Board of Directors

The Joe Niekro Foundation™ is honored to have a Board of Directors that is highly talented, diversely skilled, active in fundraising, engaged in governing and committed to serving the needs of the Joe Niekro Foundation™. Each member takes great pride in representing the JNF and has a principal responsibility for fulfilling the organization’s mission and goals.

• Jeff Mayer – Chairman of the Board

  
  Jeff Mayer is proud to be on the JNF board.  He has a long history of serving his community and joined the JNF board at the request of clients active in the organization.  He is a Chicago based partner in the Litigation Practice Group at Akerman LLP where he concentrates on complex commercial and business litigation. Jeff also has significant experience resolving matters through mediation and arbitration with an emphasis in designing arbitration programs and clauses. Through Akerman, he has a commitment to providing pro bono legal services to children and families in distress.  In addition to his practice, Jeff teaches real estate litigation at The University of Illinois at Chicago Law School. He also served as Chair for Duke University Chicago area Alumni Association and remains on the Duke board.  Outside of work, he is the father of four (adult) children with a fabulous daughter in law.  Jeff and his wife Yvonne are looking forward to meeting their first grandchild in January.  Jeff is a graduate of Duke University and has law degrees from Washington University and the University of Michigan.  If anyone has an interest in learning more about JNF, please feel free to email Jeff directly.

• Brian Bagley – Board Member

  

  Brian Bagley is a trial lawyer and partner at Akerman – a top 100 U.S. law firm –practicing out of the firm’s Houston office. Brian brings more than 15 years of experience representing companies and individuals in complex commercial litigation matters. He has successfully tried cases in state and federal courts in addition to advocating for clients in arbitration. Brian focuses his practice on commercial litigation, oil and gas, employment matters, products liability, and intellectual property litigation. His work encompasses numerous sectors, including automotive, energy, banking, real estate, hospitality, construction, and manufacturing. He also mentors younger lawyers within the firm and is deeply involved in Akerman’s philanthropic efforts.

  The father of one of Brian’s closest friends passed away from a brain aneurysm, and Brian witnessed the devastation that a sudden loss causes a family and loved ones of those afflicted. Brian welcomes the opportunity to bring his advocacy skills to help raise awareness for the valuable work undertaken by the Joe Niekro Foundation.

  A sixth generation Texan who grew up in Austin, Brian has called Houston home since graduating law school in 2005. Brian earned his undergraduate degree at Baylor University and his law degree, cum laude, from St. Mary’s University School of Law. Brian and his wife, Christen, have four children and are active volunteers at their church, St. Luke’s United Methodist. Brian also volunteers with the Houston Young Lawyers’ Legal Lines Program, has been an avid supporter of the United Way, the International Justice Mission, and the Texas Bar Foundation, and has served on various committees of the Houston Bar Association.

• John-Welfare – Board Member

  

John S. Welfare – Board Member

• John Welfare is a retired Partner from the firm of Deloitte Consulting, LLP where he specialized in implementing complex IT solutions for large, global companies. Based in Charlotte, his career in IT-consulting spanned 34 years serving clients across a variety of industries including manufacturing, retail and life sciences. He is privileged to bring his diverse business background to the JNF board. John is the proud parent of two girls, Emily and Jamie, who he shares with his wife of 39 years, Sandy. He lives nearby to his two beautiful granddaughters, Mila and Haven, whom he visits frequently. John is active with his church and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including fishing, backpacking, snorkeling and horticulture. He is the current world record holder of a golden trout he caught in 2009. He also has served on the Board of Directors of the Twin Rivers Homeowners Association for over 20 years serving as President for 3 of those years.. John holds degrees in Management Science and Environmental Management from Duke University having utilized his environmental degree in leading several complex stream restoration projects in North Carolina on a volunteer basis.
  

  Angela Graham – Board Member

  
  Angela Graham is a REALTOR®️ in Dallas/Ft. Worth. She is a 5th generation Texan and grew up in Plano, Texas. After graduating from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville with a degree in RTF-Broadcast Journalism, she moved back to the Plano area. Volunteerism and helping people are strong foundations in Angela’s life due to the influence of her beloved parents. She has served on the Board of the Frisco Public Safety Officer Recovery Fund, previously was a member of Frisco Citizen’s on Patrol, participates in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s, and more. Her hobbies are photography, travel, music, reading, writing, and participating in film shoots.

  On April 1, 2018, Angela was diagnosed with an unruptured fusiform aneurysm on her left Middle Cerebral Artery. Due to the size, shape, and location of the aneurysm, it was decided that the best course of action would be to watch and wait with annual scans to check for growth. Treatment could/would cause more issues than leaving it in place. To say this was life changing is an understatement. Over the course of the past few years, Angela has learned to live with her condition and accept certain limitations on her enjoyment of roller coasters and sky diving. It’s no longer a daily panic and she has gained an acceptance that this is the situation and it can change at any moment. She tries to enjoy life and make every day count.

  Through participation in a Joe Niekro Foundation sponsored Support Group at Medical City-Plano, Angela has gained a great deal of knowledge and compassion for the other members of the group that have gone through so much more in their journeys. It’s both terrifying and inspiring to see new members, some very shortly after hemorrhage, and the progress that they make over the months.

  Angela is excited and honored to serve and support such an important foundation. Awareness is critical.

• Lindsay Bowerman – Board Member

  

• David B. Bergman – In Memory of

  
  Dave Bergman, former Chairman of the Board, lost his life to bile duct cancer on Feb. 2, 2015. Dave was an investment counselor for Sigma Investments which he joined in 1990 after gaining considerable experience as a licensed securities broker with Merrill Lynch, E.F. Hutton and Roney & Co., as well as participating on the Professional Baseball Players Pension Committee for several years. Prior to joining Sigma on a full time basis, Dave played professional baseball for 20 years and is perhaps best known for his contribution to the Detroit Tigers during the latter part of his career.

  Having lost his best friend, Joe Niekro, to a brain aneurysm in 2006, Dave committed himself to spreading awareness and raising funds to support research of this dreaded disease. Dave, you will forever be missed and we thank you for your love, support and friendship.

  June 6, 1953 – February 2, 2015