Directors & Boards has highlighted nearly 450 significant and diverse directors since our semi-annual feature, Directors to Watch, was launched in 2006. These professionals have contributed to and will continue to expand ongoing dialogue on board best practices and corporate governance excellence.
Directors to Watch is just one aspect of Directors & Boards' ongoing efforts to drive ethnic and gender diversity on public and private boards across corporate North America.
DAPHNE E. JONES
Director, AMN Healthcare, Barnes, Masonite
Daphne E. Jones is a former Fortune 500 executive with over 30 years of experience in general management and executive-level roles at IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Hospira and General Electric. read more >
BRENDA C. FREEMAN
Director, Blue Apron LLC, Caleres, WM Technology Inc., Avnet Inc.
Brenda Freeman has driven results, staying at the forefront of shifting consumer behavioral trends and emerging technologies. She is a thought leader with tenured private and public board director service in the e-commerce, retail, supply logistics, fashion, technology and design sectors. read more >
ANTONIO FERNANDEZ
Director, Utz Brands Inc., Americold
Antonio “Tony” Fernandez is an independent director and consultant. He started his own firm, AFF Advisors LLC, which specializes in helping companies optimize their supply chains and improve operational performance. read more >
FRANCIS A. HONDAL
Director, Equitable Holdings Inc., Bath & Body Works
Francis A. Hondal is a seasoned global executive with over 30 years of experience in consumer marketing, technology, finance and international general management. She has held executive-level roles at American Express and Mastercard, leading business strategy, managing P&Ls, launching B2C & B2B products and services and developing strategic partnerships across banking, retail and travel sectors. read more >
SITA LOWMAN
Director, Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation
Sita Lowman is an accomplished executive and board member with over 30 years driving digital transformation into public companies. Lowman serves on the board of Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation and on the audit and business transformation and technology committees. She previously served on the board of One Stop Systems Inc., where she chaired the compensation committee and was a member of the audit committee. read more >
KAREN JEFFERSON MORRISON
Director, Greif, Palmer-Donavin
Karen Morrison is an independent director of Greif and Palmer-Donavin. Morrison was a director of SafeAuto Insurance and is a founding director of Adelphi Bank, chairing the governance committee. read more >
LILIANA GIL VALLETTA
Director, Zumiez, RCN Television, AUA Equity
Liliana Gil Valletta is an award-winning executive, recognized for navigating shifting market dynamics, driving growth, and pioneering data and tech innovations. read more >
CHRISTINE ORTIZ
Director, Mueller Water Products Inc., Enovis
Christine Ortiz, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized technologist, scientist, professor, entrepreneur, corporate board director and former academic executive. read more >
DIANDRA D. BENALLY
Director, Navajo Nation Oil and Gas Company
Diandra D. Benally is an independent board member and general counsel of a federally recognized Indian Nation in Arizona. Benally serves on the board of Navajo Nation Oil and Gas Company (NNOGC), a federally chartered corporation, operating an integrated oil, gas and helium company for the Navajo Nation. read more >
TANISHA V. CARINO
Director, Silk Road Medical
Tanisha Carino, Ph.D., is a director, advising organizations at the intersection of their business, regulatory and reputational goals. Her board engagement includes serving as a director to a public company, Silk Road Medical, and chair of The Alliance for Health Policy, a leading nonprofit. read more >
BEVERLY HUSS
Director, Accuray Incorporated, IRIDEX Corporation, Vicarious Surgical, Ancora Heart Inc.
Beverly Huss is a medical device entrepreneur, board director and mentor with over two decades of general management and director experience in both public and venture-backed companies. read more >
CHRISTIE CHU
Director, Hanmi Financial Corporation and Hanmi Bank
Christie Chu, CPA, is the founder of CKC Accountancy Corporation, a tax management and financial consulting firm. She has served as president and CEO of the company for 27 years. Previously, she was with KPMG, EY and Arthur Anderson. Chu holds a B.A. in business and economics from UCLA. read more >
JUNE FELIX
Director, RELX Group PLC
June Felix is a nonexecutive director for RELX Group PLC and advisory board member of the London Technology Club. She also served as a nonexecutive director on the board of IG Group and was CEO from 2018 to 2023, driving the company's evolution into a leading global fintech and doubling revenue. read more >
DEBORAH GRANT
Director, SoundThinking Inc., Daniel J. Edelman Holdings Inc.
Deborah Elam Grant is a visionary executive and expert in leadership, diversity and inclusion. She is an independent director of SoundThinking Inc., where she chairs the compensation committee and is a member of the nomn/gov committee. Grant is also an independent director at Daniel J. Edelman Holdings Inc. read more >
JOHN HALE III
Director, FSC First
John Hale III is a board member, executive leader and trusted advisor in the private and public sectors. He is a consensus builder, results-driven finance and operations C-suite executive and qualified financial expert (QFE) focused on turnaround, growth and sustainability of companies with geographically dispersed operations in the industrial, energy, government contracting and financial services sectors. Hale served as a U.S. presidential appointee in two federal senior executive positions. read more >
JANICE L. INNIS-THOMPSON
Director, MBIA Inc.
Janice Innis-Thompson is an attorney and senior executive with experience spanning government, manufacturing, financial services, technology and insurance. She currently serves on the board of MBIA, where she sits on the risk management, governance and audit committees. read more >
MIKA NISHIMURA
Director, SI-Bone Inc., Accuray Incorporated, HOYA Corporation
Mika Nishimura is a life science executive with extensive leadership experience in conceiving, planning and launching disruptive medical technologies in 50 markets across the globe. She has an exceptional track record of leading businesses from inception to scale across different clinical segments, technologies and business models. read more >
EBETUEL “BETO” PALLARES
Director, Exagen Inc.
Beto Pallares began his career as a management consultant focused primarily on the telecom and banking industries. He has also been a start-up entrepreneur, a telecom executive, a restauranteur, a nonprofit director, a venture capitalist and a professor. read more >
MICHELLE L. TAYLOR
Director, Griffon Corporation Inc.
Michelle L. Taylor is a global supply chain executive with over 25 years of experience across manufacturing, distribution, business transformation and strategic sourcing for companies such as Trane Technologies, Cummins Inc., Ford Motor Company and Delco Remy International. read more >
GLENN VOTEK
Director, Annaly Capital Management Inc.
Glenn Votek is a board member and former C-suite executive of Annaly Capital Management Inc. He serves on the risk and corporate responsibility committees. read more >
GIOIA MESSINGER
Director, Guild Holdings, One Stop Systems Inc.
Gioia Messinger is a senior technology executive and experienced public and private corporate board director. She brings a diverse perspective as a thought leader and strategic visionary with deep technology, innovation, consumer marketing, manufacturing, M&A and digital transformation skills. read more >
KEVIN A. PRICE SR.
Director, Paychex Inc.
Kevin A. Price Sr. serves on the audit, nominating and ESG committees of Paychex Inc. He is an emeritus board member of Link Unlimited Scholars and served on two accredited business school advisory boards. read more >