​What are Jon Gruebele's qualifications?

  • Extensive experience on the American Mensa Board of Directors (AMC), serving as Regional Vice Chair 4 (RVC4) from 2017 to 2024, Second Vice Chair from July 1 to September 21, 2024, and since then as First Vice Chair.
  • American Mensa National Representative on Mensa International's Board of Directors. Past Chair of Mensa International's Strategic Planning Committee
  • Current member of the Finance, Research, and Name and Logo Committees. Serves as the AMC liaison for the Awards, Licensing, Research Review, and Testing Committees. Past Chair of the AMC Strategy Planning Committee and Governance Task Force. Formerly served on the Leadership Development Committee, Transition Committee, and Event Safety Task Force.
  • Recipient of the National Chairman's Service Award (2018), National Certificate of Appreciation (2021), and National Service Award (2024)
  • As a Region 4 LocSec (Local Group President), helped revitalize an inactive Local Group, ultimately winning national Jewel and Owl awards
  • Managed corporate organizations with up to 100 IT (computer) professionals
  • Certified expert at implementing process and quality improvements. Saved millions without resulting layoffs
  • Facilitated strategy development with the American Mensa Board (AMC) and a Fortune 100 multinational company
  • Twice co-chaired Chicago Area Mensa's "A Gathering of Gamers" (AGOG) Regional Gathering
  • Served on four not-for-profit boards. Besides being First Vice Chair for American Mensa, Jon is currently President of another, similarly sized not-for-profit.
  • Years of international marketing experience, living, working, and traveling overseas
  • Taught management and statistics for businesses, an international not-for-profit, and at a university as adjunct professor
  • Mensa Proctor since 2010. Tested approximately 200 candidates.
  • Taught multiple Leadership Development Workshops (LDWs)
  • Senior member, American Society for Quality
  • Professional member, Association for Computing Machinery
  • MBA (marketing and international business), MS (computer science), and BS (accounting and management science).
  • Holds a Certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education
  • Lives in downtown Chicago, IL


What's a First Vice Chair, and what do they do?

First Vice Chair is one of five nationally elected positions on American Mensa's Board of Directors. The others are Chair, Second Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. We also have 10 regionally elected voting Board members.

Bylaws article VI.2 states: "The duties of the First Vice-Chairman shall be to assist in the discharge of the Chair's duties and to act as a substitute during the Chair's absence or inability to serve." Our Actions Still in Effect (ASIEs) add that the First Vice-Chair:

  • Ascends to the position of Chair if the position becomes vacant
  • Suggests projects and works on projects assigned by the Chair
  • Serves on the ExComm -- the group that may conduct certain business between AMC meetings.​
  • Is a voting member of the Finance and Audit Committee
  • Assists the Chair as requested, basically "other duties as assigned"