OUR BOARD
John Fruth
Founder & President
“Education should open doors, not create barriers. Our foundation exists to help students see a clear path forward - and to ensure they have the support to walk it.”
— Founder & President, Fruth Family Foundation
Bettina Kochinke
Board Member
Bettina Kochinke established the U.S. market presence for two European companies in the optical eyewear industry, building nationwide sales forces to support their growth. Bettina joined the Fruth Family Foundation in the early days of its inception and strongly believes in its mission to expand educational opportunities for underprivileged children while supporting dual career pathways and career training choices. She feels privileged to serve on the board and is honored to give back in support of meaningful, lasting impact.
Jim Welch
Board Member
Jim Welch has 40 years experience in the medical device industry as both an entrepreneur and a corporate leader. In addition to broad operating and executive experience for companies in the vision care and related industry, Jim has also served as an angel investor, board member, and advisor for a number of startups in the wider medical device industry. He has served as an officer for two public companies. Jim has also served as volunteer on a variety of private committees and projects for charitable organizations. Jim joined the Fruth Family Foundation in 2021 to serve on the board and as an advisor. He is a longtime associate and friend of the Foundations founder and family. Jim received a BS in Engineering from Clarkson University and an MBA from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Mary Jo Potter
Board Member
Mary Jo Potter is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with more than 35 years of experience building, scaling, and backing innovative companies, particularly in the healthcare sector. She founded and successfully sold a company to McGraw Hill before becoming an active angel investor 26 years ago through Keiretsu Forum.
Today, Mary Jo is a long-standing member of Keiretsu Forum and a General Partner at Keiretsu Capital, where she serves on the investment committee. She also serves as Managing Partner of Healthcare Angels and Partner at Pegasus Tech Ventures. In addition, she is an LP in Purple Arch Ventures (Northwestern University’s venture fund) and Portfolia, and an advisor and investor at K2X. She is also a member of Band of Angels and SkyDeck.
Mary Jo sits on several boards and has helped six companies achieve successful exits through IPOs or acquisitions.
Andrew Bertolli
Board Member
Andrew is a Managing Director and leads Transaction Execution at Zanbato where he is responsible for capital origination, deal sourcing, structuring, and fund operations. He sits on the investment and valuation committees for Zanbato Capital which manages a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of late-stage private equity assets.
Andrew is also on the Board of the Fruth Family Foundation – helping to direct capital towards career training education for underserved youth.
Andrew was previously a corporate lawyer at Latham & Watkins where he advised growth companies, VC and PE funds, and other sponsors in a variety of deals and governance matters. Andrew started his career as a litigator at Latham defending companies in complex commercial lawsuits and investigations. Andrew has experience working in-house for a public tech company and at an investment bank.
Andrew received his B.A. and J.D. degrees from UCLA where he graduated magna cum laude and with honors.
Paul Muyskens
Special Assistant
Paul Muyskens, PhD, serves as a Special Assistant to the Fruth Family Foundation. Prior to joining the foundation Paul served as the Academic Research Manager for Sourcewell and was a school psychologist with Minneapolis Public Schools. He specializes in research, program evaluation, and assessment activities for school districts, and has managed the design, development, and implementation of multiple software products designed to enhance data-based decision-making.