Private Company Director’s Directors to Watch 2025 highlights 31 significant and diverse directors who have contributed to and will continue to expand ongoing dialogue on board best practices and corporate governance excellence.
Diane F. Adams
Thrall Enterprises Inc., Lodge Cast Iron, Valco Industries Inc.
Diane F. Adams is an independent director and former chief marketing and strategy officer. She has worked closely with private, private-equity-owned, ESOP and family boards. She is a transformational leader with a deep passion and expertise for driving long-term sustainable growth plans for complex businesses, encompassing both industrial goods and consumer products.
Diane currently serves on the boards of multiple private family companies, including Lodge Cast Iron (chair, nominating committee), Thrall Enterprises Inc. (chair, nom/gov and compensation committees), and Valco Industries Inc. (chair, compensation committee).
She is an active member and Leadership Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors, a member of Private Directors Association and a founding member of Executive Women on Boards. Diane is also a sought-after speaker and executive coach.
Educating and engaging family shareholders is key to creating long term value: “While CEO succession planning is a key responsibility of directors, equally important is generational succession planning in family businesses. Creating a strategy that both engages and educates all generations of a family business will promote confidence and trust. Well-articulated programs that are clearly communicated will help prepare family members for participation in the business, in the community and on the board. A collaborative and inclusive approach to engage and educate family members results in highly qualified and motivated members that will deliver value to the company and longevity for the family.”