Board of Directors

 

The CL Werner Foundation is governed by a carefully selected team of seven Board Members. Members are family and business leaders whose core values align with the Foundation’s mission statement.


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CL Werner

Honorary Chairman of the Board

CL Werner is the Founder of Werner Enterprises, Inc., one of the largest transportation and logistics companies in the country. His prominence in the industry began at the early age of 19 when in 1956 he started his company as the sole driver with a single truck. Over the next 65 years CL played a pivotal role in the successful business operations of the company. CL has received several awards and recognitions throughout the years for his business and philanthropic contributions, including the Horatio Alger Award; the Distinguished Service Award from the Military Officers Association of America; the Distinguished Benefactor Award from the Archdiocese of Omaha; the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hall of Fame; the Omaha Business Hall of Fame; the Distinguished Entrepreneur Award from the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship; the Centennial Citizen of the Year award from the Boy Scouts of America’s Mid-American Council; and the University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award for outstanding support; and the Lifetime Philanthropic Achievement Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In 2018 Creighton University recognized CL’s significant contributions by awarding him an honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree. CL retired from Werner Enterprises in 2020. CL’s focus through the Foundation is to continue his legacy and educate future generations on the importance of hard work, perseverance, grace and generosity.

  • Rachel Werner

    Rachel Werner


    President and Sustaining Board Member

    Rachel Werner, wife of Werner Enterprises Founder, CL Werner, is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Cornerstone Legacy, LLC.  Rachel is a Colorado native.  She enjoyed a career as an estimator and project manager for a leading civil engineer company. Her broad experience in project management served as a perfect prelude to her leadership of the Foundation, where she has been instrumental in overseeing its successful charitable endeavors.

    Rachel has served as a Director of the Foundation since its formation in 2008 and as President since 2011. Rachel is honored to carry out the Foundation’s mission as well as educate future generations on the importance of strengthening their philanthropic values.  Walking side-by-side, the Werners have impacted countless lives through their generosity and unwavering commitment to philanthropy. They particularly seek to enhance the lives of those in need of a helping hand to thrive in their various paths of life.

  • Joe Hartnett

    Joe Hartnett


    Chief Financial Officer and Sustaining Board Member

    Joe is the Chief Financial Officer of Cornerstone Legacy, LLC, the family office that supports the CL Werner Foundation “behind the scenes”. He has served the CL Werner Foundation as an Advisor since 2018 and joined the Board and was named Treasurer in 2021. Joe is a CPA and has practiced in the field of public accounting most of his career. A lifelong Nebraskan, Joe has actively supported the state, city and community as a member of the Board of the Gretna Community Foundation, the Advisory Council for the Poor Clare Sisters of Omaha, Leadership Omaha and its Alumni Association, among others. He is also a Permanent Deacon serving the Archdiocese of Omaha.

  • Stefanie K Christensen

    Stefanie K Christensen


    Secretary and Sustaining Board Member

    Stefanie has been a member of the CL Werner Foundation since 2011.  Born and raised in Omaha, Stefanie earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.  She then attended the University of Nebraska – Omaha where she received her MS in Educational Administration.  Stefanie started her professional career as an elementary educator and administrator.  In 2008, Ms. Christensen left education to join Werner Enterprises, where she now works in Human Resources.  Stefanie enjoys spending time with her family.  She and her husband, Erik, are the proud parents of a high school son and middle-school daughter.

  • Lyndsie Vacanti

    Lyndsie Vacanti


    Board Member

    Lyndsie lives in Omaha, Nebraska with her husband, Charles, and their four daughters. She graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center with a Bachelors in Dental Hygiene. She then practiced Dental Hygiene for two years before making the move to Werner Enterprises where she developed and grew their associate and driver Wellness program as well as their community volunteer program. She spent many hours out in the Omaha community - along with other Werner associates - helping to fulfill needs at homeless shelters, for struggling parents and to clean up parks.  After nine years at Werner, Lyndsie stepped down from her position as Director of Corporate Wellness to focus on her family. She continues to have a passion for living an active, healthy lifestyle - and teaching her daughters to do the same.

  • Aaron Luttrell

    Aaron Luttrell


    Board Member

    Aaron is a fourth generation Coloradoan, who serves a diverse clientele as a professional real estate broker with LIV Sotheby’s International Real Estate. Aaron is a top-producing agent in the Denver Metro area, a Forbes Magazine Market Leader, a Fortune Magazine Market Leader, and a Five Star Professional Award recipient for several years running. Aaron has a reputation for consistently delivering dependable dedication and results to his and other professionals, through hard work and expert navigation of the real estate industry. Aaron is proud to serve with the CL Werner Foundation as it aligns with his core values of authenticity, compassion, understanding, and honesty.