People
The Edward Lowe Foundation is a national, nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurship and land stewardship. Our entrepreneurship programs, which revolve around education, recognition and research, focus narrowly on second-stage companies — those that have moved beyond the startup phase and seek significant, steady growth. Our land stewardship initiatives play out at Big Rock Valley, our 2,000-acre home in southwest Michigan, where we are committed to preserving the property’s unique biodiversity through innovative land management practices.
Dan Wyant
Chairman & President
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As chairman and president of the Edward Lowe Foundation, Dan Wyant works with the board to establish a vision and ensure that founders’ intent and the foundation’s mission are carried out. He also oversees daily operations and execution of strategy. This includes evaluation of the organization’s current entrepreneurship and land stewardship initiatives and determining new programmatic direction.
Dir. of Finance & Treasurer
Director of Administration
Div. VP of Entrepreneurship
Colleen Killen-Roberts
Divisional VP of Entrepreneurship
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In her current role she leads the entrepreneurship team in developing programs that help second-stage entrepreneurs get to the next level. These include the System for Integrated Growth, PeerSpectives® Roundtables, the American Academy of Entrepreneurs®, Leader Retreats at Big Rock Valley, Entrepreneur in Residence and Legacy Council. Killen-Roberts also cultivates appropriate partners to deliver these programs throughout the country and manages the rollout process.
Mgr of Entrepreneurial Ed.
Partner Relationship Manager
Senior Executive Specialist
Mgr Admin Services
GM of External Relations
Retreat Manager
Program Manager
Marketing Comm Mgr
Ed Lowe
Ed Lowe invented Kitty Litter in 1947. A cleaner alternative to the ashes and sand previously used in litter boxes, clay-based Kitty Litter enabled more cats to remain indoors and reshaped U.S. pet demographics, with cats outnumbering dogs. What’s more, this simple product led to the creation of an entirely new industry, and today the cat litter business generates annual U.S. sales of nearly $2 billion.
Darlene Lowe
An entrepreneur herself, Darlene established her own interior design business, Haymarket Interiors, in the late 1960s. In the 1970s, she became vice president of design and facilities planning at Edward Lowe Industries, where she managed the design and renovation of more than 80 diverse projects, including the foundation’s 2,000-acre campus, Big Rock Valley.
Don Bauters
Director of Finance and Treasurer
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Don Bauters joined Edward Lowe Industries (ELI) and the Edward Lowe Foundation in 1986. He has held a variety of financial positions and was promoted to director of finance and treasurer in 1990.
Matt James
Controller
Donna Kretchman
Accounting & Payroll
Chris Ryback
Director of IT & Heritage
Brenda Blough
Landscaper
Chris Newton
Grounds Maint Labor
Jarod Reibel
Conserv. Stewardship Land Mgr
Jay Suseland
Grounds Maint Mgr
Jon VanSchoick
Facilities Maint Mgr
Jose Ruiz
Chef
Julie Pond
Guest Services Mgr
Keith Green
Grounds Maint Labor
Ken Cox
Security Manager
Linda Boersma
HR Manager
Mark Jeleniewski
Building Maintenance
Michelle Kline
Property Mgr/Office Mgr
Owen Rice
Grounds Maint Labor
Perry Cochran
Bldg Maint Painter
Rhonda Ivens
Guest Services
Rory Phillips
Building Maint Asst Mgr
Board of Trustees (left to right): Pete Pairitz, Paul Bowles, Darlene Lowe, Monica Wyant, Jack Pycik and Dan Wyant
Entrepreneurship Team (left to right): Robin Joye, Colleen Killen-Roberts, Rita Phillips, Chris Ryback, TJ Becker, Joy Kitamori, Paul Bateson, and Dino Signore