Our Founders & Our Board

Meet Will & Cary

Will and Cary Singleton founded the Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship for two reasons: to create a viable means to combat the dire problem of financial illiteracy in our society; and to promote entrepreneurship as a way to inspire individual achievement. These goals are complementary and essential to our dream of financial freedom for all Americans.

The high percentage of US citizens with significant student debt, the lack of economic and financial literacy education available in schools, and the alarming statistics about the number of Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck coupled with the need to prepare our citizens for the careers and opportunities presented by rapid technological advancements motivated them to take action.

Will and Cary believe that each of us can become the CEO of our own lives with access to education and resources, and have dedicated themselves to focusing on programs which they hope will have a positive long-term impact on the health of the nation.

Will Thorndike, Director

Heading up the Singleton CEO Prize jury, Will is the founder and a Managing Director of Housatonic Partners, a private equity firm launched in 1994. He is a graduate of Harvard College and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Will is a director of eight companies, and two not-for-profit organizations. His book, “The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success” is considered one of the most influential business books of our time.

Gary Krisel, Director

The Walt Disney Television Animation department began in November 1984 with Gary at the helm, and he grew it into a powerhouse. During nearly 23 years with Disney, Gary developed some of its most iconic properties, including the Ducktales TV show and “DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp.” In music, his hits included “Mickey Mouse Disco” (2x Platinum) and “The Making of ‘A Goofy Movie’”. Post Disney, Gary joined Dreamworks SKG where he was the backbone of the studio’s plan to enter Saturday morning cartoons.

Jean M. Gadea, Treasurer/Secretary

A Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner, Jean has her own practice and over 32-years experience with a wide range of clients and industries. She has expertise in all aspects of taxation and accounting, from compliance to planning. Jean has served on a variety of committees and boards for different community organizations. She’s a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants.