Ilona S. English, WEV'77, GFA’88
Ilona English is the owner of Summit Sporthorses Ltd., Inc. in Ringoes, NJ, which breeds horses for dressage and jumping and sells riding-age and young horses.
In addition to her Penn degrees, Ms. English completed two years of study in environmental design and architecture at Ohio University’s School of Fine Arts and Architecture and studied at New York University’s Real Estate Institute. Her work experience includes positions with LaSalle Partners, Inc., Galbreath Corporation, the Rockefeller Group, Inc., Collins Development Corporation, and independent consultancies.
Ms. English is a Founder and former Chair of the East Amwell Historic Preservation Committee and has served as a trustee of the Amwell Heritage Society. She is also a former member of Preservation New Jersey and served on the Financial Review Committee of the New Jersey Historic Trust.
Ms. English has been a client and friend of New Bolton Center since 1995, contributing to a number of New Bolton Center initiatives, including the Hofmann Center for Animal Reproduction, Friends of New Bolton Center annual fund, and the Equine Performance Evaluation Facility, which was dedicated on November 7, 2012, in her name. She and her husband Terry, both devoted horse and dog owners, reside on their farm in Ringoes, NJ.
Michael F. Gerber, C’95
Michael Gerber is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Strategy, and Product Administration at Franklin Square Capital Partners.
From 2004 to 2012, he served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. From 2007 to 2012, he was a trustee of Pennsylvania's State Employees' Retirement System, the State’s $25 billion pension fund. During his tenure in public office, Mr. Gerber also held key party posts, chairing his party’s statewide House campaign committee and serving as Treasurer of a national political organization that supports state House and Senate campaign committees across the country.
While serving in the legislature, Mr. Gerber practiced law at the Philadelphia-based national law firm Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, where he helped run the marketing and strategy functions and was a member of the Corporate and Securities practice group. Earlier in his career, Mr. Gerber served as legal counsel to Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell’s transition team and as a law clerk for Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Gerber earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and graduated cum laude from Villanova University School of Law.
Mr. Gerber is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania. He lives with his wife and three children in the Philadelphia suburbs.
Gretchen Jackson, CW’59
Gretchen Jackson served on the Penn Vet Board of Overseers from February 2002 to June 2011, during which time she co-chaired the Development Committee. She also served as a member of the “Making History” Campaign Steering Committee.
Ms. Jackson has been a passionate advocate for New Bolton Center throughout her long association with the School. She and her husband, Roy, have been clients since 1986, and Roy’s parents were intimately involved with New Bolton Center since its inception. Most notably, the Jacksons brought Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro to New Bolton Center after he shattered his hind leg at the Preakness in May 2006.
The Jacksons have supported equipment needs in the Scott Equine Sports Medicine Building, named for Roy’s mother and step-father and funded in large part by their bequests; the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; equine/large-animal scholarship; and the Laminitis Research Fund. They also established the Dean W. Richardson Chair for Equine Disease Research in honor of Dr. Richardson’s care of Barbaro.
Ms. Jackson works tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of the Thoroughbred horse and to improve conditions for back-stretch workers at race tracks. She also acts on behalf of jockeys and others within the equine industry. She and Roy reside in Chester County, PA.