WEST CATHOLIC PREP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Board of Directors
- CEO of Nielsen - Kellerman
ALIX JAMES is an experienced CEO with a demonstrated history of successful leadership in the electronics manufacturing and ecommerce industries. Alix is skilled in setting the strategy, building the team and creating the processes to scale companies and brands across the breadth of 21st Century products, markets, channels and regions. Alix is particularly passionate about creating hard-to-imitate smart connected product categories that yield intense brand loyalty and are sold direct to niche end-user segments. Alix is also known for creating a corporate culture that inspires team members to care, grow and drive innovation.
Alix is the CEO of Nielsen-Kellerman, a private-equity backed group of companies and brands in the sports performance, weather and environmental markets. Alix's career at NK has provided her with broad experience in scaling an organization from a basement business with a handful of employees to a multi-site, multi-brand, global player with ten times the revenue and employees. Alix has led NK through its transition from founder ownership and two rounds of private- equity investment and has also led NK's acquisition strategy. NK has been regionally recognized as both an exemplary US lean manufacturer and a top workplace, and each of its brands -- Kestrel® Instruments, Kestrel Ballistics®, MagnetoSpeed®, NK Sports®, Ambient® Weather and RainWise® -- are regarded as leaders in their category.
Prior to joining NK, Alix practiced law as a civil litigator in California for three years. Alix is presently serving on the boards of the Philadelphia Association for Corporate Growth, the Delaware Valley Combined Training Assoc. and the Wilmington Rowing Center as well as on the advisory board of AWE Tuning, Inc. Alix actively trains and competes in both rowing and the equestrian sport of dressage.
Alix received her bachelor's degree from Yale University, where she was a four-year member of the Yale Women's Crew and Sprints and Ivy League Champions, and her JD from the University of Pennsylvania. Alix was previously admitted to the bar in California and Washington. Alix is married with two adult children and a rotating cast of horses, dogs and cats, and resides in the greater Philadelphia area.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- PARTNER
Following his graduation from West Catholic, Fran attended the University of Pennsylvania where he received his degree in Political Science. Upon graduation, Fran attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Fran joined Blank Rome in Philadelphia PA in 1984, and has been there for 34 years.. Fran has previously served as President of the West Catholic Alumni Association and served as a coach for more than 20 years. Fran resides in Drexel Hill PA with his wife Nancy ('78) and has three children who are all alumni of West Catholic - Matt('10), Terry ('05) and Caitlin ('03).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Assistant Principal of Student Life
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Board of Directors
Tom has more than 10 years of experience in corporate finance. He is currently Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis at Hamilton Lane, a global investment manager focused on private markets. In this role, he helped lead the company's 2017 IPO and transition to a public company.
Job Titles:
- Executive
- Member of the Board of Directors
Ivory Allison is a dual sector executive with deep influence in the arts, health & research industries, and partnership cultivation. Born, raised, educated, and serving in Philadelphia, PA. For more than 20 years Ivory has delivered measurable impact nationally. She is currently the National Director of Community Impact with the American Liver Foundation (ALF) and prior to her appointment to the national team, Ivory created three (3) national programs for the organization during her decade of service as the Mid-Atlantic region's Executive Director. In her current role Ivory develops innovative national partnerships that increases the awareness, research, and accessibility to care for those fighting liver related diseases and ailments and leads the organization's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
Prior to joining ALF in 2010, Ivory was Vice-President of Programming and Production for ‘Welcome America!' Ivory led the production and programming for the nation's premiere and largest Independence festival; a team of more than 200 staff, consultants, and volunteers; and a programming budget of more than $3MM. Ivory is also a veteran concert producer and has booked and produced live, televised concerts featuring artists like John Legend, Fantasia, Patti LaBelle, Hall & Oates, Lionel Richie, Chaka Khan, and Jill Scott for audiences of more than 10,000 people. During her time with ‘Welcome America!' Ivory also created the nationally replicated and trademarked ‘Go 4th & Learn!' literacy program for children and families.
Ivory's career began as a special events producer, managing production and partnership development for highly visible events like Philadelphia's Annual Mayoral City Ball; Philadelphia's Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony; Philadelphia's Holiday Festival, and the Philadelphia Marathon. She has also represented the City of Philadelphia at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards and in Athens, Greece for the International Festival and Events Association.
Ivory's accomplishments are highly lauded as noted by her 8 features in the Philadelphia Tribune's Most Influential Philadelphian's issue and listing as one of their 10 under 40 to Watch, as well as her being named a Woman of Distinction by the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Moreover, Ivory has a deep belief in volunteerism and has made time to offer her time, talent, and support to organizations such as the YMCA Y-Achievers, Girls Inc. of Southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and the Philadelphia International Bike Race. Ivory is also the President of the Board of Directors for Philadanco! (The acclaimed Philadelphia Dance Company), where she leads the 50-year organization's strategic vision, direction, and planning. Ivory holds membership with the Pennsylvania Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Arts & Business Council of Philadelphia, Business Volunteers for the Arts, and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women's Pennsylvania Chapter. She has been the co-chair of the West Catholic Night at the Phillies for the last 5 years to support her alma mater.
Ivory earned her bachelor's degree in Sociology from Saint Joseph's University with international residency and study in Australia (Sydney and Melbourne, proper). She currently resides in Philadelphia where she enjoys renovating her home and finding new spas nearby.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Institutional Advancement Committee Chair / PRESIDENT & CEO, THERM - OMEGA - TECH, INC
Jim is the President & CEO of Therm-Omega-Tech, Inc., a company he purchased from the estate of Frederick L. Pirkle in August 2012. Prior to Therm-Omega-Tech, Jim served as Principal of Innovative Capital Partners, LLC("ICP"). ICP was an investment banking firm specializing in debt restructuring, family business succession and turnaround management for privately held companies. Jim is a graduate of Villanova University and began his career as a CPA with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Governance and Nominating Committee Chair
Jeanie Heffernan leads the People Strategy for the Independence Blue Cross Family of companies. In this role, she helps the organization to build a culture of People with Purpose and ensuring that the company is fully engaging their talent and have the right organizational structure in place to effectively execute their business strategy and meet their goals. Jeanie joined Independence in 2011 with 25 years of experience in multiple business sectors. Jeanie has been active in the Non-Profit arena over the course of her career and has served on the Boards of the Peoples Emergency Center, The Veteran's Group. She currently serves on the board of Graduate Philadelphia.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Principal of Academic Affairs
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Financial Support Committee Chair
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- PRESIDENT - WEST CATHOLIC ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION
Pat is a 1961 graduate of West Girls' and attended St. Joseph's University after graduating. Pat retired from Bell Atlantic (now Verizon) in 1998 where she worked for 36 years and held several management positons in the Marketing Department. She joined the Alumnae Association Board in 2009 and served as president for over 6 years. Pat is also Vice President of the Ruth Newman Shapiro Cancer and Heart Fund in Margate, NJ. Pat volunteers for their fund-raising events and is a co-chair of the major annual fund raiser. She resides in Margate, NJ.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Father Anthony was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 2000, at age 40. After several pastoral appointments in the Philadelphia area, he answered the call to join the Josephites (formally known as St. Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart). The Josephite Fathers are committed to serving the African American community through the proclamation of the Gospel and our personal witness. He is a member of the West Catholic Prep Hall of Fame and a past recipient of the Br. Lumley, FSC award. Father Anthony is currently the pastor of the Church of the Transfiguration in Los Angeles, California.
Job Titles:
- Director of Institutional Advancement
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Finance and Facilities Committee Chair