Leadership – LEO Foundation

Our Leadership

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We are a team of dedicated and experienced professionals not only committed to each other’s personal and professional growth, but also to the success of the mission we care so much about and the many people we are serving through education, fundraising, and mentoring.

We believe that effective leadership and board governance is paramount in building long-term significance for our investors. The vital aspects of our board governance charter include: helping keep the organization mission-focused, providing oversight and support for the CEO, being community advocates, committee work, financial reporting and support, ensuring legal and ethical integrity and accountability. Our committee structures include: Fundraising, Marketing, Communications, Investment, and Programs.

Madeline LoConti Winney

Chief Executive Officer

Madeline has made a career of serving people and igniting powerful, rewarding philanthropy to make Phoenix a stronger community for all. With a heart for youth and a vision for building future leaders, she launched LEO Foundation, formerly known as GCU Scholarship Foundation where she has dedicated nearly 20 years to helping students through scholarships and leadership opportunities.

Michele Simphoukham

Chief Financial Officer

Michele Simphoukham proudly serves as the Treasurer for the LEO Foundation. Michele has been in the tax and accounting profession since 1992 and became a CPA in 2000. She currently works as the Non Profit Tax Manager for a local university.

Jeff Lakes

Board Member and Investment Advisor since 2020

Jeff is the CEO of Financial Solutions Group, a nationwide debt management consulting firm he founded over ten years ago. Before FSG, he had over 30 years of industry experience in executive leadership roles with large corporations such as Hershey, Johnson & Johnson, Leiner Health Products, Rexall Sundown, and Kuji Sports North America.

Lori Lakes

Board Member

Lori Lakes has been married to her best friend, Jeff, for over 30 years. She is the proud mother of three adult children and spends most of her time as a personal assistant to their young adult special needs daughter. Lori is a former elementary and special needs teacher and home educator. She has served as a Gaitway Conductive Education board member in Tucson, AZ.

Jim Murphy

Board Member and Investment Advisor since 2020

Jim has over 40 years of industry experience and has developed successful independent auto repair facilities, tire operations, and dealerships throughout North America. For the past 20 years, he has developed a reputation as an industry-acclaimed facilitator and business-building shop coach.

Sherri Murphy

Board Member

Sherri is Vice President of Automotive Business Solutions, Inc. When Sherri met her husband Jim in 1987, they dreamed of owning their own business; and in 1991, that dream became a reality when they started Automotive Business Solutions. In the beginning, they embraced the idea of always treating employees and customers the way they wanted to be treated.