Driving Sustainability and Growth with ESG-Focused Board Strategy

Overview

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Panelists

Sue Buchanan Corporate Board Director

Sue is an Independent Corporate Board Director and C-Suite executive with more than 30 years of experience guiding organizations through capital restructurings, acquisitions, divestitures, strategic planning, leadership development and risk management (ERM and ESG).

Sue brings broad expertise as a strong strategic and financial business partner in multinational private family-owned and large public and private equity owned companies across a variety of industries including manufacturing, chemical and transportation asset leasing.

Sue is currently serving on the Board of Directors of three private family-owned companies and one non-profit organization. She is a member of the Private Directors Association and the Chicago Finance Exchange. Sue holds an MBA from Northern Illinois University and a BS in Finance from Elmhurst University.

Elizabeth Sloan Managing Director Grant Thornton

Elizabeth Sloan is a managing director in Grant Thornton’s ESG & Sustainability services practice in the firm’s Chicago office. Elizabeth focuses on pre-assurance and sustainability attestation engagements. Elizabeth spent four years with Grant Thornton International Ltd., where she collaborated with assurance leadership from throughout the entire global network to increase worldwide consistency and cohesiveness throughout the assurance service line. She led a global team responsible for the interpretation, incorporation, and implementation of international and US auditing and attestation standards as well as international regulations and other requirements. Prior to this time, Elizabeth worked in the firm’s National Professional Standards Group, specializing in audit and attestation standards, methodology, and learning as well as the firm’s audit practice, auditing both public and private entities. Elizabeth earned a BS and Masters in Accountancy from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She holds an active Illinois CPA license. Elizabeth is also a proud Director of the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois and serves as the audit committee chair. 

Steven Ryan Senior Vice President and Business Development Officer Greatbanc Trust Company

Steve is the Senior Vice President in the Client Services Group at Greatbanc Trust Company, focusing on managing client relationships and ESOP transactions. He has acted as a trusted advisor to many privately-held companies to assist them in growth initiatives, business transitions and liquidity events. He has over 25 years of new business and capital raising experience with clients throughout the country. Prior to joining Greatbanc, Steve led commercial banking teams and worked in investment banking. Steve frequently presents publicly on a variety of topics including board governance, ownership transition alternatives, financing ESOPs & capital allocation in a wide variety of venues. Steve is a Board Member on S7 an ESOP Company located in Idaho (Audit & Compensation Chair) & the Missouri Center for Employee Ownership (Treasurer). He also Chairs the National ESOP Committee for the Private Directors Association. In addition, he is a Board member of the Indian Boundary Y.M.C.A & former board member of the Snow City Arts organization where he served as a treasurer. Steve holds a Master of Business Administration with a focus on International Business from DePaul University in Chicago and a BBA in Finance from the University of Iowa.

Moderator

Elaine S Vorberg, Attorney at Law Partner McCarthy Duffy LLP

Elaine is a trusted business advisor and attorney, with 25 years’ experience delivering practical guidance to middle-market businesses, through growth and transition. She is a Partner with McCarthy Duffy LLP, in Chicago and leads the firm’s Private Investment practice, guiding clients on a wide range of matters, including enterprise funding and structuring, risk mitigation and corporate governance. Elaine is an active member of PDA, currently serving as its Corporate Secrtary and volunteering as a member of the Chicago Chapter Programming Committee and as Co-Chair of the Chicago Chapter Nomination and Governance Committee. Elaine earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Purdue University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law. She is licensed in Illinois and Florida and has been admitted to practice in several federal and state courts throughout the country.

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