Truman Smith
Truman Smith graduated with a B.S. in Business and Economics from the University of Kentucky, where he developed a passion for economic policy and how it can be harnessed to uplift those in lower income communities. He then attended The Ohio State University, where he earned his M.S. in Applied Economics.
Truman serves the Blue Collar Dollar Institute as its Economic Data Analyst, ensuring that key data is organized and accessible by all within the organization. He aims to help the Blue Collar Dollar Institute in its mission by providing insightful analyses regarding the state of the middle class and the economy, as well as by gathering and presenting thought-provoking economic data on American households, industries, and government policies.
Dave Nixon
Dave is a born and raised native of Dayton, Ohio, one of the centers of Manufacturing in the Midwest. As a son of parents that provided a living in the trades, Dave fully understands the challenges and opportunities that await people in the trades sector. With a career of startups, as well as building and growing companies across many different sectors through his background in consulting, Dave is uniquely qualified to help take market research and deploy it into programs that matter.
Dave will take the insights and analytics developed by the Blue Collar Dollar Institute and apply the learning to find the “white space” that will allow the Charles L. Shor Foundation to efficiently and effectively build middle class income, trade programs to change the trajectory of people’s lives across many different career pathways. As a Graphic Designer by trade, and a background of experience of decades across Technology, Data and AI, using creativity, and a technical methodology will allow Dave’s experience to further the Blue Collar Dollar Institute go-to-market strategy in a unique and powerful way.
Gerry Otto
Gerry Otto is the CEO of the Charles L. Shor family of companies, spanning The Charles L Shor Foundation, Epilepsy Wellness Advocates, and the Charles L. Shor Family Office. He leads at the intersection of mission, capital, and execution—translating philanthropic intent into strategy, building the infrastructure to deliver it, and ensuring every dollar and decision is aligned to measurable, durable outcomes. Gerry’s leadership is grounded in a few core convictions: the team is the greatest asset; the work is purpose-driven; and meaningful impact is a marathon, not a sprint. He prizes outcomes over activity, builds environments where people own results, and believes the ability to learn quickly—especially from mistakes—is a defining advantage.
Gerry grew up in a small river town in Northern Kentucky, and as a result, witnessed first hand the stuggles of hard-working middle class families. When growing up, Gerry watched in angst as local car plants shuttered and Blue Collar Workers fears shifted to putting food on the table. Gerry quickly found, through years of inquisitive research, that unfair trade and currency misalignment played major roles in the job losses and hardship he was witnessing. This very problem is what the BCDI aims to solve.
Over nearly a decade with the organization, Gerry has progressed from an entry-level FP&A role to leading FP&A, then serving as CIO/CFO, and ultimately CEO—bringing a rare, end-to-end view of how purpose becomes performance. He brings insight to the Blue Collar Dollar Intitute through his deep understanding of financial markets and the underlying implications on economic activity and trade. He is a vital member of the organization’s leadership team, helping to guide its strategic direction and shape its priorities. Gerry is also heavily involved in external relations, working tirelessly to build relationships with stakeholders and allies across a range of industries. In addition, Gerry serves as the CFO/CIO for the organization’s primary foundation. In this capacity, he is responsible for ensuring that the foundation’s finances are managed effectively and efficiently, allowing it to make the biggest possible impact on the lives of those it serves.