The Marquette University Board of Trustees elected new executive officers at its May 3 meeting, the university announced today. Todd Adams, chairman and chief executive officer of Zurn Elkay Water Solutions, is the new board chair, succeeding Robert J. Eck, who served in the role since 2020. Raymond J. Manista, executive vice president — chief legal officer, chief compliance officer and secretary of Northwestern Mutual, has been elected vice chair.
About Todd Adams
Adams was elected to the Marquette University Board of Trustees in 2015 and served as vice chair of the board from 2020-23.
He is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Milwaukee-based Zurn Elkay Water Solutions, which supplies the industry’s widest range of clean water solutions for drinking water, hygiene and sustainable water management. Adams has been the company’s chairman since 2020 and chief executive officer since 2009. He joined the company, formerly Rexnord Corporation, in 2004.
Adams also serves on the boards of Badger Meter Inc., Children’s Wisconsin and Hunger Task Force.
He is a member of the Marquette University Archbishop Henni Founders Society and the Marquette University President’s Society.
About Ray Manista
Manista was elected to the Marquette University Board of Trustees in 2017. He is a two-time Marquette alumnus—he earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1987 and his J.D. from Marquette Law School in 1990.
Manista is executive vice president — chief legal and compliance officer, and secretary of Northwestern Mutual in Milwaukee. In this role, he is responsible for the company’s law and public affairs function, including the law, enterprise compliance, privacy, government relations, enterprise sustainability and impact departments, and the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. He also serves on the company’s Senior Leadership Team.
Manista has served on several boards, including Milwaukee Succeeds; the Association of Life Insurance Counsel; Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare — Southeast Wisconsin; Milwaukee College Preparatory School; and the Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund.
Three trustees receive emeritus status
The Board of Trustees also bestowed emeritus status on three members whose terms have concluded: Eck, 1980 alumnus and retired chief executive officer of Anixter International Inc.; Jon Hammes, managing partner, Hammes Company; and Peggy Troy, 1974 nursing alumna and president and chief executive officer of Children’s Wisconsin.
