United Way for Southeastern Michigan, an organization committed to improving the health, education and economic prosperity of tri-county residents in underserved communities, today announced the appointment of five new members to its board of directors.
The United Way board voted unanimously to welcome Luanne Thomas Ewald, CEO, DMC Children’s Hospital of Michigan; Scott Garberding, global chief manufacturing officer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles; Jeneanne Hanley, senior vice president, Lear Corporation and president, Lear E-Systems; Terry Rhadigan, executive director, communications operations & corporate giving, General Motors; and Nikolai Vitti, Ed.D., general superintendent, Detroit Public Schools Community District.
Under leadership of Board Chair Mark Petroff, president & CEO, OneMagnify, and Vice Chair David Foltyn, chairman and CEO, Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn, the new board members will have full voting privileges in steering the organization’s mission, championed by President and CEO Darienne Driver, Ed.D., who joined the organization earlier this year in July.
“We could not have asked for a more impressive, dedicated group of individuals,” says Petroff. “The compliment of their talent coupled with an already dynamic group of individuals on our board will prove valuable in advancing United Way’s impact in underserved communities throughout Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.”
Three of the five United Way board seats filled were recently vacated by Brian Harlow, Head of NAFTA Manufacturing and Chrysler Group executive; Steven Kiefer, GM executive; and Ray Scott, president and CEO, LEAR. Each new board member is eligible to serve three, three-year terms.
United Way’s now 32-member board will hold its next meeting on March 6, 2019.
New United Way for Southeastern Board Members
Luanne Thomas Ewald
Ewald brings more than 23 years of health care experience at DMC having served in several leadership roles. Prior to her current role as CEO she led business development and strategic planning for Children’s Hospital of Michigan, and was instrumental in the vision, development and successful launch of the new Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Troy. Ewald is a longtime advocate for the pediatric hospital and has an impressive record of involvement in numerous community and professional organizations. She is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and serves on ACHE’s Regents Advisory Council. Ewald previously served on the Board of Directors for several youth focused organizations and has received numerous honors and recognitions from civic and professional organizations.
Scott Garberding
In addition to his current role as FCA’s global chief manufacturing officer, Garberding has served as a member of the Group Executive Council since 2013, and holds global responsibility for FCA’s Comau, one of the global leaders in industrial automation systems, and Teksid, an Italian company based in Carmagnola. His previous roles have included head of quality and chief purchasing officer and head of manufacturing/World Class Manufacturing, FCA US LLC, where he was responsible for all assembly, stamping, and powertrain manufacturing operations worldwide, as well as implementation of the World Class Manufacturing system at all FCA US manufacturing facilities.
Jeneanne Hanley
As senior vice president of Lear Corporation and president of Lear’s E-Systems Division, Hanley is responsible for implementing global initiatives to further grow and diversify sales for the electrical and electronics division, accelerate product innovation efforts, improve financial results and sustain world-class competitiveness. Previously, Hanley served as vice president, global seat surface materials and craftsmanship. Since joining Lear in 1994, she has held a series of increasingly responsible positions in Seating and E-System including vice president, Americas Seating. In that role her responsibilities included the Company’s Just-In-Time Seat operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina covering 29 manufacturing plants and 14,500 employees.
Terry Rhadigan
As the executive in charge of both communications operations and corporate giving for General Motors Company, Rhadigan and his team play a significant role in enhancing the image and reputation of the automaker and increasing the engagement of its employees. He is responsible for: internal communications, corporate giving, the Story Bureau (including research and analytics), budget, media programs, fleet management, IT tools for internal and external communications, risk management and operational excellence. Prior to his current role, Rhadigan led all product and technology communications for General Motors from 2012 through 2015, overseeing product launches and auto shows, media relations, marketing communications, crisis communications and executive support.
Nikolai P. Vitti, Ed.D.
As general superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), chosen by the reestablished elected DPSCD Board of Education in a unanimous 7-0 vote in May 2017, Dr. Vitti brings to this position decades of expertise in education and improving academic performance for children. He recently launched Blueprint 2020, DPSCD’s strategic plan for rebuilding Detroit’s public schools with the school board. In his short tenure, he has raised student enrollment, actively engaged internal and external stakeholders, and improved teacher shortages. Dr. Vitti is currently focused on rebuilding the district’s systems and processes in all areas but with a focus on recruiting, retaining, and developing teachers and leaders, addressing the whole child through expansion of the arts and wraparound services, transforming the district’s culture, and improving fiscal stewardship.
For more information about United Way for Southeastern Michigan board members and its mission, visit www.UnitedWaySEM.org.
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About United Way for Southeastern Michigan
United Way for Southeastern Michigan mobilizes the caring power of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways throughout the region. The organization is led by a diverse group of volunteers from business, labor, government, human services, education and the community. United Way provides opportunities to invest in the metropolitan Detroit community through volunteerism, advocacy and its annual campaign. United Way is a leader in convening partners to achieve positive outcomes around Health, Education, and Economic Prosperity. For more information, visit www.UnitedWaySEM.org.