2016 WLP Fall Symposium Program

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Gail Nieman Auerbach
Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Masonite
Gail Auerbach is the senior vice president of human resources for Masonite International, a $1.9
billion manufacturer employing more than 10,000 employees in 65 locations around the world. She
has over 30 years of experience in both domestic and international companies including 10 years
with General Electric. During her tenure she has helped lead Masonite through a significant
amount of change including successfully taking the company public on the NYSE in 2013. In
addition to her global HR responsibilities, Gail supports the board’s HR and Compensation
Committee. She earned her B.S. at Illinois State University and MBA from Emory University. In
addition to her HR leadership experience, Gail has managed global development programs. She is a
trained executive coach and is a certified instructor for DDI -Interaction Management, Career
Architect, Benchmarks 360° Feedback, and Coaching for Success. Gail has contributed to a
number of publications including Business to Business magazine, and the McGraw-Hill book How
To Choose The Right Person for the Right Job Every Time. She is a native of Chicago and resides in
Tampa, Florida with her family.
Alex Sink
Former Chief Financial Officer, State of Florida
Alex Sink served as Florida’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) from 2007 to 2011 as one of four
statewide elected officials. She was responsible for the state’s treasury and accounting functions,
served as a trustee for the state pension fund, and directed the insurance consumer advocacy
work in addition to serving as chair of Florida Healthy Kids (S Chip program) among many other
responsibilities. Prior to being elected to office, Alex had a 26-year career at Bank of America,
where she was Florida president from 1993 to 2000 when she retired. Sink’s previous corporate
public board service includes Sykes Corporation, First Advantage Corporation, Raymond James
Financial, Republic Bank and C1Bank. She currently serves on the board of Verger Capital, a private
manager of endowment funds. Her extensive nonprofit service includes serving as past board
chair of United Way Suncoast, Leadership Florida, Take Stock in Children, Hillsborough Education
Foundation and The Nature Conservancy (Florida chapter). Alex currently serves on the board of
Tampa Wave, Florida Funders, United Way Worldwide Advisory Board, Junior Achievement and
Wake Forest University where she chairs the Audit Committee.
Jennifer Steans
President and CEO, Financial Investments Corporation
Jennifer W. Steans is the president and CEO of Financial Investments Corporation (FIC), where
she oversees private equity investments and the Steans Family Office operations. Steans’
business affiliations include service as a chairman of USAmeriBancorp, Inc., a privately held Tampa
Bay area middle market bank. She is also a director of MB Financial, MCS Holdings, LLC, Provest
Holdings, LLC, Centerline Solutions, Catastrophe Solutions International and Chicago Deferred
Exchange Corp. In addition, she serves on the Advisory Board for Carlyle Asia Growth Partners
III, LP, Laramar Multi-Family Value Fund, Resource Land Fund, Siena Capital Partners, and is a
member of The Commercial Club of Chicago. Steans also actively helps lead a number of nonprofit
entities, including serving as past chair of Leadership Greater Chicago. She currently serves as
vice chairman and treasurer of Ravinia Festival and trustee of the Chicago Foundation for Women,
The Steans Family Foundation, The Phoenix Pact, RUSH University Medical Center, Navy Pier and
YWCA of Evanston/North Shore. Steans received a B.S. from Davidson College and an MBA from
The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She was named as one of American
Banker’s 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance for 2013.
11 TH ANNUAL WLP FALL SYMPOSIUM • USF.EDU/WLP 23