Nancy and Fred Poses are the driving force behind the Poses Family Foundation, which focuses on addressing critical elements of individual growth and development, including learning and thinking differences, education, and the arts. They’re also co-founders of Understood.org, a leading resource for those who learn and think differently, which has grown to touch more than 20 million people a year.
They have long been engaged with helping people who learn differently. Nancy and Fred played an active role with the National Center for Learning Disabilities for more than 15 years and served as trustees of the Riverview School, a school for children with special needs, where their son Max graduated.
Nancy is vice chair of the board of directors at the Whitney Museum and on the board of directors of the Drawing Center. She’s also a member of the board of directors of PASE (Partnership for After School Education) and is involved in and supports several other arts and social organizations.
Fred is the principal of 32 Laight Street Partners, a private equity investment company. From 2008–2017, he served as chief executive officer and partner of Ascend Performance Materials, a private manufacturer of nylon-related chemicals, resins, and fibers for commercial and industrial products. He was chairman and chief executive officer of American Standard, where he served from 1999–2008. Fred was president and chief operating officer at AlliedSignal, where he served in various capacities over his 30-year career beginning in 1969. He served as lead director of the TE Connectivity board of directors and as a director of both Raytheon Company and Chesapeake Energy. Fred spent two years in Peru with the Peace Corps.
Nancy and Fred enjoy collecting contemporary art. They’ve been married for 40 years and have two children, Jake and Max.