Cynthia Tidwell, President/CEO—Rock Island, IL

Cynthia Tidwell was appointed Royal Neighbors’ President/CEO in 2005. With more than 25 years in the insurance industry, she is accomplished in all facets of insurance, including sales/marketing, claims, underwriting, change management, agency management, information technology, and human resources. With a passion for leadership, Mrs. Tidwell has built start-up organizations, managed turnarounds, and hired and retained top talent in the industry using a results-oriented philosophy. Prior to joining Royal Neighbors, she led a $900 million personal insurance business for a national property and casualty company. As president, she led the change to regain business fundamentals and sustainability; consulted to the claims organization on multi-year strategy; and was responsible for the overall company direction as part of the senior executive team. Today, Mrs. Tidwell is leading the turnaround at Royal Neighbors through a formal change framework of Recognition, Stabilization, and Revitalization. She is rebuilding the sales force, increasing membership, and enhancing the fraternal arm of the organization. Mrs. Tidwell graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree, and has participated in the Wharton AICPCU Program and Hagberg Executive Development training. In addition to her responsibilities as President/CEO, she serves on the Executive Committee of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors. She currently is serving on the boards of Junior Achievement of the Heartland and Illinois Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce and on the Western Illinois University Quad Cities Foundation Board. An active member of the National Fraternal Congress of America and the Executive Women’s Golf Association, she also has worked with United Way, Life Insurance and Market Research Association (LIMRA), and the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI). A sought-after speaker on leadership and the improvement of women’s health and financial security, Mrs. Tidwell has been featured in American Executive magazine for her turnaround strategies. She is listed in the Global Directory of Who’s Who, the foremost network of world-wide business leaders, and has been a guest on the Paula Sands Live talk show on NBC TV.

Sister Francis Clare Radke, Chairman—Lemont, IL
Sister Francis Clare graduated from Loyola University, Chicago, IL, with a Bachelor's Degree and a Master of Religious Education Degree. An accomplished professional with a proven record of success in the corporate, not-for-profit, and service communities, she has played the key leadership role within the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago Community. The order is highly regarded nationally for its service commitment to women, children, and the aged. She spent 15 years as a teacher and assistant principal and has served as a board member of various Franciscan health centers for more than 20 years. Currently serving as chairman of the board of Franciscan Sisters of Chicago Service Corporation (FSCSC), she developed and championed an unprecedented strategic course to address current challenges and position FSCSC for a successful future. In addition, she has actively participated in policy development, review, and approval, and has extensive experience in designing governance structures. She has been a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since September, 2004, and is chair of the executive committee. 

V. Sue Molina, Vice Chairman—Pittsburgh, PA/Scottsdale, AZ
With nearly 30 years of public accounting experience, Ms. Molina has a strong background in serving clients in the tax arena, auditing, and real estate. She was most recently employed by Deloitte & Touche LLP as the National Director of the Initiative for the Retention and Advancement of Women where she was an advocate for diversity within a historically male-dominated industry. She led the firm's strong commitment to advance highly talented women through the development of innovative career planning, mentoring, and leadership training and succession programs. A certified public accountant, she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a Master's of Accountancy at the University of Arizona. She was recognized as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People in the Accounting Profession" by Accounting Today, and is chair of the Advisory Council of the Claremont McKenna College Berger Institute of Work, Family and Children. She has been a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since September, 2004, and is chair of the audit committee, vice-chair of the executive committee, and is a member of the compensation committee. 

Dr. Joyce Elam—Miami, FL
Serving as the Executive Dean and Professor of Management Information Systems in the College of Business, Florida International University, Miami, Dr. Elam is an expert in the areas of strategic uses of information technology, the management of the information services function, and the use of information technology to support both individual and group decision-making. She previously was an associate professor at the University of Texas. She earned both her Ph.D. in Operations Research and her Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from the University of Texas. Her board experience includes the Association of Latino Finance and Accounting Professionals, National Society of Hispanic MBAs, South Florida Technology Alliance, and Technology Forum of South Florida. Becoming a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors in September, 2004, she serves on the audit and compensation committees.

Patricia Gibford—Bend, OR
Ms. Gibford, as President/CEO, has directed the operations of Clear Choice Health Plans, Inc., since 1995. A majority provider owned and operated insurance company serving the Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance markets, Clear Choice is one of the few insurers of its kind that has found success in any rural market in the nation. Involved in the health care industry for over 30 years, she has held executive positions at Medical Care International and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon. She is a registered nurse and holds a degree in Business Administration and Health Care Administration from Concordia College, Portland, OR. Active in state government as it relates to Medicaid and local communities, she has served on the boards of Hospice, Home Care IV, Bend Chamber of Commerce, Greater Bend Rotary, Sun River Festival of Music, OSU Foundation, and the Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Center for Excellence. Ms. Gibford is committed to numerous health care promotions and activities that support children, including the Heaven Can Wait Walk, the Spark Your Heart Run, Shots for Tots, and the Sparrow Club. She has been a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since September, 2004, and serves on its audit and investment committees.
 

Nancy Hanna—St. Louis Park, MN
Serving as Vice President, Human Resources for Silicon Graphics (SGI), Ms.Hanna brings thirty years of professional HR experience to Royal Neighbors. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Hamline University in French, and a Master’s in Human Development from St. Mary’s, both Minnesota liberal arts schools. Her experiences include leading HR in both large corporations and start-ups, including Northwestern National Life (now Reliastar/ING), Cray Research, Sagebrush Corporation, PLATO Learning and Ceridian. She serves as a member of the Board of the Minnesota Human Resource Executive Forum and the Board of Directors for Cabrini Partnership, where she has also served two terms as Chairperson. She is a past board member of three organizations focused on the advancement and wellbeing of women—WomenVenture, Working Opportunities for Women, and the Greater Minneapolis Day Care Association. A member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since January, 2005, she chairs the compensation committee and serves on the governance committee.

Patsy Kneller—San Angelo, TX
As executive director of Habitat for Humanity of San Angelo, Ms. Kneller established a partnership with Royal Neighbors in 1997 to assist Habitat families with financial education. A strong advocate for volunteerism, she has served on the boards and committees of many community organizations, including the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the Better Business Bureau, the American Heart Association, Chamber of Commerce, Social and Health Resource Coalition, the American Cancer Society, Grant Center of Concho Valley, San Angelo Nature Center, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, and Southland Baptist Church. She was named a “Woman to Watch” by the Business and Professional Women; served as a mentor through the Juvenile Justice/SAISD program; and has played an active role in the Girl Scouts. Earning a Bachelor of Science Degree from Mansfield University, Ms. Kneller has strong skills in fund-raising, human resources, grant-writing, public speaking, media-marketing, and project management. She has been a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since September, 2004, and serves on its governance and investment committees. 

Wan Ling Martello—Bentonville, AR
Ms. Martello is senior vice president and chief financial officer for Wal-Mart International. Wal-Mart International has sales of $80 billion and operates in 15 markets outside the United States. Prior to Wal-Mart, she was U.S. president of NCH Marketing Services, Inc., a global provider of promotional management solutions for clients that include many of the world's largest retailers and consumer packaged goods manufacturers. Ms. Martello has spent a significant part of her career with consumer packaged goods companies. She was the corporate controller for Borden Foods during its turn-around years, and also spent 10 years with Kraft in diverse financial roles including internal audit, international reporting, financial systems, strategic planning, and financial planning and analysis. She has been a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since September, 2004, and is chair of the investment committee and serves on the governance committee.

Linda Neuman—Le Claire, IA
Ms. Neuman earned her Undergraduate and Law Degrees from the University of Colorado and a Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) from the University of Virginia. She has been both a trial and appellate judge, retiring in 2003 after serving 17 years on the Iowa Supreme Court. Currently she is a partner at Betty, Neuman & McMahon, LLP, and teaches courses in legal ethics and appellate courts as an adjunct faculty member of the University of Iowa College of Law. She has played a leadership role in strategic planning activities, is a sought-after lecturer, and has earned numerous awards for her outstanding community and professional achievements, including the University of Colorado "Award for Distinguished Achievement" and the Mississippi Valley Girl Scout Council "Exceptional Achievement Award." She serves as a trustee for St. Ambrose University, is a Friend of the Davenport Museum of Art, and is a reader for the blind. Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack appointed Ms. Neuman a commissioner on the National Uniform State Laws Commission. She has been a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since September, 2004, and is chair of the governance committee and serves on the investment committee.