About the Foundation

Christine Freyermuth, Treasurer

Christine is a Health Industries Risk Assurance partner based in Boston and brings boundless energy and passion to her role as Lead Engagement Partner serving prestigious clients across the entire healthcare, higher education and life science continuum. Her 26 years of experience has allowed her to develop knowledge and experience that extends across a broad range of clients, including academic medical centers, acute care hospitals, children’s hospitals, long-term care organizations, physician practices, health plans, college, universities, foundations and other not-for-profit organizations. She is energized by the missions of the organizations that she serves and is driven by collaborating around a common goal to make a positive impact on advancements in health, education and well-being.

Christine has demonstrated her commitment to help others by actively giving back to the communities that she serves through board positions and volunteer roles at several not-for-profit organizations, including, but not limited to, Make a Wish, Raising A Reader Massachusetts, and Dedham Country Day School.

Stacey Empson, Secretary

Stacey is a Chicago-based PwC Health Industries Advisory (HIA) principal and serves as Global Engagement Partner for several of the firm's large health system and academic medical center clients. She has also served as the HIA Diversity & Inclusion Leader and Management Consulting Leader. Before joining PwC as a direct admit principal in 2014, Stacey’s leadership roles spanned global professional services firms, entrepreneurial ventures and Fortune 100 technology companies. Stacey is passionate about giving back and has served on many national and local Chicago healthcare, education and humanitarian boards. In 2020, she was appointed to PwC's Charitable Foundation Board. Stacey earned a Juris Doctorate and Masters in Healthcare Administration, has participated in Harvard Business School Executive Education, and was named a Woman of Influence by the Chicago Business Journal.

Elizabeth Diep, People Who Care Fund Chair

Liz is a PwC LLP partner in the Asset and Wealth Management practice in New York, specializing in Alternative Investments. She is a recognized leader with a 19-year track record serving many of the firm’s most complex alternative investment clients. Liz serves as the assurance recruiting champion for New York University, Co-chair of PwC’s Latino Inclusion Network, and as a Market Team Leader for the Asset and Wealth Management Market Team.

Liz is active in many non-profit organizations and has served as a Board Member for the Pace University Lubin School of Business Alumni Board, the New York State Society of CPA’s Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession, the New York Chapter for the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (“ALPFA”) and as a National Board of Director of ALPFA.

Rakesh Bhatia

Rakesh is a PwC LLP principal who has 33+ years of progressive leadership experience in sales, delivery, and operations for consulting and outsourcing with P&L responsibilities. As the US Global Relationship Partner (GRP) for a large software industry global client, Rakesh is responsible for helping drive PwC’s relationship with key senior execs and driving x-LoS and alliance opportunities for PwC. Rakesh is also focusing on the Fit-For-Growth platform and helping clients in driving Global Business Services benefits. As a PwC US principal and Service Delivery Network leader, Rakesh helped drive adoption and managed operations, resources, delivery and quality in the Acceleration Centers worldwide.

Before joining PwC in 2009, Rakesh was with KPMG/BearingPoint (formerly KPMG Consulting) and had multiple responsibilities, including account leader, solution leader and SDCs leader. Rakesh is on the board of Ascend’s Washington DC Chapter and was one of the keynote speakers for the Ascend annual convention, 2013 – “Innovative Leadership in the Borderless World.” He was also a speaker in Ascend’s convention in August 2014 in Washington DC. Rakesh was the President of Pratham DC Chapter and is currently on its board.

Jeanette Dern

Jeanette is a partner in PwC’s Denver office with over twenty years of experience serving multi-national public and private clients. Jeanette currently supports the audit of a public multi-national healthcare manufacturing company and is also integral in transforming the audit experience by leading enhancement efforts within PwC’s Center of Excellence. Jeanette brings a collaborative mindset to helping companies navigate through complex business issues. Relevant experience includes supporting companies through acquisitions, divestitures, impairments, restructurings and establishment of principal structures. Jeanette started her career as an auditor in PwC’s Denver, Colorado office. She is a licensed CPA in the state of Colorado and a member of the AICPA. Jeanette currently serves on the Advisory Board for A Precious Child, and lives in Denver with her husband and three sons.

Amanda Foster

Amanda is a PwC LLP partner in the Atlanta Assurance Practice. Among several roles she holds, she is also the Strategic Transformation Leader for Risk Assurance and the Greater Atlanta Market Team Lead for Risk Assurance. Amanda’s focus is on growing Risk Assurance and our relationships at our largest Consumer Market accounts. She has over 20 years of professional services experience, including external audit, tax and advisory. She serves on the Board of PAWS Atlanta and as a member of the Advisory Board to the College of Accountancy at Auburn University.

Frank Gaudio

Frank, a retired PwC LLP partner, was the PwC US Deputy Tax Leader responsible for Markets and Operations and oversaw the US regions and markets for Tax, as well as the financial and human capital aspects of the Tax practice. As a member of Tax Core Leadership and the firm’s Extended US and Global Leadership Teams for 12 years, he was involved in setting strategy domestically and globally. He continues to consult with PwC on these areas as well as L&D and strategy for the future. Frank sits on the Board, Leadership Cabinet and Development committee for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, the SVA Board, the Strategy Council for The First Tee of Chicago and is a member of the Senior Leadership Department of Defense program. He is also the assistant women’s golf coach at Oakland University.

Rob Gittings

Rob Gittings is a retired PwC LLP partner who previously served as the firm's Marketing and Sales leader and as a Vice Chairman. Based in New York, Rob also served as the lead partner for several of the firm's most prominent Entertainment, Media, Telecommunications and Technology clients. These clients included large global multi-nationals as well as high potential venture capital-backed startups. He has worked in the Silicon Valley, Washington, DC and New York offices of PwC.

Rob served on the Board and Executive Committee of United Way of Silicon Valley and chaired UWSV's Campaign Committee from 2009-2011. He also served on the Board and Executive Committee and as Treasurer of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC as well as on the boards of several private charitable foundations.

Ronald D. Haas Jr.

Ron is a PwC LLP partner with 27 years of experience in advising telecom, media, and technology companies in evaluating new markets, integrating acquired companies, divesting assets, reducing operating costs, improving the customer experience, implementing technology to change the nature of work, addressing risk and regulatory matters, and improving operational and financial processes and practices. Ron serves as the lead partner for one of the firm’s global priority accounts and is the firm’s US Partner Talent Development and Succession Leader. Ron is an advocate of youth education and leadership. He currently serves on the National Advisory Council for the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University, and as a Board Member and Treasurer of the Lovejoy Lacrosse Club.

Jeanelle Johnson

Jeanelle is a Principal in PwC's Deals practice, where she helps corporate and private equity executives navigate transactions to increase value and returns with a specialty in valuation. Jeanelle serves as the Partner champion for PwC's Washington Metro Black Inclusion Network and Women in Deals group. She also founded PwC's Deals Council for Black and Latinx professionals network, which focuses on the recruitment, retention and recognition of underrepresented minorities in the Deals practice nationally. Jeanelle is also a member of the Ambassador's Council at N Street Village and the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees for Creative Minds International, a Washington, DC public charter school. Prior to joining PwC in August 2015, Jeanelle was at Deloitte in both London, UK and Washington, DC as well as was an investment banker at Legg Mason. Jeanelle received her B.B.A, Cum Laude, from The George Washington University, as well as her M.B.A. from the Smith School at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Jim Kolar

Jim, a retired PwC partner, served primarily in the Financial Services practice⁠ and acted as Managing Partner in Orange County, Market Managing Partner in Minneapolis and Central Market Managing Partner. Jim served on both PwC’s Board of Partners and Principals (2013-2021) as well as the Firm’s Extended Leadership Team (2003-2022). Jim has a broad range of tax and business experience, serving some of PwC’s biggest clients and acting as Senior Relationship Partner on many large multinational clients. Jim received his B.A., Accounting & Finance from the University of St. Thomas, and has completed courses through Harvard Business School (Making Corporate Boards Effective) and Booth School of Business in partnership with Kellogg School of Management (CEO Perspectives).

Jim is active in the Chicago and Minneapolis communities and participates on the boards of several organizations including University of St Thomas, Big Shoulders Fund, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago United, Chicago Urban League, The Commercial Club of Chicago, The Economic Club of Chicago, Executives’ Club of Chicago, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, World Business Chicago, St. Thomas Academy and Treehouse.

Jean Lee

Jean is a partner in PwC’s Workforce Transformation practice. She has over 20 years of experience with the firm and has helped to grow and evolve the Consulting Solutions business in Chicago, San Jose / Silicon Valley and now in Seattle. Her recent work has focused on helping clients solve challenges related to engaging the workforce of the future, planning for remote and hybrid work, managing the war for talent and driving culture and behavior change. During her career with PwC, she has served as Global Change Lead for Workday and Salesforce implementations, APA Cluster Strategy Alignment lead and Amazon account Workforce Transformation lead partner. She serves as a national and Seattle board member of Summer Search, a nonprofit that seeks to unleash students’ potential through mentoring and transformative experiences. She holds an MBA from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Business and a B.S. from the University of Illinois.

Sam Melehani

Sam is a PwC LLP partner in the Asset Management practice and leads a team of 50+ dedicated professionals serving a variety of large asset management companies for their compliance and consulting needs. He supports clients in managing their overall state tax obligation and administrative costs.

He is currently Co-Chair of the state and local tax subcommittee for the national association of REITs and a state and local tax professor with Golden Gate University. Sam serves on the Board of the Penny Lane Centers.

Maria Moats

Maria currently serves as the leader of PwC’s Governance Insights Center. With more than 25 years of experience at PwC, Maria is an Audit partner and acts as Senior Relationship Partner for several large multinational clients. She previously served as Chief Diversity Officer within the US firm and Vice-Chair, Mexico & US Assurance Leader, overseeing PwC’s US Assurance practice of approximately 20,000 professionals. Maria is a licensed CPA in Texas, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. She is fluent in Spanish and has a BBA in Accounting from The University of Texas at El Paso.

Maria has held board roles with the March of Dimes (Dallas & Northern New Jersey), currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Dallas Theater Center, the Advisory Board of The University of Texas at El Paso - College of Business Administration, the Board and Audit Committee of Donors Choose and is an active member of the Executive Women’s Roundtable Dallas Regional Chamber.

Mitch Roschelle

Mitch, a retired PwC LLP partner, served as one of the firm’s Business Development Leaders. He was a principal founder of PwC’s real estate advisory practice, and has over 35 years of experience serving a wide array of real estate investors, foreign and domestic. Mitch led the firm’s real estate research efforts, and is a widely recognized market commentator on real estate, housing and the economy. He is a frequent public speaker, and a regular guest on Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, Bloomberg and Newsmax. An active proponent of corporate social responsibility, Mitch is a member of the Board of Directors of PENCIL, a New York City-based organization supporting the City’s public schools.

Kayvan Shahabi

Kayvan is a PwC LLP Principal and brings over 30 years of consulting experience focused on helping drive significant client results, having implemented growth strategies, innovation practices, and operational and organizational improvements across a range of technology, media and telecommunication industries. Kayvan serves on the Board of Silicon Valley Urban Debate League (SVUDL), an organization that helps youths from low-income backgrounds tap the power of their voices to compete, excel, and change the world.

Marvin Washington

Marvin is a PwC LLP partner with over 30 years of experience leading internal audits, financial statement audits, enterprise risk management, and SOX-related engagements. His experience spans a wide range of industries: technology, hospitality/real estate, professional services, financial services, health care, aerospace & defense and manufacturing. Prior to joining PwC, Marvin was Director of Financial Reporting for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the largest federal regulator in the world. Marvin is also a retired Marine Corps Reserve Officer, having served over 23 years. Marvin serves on the Board of USO of Metropolitan Washington.