The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center announced today that Bruce S. Gordon, the former CEO of the NAACP, and Peter D. Kaufman, a prominent California business executive, have joined the Center’s Board of Directors.
“We are delighted that Mr. Gordon and Mr. Kaufman have agreed to join the Freedom Center Board,” said Rev. Damon Lynch, Co-Chair of the Freedom Center Board. “We value the business perspective of each of these leaders who will strengthen an already distinguished board that contributes to the Center’s direction.
Gordon began his professional career at Bell of Pennsylvania. He rose in corporate management to become the Head of the Retail Markets Division of Verizon prior to his retirement in December 2003. Mr. Gordon served as President and CEO of the NAACP from June 2005 to March 2007. He is a trustee of the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation and is on the boards of Southern Company and Tyco International Ltd. Gordon graduated from Gettysburg College in 1968 and holds an MBA from the Sloan School of Management at M.I.T.
The American Advertising Federation inducted Gordon into the Advertising Hall of Fame, the industry’s most prestigious honor, in March 2007. Ebony magazine named Gordon one of its “100 Most Influential Black Americans and Organization Leaders” in May 2006. He was ranked sixth on Fortune magazine’s list of the “50 Most Powerful Black Executives” in July 2002. Black Enterprise magazine named him executive of the year in 1998.
Kaufman is Chairman and CEO of Glenair, Inc. in Glendale, California, a manufacturer of electrical and fiber optic components and assemblies for aerospace. Mr. Kaufman began working for Glenair while in college, filling many positions until becoming Chairman and CEO. He received a B.S. degree in Accounting in 1976 and a M.B.A. degree in 1977, both from the University of Southern California.
Mr. Kaufman is currently Chair of the Board of Overseers of The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Cathedral of our Lady of Angels in Los Angeles. He serves on the boards of Wesco Financial Corporation and Daily Journal Corporation. Mr. Kaufman has also served as a trustee or advisor to several non-profit and educational organizations throughout Southern California including Holy Family Church and School, Pacific Oaks College, Mayfield Junior and Senior, Marlborough, Polytechnic and Chandler schools.
About the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Situated in Cincinnati, Ohio, just south of downtown, on the banks of the Ohio River, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center celebrates the legacy of courage and multicultural cooperation embodied in the story of the Underground Railroad. The Freedom Center offers interactive permanent and changing exhibits, special programs, and a strong speaker series in an effort to educate the public and visitors about the historic and the continuing struggle for freedom in the U.S. and around the world. For additional information, call 513.333.7500 or visit www.freedomcenter.org .
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Tags: board of directors
Posted on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 at 9:00 am in Press Releases.
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