Nelda Connors

Nelda J. Connors is the Founder and CEO of Pine Grove Holdings, LLC, a privately-held investment firm in Chicago which provides advisory services to the private equity and investment banking sectors and invests in small and lower middle market companies. Nelda is a director of Boston Scientific, Delphi Technologies, Echo Global Logistics, and EnerSys.

Nelda has more than 25 years technical and operating experience. She served as President and CEO of Atkore International, formerly a division of Tyco International. Prior to Atkore, she was a senior executive at Eaton Corporation, Ford Motor Company and Chrysler in various global business leadership and P&L roles. She previously served on the Boards of Blount International, CLARCOR Inc, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Vesuvius plc. Nelda was an independent consultant to the Department of Justice's Takata Corporation airbag investigation.

Nelda has been recognized by Savoy Magazine in its Power 300 Most Influential Black Corporate Directors; Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the Top 75 Powerful Women in Business; and one of Chicago United's Business Leaders of Color.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Nelda holds her B.S. and M.S. from the University of Dayton with post-graduate studies at the University of Tokyo in International Finance and Economics. She has lived and worked in Japan, Germany and China.