Private Company Director‘s Directors to Watch 2024 highlights 24 significant and diverse directors who have contributed to and will continue to expand ongoing dialogue on board best practices and corporate governance excellence.
Colette LaForce
Ulteig, FGM Architects, Farms Work Wonders
Colette LaForce has more than 15 years of corporate board experience and currently serves as independent director at three award-winning private organizations: ESOP engineering leader Ulteig (named a Private Company Board of the Year in 2021), FGM Architects and social enterprise Farms Work Wonders.
LaForce joined Ulteig in 2020 and now chairs the compensation committee and has served on the audit and governance committees. She has been board chair of Farms Work Wonders since 2018 and was named to FGM Architects in 2023.
Her 25-year corporate career includes C-suite roles at technology leaders Dell, AMD, Cars.com and ICF, as well as prior board seats at EXTEN and The Green Grid. She is a member of NACD and PDA and is an advisor to emerging spacetech and cleantech companies.
Be a steward of corporate culture: “While the old adage of ‘nose in, fingers out’ holds true for independent directors, board members still have a role to play in being visible stewards of strong, healthy corporate cultures. Now more than ever, employees (from the CEO to a newbie in their first corporate job) universally want to feel empowered to bring their best selves to work. Board members need to ask themselves how they can proactively influence that mindset — from supporting recruitment efforts to being champions of the brand and modeling behaviors that elevate the CEO and leadership team.”