Katie Brisson serves as a Senior Fellow, providing strategic philanthropic support to both the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and the Council of Michigan Foundations. In this role, she contributes to key grantmaking initiatives and special projects for the foundation while also strengthening the CMF Fellowship Program and mentoring emerging leaders in the field. 

Katie brings more than two decades of experience in philanthropy, having spent 24 years at the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan, including 11 years as Vice President of Program. During her tenure, she led efforts to shape grantmaking strategy during a period of significant growth and played a key role in launching collaborative initiatives such as the Detroit Journalism Engagement Fund, the Michigan Opioid Partnership, and Project Play: Southeast Michigan. 

Before her time at the Community Foundation, Katie worked as a consultant for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and served as chief lobbyist for the Maryland Food Committee in Baltimore, advocating for policies to address hunger and poverty at both state and national levels. 

She holds a Master’s in Policy Studies from The Johns Hopkins University, a Master’s in Legal & Ethical Studies from the University of Baltimore, and a Bachelor’s in Sociology from Western Michigan University. 

Nicole de Beaufort is a strategic leader with deep expertise in philanthropy, communications, and systems-building. As Senior Director of Communications and Learning at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, she leads efforts to amplify the Foundation’s impact through storytelling, strategic messaging, and knowledge-sharing. She plays a pivotal role in advancing and integrating learning into the Foundation’s work, ensuring that insights from grantees, partners, and communities inform strategy, drive innovation, and enhance and extend impact.  

Before joining the Foundation, Nicole founded and was the President of EarlyWorks, a Detroit-based consultancy focused on strategic communications and learning design for social impact organizations. She also co-founded Cadre Studio, where she specialized in service design for mission-driven organizations. With experience spanning philanthropy, leadership development, and community engagement, Nicole has worked with organizations such as Excellent Schools Detroit and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, as its Director of Communications, where she developed communications strategies that informed policy, supported grantees, and engaged diverse audiences. 

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Arts from Williams College, a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard Kennedy School, and a Certificate in Multilateral Diplomacy from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). She also completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Wayne State University and earned certifications from Seth Godin’s Akimbo Workshops and altMBA program. Nicole also was selected to serve as an American fellow for The German Marshall Fund’s (GMF) Marshall Memorial Fellowship (MMF). The fellowship provides emerging leaders from the United States and Europe the opportunity to explore each other’s politics, business, innovation, and culture through an experiential learning program. 

With a love for global perspectives and the natural world, Nicole is drawn to the diverse landscapes and communities that define the Foundation’s footprint. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring creative storytelling, engaging in community-driven initiatives, and continuously learning from the world around her. 

Jim Boyle has served as the Vice President of Programs and Strategy for the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation since its earliest inception in 2016. In his role, Jim oversees several of the grantmaking and initiatives for Youth Sports & Recreation; Parks, Trails, & Green Design; Entrepreneurship & Economic Development; and Nonprofit Support & Innovation; in addition to Communications for the Foundation. He brings over 25-years of experience in strategy design, grantmaking and communications to the work.

In addition to overseeing day-to-day grantmaking, Jim has spearheaded the implementation of several larger-scaled projects and programs, and can attests to the power of cross-collaboration to catalyze community centered, big picture visions. Through his work with projects such as Western New York’s Regional Revitalization Partnership, a $300 million private and public regional economic development

co-investment strategy; Don’t Retire Kid (in partnership with ESPN), a critically acclaimed public awareness campaign on youth sports attrition rates; and Built to Play, a $16 million cross-collaborative partnership to build over 100 innovative play spaces; he has championed the regions the Foundation serves by supporting community input and coalition building to creating long-lasting positive impact.

Known for his energy and creativity when approaching his work, Jim has harmonized dynamic partnerships, initiatives, and passion projects across the region for decades. Prior to the Foundation, he served as senior program officer at the New Economy Initiative (NEI), the largest philanthropic led economic development initiative in the country. Heralded as one of the most impactful economic development initiatives to date, Jim spent his tenure at NEI driving grantmaking strategy, culture change, and promotions for the project. He has also served as vice president of integrated marketing at lovio george | communications + design, guiding integrated and strategic programs for many key Detroit organizations and projects. In addition, he also served as marketing director for the Detroit Institute of Arts and as marketing manager at the Detroit Public Library.

Most of Jim’s free time is spent with his wife Mary chasing down his three 20-something-ish kids. He is a proud resident of Detroit, and a proud Spartan with a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University. Jim has long been tied to various creative communities in Michigan, including his current outside venture as founder of 53North, a project where Detroit-area artists create large-scale installations, mainly using barns, in his hometown of Port Austin, Michigan.

Stephanie Comai serves as a Senior Program Officer at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, striving to create lasting positive change in Southeast Michigan and Western New York. In her role, Stephanie leads the young adults and working families focus area, partnering with education providers and employers to ensure young adults have pathways to high-quality careers with good pay. She centers dignity and value in her work, firmly believing that every individual has worth. With a strong background in the public sector, Stephanie is excited to continue working towards societal betterment, a goal she shares across sectors.

Before joining the Foundation, Stephanie led the State of Michigan’s Talent Investment Agency, designing strategies to enhance skills and career opportunities for Michiganders. She also led the development of Michigan.gov in 2002, at a time when the internet was just taking off. With over 25 years of experience in public service at both state and federal levels, her extensive background has been instrumental in shaping her philanthropic approach.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan and a Master of Public Administration from George Washington University. Raised in Battle Creek, MI, she has a deep connection to the state and its communities.

Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys reading, traveling, practicing yoga, hiking, and cheering on University of Michigan sports. She lives with her husband and their daughter, who is a student at Michigan State University.

Maura Dewan joined the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation in 2016 and currently serves as the Vice President of Programs and Corporate Affairs. In this role, Maura leads internal and external affairs, serving as a strategic partner in achieving organizational goals. She is actively involved in human capital development, project management, policy administration oversight, and trustee relations. Maura has been integral in designing the fellows program, contributing to rural strategy, and building relationships with state and local governments. As a board member of the New York Funders Alliance, she remains committed to staying informed and engaged in the philanthropic community.

Through her years of experience, Maura firmly believes that philanthropy plays a crucial role in investing in moments that create change and serve as difference-makers. Her commitment lies in finding opportune moments to drive change, learn, and adjust strategies across all focus areas and initiatives. Her guiding principles emphasize the importance of listening, partnership, and building trust in philanthropic work.

Outside the office, Maura, a proud Spartan with a degree from Michigan State University, enjoys family time, exploring national parks, and attending sporting events in East Lansing.

David Egner is the President and CEO of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, a Detroit-based organization built upon the ideals of innovation, teamwork, and outcomes. The visionary responsible for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills franchise, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., set up the Foundation with a limited lifespan that must spend down by January 2035. The Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life in the seven-county region of Mr. Wilson’s hometown of Southeast Michigan and the nine-county region of Western New York, the home of his beloved Buffalo Bills. Priority areas for the Foundation include Active Lifestyles; Preparing for Success in Early Childhood, Afterschool, and Young Adults and Working Families; Entrepreneurship and Economic Development; Caregivers; and Nonprofit Support & Innovation.

Egner has long been a well-known figure and leader in Michigan philanthropy – from his early years as an executive assistant to the chair at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, to guiding the Michigan Nonprofit Association, a Lansing-based coalition, through its founding and early development. Prior to leading the Wilson Foundation, Egner was President and CEO of the Hudson-Webber Foundation for 19 years, often considered one of the organizations behind driving transformation of Midtown and Downtown Detroit. From 2009-2015, Egner also served as Executive Director of the New Economy Initiative (NEI), the largest philanthropic led economic development initiative in the country. NEI is recognized for its inclusive approach to economic development, generating nearly $3 billion in economic impact during Egner’s tenure, while seeing minority business starts assisted by the program exceed more than 2.5X the national average.

Egner’s approach to grantmaking is based on the ideal that the empowerment of community leaders and the creation of shared visions are key to successful philanthropy. He also believes that the most impactful community strategies center on collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors and take into account the effect of market forces. The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is set to allocate more than $2 billion dollars in grants by 2035, which is considerably more than its initial corpus of $1.2 billion. Egner has an MBA from Western Michigan University, and a bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. He and his wife Tammy live in Metro Detroit. They love to spend quality time with their four adult children and their families, including their five grandchildren.

Habeeb El-amir serves as a Data and Learning Fellow at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation through the Council of Michigan Foundations’ fellowship program. In this role, Habeeb works closely with the Foundation’s Learning and Communications team to promote organizational learning and strategic insight through data analysis. As a CMF Fellow, Habeeb is building experience, expanding his knowledge of Michigan’s philanthropic landscape, and learning alongside peers at other grantmaking institutions.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Habeeb gained experience in government and academic settings. He interned with the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Center for Education, researching topics on early education and education in conflict settings. He also worked on security and human rights issues at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Additionally, Habeeb served as a consultant with the Policy Analysis Learning Lab at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy, assisting students with quantitative coursework and statistical software.

Habeeb holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy with a concentration in public policy analysis methods, and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Michigan. Outside of work, Habeeb enjoys exploring Michigan’s coastal towns and spending time with his family.

Euda Fils is a Philanthropy Fellow supporting the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation through the Council of Michigan Foundations’ fellowship program. She contributes to the Foundation’s Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, Parks Trails and Green Design, Youth Sports and Recreation, and Nonprofit Support portfolios. Through the comprehensive professional development offered by the CMF Fellowship Program, Euda is gaining valuable experience while supporting key areas of the Foundation’s work.

With over five years of experience in the nonprofit, government, and private sectors, Euda specializes in small business technical assistance, community development, and grants management. She has held roles at Chemonics International, JP Morgan Chase’s Global Philanthropy team, FEMA, and the U.S. Small Business Administration, where she helped small businesses navigate disaster recovery and COVID-19 relief efforts. Before joining the Foundation, Euda served in the Peace Corps in Kosovo, leading community initiatives, supporting NGOs, and developing programs to empower women and youth. She also held leadership positions at Foundation Jean Dartil Laguerre, managing international development projects and donor relations.

Born in Haiti and raised in the U.S. from age nine, Euda is a passionate storyteller and community builder who enjoys producing and listening to podcasts. Euda holds a Master of Global Affairs from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Florida Atlantic University’s Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College.

Kari Pardoe serves as a Senior Program Officer at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, which strives to create lasting positive change in Southeast Michigan and Western New York. In her role, Pardoe leads the early childhood, afterschool, and youth sports and recreation focus areas. She embraces a collaborative approach, deviating from traditional grantmaking models to effectively build and support partnerships with the Foundation. Kari values the synergy between the Foundation’s three focus areas, recognizing how their integration enhances overall impact in the communities they serve.

Kari is a strong advocate for youth perspectives in youth sports, recreation, and afterschool programs and works to incorporate young people’s voice in all programs she touches. She champions early childhood education as crucial elements in a child’s healthy development, advocating for easy access for all. Kari’s work centers on breaking barriers and bridging gaps for young people to develop a healthy and happy foundation for their lives.

Before joining the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, Kari served as a Program Officer at the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, supporting the development of the strategic direction for their Advancing Afterschool work. She also supported the Detroit Pistons Earlier in her career, she contributed to community and family foundations across Michigan while at the Council of Michigan Foundations. Kari holds an undergraduate degree in community and commercial recreation with a minor in business from Central Michigan University, and she earned her master of public administration (MPA) from Grand Valley State University.

A Marshall, MI native, Kari enjoys golfing, spending time with friends and family during her downtime, and passionately follows Michigan and the CMU Chippewas in sports, with football season proudly dictating her schedule.

Kate Partington serves as a Program Officer at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. She plays a pivotal part in supporting the Young Adults and Working Families and Caregivers grantmaking portfolios through crafting grant recommendations, fostering relationships with current and potential grantees, and advancing focus areas strategies through grantmaking.

Prior to the Foundation, Kate held positions at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Senator Debbie Stabenow’s DC Office, and the City of Detroit Planning and Development Department. Kate has made notable contributions in her sector, including supporting the launch of the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification and Council on Future Mobility and Electrification from Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order in 2020. Kate’s focus on economic mobility is informed by her father’s career to which she attributes her commitment to helping other find good technical jobs and opportunities outside of 4-year degrees.

Kate is a proud Michigander and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Urban Studies from Wayne State University. Kate is deeply involved in community activities, co-chairing the Eastern Market Cultivation Committee and actively raising funds to support the market. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and working on her cooking skills.

Mercedes Pergande currently serves as the Communications Associate at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. She plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing the communication strategy for the Foundation who’s impact driven work is focused in Southeast Michigan and Western New York. In collaboration with the communications and executive teams, she navigates the intricate landscape of the two regions, five focus areas, and numerous grantees and partners that the Foundation works with.

In her role, Mercedes facilitates communication internally and externally to the Foundation’s key audiences, as well as coordinates partner projects, and delivers impactful content such as press releases, digital material, op-eds, and newsletters. Her dedication to strategic communications stems from a belief that it is crucial for the success of any project.

In her previous role at Freedom House Detroit, a leading nonprofit in humanitarian aid protections, Mercedes contributed to program, communications, and development strategy. Mercedes holds a BA in International Relations and Communications from Eastern Michigan University, is a proud Detroiter and loves enjoying all of the inspiring art, poetry, and music that the city has to offer.

Farah Pitcher is the Preparing for Success Fellow at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, where she will make meaningful contributions to focus areas connected to Preparing for Success—Early Childhood, Afterschool, Young Adults & Working Families—and Caregivers. This Philanthropy Fellowship is in partnership with the Council of Michigan Foundations, where she will learn more about Michigan philanthropy, nonprofits, and collaborate with fellows stationed at other grantmaking institutions. 

Prior to her start at the Foundation, Farah interned with the U.S. Government Accountability Office on their Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics team exploring impacts of the OSTP 2022 Public Access Memo set to go into effect later this year. Prior to that experience, she worked with the State Policy and Government Affairs team at U.S. Water Alliance leading a research project on ballot initiatives as a source of funding for water infrastructure and water affordability projects. During her graduate studies, Farah was a research assistant with the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program and a policy analyst with the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy at the University of Michigan.

Farah holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan Ford School with a concentration in social policy and science & technology policy and a bachelor’s degree in Biology, Health, and Society and Political Science from the University of Michigan. In her free time, you can find her exploring local food spots on her food Instagram page, reading, or cuddling with her cat Marshall.

As a Senior Program Officer at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, Eric Phamdo leverages his expertise in place-based economic development and nonprofit capacity building to uplift project Entrepreneurship and Economic Development as well as Nonprofit Support. Additionally, he is involved in Nonprofit Support & Innovation, a special initiative of the Foundation focused on building capacity through project-specific grants for intermediary organizations and encouraging collaboration among nonprofits.

Eric leads a portfolio that has expanded economic opportunities in neighborhoods and strengthened the nonprofit infrastructure across 16 counties in Michigan and New York. He serves in leadership roles for initiatives in Buffalo, NY; Detroit, MI; and Pontiac, MI that are coordinating state, municipal, and philanthropic resources to support economic development. He is passionate about ensuring capacity building resources and networks are available to organizations across Southeast Michigan and Western New York. Through their work, they have coalesced organizations and funders to coordinate and scale resources and networks across the Foundation’s two regions.

Eric earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Rochester studying cross-cultural psychology, sustainability, and business administration. He also earned a Public Leadership Credential from the Harvard Kennedy School. He is also passionate about human well-being. They are a trained natural foods chef and a yoga teacher and have taught thousands of students mindfulness and conscious movement to nurture their mental, physical, and emotional wellness.

Faye Radcliffe serves as an Executive Assistant to the Program Team at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. Built on the ideals of its founder, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., the Foundation seeks to effect lasting change in the communities he loved most: Southeast Michigan and Western New York. In her role as an Executive Assistant to the Program Team, she plays a pivotal role in fostering a collaborative and efficient work environment at the Foundation. Her responsibilities encompass coordinating meetings among the program team, senior executives, and external agencies, as well as providing support for program committee meetings, ensuring accurate record-keeping, and managing the seamless integration of supporting documents into the internal system.

Faye holds an ABA from Macomb Community College, a BPA from Wayne State University, and is currently pursuing her MBA at the same institution. Being the first in her family to attend college, she attributes much of her success to her unwavering perseverance and hard work. Faye’s life experiences have shaped her into a person who values grace and gratitude, and she strongly believes in the power of personal agency to drive positive change. Beyond her professional pursuits, Faye finds joy in spending time with her two dogs and appreciating the beauty of flower gardens.

A Detroit native, Paul Riser serves as a Senior Program Officer with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation in the Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (EED) focus area. His duties include managing, identifying, and building relationships with grantees, partners, and stakeholders that allow the Foundation to deploy resources that align with its investment strategies. This involves grant development and administration, strategy creation and alignment, and evaluation and reporting. Additionally, Paul helps to ensure that focus areas that complement EED continue to progress and succeed. Paul’s responsibilities are carried out at the tactical and strategic levels with individual stakeholders and organizations, as well as within coordinated, higher-level, region-wide, multi-stakeholder efforts.

The Entrepreneurship and Economic Development focus area was a natural fit for Paul as it leverages his passion, background, and experience in social entrepreneurship, non-profit work, tech-based and small business support services, and entrepreneurial endeavors. He relishes the opportunity to help influence generational systems change and positively impact people through a lens of equity and inclusion. With the experience of being an entrepreneur himself, Paul brings a deep understanding of entrepreneurial ecosystem building and a desire to listen, learn, and drive measurable change in Western New York and Southeast Michigan. He is greatly inspired by the commitment, energy, optimism, talent, and fortitude of the people in each region. The guiding principles of his work are empathy, equity, inclusivity, continuous learning, innovation, collaboration, humility, servant leadership, and diversity.

Paul graduated from Florida A&M University with a BS in computer science and a minor in mathematics; he later earned an MBA in technology management from the University of Phoenix. In his free time, Paul loves spending time with his family, traveling, cooking, and working on a project that holds a special place in his heart: a partially animated docuseries focused on his father’s life and the impact of his work in the music industry.

Marissa Rossman serves as a Program Officer at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, in support of the Active Lifestyles and Entrepreneurship & Economic Development focus areas. A former teacher, with a passion for community development and social impact, her work underscores the Foundation’s commitment to improving the quality of life of residents in Southeast Michigan and Western New York. She joined the Foundation’s team in 2021.

In addition to her years in Detroit elementary schools, Rossman has served as a high-level Executive Assistant at Wayne State University, supported leading physicians at the National Institute of Health, and interned with State Senator Stephanie Chang. From this well-rounded perspective, Rossman stewards the Foundation’s partners through the grantmaking process and lends valuable insight to strategic initiatives.

Rossman holds a Bachelor of Arts from Kalamazoo College and a Master of Social Work from Wayne State University, specializing in Innovation, Community Development, Policy, and Leadership (ICPL). Beyond the office, she loves to explore the natural world—birdwatching on Belle Isle or walking through the northern woods.

As a Program Officer at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, Misha Stallworth West is a driving force in enhancing the quality of life in Western New York and Southeast Michigan. Misha’s decades long commitment to advocacy is reflected in her role supporting the Foundation’s Caregivers and Young Adults & Working Families portfolios. With extensive experience in civic engagement, social justice advocacy, and youth development she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Misha’s approach centers around systems-level change, community-driven solutions, and person-centered design.

Having managed Meals on Wheels and other older adult meal programs at the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Misha brings a long-time commitment to programs on aging. Her involvement in policy and advocacy on older adult issues showcased a broader commitment to community welfare. As the Vice Chair of the Detroit School Board and a two-time elected member since 2016, she continues to shape educational leadership and decision-making. Misha’s leadership extends to her past roles as Deputy CEO for Citizen Detroit and Director of Arts and Culture, while her accolades, including the Michigan Chronicle’s Women of Excellence Award and the 40 Under 40 Award, highlight her impact. Misha has used her platform to champion inclusivity and community support through events such as the Detroit Policy Conference and Crain’s Communications Homecoming.

Misha holds a BA in Research Psychology from the University of Chicago and a MSW in Community Organizing and Social Systems from the University of Michigan. She eagerly awaits what the future holds for the communities she serves, and the family she adores spending time with in her fourth generation Detroit home.

Maria Suchyta serves as an Executive Assistant to the board of trustees at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. Maria provides crucial support to the Foundation’s board of trustees as well as the executive team. In her role she carries out administrative duties, assists in partner relations, and coordinates special projects. She thoroughly enjoys being a frontline ambassador who can strengthen the Foundation and its activities by keeping things organized and running smoothly. Maria is passionate about bringing people together, morale building, space creating, and inspiring a spirit of teamwork while working for a locally impactful organization.

Before joining the Foundation, Maria served as an Executive Assistant to the vice president of Wayne State University’s development and alumni affairs division. She brings more than 20 years of experience to her exceptional work at the Foundation. Maria earned her BA from Western Michigan University.

In her free time Maria, Detroit, MI, native, loves exploring all Detroit has to offer through her passion for running. She runs for her health but also as a social experience that provides her the opportunity to engage with others. If you ask her how many half marathons she has completed, she may have to get back to you—she’s run so many that she’s lost count!

Carly Strachan joined the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation in 2016 and currently serves as a Senior Communications Officer.  In this role she leads all external communications activities in support of the Foundation’s mission and program area goals, including development and management of key initiatives and campaigns in partnership with the Foundation’s staff and strategic partners, such as Built to Play, Tight Knit and Generator Z.

Prior to working at the Foundation, Carly served as a Senior Account Manager at lovio george where she provided account support, media relations and production management for a diverse list of clients and several large-scale events and campaigns, including Shinola, the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, The Parade Company, Hudson-Webber Foundation, and the New Economy Initiative.

Carly earned a bachelor’s degree in Integrated Public Relations from Central Michigan University. She recently joined the ComNetworkDETROIT leadership team to support the network of Detroit-area communications professionals who believe in the power of smart communications to improve lives. And just like the Foundation’s Project Play initiative, Carly believes in the importance of sports sampling for youth and continues to do so into her adulthood by recently taking up indoor rock-climbing and tap dance in her free time.

James (J.J.) Tighe joined the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation as Director of the Parks and Trails Initiative in 2017. In 2024, J.J. was promoted to Senior Director of Parks and Trails for the Foundation. He has successfully steered grantmaking strategy, worked to build the capacity of partner organizations, and organized a complex coalition of cross-sector stakeholders and funders to execute community-led park, trail, and green infrastructure projects. Key accomplishments include helping shape the Foundation’s “Centennial Commitment”— a $200 million initiative that will close regional trail gaps and build a signature waterfront park in Western New York and Southeast Michigan.  

Prior to joining the Foundation, J.J. served as the President and CEO of the Michigan Fitness Foundation, and on the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Sports. JJ also worked as an instrumental intermediary in developing a collaborative partnership with Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources to support the Iron Belle Trail Initiative, a state-wide regional trail that connects Belle Isle in Detroit to Ironwood in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In addition to his eight years as a Senior Leader with the General Electric Company in New York and Michigan.

J.J. is a distinguished Veteran who served as a Captain in the U.S. Army with the 1st Infantry Division and 1st Cavalry Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal during his service in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. He is also a strong advocate for Veterans— having served on several boards focused on empowering military Veterans and their families. J.J. holds a B.S. in Finance from Boston College and an M.B.A. at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

Sarah Truax serves as the Learning Manager at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, where she contributes to the advancement of the Foundation’s learning, evaluation, and reporting (LER) efforts. In this role, she manages evaluation  projects and collaborates with external partners and consultants on Foundation-wide LER initiatives. Sarah plays a key role in supporting the development and implementation of LER strategy.

Prior to her time at the Foundation, Sarah served as a Fellow with the Council of Michigan Foundations. As a Fellow, she completed a capstone project that explored learning practices in spend-down foundations and served on the Michigan Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy steering committee. Previously, she held positions at Global Detroit and the Michigan Community Service Commission, where she played a pivotal role in bringing the National Quality Mentoring System to mentoring programs across the state.

Sarah holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan’s Ford School and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Development Studies from Calvin University. In her free time, you can find her baking, exploring new places, and hiking with her dog Penny.

As an Executive Assistant at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr Foundation, Danielle Wilder-Hamilton provides invaluable support to President and CEO Dave Egner, as well as the executive team. In this dynamic and collaborative role, she excels at anticipating the team’s needs and ensuring their days run seamlessly. Working alongside two other accomplished administrative professionals, Danielle takes pride in contributing to the Foundation’s impactful work in the communities they serve.

Guided by her principle of meeting people where they are in their lives, Danielle believes in understanding and respecting the unique journeys and approaches of others. As an executive assistant, she sees her role as enhancing and bringing out the best in those she supports.

Danielle holds an associate degree in general studies from Macomb Community College and boasts decades of experience as an administrative professional. Outside of work, she finds joy in spending time with her husband, her dog Winston, her daughter, and her grandchildren. Additionally, she actively volunteers as the director for the Southeast Michigan branch of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), organizing events that focus on professional and personal development for the region’s members and helping them leverage their membership benefits. She is also a proud member of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc., a professional business sorority for African American women.