Chairwoman and CEO, C.H. Briggs Co.; Director, Eastern States Group
Julia H. Klein is chairwoman and CEO of C.H. Briggs Co., one of the nation’s largest independently owned distributors of specialty building materials, and a director of Eastern States Group. She is a leader in the building materials distribution industry who transformed a local business into a super-regional, professionally managed platform company. With expertise in strategy, governance, mergers and acquisitions, technology and supply chain solutions, Klein has led C.H. Briggs for more than 20 years, serving as CEO and chairwoman since 2007. Klein has successfully integrated six acquisitions expanding the company’s footprint throughout the Middle Atlantic and Southeast regions. Strategic use of new technology has established the company’s reputation as an innovator and Klein’s reputation as a thought leader in the industry. Briggs has achieved top quartile performance in its segment, and is among the nation’s top 100 women-owned businesses.
Klein was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Greater Philadelphia, and was honored with the Junior Achievement Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame Award, the Athena Award, and is a Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania Distinguished Girl Scout Alumna. She also received the SmartCEO magazine Brava Award and Best Managed Companies in Philadelphia.
Klein is a former board of directors member of the National Association of Wholesalers-Distributors Institute for Distribution Excellence, the North American Building Materials Distribution Association and the Cabinet Industry Distribution Association, which she helped establish. She is a member of Women Corporate Directors, World Presidents Organization, the Committee of 200 – an international organization of women entrepreneurs, executives and board members.
Other board service includes Hedwin Corporation, Arbill Safety Supply, Reading Health System, Reading Physicians Network and the Berks County Community Foundation.
She earned a M.A. in public policy as an Urban Scholars Fellow at the University of Chicago and a B.A. from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. Ms. Klein and her husband have a college-aged son and live in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Director, Chair, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc.
Timothy E. Ellsworth joined EBI as a summer employee in 1968 and is a permanent employee in 1976. After various executive roles at EBI’s Darworth Company, Ensign-Bickford Optics, Corporate Development and Corporate Research units, Mr. Ellsworth formed and led Ensign-Bickford Coatings Company and was CEO of Advanced Glass Treatment Systems (AGTS). In 1994, he resigned from the Company, acquired AGTS from EBI and joined the EBI Board of Directors as a fifth generation family member and successor to his father, John E. Ellsworth, former President and Chairman. Mr. Ellsworth serves on the Audit and Proxy Committees and formerly chaired the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. In addition to his Board work for EBI, Tim is CEO of The Peak Experience, LLC, a real estate investment company, and participates on various other corporate and non-profit boards. He is also a former member of the Simsbury Economic Development Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. Mr. Ellsworth holds a BFA degree from St. Lawrence University and completed his MFA and MBA degrees at R.I.T.
President and CEO, Samaritan Medical Center
Dave Henderson has almost 30 years of management experience and community involvement. He has been President and CEO of Samaritan Medical Center, a family-owned business in San Jose, Calif., since 1988. His responsibilities include strategic planning, leasing, and developing medical office properties. Currently the portfolio consists of over 300,000 square feet of premier medical office buildings serving more than 250 physicians and health care professionals. On most days over 3,500 patients will visit the medical campus for care. The business is 50 years old and has grown to include 42 owners over four generations. Prior to joining Samaritan Medical Center, Dave held the position of General Manager with Arrow Electronics both in Salt Lake City (1983-1984) and Chicago (1985-1988). Arrow is a worldwide supplier of electronic components.
As part of his family business interest, Dave is a guest presenter at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business several times a year where he engages students involved in family businesses nationally and internationally.
Dave has served as a Board member of the Stroke Awareness Foundation, American Cancer Society and Wells Fargo Bank Advisory Board. He was also instrumental in the founding of Cancer CAREpoint, a local nonprofit organization that provides support services to cancer patients, their families and caregivers.
Dave has a bachelor’s degree in Business from Pennsylvania State University (1973). He has been married to Noelle for over 38 years, has three grown children and two grandchildren. They currently reside in Los Gatos, Calif. Dave enjoys traveling, playing golf, attending Broadway shows and visiting Presidential libraries.
Lead Family Director, E. Ritter & Company
Ronda Ritter Ray is a fourth-generation family owner of E Ritter & Company and currently serves as lead family director on the board of directors following three years as president of the Ritter Family Council. A teacher for 20 years in Arkansas and in Wisconsin, she most recently worked as an adjunct instructor in the secondary education department and subsequently as director of clinical experiences for the College of Education and Professional Studies at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL.
Principal and Co-Chairman, Koch Development Company
Roger, along with his brother, Paul, grew up in a home building tradition. Their grandfather and father were both home builders. While still in college the brothers each formed their own businesses and started building homes themselves. Between classes at Washington University in St Louis they would drive down to the subdivisions and check on the status of homes under construction, meet with subcontractors, and do whatever pickups the crew needed for the job to run smoothly.
After undergraduate and graduate schools, Roger (BSBA and MBA) and Paul (BSBA, MBA and Law degree) spent several years in the Air Force in the late 1960’s. By 1970 both were back in St Louis, consolidated their individual businesses into one and have moved forward together for the past 50 years.
Throughout this period they occupied top executive positions in their companies and were truly owner-operators. However, around the year 2000 they realized that they needed a new model for running the company that included the inclusion of a senior executive core that could take the burden of day to day management off the shoulders of the brothers and their wives (who were always active in the business). They also decided that an advisory board could bring new thinking to the company and help in shaping the strategic path forward.
Subsequently, after attending The Private Company Governance Summit in 2013 the family decided that the next step was to form a legal board which they did in 2013. The legal board now plays a very active leadership role for the shareholders and company. Since its formation they have led the way to a more efficient and focused company. The shareholders have given the board real authority and supported their efforts.
This transition of the company has allowed the family to pursue philanthropic activities. Roger and Fran (Roger’s wife) have education, medicine and housing as philanthropic interests. Currently, among several not for profits they support are the Assisi House’s in St Louis that provide small setting housing for the homeless transitioning to self-supporting community members. In addition, they have just recently, along with Paul and Elke Koch (Paul’s wife), established the Koch Center for Family Business and an Endowed Professorship in Family Business at Washington University in St. Louis. They have also provided funds for an Endowed Professorship in Law and Medicine also at Washington University in St. Louis.
Roger holds BSBA and MBA degrees from Washington University in St. Louis. He served as an officer in the United States Air Force specializing in logistical systems auditing. He is a Life Member (CPM) of the Institute of Real Estate Management and has extensive professional education including all course work required for the MAI designation. Roger served as Chairman of the Board of Mark Twain South County Bank for 16 years and was a member of the Mark Twain St. Louis Bank board. He has served as member and President of the Crossroads School Board, member of the board of the Purnell School in Pottersville, N.J and board member for Archways, a drug and alcoholic rehabilitation center for patients unable to afford care in traditional settings, as well as in various leadership capacities in his church.
Managing Principal, StratConGlobal, Inc.
Joanna Peters is the Founding Managing Principal of StratConGlobal, Inc, a strategic advisory firm based in New York City, with a proven track record of build outs and turnarounds in emerging and global markets. She has driven rollups in Asia and the United States, appointed interim COO/CFO on new private equity ventures in the offshore oil and gas sectors as well as advisor in the Australian livestock sector. She has extensive experience in Asia Pac, including India, Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam as well as Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Her industry sectors include asset management, financial services, energy and agriculture.
Joanna is a best practice industry speaker here and abroad, participates in various governmental and private sector forums including the Peterson Institute and Volker Alliance and serves on private boards. Educated in Australia where she captained the women’s ski team, as well as England, she is also admitted to the bar in New York and Australia.
Former Chairman and CEO, Penn Mutual; Director, Quaker Chemical, The South Chester Tube Company, CSS Industries
Robert E. Chappell was the Chairman of The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, a mutual life insurance company providing life insurance and annuity products, from January 1997 to June 2013 when he retired; its Chief Executive Officer from April 1995 to February 2011; and its President from January 2008 to March 2010.
Mr. Chappell has significant experience as a leader and director of multiple publicly-held and privately-held companies. A former director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, he currently serves as a director of the Quaker Chemical Corporation (NYSE:KWR), where he is the Chairman of the Governance Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee. He also serves on the boards of privately-held South Chester Tube Company, publicly-held CSS Industries and as a trustee of The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Mr. Chappell served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1969. He earned an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1971 and graduated in Chemistry from the Gettysburg College in 1966.
Director, Fulton Bank, CIMG
Ivy Silver is dedicated to change that has a purpose. Ivy is known for helping boards effectively evaluate risk, ensure governmental compliance, guide new alliances, advance business model iteration and lead governance processes that emphasize purposeful change. She has served in multiple leadership roles on public and private boards including Fulton Bank, Abington Health System, Recovery Record – an eHealth mobile app, Photo Review Publications, Academy of National Sciences of Drexel University, Oda Foundation in Nepal, DesignPhiladelphia and Greater Philadelphia Culture Alliance. She co-founded A Chance to Heal Foundation that was recognized as a leader in advancing a critical medical condition into the national public health agenda and whose program is now assimilated into the Harvard School of Public Health.
Always fascinated by innovation, Ivy recently founded two companies focused on the “creative economy”, businesses that generate revenue from creative activity. Sparkplug Innovations is a strategic visioning firm, and Mily-on is a product development and public arts installation company recently award its fourth patent for scalable commercial lighting technology that uses contemporary manufacturing techniques and materials.
An entrepreneur who had her first profitable business at age 14, Ivy went on to build a corporate employee benefits consulting company, The Commonwealth Consulting Group, which she grew into a major niche player. She sold her company to Gallagher Benefit Services where she served in an executive role for several years. Ivy is recognized for designing and implementing new product concepts and structures in traditionally conservative markets. She was recognized by the National Mediation Labor Relations Board for facilitating groundbreaking contractual and operational changes in Amtrak’s Health and Welfare Plans by fostering evidenced based decision making within a collective bargaining environment.
Ivy has received the NACD Governance Fellow Designation, is certified by The Institute for the Future as a practitioner of Forecasting, and received a Bachelor’s degree from The Wharton School. She is a sought-after speaker, is regularly interviewed by the media, and has appeared in articles in Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, Family Circle, Employee Benefit and Compensation Journal and the Philadelphia Inquirer, as well being a guest on such shows such as Good Morning America.
Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Diesco Ltd.
Manuel Diez was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, United States, with a bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Computer Science. From 1986 to 1988 he worked as Financial Analyst at Philip Morris in New York City, and then moved to Chicago and graduated from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University with an MBA degree in Marketing and Finance. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for his significant contributions to the quality of life of the university’s students.
After working at the marketing department in the Puerto Rico Office of Procter & Gamble he worked with Leo Burnet & Co. advertising agency as Brand Coordinator on the Kraft account in Chicago for two years. He moved back to Santo Domingo in 1992, where he initiated his leading career in the Marketing, Sales and International Commerce Departments of Polyplas and Termopac, then part of the Petroquímica group and leaders in their fields in plastic packaging.
Today, Mr. Diez is the Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Diesco Limited. The group performs business regionally in the Caribbean, Central America and the southeastern United States. Diesco operates in four main business segments: Plastics Packaging represented in its companies Termopac Industrial and Polyplas Dominicana; Manufacturing and Distribution of Non-Alcoholic Beverages with its leading company Pac-Tech International; Real Estate and Project Management with Interra and Investment Services represented by Advanced Management Group.
Mr. Diez has served in multiple business associations. He was the President of the Dominican National Business Council (CONEP), the leading business association of the private sector for two consecutive periods (2010-2012 & 2012-2014). Prior to this role, he was President of the National Industrial Association (AIRD, also for two consecutive periods 2007-2008 and 20092010. In 2004, he served as President of the Young Entrepreneurs Association (ANJE).
He is also founding member and President of the Board of Trustees of Barna, the first independent school of management in the Dominican Republic. He has also served as member of the board of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AMCHAM); Dominican-Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce, Dominican Stock Exchange (BVRD) and Fundación Institucionalidad y Justicia (FINJUS). He served as Chairman of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Dominican Chapter for 2006-2007 and for the Caribbean Region in 2008-2009.
Chair, Pitcairn Family Council; Board Member, Pitcairn
Andrew D. Pitcairn is a fourth generation Pitcairn family member and descendant of Harold F. Pitcairn. Andrew is the Chair of the Pitcairn Family Council, a role he has held since 2010, and has served as a member of the family council since 2007. A member of the Pitcairn Board of Directors, he serves as a co-trustee of Pitcairn family trusts and is chair of the Nominating Committee and advisory member to the Capital and Governance Committees.
Andrew is a frequent speaker at family business and family office forums on topics related to family council and engaging the next generation in family businesses. Andrew is the co-author of the articles, “Why, What & How: Questions Every Family Leader Should Ask” and “Beyond ‘Cohesion’: Why Terminology Must Evolve through the Generations,” published in Family Business magazine. He is also the founder and Chair of the Family Council Concepts group, a US-centric, collaborative peer group of eight family council chairs. Discussions cover the challenges, concerns, and successes of multi-generational families with current and post operating companies.
Andrew has been an owner and operator of small businesses from 1999 until 2008. He is a Trustee on the Meadowbrook School Board of Directors, a non-profit organization. Andrew attended Temple University and has completed the Cannon Trust Fundamentals course.
Vice Chairman and National Managing Partner, Center for Board Effectiveness, Deloitte
Deb DeHaas is responsible for Deloitte’s boardroom programs that support corporate boards and directors in fulfilling their governance-related responsibilities. She recently completed a six-year term as the chief inclusion officer for Deloitte US, where she drove Deloitte’s strategy to recruit, develop, and promote a diverse workforce and foster an inclusive environment where leaders thrive. She was named to Accounting Today’s “Top 100 Most Influential” list in 2013 and 2014, and to the 2015, 2016, and 2017 NACD Directorship 100, which recognizes influential leaders in corporate governance. Deb is a noted community leader, serving as Trustee at Northwestern University, Trustee at University of Denver, Vice Chair for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and a Director for World Business Chicago. Deb serves as a Lead Client Service Partner or Advisory Partner on a number of Deloitte’s most significant clients. She previously served on the Deloitte LLP Board of Directors, represented the US Firms on the Deloitte Canada Board of Directors, was a member of the Deloitte US Executive Committee, and was Deloitte’s managing partner for the central region.Influential” list in 2013 and 2014, and to the 2015, 2016, and 2017 NACD Directorship 100, which recognizes influential leaders in corporate governance. Deb is a noted community leader, serving as Trustee at Northwestern University, Trustee at University of Denver, Vice Chair for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and a Director for World Business Chicago. Deb serves as a Lead Client Service Partner or Advisory Partner on a number of Deloitte’s most significant clients. She previously served on the Deloitte LLP Board of Directors, represented the US Firms on the Deloitte Canada Board of Directors, was a member of the Deloitte US Executive Committee, and was Deloitte’s managing partner for the central region.
Managing Director, Center for Board Effectiveness, Deloitte LLP
Maureen Bujno is a managing director in the Center for Board Effectiveness for Deloitte LLP. As a subject matter resource on a variety of corporate governance topics, Maureen works closely with boards, committees and executives on governance challenges, rule developments and leading practices. She addresses timely topics such as emerging board governance topics, the board’s role in risk oversight, strategic risks assessment, boardroom agenda items, and audit committee leading practices.
Maureen is the governance liaison to several Deloitte clients, and provides education for boards and audit committees. She leads client board labs for new board and audit committee members, as well as transitioning board members taking on board or committee leadership roles. In 2016, Maureen was recognized by NACD Directorship magazine as one of the top 100 influential professionals in corporate governance and in the boardroom. Maureen has over 26 years of business experience with Deloitte including work with the Mergers and Acquisitions Services group and the Audit practice.
Maureen is former President and ex-officio member of the Fairfield University Alumni Association and board of directors. She is also a former member of the board of directors of the YMCA, West Side, New York City. Maureen is a CPA in New York and a member of the AICPA.
Vice Chairman, Herschend Entertainment
Chris Herschend is a third-generation shareholder and Vice Chairman of Missouri-based Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation, the largest family-owned themed attractions company in the US. HFE properties span 26 locations and 10 states, employing over 10,000 men & women who collectively host over 13 million guests annually at properties including Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN, Darien Lake in Buffalo, NY, and the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters. Chris is also the majority owner and President of Ride The Ducks International, the world's largest operator and licensor of amphibious sightseeing tours with 8 locations across the United States & Guam.
Chris has been elected by the shareholders to serve on the HFE board of directors since 1997 and has served on the audit & compensation committees of the board. Prior to joining Herschend, Chris worked for Coca-Cola, Cox Communications, and an Atlanta venture capital firm. He earned both his BA (1995) and MBA (2003) from Emory University in Atlanta.
Chris and his wife Ashley have four young children and live in Atlanta, GA. Chris' current & past community/industry service roles include the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA), the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Young Presidents Organization (YPO), Durban Youth Missions, Atlanta Youth Academy, The Church of the Apostles (Atlanta), the Georgia Center for Opportunity, and Blue Skies Ministries.
Board Member and Family Council Member, Sasser Family Holdings
Sasser Family Holdings (SFH) is a family-owned 4th generation transportation asset management leasing company based in Schaumburg, Illinois. Established in 1928 as a rail car leasing company, SFH recently hired their first non-family CEO when Fred Sasser (G3) moved into the Executive Chairman role of their fiduciary board.
Rebecca Sasser Peterson is one of three non-independent directors on the board of eight members and currently serves on both the Governance and Compensation Committees.
Prior to her board service Rebecca chaired the Sasser Family Council and remains involved in family governance. She also serves on the Loyola Family Business Center's Advisory Board. While originally from Chicago, Rebecca and her family now live in Elgin, IL.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Duchossois Group
Craig J. Duchossois is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Duchossois Group, a privately held, family business headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
The principal operating companies are The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (garage door openers, gate operators and related access control products); Controlled Products Systems Group (perimeter access control systems); and Duchossois Capital Management (the family’s private investment firm).
Craig serves on the Board of Directors of Amsted Industries, and Churchill Downs, Inc. He also serves as an advisory board member for The Edgewater Funds and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. His not-for-profit board memberships include Culver Educational Foundation, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, Kellogg Graduate School of Management, University of Chicago Hospitals, World Business Chicago, and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Additionally, he is a member of the Chief Executives’ Organization, World Presidents’ Organization, Executives’ Club of Chicago, Economic Club and the Civic Committee of The Commercial Club of Chicago. Craig is a past-Chairman of the Board of Visitors for the United States Naval Academy.
Craig holds a BBA and MBA from Southern Methodist University. He served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968-1971.
He and his wife Janet have two children and five grandchildren.
President, The Duchossois Family Foundation
Ashley Duchossois Joyce is President of The Duchossois Family Foundation. She received her Bachelor of Arts from University of Colorado and her Master’s degree from University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration. Ashley has been involved with the not-for-profit organization, Metropolitan Family Services, for over twenty years. Currently, she is Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, and serves on their Executive, Strategic Issues, External Affairs, HR, and Capital Campaign Committees. Ashley is also a trustee for The Catherine Cook School and Co-chair of the Nominating Committee. As a Director for The Duchossois Group, Inc., she serves on the Compensation, Nominating, and Shareholder Committees. Ashley was recently selected for the 2018 class of Leadership Greater Chicago and is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago. Additionally, she is on the Executive Committee for The Duchossois Family Council and the Advisory Board for the Duchossois Family Office.
Ashley lives in Chicago with her husband, Michael, and their two sons.
Board Chair, Sydney Associates, Inc.
Roberta Sydney is an independent board director and entrepreneur. Roberta chairs the Compensation Committee and serves on the Board of Plaxall, Inc., and serves on the Advisory Boards of several private real estate technology companies, including Rental Beast, Embue, and Doorbell. She also chairs the Sydney Associates Board and Investment Committee, skillfully managing the complicated dynamics surrounding family succession and transition.
In addition, Roberta is a member of the following organizations:
- National Association of Corporate Directors, Governance Fellow
- Private Directors Association, Founding Member and City Chair, Boston Chapter
- American College of Corporate Directors, Masters Professional Director Certificate
- C200, Treasurer and Board Member
- Beth Israel Deaconess, Board of Overseers Executive Council and Member, Neuroscience Advisory Committee
- Marathon Daffodils, Co-founder
- Massachusetts Women’s Forum
Roberta received a BA from Wellesley College, holds an MBA from Harvard University, and a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from MIT.
Member, Board of Advisors, IPC Global Solutions
Larry Putterman was CEO, chairman and board director of SafeData, LLC, a data backup and recovery solutions company serving corporate clients that he sold to Data Storage Corporation (OTCBB: DTST) in 2010. Subsequently, he has served on Data Storage Corporation’s board of advisors and directors and was an active member of its Mergers and Acquisitions Committee.
Prior to SafeData, Larry was founder and president of both American Sports Company and Pan American Sports Company in the Dominican Republic, for more than 20 years. These two companies became the largest independent contract manufacturers of men’s and women’s shoes and components in the Dominican Republic with 1,500 manufacturing employees. Clients included well-known brands like Timberland, Sperry Top-Sider, Sebago, Polo, LL Bean, Nike and New Balance.
Larry also honed his management skills in family business as the chief operating officer of Milton Shoe Company in Milton, Pa. and Cinderella Shoe Company in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. These companies made over 15,000 pairs of shoes per day that were sold through major retailers.
His extensive current and previous board experience include IPC Global Solutions, CDC Software LLC, Audio Ops LLC, Data Storage Corporation, Northern Central Bank, SafeData LLC, American Sports Company, Pan American Sports Company, Milton Shoe Company, Cinderella Shoe Company, and Susquehanna Investment Network. Larry is a member and holds a Masters Professional Director Certification from The American College of Corporate Directors.
Executive Vice President, The Aspen Institute; Board Member, Barry-Wehmiller Companies
Eric L. Motley, Ph.D., is an executive vice president at the Aspen Institute, responsible for Institutional Advancement and governance. He previously served as Vice President and Executive Director of National Programs and prior to that he served as Vice President and Managing Director of the Henry Crown Fellowship Program. In addition to managing the Henry Crown Fellowship Program, he served as the Executive Director of the Aspen Institute-Rockefeller Foundation’s Commission to Reform the Federal Appointments Process, an independent, nonpartisan effort to evaluate the Federal government’s vetting and clearance procedures. Prior to joining the Aspen Institute, he served as the Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of International Visitors within the bureau of Public Diplomacy. In 2003, he became Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for Presidential Personnel, where he managed the appointment process in the White House for over 1,200 presidentially-appointed advisory board and commission positions. He joined the White House staff as Deputy Associate Director, Office of Presidential Personnel in 2001.
Eric serves on the Board of Directors of Barry-Wehmiller Companies, The James Madison Council of the Library of Congress, the Library Cabinet for the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington at Mt. Vernon, jury member of the Ken Burns American Heritage Prize, The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s National Council, The John F. Kennedy Centennial Memorial Task Force, National Advisory Board of Honored, Young Concert Artists, Advisory Board of Planet Word Museum, Board of Overseers of Samford University and is a former member of the Chapter Board of the Washington National Cathedral. He is a member of the Cosmos Club of Washington, DC and the Grolier Club of New York City. Eric is a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary International Foundation and Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute. He is an avid book collector of first editions and rare books with a concentration on the English writer and lexicographer Samuel Johnson. In February 2017, he published a memoir Madison Park, A Place of Hope telling the story of the small community he grew up in Montgomery, AL, that was founded in 1880 by a group of freed slaves.
Eric earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Philosophy from Samford University. As a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, he earned a Master of Letters in International Relations and a Ph.D. as the John Steven Watson Scholar.
Chief Executive Officer, The Peterson Companies
Jon M. Peterson is the Chief Executive Officer of Peterson Companies, one of the largest and most admired privately held real estate companies in the Washington DC area. Founded 53 years ago, the company is responsible for some of the most prominent and successful mixed-use retail, residential and office developments in Northern Virginia and Maryland including Fairfax Corner, Fair Lakes, National Harbor, Virginia Gateway, Downtown Silver Spring, RIO Washingtonian, Burke Centre and Tysons McLean Office Park.
In 2016, he assumed the role of Chairman of the Executive Committee which oversees all aspects of the retail, residential, commercial and mixed-use development and management. Prior to that, Jon served as Senior Vice President of Commercial and Business Development which allowed him to develop close ties to the entire metropolitan real estate community.
Jon and the Peterson Family believe passionately in giving back to the communities they serve. Jon has served on numerous philanthropic boards and committees including Joe Gibb’s Youth for Tomorrow and Inova Hospital’s Life With Cancer. He currently serves as Vice Rector of the Board of Visitors for George Mason University, a member of the Board of Trustees at Inova Health Care Systems. He is a member of The 2030 Group, Northern Virginia Transpiration Alliance and NAIOP.
Chief Executive Officer, Hagerty
McKeel Hagerty is Chief Executive Officer of Hagerty. He considers it the company’s purpose to be the source for people who love cars. His passion for classics has driven the company to a leadership position within the automotive industry. The company is the leading insurance agency for collector vehicles in the world and host to the largest network of collector car owners
From the beginning of his career with Hagerty, McKeel has been a fearless innovator, constantly pushing for new ways to connect with collectors, hobbyists, enthusiasts and anyone who loves cars. This vision has resulted in Hagerty evolving into an international business supported with youth programs to engage and ignite the passion in the next generation of collectors, an organization that helps protect and celebrate the automobile as a significant part of our culture and a credible sense of authority on the subject. Under McKeel’s direction, Hagerty quickly became the most recognizable brand in classic car insurance, with marketing that injected humor, excitement and passion.
McKeel’s knowledge and enthusiasm have given him a reputation as an authority within the automotive industry. He is the youngest judge ever to have served for the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, a position he has held for over a decade. He represents the classic car community on numerous boards and advisory groups and makes frequent appearances as a trusted automotive and car market expert on ESPN, Speed, Discovery and CNBC.
Outside of Hagerty, McKeel has had the honor of serving as the 2016-2017 Chairman of Young Presidents Organization. YPO is the world’s premier peer-to-peer network of Chief Executives and convener of more than 25,000 businesses worldwide. McKeel has been an active member of YPO since 2000 and his pledge to be a lifelong learner and to help other leaders unlock their potential fits well within YPO’s mission.
McKeel attended Pepperdine University, Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary and Boston College, completing graduate work in philosophy and classics.
Principal, Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC
Based in Dallas, Jamie Lewin is responsible for Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC's (DCF) financial sponsors coverage effort and for the execution of M&A and financing transactions. Jamie has more than 15 years of investment banking and financial advisory experience assisting public and private entities throughout the acquisition, capital raising, and sale processes. Jamie has led numerous teams in executing cross-border transactions throughout North America, Central America, Europe, and Asia.
Experience
- Advisor to Global Client Solutions on its recapitalization with Argonaut Private Equity and Bank of Oklahoma
- Advisor to TrustHouse Services Group on its sale to Elior SCA
- Advisor to Dymatize Enterprises on its recapitalization with TA Associates
- Advisor to Terra Payments on its sale to Optimal Group
- Advisor to Enhanced Recovery Corp. on its joint venture with RLJ Equity Partners
- Advisor to Bio-Engineered Supplements & Nutrition on its sale to Glanbia plc.
- Advisor to Klein-Becker USA on its sale of StriVectin to Catteron Partners
- Advisor to Neways International on its sale to Golden Gate Capital
Education & Certifications
- Duke University, Fuqua School of Business: MBA
- Queens University: BA
Vice Chairman; National Leader, Deloitte Growth Enterprise Services, Deloitte LLP
D. Roger Nanney is a vice chairman of Deloitte LLP and the national leader of Deloitte Growth Enterprise Services (DGES), where he is responsible for the delivery of services to the firm’s mid-market and privately held clients. Roger also serves as the leader for the Audit Services organization of DGES and is the advisory partner for several of Deloitte’s largest clients.
Since joining Deloitte in 1982, and as a partner for nearly 27 years, Roger has held a number of leadership positions, including the operations leader for Deloitte’s U.S. Clients & Industries initiatives and the U.S. industry program; marketing and business development; and the Office of the CEO program. Roger also was a member of the U.S. and Americas operating committees, and previously served as the Mid-America regional managing partner.
Throughout his career, Roger has worked with clients across a number of industries and geographies. His extensive experience serving both mid-size and private companies and multinational public organizations and has provided him with a broad and in-depth understanding of the challenges clients face in today’s ever-changing business environment.
Roger is active in his community and serves a number of civic organizations. He is Immediate Past Chair of the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, Texas, National Trustee of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America, and Trustee of the University of South Carolina Business Partnership Foundation.
A CPA, Roger received his bachelor of business administration and master of accountancy from the University of South Carolina. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Institute of Management Accountants.
Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP; National Managing Partner – Modernizing Compliance and Culture Risk
Carey is the Managing Partner in the Deloitte & Touche LLP (Deloitte) Risk & Financial Advisory practice leading the Modernizing Compliance and Culture Risk ventures fund which includes a diverse range of next generation innovation and technology-enabled client solutions spanning regulatory compliance, internal audit, fraud and forensic, controls assurance, and culture risk that help organizations innovate efforts around compliance and culture.
As a specialist in risk and control services, Carey has over 25 years of experience in providing risk assurance and advisory services to clients across industries, with experience in all aspects of internal audit, control assessment and assurance, enterprise risk management, forensic investigations, culture risk, and compliance and governance processes.
Carey is a member of the Deloitte Risk & Financial Advisory Executive Ventures Committee and leads other national and local firm committees and initiatives supporting national practice and people development. She also recently served on the Deloitte Board Council and Finance and Audit Committee for the Deloitte U.S. firm.
Externally, Carey holds an external professional leadership position with the Institute of Internal Auditors “IIA”, the leading global authority in the profession of internal auditing, where she currently is an Officer on the Board of Trustees for the IIA Research Foundation and serves as the Vice President of Strategy and Vice President of Fundraising. She also serves in an external community leadership position as the Sustainability Committee Chair of the Southeastern Michigan United Way Alexis de Tocqueville leadership giving society involved in key philanthropic leadership efforts in the community. Carey also serves as an Audit Committee member of the Western Michigan University Foundation Board.
Carey holds a BBA in Accountancy from Western Michigan University, graduating summa cum laude. After beginning her career at Deloitte in 1992, she became a Partner in 2002. Carey is also a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor.
Managing Director, Deloitte LLP
Bob Rosone is a Managing Director with Deloitte LLP and part of the national leadership team of Deloitte Growth Enterprise Services, which focuses on middle-market, privately held and private equity owned organizations. His responsibilities include operations, business development, marketing, public relations, advertising, and communications. Along with being a member of the Deloitte Growth Enterprise Services Executive Committee, Bob has held numerous marketing and leadership positions since joining the firm in 1998. Prior to his current role, he served as the Chief of Staff for Deloitte’s Chairman of the Board.
Bob is active in his community and serves a number of civic organizations. He is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of The United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, New Jersey, and a board member of Pro Mujer, a microfinance and women’s empowerment organization serving women in Latin America.
Bob is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and earned his M.B.A. from Fordham University.
Affiliate Consultant, The Family Business Consulting Group
Rob is an affiliate of The Family Business Consulting Group, assisting family-owned businesses create value for shareholders and families now and in the future. He is particularly adept and graceful in helping families and leaders create and effectively employ Performance Forums (boards, peer groups), Strategy (planning, organizing, feedback, compensation) and Succession (ownership, leadership).
Prior to joining FBCG, Rob spent 33 years in multi-generational family business leadership. Initially in brand management at SC Johnson Wax for several years he went on to become Chairman & CEO and of Sligh Furniture and Clock Company with a majority outside board of directors.
Rob has served on more than a dozen family business fiduciary or advisory boards and non-profit boards. On many of those, he served as Chairman of the Board and/ or Chairman of the Compensation, Finance or Nominating Committee.
Rob has successfully helped family businesses accomplish successful ownership transitions and seamless leadership succession. He has facilitated peer groups, strategy, tactics and the ways accomplishments can be measured. Rob is particularly experienced working with family members and family groups.
In addition to his continuing work on family business boards, Rob is active in the National Association of Corporate Directors, the Private Directors Association and the Young Presidents Organization.
CEO and President, National Association of Corporate Directors
Peter Gleason is the President and CEO of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). Gleason is a recognized expert on board leadership and corporate governance issues. He serves as a member of NACD's national faculty, is regularly quoted in the national media, and is a frequent presenter on the subjects of corporate governance, executive and director compensation, risk, strategic planning, and board/shareowner relations. He has served as a commissioner on every NACD Blue Ribbon Commission report issued over the past 16 years, including the most recent releases on The Strategic Asset Board, Long Term Value Creation, Strategy Development, Talent Development, and Board Diversity. Peter currently serves on the board of NACD and on the advisory board of Nura Health, Inc., a development-stage health-care company. Gleason is also a director of the NACD Capital Area Chapter, Deputy Chair of Global Network of Director Institutes, and is a NACD Board Leadership Fellow. He is the former chair of the International Professional Practices Framework Oversight Council of the Institute of Internal Auditors and was formerly a director of The Patriot Fund.
Before joining NACD, Gleason was a management consultant with both Ernst & Young and Pritchett & Associates. In addition, he served as Vice President and Director of U.S. Research for Institutional Shareholder Services.
Gleason is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Virginia Tech, from where he has a MBA with concentrations in both Finance and Marketing.
Founder, Continuity, LLC
Doug Baumoel is the Founder of Continuity, LLC and offers an extensive background in family business operations and executive management in his work with clients. He served as a second-generation executive in his own family’s business and has held key executive positions in other family and non-family businesses.
Doug started and ran businesses in both the U.S. and Europe, and lived overseas for six years while establishing and managing the European offices of his family’s business. He has applied more than 20 years of business experience to the development of a process for analyzing key variables affecting family business conflict. Early on in his career, prior to joining his family’s business, Doug served as an internal consultant in strategic planning for Sperry Corporation (Unisys) and as an engineer at Polaroid.
Doug is the co-author, with Continuity Managing Partner Blair Trippe, of Deconstructing Conflict: Understanding Family Business, Shared Wealth and Power. This recently published work is the ultimate guide to Continuity’s unique developmental approach to conflict management in family enterprises. A highly-regarded thought leader on conflict management, leadership and governance in family enterprise, Doug has authored or co-authored articles and chapters for numerous professional publications and journals – including Family Business and Massachusetts Family Business magazine; the Thomson West Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Guide; Private Company Director magazine; and Negotiation Journal of the Harvard/MIT/Tufts Program on Negotiation.
His extensive speaking and facilitation engagements include the Campden “America’s Families in Business” conference; FFI’s annual international conference; Transitions East; and the Smith Family Business Initiative at Cornell University along with Suffolk University Law School; Northeastern University Business School; Babson University; the Massachusetts Bar Association; American Bar Association; Massachusetts Probate Council; Boston Private Bank; several regional estate planning councils and various national industrial conferences in multiple industries.
Doug earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University. A dual certificate holder in both Family Business Advising and Family Wealth Advising from the Family Firm Institute, he has been awarded the additional distinction of FFI Fellow. Among Doug’s numerous professional achievements, he holds a certificate in Civil Mediation from MCLE and is a graduate of the Director Professionalism program of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), which recognized him with Fellow status. Doug also served as President of the New England chapter of the Family Firm Institute.
Founder/Principal, CFAR
Nancy Drozdow, one of CFAR’s five founders, has led CFAR’s family and owner-led business practice for more than 30 years and has been instrumental in the development of CFAR’s approach to strategy. Nancy is known for her expertise as a thinking partner to leaders, successors and successor candidates across the family enterprise. Nancy helps her clients creatively identify and work through dilemmas around complex issues of performance, money and relationships. Nancy is a founder of the Family Firm Institute. She is also an FFI Fellow and served on the organization’s original board. Nancy received the 2012 Richard Beckhard Practice Award from the Family Firm Institute, which annually honors a distinguished practitioner for outstanding contributions to the field of family business practice. She has lectured widely on topics such as risk, competition and growth, governance, succession, exit and continuity, and leadership. Her work and ideas have been published in Sloan Management Review, Business Week, CEO Magazine, Family Business Magazine, Journal of Management Consulting, Family Business Review, and the New York Times. Nancy holds an MBA in strategy from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Senior Consultant, CFAR
Caleb White, Senior Consultant, specializes in the complex strategic and operational issues facing today’s organizations. He draws on his experience as a high impact leader in both privately-held and large public companies, at different stages of development and across multiple industries. This includes leading his sixth-generation family business, Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc. Caleb brings both personal and professional insight to leadership and governance dilemmas facing clients.
As a member of CFAR’s Owner-Led business practice, Caleb’s work is driven by an ability to create strategic value: identifying investment/acquisition opportunities, strong P&L acumen, and dedication to building a culture of operational excellence. From his experience in his family’s business, he is also particularly attuned to high stakes shareholder issues and complex multigenerational family business dynamics.
Prior to joining CFAR, Caleb was President and CEO of Ensign-Bickford, a privately held portfolio of of diversified manufacturing companies, where he furthered expansion and spearheaded nearly ten acquisitions helping transform the portfolio into new areas. He is now a member of its Board of Directors. Caleb also serves as a Director of Axiam Inc. and Brokers International, and has been a member of numerous not-for-profit boards throughout his career, including St. Mark’s School of Southboro, MA and the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, which was founded by his father.
Caleb received his MBA from Northwestern University/Kellogg Graduate School of Management, and his BA in East Asian Studies from Yale University.
Sara Hamilton is the Founder and CEO of Family Office Exchange (FOX), the definitive source of information and best practices associated with the business of managing the family enterprise and the family’s wealth across generations. Since 1989, FOX has made financial solutions accessible to business-owning families by fostering dialogue among wealth owners and wealth advisors. In 2014, FOX celebrated its 25th anniversary of service, and remains true to its founding mission of objectivity in wealth management, member education and shared knowledge across a sophisticated, global network of families and leading wealth advisors.
Family Office Exchange is a 28-year-old family business providing networking, education and advice to other multi-generational family enterprises that have more to manage than just a business. Family Office Exchange (FOX) serves more than 360 families in 20 countries that have made a commitment to stays together as an enterprise. Sara serves on advisory boards for two family enterprises outside the U.S. and a multi-family office in the U.S. Her son Nate serves on the advisory board for FOX.
Sara is the co-author of Family Legacy and Leadership: Preserving True Family Wealth in Challenging Times, published by Wiley & Sons. For 10 years, she has served on the Executive Education faculty of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business for the course on Private Wealth Management offered twice a year in Chicago. She is a member of the World Economic Forum‘s Global Advisory Council on the Future of Investing and a board member for the Private Directors Association.
Ms. Hamilton was recently named one of the Top 50 Women in Wealth Management by PAM, and was honored with this award for three years running by Wealth Manager. She serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Wealth Management and Trusts and Estates magazine.
Senior Client Partner, Korn Ferry Hay Group
Theodore Sharp is a Senior Client Partner for Korn Ferry Hay Group, based in the firm’s Boston office. He is a member of the Executive Pay and Governance team.
Mr. Sharp consults with clients extensively in compensation related issues, specializing in the area of executive compensation.
In-depth relationships are the hallmark of Theo’s consulting philosophy and understanding the people, business strategy, and competitive landscape of his clients help him provide the best possible advice regarding compensation strategy incentive alignment.
Informed, practical advice are what his clients rely on year after year, whether they are developing a whole new incentive strategy or just as a sounding board for new ideas. These principles are applied to clients at all stages of development, from pre-IPO to mature public companies.
Mr. Sharp’s specific areas of expertise include incentive plan design, executive compensation benchmarking, employment and severance agreement design and evaluation, Golden Parachute excise tax mitigation and calculation, non-qualified deferred compensation and the tax and accounting treatment of equity compensation.
Mr. Sharp has a diverse client base that includes publicly traded companies, private and family owned businesses, pre-IPO companies as well as not-for-profit entities such as foundations and Universities. His clients represent a broad array of industries with a focus on technology and life science.
Mr. Sharp has a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business and earned a Juris Doctor from Northeastern University. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar.
