BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tom Terry

Chairman
tom.terry@wrightfoundation.org
terrygroup.com

Thomas S. Terry is Founder and CEO of The Terry Group, which advises executive teams on strategy, governance, and leadership. Tom is a fully credentialed actuary and an active leader in the actuarial profession in the U.S. and abroad. He currently serves as president of the American Academy of Actuaries and is a frequent speaker on social and financial security systems. Tom has been instrumental in the formation of the Foundation’s graduate studies program.

Dr. Stan Smith

Treasurer
stan.smith@wrightfoundation.org
SmithEconomics.com

Dr. Stan V. Smith is a nationally renowned economist and financial consultant trained at the University of Chicago. He offers economic analysis in simple terms that any trier-of-fact can understand. As an expert consultant to plaintiff and defense attorneys representing clients in Federal and State courts, he provides testimony and litigation support services in evaluating damages.

Stan has developed state-of-the-art econometric analysis models to analyze economic and financial issues and has consulted for firms such as Sidley Austin, Kirkland & Ellis, Jenner & Block, Schiff Hardin and Wildman Harrold in Chicago, as well as thousands of other prominent firms nationwide.

John Davidoff

Board Member
john.davidoff@wrightfoundation.org
missiondriven.net

John Davidoff is founder and CEO of Davidoff Communications, a national strategic planning and marketing communications consultancy. Founded in 2005, Davidoff Communications leads businesses, associations and nonprofits with its proprietary Mission-Driven™ branded methodology to increase mission impact, drive revenue, and build meaningful relationships with members, donors, partners, sponsors and other stakeholders. Davidoff Communications provides strategic planning, thought leadership, marketing communications, conference management, donor marketing and alternative revenue development services.

Bringing over thirty years of local, national and global experience to the table, Davidoff Communications has served clients including BlueCross BlueShield, State Farm Insurance, Anheuser-Busch, ComEd, P&G, American Cancer Society, Ocean Conservancy, Smithsonian, Monterey Bay Acquarium and many more.

Previously, John served as Vice President for Event Marketing and Sponsorship for DDB, Senior Vice President for Marketing for General Growth Properties, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing for Omnicom’s Radiate Group and CEO of Entertainment Marketing, Inc.  John is a regular contributor to The Non Profit Times and is a public speaker, profiling leaders and characteristics of Mission-Driven organizations.

John is a founding board member of the Wright Foundation for the Realization of Human Potential. He has served as a student-leader at Wright since 2005, and is a currently a senior leader and coach. He also sits on the boards of the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Sunday Evening Club and Ithaca College Alumni Association.

John lives in Evanston with his wife Jacki Davidoff. They have two sons, Josh and Jasper.

Pam Noble

Board Member
pam.noble@wrightfoundation.org

Pamela Noble joined The Christopher Group in 2020 as the Consulting Services Division President, Managing Director, and Chief Human Resources Officer. She brings over 20 years of comprehensive human resources leadership to The Christopher Group. Former CHRO and talent succession lead, she has built Human Resources departments as true strategic business partners; strengthened corporate-wide employee engagement; led diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; and become a trusted advisor with a reputation of high personal integrity. Her perspective plays a key role in defining and implementing new people policies, processes, and training at TCG while working directly with clients on their executive coaching, and consulting project initiatives.

Prior to joining TCG, she was senior vice president of Human Resources and chief engagement officer at Asurint, responsible for designing and delivering the company’s human capital strategy focused on energizing the employee experience and driving business outcomes. During her tenure at Asurint, she helped position the company to win the NorthCoast99 Award, recognizing great places to work for top talent.  She also brings previous executive experience as global director of organizational development and internal communications at Lincoln Electric; global vice president of Human Resources at AkzoNobel; senior vice president of Talent, Succession, and Performance Management at National City Bank; Director of Human Resources at Agilysis, and vice president of Strategic Staffing, Training, and Management at Citibank.

Pamela is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Transformational Leadership and Coaching from Wright Graduate University, where she earned her Master’s degree. She also earned her Bachelor of Economics from Howard University. Originally from Chicago,  Pamela and her husband Macke (a Year of More Graduate) live in a suburb of Cleveland, OH. In her free time Pamela enjoys attending her college-aged children’s sporting events, hiking, bike riding, and skiing.

Rich Lyons

Board Member
rich.lyons@wrightfoundation.org
lyonscg.com

Rich is the founder of Lyons Consulting Group (LCG). He is responsible for leading the company’s strategy and vision as well as working closely with customers. He brings over ten years of experience in IT consulting, and over sixteen years of experience in business development. He spends the majority of his days with LCG’s customers.

Prior to founding LCG, Rich served as Vice President of Sales for divine, Inc. in Chicago, responsible for the largest and most profitable professional services region in the firm, generating over $40 million annually. He served in that same role as part of marchFIRST and Whittman-Hart. He joined Whittman-Hart in January of 1995.

Rich graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BSEE from the University of Michigan and holds a M.B.A. from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Rich serves as a senior consultant, adjunct faculty, and executive coach with The Wright Business Institute where he teaches courses on leadership and teamwork, sales, and communication. As a coach, Rich is excellent at holding big vision for his clients, helping them to identify blocks, and finding innovative solutions to help them develop and grow to their next level of success, achievement and contribution.

Perhaps most importantly, Rich is happily married and the proud father of two daughters, Morgan and Hannah. He is also an avid golfer.

Karen Wilson Smithbauer

Board Member
karen.smithbauer@wrightfoundation.org
kcwf.org

Karen Wilson Smithbauer is an educator, businesswoman, and philanthropist from Grosse Ile, Michigan. Following ten years of teaching early childhood and elementary education, she joined Central distributors of Beer, Inc., one of the largest Anheuser-Busch beer distributorships in the U.S., and served in diverse positions ranging from office manager to trucking operations owner, to CEO and Chairman of the Board until her retirement in 2007.

She has since established the Karen Colina Wilson Foundation, focusing on women’s and children’s health, welfare, safety, well-being, and development; endowed a chair for brain cancer at the Cleveland Clinic; and received the Woman of the Year Award from the American Association of University Women. In addition to being on the board, Karen is a Co-Chair of the Wright Foundation for the Realization of Human Potential Capital Campaign Committee.

Dave Stamm

Board Member
dave.stamm@wrightfoundation.org
www.stammmedia.com

Having started his first business in fourth grade programming Bulletin Board Systems (BBSes), working for Apple Computer as a college freshman, and then founding a computer networking services company employing college classmates while an undergrad at UW-Whitewater, Dave Stamm has always been passionate about implementing technology and serving people. Dave is currently the CEO of two technology companies: Stamm Technologies and Stamm Media. 

Stamm Technologies is a leading provider of outsourced IT services to businesses and non-profits in Metro Milwaukee and Chicagoland.  Stamm Technologies delivers “Whatever I.T. Takes!” to their clients, including: Harley-Davidson, Manpower, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, Lubar & Co., BizTimes, Heiser Automotive Group, First Stage Children’s Theater, and many others.

Stamm Media combines rich interactive media creation, audiovisual equipment rental, and a full suite of technical services to strengthen brands and create immersive experiences. Stamm Media clients include MTV, Nickelodeon, GE Healthcare, TD Ameritrade, CVS Caremark, Turner Networks, Fox Networks, Children’s Hospital of WI, Miller Brewing, Harley-Davidson, and more.

Stamm Technologies/Stamm Media is a Milwaukee Future 50 (2009, 2014), Milwaukee Fastest Growing Firms (2014) and Best Workplaces (2010) award winner.  Dave is a prior 40-Under-40 Winner (2007) and UW-Whitewater’s Outstanding Recent Alumni Award (2010) recipient.

Dave served on board of Volunteers of America of Wisconsin for 10 years serving in various capacities including Secretary and Treasurer until the organization was merged into another non-profit.  Volunteers of America of Wisconsin is dedicated to enriching the lives of elderly and disabled adults by providing affordable, quality housing and residential care, while touching the spirit of those served.

Dave is currently serving on the Board of Milwaukee Film.

Alison Denton

Board Member
alison.denton@wrightfoundation.org

Alison is an innovative executive and manager who specializes in developing systems and structures that bring clarity and efficiency to changing organizations. She is passionate about and is responsible for ensuring customer success and renewals for the entire Decision Lens portfolio of Federal, State & Local, and Commercial SAAS customers.

During her tenure at Decision Lens, Alison has implemented new structures and systems for tracking customer health and engagement. She developed a holistic view of customer success metrics by integrating key systems in a new customer success management system.

The common thread throughout her 20+ years of work is her focus on serving the customer to make sure they are successful in getting the information, product or support they need to have positive impact in their organizations. Prior to joining Decision Lens, Alison was the Director of Facilities Planning at Arlington Public Schools where she focused on capital planning, process improvement, and public participation. She also previously worked as an information technology professional and administrator at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL.

Alison is currently a Women’s Leadership program member in the Wright Foundation’s SOFIA (Society of Femininity in Action). Alison and Loren are also members of the Wright Couples’ program, and the family participates in the Wright Foundation Parenting Weekends. Outside of work, Alison loves to travel to new places, read, play games, and explore the beautiful outdoors.