As a sculptor Jon saw a need to bridge the gap between philanthropy and the arts. He began with a hands-on, nine month project at Baylor's Our Children's House, overseeing the design and installation of over 200 running feet of murals recreating the history of flight. Also created were moving balloons and an aluminum and wood twenty-two foot zeppelin with 10 moving characters. This was to be used as a distraction for children undergoing physical therapy, and the effects were absolutely magical.
Jon began studying the work of Dr Roger Ulrich who, through evidence-based research, has quantified the healing effects of gardens and art in public (particularly health care) settings. Jon noticed a disconnect between the needs of the staff, patients, donors and foundations that he believed could be remedied to the benefit of all.
The goal was to bring the needs of these diverse groups together and provide unique, thoughtful and wondrous spaces full of art and natural healing elements. As Dr. Ulrich has demonstrated, appropriate art and well designed gardens can immediately reduce blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and even reduce staff turnover in a hospital environment. We are now committed to creating healing spaces by developing fundraising projects centered on appropriate art.
Jon owned and operated The Wayne Companies, an automotive parts company for over 20 years. Over this time Jon gained the knowledge needed to pursue exciting new business opportunities. In 1992 Jon started Highgate Products, Inc., the creators of the 'temporary tattoo'. Jon expanded the product line through licensing deals offering temporary tattoos of NFL, Major League Hockey, and Major League Baseball team logos, as well as Looney Tunes, Harley-Davidson and major motion picture licensed characters. Jon's strong business skills named him Entrepreneur of the year and recognition in Forbes Magazine.
To fulfill his curiosity and need to be involved Jon became Chairman of the Dallas County Sheriff Department's Academy Advisory Board. Jon has also been very active within Wayne Family Foundation donating both his time and energy to many charitable foundations here in Dallas. Jon and the Wayne Family Foundation have been recognized by Baylor Hospital for their donation of the Baylor Flame atop the new Emergency Department, the Interfaith Garden of Prayer and their involvement in the Palliative Care program.
Jon is currently the President of BEW Management, where he manages and develops real estate holdings. In the fall of 2007, Jon formed a partnership with Mark Dietz, creating Wayne + Dietz Design Group, to combine their collective experience to pursue projects on a larger scale.
Jon's Email: jonathan.wayne@waynedietz.com
Mark graduated from the University of Texas in May 1976, with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and began a career in commercial real estate development. After working for several years with a retail development company he formed a partnership, Ianco Development Corporation, with the company's president and began developing retail shopping centers, office showrooms, office warehouses and office buildings. He formed another company, Concord Realty, Inc to provide real estate brokerage and management services for clients from the United States, England and Japan. Mark's real estate construction, management, brokerage and development experience has helped him fully understand work with a variety of groups required to complete a project. He knows what is necessary to complete a project on time and within a budget.
Mark's experience and business knowledge led to his election on to the ClubCorp International Board of Directors in 1984 and served until 2000. ClubCorp International is a company that owns and operates approximately 200 private clubs, golf courses, and resorts employing approximately 20,000 employees serving approximately 200,000 members. ClubCorp sold in 2006 for in excess of $1.4 billion. Mark joined ClubCorp from 1991. Mark's Primary responsibility was in the area of new business development for the Company's growth in its core business, private club ownership. In addition to other responsibilities, Mark spent his last three years at ClubCorp working with a development partner and his team of consultants to entitle land adjacent to a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course for 500 residential lots. These efforts were successful in eventually selling the land for approximately $120mm. Additional time was spent performing extensive estate planning for Robert H. Dedman Sr. family who owned 75% of ClubCorp. Estate planning included overseeing trust investments, modifying wills, establishing a family counsel, creating new family trusts, serving as a director of the family foundation, establishing a second family foundation, and development and implementation of wealth transfer plans.
From the time spent with the family foundation, Mark was able to develop knowledge and understanding of the issues confronting foundation and their donors. Mark's extensive involvement with charitable foundations while at ClubCorp and his desire to give back to the community inspired him to partner with Jonathan Wayne to form Wayne + Dietz Design Group, LLC in October, 2007. Its focus is to work with hospital, university and school foundations to develop art based fundraising projects.
Mark's Email: mark.dietz@waynedietz.com