Board of Directors 2009-2010
Jeffrey G. Scott, President -Richmond Hill, Georgia
Jeff is a 1968 Graduate of EIU with a BS in Business Administration/Marketing. Jeff has obtained the professional designations of Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP). He joined Connecticut General as a sales representative in January of 1971, rapidly progressed through CIGNA Financial Advisors management system and was appointed Regional Chief Executive Officer in 1983 and remained with CIGNA until his retirement. Jeff was chosen as the 1995 Outstanding Alumni of Eastern Illinois University and has been accepted into the “Who’s Who” in Finance and Industry. Jeff was a 2003 platform speaker at the LAMP National Conference and has been featured speaker for the GAMA’s National Conference, the IAFT Advanced Planners Conference in Washington D.C., the Purdue University Insurance Marketing Institute, The American College Leadership Forum, the Institute for International Research on Sales Compliance and Compensation in Life Insurance, and LIMRA's Financial Services and Marketing Conference in Washington, D.C. Jeff has pursued his philanthropic interests as the past chairman of the Board of Trustees of ChildHelp Virginia. Jeff currently serves as president of the Foundation Board and is serving on the Investment and Nominating committee. Jeff has also served as vice president and secretary for a two years while also serving on the Investment, Mission & Policy and Nominating committee.
Donald L. Gher, Vice President- Bellevue, Washington
Don a 1973 EIU graduate holds a degree in marketing and in 1981 was awarded the Chartered Financial Analysts, and CFA Institute. Previous positions held include head of a multi-billion dollar trust/investment department for the Marine Bank of Springfield, portfolio manager/analyst for Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado and Kingsley, Jennison, McNulty and Morse of CA., as well as, General Manager, Wertheim Schroder, Tokyo and fund manager/analyst, Bank of America Seattle. Don retired as managing director and chief investment officer of Coldstream Capital Management in Bellevue WA ., a $1.2 billion comprehensive wealth management services company that caters to high net worth private clients and their families of which he co-founded in 1996. Gher is a Chartered Financial Analyst, and was one of only 20 CFAs worldwide to be awarded the first Association for Investment Management and Research 20-Year Certificate. He is a former member of the EIU Business Advisory Board, a former member of the EIU Alumni Association Board of Directors. Don is currently serving as vice president for the Foundation Board and as chair of the Investment, Oversight & Outreach and Nominating committee. He has also served as treasurer on the Board of Directors and on the Real Estate committee. He was named the EIU School of Business Distinguished Alumnus in 2003 and a Distinguished Alumnus in 2007 by the EIU Alumni Association.
Jason Anselment, Treasurer -Springfield, Illinois
Jason is a 1997 graduate of EIU with a BS in Business and a BA in Social Sciences. Jason received his Juris of Doctorate from the University of Illinois in 2001. Jason currently holds a position with the City of Springfield, corporation counsel where he handles general municipal law, contracts, labor/employment issues, real estate transactions, municipal finance, constitution law/litigation and general governance. He has also held the position of associate at Hart, Sanworth & Witsman, Springfield, Illinois. He is licensed in Illinois and the Central District of Illinois Federal Court and has held memberships in numerous bar associations including former vice president of Illinois Government Bar Association. He has served as EIU student body president and student member of the EIU Board of Trustees and Board of Governor's Universities, as well as, a lifetime member of the EIU Alumni Association. Jason has served for three years as a volunteer on the Scholarships & Grants committee and is currently serving his first year as treasurer for the Foundation Board of Directors and chair of the Finance committe. He is also serving on the Investment, Nominating and Scholarships & Grants committee.
Judith A. Sunderman, Secretary- Charleston, Illinois
Judy received a BA in English at DePauw University and earned her MBA from EIU in 1975. She is a research assistant and PhD student in Educational Organization and Leadership at the University of Illinois in higher education curriculum and learning. She has accumulated over 40 hours of post graduate research in psychology, counseling and human development. Judy spent 20 years working in higher education. She has served in academic and national scholarship advisement and has taught management, organizational innovation behavior and business strategy. She is currently serving her second year as secretary to the board and has served a volunteer. In addition to serving as secretary she also serves as the chair of the Oversight & Outreach committee and the Nominating and Scholarships & Grants committee. She is also the Liaison to the Alumni Association.
Floyd Akins - Iowa City, Iowa
Floyd received his bachelor’s degree from EIU in 1986 and his master’s degree from the University of Iowa in Journalism and Mass Communication. Floyd Akins is the Assistant Vice President, Principal Gifts, at the University of Iowa Foundation in Iowa City, Iowa. As assistant vice president, Akins works with donors and prospects to The University of Iowa and assists the president of the University of Iowa; president of the University of Iowa Foundation; collegiate deans and directors of academic programs. , Akins was previously the foundation’s executive director of development for the UI’s Tippie College of Business. Also, coordinated fundraising efforts with the dean and faculty of the college and with other foundation staff. Floyd has also served as the director of the capital campaign at Grinnell College, a perennial top-10 national liberal arts college. Akins held other administrative positions at both Grinnell College and the UI in areas of admission, student development and public relations. Akins has been actively involved with the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) throughout his career and has served as chair and faculty member since 1998 at CASE conferences. Akins has also participated in conferences sponsored by the Institute for Charitable Giving and volunteers consulting time with Iowa City Community and surrounding areas. Floyd is currently serving on the Oversight and Outreach, Real Estate and Scholarships & Grants committee and is serving his first term on the Board of Directors.
Tim Burke- Evanston, Illinois
Tim graduated from Eastern Illinois University with both a BS in 1971 and MS degree in 1972. Tim has been a principal with William Blair & Company, LLC. since 1997. He is responsible for the finance and administrative areas of the Firm including Financial Control, Human Resources, Office Services and the Business Information Center. Prior to joining William Blair & Company, Tim was a partner with Arthur Andersen in their Chicago office. He led Andersen's Capital Markets practice in the Central Region of the US and its Futures Industry practice in the US. He joined Andersen in 1975 and remained there until 1997. In addition to his industry responsibilities in the US, Ted led projects sponsored by the World Bank to reform the financial markets system in Indonesia and investigate the possibility of creating a financial trading center in the Middle East. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Health Care Service Corporation, which is the holding company for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Texas and New Mexico. He chairs the Health Care Service Corporation Audit Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee. He is a CPA and a member of the AICPA, Illinois CPA Society and the Securities Industry Association. Tim is currently serving his first term on the Board of Directors for the Foundation. He is also is serving on the Finance, Investment and Real Estate Committee.
Timothy D. Gover - Mattoon, Illinois
Tim graduated with a BBA from Southern Methodist University and with a MS from the University of Illinois. He retired from Eastern in 1995 where he was professor of finance from 1963-1995. Other appointments include Past District Governor, Rotary International, Director, First Federal Savings and Loan and president of the Coles County Council on Aging. Tim currently serves on the Board of Directors and has served on the Executive Board as president, vice president and treasurer. He has also served as chair of the Mission & Policy, Finance and Nominating committees. He is currently serving on the Finance, Nominating, Real Estate and Annual Dinner Planning committe and is the the Liaison to the Board of Trustees.
Honorable Sue C. Payton-Fairfax Station, Virginia
Graduate of EIU (72’) with a B.S. in Education. Sue graduated in 1985 from the University of Southern California with an M.S. in Systems Acquisition Management / System Technology. Attended Emory University, Goizueta Business School Program and received the Executive Course Certificate. She is also a 2006 graduate of Southeastern University with a M.S. in Computer Information Systems. Sue held the position of Manager of Advanced Technology / Sr. Staff Engineer and Integration Site Manager for Martin Marietta/Lockheed Martin from 1989 to 1998. She was responsible to VP for Space Development and Business Development for the successful integration of major software upgrades to a space operations facility. Other positions include Manager Advanced Technology for Lockheed Martin in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania from 1998 to 2000. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Business Development, provided recommendations and guidance on strategic investment of multi-million dollars in independent research and development funds to align company with customer needs. She served as Vice President Advanced Technology / Director of National Center for Applied Technology for ImageLinks, Inc. from 2000 to 2001. She was responsible for formulating, planning, and reviewing the DoD Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) programs, plans, strategy, priorities, and execution of the DoD RDT&E budget. Other appointments include Deputy Under Secretary of Defense and Acting Director Defense Research / Engine for the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006. Sue led a consortium of commercial companies and defense aerospace integrators, responsible for the assessment, prototype development and insertion of commercial technology for Department of Defense, Intelligence Community and worldwide field users. Sue retired as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition) in 2009. She was the Air Force’s service acquisition executive, responsible for all Air Force research, development and non-space acquisition activities as well as, provided direction, guidance and oversight of all matters pertaining to the formulation, review, approval and execution of acquisition plans, policies and programs. Sue is currently serving her first term on the board of directors. She also is serving on the Finance, Investment and Scholarships & Grants committee.
Dr. David Maurer- Charleston, Illinois
Graduated with a B.A. from Beloit College in 1957. Earned his M.A. in 1958 and his Ph.D. in 1962 from Ohio State University. From 1962-1995 served as Associate Professor and Assistant Professor of History. Served as Coordinator of Faculty Development from 1982-1989 and served as chair of the Department of History from 1989-1995. Other appointments include chair of the faculty senate, University Personnel Committee, BOG Council of Faculties. Additionally he has served on the American Association for State and Local History Scholar-in-Residence and on the Peer Reviewer for American Association of Museums. He was past president of the Illinois State Historical Society and the Illinois State Historical Society of Museums. He has volunteered as an Elder hostel Ambassador and currently volunteers as a Foundation Annuitant Ambassador. Dave serves as chair of the Annual Dinner Planning Committee, while also serving on the Oversight & Outreach, Real Estate and is Liaison to the Annuitants Association. Dave has served the board in previous years as vice president, secretary and as chair to the Nominating, Mission & Policy and Annual Dinner Planning Committee.
Christine Reid Robertson-Naperville, Illinois
Christine graduated from EIU with a BS in Education and received her MS in Education from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Christine who is currently retired, began her career as public school Speech Therapist and spent five years as an Instructor and Clinical Supervisor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at Ohio University, before moving into educational administration. Her professional career spans over 35 years and reflects a diverse background and extensive leadership experience in district level personnel administration, labor relations, strategic organizational planning, curriculum planning and development and elementary and secondary school administration. In her retirement, she continues to do consulting and volunteer work related to Personnel Administration and Labor Relations in non-profit service organizations. She serves on two leadership commissions in her parish and is a member of the Lewis University, Department of Education Advisory Board. Christine is currently serving her first term on the board of directors and is also serving on the Oversight & Outreach, Scholarships & Grants and Annual Dinner Planning Committee. She has previously served three years as a volunteer on the former Mission & Policy Committee.
Charles W. Witters- Las Vegas, Nevada
Graduated from EIU with a BS in Business and received his MBA in Finance from Illinois State University. Chuck joined Lee & Associates in 1984 and became a founding partner of Lee & Associates’ Ontario in 1987. He is currently vice president of Lee and Associates, Las Vegas, Nevada. Chuck has an extensive background in office marketing, consulting, investment and land sales. He is a member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) and is an SIOR Educational Foundation Trustee. He was elected to serve as the SIOR regional director for the Mountain Region and to serve on the National SIOR Board of Directors for 2006, 2007 and 2008 and the 2001 president of the Nevada Chapter of SIOR. Additionally he was the 1995 NAIOP Associate Member of the Year, served on the Board of Directors of the Southern Nevada Chapter of NAIOP for nine years, and was the 1996 president of the Las Vegas Commercial Marketing Group. Chuck served 3 years as a volunteer to the Real Estate Committee and now currently serves on the Finance, Oversight & Outreach and Real Estate committee.
