Our Team
Meet the individuals who guide The Saigh Foundation’s mission with experience, dedication, and a deep commitment to the St. Louis community.
Elke Buckland
Executive Director
Elke began her professional career in manufacturing and supply chain management as an owner operator for sixteen (16) years. She transitioned into not-for-profit management in 2013, as a leader on the agency side of philanthropy. Her experience in both not-for-profit development and operations gives her a unique perspective and deep understanding of the challenges and impact charitable organizations often face in successfully executing their missions. She has extensive knowledge in setting strategy and implementing initiatives for organizational growth, and her ability to cultivate longstanding relationships, both professionally and personally, is not only a strength but a passion. In her leadership roles, Elke has managed, mentored, and collaborated with board members, volunteers, and staff to foster collaboration and collectively influence systemic change throughout the community. Born and raised in St. Louis, Elke brings a deep-rooted commitment to advancing the growth and long-term vitality of the community.
Julie Hantman
Assistant Director
Julie has over thirty years of work experience with non-profit organizations throughout St. Louis. She has spent her entire career working for organizations striving to make our community better. In 2010, she decided to leverage her development, donor relations, and government relations experiences and ventured out as a development and grant-writing consultant. She served diverse populations and causes throughout St. Louis, including children’s health, special needs education, immigrants and refugees, the arts, and women’s issues.
Julie is a native of St. Louis. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communications from the University of Kansas. Early in her career, Julie had the opportunity to meet Mr. Saigh. In later years, she had the pleasure of working with JoAnn Hejna and Mary Kemp through various organizations benefiting from the generosity of the Saigh Foundation.
Saigh Co-Trustees
Mike Hejna
Co-Trustee
Mike Hejna spent 42 years in banking and commercial real estate. Following 10 years in commercial banking, Mike became President and CEO of Gundaker Commercial Group. His responsibilities included the oversight of all organizational and capital developments and joint ventures. Gundaker Commercial Group (GCG) operations included brokering, asset management, development, and construction. Mr. Hejna is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, College of Business, receiving a BS in Business and Public Administration, a CORO Fellow in Public Affairs and graduate studies at Occidental University in Los Angeles, CA.
Mike is actively engaged in his community, serving as a member of the Board of Directors with St. Louis County Port Authority. His past leadership roles include the following: CBC High School – Board of Directors, Retired; Central Bank – Holding Company Board of Directors -Retired; Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce – Chairman, City Committee; Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce – Board of Directors, 2006 Chairman, Retired; Chesterfield Valley Coalition – Board of Directors, President; University of Missouri -Business/ Finance Advisory Board & Davenport Society; Webster University Business Advisory Board; Better Together, Board of Directors.
Mike has been a successor Trustee of The Saigh Foundation since 2005 and a Co-Trustee since 2019. He has three sons, four step-children, and 11 grandchildren.
Heidi Veron
Co-Trustee
Heidi Veron has more than twenty years experience managing diverse public and private projects, from complex implementations involving multiple suppliers; to management, development and implementation of specific business programs and processes. Heidi has extensive experience managing Government projects — including business re-engineering and privatization efforts.
Heidi was born in St. Louis. After studying Marketing Communications at the University of Missouri, she went on to director positions at GTECH Corporation, Transactive Corporation, and Lockheed Martin before beginning her own consulting firm. Heidi’s success is grounded in her ability to effectively determine customer needs and conceptualize, design, build and improve processes to deliver timely and cost-effective products that meet those customer needs. Heidi’s work has touched millions of people and helped state governments save millions of dollars. She is active in the community and has served on various boards of directors including most recently the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis.
Heidi has been a trustee of The Saigh Foundation since 2005.
Franklin F. Wallis, Esq.
Co-Trustee
Frank Wallis is a retired attorney who specialized in wealth management legal issues, primarily estate planning, charitable giving, business constitution planning, trust company representation, international trust and tax matters, estate and trust planning and administration, transfer tax issues, and institutional fiduciary advice. An active participant in community activities, Mr. Wallis has served on the boards of directors of Opera Theatre of St. Louis, The Arts and Education Council of St. Louis, KETC Channel Nine and Dance St. Louis, the St. Louis Community Foundation, the St. Louis Art Museum, Laumeier Sculpture Park, the Duke University Estate Planning Council, and other charitable organizations. Mr. Wallis holds a special certificate from the Hague Academy of International Law, and holds degrees from Central Methodist University, Duke University and the University of London.
After serving as Fred Saigh’s trust lawyer for many years, Mr. Saigh named Frank as co-trustee of The Saigh Foundation. Mr. Wallis was not only Fred Saigh’s lawyer, but also a trusted friend.
Fiduciary Trustees
Fiduciary Trust Company International (FTCI) is The Saigh Foundation's corporate trustee and is an integral part of our team. FTCI has provided investment management and trust administration services to the foundation since 2007.
JoAnn Hejna and Mary Kemp
JoAnn Hejna served as founding Executive Director and a Co-Trustee through 2019 alongside Mary Kemp, Associate Director. Together, JoAnn and Mary were instrumental in establishing the foundation as a philanthropic leader in the St. Louis community with a particular focus on initiatives that empower children and youth. Many of The Saigh Foundation's partnerships were nurtured under their leadership - and they will always be fondly remembered for their salad lunches.