Susan Ferris Wyderko
President, CEO
Susan Ferris Wyderko is the President and CEO of the Mutual Fund Directors Forum. Prior to joining the Forum as Executive Director in 2006, she held various senior positions at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission including the Director of the Office of Investor Education and Assistance, as well as the Acting Director of the Division of Investment Management.
Susan is a member of the Investor Advisory Committee of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which was formed to advise the Commission in its mission to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation. She is also a member of the National Adjudicatory Council, a FINRA committee that reviews initial decisions rendered in FINRA disciplinary and membership proceedings.
Susan earned her J.D. from Cornell Law School , where she was an Editor of the Cornell Law Review. She is a graduate of Wellesley College.
David B. Smith, Jr.
Executive Vice President & General Counsel
David Smith is the Executive Vice President for Policy and Legal Affairs for the Mutual Fund Directors Forum. He joined the Forum's staff in November 2005. Previously, David served with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as Associate Director (Public Utility and Investment Company Regulation), and, prior to that, as Assistant General Counsel for Investment Management, Office of the General Counsel. Before that, he served as staff attorney, then Senior Counsel, with the same Office. Before joining the Commission in 1996, David was an associate at the law firm of Shea & Gardner, focusing on corporate and litigation issues. He served as Law Clerk to Judge Ginsburg of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals from 1993-1994. David received a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1993, a M.A. in English from the University of Chicago in 1989, and a B.A. from Carleton College in 1988.
Carolyn McPhillips
Senior Counsel
Carolyn McPhillips serves as Senior Counsel to the Mutual Fund Directors Forum. She joined the Forum's staff in July 2005. Immediately prior to joining the Forum, she lived in Naples, Italy. She was an associate in the Financial Services Group of Dechert LLP from 2000 to 2003. Carolyn received her J.D. in 2000 and her B.S. in 1996 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Joanne Skerrett
Counsel
Joanne joined the Forum in September 2016 as Counsel to the Mutual Fund Directors Forum. She began her legal career at K&L Gates and later Seward & Kissel working on 1940 Act issues. Most recently, she was an associate in the Investment Management group at Sullivan & Worcester, LLP. Before beginning her legal career, Joanne wrote and edited financial news at The Chicago Tribune and Boston Globe. Joanne received her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2008, M.B.A. from Northeastern University in 2002, and her B.A. from University of Massachusetts – Boston in 1996.
Young Hee Kim
Director of Operations
Young Hee Kim joined the forum in April 2012. Before joining the Forum, Young was a public affairs and research analyst in the federal government and nonprofit settings. Young received her M.A. in 2011 from American University and a B.A. in 2002 from Colorado State University.
Leslie Beckbridge
Membership Associate
Leslie Beckbridge joined the Forum in March 2015. Prior to joining the Forum's staff, Leslie worked as an Engagement Manager, providing communications, business development and client relations support for a consulting firm in DC. Leslie received her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College in 2011.