HANDLING WITH CARE

Newcomer Gail Miller Bisher brings a career in communications—and a lifetime in the world of championship dogs—to her new role as President of the Spirit of 67.

WHEN GAIL MILLER BISHER AND HER FAMILY moved to Lake Forest just 23 months ago, she planned on easing into the community. Instead, she now leads one of its most cherished organizations as president of the Spirit of 67 Foundation. “It’s been a whirlwind,” she says, “but a meaningful one.”

And while her commitment to the Spirit is impressive in itself, it’s her past professional life that gives her story an unexpected twist.

Bisher and her husband, Mat, both Midwesterners, met in Chicago. When a communications role with the American Kennel Club took them to New York, they assumed it would be a short adventure. Twenty years later—including a decade in Manhattan and almost another in Darien, Connecticut—they were still there. Their daughter, Peri, now an 8th grader at Deer Path Middle School, grew up largely on the East Coast. But when the pull to be closer to family grew stronger, Lake Forest quickly felt like home.

What many in Lake Forest don’t know is that Bisher has deep roots in the world of dog shows. Her parents were stationed in London with the Air Force when her mother discovered Bearded Collies—dogs that were then virtually unknown in the U.S. When her father retired, the family returned to the U.S. with some of the first Bearded Collies in the country. Her mother became a leader in the breed’s national organization, while Bisher became the family competitor. Showing dogs from a young age, she began competing at the Westminster Kennel Club Show as a teenager.

“Westminster, like all dog shows, is fascinating because a 13-year-old can go up against a seasoned professional in the ring,” Bisher says. “You’re on a level playing field because it’s the dog who is being judged. I would defeat adults sometimes, and that did wonders for my confidence. You and your dog become such a team—you know each other’s moves almost before you make them.”

Showing dogs helped Bisher pay her way through college and taught her the communication, discipline, and teamwork that would shape her professional life.

After graduating, Bisher worked in advertising for 12 years before landing the role with the American Kennel Club, the governing body of dog sports, in Manhattan. She joined the organization’s communications team, became its spokesperson on national television, and eventually served as director of marketing.

Bisher stepped back briefly during Peri’s baby years before returning to the dog world as an executive with the Westminster Kennel Club, where she blended her communications background with her lifelong expertise.

“My first challenge was to build a year-round social media presence—they were event-driven,” she says.

To meet that need, Bisher launched the club’s inaugural national storytelling series, The Road to Westminster, traveling the country to highlight local shows leading up to the iconic competition. She later became the Fox Sports commentator for Westminster, telecasting live from Madison Square Garden.

“My undergrad degree was in mass communications,” she says. “It felt like everything I’d done—advertising, production, storytelling, competing in dog shows—came together.”

Leaving Westminster after eight years was difficult, but the move to Lake Forest opened a new chapter. Bisher began volunteering with the Spirit of 67 almost immediately, drawing on her experience stewarding large, historic nonprofits.

“The Spirit is more than 40 years old—respected, established, and important—much like the organizations I’ve worked with in the past,” she says. “My job is to help protect the brand, honor what’s been built, and make sure the organization keeps moving forward.”

In addition to planning for this year’s Home Tour (scheduled for September 24), she and the executive board are focused on efficiencies: streamlining the grant application process, strengthening internal documentation for future volunteers, and creating systems that help the Spirit operate smoothly year after year. Communication is another priority, so the Spirit of 67 launched a Grants-In-Action campaign to help donors more clearly see the impact of their contributions.

Last spring, the Spirit awarded 56 grants across Cherokee, Everett, Sheridan, and Deer Path in areas ranging from fine arts and science to SEL, STEAM, and world languages—all in a single day. Bisher’s goal is to launch a districtwide “Spirit Grant Week,” planned for April 13 to 17, to spotlight grants as they are awarded and share this incredible day with the entire community.

“Our Executive Board and all of our committee members work throughout the year to make these grants possible,” Bisher explains. “I want Grant Week to celebrate the students and teachers while honoring this dedicated team of volunteers.”

For Bisher, her work with the Spirit is rooted in service.

“These children are our fellow community members and future leaders,” she says. “We want to elevate their educational experience as much as we can.”

And while her path to Lake Forest may have taken a few unexpected turns, it’s clear that everything she’s done to date has prepared her for the role she holds now—guiding an organization she deeply respects in a community she’s grateful to call home.

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Recent Spirit of 67 Grants

Cherokee Classroom Cruisers 

Classroom Cruisers are stationary bikes used as a regulation tool to help students manage behavior. These Cherokee students are demonstrating how the Cruisers support learning while engaging in physical activity.

Everett Book Bags  

As young Everett students begin their reading journey, they use these book bags to carry phonological materials, including specific books and printed materials for parents to support the children’s reading growth at home. 

Deer Path Middle School Boundless Adventures Field Trip 

Fifth-grade Deer Path students tackle the challenging courses at Boundless Adventures Aerial Park. Each year, this field trip helps students develop teamwork and problem-solving skills, while also enjoying a sense of achievement. 

Sheridan Visiting Author 

Fourth grade students learn how to dream big from award-winning visiting author Bruce Hale. Hale has authored or illustrated over 77 books for young readers, including the award-winning Chet Gecko Mysteries, The Monstertown Mysteries and Clark the Shark, among others. This grant also awards the school libraries with funds to purchase Bruce’s books for their collection.