Nonprofits and Education
President and CEO
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation | Milwaukee
Since 2016, Rick Graber has led the Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, a grant-making institution with about $850 million in net assets that annually grants roughly $40 million in support of organizations related to the arts, culture, education, health and conservative ideals. Previously, Graber was chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, president and chief executive officer of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic under President George W. Bush, and a senior VP at Honeywell International.
Education: Bachelor’s, Duke University; J.D., Boston University Law School
First car: “A blue Ford Taurus. I drove it through my first year at Reinhart Boerner until I could afford a new one!”
A book everyone should read: “‘Churchill: Walking With Destiny’ by Andrew Roberts. The story of a remarkable man who altered the course of history.”
Best career advice: “Advice from Dave Cote, CEO of Honeywell: ‘Go slow to go fast.’”
Biggest risk you’ve ever taken: “Leaving a great job with Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren for the then-unknown (to me) world of diplomacy. And then years later, leaving a great job with Honeywell for the then unknown world (to me) of philanthropy.”