Board of Trustees

Dedicated to the Mission of Lewis University, the Board of Trustees consists of thirty-six men and women who bring to the University a wide range of experience in diverse fields, including corporate leadership, law, higher education, volunteer work, healthcare, government and industry. Board membership includes eight members of the De La Salle Christian Brothers, sponsors of Lewis University. At the current time, twenty Trustees are alumni of Lewis University.

The Board of Trustees provides significant support and advocacy for the Catholic and Lasallian Mission of Lewis University. The Trustees help ensure that the University will be directed in accord with the moral, spiritual and religious inspiration and values of the Catholic Church and guided by the spiritual, intellectual and educational ideals of the Christian Brothers, in the spirit of their founder, Saint John Baptist de La Salle.

Since 1680, educational institutions around the world have been influenced by the vision and innovative spirit of De La Salle, the patron saint of teachers. Lasallian education emphasizes academic excellence, faith formation, an appreciation of diversity, respect for the individual, service and social justice. A Lasallian education strives to enrich each student's intellectual, cultural, physical, social and spiritual development. The De La Salle Christian Brothers and their Lasallian partners, with the constant encouragement of the Lewis University Board of Trustees, continue to respond to students by stimulating minds, touching hearts and cultivating leadership.

Board of Trustees 2012-2013

Row 4
Andrew Langert; Timothy Ferrarell; Kenneth Gabriel; Michael Parker; Br. David Galinski, FSC; Br. Kevin Convey, FSC; Joel Stava; William Rybak

Row 3
James Harvey; Robert Pluth, Jr.; Br. Patrick Conway, FSC; Br. Joseph Saurbier, FSC; Jane Condon; Gregory Maruszak; Br. Dominic Ehrmantraut, FSC; Dennis Tonelli

Row 2
Dr. Stephany Schlachter; Elaine Ruettiger; Cherilyn Murer; Michael Blake; Br. Milton Barker, FSC; Barbara J. Martin; Lowell Stahl; Wayne Draudt

Row 1 (seated)
Br. Larry Schatz, FSC; Robert Beckman; James LaGrippe; Br. James Gaffney, FSC; Russ Smyth


Officers of the Board of Trustees 2012-2013

James LaGrippe, Chair
Russ Smyth, Vice Chair
Mohra Gavankar, Secretary
Robert Beckman, Treasurer

 See schedule of Board of Trustees meetings.

Members of the Board of Trustees

Brother Milton Barker, FSC
Assistant to the President
Totino-Grace High School
Fridley, MN

Robert Beckman '76, Board Treasurer
Chief Executive Officer
Brainport Technologies/Wicab, Inc.
Middleton, WI

Michael Blake, '83
President and CEO
Olympus Financial Advisors, LLC
Scottsdale, AZ 

John Brett, '79
Senior Vice President
MetLife Broker Dealer Group
Iselin, NJ

Jane Condon '79 '82
Owner/Manager, First Choice
Temporary Service, Inc.
Joliet, IL

Brother Kevin Convey, FSC
Director of Education & Mission (retired)
Christian Brothers of the Midwest
Burr Ridge, IL

Brother Patrick Conway, FSC
Professor of Education
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Winona, MN

Brother Dominic Ehrmantraut, FSC
Vice President
Christian Brothers University
Memphis, TN

Timothy Ferrarell, '79, '83
Senior Vice President
Enterprise Systems
W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Lake Forest, IL

Kenneth Gabriel '77

Partner

KPMG, LLP

Chicago, IL

Brother James Gaffney, FSC
President
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL

Brother David Galinski, FSC
Director of Student Services
Saint Patrick High School
Chicago, IL

Mohra Gavankar, Board Secretary
President
Rockdale Controls Co.

Joliet, IL

James Goodwin
Chairman & CEO (Retired)
United Airlines
Schaumburg, IL

James Harvey, '76
Managing & Senior Partner
McKeown Law Firm
Joliet, IL

Clifton Kelly, '78
Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor
Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management
San Francisco, CA

James LaGrippe, '61, Board Chair
Majority Owner
Blue Bengal Learning Labs
Chicago, IL

Andrew Langert '73
Managing Director
Polished Nickel Capital Management, LLC
Chicago, IL

William A. Lorenz '89
Market Executive Leader
Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management
Florham Park, NJ

Barbara J. Martin, '77
President and CEO
Vista Health System
Waukegan, IL

Gregory Maruszak '70

Vice President and Chief Compliance Office (Retired)

Andrew Corporation

New Lenox, IL

Cherilyn Murer, '75
President and CEO
Murer Consultants, Inc.
Joliet, IL

Mark Olson, '80
Executive Vice President and CFO
CommScope, Inc.
Hickory, NC

Michael Parker, '77
Senior Vice President - Executive Director Broker Relations (Retired)
Liberty Mutual Middle Market
St. Charles, IL

Robert Pluth, Jr. '76

Partner

Schiff Hardin LLP

Chicago, IL

Edward Prodehl
President
Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell
Joliet, IL

Sister Mary Reap, IHM
President
Elms College
Chicopee, MA

Elaine Ruettiger
Volunteer and Civic Leader
New Lenox, IL

William Rybak, '73
Board Chair Emeritus
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Retired)
Van Kampen Investments, Inc.
OakBrook Terrace, IL

Eduardo Sanchez
President & CEO
Lopez Foods, Inc.
Oklahoma City, OK

Gloria Santona

Exec. VP, General Counsel and Secretary

McDonald's Corporation

Oak Brook, IL

Brother Joseph Saurbier, FSC, '72, '79
Director of Administration & Operations
Christian Brothers of the Midwest
Burr Ridge, IL

Brother Larry Schatz, FSC

Provincial

Christian Brothers of the Midwest

Burr Ridge, IL

Russ Smyth, Board Vice Chair
CEO
The HAVI Group, LP
Downers Grove, IL

Lowell Stahl
Chairman
PFS Financial, LLC
Des Plaines, IL

Joel Stava, '78
President
Midwest Tungsten Service, Inc.
Willowbrook, IL

Dennis Tonelli

Vice President (Retired)

Ruettiger, Tonelli, and Assoc., Inc.

Plainfield, IL

 


Trustees Emeriti

Reverend Wiliam T. Cullen
Pastor Emeritus
Ascension Parish
Oakbrook Terrace, IL

Michael Hughes
President
Huen Electric
Broadview, IL

Kathryn Kelly
Attorney-at-Law (Retired)
Franklin, TN

Michael E. Waters
Board Chair Emeritus
President
Michael E. Waters & Associates
Lake Forest, IL