Suzanne Sutter

Suzanne Sutter is an accomplished and award-winning leader who drives organizations to achieve outstanding financial and business results while creating cultures that enable others to thrive and make a difference. Upon graduating in 1977 from Case Western Reserve University with a graduate degree in organizational behavior and change, she joined Cole National Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio. As a change agent, she engineered human resources into being viewed as a line impact function and progressed to become Chief Human Resource Officer of this billion-dollar retailer in 1984. Her success in leading strategic initiatives resulted in a promotion to a General Manager in 199l.

Sutter led the revitalization of a licensed retail gift business operating within Sears and other big box retailers through new format creations and acquisition. Her success in managing change led to a promotion to President of Things Remembered, Inc. in 1997. During her ten-year reign as President, she more than doubled earnings through merchandise and marketing innovation, as well as expanding channels of distribution beyond the 650+ store chain. Under her leadership, the company developed an outstanding reputation for its compassion, giving, and commitment to charities.

In 1998, Things Remembered partnered with the Make-a-Wish Foundation by creating a holiday ornament to raise money to make magical wishes come true for children with life-threatening illnesses. This cause marketing program grew tremendously, raising nearly $5 million in nine years for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The CEO of the Make-a-Wish Foundation of America recognized the leadership at Things Remembered in 199l with the prestigious Wishmaker Award as the only company in their history to integrate their cause into a company culture.

Sutter's passion for the cause motivated her to become a leader with the Make-a-Wish Foundation. In 1998, she became a member of the Board of Trustees, Greater Ohio and Kentucky. In 2001, she was elected to the National Board of Trustees of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, and three years later was elected National Board Chair. During her leadership as National Board Chair, she spearheaded a significant change in the national governance structure, dramatically increased the headquarters' net assets, and upgraded the quality of national leadership.

Sutter's achievements in leading change at Make-A-Wish were recognized in the book Leveraging Good Will, by Alice Korngold. Sutter's teammates at Things Remembered and her colleagues at the Make-A-Wish Foundation honored her achievements by building a Wish House in her honor at Give Kids the World in Orlando, Florida. The Wish House will host families for many years to come who are celebrating a wish at Disney World or Universal Studios.

Sutter has also contributed to her alma mater, Weatherhead School of Business at Case Western Reserve University, in several ways. Her experience in training and development was an asset in helping develop MBA students. For eight years, she served as a leadership mentor as a part of the Weatherhead MBA Mentoring Program. Moreover, she was a frequent guest lecturer at the business school and at Weatherhead's Dively Center, which provides executive education. Lectures featured a variety of topics, including organization development, leadership, women in leadership and social responsibility. Sutter's 30-year career culminated with her leading the sale of Things Remembered to a private equity group in 2007 for $190 million. Today, she serves on the advisory committee of the School of Entrepreneurial Studies of Thunderbird University and devotes her time to improving the nonprofit performance of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Currently she is the President and CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles.