National Museum of American History Names Four New Board Members
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has named the president and CEO of Univision Communications Inc. Randy Falco; Wayne W. Whalen of counsel at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Chicago; Randall Martinez, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Cordoba Corporation; and David Lauren, executive vice president of global advertising, marketing and corporate communications for Ralph Lauren Corporation. The Smithsonian’s Board of Regents approved the four candidates for three-year terms.
The museum’s board was established in 1996 and is chaired by the Honorable Nicholas Taubman, president of Mozart Investments and former ambassador to Romania. With the new additions, the board has 25 members, including historians, community business leaders, philanthropists as well as 18 alumni. Board members advise the director on programs, exhibitions, facilities, development and finance.
“The addition of four distinguished Americans to our board continues our goal of involving private sector leaders who bring a broad geographic and diverse industry perspective to the important work of this museum,” said John Gray, director of the museum. “We welcome the new members, and I am confident we will benefit from both their experience and expertise.”
Falco is a 2015 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Board of Trustee honoree as well as a 2013 Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame inductee. He is also a board member of Ronald McDonald House. Other notable recognitions include the Frank Stanton Award in 2007, the Ballet Hispanico Gala Honor in 2013, the MALDEF Legacy Leader Award in 2012, CableFax 100 “Above it All” 2012 and 2013 and several Emmys for NBC’s Olympic coverage. Before Univision, Falco served for more than 30 years in various positions at NBC, including as president of the NBC Universal Television Network Group and later as CEO of AOL. He holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s of science degree in finance from Iona College.
Lauren is executive vice president of global advertising, marketing and corporate communications for Ralph Lauren Corporation where he oversees global campaigns, corporate and fashion communications, strategic marketing partnerships and RalphLauren.com. In addition, he is a member of the Ralph Lauren Corporation Board of Directors and the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention. Lauren also serves as president of the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation, orchestrates Ralph Lauren Volunteers, which sends Ralph Lauren employees out on community service initiatives, and spearheads the G.I.V.E. (Get Involved Volunteer Exceed) campaign to promote service in the community. In recent years, he has been the driving force behind several groundbreaking creative partnerships and initiatives. Most recently, Lauren advanced the concept of fusing fashion and technology by launching POLO 4D, a revolutionary runway event in which a water-screen projection towered above Manhattan’s Central Park. He has also been instrumental in building the company’s global fashion image as it has expanded across China, Russia, Latin America and Europe. Forbes recently listed him as the second most influential chief marketing officer CMO in the world. Lauren holds a degree in political science from Duke University. He resides in New York City.
Martinez is the executive vice president and chief operating officer for Cordoba Corporation, a multimillion dollar consulting firm specializing in infrastructure development services. Martinez is active in his community and serves as a board member for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Whittier Area YMCA, the Southern California Regional Committee for Sustainable Conservation and the Bassett USD Education Foundation (in La Puente, California). In early 2015, he was appointed by California Attorney General Kamala Harris to the California Energy Commission Proposition 39 Citizens Oversight Board. From 1996 to 1999, he served as guest host of El Amanacer, a public affairs television program where he conducted live “on-air” interviews with political, civic and business leaders discussing issues related to arts, culture and business for the UPN network affiliate in the San Francisco Bay area. His first book, Ten Days to Get to London – a European Backpacking Adventure was published in 2004. Martinez earned his degree in business administration/finance from the University of Southern California. He is licensed in California as a general engineering contractor.
Whalen was a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Chicago for more than 30 years. He is currently of counsel to the firm where he is involved in the firm’s corporate, financial and business practice. He has counseled, completed transactions and litigated on behalf of businesses, boards of directors, financial institutions, utilities and governments. Whalen was an elected delegate and chairman of the drafting committee of the Constitutional Convention that wrote the Illinois Constitution of 1970. In a 1984 Chicago Business Digest poll of lawyers, Whalen was named one of the 10 best corporate attorneys in the city. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Crain’s Chicago’s Who’s Who, where he is one of 30 leaders (only two lawyers) who have been on the list for 20 years. Whalen is a member of The American Law Institute. He was one of four lawyers appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to its Blue Ribbon Committee, which reviewed and recommended a detailed revision of the court’s procedures for supervising and disciplining Illinois lawyers. Whalen also serves as the board chair of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation and is a member of the boards of the Stevenson Center and the U. S. Air Force Academy Endowment.
Through incomparable collections, rigorous research and dynamic public outreach, the National Museum of American History explores the infinite richness and complexity of American history. The museum helps people understand the past in order to make sense of the present and shape a more humane future. For more information, visit https://americanhistory.si.edu. The museum is located at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W., and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000.
