Archives: Team Members

Lori is a Director of BELA engagement. She has over 30 years’ experience in supporting customers. She focuses on the customer needs by reviewing priorities and expected outcomes then works them closely to ensure needs are being met.

Prior to joining our team at Ethisphere, Lori spent 22 years with Thomson Reuters supporting law firms and academic institutions. Most recently, she was with an educational technology company where she served as a partnership manager. In this role, she worked closely with school districts to help elevate their student outcomes.

Lori serves as a Meals on Wheels volunteer.

She lives in a river-town community south east of St Paul MN where she enjoys boating with her husband and dogs on the St Croix and Mississippi Rivers.

Jonathan Whitacre is the Executive Vice President of Ethisphere and leads growth strategy and revenue production for both the Ethisphere Services business and the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA).

Mr. Whitacre has a 19-year history in the legal, regulatory and compliance space. Most recently, he was Director of Sales at NYSE Governance Services, Corpedia, and led sales and account management for accounts in the southeastern USA. Services focused on ethics and compliance training as well as ethics program assessment and rehabilitation.

Prior to the NYSE, Mr. Whitacre served in various business development, consulting and leadership roles at Thomson Legal & Regulatory, now Thomson Reuters.

Mr. Whitacre holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. When not at work, you might find Jonathan training for another triathlon, out trail-running or on a back-country adventure.

Amy Volpe is a Senior Director of BELA Engagement at Ethisphere.

Prior to joining Ethisphere, Amy spent 8 years with the federal government, most recently at the State Department as the Chief of Staff of the Secretary’s Office of Global Partnerships where she worked extensively on engaging the private sector in diplomatic and development efforts. Prior to this, Amy was the Director of External Affairs at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration at the Commerce Department. Before her time in Washington D.C., Amy served as a senior policy advisor to Senator John F. Kerry in Boston and practiced corporate law at Foley & Lardner LLP.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Pennsylvania and Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from Boston College Law School and Boston College Carroll Graduate School of Management.

Samantha Johnson is the Manager of Content & Community Engagement at Ethisphere, where she plays a central role in shaping the resources, conversations, and experiences that support the global BELA community. Known for her blend of strategic thinking and practical execution, Sam collaborates across Ethisphere’s teams to produce high-quality content that helps E&C leaders stay informed, solve challenges, and elevate their programs.  

In her role, Sam manages Ethisphere’s content libraries, ensuring members have direct access to timely, relevant, and actionable materials. She develops guides, frameworks, and enablement resources that help distill complex E&C topics into practical, user-friendly formats. She also produces newsletters and contributes to content strategy, working with internal partners to support outreach efforts and strengthen engagement across the BELA Community.  

Sam is a key driver in the planning and execution of the Global Ethics Summit, leading faculty management and agenda development. Her ability to balance logistics, storytelling, and relationship-building ensures that each year’s Summit delivers meaningful insights and an inclusive, community-driven experience.  

Prior to joining Ethisphere, Sam worked in the healthcare industry in compliance and community relations roles. She reviewed and drafted policies, authored internal communications, managed organizational events, and supported community-facing initiatives. These experiences strengthened her ability to translate policy into clear, people-centered guidance—something she continues to prioritize today.  

Colleagues describe Sam as thoughtful, curious, and highly collaborative. She loves building resources that make complex topics easier to navigate, and she’s energized by projects that combine research, storytelling, and design. A lifelong learner, Sam is always digging into the questions keeping E&C leaders up at night and loves turning complex concepts into stories that resonate.  

Sam holds a J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law and bachelor’s degrees in Public Relations and History from Iowa State University. Outside of work, Sam enjoys spending time with friends and family, taking her furry coworker Tilly on outdoor adventures, and curling up with a book and watching the snow fall in her native Wisconsin home.  

Julia is thrilled to be a part of the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance as an Account Representative. It is an honor to support our team of BELA Engagement Directors as they help BELA members thrive. Originally from Kansas, Julia moved to New York City where she most recently worked as the Elementary Coordinator at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. There, she helped to facilitate the coming and going of upwards of 250 families each week, making sure all of their needs were met. She managed staff and volunteers, and created a safe, fun, and meaningful environment for children and families alike. Prior to Redeemer, Julia worked at Lincoln Center Education and Gibney Dance Center.

Julia received her BFA from UNC School of the Arts, completed a two year graduate level acting program in NYC, and is certified in CPR/ First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, and Group Fitness Instruction. Outside of Ethisphere, Julia is passionate about acting and writing, enjoys fitness, and bakes the best apple pie you’ll ever taste!