Helping Hands

TWO TEN FOOTWEAR FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS SHARE THEIR PASSION FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD.

Two Ten board members discuss the opportunities ahead.

BLAKE KRUEGER President, chairman & CEO, Wolverine World Wide Inc.

“I first heard the Two Ten story from now-retired chairman Tim O’Donovan in 1993 — the year I joined Wolverine. Often, it’s the last safety net for people in the industry, providing all the great it does on a confidential basis. In addition to the relief counseling and scholarship programs offered, WIFI has been beneficial since we must become more focused on greater diversity, equality and inclusion. Two Ten’s supporters have [also] come to realize it’s simply not enough to give back once and be done. Today, it raises a lot more dollars so the give back reach is much greater. However, commitment has to start from the very top companies. One of our collective challenges is to message and bring on board members from several of the larger companies whose employees are substantial users of Two Ten services, but do not support the organization in a meaningful way.”

BOB CAMPBELL Chairman & president, BBC International

“When I was young, I was a manager at Kinney Shoes. I’d heard that Two Ten inspired the industry to support those in need and knew I wanted to get involved. Two Ten is not only about fundraising, but about how [we] can get [involved] in its charity work. Among its initiatives are the college scholarship program and WIFI, the latter which

has been a breakthrough in our industry. We need to continue to push the mission of emergency relief to those affected by natural disasters. I’d like to see the expansion of the Associate Board for the future generation of industry leaders, my son Seth being one of them.”

DIANE SULLIVAN CEO, president & chairman, Caleres

“We say the footwear industry is a family, and it’s true. I was honored to co-found Two Ten’s WIFI in 2010 as a place for women in the industry to connect and network. The launch of the Associate Board in 2017 was another great step to broaden the foundation’s reach. The growth of the scholarship program and Footwear Cares, which puts local community outreach under one umbrella, have been key initiatives as well. And, of course, the work it’s done in responding to footwear families impacted by natural disasters is incredibly valuable. I’d like to see Two Ten be proactive in providing forums for diversity and inclusion to ensure all voices are heard and served.”

NICK PEARSON-WOOD Senior business director, Nike

“A former boss of mine at NPD Group reached out and asked if I’d be interested in joining since Two Ten was developing an Associate Board. He also talked about the push to expand awareness about Two Ten nationwide and engage brands on the West Coast [such as] Nike. Its employees are a huge beneficiary, although awareness is relatively low. There are also a lot of [industry] execs headed toward retirement that have been big dollar contributors. How do we make sure that continues, whether the next group are such supporters, or look at a model where more people are engaged and donating, but at a lower amount?”

JORI MILLER SHERER VP of business development, Minnetonka Moccasin

“A really fun dynamic of the Associate Board is that we’ve served as mentors to each other. There’s so much you can learn from your peers, and working together with Two Ten has provided great opportunities to make deeper connections. The board has focused on increasing awareness and driving engagement with the next generation. It’s important to ensure that the connection to Two Ten extends to the younger generation so the mission continues.”