Brenda J. Gaines currently serves as a director of Southern Company Gas, the National Association of Corporate Directors, local community boards and Chairs the Advisory Board of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services and Smithsonian Affiliations.

She is a former director and Audit Chair of Tenet Healthcare, CNA Financial Inc. and Office Depot and former Compensation Committee Chair of Fannie Mae. She is also a former director of Nicor Inc, AGL Resources and the NACD Chicago Chapter Board. She was president and chief executive officer of Diners Club North America, a division of Citigroup Inc., until her retirement in March 2004 and held a variety of senior management positions within Citigroup.

Ms. Gaines has twice been honored as one of the NACD Directorship 100. Ebony Magazine named Gaines in "15 at the Top in Corporate America" and Crain's Chicago Business recognized her as one of the "100 Most Influential Women". Fortune Magazine and Savoy Magazine recognized Gaines as one of "The Most Powerful Black Executives in America" and Black Enterprise Magazine included her as one of the "Top Fifty Blacks in Corporate America". Ms. Gaines has been featured in the New York Times "The Boss" column and was also honored by her alma mater, Roosevelt University with the "Otto Wirth Award" for lifetime achievement.