1997 Inaugural Class

Michela Alioto Pier, Former Second District Supervisor, San Francisco, CA.   Michela Alioto Pier served on the City of San Francisco Board of Supervisors, appointed by San Francisco Mayor Newsom, from 2004 to 2011.  In 1997 she ran as a democratic nominee for California Secretary of State, and in 1996 she was a candidate for California's First Congressional District.  Prior to that Michela spent two and a half years working in the Clinton White House for Vice President Al Gore on domestic policy, and was a White House transition liaison for the Department of Health and Human Services. In 1984, at the age of 17, Michela was appointed as the youngest member to President Reagan's National Council on Disability's Advisory Board and has been a delegate to three of the last four United States-Japan Summit Conferences on Disabilities, where she has chaired the Committee on Science and Technology. She is currently a member of the National Women's Political Caucus, the Women's Leadership Forum, and the Majority Council of EMILY's List. Michela earned a degree in Anthropology from the University of California at Los Angeles and spent a year studying at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. She and her husband Tom and their three children make their home in San Francisco, CA.  Michela is a member of the 1997 class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.

Laurence D. Belfer, Chief Executive Officer, Belfer Management, LLC, New York, NY. Laurence Belfer is Chief Executive Officer of Belfer Management LLC, a family investment firm that emphasizes the energy, real estate and financial services industries.  The Belfer family has been investing in the energy business for over 50 years, the real estate business for over 40 years and the financial services business for approximately 30 years.  Previously, Laurence served as Vice-Chairman, President and Chief Operating of Belco Oil and Gas Corp. (“Belco”), a public independent exploration and production company.  He then served as Director and Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee of Westport Resources Corp. (the successor to Belco), until it was acquired by Kerr-McGee in a $3.5 billion stock transaction in June 2004.  He was also the co-founder of Harvest Capital, a hedge fund focusing on merger arbitrage and event situations.  In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors of The Belfer Foundation and the 92nd St.Y.  He has served as Co-Chair of his 10th, 15th and 20th Year College Reunions of Harvard University and is a member of International Council of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard.  Laurence is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).  He is a 1988 graduate with honors from Harvard University who earned his Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School in 1992.  He and his wife, Carolyn, their two sons and daughter live in New York, NY.  Laurence is a 1997 Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Aneel Bhusri, Founder and Co-CEO, Workday, Pleasanton, CA.  Aneel Bhusri is a Founder and Co-CEO of Workday and a Partner at Greylock Partners.  Over the last 20 years, he has been an entrepreneur, product innovator and investor in the enterprise IT market. Aneel started his technology career in the early 1990s at PeopleSoft, where served in a variety of senior roles including SVP Product Strategy & Marketing.  From 1999 through 2004, Aneel was Vice Chairman of PeopleSoft, serving on the board of directors through the takeover of the company by Oracle in 2004. In 2005, Aneel started Workday with his long-time friend and business partner Dave Duffield, the founder and former Chairman and CEO of PeopleSoft.  Since its founding, Workday has grown rapidly and has become the leading provider of cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) and Financials applications for medium and large enterprises worldwide. As a Partner at Greylock, Aneel has been an active investor in cloud technologies, with an emphasis on applications, data center infrastructure and middleware.  Most recently, Aneel was the lead investor and Chairman of Data Domain, a leading storage provider that was acquired by EMC for $2.4 B in 2009.  He also was an investor and board member of Outlooksoft (acquired by SAP), Polyserve (acquired by HP) and Perfigo (acquired by Cisco).  In addition to Workday, Aneel currently serves on the boards of Cloudera, Drobo, Okta, Pure Storage, and Tidemark. Aneel received an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Brown University. Aneel was named to the Forbes Midas List in 2011 (#15), 2009 (#8) and 2008 (#16). He is a member of the 1997 class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.

Beth A. Brooke, Global Vice Chair-Public Policy, Ernst & Young, LLP, New York, NY.  Beth A. Brooke is Global Vice Chair of Public Policy at Ernst & Young and is a member of the firm's Global Management Group and a member of its Americas Executive Board. Beth has public policy responsibility for the firm's operations in 140 countries and interacts frequently with regulators, policymakers, and capital market stakeholders. Beth has been named for the third year in a row by Forbes Magazine as one of the world's "100 Most Powerful Women". As Global Vice Chair, Beth focuses on shaping the firm's strategic direction and position on public policy. She regularly speaks at forums around the world on topics ranging from leadership in the 21st century, the role of business in society, issues impacting the accounting profession and global capital markets, women's leadership, and the need for private sector/public sector cooperation to tackle policy challenges. Beth served as a public delegate to the 2009 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. And Beth chairs the Board of The White House Project, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to training and advancing women in public leadership. During the Clinton Administration, she worked for two years in the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where she was responsible for all tax policy matters related to insurance and managed care. Prior to her current role at Ernst & Young, Beth was National Director of Tax Advisory Services in Washington D.C., and previous to that, she worked in both audit and tax in the Indianapolis office where she became the first woman partner there in 1990. Beth has an undergraduate degree, with highest distinction, from Purdue University, where she majored in Industrial Management/Computer Science. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a Fellow in the Life Management Institute, a professional designation in the insurance industry. She is a member of the 1997 Inaugural Class of the Henry Crown Fellows of The Aspen Institute, The Aspen Institute Board of Trustees and the Committee of 200. She serves on the Boards of The Committee for Economic Development, The Atlantic Council of the United States, the Partnership for Public Service, TechnoServe, The National Women's Law Center, and The White House Project. She is also a member of the Aspen Institute Board of Trustees and the Audit Advisory Committee for the U.S. Department of Defense. 

Deborah A. Coleman, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner, SmartForest Ventures, Portland, OR.  Debi Coleman is a Co-Founder & Co-Managing Partner of SmartForest Ventures in Portland, Oregon.  She was Chairman and CEO of Merix from its spin-off from Tektronix and IPO in 1994 through 2001.  Previously, she was VP of Materials/Operations for Tektronix.  From 1981 to 1992, Debi held the positions of VP Operations, CFO, and VP Information Systems & Technology at Apple Computer. Debi serves on the boards of Synopsys, Reply.com, the Anita Borg Institute for Women in Technology and the Girl Scouts of Oregon & SW Washington.  She holds a BA from Brown University, an MBA from Stanford University, and an honorary PhD in engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Debi is a member of the 1997 class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.

Gabrielle Greene, General Partner, R.C. Fontis Partners LP, Pasadena, CA. Gaby Greene is General Partner of R.C. Fontis Partners, which she and Henry Crown classmate Danny Villanueva founded in 2002.  She is also a director of Austin-based Whole Foods which she joined in September 2003, and serves on the audit and compensation committees of the board.  Prior to founding Fontis, Gaby was the Chief Financial Officer of Crown Services based in San Jose, CA and previously served as a managing partner of BE/Greenwich Street Capital in New York as well as a trustee of the Boston Children's Museum, the Entrepreneurial Growth and Investment Institute, and The Boston Partnership. She received a BA degree in 1981 from Princeton University where she was a National Merit Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs. She received an MBA and Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School in 1987. Gaby lives in Pasadena, CA with her husband, Michael, and their two daughters.  Gaby is a member of the 1997 class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.

Philip L. Harris, Partner, Jenner & Block, LLC, Chicago, IL.  Phil Harris is partner at Jenner & Block in Chicago, where he also serves on the firm’s management committee.  His practice focuses on the defense of mass tort, product liability and complex commercial litigation.  He is a member of the American, National, Illinois, Chicago and Iowa State Bar Associations.  He also is an elected member of the American Law Institute.  Since 1990, Phil has served as a Trustee of Northwestern University.  He currently is a Vice Chair of the Board and a member of the Board’s Executive Committee.  He also serves on the boards of the Chicago Zoological Society and the National Art Museum of Sport.  He graduated from Northwestern University in 1980 with a BA in political science and in 1983 earned a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Chicago Law School.   Phil is a 1997 Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.  He also is a Fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago.  He has three daughters ages 23, 20 and 17.

Dr. John Hillen

John Hillen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sotera Defense Solutions, Inc., McLean, VA.  John Hillen is the president and CEO of Sotera Defense Solutions, Inc. He is also a member of the board of directors. From 2005 to 2007, John served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs. Prior to his appointment, John served as senior management in the defense firms CGI Federal Inc. and American Management Systems Inc., as well as the financial services firm Island ECN, Inc. Before his business career, John served for twelve years as an Army officer. He sits on the Board of National Review Magazine and is a trustee of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, Hampden-Sydney College, the Flint Hill School, and the Committee on Economic Development.  He graduated from Duke University, holds a Master's Degree from King's College London, a doctorate from Oxford, and received his MBA from the Johnson School of Management at Cornell. John is a 1997 Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Steve Kirsch, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, OneID Inc., Redwood City, CA.  Steve Kirsch has been at the forefront of tech innovation for more than three decades. He invented and owns a patent on an early version of the optical mouse, founded Infoseek, one of the first Internet search engines, and helped create FrameMaker, a popular publication tool used by technical writers. Steve is a serial entrepreneur and has founded six companies: Mouse Systems, FrameTechnology (acquired by Adobe), Infoseek (acquired by Disney), Propel, Abaca, and OneID. In September 2011, Steve started OneID a next-generation digital identity service that provides a safe and easy way to sign into websites and make payments online, eliminating the need for multiple usernames and passwords. He earned a BS degree in electrical engineering and an MS degree in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He and his wife, Michele, are active philanthropists. They started a foundation which donates to a wide variety of charitable causes, and were subsequently named the 1999 Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives. He is a 1997 Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

The Rev. Dr. James A. Kowalski, Dean, Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, New York City, NY.  Jim Kowalski became Dean of the Cathedral in March 2002.  Prior to that he had served since 1993 as Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Parish in Darien, CT, one of the largest Episcopal parishes in the U.S. Jim was president of the Fairfield County Economic Development Corporation in Stamford, CT, as well as a member of the Darien Clergy Association and Darien’s Social Services Commission. He is a Canon Scholar, and has been an American Leadership Forum Fellow.  He currently serves on the advisory council of St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center and the Episcopal Actors’ Guild.  He is a board member of the Center for Interreligious Understanding; Episcopal Charities of New York; and Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA.  He is board chair of Grace Cottage Hospital Foundation, Townshend, VT.  Jim earned a BA from Trinity College (CT) in 1973, a Masters in Divinity from the Episcopal Divinity School in 1978, and a Doctor of Ministry from the Hartford Seminary in 1991. He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Yale/Berkeley Divinity School in 2002. Jim lives in New York with his wife, The Rev. Anne A. Brewer, M.D. He is a 1997 Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Timothy K. Krauskopf, Principal, Round Lake Designs, LLC, Downers Grove, IL.  Timothy Krauskopf is a self-described serial entrepreneur who is currently operating Round Lake Freight, a small truck transportation company serving the restaurant supply industry in the Chicago region. Round Lake looks for and implements technology advantages in the transportation business. Tim was previously vice president at Motorola as general manager for core solutions-internet software and content group. He has also served as co-founder and CEO of Parlano, Inc., president and COO of PCQuote.com, head of information services at the Field Museum of Natural History.   Tim was a co-founder, Chief Technical Officer and Vice President of Research and Development for Spyglass, Inc., which produced the forerunner to Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser, Spyglass Mosaic. He currently sits on the board of trustees of Northwestern University, the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors, and The Aspen Institute.  In 1996, KPMG Peat Marwick named him one of the winners of the Illinois High Tech Entrepreneur of the Year award.  Tim holds a BA degree from Northwestern University and an MS degree in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as well as an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern. He is a 1997 Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership.

Gary Lauder, Managing Director, Lauder Partners, LLC, Atherton, CA. Gary Lauder is Managing Director of Lauder Partners LLC, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm investing primarily in information technologies. He has been a venture capitalist since 1985, investing in over 75 private companies. He is also chairman of ActiveVideo Networks Inc., a developer of interactive television technology for cable and IPTV. Other directorships include Promptu, MediaFriends, and ShotSpotter. Investments are primarily in cable television/IPTV technology and internet arenas. In the 1980s, he worked at the venture firms of Aetna, Jacobs & Ramo Technology Ventures, as well as Wolfensohn Associates. He holds a BA in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania; a BS in Economics from the Wharton School; and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is the co-creator of the Aspen Institute's Socrates Society with Laura, his wife. He was named one of the top 100 builders of the information highway by Upside. He is co-inventor of 12 patents, has spoken at over 90 industry forums, and, since 1992, has published several articles about the future of the cable industry that he still stands by. He is a 1997 Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Jay Marshall, Managing Director, AlixPartners, LLP, Dallas, TX. Prior to joining AlixPartners, LLP, Jay Marshall was a Vice President and partner in the Energy and Chemicals Group of BoozAllen & Hamilton Inc. and was head of their Dallas office.  He serves on the boards of XS, Inc. and American Specialty Cars, as well as The Dallas Opera and the Dallas Symphony Association.  A graduate of the Inaugural Class of Henry Crown Fellows, he served as the first Crown Fellow on the program's Board of Overseers.  Jay earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University in 1983 and an MBA from the University of Texas Graduate School of Business in 1986, where he was named a Sord Scholar and received the Dean's Award for Academic Excellence. He lives in Dallas, TX with his wife, Mary Beth, and their two children.  Jay is a member of the 1997 class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.

Teresa McBride, CEO, McBride and Company, Los Angeles, CA.   Teresa is CEO of McBride and Company, a consulting group of former CEO's that support client efforts in growth, capital and market strategy. She was former Founder and CEO of McBride and Associates, a leading technology solutions consulting company serving Fortune 100 companies and Governments. Having built her company from inception in 1984 to 200 million in annual revenue with over 700 consultants before selling in 1999, Teresa and her company have received over fifty client and industry awards and honors over the years including the Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year presented at the White House by George H. W. Bush. Over the years she also served on several boards including being a director for the Federal Reserve Bank Kansas City Branch in Denver as well as a Senate Task Force under both the first Bush administration and then was asked to stay for both Clinton administrations, the U.S. Department of Education Board for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, the Digital Equipment Corporation Advisory Board, the IBM Advisory Board, The Ingram Advisory Board, and a Trustee for the Henry and Gladys Crown Charitable Trust as well as several other boards. She is a current and former member of several organizations including: the Committee of 200, the Young Presidents Organization, and a founding member of The New American Alliance. Philanthropically, Teresa and her son founded College Bound Council in 1994 a non-profit program, with the objective of reducing the drop-out rate by inspiring great young minds in inner city schools to stay in school graduate and establish an interest in higher education at an earlier age. The program matches grade school classrooms with a college student that delivers a curriculum that exposes the student to college life. The McBride College Bound Council program has served over 157,000 students since it began. Teresa currently lives in Los Angeles and New York. She is a member of the Inaugural Class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.

Kim Pendergast, Managing Partner, Pendergast Partners, LLC, Rowayton, CT.   Kim Pendergast is the founder and managing director of Pendergast Partners, LLC, which invests in and manages distribution and performance automotive companies. She is currently CEO operating as CEO in her most recent acquisition, Magnuson Products, LLC.  Magnuson Products sells superchargers to OEMs and in the aftermarket. In her role as managing director she has founded five companies, two of which were in distribution. Kim started her career in Germany restructuring a subsidiary of Continental Can Company and leaving to turn around Savin Corporation, which she sold to Ricoh Corporation of America. Kim is very involved with several developmental institutions including Indiana University's International Business Forum, Center for Leadership Renewal, National Art Museum of Sport, Learning Spring Elementary School, Exotic Feline Rescue Center, and the Edward L. Hutton International Experiences Program. She has contributed to the Indiana University Business Journal and placed 16th in U.S. Olympic Class Sailing. Kim earned a BS in finance and an MBA, both with honors, from Indiana University. She lives in Rowayton, CT, with her husband Joseph. Kim is a 1997 Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

John W. Rogers, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Ariel Investments, Chicago, IL.   John Rogers founded Ariel Investments (formerly Ariel Capital Management , LLC) an institutional money management firm, in 1983.  As the firm's Chief Investment Officer, John has direct responsibility for the management of Ariel's small and mid-cap value portfolios as well as the publicly traded Ariel Fund and Ariel Appreciation Fund.  Prior to founding Ariel, John worked for two and a half years for the investment banking firm of William Blair & Company.  He currently serves as a corporate board member of the Aon Corporation, Exelon Corporation, and McDonald's Corporation.  He is also Chairman of the Chicago Urban League and a board member of the University of Chicago.  In addition, he is a past President of the Board of the Chicago Park District where he served a six-year term.  John received an AB in Economics in 1980 from Princeton University where he was also Captain of the Varsity Basketball Team.  He makes his home in Chicago, IL.  John is a member of the 1997 class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.

Deborah R. Simon, President and CEO, Methodist Health Services Corporation, Peoria, IL.   Deborah Simon serves as the President & CEO of Methodist Health Services Corporation and Methodist Medical Center of Illinois, one of the largest employers in the greater Peoria area. She has enjoyed 35 years of service to MHSC and held several roles from staff nurse, to VP to Chief Operating Officer to her current role.  She is active in the community serving on a variety of Boards:  Ambulatory Medical Transport, Chamber of Commerce, United Way, St. Jude, Foster College of Business - Bradley University, CEO Roundtable and Quality Quest.  She serves as a volunteer for The Women's Health Forum, Girl Scout Nursing Camp, the community group on Alzheimer and Parkinson Resources, and the Bioterrorism Community Response Team.  She earned a BS in Nursing from the University of Illinois College of Nursing in 1976 and an MBA from Bradley University in 1988.  Debbie was chosen as a Fellow at the Wharton School of Business' Program in Executive Management in 1986. She lives in Pekin, IL with her husband, Richard, and has a son living in Chicago, IL. She is a 1997 Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

David B. Singer, Partner, Maverick, San Francisco, CA.  David is a partner at Maverick Capital, where he is responsible for Maverick's Private Investments. Prior to joining Maverick, David was a leading entrepreneur who specialized in health care start-ups throughout his career. He is founder and former CEO of three biotech companies  in fields ranging from tools for DNA analysis to novel therapeutics (Affymetrix, GeneSoft and Corecept.)  At Maverick, he concentrates on private companies involved in deep technology research, including next-generation DNA sequencing tools, medical devices, and cloud computing for new media applications.  He currently sits on the board of one public and several private companies.   He is also on The RAND Corporation's Health Advisory Board.   He received his MBA from Stanford. He is a 1997 Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Danny Villanueva, Partner, R.C. Fontis Partners LP, Pasadena, CA. Danny left his position as head of Crown Services in November 2001, and a year later founded R.C. Fontis Partners with Henry Crown classmate Gabrielle Greene. Prior to that, he was the General Manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy and President of L.A. Soccer Partners. He was also co-founder of Moya, Villanueva & Associates, Inc. and Radio America, Inc. In addition, Danny is one of the founders of Spanish-language Univision affiliates KTVW-TV of Phoenix and KMEX-TV of Los Angeles. He currently serves on the boards of Pan American Bank, World Vision, Fuller Theological Seminary, Tomas Rivera Center, the California Community Foundation, and the Latino-Jewish Business Roundtable. He earned a BS degree from Stanford University and has studied abroad in Spain and Mexico under leading scholars of contemporary Spanish literature. Danny is a member of the 1997 class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.

Gary White, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, GW Retail Consulting, Rancho Mirage, CA.   Gary White is currently CEO and Founder of GW Retail Consulting where he applies his unique retail expertise to business modalities in need of renewed vigor and special turnarounds, and evolves current business models to become even more successful through unexpected and fresh approaches. Gary was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of United Retail Group, Inc. and the Executive Vice President and COO of national retailer, Wet Seal, Inc. Gary has extensive experience in the retail business including five years at the Gymboree Corporation, where he served as Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board, two years as the head of Savers, Inc. and a 20-year career with Dayton Hudson, owners of Target and Mervyn's stores. He has also previously served on the boards of the March of Dimes and K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations). Gary attended Cuyahoga College and management courses at Harvard University School of Leadership Negotiation. He currently lives in Newport Coast, CA with his wife, Linda.  Gary is a member of the 1997 class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.

William Wrigley, Jr., Private Investor, Chicago, IL. As the fourth generation leader of the Wrigley family, Beau began his career working for the Wrigley company in 1985 and eventually held the positions of President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, and Executive Chairman of the Board of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company between 1999 and 2008. The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company is a recognized global leader in confections with a wide range of product offerings. Prior to the sale of the company, Wrigley grew the company sales in excess of $6 billion annually. After the sale of the Wrigley Company to Mars, Incorporated in 2008, Beau held the role of Chairman of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company and played a key role in the successful integration of both companies through 2009. Currently, Beau serves in a number of professional capacities and is involved in numerous business initiatives as a private investor, as well as through philanthropic programs in Chicago and around the world. Beau currently sits on the Board of Directors for SoCore Energy, a pioneer in the solar industry.  He is also a member of the Senior Advisory Council of BDT Capital Partners LLC, a Chicago based investment firm which offers long-term capital and advisory services to its family business clients. Beau is a Director of The Economic Club of Chicago and serves on National Geographic Society’s Council of Advisors.  He also serves on the Board of the not-for-profit North Shore University Healthcare System. Beau is a Trustee of Conservation International and a Co-Chair for their Ocean Health Council. He is a member of the Chicago Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization and a former member of The Business Council. Beau was born in Chicago, is married to Heather Wrigley and has four children.  He is a 1985 graduate of Duke University with a B.A. in Economics and attended the Wharton School of Business Advanced Management Program in 1994. Beau is a member of the 1997 class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.