Whitney BandemerWhitney 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. 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. |
Chairperson
Chair of Governance Committee |
Brian EmerickBrian 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
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Gary GatmanGary Gatman is a trustee for the Don Wood Foundation and, with his wife, is also the owner of Room-2-Room. Previously, he served as the Executive Director of the Noble County Economic Development Corporation from February 2020 until October 2022 and had served on the Board of Directors for several years before taking the leadership role.
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 HaifleyBeing 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 HarmanAshley 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. Ashley can usually be found spending time with her husband (Phil), daughter, and dog or volunteering at church. |
Trustee
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Kristin MarcuccilliKristin Marcuccilli serves as President, STAR Financial Group, the parent company to STAR Financial Bank. She previously held the title of Chief Operating Officer for the Bank and supported the company in that capacity for nearly ten years.
Marcuccilli is involved in numerous community organizations, serving as a board member for the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Technology & Innovation Association and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, where she also serves as vice chair of the Entrepreneurship Committee. Additionally, she is a member of the Indiana Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and serves on the University of Notre Dame’s IDEA Center Advisory Council, supporting their work in entrepreneurship and innovation. Kristin earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Indiana University. In 2022, Marcuccilli was named one of the Indianapolis Business Journal’s inaugural Indiana 250, recognizing the state’s most influential and impactful business and community leaders. She is a lifelong resident of Indiana, currently residing in Fort Wayne. |
Trustee |
Rod StrackRod is the Executive Sales Manager at 80/20 LLC, with responsibility for managing the distribution sales channel. He has over 26 years with the company and has managed several divisions, including technical services, marketing, customer service, and sales. Because of his tenure, he had the pleasure of collaborating with Don and other members of the Wood family as 80/20 grew from a start-up to the industry leader it is today.
Rod is very excited and honored to serve as a trustee of the Don Wood Foundation. He sees it as an opportunity to give back and carry-on Don's legacy by creating community impact through the good work of the foundation. Don’s story is indeed the American Dream. His dedication, commitment, and ability to inspire others were truly unique. Rod grew up in Columbia City, Indiana, attended Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, and holds a Certificate in Innovative Distribution from Purdue University. He gives back to the community as a member of the Knights of Columbus and as a religious education teacher at his church. In his spare time, he enjoys working on the family farm and spending quality time with his wife, Gina and their two children. |
Trustee |
Retired Board Members:
John Wood
John Wood
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