​Whitney Bandemer

Whitney Bandemer is the principal at WB Consulting, LLC based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Whitney specializes in human capital and learning and development strategy and project management. Prior to founding her own business, she spent 15 years as executive in higher education in Virginia and Indiana.  

A native of Grundy, Va., she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from University of Virginia and her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from University of Tennessee College of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Virginia, Tennessee, and the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. Additionally, she holds a certificate in fundraising management from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and a certificate in public relations from the University of Virginia School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
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Actively engaged in the community, Bandemer serves on various non-profit boards and committees in Allen County, including the Embassy Theatre, Fort Wayne Zoological Society, AWS Foundation, and Canterbury School Community Advisory Board. She is also a 2014 graduate of Leadership Fort Wayne.
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Chairperson
Chair of Governance Committee

Brian Emerick

Brian Emerick, Founder and CEO of Micropulse Inc, serves as a trustee for the Don Wood Foundation. He also sits on the board for several other organizations including, but not limited to: Parkview Health System, Huntington University, Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, Ortho-Vation Center, and AgriNovis.

He is also a co-founder and partner in Restoration Medical Polymers, LLC, Nanovis, LLC and a member of the Regional Opportunities Council. Driven by his desire to pour back into the community he was born and raised in, Brian is passionate about providing opportunities for people to acquire training, increasing the quality of life in Northeast Indiana, and growing local businesses.

Brian knew Don Wood as a fellow business owner and is honored to be a part of the team that gets to carry out Don’s vision of impacting this region and building up the industrial workforce.

​Outside of his professional and volunteer work, Brian enjoys outdoor activities including watersports, travel, farming, and spending time with his family and grandchildren.

Board Secretary

Gary Gatman

Gary Gatman is a trustee for the Don Wood Foundation and, with his wife, is also the owner of Room-2-Room. Gary also serves at the Executive Director of the Noble County Economic Development Corporation.

Gary has vast experience in Northeast Indiana’s workforce and leadership development systems through his roles in multiple organizations including, but not limited to: Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for Northeast Indiana Works, board member of Noble County EDC, regional facilitator for Career and Technical Education programming, leadership for the Northeast Indiana Adult Education Consortium, facilitating workforce development support of the Northeast Indiana Big Goal Collaborative, and more.

From a young age, Gary was instilled with the mission of lifting others up and as a result, has a heart for the people of Northeast Indiana. He is excited to be a part of the mission of the Don Wood Foundation because it embodies all of his hopes for this region.

​In his free time, he focuses on family and his grandchildren and never misses a Cubs game.

Trustee
Chair of Grant Committee 

John Haifley

Being a third generation machinist, influenced with strong German values in manufacturing, John Haifley has been in Tool & Die and agri-business for 42 years.

Driven to build, design and create, his work is a hobby. Along with manufacturing, John and his wife own an Agricultural Land Company that help family farms create a proper business model and become successful stewards of the ground. Church, travel and passion for Agronomics occupies John in his spare time.

​Given a chance as a member of Don Wood BOT, John looks forward in helping others to have enthusiasm in the mission of the foundation.

Trustee
Chair of Finance and Investment Committee

Ashley Harman

Ashley Harman works as an IT Project Manager at Vera Bradley. Raised by parents who both worked in the manufacturing and agricultural industries, she started her career at 80/20 Inc., where she had the opportunity to work with Don Wood and John Wood, Founders. In the initial days of the Don Wood Foundation, Ashley was contracted to support the marketing, organization, and strategic planning efforts.

Ashley is honored to return to the Don Wood Foundation as a trustee. She desires to connect people, especially young women, to their potential through career paths they may not be aware of. She looks forward to being a part of making these connections possible through the good work of the Foundation and believes that lives are being changed because of it.
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Ashley can usually be found spending time with her husband (Phil), daughter, and dog or volunteering at church.

Trustee

Retired Board Members:
John Wood

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