Two Ten Footwear Foundation announced its new Board Chair and Vice Chair. Joe Preston, president and CEO of New Balance, succeeds David Kahan, president and CEO of Birkenstock USA, who has served as board chair since 2021, and Jonathan Frankel, president of Aldo Product Services at the Aldo Group, now serves as Vice Chair.
“We are excited to move into a new phase of board leadership as we mark our 85th year of service to the U.S. footwear community,” states Shawn Osborne, president and CEO of Two Ten. “Under David’s leadership, the board helped advance our education programs and we are poised to build on those successes with Joe taking the helm. Joe and Jonathan are both deeply committed to our mission and I believe that commitment, coupled with their business experience, will only strengthen Two Ten as we continue our work bringing hope, opportunity, and community to the industry workforce.”
Preston is a long-time footwear industry leader who was named CEO in 2018 at New Balance Athletics, Inc., a $5B global sportswear brand recognized for its values-led culture and strong commitment to domestic manufacturing. In addition to his service on the Two Ten Board of Directors, he is an Executive Committee member of the Board of Directors for the American Apparel & Footwear Association, a member of the Board of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, and Chair of the Board of Trustees for The Sports Museum, a nonprofit educational institute focused on helping young people build character through the power of sports.
“Two Ten helps the most vulnerable individuals and families in our footwear community,” states Preston. “Their powerful combination of emergency relief, educational programs, and professional/networking groups helps lift lives. The foundation not only gives hope to colleagues going through hard times but also creates opportunity to rise.”
Frankel is also a strong advocate for the Two Ten mission. The new vice chair cites a particular focus of the foundation that his team at the Aldo Group is proud to share: accelerating the careers of women in the footwear industry. “Two Ten is working to create a more diverse and inclusive footwear community where everyone can feel they belong and are valued,” he states. “We share that vision. The foundation’s emphasis on elevating women in the industry, helping to ensure equitable access to opportunity, is particularly important.”
During the last two quarters of 2023, Two Ten also welcomed six new members to its board of directors, extending the areas of expertise and diversity of perspectives and experience represented on the board. The recently appointed members are Jennet Chow, founder and co-CEO of Evolution Design Lab and Jellypop Shoes; Kathy Forstadt, senior director of Merchandising, Zappos.com; Christina Gigante, vice president of sales, Skechers; Ronnie Jefferson, senior vice president and GMM, Finish Line at Macy’s; Tacey Powers, EVP and GMM, Nordstrom Shoes and Kids Apparel; and Ed Rosenfeld, chairman and CEO, Steve Madden.
