Kathleen (Kathy) Hanrahan, Co-Chairperson
Ms. Hanrahan joined the TASER Foundation as a Director, in June, 2008, and became the organizations first President and Chief Executive Officer on October 1, 2008. On January 25,2010 she was elected as Co-Chairperson of the Board of Directors.
Prior to being appointed as the Co-Chairperson, she served as the CEO for the TASER Foundation bringing to the TASER Foundation experience in a number of key leadership roles. During her 12 year tenure with TASER International, Inc. she held the offices of: Controller, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operations Officer, and from August 2006 to September 30, 2008, President and Chief Operations Officer. Before joining TASER International in 1996, Ms. Hanrahan worked as an executive serving the aerospace and defense, and commercial contracting industries.
Although Ms. Hanrahan enjoyed a successful career with TASER International, she is now looking forward to a new chapter with the TASER Foundation. She is committed to the mission of the organization, and will work with the Board of Directors to raise awareness for this worthwhile cause in an effort to further expand available benefits for the families of officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our communities safe.
Robert D. Sparks, M.D., Co-Chairperson
Robert D. Sparks, M.D. retired from all active employment September 1998 after having served as the first President and CEO of the CMA Foundation from 1995 to 1998. In 2005 he was appointed to the Community Advisory Committee of the TASER Foundation [Scottsdale AZ] and was elected to the Board of Directors as Chairperson in 2006, serving to the present time.
He was Vice President of Syntex Corporation, Palo Alto CA, August 1991 until his retirement from that position in 1993.
He served as Chairman on the founding Board of Directors of Chelsea Arbor Treatment Center, a joint venture of the Chelsea Community Hospital and the University of Michigan from 1989 to 1991. He was President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Monsour Medical Foundation 1989 to 1990. He served as President Emeritus and Senior Consultant for the W. K. Kellogg Foundation following retirement from that Foundation in January 1989.
He was elected a Director of the Syntex Corporation in December 1987 He was the physician representative on the Calhoun County Board of Health from January 1988 through 1991 and served as Chairman of the Board 1989-91. He served on the Board of Directors of the National Council on Alcoholism/Michigan from 1988 to 1991. He serves on the Editorial Board of the Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly.
Dr. Sparks joined the staff of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation as a Program Director in 1976, became Vice President for programming in 1981, and was President and Trustee from 1982 to 1988. As President, he supervised all grant activities for the programming of the Foundation.
Before joining the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Dr. Sparks was Chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, and Vice President of the University of Nebraska System from 1972 to 1976. From 1958 to 1972, he held faculty and administrative positions at Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, serving as Dean from 1969 to 1972.
Dr. Sparks is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He was elected a Distinguished Service Member of the Association of American Medical Colleges. He received the University of Iowa College of Medicine’s initial [and now annual] 1998 Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement and the University of Iowa Alumni Association’s 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement.
Dr. Sparks served on the Visiting Committee of the Harvard Medical School from 1984 to 1990. From 1985 to 1989 he served on President Reagan's Board of Advisors on Private Sector Initiatives. In 1986 he was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies [of Sciences].
He served on the Board of Education for the Lakeview Public School District, Battle Creek MI from 1979-1983, being Secretary-Treasurer, Vice-president and President in successive years, and served a second term, 1988-91. He was a founder and Chairman of the founding Board of Directors of the Lakeview Schools Educational Foundation. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra (1981-1989).
He attended the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and College of Medicine, receiving the B.S. degree in 1955 and the M.D. in 1957. He attended the K-12 Schools in Newton, Iowa, graduating in 1950. |