Advisory Board

In addition to its partners' seasoned experience, First Chicago Advisors utilizes a diverse Advisory Board of senior executives in a non-fiduciary capacity providing open input. Unique in the industry, this is another resource ensuring our clients get the best possible advisory service from its senior professionals. Our Advisory Board members include:

Karen M. Barch

Karen Barch has over 30 years of operating and general management experience in the publishing, technology and manufacturing industries. She has served as CEO or COO for numerous software, publishing, and e-learning companies. Ms. Barch’s past experience includes being EVP – Operations and Product Development of Encyclopaedia Britannica and in operations management consulting at Arthur Young. Frequent clients included the University of Chicago Office of Technology Commercialization, the McNally family and numerous education, technology and publishing companies. She began her career at General Motors in industrial engineering and manufacturing supervision. Ms. Barch is currently Chief Operating Officer for the University of Chicago Press’s Distribution Center.

Ms. Barch has a mathematics degree from Michigan State University (Phi Beta Kappa) and an MBA from the University of Detroit. Karen serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Chicago.

G. Robert Gey

Mr. Gey served most recently as President of Fuller Brands, the well known consumer products company. Fuller Brands marketed and manufactured cleaning/personal care products and custom brushes as well as commercial cleaning materials. Marketing distribution focused on mass retail, direct TV, catalog, door to door direct sellers and wholesale channels.  Mr. Gey also held various positions at the NYSE company Pentair including President of the Service Equipment Business, SVP New Business Ventures, and VP of Corporate Development where he oversaw several other subsidiaries and divisions. He currently serves on the Board of the NASDAQ Company Hawkins Inc., a leading blender and distributor of industrial, food and water treatment chemical products.

Laurence R. Massé

Mr. Massé served as an executive with four major corporations: General Motors; General Foods Corporation; International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT); and REA Express. During his tenure with these companies, Mr. Massé had extensive international business experience in Europe, Latin America and Asia and lived and worked in England, France and Belgium.

Subsequently, he changed careers and became an executive search consultant to many international companies both in the U.S. and overseas. He was Chairman and CEO of Ward Howell International, a worldwide consulting firm with 60 offices in 37 countries, for four years before retiring. He has an A.B. degree from Hope College in Holland, Michigan.

Martha A. Peterson

Ms. Peterson has served as a management consultant with A.T. Kearney, a venture capital and buyout specialist with Wind Point Partners, and VP Business Development and President of Peterson Products Corp., a major supplier of stamped and deep drawn metal products including Weber Grills. In these capacities, Ms. Peterson had significant success identifying and implementing strategic, marketing and operational improvements leading to enhanced profitability and shareholder return. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Keats Manufacturing and recently has developed her own business as an outsourced company spokesperson. She holds an A.B. degree from Dartmouth College, and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

George L. Schueppert

Currently President of Great Books Foundation, Mr. Schueppert is a retired financial executive, having served most recently as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Outboard Marine Corporation (NYSE) prior to its acquisition by a private investment partnership. Previously he had been the Executive Vice President of Finance and a Director of CBI Industries (NYSE). Mr. Schueppert received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin, and then served in the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet as an Engineering Officer. Following his naval service, he joined Continental Bank in Chicago and gained an MBA degree from the University of Chicago. At Continental Bank he served in a wide variety of domestic and international positions before leaving the bank as a Senior Vice President. He joined Coopers & Lybrand where he served as a corporate finance consultant for several years before beginning his career in industry.
 
Mr. Schueppert has been active in The Economic Club of Chicago, serving as Chair of the Membership Committee and as a Director. He also served as Chairman of the Government Assistance Program which was affiliated with DePaul University, and is a board member of a manufacturing company, a bank and a mortgage banking concern. He joined the Great Books Foundation’s board in 1993 and has served as Chair, and previously as Vice Chair, Chair of the Investment Committee and as member of the Finance, Development, Audit, and Executive Committees. Following the resignation of the Foundation’s President in September 2002, Mr. Schueppert joined the Foundation as its full-time President. He also serves as President of a non-profit medical research foundation and is an elected Trustee of his village.