W.K. Kellogg Foundation announces promotions, new hires in program, communications and operations teams

Contact: Joanne Krell, vice president for communications
269.969.2079
joanne.krell@wkkf.org

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) today announced 13 recent staff promotions or new hires in programming, communications and operations.

PROGRAM

• Andrew M. Brower was named program officer for the Kellogg Foundation’s work in Grand Rapids, Mich. He also serves as co-lead for the New Options Project, an effort focused on prototype development toward market-based pathways to employment for disconnected young people ages 16-24. Prior to joining the foundation in 2010 as an associate program officer, Andrew served as the founding executive director of The SOURCE, a Grand Rapids nonprofit focused on workforce and economic development.
• William Buster was named director of Mississippi and New Orleans programs. He will lead a team managing the foundation’s place-based grantmaking efforts in the region. He will continue to serve on the foundation’s Mission-Driven Investment committee. Previously, he served as program officer for Food, Health & Well-Being, Racial Equity and for WKKF’s work in Mississippi and New Orleans. Prior to joining the foundation, Buster was a program officer at the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation.
• Alix Cantave joined the foundation’s Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) team as lead program officer for Haiti. He is responsible for implementing a micro-regional strategy in Haiti in collaboration with other LAC staff. Prior to the foundation, he was associate director of the William Monroe Trotter Institute at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, where he established and managed a consortium to support the rebuilding and improvement of higher education in Haiti.
• Kara I. Carlisle was named director of New Mexico programs. She will lead a team managing the foundation’s place-based grantmaking efforts throughout the state. Carlisle joined the foundation in 2008 and was a lead program officer for New Mexico and a program officer for Community & Civic Engagement nationally. Prior to that, she led the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission and served as associate director at Zócalo Public Square Lecture Series.
• Robby Rodriquez joined WKKF as program officer for New Mexico programs. Rodriguez will be based in Albuquerque at the foundation’s new regional office. Previously, Rodriguez worked as a program executive at the Atlantic Philanthropies in New York and was executive director at SouthWest Organizing Project in Albuquerque.
• Paula R. Sammons was named program officer for Family Economic Security (FES), a program area that aims to increase the stability and financial independence of families and fostering quality jobs, careers and entrepreneurship. She joined the foundation in 1992 and has been a program manager in FES since 2008.
• Aileen Webb was named director of Michigan programs. In this role she will manage the foundation’s place-based grantmaking efforts in its home state. Previously, she served as deputy director to the foundation’s chief of staff and as a program officer in the area of Family Economic Security. Webb has more than 30 years of experience with nonprofit and governmental organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the League of Conservation Voters.

COMMUNICATIONS

• Keith Aikens joined the foundation as a communications officer. He is responsible for leading communications and media relations for WKKF’s work in its priority places: in the United States, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, Mexico and Haiti. He has more than a decade of experience as a professional communicator, including four years as vice president of Fleishman-Hillard International Communications in Atlanta.
• Kathy Reincke was named communications officer. In this role, she leads communications and media activities in the program areas of Food, Health & Well-Being and Racial Equity. She joined the foundation in 1998 and previously served as a communications manager.
• Wade Nelson joined the foundation as a communications officer. He is responsible for leading communications and media activities for Education & Learning, Family Economic Security and Civic & Community Engagement. Before joining the foundation, he served as chief speechwriter for Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago.

OPERATIONS

• Michael J. Goldstein joined WKKF as senior attorney. In this role, he handles the foundation’s U.S. and international corporate legal work, including review and negotiation of contracts and leases, intellectual property protection, general corporate law and insurance matters. Before joining the foundation, he practiced law in Chicago.
• Dianna L. Langenburg was named director of human resources. Her areas of responsibility include organizational planning and change management; talent acquisition; talent development and talent Management; and HR operations. She joined the foundation in 1993 in the evaluation department and has held various positions of increasing responsibility throughout her career. Since 2009, she has served as deputy director, Human Resources.
• Donald Williamson joined the foundation as director of financial services. In this role, he provides leadership for finance and accounting operations, including internal and external financial and tax reporting, oversight of internal controls and accounting practices and the provision of financial technical assistance to staff. Prior to the foundation, Donald was vice president of finance and operations for the Beaumont Foundation, a division of Beaumont Health System in Royal Oak, Mich.

“These talented women and men bring knowledge, experience and passion to their work at the Kellogg Foundation and will play an important role in helping carry out its mission to help children realize their full potential in school, work and life,” said WKKF President and CEO Sterling K. Speirn.