CHICAGO – January 12, 2024 – Window To The World Communications, Inc. (WWCI), parent organization of WTTW and WFMT, announced the election of five new members of its Board of Trustees, each to three-year terms.
“We look forward to welcoming these talented and diverse professionals to our organization,” said WTTW and WFMT President & CEO Sandra Cordova Micek. “Each newly elected Trustee will bring a unique perspective and set of rich and varied experiences to bear as we work together to advance our purpose to enrich lives, engage audiences, and inspire exploration.”
John (Jack) M. Brennan is a luxury residential broker with @Properties Christie’s International Real Estate, with offices in both Hinsdale and Chicago. Prior to @Properties, Jack was affiliated with Compass. In 2023, Jack’s team was ranked by RealTrends The Thousand, as the 22nd team in the state of Illinois (based on closed volume for large teams). He brings extensive real estate and investment knowledge to the WTTW and WFMT Board of Trustees. His other current boards include The Community House in Hinsdale as well as the Rush University Medical Center Associate Board.
Karen B. Case is a Vice Chair at CIBC Bank USA, having previously held management positions at The PrivateBank, LaSalle Bank, Marine Midland Bank, and The First National Bank of Chicago. In early 2023, Karen received the ULI Chicago Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions to real estate, civic, charitable, and philanthropic endeavors. She has twice been recognized by Today’s Chicago Woman as one of Chicago’s “100 Women Making a Difference,” and Crain’s Chicago Business named Karen to its “Women to Watch,” “Power Players in Corporate Philanthropy,” and “Next Generation of Chicago Philanthropists” lists. She has also received the Thanks Badge, the highest honor bestowed by Girl Scouts of the USA. In addition to WTTW and WFMT, Karen’s current boards include the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Illinois Chapter, Rush University Medical Center, The Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation, and the International Council of Shopping Centers Foundation.
J. Brandon Neal is Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Walgreens Boots Alliance. He previously held similar legal leadership positions at Novant Health (Charlotte, N.C.) and Wells Fargo & Co. Prior to Wells Fargo, Brandon practiced as a corporate associate for the law firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (New York). Brandon’s other current boards include the National Urban League, Duke University Alumni Association, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art where he founded the Bechtler Young Visionaries. He’s also previously served on the boards for the Urban Libraries Council, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (Vice Chair), Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Foundation, and the Duke Law Alumni (Chair).
Kristina Van Liew is a Managing Director and leads the Graystone Consulting | SVLO Chicago Group, representing one of Morgan Stanley’s largest mission-aligned institutional and private wealth advisory practices. Kristina serves in several leadership roles at Morgan Stanley, including the Graystone Foundation Board and past Chair of the Graystone Consulting Advisory Board. Previously, she held senior positions at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch and The Northern Trust Company. Kristina has been recognized by Forbes as a Top Wealth Management Team 2023 and Barron’s on their Top 100 Women and Top Institutional Consultants lists for the past decade. Kristina was named by Morgan Stanley to the 2017 MAKERS List, a women’s leadership platform honoring groundbreaking women. In addition to WTTW and WFMT, she serves on the Finance Council for the Diocese of Joliet and is a Life Director and Past Board Chair for Executive Service Corps of Chicago. Past Boards include Aurora Civic Authority and iMentor Chicago.
Anthony F. Woodside, Jr. brings deep finance and investment experience as the Head of Fixed Income Strategy at investment firm Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. Prior to this, he served as a Senior Portfolio Manager in Global Fixed Income (Senior Vice President) at Neuberger Berman. Anthony started his career as an analyst and Trader at Lehman Brothers. He is a CFA charterholder and he has also been awarded the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation.
“This impressive group of individuals will bring valued experience, expertise, and enthusiasm to WTTW and WFMT as we chart a course for the future,” said Board chair David Blowers. “We are pleased to welcome them, along with the institutions they represent, to the Board of Trustees.”
Window To The World Communications, Inc. is the parent organization of WTTW and WFMT. WTTW is the PBS member station in Chicago, committed to creating and presenting unique media content across distinct television and digital channels – WTTW, WTTW Prime, WTTW Create, WTTW World, WTTW PBS Kids 24/7, wttw.com, and the PBS/WTTW video app. Recognized for award-winning journalism and local productions – such as Chicago Tonight, Black and Latino Voices, Chicago Stories, Firsthand, and The Most Beautiful Places in Chicago with Geoffrey Baer – WTTW presents the very best in public affairs, arts and culture, nature and science, history and documentary, and children’s public media content. WFMT is one of the world’s most respected classical music radio stations, accessible across broadcast and digital platforms on 98.7FM, wfmt.com, and the WFMT app. Recognized for trusted hosted programming, immersive live performances and concerts, WFMT spotlights inspiring music, musicians, and musical performances from Chicago and around the world.