Chautauqua Institution welcomed five new trustees during the August Board of Trustees meeting. Each brings a unique perspective and a wealth of experience in areas that are vital to the Institution — including philanthropy, finance, education, marketing and organizational development. 

Among the new appointees is Ronn Richard, recently retired CEO of the Cleveland Foundation, where he led transformative growth over two decades. Under his leadership, annual philanthropic giving increased tenfold, from $14 million to more than $145 million and endowed funds more than doubled to $3.2 billion.  

Richard’s strategic relocation of the Foundation’s headquarters to Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood catalyzed economic revitalization and inspired other organizations to follow suit. He previously served on the board of Spelman College and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals and various other non-profit organizations and for-profit corporations. 

Lisa Turbessi, a former executive at Bank of America, has enjoyed a multifaceted, multi-decade career in Financial Services working in both London, UK and the US.  She brings extensive expertise in audit, compliance and risk management. While at Bank of America, she played a pivotal role in shaping the bank’s response to post-financial crisis regulations.   

For the past 10 years, Turbessi has worked as a consultant focusing primarily on Financial Crimes, business strategy, policy, risk management, and governance.  Turbessi was raised in Warren, PA. 

Mamie Kanfer Stewart is an executive coach and founder of Meeteor, a firm dedicated to building high-performing teams through better meeting practices. She is the author of Momentum: Creating Effective, Engaging and Enjoyable Meetings and host of The Modern Manager podcast.  

Stewart also has a background in nonprofit consulting and strategic planning. 

Sherry Sanger, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Strategist at Penske Transportation, oversees innovation and growth initiatives for the $13 billion enterprise. Her work includes incubating emerging technologies, launching new revenue streams, public relations and crisis communication. Sanger holds two master’s degrees and a doctorate, with research focused on leadership openness to new ideas.   

For the past ten years, Sanger has served as an adjunct professor in the doctoral program in the management school at Case Western Reserve University, while also serving as a board member for two start-up companies.  

Howard Teibel, founder and president of Teibel Education Consulting, has spent more than 35 years transforming how colleges and universities approach leadership, culture, and financial strategy.  A dynamic keynote speaker and host of the Navigating Change podcast, he brings a national reputation for fostering collaboration across faculty, administration, and boards. Teibel has also contributed to higher education reform through his writing and consulting, and he has previously served as a strategic advisor to the Chautauqua Board of Trustees and Institution leaders. 

In addition to the new appointments, Rick Evans was re-elected to a second four-year term as a Class B Trustee. Veronica Biggins and Paul Hagman were also re-elected. 

With these new trustees joining the board and the continued leadership of returning members, Chautauqua is in a strong position to move forward.  Their experience and deep connections to the community and culture will help shape the next chapter of the Institution’s story.  The terms were effective October 1, 2025.