Skip to main content

Our leadership team

Buddy Teaster
Chief Executive Officer & President

Buddy uses a mix of entrepreneurship, C-level leadership skills and extensive nonprofit experience to lead Soles4Souls as CEO and President. His experience at Soles4Souls, along with the organization’s global impact, is chronicled in his book, Shoestrings: How Your Donated Shoes and Clothes Help People Pull Themselves Out of Poverty (2018).

Read more

Prior to Soles4Souls, Buddy was the President/COO of StarKart and the National Association of Local Advertisers. Before that, he served as Chief Network Officer for Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), a non-profit organization committed to developing better leaders through education and idea exchange. YPO is the largest CEO network in the world with more than 25,000 CEOs in 130 countries. He has been a YPO member since 2010 and received several awards from the organization, including the “Global Impact Fellow” honor and the “Inclusive Business and Community” Award. Buddy was also named to the National Retail Federation’s List of People Shaping Retail’s Future in 2018.

His extensive speaking experience includes topics ranging from leadership and philanthropy to managing excess inventory and social enterprise. Over the years, he has shared his experience and lessons with groups such as YPO, the Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association; Universities like Belmont, DePaul and William & Mary; and forums including TEDx St. Louis, the Social Enterprise Alliance Summit, the Seattle Council on World Affairs and the Alleviating Poverty Through Entrepreneurship Summit.

Buddy earned his BA in Religious Studies and French from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia, and holds an MBA/MA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He serves on the national board for the Social Enterprise Alliance, as board chair of I.D. Plates in Mesquite, TX and is on the advisory board of GHP Environmental + Architecture in Nashville, TN.

His energy and enthusiasm for work spills over to his passion for running. Having run his first marathon in 1994, Buddy enjoys trail and long-distance running, and has since finished almost 70 ultra-marathons (50K +) including seventeen 100-mile runs. He and his wife Becca have been married since 1992 and have two daughters.

Robert Adams-Ghee
Chief Financial Officer

Robert Adams-Ghee joined Soles4Souls in 2016 after more than 25 years leading financial management efforts at nonprofits in middle Tennessee. He began his career working with the Community AIDS Partnership at United Way of Metropolitan Nashville. In 1992, he shifted his efforts to become the first Business Manager, then Chief Financial & Administrative Officer at Nashville CARES where he helped build the organization from a budget of $700,000 in 1992 to more than $30 million in 2016 supporting growth from seven staff to over 100 staff in 2016.

Read more

Robert Adams-Ghee joined Soles4Souls in 2016 after more than 25 years leading financial management efforts at nonprofits in middle Tennessee. He began his career working with the Community AIDS Partnership at United Way of Metropolitan Nashville. In 1992, he shifted his efforts to become the first Business Manager, then Chief Financial & Administrative Officer at Nashville CARES where he helped build the organization from a budget of $700,000 in 1992 to more than $30 million in 2016 supporting growth from seven staff to over 100 staff in 2016. He earned his Bachelors degree and MBA from Tennessee Technological University.

Robert was also very involved in important LGBTQ work in the Nashville area in the 1990s, helping secure nonprofit status for grassroots movements. As a founding member of Planet Nashville, a nonprofit that sends volunteers to do HIV fieldwork in Africa, he was honored with the creation of the Robert Adams-Ghee Global HIV/AIDS Education Scholarship to honor his work in the community. 

More recently, Robert has enjoyed teaching financial management and health care management at University of Phoenix where he was named Faculty of the Year in 2015. He and his husband Jesse have been together since 1996 and live in East Tennessee.

Rod Arnold
Chief Marketing Officer

Prior to joining Soles4Souls, Rod founded Leading Good and served as COO of charity:water, a nonprofit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. He was also President of the Nonprofit/Cause-Related Group at Media Ventures Group, where he helped drive strategic growth for brands, sports and entertainment properties, and nonprofit organizations.

Read more

Rod’s clients have included Ronald McDonald House Charities, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Save the Children, Compassion International, Dr. Oz’s HealthCorps, World Relief, and others. His work has also included developing partnerships with the NFL and NASCAR, as well as with celebrities and brands.

Mike Shirey
Chief Operating Officer

Mike Shirey joined the Soles4Souls team as Chief Operating Officer in 2020, and brings over 25 years of retail and wholesale experience in the footwear industry.   Prior to joining Soles4Souls, Mike held various Senior Executive roles leading premium wholesale, design, planning and sourcing teams at Aerosoles, Nine West, Highline United and Nina Shoes organizations.  In 2018 he founded C&O Trading where he partners with companies to build and launch new divisions, entering new global markets with acquired brands.

Read more

Mike earned his BS in Business Administration and Spanish from the University of Delaware. While working at his first footwear firm Meldisco / Footstar, he earned his MBA in Finance from Seton Hall University. Mike is a lifetime member of the TwoTen Footwear Foundation, and past Trustee the River Vale, NJ Board of Education.

Mike and his wife Christine live in River Vale, New Jersey with their two sons.  Mike and the family often find themselves enjoying weekends at the Jersey Shore.

Nancy Youssef
Chief Corporate Development

Nancy Youssef currently serves as Chief Corporate Development Officer for Soles4Souls, a non-profit enterprise based in Nashville. She is also the Founder and President of Curves with Purpose, established in 2017, a women’s e-commerce marketplace celebrating shape diversity, serving sizes up to 5X, curating global brands, utilizing fit tech and helping disrupt the cycle of poverty through charitable partnerships.

Read more

Nancy Youssef currently serves as Chief Corporate Development Officer for Soles4Souls, a non-profit enterprise based in Nashville. She is also the Founder and President of Curves with Purpose, established in 2017, a women’s e- commerce marketplace celebrating shape diversity, serving sizes up to 5X, curating global brands, utilizing fit tech and helping disrupt the cycle of poverty through charitable partnerships. She served as senior vice president, international business development for Destination XL group, the largest omni-channel speciality retailer of big and tall men’s apparel. Prior to Destination XL, Nancy was vice president, international business development for Genesco, Inc. where she pioneered the Fortune 1000 footwear and apparel retailer’s portfolio of brands outside the United States. She currently serves as a director on the Nashville Chamber of Commerce International Business Council, the Mayor’s Advisory Council for Minority and Women Owned Businesses and the Mayor’s Advisory Council for New Americans. Nancy earned her B.S. in Marketing from The Pennsylvania State University and has also completed International Fashion Design studies at the Instituto Marangoni in Milan, Italy which gave her the opportunity to become fluent in her fifth language, adding Italian to Arabic, English, French, and Spanish

Michael Brown
Vice President, Warehouse & Logistics

Michael Brown serves on the front lines of Soles4Souls. As the Vice President of Warehouse and Logistics, Michael manages the daily movement of thousands of pairs of shoes and pieces of clothing to locations in the United States and around the world. He works closely with our field officers as well as those from partner agencies to ensure the product arrives on time and is appropriate for the recipients and the local climate. “I feel grateful and blessed to be working with a fantastic team and for such a meaningful cause, said Brown. It is incredibly rewarding to think about how many lives are made better each time a shipment leaves our warehouse, and I am motivated every day by the knowledge of how many more people are still in need.”

Read more

Michael Brown serves on the front lines of Soles4Souls. As the Vice President of Warehouse and Logistics, Michael manages the daily movement of thousands of to various locations in the United States and around the world. He works closely with our own field officers as well as those from partner agencies to ensure the product arrives on time and is appropriate for the recipients and the local climate. I feel grateful and blessed to be working with a fantastic team and for such a meaningful cause, said Brown. It is incredibly rewarding to think about how many lives are made better each time a shipment leaves our warehouse, and I am motivated every day by the knowledge of how many more people are still in need.

Michael has previously served as Director of Logistics and Distribution and Logistics and Compliance Manager of the Alabama warehouse. He was responsible for managing the crew, coordinating the transportation of incoming and outgoing shipments, and streamlining the paperwork process for individuals and organizations as they submitted requests for footwear and/or partnerships. Michael is a native of Nashville, Tennessee and now resides in Wadley, Alabama with his wife Suzanne, and children Lindsey and Bryce.

Kellen Clawson
Vice President, Product Management

Kellen Clawson has been with Soles4Souls since 2017, serving in various positions on the Community Partnerships team before becoming Vice President of Product Management. His entire professional career has been in the non-profit sector, with roles at Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee and the American Junior Golf Association. 

Read more

Born and raised in Illinois, Kellen is a graduate of Lewis University, first with a Bachelors in Sport Management in 2010 and a Masters of Business Administration in 2012. He and his wife, Clare, live in Old Hickory, Tennessee with their son James and dogs Penny and Bulleit. He and his wife, Clare, live in Old Hickory, Tennessee with their sons James and Decker, and dogs Penny and Bulleit. You can find him on weekends watching the Blackhawks and scouting out rare bourbons across middle Tennessee.

Katherine Eboch
Senior Director of Information Technology

Katherine Eboch joined Soles4Souls in July 2018 and oversees our technology platforms and ERP as Vice President of Information Technology. Her professional career has taken her around the country working in supply chain management and in several regional theatres.

Read more

Katherine Eboch joined Soles4Souls in July 2018 and oversees our technology platforms and ERP as Vice President of Information Technology. Her professional career has taken her around the country working in supply chain management and in several regional theatres. Katherine also serves as President of her local Rotary Club.

Katherine graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master of Business Administration from Bowling Green State University. She’s works from her home in Toledo, OH with her husband Christopher and cats Princess and Pumpkin.

Jamie Ellis
Vice President, Strategic Communications

Jamie joined Soles4Souls in January 2019 and leads the brand strategy and all facets of communications for the organization. Her professional career has taken her through a variety of industries, including music business, tech, event management and finance, handling public relations, corporate communications, and marketing.

Read more

Jamie joined Soles4Souls in January 2019 and leads the brand strategy and all facets of communications for the organization. Her professional career has taken her through a variety of industries, including music business, tech, event management and finance, handling public relations, corporate communications, and marketing.

Originally from Montgomery, Alabama, she is an avid sports fan (War Eagle) and foodie, and can be found on weekends either working on a DIY project around her house or trying a new restaurant.

Jamie graduated in 2008 from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications is the long-time president of UNA’s Greater Nashville Alumni Club and as a member of the Alumni Association Board. She lives in Nashville with her husband, James, and their non-human children, Paddington and Pippa.

Theresa Miller
Vice President, Development

With over two decades of nonprofit experience, Theresa is passionate about unlocking the potential of purpose-driven organizations. Theresa’s philanthropic journey began in 2001 with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, where she spent 14 years serving in various fund development and leadership positions, followed by 8 years of transformative leadership at Girls on the Run International.

Read more

With over two decades of nonprofit experience, Theresa is passionate about unlocking the potential of purpose-driven organizations. Theresa’s philanthropic journey began in 2001 with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, where she spent 14 years serving in various fund development and leadership positions, followed by 8 years of transformative leadership at Girls on the Run International.

As a seasoned senior leader, Theresa carved a path of personal and professional growth based on a solid foundation of strategic planning, business development, and exceptional team leadership. She has generated more than $100 million for nonprofits through diverse revenue streams including cause marketing, foundations, individuals, and special events.

In her role as Chief Engagement Officer for Girls on the Run International, Theresa successfully helmed brand strategy, crisis communication, public relations, digital marketing, partnership cultivation, donor relations, and product development and operations in addition to leading the philanthropic efforts of the organization. At Soles4Souls, Theresa is responsible for leading and managing Soles4Souls’ development function and its staff to increase philanthropic activity. She leads a growing team while bringing an entrepreneurial spirit to help drive effective fundraising results.

Beyond her work as a nonprofit leader, you’ll find her immersed in the joy of reading, traversing new landscapes through travel, and being the ultimate cheerleader for her kids on the sidelines of life’s adventures.

Alessandra Roberts
Senior Director, Marketing

Alessandra Roberts joined Soles4Souls in 2019, starting her journey with the organization as a member of the Global Experiences team before transitioning to the marketing team in 2020. From project manager, Alessandra currently serves as Senior Director of Marketing, leading the marketing strategy and team, encompassing all digital, content, photo, and graphic design.

Read more

Alessandra Roberts joined Soles4Souls in 2019, starting her journey with the organization as a member of the Global Experiences team before transitioning to the marketing team in 2020. From project manager, Alessandra currently serves as Senior Director of Marketing, leading the marketing strategy and team, encompassing all digital, content, photo, and graphic design.

Before joining Soles4Souls, Alessandra served as a Teach for America English Teacher at Knowledge Academies, Inc., deepening her passion towards the importance of education and social development. Prior to teaching, she received her English Education degree from Florida State University. She currently resides in Nashville, TN where she happily lives with her husband and two furr babies, Zion and Nilla. 

Tiffany Turner
Vice President, Outreach
Tiffany has been a part of Soles4Souls team since 2008, after headlining a benefit concert in Nashville. When she got the chance to volunteer at a local shoe distribution at the Nashville Rescue Mission shortly after, she was hooked.
Read more
Tiffany has been a part of Soles4Souls team since 2008, after headlining a benefit concert in Nashville. When she got the chance to volunteer at a local shoe distribution at the Nashville Rescue Mission shortly after, she was hooked.
 
In 2011, Tiffany started working full-time for Soles4Souls, working to ensure that our shoes find homes on the feet of those who need them most. As the Vice President of Outreach, she oversees Soles4Souls’ 4Relief and 4EveryKid programs and ensures that, with intention and compassion, we align with community partners and make the greatest global impact. She also travels internationally and serves as a guide for volunteer groups through our Soles4Souls Global Experiences Program.
 
Tiffany is originally from Paxville, SC and graduated from North Greenville University with a BA in Christian Studies. Tiffany and her husband Lee, and their furbabies, live in Nashville, and in their spare time make a little bit of music together!
Robin Witczak
Vice President, Business Development

Robin Witczak joined Soles4Souls as the Vice President, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships in March 2022. Prior to joining Soles4Souls, she led corporate engagement and university programs at the National Retail Federation (NRF) Foundation, where she spent more than 8 years creating a scholarship portfolio (awarding more than $.5 million each year), designing educational programming for University students and educators, and raising funds for the NRF Foundation programs and annual gala.

Read more

Robin Wagher joined Soles4Souls as the Vice President, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships in March 2022. Prior to joining Soles4Souls, she led corporate engagement and university programs at the National Retail Federation (NRF) Foundation, where she spent more than 8 years creating a scholarship portfolio (awarding more than $.5 million each year), designing educational programming for University students and educators, and raising funds for the NRF Foundation programs and annual gala.

Robin is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who has worked in the non-profit world her entire career, including organizations like Peace Corps, National Industries for the Blind, and the American Red Cross.

Robin lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, two cats and new baby girl!

Our board

Raji Behal

Head of Western & Southern Europe, UK & Ireland, Klarna

Raji Behal is an innovative, entrepreneurial and creative executive with 14+ years of experience across strategic partnerships, business development omni-channel merchandising, digital/e-commerce, marketing, and P&L management. She began her career at Macy’s in the Executive Development Program as an Assistant Buyer in Men’s Casual Shoes. She progressed to various buying roles within Men’s footwear, Buyer of Women’s Junior & Contemporary Shoes and Buyer of Women’s Contemporary Fashion Ready-to-Wear. In 2016, she became the Vice President of the Leased Division where she managed Macy’s largest partnerships with brands such as FinishLine, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and others. In July of 2020, Raji joined Klarna, Europe’s highest valued private fintech company, where she’s currently the Head of Western & Southern Europe, UK & Ireland.

Read More

Raji received a BBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory University where she studied Marketing and Organization & Management. Raji was born in Glasgow, Scotland and now resides in Dumbo, Brooklyn with her husband, son Jai and daughter Mila.

Raji joined the Soles4Souls Board of Directors in 2021.  Raji was also featured in Footwear News’s inaugural 40 Shoe Executives Under 40 Revolutionizing the Business in 2018 and was honored as a 2021 Amazing Women in e-Commerce by Yotpo.

Aaron Belville
Chief People Officer at Kind Behavioral Health.
Aaron Belville currently serves as the Chief People Officer at Kind Behavioral Health, an organization committed to improving the lives of individuals with ASD, their families, and their surrounding communities. Prior to his current role, Aaron worked for Dollar General for 12 years where he held a variety of leadership roles across multiple HR verticals. Before pursuing a career in Human Resources, Aaron was a licensed attorney focused on representing employers in employment law matters. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University, a law degree from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from Ole Miss.
 

Ashley Chang

Global Marketing Lead, Google Payments

Ashley is a storyteller with more than a decade of experience leading marketing and sales teams at Google. She’s recognized as an exuberant problem solver and culture champ who has built and launched helpful products across Google’s portfolio. Early stage startups also turn to Ashley as a trusted advisor for her storytelling magic, sharp execution, and “only Ashley” enthusiasm.

Read More

A journalist by training, Ashley began her career at NBC, ABC, and The Coca-Cola Company, as a marketing specialist at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She also serves as the Emeritus Chair of the Asian Google Network and as an Advisory Board member of the Coca-Cola Scholarship Foundation, which has invested in exceptional high school students with $70M+ in scholarships awarded since 1989.

Ashley created The ABC Digest, a children’s book collection designed to bring more flavor️ and representation to the ABCs. A true labor of love, The ABC Digest was written and illustrated (by Ashley’s husband, Jeff!) …in their Brooklyn apartment.

Ellen Davis

EVP, Business Strategy and Industry Engagement, U.S. Travel Association

In her role as Executive Vice President, Business Strategy and Industry Engagement, Ellen Davis is responsible for uniting the travel industry’s stakeholders, strengthening the association’s value to members and driving organizational growth through events and other initiatives.

Read More

Davis has more than 20 years of association experience uniting stakeholders, diversifying value propositions and creating thoughtful growth strategies. She joined U.S. Travel from the Consumer Brands Association, where she built a strong community of industry CEOs, substantially grew membership and created new educational offerings – efforts which drove a 50% increase in revenue in three years.

Prior to joining Consumer Brands, Davis held positions spanning public affairs, communications, research and events at the National Retail Federation (NRF), culminating as President of the NRF Foundation, NRF’s philanthropic arm. In that role, Davis conceptualized and launched the NRF Foundation Honors, which raised $15 million in five years to fund the foundation’s efforts, and led the launch of RISE Up, the NRF Foundation’s training and credentialing program that helps people secure jobs in retail and advance into meaningful careers. She is also well-known for her role in defining the official kickoff to the online holiday shopping season as “Cyber Monday,” and has appeared frequently on broadcast news programs including Fox News, CNBC, CNN and ABC News.

Prior to NRF, Davis served as a managing associate with Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter & Associates and an assistant project manager with JC Dolan & Associates.

Davis holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Millikin University and an executive MBA from the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. She serves on the board of directors of Soles4Souls, an acclaimed philanthropy that turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity by providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty. Davis lives with her husband and two boys in Arlington, Virginia.

Tianne Doyle

President, Bealls Inc.

Now President at Bealls Inc., Doyle joined Bealls in 1991 as the buyer of misses’ sportswear and swimwear. A Tampa native, Doyle graduate from Florida State University and currently resides in Bradenton, FL.

Patrick Duroseau

VP of Enterprise Data Management and analytics, Under Armour

Patrick Duroseau is the VP of Enterprise Data Management and analytics at Under Armour. Patrick is a proven global business executive who subscribes to being a purpose-driven, bold, and values-based leader. Patrick’s current role as a member of UA’s Sr. Leadership Team is one that he pioneers, with no predecessor. Recognizing the competitive advantage that a holistic, lifecycle view of ‘data’ could deliver to the Organization, Patrick was appointed in 2020, as the senior leader best suited to develop and deliver a corporate-wide cultural transformation based on a unified Global Data and analytics Strategy. His visionary leadership is unlocking enterprise-wide and scalable insights that transform UA’s ability to “make every athlete better.”

Dan Friedman

Chief Sourcing Officer, Caleres, Inc.

Dan is a senior executive with over 30 years of retail and wholesale footwear and accessories experience with industry-leading companies. Progressive front-end and back-end strategic leader with a uniquely abedexterous ability to successfully lead branded P&L and end to end sourcing, product development, manufacturing and supply chain operations.

Angela D. Harrell

Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity and Corporate Responsibility Officer at Voya Financial President, Voya Foundation

Angela Harrell joined Voya Financial in 2014 and serves as senior vice president, Chief Diversity and Corporate Responsibility Officer. Angela also leads Voya’s philanthropic work as President of Voya Foundation. Voya’s corporate responsibility strategy is based on its work across the enterprise in four pillars: Empowering Our Employees, Serving Our Clients, Investing in Communities and Protecting the Environment. Angela leads these efforts and the Foundation’s mission to help young people achieve financial resilience and to empower educators to attain excellence in the classroom.

Read More

Prior to joining Voya Financial, Angela spent 12 years at The Coca-Cola Company, where she led initiatives across a broad range of disciplines including corporate responsibility, media relations, financial and sustainability reporting, internal and executive communications, digital/social media and community affairs. Her final position with Coca-Cola was as global director of operations, Coca-Cola Ambassador. Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company, Angela worked as an executive recruiter, a business analyst and an English as a Second Language teacher in several countries.

Angela earned a bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in international affairs from Yale University. She serves on the nonprofit boards of Junior Achievement of New York and Soles4Souls. In addition, she is a director on the advisory board of ClearRock, a Boston-based human capital consulting firm and certified Women Business Enterprise.

Sara Irvani

Director at Okabashi Brands

Sara Irvani is the Director of Okabashi Brands, one of the remaining 1% of domestic shoe manufacturers. Established in 1984, and now a third generation family business, Okabashi has sold over 35 million pairs from its Buford, Ga factory. With its closed loop manufacturing and recyclable bio-based footwear, the team is on a mission to prove that sustainable American manufacturing can flourish at scale.

Read More

Sara Irvani is the CEO of Okabashi Brands, one of the remaining 1% of domestic shoe manufacturers. Established in 1984, and now a third generation family business, Okabashi has sold over 35 million pairs from its Buford, Ga factory. With its closed loop manufacturing and recyclable bio-based footwear, the team is on a mission to prove that sustainable American manufacturing can flourish at scale.

Sara has a Bachelors in Philosophy with High Distinction from University of Virginia, a Masters of Finance from University of Cambridge, and a MBA from INSEAD. Sara is an Associate Board Member of the Two Ten Foundation, a 2018 Most Admired CEO by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, a Global Shaper with World Economic Forum, and on the Board of Councilors of The Carter Center.

Michelle C. Krall, Esq.

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, Designer Brands Inc.

Michelle is Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer of Designer Brands Inc. and has been with the company for over 14 years. She leads DBI’s legal, real estate, construction, facilities, and procurement teams.  Michelle focuses on problem solving, providing practical business advice, expense management and creating operational efficiencies.

Read More
 

Designer Brands is one of North America’s largest designers, producers, and retailers of footwear and accessories. The Company operates a portfolio of retail concepts in nearly 650 locations under the DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse® and The Shoe Company® banners. The Company designs and produces footwear and accessories through Camuto Group, a leading manufacturer selling in more than 5,400 stores worldwide. Camuto Group owns licensing rights for the Jessica Simpson® footwear business and footwear and handbag licenses for Lucky Brand®. In partnership with a joint venture with Authentic Brands Group, the Company also owns a stake in Vince Camuto®, Louise et Cie®, and others. More information can be found at www.designerbrands.com

Michelle started her legal career at Schottenstein, Zox and Dunn (now known as Ice Miller).  Prior to joining DSW she worked at Glimcher Realty Trust (now known as Washington Prime Group) and L Brands.

Andy Lew
CEO, St. John

Prior to his current role, Andy Lew served as President, Lifestyle, expanding ABG’s Lifestyle portfolio’s branded licensing and distribution in two primary regions, APAC and EMEA. Lew has 30 years of experience, having worked with esteemed brands and retailers like Ermenegildo Zegna and Nordstrom.

Read More

Andy joined Brooks Brothers Group, Inc. in 2011 as Managing Director of the company’s Asia Pacific region where he successfully launched and lead rapid expansion in countries including China, India and Australia. Today this encompasses 450 points of sale for America’s longest established brand.

Andy also serves on the board of Brooks Brothers India, a joint venture with Reliance Brands, Brooks Brothers GCR, a joint venture with Lane Crawford Joyce Group, and Brooks Brothers Far East, the company’s sourcing subsidiary, Brooks Brothers Australia, Singapore and Malaysia all subsidiaries of Brooks Brothers Group. Andy also serves on the board of August Purple Holding Company of Ace Turtle, an E-commerce Solutions company for Asia Pacific and India. 

 

He currently serves as Chairman of the Advisory Council of Soles4Souls, a Non-Profit focused on creating a sustainable opportunity for those in need. 

 

Andy previously held leadership positions at Ermenegildo Zegna where he was a member of their executive team in Greater China and Vice President in North America.  Prior to that he was a Divisional Merchandise Manager for Nordstrom in North America overseeing one of the largest divisions within the organization. 

A native of Los Angeles, California, Andy has spent most of his career in New York and in Washington D.C. before relocating to China. He returned to the United States in 2017 is based at Brooks Brothers’ NYC headquarters.  Andy has two children, a daughter currently attending University and a son who is a media professional in NYC.

Aaron Lord

Vice President, Supply Chain Planning, Capri Holdings Limited

Aaron Lord is a supply chain leader with over 25 years of experience working in various supply chain roles and verticals. His career includes roles in integrated business planning, distribution center management, transportation operations, lead logistics provider services, project management, Six Sigma and Lean implementation. Aaron is a Six Sigma Black Belt, ASQ Certified Manager of Quality and Organizational Excellence and currently serves as Vice President, Supply Chain Planning for the global fashion luxury group Capri Holdings Limited.

Michele Love

CEO, Sixpenny Bit LLC

Michele S. Love is a seasoned retail leader who most recently served as CEO at DSW Inc. Love developed a passion for shoes early in life, and began her career working in the stockroom at Nordstrom’s West Side Pavilion in Los Angeles. She worked her way up through the Nordstrom organization as a buyer, store manager, and later Nordstrom’s first-ever female merchandise manager. She later served as vice president of designer and salon shoes and was then named as senior vice president of Stores and Operations for Nordstrom Rack, where she led the division’s growth, opening more than 250 Rack stores across the U.S. She joined DSW in 2017. She holds a B.A. Political Science & B.A. Special Education from the University of Wisconsin.

Read More

Equally passionate about philanthropic work, Love was a founding board member of Shoes that Fit, a Clairmont, California-based organization that provides brand new shoes to children in need within the U.S. Shoes that Fit has donated more than 2,000,000 pairs of shoes to date. Love also served on the Women’s Auxiliary Board at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, which worked to opened Lytle Center for Pregnancy and Newborns, supporting women’s and infants’ pre- and post-natal health.

Love lives with her husband and six children in Columbus, Ohio.

Walter Porter

Global EERPS Leader, US EERPS and TSO LeaderPrincipal, Deloitte Consulting

Walter Porter is a Principal of our Enterprise Performance portfolio where he is the US and Global leader of the Emerging ERP (EERPS) offering responsible for the Workday Financials, Infor, and Hybrid Solutions practices. In his 23 years with Deloitte, he has focused on growing practices through sales and strategic delivery across a number of industries including Financial Services.

Read More

In addition to the above, Walter will assume the role as the Offering Leader for TSO. He also focuses on process improvement to help organizations sustain cost containment for the betterment of profitability enhancement. Considered a leader in the field, Walter has participated in videos discussing the impact of Workday on the life as a CFO as well as changes under Health Reform. Lastly, Walter served as the Co-Dean for our inaugural Black Leadership Summit as well as Board Council 2021.

Steven Reynolds

CEO – Jade Footwear

Steve is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of comprehensive expertise in retail, footwear sourcing and manufacturing. A visionary leader known for driving strategic initiatives, fostering innovation, and establishing robust global supply chains. Demonstrated success in navigating the dynamic landscape of the industry, resulting in sustained growth and market prominence. Adept at cultivating strong relationships with stakeholders, ensuring operational excellence, and leveraging extensive experience to lead companies to new heights in the footwear sector.

Maithili Shenoy
Vice President of Western Hemisphere Sourcing and Manufacturing, Target

Maithili Shenoy is the Vice President of Western Hemisphere Sourcing and Manufacturing at Target. In this role, she has leadership for Target’s Owned Brand Sourcing, Manufacturing, Product Safety and Quality functions across all product categories for the Americas and Europe regions.

Read More

Prior to Target, Maithili spent almost two decades at Nike in various Planning and Supply chain leadership roles including Global Leadership for Supply Chain Sustainability and Circularity, Direct to Consumer Supply Chain and Customer Operations functions, kick-starting Nike’s Replenishment business model, heading up the Sales and Operations Planning and Demand, Supply and Inventory Management functions for Nike’s Asia Pacific and Latin America region. Maithili spent over 10 years of her career prior to Nike as a management consultant for Accenture and Deloitte where she provided strategy, supply chain and retail consulting services to Fortune 500 companies. She holds a B.S. in Engineering – Operations Research from Columbia University and a Masters Degree in International Business from Sophia University in Tokyo.

Tony Waller
Vice President, Constituent Relations and Racial Equity, Walmart

Tony Waller is Vice President, Constituent Relations and Racial Equity for Walmart in Bentonville, AR.  In his position he sets strategy for driving reputation, augmenting outreach opportunities, and maximizing social investments in diverse and multicultural communities.  His portfolio includes the African American, Hispanic, Asian American & Pacific Islander and Native American communities as well as Women, LGBTQIA+, People with Disabilities and Emerging Generations. Tony is also tasked with being a critical “integrator” engaging across Corporate Affairs teams, with real depth in helping to shape public policy, communication strategy, federal and state government relations, and community relations through a racial equity lens. Additionally, Tony and his team help lead efforts to expand the company’s racial equity work across all the diverse and multicultural communities of focus. Tony joined Walmart December 2006.

Read More

Tony Waller is Vice President, Constituent Relations and Racial Equity for Walmart in Bentonville, AR.  In his position he sets strategy for driving reputation, augmenting outreach opportunities, and maximizing social investments in diverse and multicultural communities.  His portfolio includes the African American, Hispanic, Asian American & Pacific Islander and Native American communities as well as Women, LGBTQIA+, People with Disabilities and Emerging Generations. Tony is also tasked with being a critical “integrator” engaging across Corporate Affairs teams, with real depth in helping to shape public policy, communication strategy, federal and state government relations, and community relations through a racial equity lens. Additionally, Tony and his team help lead efforts to expand the company’s racial equity work across all the diverse and multicultural communities of focus. Tony joined Walmart December 2006.

Serving is extremely important to Tony.  He has always been taught that to give real service you must add to the world something that cannot be bought or measured with money.  He currently serves as Chair of the NAACP ACT-SO Advisory Council.  His passion for the empowerment and advancement of women, has led him to serve on the Board of Trustees of Center for Asian Pacific American Women. Tony also served on the Board of Directors of the National African American Women’s Leadership Institute.  With both organizations he was the first male ever selected to serve. In 2017 Tony was elected Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Black Child Development Institute. In 2020 he was asked by the Mayor of Bentonville, AR to serve on the city’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Board. In 2021 he was named to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board for the University of Arkansas.

Tony is a strong supporter of the arts and fashion. He serves on the Board of Directors and the Corporate Leadership Council of the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, AR. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for Interform, an organization focused on self-sustaining design-led fashion and art industry in Northwest Arkansas. In addition, Tony serves on the advisory board of Springclean, a nonprofit social enterprise whose mission is to create jobs and reduce landfill space by repurposing donated textile materials.

A graduate of the University of Virginia, he is a diehard WAHOO. He remains very active with THE University and served on the board of the Walter N. Ridley Scholarship Fund, named after its first African American graduate.  He is a passionate collector of Black art & sculpture, Latina art, antique watches, vintage cufflinks, eyewear, children’s story books and quotes.  Shoes however are his kryptonite.

Tony strives to live each and every day by the words of his mother, Barbara Jean Motley Waller, “Keep flowing with The River for The River knows exactly where It is going.”
David Wright
Chief Commercial Officer, U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF)

David Wright currently serves as Chief Commercial Officer at the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF). Wright oversees all outward facing business units including marketing, corporate partnerships, media / content, consumer products, events, development, and analytics. During a unique moment in time for the sport of soccer over next 10 years (2026 FIFA World Cup, LA28 and the potential of Women’s FIFA World Cup in 2031 in the U.S.), Wright is charged with driving overall sport / property relevancy, fan engagement and revenue for the National Governing Body. Since joining USSF in 2020, the Federation has made several strategic moves including retaining their commercial rights beginning in 2023 (which had been previously managed by Soccer United Marketing), securing a long-term extension with Nike (the largest partnership in Federation history and among one of Nike’s largest global investments) and finalizing a long-term partnerships with Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCU Telemundo.

Read More

Prior to joining USSF, Wright was Minor League Baseball’s Chief Marketing & Commercial Officer. In support of MiLB’s vision to be a dynamic leader in sport and entertainment, Wright was tasked with leading all marketing and commercial business units, including strategy & research, brand development, communications, media, business development and partnership marketing. In addition, Wright oversaw the MiLB Enterprises initiative, designed to maximize enterprise value through integrated national and regional partnerships by leveraging the power and overall scale of the 160 member clubs. During Wright’s tenure at MiLB, national enterprise revenue grew by 120%+ and the property was recognized by SBJ as a Sport Breakthrough of the Year finalist.

 

Wright joined Minor League Baseball in 2016 following a 15-year run at Major League Soccer (MLS) and Soccer United Marketing (SUM), most recently as its Senior Vice President, Global Sponsorship. He oversaw new business efforts for the premier soccer properties in North America (including Major League Soccer, U.S. Soccer Federation and the Mexican National Team). Wright also managed a Partnership Marketing team tasked with day-to-day management, growth and retention of more than 40 MLS/SUM partners. Prior to leading global sponsorship efforts for MLS/SUM, Wright was Director of Fan Development, managing a department dedicated to connecting Major League Soccer to participants and key influencers within America’s soccer community.

 

A SportsBusiness Journal Forty Under 40 Award recipient, Wright earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from Indiana University. While at IU, Wright was a key member of the Indiana University soccer team, winning four Big Ten Championships and competing in two NCAA College Cups (Final Fours). In addition, Wright received a Master of Science in sports management from the University of Massachusetts. Wright resides in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife, Jaren, and two kids, Braeden, and Riley.

Stacy Xie

Director, AlixPartners

Stacy is a Retail Strategy & Operations leader with a passion for innovation, entrepreneurship, design and social responsibility. She has worked with global retailers, private companies and major consulting firms helping brands and organizations create solutions to their most pressing problems and drive actions towards impactful change. Stacy is currently a Director of Enterprise Improvement at AlixPartners, a global consulting firm.

Read More
Stacy is a Retail Strategy & Operations leader with a passion for innovation, entrepreneurship, design and social responsibility. She has worked with global retailers, private companies and major consulting firms helping brands and organizations create solutions to their most pressing problems and drive actions towards impactful change. Stacy is currently a Director of Enterprise Improvement at AlixPartners, a global consulting firm.
 

Board emeriti

Randy Dunn

Chief Operating Officer at DBH Distributing, Hunt Brothers Pizza

Prior to his role at Hunt Brothers Pizza, Randy spent 38 years with UPS in organizational leadership, strategy, operations, regulatory compliance and state and government affairs. While leading, managing and motivating diverse teams of more than 15,000, Randy specialized in initiating change, process and solutions management, organizational effectiveness, performance and profitability

Milledge Hart

Board Chair, Chairman at Drake Star Partners

Subsequent to a successful career as an operating executive, Milledge Hart guides multiple organizations as a board member and advisor. Milledge is the Chairman of global investment bank, Drake Star Partners, as well as Chairman of Quarles Petroleum.  He also Chairs the non-profit Soles4Souls which is working to create sustainability through the distribution of shoes and apparel to economically developing communities.  In addition, he is engaged in a variety of impact investing projects including the Hart Family Foundation which he created with his wife and son.

Read More

Subsequent to a successful career as an operating executive, Milledge Hart guides multiple organizations as a board member and advisor. Milledge is the Chairman of global investment bank, Drake Star Partners, as well as Chairman of Quarles Petroleum.  He also Chairs the non-profit Soles4Souls which is working to create sustainability through the distribution of shoes and apparel to economically developing communities.  In addition, he is engaged in a variety of impact investing projects including the Hart Family Foundation which he created with his wife and son.

Milledge began his career at J.P. Morgan prior to moving to Dillon Read & Company. Milledge transitioned to a series of operating roles focused on enhancing shareholder value, three of which resulted in successful sale transactions.  In 2004, he joined Pagemill Partners in Silicon Valley.  Pagemill expanded to become a leading middle-market, technology focused investment bank.  Milledge led the sale of Pagemill to Duff & Phelps in 2012.

Milledge has previously served as the International Chairman of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, a member of the Board of Visitors at the Public Policy School at Duke University, a Board Trustee of the Texas Business Hall of Fame and a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.

Milledge holds a degree in Economics and Public Policy from Duke University and, in addition to travel, enjoys his homes in Incline Village, Nevada and Northern California.

Brian Ehrig

Partner, Kearney

Brian’s areas of expertise include business model innovation, merchandising and planning, product development, and operational strategies that enable change. Over his career, Brian has helped numerous companies across the retail and consumer goods industries operate and grow more effectively, helping to create new customer experiences, increase capabilities and improved organizational capabilities.

Clay Jenkins

Principal, Clay Jenkins Collective (CJC)

Prior to creating his CJC, Clay was the former senior vice president of Worldwide Sourcing, Sourcing Services, for Caleres, a $2.6 billion global footwear company that puts consumers and their needs first, by targeting the strategic Family, Healthy Living and Contemporary Fashion consumer platforms. His role included factory compliance and social responsibility, supplier relationships, technical services and new business development.

Bernadette Lane

Retired, Principal and Managing Director, CCS Fundraising

Bernadette spent her entire professional career at CCS Fundraising where she provided fundraising, development services and strategic consulting to clients in all sectors of the non-profit community. Bernadette has provided professional counsel to human service, humanitarian, civic, education, healthcare, conservation, cultural, and faith-based organizations in the United States and internationally. She designed plans for and guided four global fundraising campaigns, one of which she also managed full-time early in her career. These global campaigns raised more than $760 million combined. As Principal and Managing Director of the firm, Bernadette was responsible for client engagement and the CCS team in the Central US, working from CCS’s regional office in Chicago.

Read More
Currently, Bernadette is actively involved with several non-profit organizations in addition to Soles4Souls, where she served six years on the board, including two years as board chair and currently serves as board member emeriti. She is the board chair of Street Business School, a non-profit on a mission to end global poverty through empowering women to become thriving entrepreneurs. She recently joined the board of Plan International USA, a development and humanitarian organization that tackles the root causes of the challenges and inequalities that children and young girls face. Bernadette is also an active member of Lions International and in addition to her local community engagement as a member of the Mount Vernon Lions, she also has the role of District Coordinator for Lions International Foundation. In that role, she is responsible for working with 42 clubs in East Central Iowa to ensure the clubs are knowledgeable of the work of Lions International Foundation and that they are motivated to give funds as members and as a club to support the many programs locally and globally that empower more humanitarian service. Bernadette now lives in her native state of Iowa where she enjoys riding and caring for her Quarter Horse, reading and hiking in the mountains.
 
Matt Priest

President Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA)

Matt Priest is the President & CEO of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), the largest and most effective footwear association in the United States. In this role, Matt serves as the executive in charge of FDRA’s day-to-day operations ensuring the association meets and exceeds its goal to be the footwear industry’s business and trade association. He also directs the operations of the vitally important Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY), directing four interactive footwear markets in New York throughout the year. Before joining FDRA in February 2009, Matt served as Senior Advisor to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel at the U.S. Department of Commerce. As deputy assistant secretary, he oversaw programs and strategies to improve the domestic and international competitiveness of the U.S. footwear, fiber, textiles, and apparel industries. Matt was also Chairman of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), which determines when market-disrupting factors exist in the domestic fiber, textiles and apparel marketplace. Previously, Matt served as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Import Administration at the Commerce Department, where he advised the assistant secretary on textile and trade issues. Prior to his appointment, Matt was Legislative Director for Representative Sue Myrick of North Carolina, where he was an advisor in the areas of textiles, trade, and economic development.

Read More
In addition to his role as President and CEO of FDRA, Matt is a member of the Board of Directors at the Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation (FFCF) and Soles4Souls. He also serves on the Industry Advisory Board at the College of Textiles at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Matt has also served as an Executive in Residence at the College of Textiles and often guest lectures at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. He is also an honorary member of the Footwear Youth Leadership Group of the Taiwan Footwear Manufacturers Association. Matt earned his BA in political science from North Carolina State University. He lives with his wife and three daughters in Northern Virginia.
 
Bill Strathmann

Chief Executive Officer Network for Good

Chief Executive Officer, Network for Good Bill Strathmann is Network for Good’s CEO and a member of its Board of Directors. Network for Good is the innovative giving platform that makes it easy for collaborators to support any charity, anywhere online. It offers simple, affordable and effective fundraising software and services (SaaS) to small nonprofits, and the leading back-end giving platform to corporations, such as Capital One, Google, and Facebook. In the past three years, Network for Good has acquired 3 software companies and spun out a certified B corporation. The result has been their continued distribution of $1.5 Billion to more than 100,000 small charities.
Read More
Prior to joining Network for Good in 2004, Bill was a management consultant with Andersen Business Consulting where he provided strategic planning and merger integration consulting to corporations and nonprofit organizations across the nation. Bill has also served as Chairman of the Social Enterprise Alliance, and currently serves on the boards of A Wider Circle and Soles 4 Souls. He is a co-author featured in the book, People to People Fundraising – Social Networking and Web 2.0 for Charities. Bill has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Haverford College and a master’s degree in business administration from the Darden School at the University of Virginia.