Michael D. Alter
Michael Alter is a Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
Alter is the Chairman of Edited, a leading global provider of retail intelligence software. Previously, Alter was the Executive Chairman (and former Interim CEO) of Vanco, the largest provider of electronic payment solutions to the faith-based and education communities. He was the Chief Executive Officer of The Tie Bar. Prior to The Tie Bar, Michael was a co-founder and CEO of SurePayroll, a SaaS technology company that is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Paychex®. Alter co-founded SurePayroll in 2000 after six years as a Consultant with McKinsey and Company. Prior to receiving his MBA from the Harvard Business School, Alter worked in various sales positions at IBM. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Northwestern University. Alter is an active board member for several leading industry and entrepreneurial organizations
Alter is a member of the Breakthrough T1D International Board of Directors (formerly JDRF), a member of YPO Gold, CEO, and a former officer of the Chicago Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization. A past recipient of the Illinois Technology Association CityLIGHTS CEO of the Year Award, Alter has been a nationally recognized spokesman on business issues, having served as a columnist for INC.com.
Sarah Alter
Sarah Alter has spent over 25 years transforming Fortune 500 organizations by building and rebuilding both B2B and B2C growth strategies as well as their brand and customer journeys. Her background is global having worked in the U.S., Europe, and Asia as well as cross functional having led teams and strategies in Marketing, Sales, Digital Technology, and Customer Service. Sarah has held executive level roles for such notable brands as Staples, Quill, and Discover Financial Services.
More recently as CEO of NextUP, whose mission is to advance all women in business, Sarah partnered with over 900 companies, half the Fortune 500, by providing leadership development, regional networking, and corporate productivity insights and solutions. Under her leadership, revenue grew by more than 60% and the membership community was diversified and grew 100% to over 18,000 and still growing.
Currently, Sarah serves on two For Profit Boards and a number of Not-For Profit Boards including the Harvard Business School Women’s Alumni Association as well as Orphans of the Storm, a local animal shelter. She and her Husband, Michael, have been actively engaged in Breakthrough T1D for over 15 years.
Sarah earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics from Northwestern. She and Michael are empty nesters in Glencoe with all three children launched and adulting. Her favorite hobby is dog walking and snuggling at Orphans of the Storm.
