (formerly known as Keystone Resorts Management, Inc.) from May 1992 to January 1997 and as associate counsel from May 1989 to May 1992. She holds a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and a B.A. in international relations from University of California at Davis.
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About ClubCorp Holdings: ClubCorp comprises an elite collection of private golf and country clubs, business clubs, sports clubs and alumni clubs.
Chuck Feddersen
Executive Vice President of ClubCorp Holdings
Chuck Feddersen has served as our executive vice president of golf and country clubs since November 2015. He was previously senior vice president of the business, sports and alumni clubs and led the Atlanta golf region following the acquisition of Sequoia Golf. Prior to that, he served in multiple regional vice president roles in the golf & country club division and in multiple operational roles during his career of more than 25 years with ClubCorp.
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About ClubCorp Holdings: ClubCorp comprises an elite collection of private golf and country clubs, business clubs, sports clubs and alumni clubs.
Yusuf Jan
President of The DotZero
Yusuf Jan’s entrepreneurial experience includes co-founding and managing two Wall Street based startup companies over the last decade – Mixit, Inc. and RealFS, Inc. Both ventures involved advanced trading technology and Order Routing/Connectivity services to the global financial industry. Yusuf managed product development and building and managing off-shore operations. Yusuf earned his B.S. in Business Administration from St. John’s University, New York and his M.B.A. in Finance from Long Island University, New York. Yusuf also attended advance IT courses at Columbia University, New York. Prior to his entrepreneurial stints, Yusuf’s career included management positions with the City and State of New York. Yusuf worked at MTA New York City Transit and at New York City Office of the Comptroller’s Bureau of Audit. In these positions, Yusuf Jan is currently Secretary (a founding charter member) of OPEN-Karachi Chapter. He has also served as Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) and represented P@SHA as member of the Board of Directors of Pakistan Software Export Board.
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About Eat Mubarak, The DotZero: DotZero is a space made for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs.
John Buzzell
President of The VR/AR Association
John Buzzell is an award-winning veteran of the digital industry, and president of “You Are Here Labs,” a leading immersive technology partner that helps agencies, brands and companies market and train with Augmented Reality & VR. Clients include AT&T, Porsche, Cartoon Network, the NBA, Carnival Cruise Lines, Stanley Black & Decker, and NBC Sports. John lives in Atlanta, where he also leads the VR/AR Association’s Atlanta chapter.
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About The VR/AR Association: VR/AR Association is a global member community of the best minds in virtual reality and augmented reality with Chapters.
Romy Newman
President and Co-Founder of Fairygodboss
Romy Newman is the Co-Founder at Fairygodboss since June 2015. Previously, Romy was the Head of Strategic Partner Development at Chartbeat until April 2015. Until October 2014, Romy was Head of Digital Advertising for The Wall Street Journal, overseeing sales, marketing and operations for The Wall Street Journal Digital Network. Previously, Romy held several management roles at The Wall Street Journal including General Manager of Print, Conferences and Radio, Vice President of Multi-Media Sales and Vice President of Sales Strategy and Operations. During her tenure at The Journal, Romy was proud to be involved in several extremely successful new product development efforts, including WSJ. Magazine, WSJ Weekend, Greater New York and the original groundbreaking WSJ iPad app. Before joining The Journal, Romy held marketing positions at Google and Estee Lauder and was also a strategy consultant for a boutique media firm called Kannon Consulting, where she advised top management for Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post. Romy graduated with a B.A. in American Studies from Yale University and an MBA in Strategy, Finance & Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
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About Fairygodboss: Fairygodboss is the largest career community for women. Free for women, we help employers recruit and hire women.
Jerome Nadel
President of San Francisco/Silicon Valley Chapter of The CMO Club
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About The CMO Club: The CMO Club is a network of marketing executives that hosts events and shares reports from professionals in the marketing industry.
Ori Sagie
Founder & CEO Envoy Technologies
24 years being in the forefront of real estate and technology and the merge between both. I have been creating successful companies and constantly gaining a deep understanding and passion for next generation solutions in CRE tech. Envoy is the next generation solution for personal mobility. Cars as an amenity where you live, work and stay.
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About Envoy Technologies: Envoy provides onsite mobility services which includes electric car-sharing and EV charging for apartments, offices, and hotels.
William Tincup
President & Editor-at-Large of RecruitingDaily.com
William is the President & Editor-at-Large of RecruitingDaily. At the intersection of HR and technology, he’s a writer, speaker, advisor, consultant, investor, storyteller & teacher. He’s been writing about HR and Recruiting related issues for longer than he cares to disclose. William serves on the Board of Advisors / Board of Directors for 20+ HR technology startups. William is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a BA in Art History. He also earned an MA in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.
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About AKT Global, DriveThru HR, RecruitingBlogs.com, RecruitingDaily.com: RecruitingDaily and its network of sites reach a global audience ranging from entry-level sourcers to strategy-level corporate executives.
Brian Dacey
President and Managing Director of Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC)
Brian Dacey is an experienced real estate executive and entrepreneur. He has overseen a wide range of commercial, hospitality, retail , and residential projects during his career. Brian also has an extensive history of involvement in government, not for profits, and charitable organizations. He is currently President of CIC. Brian began his career in the public sector working in Massachusetts state government and serving as the City of Boston’s Director of Federal Relations and then CEO of the city’s Economic Development agency. He has been a senior executive and partner with several regional real estate development firms including the Boston based Drew Company and New York based Twining Properties. He oversaw the real estate operations of the World Trade Center Boston and was the project executive managing the master planning, environmental reviews, and permitting of the 2 million square foot Seaport World Trade Center Boston mixed use project. For several years he was responsible for the management and development of Watermark Cambridge, a residential and retail property constructed in Cambridge. Brian also created and led several real estate ventures that managed and/or developed various projects including the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. and the Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston, Massachusetts. Also, a firm he founded is the owner and developer of a 204 unit, luxury residential property in Downtown Manchester, New Hampshire. Brian has served on numerous civic boards and committees and is currently Chairman of the Board of The Boston Harbor Association and was formerly Chairman of the Board at Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries. He was a founding member of the Board for the Kendall Square Association and serves as a member of A Better City, and the Kendall Square Masterplan Committee and the Transit Advisory Committee for the City of Cambridge . Brian has his B.A. from Boston College and an M.B.A. from Boston University.
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About Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): Cambridge Innovation Center is an office space facility for small and growing companies.
Scott Mosher
President of SmartCare system
As the President at SmartCare Consultants, Scott Mosher is committed to helping individuals and companies alike learn more about using technology to care for a generation that shouldn’t be forgotten. “SmartCare helps take care of people who have our history – our parents and grandparents,” says Scott, “and help them age in place with dignity.” Before joining SmartCare, Scott was a regional sales manager in financial services for 15 years before starting his own consulting practice. Hiring The SOHO Shop to wire his home office, Scott met shop owner Bryan Jefferson, who shared his vision for a new business adapting smart home technology to help seniors live as independently as possible. Scott was so taken with the idea, he volunteered his time to help further SmartCare and worked in sales at The SOHO Shop, ultimately becoming a partner in both businesses. In his personal life, Scott is married with 3 children. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and is involved in coaching his kids sports teams and mentoring other startup entrepreneurs. Scott enjoys deep sea diving and learning to fly small aircraft.
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About ANSA North America, SmartCare system: SmartCare system, along with our competition, is able to provide data to the community
Andrea Jung
President & CEO of Grameen America
Andrea Jung joined Grameen America as President And CEO in 2014.
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About Grameen America: Grameen America is dedicated to helping women who live in poverty build small businesses to create better lives for their families.
Richard Haass
President of The Council on Foreign Relations
Richard Haass is president of the Council on Foreign Relations, a position he has held for more than a decade. The Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher dedicated to being a resource for its members, government officials, business executives, journalists, educators and students, civic and religious leaders, and other interested citizens in order to help them better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries. Haass is the author or editor of twelve books on American foreign policy and one book on management. His most recent book is Foreign Policy Begins at Home: The Case for Putting America’s House in Order. Haass was the independent chair of the official multi-party panel established in 2013 to address some of the most divisive political issues affecting Northern Ireland. For his efforts to promote peace and resolution there, he received the 2013 Tipperary International Peace Award. From January 2001 to June 2003, Richard Haass was director of policy planning for the Department of State, where he was a principal adviser to Secretary of State Colin Powell. Confirmed by the U.S. Senate to hold the rank of ambassador, Haass also served as U.S. coordinator for policy toward the future of Afghanistan and U.S. envoy to the Northern Ireland peace process. For his efforts, he received the State Department’s Distinguished Honor Award. Haass has extensive additional government experience. From 1989 to 1993, he was special assistant to President George H.W. Bush and senior director for Near East and South Asian affairs on the staff of the National Security Council. In 1991, Haass was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal for his contributions to the development and articulation of U.S. policy during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Previously, he served in the Departments of State (1981–85) and Defense (1979–80) and was a legislative aide in the U.S. Senate. Haass also was vice president and director of foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution, the Sol M. Linowitz visiting professor of international studies at Hamilton College, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a lecturer in public policy at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. A Rhodes scholar, Haass holds a BA from Oberlin College and Master and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Oxford University. He has received honorary degrees from Hamilton College, Franklin & Marshall College, Georgetown University, Oberlin College, Central College, and Miami Dade College. Richard Haass was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1951. He lives in New York City with his wife and two children.
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About The Council on Foreign Relations: Council on Foreign Relations operates as a non-partisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher.
Carole Stern Switzer
President of OCEG
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About OCEG: OCEG invented Principled Performance and GRC to address failures in corporate governance, risk management, compliance, and ethics
T. Willard Fair
President and Chief Executive Officer of Urban League of Greater Miami
T. Willard Fair is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban League of Greater Miami, Inc. He also holds various leadership positions, including Chairman of the Miami-Bayside Foundation BOD and Member of the Miami Business Forum Board of Directors. He received a B.A. degree in Sociology, graduating Cum Laude, from Johnson C. Smith University, in 1961. And the M.S.W. degree from Atlanta University School of Social Work, in 1963. Mr. Fair’s 100-plus, service and recognition awards include: Family Christian Association of America (FCAA) Presidential Excalibur Award and The Greater Miami Region of the National Conference of Christians and Jews Community Service Award, 1995.
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About Urban League of Greater Miami: The Urban League of Greater Miami is a non-profits that assists black children and families.
Richard J. Kramer
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer & President of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Rich Kramer is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. He became CEO in 2010 and was elected Chairman by Goodyear’s Board of Directors later the same year. Kramer’s appointment as CEO culminated a steady rise through the company in a series of key leadership roles over the course of a decade. After joining Goodyear in 2000 as vice president of corporate finance, he served as vice president of finance for the company’s North America business from 2002 to 2003. As executive vice president and chief financial officer from 2004 to 2007, Kramer led the successful effort to restructure Goodyear’s debt and improve the company’s capital structure. He was named president of Goodyear North America in 2007 and guided the company’s largest business through the global recession and positioned it for sustained profitability in the years that followed. In 2009, Kramer assumed additional responsibility as Chief Operating Officer prior to his appointment as CEO the following year. Before joining Goodyear, he was a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he spent 13 years including a three-year assignment based in Paris, France. Born in Cleveland, Kramer attended John Carroll University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 1986. He remains active as a JCU alumni and has served on the school’s Board of Trustees since 2007. Kramer also is engaged in community leadership roles with the Akron Regional Chamber of Commerce and Akron Tomorrow. He currently is on the board of directors for The Sherwin-Williams Company and is a member of The Business Council.
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About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber: Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies, with operations in most regions of the world.
Joe Zekoski
Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Joe Zekoski was named Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in 2015. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing operations related to the research, development, engineering and quality of Goodyear’s products. Zekoski and his team lead the company’s market-back innovation strategy globally; including the development of new products and services which are aligned with customer needs in all regions of the world. Zekoski, who had served as Interim Chief Technical Officer since 2012, began his career with Goodyear in 1979 as a commercial truck tire engineer in Akron, Ohio. He then took leadership positions in commercial truck tire development in Luxembourg and in Akron. Zekoski gained experience in consumer tires when he was assigned as Chief Engineer of tire development for the Asian original equipment manufacturers. Zekoski has also held many other leadership roles within Goodyear’s technical organizations, including customer engineering, light truck tire development and North America product development. His business leadership experience encompasses North America’s retread business, as well as the molded products and air spring businesses in the Engineered Products Division. From 2006 through 2008, Zekoski led Goodyear’s Innovation Center in Luxembourg. He served as Vice President of Global Product Development and Innovation Center Operations from 2008 until his most recent appointment. Zekoski has a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Mechanics from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Master of Business Administration degree from California State College, Dominguez Hills. He lives in Kent, Ohio and is married with two children and four grandchildren.
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About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber: Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies, with operations in most regions of the world.
Greg Smith
Senior Vice President, Global Operations of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Greg Smith was named Senior Vice President, Global Operations for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in 2011. He is responsible for the company’s global strategy for supply chain, logistics, procurement, manufacturing, quality and engineering. Smith joined Goodyear with more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing and supply chain from ConAgra Foods, where he had been Executive Vice President, Supply Chain and Operations since 2007. He joined ConAgra in 2001 as Vice President, Manufacturing for its Venture Brands business and was named Executive Vice President, Operations and Supply Chain for the Grocery Foods group in 2002, President and Chief Operating Officer, Grocery Foods in 2005 and Executive Vice President, Supply Chain in 2006. Prior to joining ConAgra, Smith was Vice President, Supply Chain for United Signature Foods from 1999 to 2001. Smith began his career in 1986 when he joined Quaker Oats Company as a Production Supervisor and held positions of increased responsibility in operations including Plant Manager of two facilities and Brand Manager in a marketing assignment. He joined VDK Frozen Foods in 1996 as Vice President, Manufacturing and Distribution and was named Vice President, Operations in 1998. Smith was born November 18, 1963 in Memphis, Tennessee. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance from the University of Tennessee in 1985. Smith serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Business at the University of Tennessee and on the Senior Executive Advisory Board for the Global Supply Chain Institute.
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About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber: Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies, with operations in most regions of the world.
Jean-Claude Kihn
President, Europe, Middle East and Africa of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Jean-Claude Kihn has been President of The Goodyear & Rubber Company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa business unit since January 1, 2016. He previously served as President of the company’s Latin America business since 2014. He had served as Senior Vice President & Managing Director of Goodyear Brazil since 2012. Prior to that, Kihn served as the company’s Senior Vice President & Chief Technical Officer since 2008. Kihn joined Goodyear in 1988 at Goodyear’s Innovation Center in Luxembourg. In 1991, he received his first foreign assignment at Goodyear’s plant in Thailand. Later that year, he returned to Luxembourg to join the team responsible for developing tires for German auto manufacturers. During that period, he was deeply involved in the development of the first fuel economy (silica) technology. In 1994, he moved to Akron to join the commercial truck tire development team for Latin America. In 1996, he returned to Luxembourg to lead truck tire development for Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa. In 2000, Kihn moved to Akron as Director Tire Technology – Latin America, and in 2002 he was named Director R&D Materials Science. Kihn was named Managing Director of Goodyear Peru in 2003 and named General Director of the Goodyear Innovation Center in Akron, Ohio in 2005. Kihn is a Chemical Engineer and has a Ph.D. from the University of Louvain, Belgium. He is fluent in English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese. He is a native of Luxembourg, married to Brigitte; they have two children.
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About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber: Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies, with operations in most regions of the world.
Steve McClellan
President, Americas of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Steve McClellan is President of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s Americas business unit. He previously served as President of the company’s North America business, which was combined with its Latin America business on January 1, 2016. Under his leadership, Goodyear North America established a sustainable business model that delivered record results and put the business on a path to growth. Prior to his appointment as President of Goodyear North America in 2011, McClellan led two of its largest businesses, the commercial truck tire business since 2003, then the consumer tire business beginning in 2008. During his Goodyear career, McClellan has led a wide variety of operations and functions throughout North America. In 2001, he was named President of Goodyear’s Commercial Tire & Service Centers, Goodyear’s industry leading national network of commercial tire sales, retread and fleet solution service centers. Additional roles and responsibilities have included General Manager for a chain of company-owned retail stores, regional business manager and multiple finance roles, which is where he began his Goodyear career in 1988. McClellan is active in the tire and rubber industry and has served as Rubber Manufacturers Association’s board member since 2008. McClellan earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Akron. He and his family live in Bath, Ohio.
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About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber: Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies, with operations in most regions of the world.
Scott King
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Business Development of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Scott King joined The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company as Senior Vice President, Strategy & Business Development in 2015. King rejoined Goodyear with more than 30 years’ experience in key leadership roles in global companies. In 2006, he joined Goodyear as vice president, finance for the company’s former Engineered Products Division and led the transition of the business as it was sold to The Carlyle Group. From 2007 to 2015, he served as chief financial officer of the spin-off company, Veyance Technologies. Prior to that, King was a senior managing director at FTI Consulting, a financial advisory firm, for four years. From 1983 to 2002, he held various positions ranging from staff associate to partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers, primarily in the corporate finance and restructuring practice areas. A resident of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, King holds a bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania and a juris doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh.
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About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber: Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies, with operations in most regions of the world.
Laura Thompson
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Laura Thompson was elected Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in December 2013. Over the course of her 30 year career with Goodyear, Thompson has served in a series of financial leadership positions of increasing scope and responsibility. Prior to her current role, she served as Vice President of Finance for Goodyear North America, the company’s largest business. Before that Thompson led M&A activities for the company for several years. She was elected a corporate officer in 2008. Thompson joined Goodyear in 1983 and served in various financial and accounting positions, both in business units and corporate staff, including Finance Manager for Research and Development, Director of Investor Relations, and Finance Director for the North America consumer tire business. Thompson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1987 and a Master of Business Administration degree in finance in 1992, both from The University of Akron. She has maintained active involvement with the university and was awarded the Frank L. Simonetti Distinguished Business Alumni Award in 2011 and the University of Akron Alumni Honor Award in 2015. In 2012, Thompson was named to Treasury & Risk magazine’s list of “30 Outstanding Women in Finance.” She is a member of The University of Akron’s Advancement Council for the College of Business Administration and the Akron Area YMCA’s Board of Trustees.
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About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber: Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies, with operations in most regions of the world.
Anne Gleason
Senior Vice President of Marketing and Interactive Media of WTTW in Chicago
Anne Gleason is Senior Vice President of Marketing and Interactive Media at WTTW in Chicago.
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About WTTW in Chicago: WTTW in Chicago is a public media organization committed to creating and presenting public television and digital media content.
Jill Britton
Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer of WTTW in Chicago
Jill Britton is Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer at WTTW in Chicago.
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About WTTW in Chicago: WTTW in Chicago is a public media organization committed to creating and presenting public television and digital media content.
AF_initDataCallback({key: \’ds:1\'” alt=”” class=”wp-image-14850″ width=”154″ height=”152″/>Ken Donenfeld
President and CEO of DGI
Prior to starting his successful Wall Street-based investor relations firm 18 years ago, Ken was a top executive at three of the largest IR and PR firms in the U.S. and a prominent advisor in major corporate crisis and control matters, His career is marked, in particular, by his pioneering efforts in introducing U.S. investors to leading non-U.S. companies from Western and Eastern Europe and Asia, as well as European investors to U.S. companies. Ken earned a B.A. in Economics from Brooklyn College, and an M.A. from the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University. He also completed advanced coursework at the NY Institute of Finance, is a Certified Investment Professional (New York Society of Security Analysts), and was first elected to Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Finance in 1976. He is the author of numerous articles, has been a speaker at a number of leading forums throughout the world as well as a guest lecturer at several universities in the U.S. and Europe. His memberships have included the National Investor Relations Institute, the New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA), the New York Association For International Investment, The Financial Communications Society, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, and he also served on the editorial board of IR Magazine. Among the many high profile executives and industry leading clients he has assisted have been Carl Icahn, Harold Simmons, Fred Carr, Bill Norris, Percy Barnevik, Sir Michael Ashcroft, and Anheuser Busch, Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), Gambro, Pharmacia, Wang, ADT, Randstad and Pentair. Over the past three years he has focused on assisting more than a dozen exciting young growth companies in China whose shares are listed in the U.S. These include China’s largest importer of luxury vehicles and leading developer of Internet-based auto sales and related services, the country’s largest imported recyclable plastics manufacturer, its top exporter of recreational vehicles and a leading pioneer in electric cars, the manufacturer of one of China’s most well-known footwear brands, a leader in alternative fuels, a top technical education pioneer, and other leaders in such industries as lighting, telecommunications, batteries for electric bicycles and infrastructure development.
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About DGI: DGI is an independent “full service” investor relations and corporate communications firm started in 1991.
Michael Weinstein
President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Michael Weinstein is the president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest nonprofit global HIV/AIDS organization. Before becoming involved in HIV/AIDS related issues in the 1980s, he was a businessman and graphic designer. Since 1986, Weinstein has been a leader in the fight against HIV and AIDS. As president and cofounder of AHF, he oversees a $1.1 billion organization whose mission is to provide “cutting-edge medicine and advocacy regardless of one’s ability to pay.” AHF currently provides medical care and services to more than 420,000 individuals in 36 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific region and Eastern Europe. Under Weinstein’s leadership, AHF has grown from a group of friends dedicated to the creation of dignified care for people in the last stages of AIDS to the largest AIDS organization in the United States. In the U.S., AHF now operates outpatient healthcare centers in thirteen states and the District of Columbia. AHF also operates pharmacies, a clinical research unit, Positive Healthcare/Florida, and the first capitated Medicaid managed care program for people with AIDS (Positive Healthcare/California). In 2001, AHF launched an international initiative to bring lifesaving antiretroviral therapy to developing and resource-poor countries. Today, AHF Global works in partnership with local stakeholders including ministries of health and non-government organizations to establish sustainable and replicable models for high-quality, sustainable HIV/AIDS healthcare service delivery. AHF Global operates free AIDS treatment clinics and medical provider training programs worldwide.
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About AIDS Healthcare Foundation: AIDS Healthcare Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides medicines and advocacy for patients.
Jacqueline E. Hallberg
President & Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin
In May 2012 the Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin (Goodwill) selected Jacqueline (Jackie) Hallberg to succeed John L. Miller as Goodwill’s next President and CEO. She assumed those duties on January 1, 2013. Goodwill is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide training, employment and supportive services to individuals with disabilities and disadvantages that are seeking greater independence. Goodwill’s service territory includes southeastern Wisconsin and the metropolitan Chicago area. In 2017, Goodwill had operating revenue of $312 million and over 6,200 employees. Jackie has more than twenty years experience developing and implementing innovative workforce development programs and leading large-scale operations that provide employment, training and advancement for individuals with disabilities and disadvantages. Jackie has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Jackie joined Goodwill in 1990 as the Manager of Programs and Administrative Operations in Kenosha and Waukesha Counties. In 1996 she was promoted to Director of Kenosha County, WI and Lake County, IL Programs and played a key role in the development and oversight of Goodwill’s operations at the nationally recognized Kenosha County Job Center, the nation’s first one-stop job center.
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About Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin: Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin’s mission is to provide training, employment and supportive services for people.
Joan B. Farrell
Vice President & General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin
Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Officer at CoVantage Credit Union.
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About CoVantage Credit Union, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin: Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin’s mission is to provide training, employment and supportive services for people.
Tim Sudeith
Senior Vice President & Group Manager of Everlast Climbing, Dero of PlayCore
Tim Sudeith is responsible for managing and growing PlayCore’s Everlast Climbing, and Dero brands. An entrepreneur at heart, Tim founded Everlast Climbing more than 20 years ago and continues to bring innovative product development and strategy to our performance recreation brands. He is focused on improving profitability through increased business efficiencies and thrives in leading dynamic teams that support the mission of building communities through active play.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Brenda Grant
Senior Vice President & General Counsel of PlayCore
Brenda is responsible for providing legal services and advice to PlayCore and its brand family, as well as contribute to M&A and business strategy development as the company continues its rapid growth and expansion. Prior to joining PlayCore, Brenda served as General Counsel for Benchmark Rehabilitation Partners. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from McPherson College, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of North Dakota School of Law.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Anita Sayed
Senior Vice President & Group Manager for Aquatics and Performance of PlayCore
Anita Sayed previous experience includes working for US Specialty, General Motors, Hewlett Packard and IEM, where she held several management and marketing positions, including Director of Marketing and Sales, VP of North American Operations and President of IEM. Anita is the recipient of the MIT Entrepreneurship Award, as well as the SBA entrepreneur award for outstanding international expansion. She has served on the U.S.- Japanese trade missions and sits on advisory board for NSPF, as well as Chairperson for “Step into Swim.” Anita received her undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Cambridge, and her MBA from University of Michigan. Her PhD is in economics. She is the recipient of five national advertising awards for impact and brand advertising.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Tom Whittier
Vice President of Operations, Robertson Recreational Surfaces of PlayCore
Tom Whittier is responsible for the day-to-day operation at Robertson and has many years of experience with poured-in-place safety surfacing. Tom’s primary focus is operational efficiencies, personnel management and product delivery for his team. He had 18 years of experience as a store manager, regional manager and eventually Vice President of Marketing in the college bookstore industry employed by Follett College Stores in Elmhurst, IL. Tom and his staff continually modify and upgrade surfacing products to improve communities through safe and healthy play.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Spencer Cheak
Senior Vice President & General Manager – GameTime & Southern Fulfillment Center of PlayCore
Spencer Cheak is the General Manager responsible for all aspects of the GameTime business unit as well as all operations at PlayCore’s Southern Fulfillment Center in Fort Payne, Alabama. He serves on the boards of the DeKalb County United Givers Fund and Oneonta, Alabama Parks and Recreation. Spencer leads a highly skilled team to produce beyond compliant, high-quality playground equipment enjoyed by children and families all over the world.
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About GameTime, PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Jesse Taylor
Senior Vice President of Finance of PlayCore
Jesse Taylor joined PlayCore in November, 2009 and is responsible for the oversight of financial activities of several PlayCore brands. Prior to joining the company, Jesse worked as an audit manager for Ernst & Young LLP. Jesse is a Certified Public Accountant in Tennessee and a member of the AICPA and the TSCPA.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Mike Hawkins
Corporate Vice President of Corporate Risk Management, Insurance & Legal Affairs of PlayCore
Mike Hawkins is responsible for all the company’s legal and risk management endeavors. He is the designated point person for contact with all forms of press or media for all divisions of PlayCore. Mike is an active member of several community organizations and has almost 30 years of experience in the play industry. He is committed to ensuring that PlayCore produces industry-compliant, innovative equipment, and emphasizes the importance of play in our lives.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Josh Goldman
Vice President & General Manager, Power Systems of PlayCore
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Mark Burgess
Senior Vice President & General Manager-Play and Park Structures, UltraPlay,GT Grandstands,UltraSite of PlayCore
Mark Burgess is responsible for oversight of Play and Park Structures, UltraPlay, GT Grandstands, UltraSite, BigToys, Robertson Recreational Surfacing, and National Recreation Systems. He has more than 20 years of experience in the commercial and retail recreation industry in both the United States and abroad and has conducted business in more than 50 countries. He has also served on local, national, and international boards in the recreation industry.
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About PlayCore, PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Mike Love
Vice President of Talent Management of PlayCore
Mike leads Human Resources practices and objectives that promote an employee-oriented, high performance, mission and values based culture that emphasizes teamwork and pride, quality, and continuous improvement. We believe our employees are our most valuable assets and Mike and the Human Resource team are committed to recruit and retain a highly engaged world class team of talent who deliver the highest quality play and recreation products to PlayCore’s stakeholders. Mike is active in several community organizations that promote play and fitness for youth.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Matt Ross
Vice President of Sales of PlayCore
With over 10 years of experience in the commercial play and recreation industry, Matt is responsible for managing and growing the commercial play sales team at Play and Park Structures, BigToys and UltraPlay. Matt received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina, and an MBA from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Roger Posacki
President & CEO of PlayCore
Roger Posacki currently serves as the President of PlayCore. Previous to joining the PlayCore team, Roger served in varying senior management positions across several companies, including Elmer’s Products, Carson-Dellosa Publishing, and Crayola. Roger has been actively involved on the Board of Directors with the Kids in Need Foundation and he has participated on other non-profit Boards and industry associations throughout his professional career. Roger’s experience helps PlayCore continue their leadership role in the recreation market as they build communities through play. Roger works and resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is enjoying the opportunity to learn more about the many recreation opportunities within the community.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Lisa Moore
Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategic Services of PlayCore
Lisa Moore is responsible for the company’s strategic services and Center for Professional Development, which includes independent research, national partnerships, curricula, programming resources, and professional development efforts that promote the value of play and recreation. In addition, Lisa leads the company’s strategic planning, corporate communications & marketing, e-business, and human resources. Prior to PlayCore, Lisa served in a variety of administrative and service provision roles serving people of all abilities in educational and medical settings. Lisa is active in her professional and local communities and is currently a candidate for an Ed.D. degree, with a research focus on play. She believes in the power of play and is committed to building communities through play for children and families of all abilities.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Mike Moll
Vice President & General Manager, Red Bud IL Manufacturing Facility of PlayCore
Mike Moll has more than 20 years’ manufacturing experience including product development, plant supervision, material procurement and operations management. For the past 9 years he has served as the Vice President of Operations at our Red Bud IL facility, where he is responsible for all daily activities and successful implementation of Lean Manufacturing techniques and principles. Mike is committed to providing leadership to a highly motivated and talented group while maintaining an environment dedicated to customer satisfaction.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Joni Manley
Corporate Vice President of Finance & Accounting of PlayCore
Joni joined PlayCore after more than 23 years of financial experience with Beaulieu, a leading floor covering manufacturer. As VP of Finance & Accounting for PlayCore, she oversees the corporate accounting, tax, treasury, compliance, and financial reporting functions. Joni works closely with the business unit finance leaders and executive management. She maintains relationships with the company’s lenders and financial community. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Georgia and holds a Master of Business Administration from Kennesaw State University. She is also a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Richard Ruegger
Senior Vice President & CFO of PlayCore
Rick Ruegger is responsible for all financial activities of the company, including financial reporting, treasury, tax, legal, audit, banking and insurance. With a 20-year background in the play industry, Rick is committed to providing the financial leadership and structure needed to ensure PlayCore’s continued profitable growth.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Jim Underwood
Senior Vice President of Manufacturing & Operations of PlayCore
Jim is a senior-level operations professional who has held operations roles with Danaher, Black & Decker, and Porter-Cable Corporation. Jim is focused on providing leadership in operational effectiveness and lean manufacturing to the PlayCore businesses. He has learned the fundamentals of lean manufacturing through the guidance of his lean sensei – Yuri Sugiyama, Shingijutsu. Jim leads by remembering the principle “we demonstrate what we believe through what we do.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Lindsay Richardson
Senior Vice President & Group Manager-Play and Park Structures, BigToys, UltraPlay of PlayCore
Lindsay Richardson is responsible for sales, marketing, and general management for Play & Park Structures, BigToys, and UltraPlay. Her team identifies, develops, and launches innovative new product categories as well as provides sales and service to meet market needs to continuously improve the recreation offerings available to our communities. She has an MA in Marketing and over thirteen years of experience with PlayCore. She helps build her community through volunteer or board positions with the Association for Visual Arts (AVA) Miracle League of Chattanooga, Tennessee Obesity Taskforce, Junior League of Chattanooga, and Hunter Museum of American Art.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Lindsay Richardson
Senior Vice President & Group Manager-Play and Park Structures, BigToys, UltraPlay of PlayCore
Lindsay Richardson is responsible for sales, marketing, and general management for Play & Park Structures, BigToys, and UltraPlay. Her team identifies, develops, and launches innovative new product categories as well as provides sales and service to meet market needs to continuously improve the recreation offerings available to our communities. She has an MA in Marketing and over thirteen years of experience with PlayCore. She helps build her community through volunteer or board positions with the Association for Visual Arts (AVA) Miracle League of Chattanooga, Tennessee Obesity Taskforce, Junior League of Chattanooga, and Hunter Museum of American Art.
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About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
Noah Margulies
Vice President & Business Unit Manager of PlayCore
Noah Margulies has over 8 years of experience in the commercial play and recreation industry. Noah is responsible for the oversight, growth and profitability of both Belson Outdoors & BYO Recreation.
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About BYO Recreation, PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships.
James Firth
Senior Vice President, Communications, Public Advocacy & Corporate Relations of Exelon Corporation
James D. Firth, 60, joined Exelon in December 2005. He leads internal and external communications, public policy advocacy, and corporate philanthropy. He serves as a member of the Executive Committee.
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About Exelon Corporation: Exelon Corporation is a utility services holding company that provides services for energy generation businesses in the United States.
Christopher M. Crane
President & CEO of Exelon Corporation
President & CEO of Exelon Corporation.
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About Exelon Corporation, Pepco Holdings: Exelon Corporation is a utility services holding company that provides services for energy generation businesses in the United States.
Jonathan Thayer
Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of Exelon Corporation
Jonathan (Jack) W. Thayer joined Exelon Corporation in January 2012 and serves as senior executive vice president and chief financial officer. As the chief financial officer, he is responsible for overseeing the execution of all financial activities including the capital investment process, cost optimization, financial reporting, planning, audit and tax. Additionally, in his role, Thayer leads the treasury function in developing and implementing financing plans as well as the investor relations department.
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About Exelon Corporation: Exelon Corporation is a utility services holding company that provides services for energy generation businesses in the United States.
