Mark K. Boling, Executive Vice President and General Council for Southwestern Energy Company
Prior to joining Southwestern Energy in 2002, Mr. Boling specialized in oil and gas transactional work in his own private practice. During that time, he also served as the President of the SunHawk Energy Company. Mr. Boling is a frequent speaker in North America and Europe on a variety of topics relating to natural gas utilization, and collaborates with the Environmental Defense Fund and other environmental NGOs to develop a regulatory framework for the natural gas industry.
Mr. Boling is a graduate of both DePauw University and Southern Methodist University Law School; earning his BS in Geology from DePauw in 1979 and Doctor of Juris Prudence at Southern Methodist University Law School in 1982.
Jay W. Hood, Major General, U.S. Army (Retired)
General Hood completed more than 36 years of distinguished service to the country as a United States Army Officer on March 1, 2012. He has served in numerous command and staff assignments in Europe, the 82d Airborne Division at Ft Bragg, NC, and the Middle East. Since the 9/11 attacks on the United States he has focused on issues related to the Middle East and combating terrorism as the Chief Operations Officer for NATO forces in Kosovo, the Commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, the Chief of Staff, United States Central Command, and Director of the International Security Assistance Forces Liaison at the US Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan.
General Hood is a Distinguished Military Graduate of Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and is a Distinguished Graduate of both the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and U.S. Naval War College, where he earned a Masters of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.
Stanley B. Schneider, Co-Founder of Gursey Schneider LLP accounting firm
Mr. Schneider has been in charge of accounting and business management at his firm Gursey Schneider, LLP since its inception in 1979, and has represented individual clients (such as performers, actors, directors, producers, writers and athletes as their business manager), businesses, corporations, television and radio stations, music publishing firms and television production companies as a CPA. Today, Gursey Schneider has grown to employ over 130 partners and staff.
Outside his firm, Stan has served on the Board of Directors of numerous public and private companies including the California Angels, where he served as a Board Member and Officer from 1984 until 1995. Mr. Schneider now devotes a significant amount of time to charitable causes, ranging from the Autry National Center of the American West (which Stan co-founded) to serving as a Board Member/Treasurer of P.A.T.H (People Assisting the Homeless; Mr. Schneider is a past President as well). Mr. Schneider also serves on the Boards of the Matt Leinart Foundation, Angels Walk LA, Autry Foundation and Joyful Heart Foundation.
John A. Hawkins, Generation Partners Co-founder
Mr. Hawkins has served as Managing Partner and co-founder of Generation Partners, a private equity firm providing capital to companies through growth equity and investments. Prior to founding Generation Partners, Mr. Hawkins was a General Partner at Burr, Egan, Deleage & Co., a venture capital firm, which he joined in 1987. Mr. Hawkins has served on the Board of Directors of more than 20 companies, including Demand Media, Inc., HotJobs.com Ltd., and ShopWiki Corporation, where he served as Chairman. Mr. Hawkins is also Membership Chair of the Golden Gate Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in English from Harvard College.
Joseph J. McCann Jr., Attorney and Vietnam War Veteran
Two years after receiving a B.S. of Military Engineering from West Point Military Academy in 1961, Mr. McCann served as Lieutenant for the United States Army in Vietnam (Airborne Infantry & Ranger). After his enlisted service ended in 1964, Mr. McCann became an attorney, holding positions from Partner to General Council to his own law practice today.
Mr. McCann’s contribution to the American military has been a lifelong effort. Since 1971, Mr. McCann has advised the United States Military Academy on the Association of Graduates’ Board of Trustees, devoted over a decade as a Member of the Executive Committee, and as Emeritus Member of the Board of Directors. Mr. McCann has also been President of the Board of Governors for West Point Society of Los Angeles, starting as a Member in 1990. Since 2008, Mr. McCann has also served as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (Central).
Sandra Scully, humanitarian
Sandra Scully began her involvement with the charity organization Share, Inc. in 1982 and continued until 1997, acting as Chairwoman of the Board for her final three years. For over 50 years, Share, Inc. has raised more than $1.5 million to fund medical research benefiting developmentally disabled, abused and neglected children.
The recipient of the 1992 Centennial Award from the Crittenton Center for Young Women and Infants, Mrs. Scully has also aided: The Exceptional Children’s Foundation, Retinitis Pigmentosa Disease awareness and has chaired committees for Marymount High School as well as Marymount Jr. School.
Vin Scully, acclaimed L.A. Dodgers broadcaster
Vin Scully, the most prominent voice in Los Angeles sports, was already reporting for duty with the Dodgers when US troops landed in Korea in 1950. Longer than any other broadcaster in history, Mr. Scully has dedicated his entire career to his organization. Over his 62 seasons with the Dodgers, Mr. Scully has received every major broadcasting award, offered induction into every Hall of Fame, and included in every list of the best sportscasters in history.
Dennis McNeil, Entertainer
Mr. McNeil is an American performer and entertainer who has entertained five United States Presidents, eight Supreme Court Justices and six United States Secretaries of State. He has sung in all 50 of the United States, as well as around the world.
Mr. McNeil has earned awards for his performances at the Metropolitan Opera and The New York City Opera and was voted the 2011 Best Male Cabaret Artist in Los Angeles by Broadway World. He has been a featured performer honoring our nation’s Medal of Honor recipients and at the 2001 Inauguration of George W. Bush.
Mr. McNeil was called in to honor the fallen at a memorial event on the tarmac of the Kennedy Space Center when the Space Shuttle Columbia was lost. He has shared the stage performing with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Steve Miller, Bruce Hornsby, The Grateful Dead, Michael Feinstein, and Lionel Ritchie.
A highly sought after entertainer, Mr. McNeil has entertained for many major events and corporations such as AT&T, Kemper Insurance, New York Life Insurance, NASA, Northwestern Life, Pacific Life, and Hearst Corp, to name just a few.
Mr. McNeil has recorded seven albums, which are available on iTunes and other download sites. For more information, visit www.dennismcneil.com
Sergeant Joe Leal
Sergeant Joe Leal joined the US Army at 17 years old in 1995 after growing up in the toughest streets in Los Angeles County. Having served a total of 17 years in combined military and DOD Army Civilian, Leal was no stranger to battle. He took part in the largest historical ground assault into Iraq, fighting not only in the “Front Lines” but transporting enemy prisoners of war as an infantryman. Fighting bravely for our country, Mr. Leal was injured while in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mr. Leal also served in Bosnia/Croatia as part of the Quick Reaction Force to help protect UN Delegates/Forces. Continuing to serve our nation, Mr. Leal was asked by the U.S. Army Reserve to help mobilize, sustain, redeploy Soldiers and assist Military Families. After witnessing several of our Soldiers and their Families living in hardship upon their return from military service, Mr. Leal pioneered a Military Community Liaison to help veterans and their families successfully transition from combat to civilian life and to help support the Army Reserve Soldiers and their families throughout multiple deployments. Mr. Leal has Bachelors in Human Services all made possible by the Post 911 GI Bill.
Mr. Leal is the leading organizer of many events to help veterans in all capacities. Mr. Leal is the founder of the Vet Hunters Project which is an organization whose mission is to end Veteran homelessness. Vet Hunters Team members range from Korea, Vietnam, Bosnia, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan Combat Veterans. Vet Hunters members have extensive Military experience, training, dedication to duty and selfless service. Through this organization, Mr. Leal and his Team have helped to prevent and remove hundreds of Veterans from off the streets and place them in shelters and in their own homes. In 2011, 21 Vet Hunter Team members rode bicycles from East Los Angeles to St. Louis on a 1,900 mile trek, to help find and house as many homeless Veterans as possible. This past October, Leal organized the 1st San Gabriel Valley Homeless Veterans Stand Down which housed, fed, clothed and educated homeless veterans on a number of additional resources available to them. On May 19, 2012, Vet Hunters will head to Connecticut to hold the 1st Vet Hunters homeless count with over 300 volunteers. In addition, once again August 2012, Vet Hunters will once again ride bicycles from Los Angeles California to Washington DC to continue to raise awareness and bring solutions to ending Veteran homelessness.
Mr. Leal is the founder and creator of Welcome Home Defenders of Freedom Rose Bowl event in which thousands of Patriotic Americans attended to honor Veterans from all combat conflicts and welcome them home. He is the creator of the US Army 155TH Army Reserve, “I Do, Take Two” program that helps soldiers renew their wedding vows free of charge and also helps military families stay together due to multiple deployments. Mr. Leal has received several military awards and accolades, including the Latin Business Association Army Community Hero of the Year Award 2011 and the Association of The United States “Dwight D. Eisenhower,” Family Readiness Group Liaison of the year award.
Skip Balch, Senior Vice President Sales, Network Insights
For over 30 years, Skip has been on the leading edge of consumer marketing, sales and product development. Starting with helping to launch the only alternative long-distance telephone company in Alaska, he has leveraged a unique ability to identify emerging consumer needs and the new products and services to satisfy them.
Whether it was being on the bleeding edge of customer data mining in 1989 with Customer Insight Company (acquired by Metromail), or embracing the power and opportunity of streaming media (with Broadcast.com and later Yahoo!), Skip has successfully ushered in new paradigms and marketed and sold cutting edge products and services resulting in millions of dollars in revenue and billions in market value.
Successful forays into investment services, political consulting and multi-media production as well as a successful practice as a business and marketing consultant, have helped shaped Skip’s uniquely valuable approach to sales and marketing. Skip’s involvement with America Wants You stems from years of watching his father serve in the US Navy as a Captain and flight squadron leader during the Viet Nam war. The sacrifices made by him and his family during his country’s time of need have resulted in a deep and abiding commitment to supporting today’s returning veterans.
Currently Skip serves as an SVP of Sales for Networked Insights a venture backed marketing technology company harnessing the power of social media. Skip lives in Houston Texas with his beautiful wife and two great kids.