
Board of Directors

Chief Joe Allio
President
Chief Joe Allio is a 34-year veteran of law enforcement. He has also served in pastoral positions at local churches, was a member of the Host Lions Club and the President of the Northern California Batten Disease Association. As a member of the Fairfield Police Department, he served on the SWAT team, was a founding member of the Peer Support Team, participated in the development of “active shooter” response training and developed and implemented the Police Probation Team. He has earned two Exceptional Performance Citations and completed Senior Management Law Enforcement Institute hosted by Boston University.

Gen. Maryanne Miller
Vice President
General Miller has extensive experience in rapid, global mobility and sustainment as the Commander of Air Mobility Command and the Commander of the Air Force Reserve. As the Air Component for U.S. Transportation Command, General Miller was responsible for directing global air mobility operations in support of national security objectives. Her commands played a pivotal role in providing global airlift, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, humanitarian relief and Presidential airlift support as directed.
General Miller serves on the Board of Directors of Bristow, an advisor to New Vista Acquisition Corp., and a member of the Board of Trustees for Manhattan College in the Bronx, New York. She is also a co-worker for St. Teresa of Calcutta’s Missionaries of Charity serving some of the poorest communities around the world.
General Miller was drawn to Leaven Kids because it is a powerful agent for good through faith, hope and love. Leaven Kids transforms lives, families, and communities to realize the power of good within us so that we can transform the environment around us.

Col. Ruth Meyer
Secretary
Ruth Meyer is an airline pilot and member of the United States Air Force. When working at Travis Air Force Base, she learned about Leaven Kids and wanted be part of the mission.
With an educational background in math and financial planning in addition to aviation, she brings her considerable skills and experience to our board. She says, “I wanted to get involved because the children of this area need and deserve to be provided a safe and engaging environment after school that allows them to dream beyond their streets, obtain support to excel in academics and be their best for not only their benefit but their family and community.”

Sue Ovitt
Treasurer
Sue Ovitt is a lifelong resident of the Inland Empire in Southern California and a former elementary school teacher. “I know the importance of education,” Sue says, “and that means I greatly value tutoring, mentoring and providing positive role models in our children’s lives.”
In addition to serving on Leaven Kids' board, Sue is on the board of Chaffey College Foundation, OPARC (training, employing and transforming the lives of adults with disabilities), and The Community Foundation and West End Family Counseling Services.

Mayor Len Augustine
Director

Chief Randy Fenn
Director
Chief Randy Fenn, a police officer since 1991, served as both a patrol and traffic commander, and facilitated the creation of the department’s Homeless Intervention Team. This initiative helps people access services that can lead to permanent housing and reunification with their families. Randy, who has a bachelor’s degree in Human Relations and a Masters of Science in Criminal Justice, was promoted to Captain in 2014 and appointed Chief in March 2017. Randy’s hope for Leaven Kids children is that they will see the Gospel in action and put on a path toward success.

Sheriff Thomas Ferrara
Director

Col. David Hammerschmidt
Director
Col. Dave “Hammer” Hammerschmidt entered the USAF as an Airman Basic in 1989 and retired in 2020 as a Group Commander at Travis Air Force Base. Colonel Hammerschmidt is currently a project manager for PavCon LLC. He was initially drawn to Leaven Kids to demonstrate to young Airmen that they are leaders in the communities where they serve, and they have the ability to inspire and motivate young children to dream bigger and achieve more.

Frank Lizarraga, Esq.
Director

Staci Pauly
Director

Chief Ian Schmutzler
Director

Hon. Mike Nail
Emeritus
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Gen. David L. Goldfein
Honorary
General (retired) David L. Goldfein is an internationally recognized leader in global risk and crisis management, planning and executing complex operations, and developing and implementing policy and communications strategies. His experience has been honed over a 37- year career as a pilot in the United States Air Force, where he commanded at every level and finished his career as the 21st Chief of Staff, the service’s highest-ranking 4-star officer. Goldfein had wide-ranging operational and advisory responsibilities, including oversight of the organization, training, and equipping of over 693,000 personnel serving in the United States and dozens of countries around the world; and management of a $168 billion operating budget. He has served as a trusted advisor to the President, the National Security Council, the Congress, and the senior leadership of the Department of Defense on a range of national security matters. In addition, he developed key relationships with international partners, private sector leaders, and philanthropists.
Dave currently serves as a Senior Advisor for Blackstone Investment Group, where he helps senior Blackstone leaders formulate and execute optimal courses of action based on an informed global risk assessment. In this role, he is Chairman of the Board of Draken International LLC, a Blackstone owned company focused on US and foreign military training. Goldfein has been named a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institute and a Senior Fellow at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, where he maintains a focus on their Air and Space portfolios. Additionally, he serves as an Advisory Board Director of Anduril Industries, Inc., where he advises the CEO and leadership on global trends and risk as it applies to their technology. As a Professor of Practice at the University of Texas El Paso and University of Texas San Antonio, he develops promising professionals through a dynamic instructional practice.
An equally important part of his portfolio, Goldfein dedicates a significant portion of his time serving in Pro Bono positions. He currently serves as a Board Director of the United Services Organization (USO), on the Leadership Council of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, and is a Senior Trustee of the USAF Academy’s Falcon Foundation and a Scholar of the newly formed Policy Vets. He is also a Distinguished Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Goldfein was recently recognized as a Distinguished Eagle Scout and a Distinguished Alumni of Philmont Scout Ranch.
Prior to serving as the USAF Chief of Staff, Dave was the USAF Vice Chief of Staff, the second highest ranking officer, where he presided over the Air Staff and served as a member of the Joints Chiefs of Staff Requirements Oversight Council and Deputy Advisory Working Group, advising on high interest acquisitions and assessing joint military capabilities for the Department of Defense. As Vice Chief, he pioneered a new and aggressive approach to supporting warriors with invisible wounds, as well as their caregivers.
During his time as Chief, Goldfein developed and championed the Department of Defense’s signature joint warfighting initiative, Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2). Central to his vision was the creation of the Department’s first Information Warfare Command, which brought together the capabilities of Cyber, Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Information Operations. He also developed and executed the largest overhaul of the officer development and promotion system in the Air Force in over thirty years.
Goldfein has held numerous command positions, notably the deployed Air Component Commander for U.S. Central Command from 2011-2013, where he directed all air and space operations across 20 countries spanning the broader Middle East. An effective coalition-builder, General Goldfein traveled extensively as a military “ambassador,” working with stakeholders across the region and building crucial inter-disciplinary relationships. He successfully envisioned and built the first- ever Gulf Air Operations Center, with representation from all six Gulf Cooperation Council countries inside his headquarters.
Dave received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1983, with a degree in Philosophy. He later earned a master’s degree in Business Administration from Oklahoma City University. He is a graduate of the prestigious Air Force Weapons Instructor Course and the Department of State’s Senior Seminar program as a National Defense Fellow.
Goldfein is married to his high school sweetheart, Dawn A. Goldfein. Dawn recently published “Sharing the Journey, A Military Spouse Perspective” as a companion work to Dave’s guide for commanders, “Sharing Success and Owning Failure, Preparing to Command”, which was published in 2001 and is now in its 12th printing. Dave and Dawn continue to pursue their passion for helping military spouses and families in addition to their ongoing work with invisible wounds of war, and both work together as senior mentors and managers for CAPSTONE and KEYSTONE military leadership courses for newly selected general and flag officers and their spouses across the joint team.

Gen. Steve W. Wilson
Honorary
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Cynthia Verrett
Honorary

Dr. Rick Rigsby
Honorary
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Rodney Bullard
Honorary
Rodney is Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Chick-fil-A, Inc., where he leads the company’s corporate community and philanthropic strategy. Prior to joining Chick-fil-A, Rodney served as an Assistant United States Attorney, prosecuting complex criminal cases. For his service, the United States Attorney General presented him with one of the Department of Justice’s highest honors, the Director’s Award. Prior to this role, Rodney was selected as a White House Fellow, the nation’s most prestigious public service fellowship. As a White House Fellow, Rodney was placed at NASA to work directly for the NASA Administrator. A decorated veteran, Rodney also served in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps, eventually working at the Pentagon as a Congressional Legislative Liaison in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.
Rodney is an alumnus of the United States Air Force Academy, Duke University School of Law, the University of Georgia’s Terry School of Business and the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Additionally, Rodney is an alumnus of Leadership Atlanta, Leadership Georgia, Outstanding Atlanta and the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program.
Rodney currently serves on several national and local boards, including: the Salvation Army National Advisory Board of Directors, the Junior Achievement USA National Board of Directors, the Ameris Bank Board of Directors, the Atlanta History Center and the United States Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation.
A few of Rodney’s recent accolades include recognition by: Georgia Trend as one of the 2022 Most Influential and Notable Georgians; Atlanta Magazine as one of the Most Influential Atlantans in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; Leadership Georgia’s Dale Threadgill Award for Service in 2019; Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the Most Admired Non-profit CEOs in 2017; The University of Georgia’s listing of the 40 alumni leaders under the age of 40; as well as the Georgia Trend listing of the 40 Best and Brightest Leaders Under 40.

Dennis A. Muilenburg
Honorary
Dennis Muilenburg is Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of New Vista Capital, launched in 2021; and Owner, President and CEO of DAM CyFly Consulting, LLC, launched in 2020.
Previously, Dennis Muilenburg joined Boeing in 1985, starting at the company as an engineering intern. He served as president from December 2013 to December 2019, as chief executive officer (CEO) from July 2015 to December 2019, and as chairman of the board from March 2016 to October 2019. Until July 2015, Muilenburg served as vice chairman, president and chief operating officer of Boeing, where he supported the company's aerospace business operations and focused on specific growth enablers, including important global relationships, leadership initiatives and development program performance.
Before that, Muilenburg served as president and chief executive officer of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS), serving United States and global defense, government, and commercial customers.
Earlier, Muilenburg was president of BDS's Global Services & Support business, vice president and general manager of the Boeing Combat Systems division, and program manager for Future Combat Systems. Prior to that, he served as vice president of Programs & Engineering for Boeing Air Traffic Management and director of Weapon Systems for the proposed Boeing Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. He also held program management and engineering positions on F-22, Airborne Laser, High Speed Civil Transport and the Condor reconnaissance aircraft, among others.
Muilenburg spent the first 15 years of his Boeing career in the Puget Sound region of Washington, where he held a number of program management and engineering positions in support of both the commercial airplanes and defense and space businesses.
A native of Iowa, Muilenburg earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering and an honorary doctor of science degree from Iowa State University, as well as a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the University of Washington. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Royal Aeronautical Society, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the inaugural Innovator in Residence at Iowa State University, and a distinguished fellow for aerospace, mobility, and manufacturing at the Saint Louis University Research Institute. Muilenburg also serves in senior advisory roles for numerous aerospace and technology private companies, including Monarch Tractors, Echelon Med Tech, FuelX, REGENT Seagliders, and Star Harbor Academy.
Previously, Muilenburg served as a member of the Caterpillar board of directors (2011-2020), chairman of the Aerospace Industries Association board of governors, an executive committee member of the Business Roundtable, a member of the National Space Council’s User Advisory Group, a member of the U.S.-China Business Council, and a member of the Washington University board of trustees. Currently, he is a member of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation board of directors, the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science & Technology) board of directors, the National World War II Museum board of trustees, the Iowa State University Foundation board of governors, and the Northwestern University board of trustees. He also serves as chairman of the board for Biblical Business Training, chairman of the board for the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center – St Louis, a member of The CEO Forum board of directors, and a member of the African Vision of Hope board of directors.