John Miller

A high-impact national executive leader, John Miller has dedicated his career to making a difference. Over two decades, he has led a diverse group of companies when they were needed most — building sustainable organizations, directing turnarounds to benefit future generations, and moving companies to a culture of performance. He has helped feed the hungry, provide disaster relief, find cures and treatments for complex neurological conditions, assist the blind, and advocate for veterans and first responders. John holds a high profile in national and New York media as a business thought leader.

In 2018, John became president and CEO of national nonprofits the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind and America's VetDogs, based in Smithtown, NY. Under his direction, the organizations combined, have experienced the most successful revenue years to date.

As president and CEO, John leads Guide Dog Foundation in its mission to improve the quality of life for people who are blind, have low vision, or other disabilities. For more than 75 years, the nonprofit has provided guide dogs and training, free of charge, to thousands of people.

In 2003, Guide Dog Foundation created America’s VetDogs to provide assistance dogs to veterans, active-duty military and first responders with disabilities across the country. John has prioritized high-profile partnerships as a core marketing and fundraising strategy. During his tenure, some of these partnerships include NBC, The Today Show, numerous sports teams, including the NY Islanders, NY Mets, Washington Capitals, Houston Texans, and Atlanta United and Nashville SC soccer clubs, and corporate partners such as Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, and Voya. America’s VetDogs best known client was former President George H.W. Bush, who was matched with his service dog, Sully.

Battle-tested at addressing challenges — leading through the great recession, Hurricane Irene, and Superstorm Sandy — John was well prepared to keep his current organizations thriving during COVID-19. By implementing a four-pillar approach, he addressed safety, funding, programming, and strategic decision-making. John prioritized staff and client safety, injected new energy in fundraising, maintained focus on mission delivery, and made decisions that would continue the pre-COVID momentum.

Earlier in his career, John was chief of staff at the Food Bank For New York City, COO at Mercy College, and commissioner at the Department of Public Works in the Town of Babylon, NY. In 2011, he was named CEO of the American Red Cross on Long Island. There, he directed the mergers of three chapters into one stronger organization and oversaw responses to national events, including Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Sandy. Prior to his current role, John served as president and CEO of the Tourette Association of America (TAA), where he executed a turnaround by bringing in a new leadership team and strategic direction. His efforts resulted in a significant increase in the company’s financial performance and moved the TAA from deficits to its first positive financial position in years.

John acknowledges his core philosophy of authentic management, building trust and role and goal clarity as the blueprint for success and credits the teams he has worked with over the years for achieving outstanding results.