Bobby Dodd Institute (BDI) announced the appointment of a new board chair, Peter Lauer. On the BDI board since 2016, Peter believes BDI is an amazing way to engage people with physical and intellectual disabilities in productive careers, leading to happier lives. Peter is an experienced commercial leader in the B2B world with a passion for technology and engineering- based businesses. He has led sales teams and managed corporate development both domestically and globally. A natural-born leader, Peter combines strategic thinking with operational discipline. Peter inherits the position from Andy Tuck, who will now serve as an Immediate Past Chair.
“I joined the BDI board through angel investing, where I met Rodney Hall, and we continue to serve together. It is an honor to provide strategic leadership to an organization that delivers real value to people. I am a huge fan. Serving on the board has been a great experience for me, and I am excited about the opportunity to be elected as the new board chair,” commented Peter Lauer.
Four new board members join the organization, Bala Sundaramoorthy, Katie Hearn, Laura Putz, and Thomas Smith.
Bala is a veteran business and technology leader with expertise in media and entertainment, financial services, and the software-as-a-service industry. As a father of two children with Stargardt’s disease, he understands how life-altering disabilities can be. He says that joining the BDI board is a special opportunity for him to give back to the community and help further the organization’s mission.
After suffering sudden vision loss, Katie Hearn quickly showed those around her that her lack of sight would not define her. As the 2018 recipient of the Walter Banks Hospitality Award and the 2019 recipient of LaGrange College’s Distinguished Young Alumni Award, she is a tireless advocate for disability employment across Georgia. Hearn is the Gameday Staffing and Administration Manager and Club ADA Coordinator for the Atlanta Braves. She lives in Smyrna with her guide dog, Jack.
Laura Putz serves as General Counsel for Gray Matters Capital, focusing on non-profit compliance and impact investing in the developing world. She has spent the last 10 years practicing law in the impact investment space, helping investors and entrepreneurs achieve their missions.
Thomas Smith is a dynamic professional with over 15 years in the chemical industry, specializing in business development. With a passion for driving growth and a knack for creative problem-solving, he excels in expanding market opportunities and forging strategic partnerships. “BDI has developed a sustainable framework to empower individuals with disabilities. This demographic is frequently marginalized, but BDI’s efforts have opened avenues for many to harness their present and future capabilities, fostering invaluable self-worth and a sense of purpose,” says Thomas.
At the beginning of the new fiscal year for BDI, after an independent vote, several leadership changes have taken place. John Ralls, Managing Director, Impact Wealth Advisors at William Blair, was appointed as Vice Chair. Lori Chase, Senior Vice President and Public Relations Director at First Horizon Bank, replaced Special Needs Planning attorney Kristen Lewis as the secretary. Fred Hill, Principal Managing Director at NFP, took over the treasurer position from Rodney Hall, who previously held the role and is the Executive Vice President and Atlanta Market President at First Horizon Bank. Also on the BDI Board of Directors are Jim Terry, John McKenney, Judith Moen – Stanley, Kedrick Eily, Maryann Balbo, and Peg Nichols.
Larry Gluth, President and CEO of Bobby Dodd Institute says: “As we begin fiscal year 2025 with enthusiasm and ambitious goals for the future of the organization, we are honored to welcome our new board members. It will be exciting to see their ideas and fresh perspectives in action as they drive BDI’s mission forward. The next few years are critically important for BDI as we aim to double the number of individuals we serve by 2027. I would also like to thank Andy for his outstanding leadership over the past two years and Peter for his dedicated service to the disability community. We are grateful to all our board members for their contributions to the organization and the individuals and families we serve.”