Donna Spagnola

Summary of Work

Donna L. Spagnola is Co-Chair employer trustee of the Beer Industry Teamsters Local 703 Benefit Funds (DB Pension, IAP Pension and Health & Welfare), providing benefits to approximately 650 Chicago-area beverage distribution industry delivery and warehouse personnel and their families, with combined total fund assets of approximately $150 million. She began her career in public accounting as a CPA with Arthur Andersen and spent most of her professional career in the beverage distribution industry, culminating in her role as owner and President/CFO of Central Beverage Company, a mid-sized Chicagoland distributor. Following the acquisition of Central Beverage Company, she served as a joint venture partner and consultant for Lakeshore Beverage Company. Her governance and industry leadership experience includes service on the board of the National Beer Wholesalers Association and as chair of the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois.

Designations/Certifications and Other Training/Education

Ms. Spagnola’s formal professional foundation is in accounting and auditing, including early-career experience as a CPA with Arthur Andersen. Her continuing education has included substantial trustee and benefits-related learning through the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, where she has attended, presented and moderated educational and conference sessions and participated in conference session planning meetings. Her background also reflects extensive practical training in financial oversight, fiduciary stewardship, audit leadership and executive management gained through senior industry and board service.

Fund Experience

Ms. Spagnola has more than twenty years of experience working alongside Tom Stiede’s labor leadership as Co-Chair of the Teamsters Local 703 Benefit Funds and continues to serve as a professional trustee through appointment by the Chicago Beer Wholesalers Association, the employer appointing authority. Her fund-related experience includes fiduciary decision-making, collaborative labor-management governance, financial review and stewardship of plan assets. She previously served as an elected member of the IFEBP Board of Directors and on the Trustees Committee and is currently a member of the Financial Review Committee.

Having been an owner of a mid-sized business, Donna recognizes the importance of providing employees with solid wages and benefits while also being a good steward and fiduciary of company and plan assets. As a trustee, she believes she takes an informed, balanced and collaborative approach to Fund matters. She believes her financial background and business acumen have served her well in her role as trustee and she takes her fiduciary responsibilities very seriously. As Co-Chair trustee, she has taken a lead role in advancing and ensuring Fund personnel, fellow trustees and the plans’ fund professionals adhere to a high standard of professionalism, education and preparedness in all Fund matters. She has also helped ensure Fund management and trustees keep abreast of new trends in the benefit field and strongly encourages participation in IFEBP educational offerings.

State

Illinois

Accepts Business in These Areas

Open to national

Fee Structure

Retainer

Involvement with the International Foundation

At the encouragement of Tom Stiede, Donna’s fellow Co-Chair Trustee and the then-president of the IFEBP, Donna got more involved with IFEBP governance in 2016, starting with appointment to the Trustees Committee with subsequent appointments to the Board and Financial Review Committee. She has also participated in several conference planning meetings and has been an attendee, speaker and moderator at several educational conference sessions.