IN MEMORIAM Donald Allen (at right, with Dick Morrill), a NIRI Fellow and member of the Senior Roundtable who served on the NIRI Board of Directors, passed away peacefully at age 83 on August 29, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. He was a very active volunteer leader, also serving on the NIRI
Investor Relations Charter (IRC)® Exam Development Committee, Subject Matter Expert Committee and the Annual Conference Com- mittee. Allen was also an officer for the NIRI Orange County chapter and Kansas City chapter. “IR has lost one of its brightest lights with the passing of Don Allen,”
says NIRI President and CEO Matthew Brusch. “He was a consum- mate IR and communications professional and a wonderful person. Don’s decades of NIRI leadership at the local and national levels, his integrity, exceptional professional achievement, and countless hours of selfless volunteerism to our organization were recognized in 2013 when he was inducted into the inaugural class of NIRI Fellows.” His early career began with his passion for writing and photog-
raphy as a photojournalist for United Press International. He worked in public relations for Xerox on the East Coast before relocating with his family to Southern California to found a public relations agency with his business partner Gardner deSpain. He later formed his own company, Te Allen Group, in Orange County, California. Later he served as Director of Corporate Relations at Wonderware
Corporation and Vice President of Corporate Communications at Incuity Software. He also taught investor relations at the University of California, Irvine and Chapman University. Allen loved and collected music of all kinds, played saxophone in
the Saddleback Valley Big Band, and enjoyed fly fishing. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Debra DeVore Allen; his two
daughters by his first marriage, Leigh Allen and Leslie Allen; his elder sister, Gail Waterman; and his younger brother, Paul Allen. Donations in his honor may be made to Henry’s Fork Foun- dation, PO Box 550, Ashton, ID 83420.
IN MEMORIAM Longtime NIRI member and dedicated volunteer leader Susanna Chaupassed away in October 2024. Chau served in many volunteer leadership roles, including on the board of directors of the NIRI San Francisco Chapter and the Silicon Valley Chapter. She was also a member of the 2015 and 2016 NIRI Annual Conference Committee. Chau served as the lead for a mentoring program which paired new to mid-level investor relations professionals with senior IR leaders. “We were deeply saddened to learn of Susanna’s
recent passing,” says NIRI President and CEO Matthew Brusch. “She was a longtime and active NIRI member and her joyful presence will be missed in our community.” In an announcement to their members, the NIRI San
Francisco and NIRI Silicon Valley Boards of Directors said, “Susanna leaves behind a legacy of nearly 20 years of dedicated service and friendship. Her unwavering com- mitment to the IR community will be deeply missed and was outmatched only by her interest in and dedication to political awareness activities. “We honor the lasting impact she left behind—a
legacy defined by her kindness, community spirit, and the values she held dear within NIRI: mentorship, educa- tion, and camaraderie.” Chau had a remarkable 25-year career in biotechnol-
ogy research and biopharmaceutical investor relations, working with notable Bay Area companies, including Atara Biotherapeutics, Compugen, Coherus Biosciences, Astex Pharmaceuticals, Affymetrix, Exelixis, and Mendel Biotechnology. She was passionate about political activism and devoted countless hours to Organizing for America. To honor her memory and legacy, Susannna’s
sister, Stella Chau, created a GoFundMe page at
https://gofund.me/84e9f53c. IR
niri.org/ irupdate
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