Board of Directors
Vicki Craver, Chair
Eric Cochran, Vice-Chair
Erick Hong, Vice-Chair
Melissa Hughes-Humphrey, Secretary
Mark A. Steffensen, Treasurer
Da'Von Boyd
Robert DeSantis
John A. (Tony) Downer
Joshua Dumas
Rebecca Velez Frey
Hope Greaves Johnson
Julie Martin
Maritza McClendon
Doug Michelman
Amy Nickin
Jon Michael Reese
Melinda Rolfs
Lorna Smith
Richard Tagle
Daniel Yih
William D. Young, III
Vicki Craver, Chair
Vicki Craver has worked extensively with non-profits, serving most recently as President of the Board of Trustees of the Greenwich Country Day School. She has also served as Co-President of Impact Fairfield County, which she co-founded, and Chair of the boards of the UNC College of Arts and Sciences Foundation and Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. Previously, she was a Vice-President on the corporate bond trading desk at Goldman Sachs in New York City. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, Vicki lives in Riverside, Connecticut with her husband David and their three daughters.
Eric Cochran, Vice-Chair
Eric Cochran, a recently-retired partner from the New York law firm of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, is the Head of Corporate Development for Sila Nanotechnologies, a provider of advanced materials for lithium ion batteries. He is a long-time and enthusiastic supporter of schools and educational organizations. He has served as a board member and treasurer of Little Red Elisabeth Irwin, the progressive K-12 independent school in Greenwich Village; as a member of the finance committee of Friends Seminary, the oldest continuously co-educational school in New York City; and as a trustee of Williams College. Eric also has served as a trustee and the board chair of the Clark Art Institute, and currently serves as an independent director on the Board of The Research Foundation of the State University of New York.
Erick Hong, Vice-Chair
Erick Hong is Chief Commercial Officer at The Voleon Group, a leader in the application of cutting-edge machine-learning research to financial markets. Previously, Erick spent nearly a decade at the investment firm Bridgewater Associates, was a member of the Private Equity practice at Bain & Company, and a management consultant at Oliver Wyman. Erick has also worked with a wide range of nonprofit organizations including Kiva.org and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Erick earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Melissa Hughes-Humphrey, Secretary
Melissa Hughes-Humphrey is a strategic, global brand trailblazer with a background in creating strong go-to market executions for consumer-packaged goods organizations and the hospitality industry, from the ski resorts to casinos. Melissa is an unconventional thinker and bold decision-maker with in-depth integrated marketing and sales planning expertise. She has successfully driven business turnarounds for generation z and millennial brands with digitally-led omnichannel strategies. She is passionate about crafting brands with purpose to improve consumers' lives. Melissa currently is the Vice President of Brand Marketing & Communications at Foxwoods Resort & Casino and has previously held roles with Vail Resorts, Founders Table Restaurant Group, L’Oréal, Henkel, and Unilever, helping to modernize brands and creating partnerships for greater impact. Melissa earned a marketing degree from Howard University School of Business Executive Leadership Honors Program. She is also a Harvard Summer Venture Management Program and Unilever Future Leaders Program alumnus. In 2019, Brand Innovators New York Region honored her with a “40 Under 40” achievement award. Her true passion for diversity and inclusion lies in helping organizations to better understand not only their consumers but also their own employees. Melissa believes that we each have a role to play and is looking forward to seeing what strides we make together in the future!
Mark A. Steffensen, Treasurer
Mark is the Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel at HSBC North America Holdings, where he manages a team of over 150 attorneys and para-professionals supporting HSBC’s four global business lines in the US, as well as managing the corporate secretary and governmental relations functions in the US. He also acts as the principal legal advisor to the US public company board of directors, and provides long-range planning and strategic guidance to the US CEO and senior leadership team. Mark has a long history of involvement with HSBC, and has held several senior roles within both the Investment and Commercial Banking divisions. Prior to HSBC, he held leadership positions at Morgan Stanley and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and was previously associated with the law firms Vedder Price in Chicago and Davis Polk in New York. Mark received his JD from the University of Iowa (UI) College of Law, and his MBA from the UI College of Business Administration. He also serves as a Director on the board of each of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) and The Clearing House Association, two trade organizations of the financial services industry.
Da'Von Boyd
Da’Von Boyd, PhD serves as an Associate Board Representative to the Horizons National Board. Da’Von is the Gaius Charles Bolin fellow in the Department of Political Science at Williams College. He earned his PhD in African American Studies and Political Science from Yale University as a Beinecke Scholar. Before his matriculation at Yale, Da'Von graduated Summa Cum Laude from Morehouse College with a B.A. in Political Science as a Stamps Leadership Scholar, Mellon Mays fellow, and the recipient of the Robert Brisbane Award, given to the top-ranking scholar in the Department of Political Science. His research, tentatively titled The Black Spirit, offers a theoretical and historical account of Black political theology in constructing the philosophical, ethical, and political design of the Civil Rights Movement by examining the political theories of its preeminent organizations, including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Nation of Islam, and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. For his work thus far, Da'Von was awarded the 2021 Alex Willingham Best Political Theory Paper Award at the National Conference of Black Political Scientists. He has received the Prize Teaching Fellowship, Poorvu Center’s Teaching Innovation Grant, and Sterling Prize Fellowship. Additionally, he was inducted into the prestigious Edward Bouchet Graduate Honor Society at Yale. Da’Von is a proud alumnus of Horizons Hampton Roads and has worked for the program as a teacher, a teacher’s aide, and a volunteer. He now gladly works on the Horizons National Associate Board as its Vice Chair, where he seeks to further the mission of the Board to serve alums throughout the Horizons Network.
Robert DeSantis
Robert DeSantis serves as an Affiliate Representative to the Horizons National Board. As a Trustee of Tower Hill School in Wilmington, DE, Robert led a task force that sought ways the 100-year-old, independent private school could engage more meaningfully with its community. The outcome was the school becoming Delaware’s first Horizons affiliate. Robert spent 20 years in the financial services industry, starting his career at T. Rowe Price in Baltimore, MD before joining MBNA America Bank in Delaware. He was with MBNA when it became a publicly traded company and remained there until its merger with Bank of America. During that time, he held several positions, including overseeing the company’s regional call centers, and directing its administrative division that included Communications, Facilities, Aviation, Purchasing, and Food Services. Since leaving the corporate world, Robert has focused on venture capital investing and non-profit work. He is the founding Board Chair of Horizons at Tower Hill and co-chairs Horizons National’s Affiliate Board Council. In addition to being a Trustee of Tower Hill School, he is on the Board of Trustees of Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA and chairs the Advisory Board of Elon University’s Catholic Campus Ministry in Elon, NC. He serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Delaware’s Office of the Child Advocate and is on the board of Children & Families First. He lives in Wilmington, DE with his wife and their four children.
John A. (Tony) Downer
Tony Downer retired from a 30+ year career in venture capital/growth equity investing in the technology sector. He served for thirteen years as a Trustee of Phillips Exeter Academy, three of those years as President of the Trustees. He currently sits on the board of MoCaFi Inc (a minority-led business which provides essential fintech infrastructure services for under-banked and unbanked individuals) and he is on the Development Committee of Marlborough College (Wiltshire England). In his spare time, Tony ball boys at professional tennis tournaments, including the last nine US Opens. Tony earned his BA, JD and MBA from Harvard University. He and his wife Amy (a Horizons program alumna) reside in Stamford, CT.
Joshua Dumas
Joshua Dumas serves as an Associate Board Representative to the Horizons National Board. Hailing from the Bridgeport, CT public school system, Josh’s journey with Horizons began in 2001 as a student of Horizons at Greens Farms Academy. By having Horizons as a consistent presence in his life for over 20 years, the organization’s commitment to equity has bled into Josh’s being. His career has been dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people that need care the most. As a Healthcare Consultant, Josh assists physicians and health systems in delivering better care with an emphasis on equity, value-based care delivery, and financial optimization. Previously, Josh served as an Executive Director for a leading Value-Based Primary Care Delivery organization, where he opened and/or operated 12 practices across the country in communities that need high-quality healthcare the most. Josh earned his pre-med degree from Central Connecticut State University and a Master’s degree in Health Administration from Cornell University. Josh’s enduring commitment to the Horizons mission has led him to assume the role of the founding chair of the Horizons National Associate Board, contributing to the Horizons National’s alumni network development. His passion for creating thriving communities and addressing disparities in marginalized communities is deeply rooted in Horizons' mission and its direct impact on his childhood.
Rebecca Velez Frey
Rebecca Velez Frey is a Director with Oxeon, an executive search and investments firm focused on transformative healthcare companies. Prior to that, Rebecca worked in executive search in the legal sector placing attorneys at financial institutions and multinational consulting firms. Rebecca received her Bachelors of Science degree from Cornell University's School of Industrial & Labor Relations. She lives in Nashville, TN with her husband.
Hope Greaves Johnson
Hope Greaves Johnson is an experienced Global Finance Leader, uniquely skilled in business and financial management, controllership, business pricing, revenue/sales planning, risk management and strategic planning. She is a recognized “Change Leader” with significant corporate board exposure and experience driving transformation. She currently serves as Finance Director, Amazon People eXperience & Technology (PXT). In her prior role as CFO and Treasurer of Haven Technologies, she was responsible for all Financial and Business presentations and communications to the Board. Previously, she served as Vice President and Assistant Controller, Business Controls at IBM, where she managed the Controls and Risk Management program across all IBM Business Units and geographies. She led IBM’s Board process which included planning, coordinating, and preparing IBM’s CEO, CFO, and other Senior leaders for Board meetings and presentations. Additionally, Hope has been a mentor for high school students and most recently, she has been engaged in developing a mentoring program with Manchester High School in Jamaica. She has a vested interest in diversity and was a founding member of the IBM Poughkeepsie Black Diversity Group (Spectrum). She also led IBM Ireland’s Multicultural Diversity efforts as a member of Ireland’s Diversity Council. Hope is also a founding member and former President of Jamaica Impact, Inc. (JAMPACT), a US-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving basic school education in Jamaica. Hope received her Bachelor’s Degree in Management with First Class Honors from The University of The West Indies. She received her MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School, earning Beta Gamma Sigma Honors designation. A native of Jamaica, West Indies, Hope has studied and worked in Jamaica, the USA, the UK, and Ireland.
Julie Martin
Julie Martin’s involvement with Horizons began in 2014. She currently serves as an Affiliate Representative to the Horizons National Board and the Co-Chair of the Affiliate Board Council. Julie is the Co-Chair of the Executive Board at Horizons Colorado at Colorado Academy and a Trustee at Colorado Academy. In order to further expand the impact of Horizons in Colorado, Julie helped to create the Horizons Colorado Regional Board. She was also a Trustee at the Montessori School of Evergreen for six years. Julie graduated from Colorado College in 1990 with a degree in Biology (Honors). She then obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Master of Science (MS) degrees at Colorado State University. After a rotating internship and residency, she became board certified as a Veterinary Cardiologist in 2002. Julie has worked at the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado since 2002.
Maritza McClendon
Maritza McClendon is a 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist and the first African American woman to make a US Olympic Swim team and medal. At the age of 7, she was diagnosed with severe scoliosis and her doctor recommended swimming as a medical remedy. At the University of Georgia (BA in Sociology, 2005) under Olympic Coach Jack Bauerle, Maritza ended her college career as a 27-time All American, 11 NCAA titles, the first African American female to break an individual American record (2002), and to break a World Record (2000) in swimming. While no longer swimming competitively, Maritza continues to actively engage communities nationwide to inspire people to lead a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially swimming. Additionally, she is a dynamic motivational speaker who travels the country to speak about swimming as a life-saving skill. She is dedicated to changing the narrative around water safety as a member and national spokeswoman for Sigma Gamma Rho’s Swim1922 initiative with USA Swimming. Maritza now works as the Director, Talent Development & Corporate Communications, HR at Carter’s, Inc., the largest branded marketer in the United States and Canada of apparel and related products exclusively for babies and young children. In her role, she leads global strategy and execution for performance management process, diversity and inclusion education and programming, corporate communications, special events/projects, and learning and development. Maritza is a wife and a mom of two young children located in Atlanta, GA.
Doug Michelman
Doug Michelman is the former Chief Communications Officer of Visa Inc and Sprint. He also launched and served as President of the 1Million Project, a non-profit that provided free internet connectivity to high school students across the country who did not have reliable internet at home. The 1Million Project served more than 500,000 students in 35 states. Doug also serves on the board of Ploughshares Fund, an organization committed to non-proliferation of nuclear arms. Doug graduated from Duke University and lives in Norwalk, CT.
Amy Nickin
Amy Nickin is a partner to the Entertainment Group at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein + Selz, a media, advertising, and litigation firm based in New York City and Los Angeles. Amy represents actors, writers, directors, and television production companies in all business and legal aspects of their film, television, and theatrical careers and businesses. A leading advisor to high-profile talent, The Hollywood Reporter has included Amy on their "Power Lawyers" list consecutively for the past several years. The Legal 500 recognizes her as a top media and entertainment lawyer and she has also been featured by Super Lawyers magazine as a New York-area "Super Lawyer" in the field of entertainment and sports. Amy was also named on the list of The Best Lawyers in America 2024 for Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television by Best Lawyers, the oldest and one of the most respected peer reviewed lawyer recommendation services. Prior to Frankfurt Kurnit, Amy spent her career as an attorney at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and The Shooting Gallery. Her current clients include Allison Williams, star and executive producer of M3GAN; Ian Brennan, co-creator of Glee and Netflix dramas The Watcher and Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story; Erik Jendresen, co-writer of Mission Impossible 7 and the upcoming Mission Impossible 8; John Goodman, star of Connors and Righteous Gemstones; as well as many others. Amy is admitted to practice law in both California and New York.
Jon Michael Reese
Jon Michael Reese is a Principal at General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm, where he focuses on investments in the firm's healthcare sector. Prior to joining General Atlantic, Jon Michael held roles with GTCR, where he also concentrated on healthcare investments, and with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, in their Leveraged Finance Group. Jon Michael served as the Chairman of the Chicago Foundation for Education Associate Board and as a member of the NorthShore Health System Associate Board, both in Chicago. Jon Michael earned his MBA with honors from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his BA in Economics from Vanderbilt University. Jon Michael lives in New York with his wife, Katie, and two sons, JJ and Beau.
Melinda Rolfs
As Director, Data Science at Mastercard, Melinda Rolfs manages a team focused on applying artificial intelligence to data to improve operational efficiencies and enhance revenue growth. Previously, as Senior Director at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, she launched a product concept that leverages data and analytics to better understand individual charitable giving trends, and managed new partnerships with top academic institutions, leading think tanks, and non-profit organizations to build and support the use of data and analytics for social good. Prior to joining Mastercard, Melinda was a senior equity research analyst with CastleRock Management. A Certified Public Accountant, she holds a BS in Marketing from Juniata College, and has been a guest speaker at Urban Institute, Gates Foundation, Stanford University, and various finance classes at Manhattanville College. She has two daughters and enjoys running, spinning, skiing, and reading in her spare time.
Lorna Smith
Lorna joined Horizons National in 2004 and became CEO in 2007. Under her leadership, the organization has grown from 13 sites to more than 70 in 20 states. Lorna has developed a strong organizational identity and financial stability, has championed systems that foster program quality and innovation, and has worked alongside the Horizons Network to create a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion, helping Horizons National become a vital resource for Horizons affiliates. Her professional experience combines market research expertise with extensive client service in several industries, and she has co-owned two businesses, both of which experienced substantial growth and earned excellent reputations under her management. Lorna holds a B.A. from Wellesley College, an M.B.A. from Cornell University, and completed a fellowship at Stanford University’s Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders. She was a founding board member for the National Network of Schools in Partnership. Lorna is currently an active member of NationSwell Council and Social Venture Partners of CT, and chairs the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Committee at IMPACT Fairfield County.
Richard Tagle
An accidental sociologist, Richard Anthony Tagle was on his way to becoming an investment banker as a finance major at Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines where he was born and raised. But upon moving to the United States in the late 1980s, his continued studies led him to an interest in social change and how policy can help solve some of our nation's most pressing challenges. Currently, Richard is the President and Executive Director of E3 Alliance, a public-private partnership network focused on education systems transformation through actionable data and strategic collaboration so that all students across Central Texas succeed. Prior to this, he was the President and CEO of Denver Public Schools Foundation and initiated greater collaboration among the school district, philanthropy, private sector and the community at large to address emerging needs in school safety, new immigrant student population, family supports, and student mental health and well-being. His passion for children's growth, learning and development is evident throughout his career from being a congressional advocate for children's health as a Senior Associate at the United States Conference of Mayors and a public education advocate as Chief of Staff at Public Education Network. Richard also led Higher Achievement, an academic support program for middle school students as its CEO prior to moving to Austin Texas in 2013 to lead the Andy Roddick Foundation. Richard has also served on numerous boards for local and national organizations such as Grantmakers for Education, National Summer Learning Association, Nonprofit Roundtable, College Forward, and API Health Partnership of the National Capital Region. He earned both his undergraduate degree in Sociology and his graduate degree in Applied Sociology/Social Policy from American University in Washington, DC.
Daniel Yih
Daniel "Dan" Yih is recently retired but spent his career in operations, asset management, and investment. Dan spent the past 17 years with Starwood Capital Group, a global private investment firm with a primary focus in real estate, serving in various roles including Global Chief Operating Officer, Chief Investment Officer-Europe, and most recently as President, Starwood Outdoors. Prior to Starwood, Dan worked with GTCR LLC, a leading private equity firm. Dan was also CEO of BR Guest Restaurants and the CFO of Welbilt Corporation and Midway Airlines. He currently serves on the Board of Rush Street Interactive, Waterton Partners, the Museum of Contemporary Chicago, and Horizons National Chicago. Dan was previously Chair of The Thacher School Board and a member of the boards of Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Anne Inc. Dan received his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Stanford University; JD degree from the University of Chicago Law School; and MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Dan and his wife Nancy live in Jackson, Wyoming.
William D. Young, III
Currently Vice President of Research & Development, Engineering, & Quality at Pylon Manufacturing in Florida, Will Young has over twenty years experience in corporate automotive engineering with a core focus in Product Design, Product Development, Program Management, Quality Management & manufacturing process improvement. Will is listed as Inventor/co-inventor on 10 + US Patents and 2 International Patents relating to automotive products released in the automotive retail & original equipment markets. He has served as Board President of the Winans Academy of Performing Arts, a Public Charter School Academy in Detroit, MI, and volunteered in the Detroit Public Schools for many years, teaching engineering labs for students in grades 3-5. Will is also active in community outreach and youth ministry in his local church in Florida.