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GERRY A. SHEAR, PRESIDENT Gerry A. Shear, President of the Foundation Board, is a 1992 graduate of Western and the Managing Principal of GSA Management. Gerry holds a BS (Business Administration) from Western, an MBA from University of Nevada Las Vegas and the CCIM designation. In his free time he enjoys hiking, skiing and travel with his wife, Jenny, and is an avid sports car racer.
ROBERT WRIGHT, VICE PRESIDENT Robert Wright, a 2000 graduate of Western, serves as Vice President of the Foundation Board. Rob is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bungalow Clothing, a disruptive, online clothing retailer. Before Bungalow, Rob served as Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of ReachLocal, Inc. (Nasdaq: RLOC). Prior to ReachLocal, Rob served as Director of Business Development for WorldWinner, Inc., where he was responsible for offering WorldWinner’s tournament platform to the Internet’s leading game portals, including Pogo.com, Games.Yahoo.com, Gamesville. Lycos.com, and Shockwave.com. Prior to WorldWinner, Rob was Director of Business Development for LineUp Technologies, a streaming media syndication company. Rob lives in Agoura Hills, California, with his wife, Wendy, and daughter, Ella.
MAXINE PIERCE, SECRETARY Maxine Pierce, currently serving as Secretary of the Western State Foundation Board of Directors, attended Western from 1970-1974 studying Business and Accounting. After graduating in 1974 she went to work in banking, working in the Bookkeeping Department, the Computer Department, and ending her full-time banking career as Auditor. After furthering her education she did consulting work for the bank and also worked at various businesses for friends that needed temporary/parttime help. Volunteering as a tutor with the local literacy program was a favorite project during this time. Since her husband, David, retired they have spent time traveling, pursuing their hobbies. He races vintage motorcycles in a national series. She trains and trials her Border Collie, Cooper, in agility. They have also established and are Co-Directors of the Topper Foundation.
HENRY “HANK” D. WINDMOELLER, TREASURER Henry “Hank” D. Windmoeller, a 1973 graduate of Western, serves as Treasurer of the Foundation Board. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Sills Cummis & Gross, PC. He was previously the Chief Operating Officer of Connolly Gallagher, LLP, a law firm located in Wilmington, Delaware. Hank’s experience includes 15 years as Chief Financial Officer and seven years as Chief Operating Officer in the legal services industry in the Washington, DC, and Philadelphia metropolitan areas. Prior to the legal services industry, Hank spent six years in homebuilding and eight years in public accounting with Arthur Andersen. Hank is a certified public accountant and holds a Master’s degree in Accountancy and Business Administration from the University of Denver Daniels School of Business and completed the Executive Development Program at Georgetown University.
PETER BIRKHOLZ graduated from Sam Houston State University with a BBA in 1975 and an MBA in 1976. For 25 years, Peter was a sports promoter, television announcer and television producer. After selling his sports franchise, Peter taught Marketing and Management courses for three years at the University of Houston at Clear Lake, and then taught for another 10 years at Sam Houston State University. He also served on the first Sam Houston State University Alumni Board, the Rotary Club of Huntsville and the Board of Trustees for the Boys and Girls Club of Houston. Currently, Peter is the managing partner of the Sam Houston Group, LP, which is a real estate partnership that owns commercial property in Huntsville, Texas. Peter has a home on the Taylor River in Almont, Colorado, and also resides in Huntsville. Peter and his wife, Kaye, have five boys and five grandchildren. He enjoys writing and has just published his first book, When Wrestling Was Rasslin’. TERRY BRACE received his BA degree from Western in 1974 with majors in History and Political Science, and his MA degree from Western in 1978, as well as earning his Doctoral degree from California Coast University. He was Superintendent for three school districts in California, and he served as a principal, counselor, teacher, and coach before then. He was selected to be a member of the National Center for Educational Research and Technology, a prestigious national group of superintendents; was a founding member of the Merced Anti-Violence (Gang) Task Force; and served on the California State University Stanislaus Education Doctoral Board, Merced College President’s Circle, and the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Board of Control. Terry has also made presentations at national and regional conferences on improving student achievement, strategic planning, strategic/organizational leadership, and time management. Terry is an active cyclist, hiker, skier, and kayaker. He is currently President and CEO of Brace Leadership Associates, LLC. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Mary (’74).
THE BOARD
OFFICERS OF THE BOARD
TRAVIS BERRY, a 1992 graduate of Western, founded Politicalworks in 2002 and has been involved in lobbying and state and national politics since 1990. Prior to starting Politicalworks he served as Deputy Legislative Director for Governor Roy Romer from 1994-97. In this capacity he helped develop and implement the Governor’s legislative agenda. During his tenure he forged strong relationships with members of both sides of the aisle and successfully lobbied on a full range of public policy issues. Travis has held senior positions with numerous statewide campaigns and remains highly active in state and national politics. He has served as Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee and as Vice President of the Dutko Group, a Washington, DC lobbying firm. This diverse set of experiences and long history in lobbying and politics has provided Travis with the skills, knowledge and relationships to represent clients effectively before the state legislature and administrative agencies. Travis has forged strong bipartisan ties in the legislature and has a reputation as a talented and principled advocate for his clients.