A Lifetime of Leadership: Ellen Lanford Asherman ’85
Ever since giving her first gold coin to Converse at Commencement in 1985, Ellen Lanford Asherman has increasingly valued her Converse education – and has increasingly invested in building that value for today’s young women.
Freshly minted with a degree in Business Administration and finance, Ellen began her career in Atlanta as one of only two women stockbrokers for EF Hutton. She later became Director of Franchise Real Estate with Flagstar Companies, Inc., traveling extensively throughout the United States and meeting Philip, her husband since 1994.
“The nearest and dearest relationships in my life are from Converse. It started me on a path to the life I chose to follow, and for that, I will always be grateful.”
Following expatriate assignments in South America and Asia, the Ashermans settled in Texas 15 years ago with their three sons Lucas, Ford and Turner. Headquartered in the Houston area, Philip is Chief Executive Officer of CB&I, a Fortune 500 global technology and energy infrastructure company employing over 40,000 people in 85 locations around the world.
Ellen has been a Converse supporter since graduation, but when she met former president Betsy Fleming the Ashermans decided it was time to reconnect with Converse in a more meaningful way by supporting scholarship and various capital projects. Today, Ellen also serves on the Board of Trustees.
“We believe the primary responsibility to support higher education and helping others in the community resides with those in private sector, and in the case of Converse, support from alumnae who have been blessed with a great education and a lifetime association with a strong and successful community of women,” said Ellen. “The nearest and dearest relationships in my life are from Converse. It started me on a path to the life I chose to follow, and for that, I will always be grateful.”
Originally published in The Converse Magazine.