Sharon Walton (Belz)

Sharon Walton (Belz) has extensive experience in finance and administration. Sharon currently serves as the Vice President of Finance & Administration at the Newberry Library, a position they started in October 2022. Prior to this, Sharon held the role of Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum from January 2012 to September 2022.

Before joining the museum, Sharon worked at Lane Hospitality as the Vice President - Finance from January 2000 to January 2012. At Lane Hospitality, they oversaw accounting and finance functions for a national hotel ownership and management company. Sharon was responsible for accounting and financial reporting, internal audit, sales and use tax compliance, and debt compliance.

Sharon also worked at Lane Industries, Inc. from January 2000 to February 2011. In this role as Director of Financial Planning, they held various accounting and financial leadership positions at a diversified private investment holding company with consolidated revenues exceeding $800M. Sharon assisted in the divestiture of Lane's assets, including sales of the hotel operating group and several large landholdings.

Prior to Lane Industries, Sharon worked as an Associate Consultant at IPC Group, Inc. (now CRA International) from August 1998 to January 2000. There, they provided strategic and financial consulting services related to the management of intellectual property assets for Fortune 100 firms in various industries.

Sharon's work experience also includes a role as Senior Auditor at Arthur Andersen, LLP from September 1992 to August 1996. Sharon led teams in providing audit services to clients within the financial services industries, including one of the division's largest clients.

Overall, Sharon Walton (Belz) has a strong background in finance and administration, with experience in a variety of industries and leadership positions.

Sharon Walton (Belz) began their education at Indiana University - Kelley School of Business, where they pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from 1988 to 1992. After completing their undergraduate studies, they continued their academic journey by attending The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth from 1997 to 1998, obtaining their Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. In 1998, they briefly attended London Business School as an exchange student, although the degree pursued during that time is not specified.