Joseph P. Lacher, Jr., named Chair with Lisa F. Wallack named Vice Chair

JDRF’s International Board of Directors (IBOD) today named two long-time volunteers to serve as Chair and Vice Chair when current board leaders end their two-year terms on July 1.

Joseph P. Lacher, Jr., who is President and Chief Executive Officer of Kemper Corporation, will serve as JDRF Chair, succeeding current Chair Ellen Leake. Joe is a long-time JDRF volunteer who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) while in college and has two adult sons who were diagnosed as children.

Previously, Joe served as Illinois Chapter Board President and has held several roles with IBOD, including serving on the Talent & Compensation Committee and Funding Committee. The year Joe and his family served as the “Fund a Cure Family” for the Illinois gala. The chapter raised a record-setting $7 million.

“My life and that of both of my sons are so much better because of the work JDRF does every day,” Joe said. “It has been a humbling experience to be a part of this organization, and I am honored to take on this new role as IBOD Chair to help JDRF accelerate the development of cures for our community.”

Lisa Fishbone Wallack, a former attorney and passionate community fundraiser, will serve as Vice Chair, succeeding current Vice Chair Jeff Plumer. Lisa has been part of the JDRF family her entire life, as her parents began volunteering after her brother was diagnosed at 18 months. In the 1980s, her father served as IBOD Chair. Lisa’s involvement increased when her son was diagnosed at age 5.

Lisa has served as New England Chapter President and held two terms as Board member. She also served as Co-Chair of JDRF’s Leadership Giving Working Group.

“JDRF has been part of my family for as long as I can remember,” Wallack said. “The progress we have made in the past 50 years is inspiring, with significant improvements in the quality of life for those living with type 1 diabetes and profound new understanding about the disease. I am confident that together, we can drive the ongoing progress needed to achieve our ultimate goal of curing and preventing type 1 diabetes.”

IBOD is the governing body for JDRF, the leading global organization funding type T1D research and the driver behind nearly every major advance—drug, device, cell therapy—made in T1D in the last 50 years.

“The appointment of these two highly successful and dedicated leaders speaks to the depth of talent and passion we have at JDRF,” said JDRF President and CEO Aaron J. Kowalski, Ph.D. “We know that with their extraordinary experience and commitment, JDRF will accelerate our race to find cures for this disease.”

Under Ellen and Jeff’s leadership, JDRF transformed its governance model, moving from a 35-member board to one with up to 15 members, each selected for key leadership strengths with the aim of creating an IBOD that is laser-focused on purpose, efficiency and higher impact. They also led the selection of JDRF’s new President and CEO, Aaron J. Kowalski, Ph.D., and the creation of a new Global Mission Board aimed at tapping the unique talents of JDRF volunteers to accelerate work on the JDRF mission.