Board of Directors and Affiliations
David Baylor A US Army veteran and media executive with over 35 years experience as VP of Engineering and Operations for PBS, VP Broadcast and Studio Operations for NBC and Executive Vice President of DIRECTV, David is currently principal and founder of DB Technology, a consultancy focused on media, technology and organizational change. He has extensive experience in strategic planning, cutting edge technology development and implementation as well as experience in leading organizational change in diverse environments.
Rachel Davenport, Secretary. A principal of Horizon Advisers, LLC, Rachel is an investment adviser with extensive financial and analytical skills and serves on several of the Board's advisory committees.
George Davis Owner of Davis Broadband Group, a consulting firm for International satellite and broadcast operations, George previously held executive positions at Technicolor and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Appointed to the California State Bar's Board of Governors in 2007, George brings business and community outreach experience as well as media expertise to the Board, and he serves as Chair of the Audit Committee.
Jackie Freedman Civic leader, elementary school teacher, retired City Planner with Culver City, California, Jackie brings her expertise in local government to the New Directions board.
Ben Gales Graduate of Bowdoin College and UCLA School of Law, Ben spent 3 years working as an advocate for the homeless at L.A.'s Public Counsel Law Center. Ben has experience in municipal, public interest and real estate law. Ben also serves as a liaison between the New Directions Executive Board and SpringBoard. Currently, Ben is once again working with Public Counsel, focusing on issues affecting veterans.
Rudy Grimaldo, Chair. Director of Operations for Sovereign Healthcare. Rudy served as a U.S. Army Captain in Afghanistan and received an MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business. He brings a broad business background to New Directions.
Andrew Gross Principal at Thomas Safran & Associates, Andrew is experienced in all aspects of affordable and market rate development, including site acquisition, public and private joint ventures, creative financing, negotiations, land use entitlements, design and construction. Andrew is a member of the California Bar, he earned a JD/MBA from Emory University and graduated cum laude with a degree in economics from the University of California, San Diego.
Ted Howells, Treasurer. Former Chief Financial Officer of both Beacon Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment, Ted is a U.S. Army combat veteran, having served as an infantry officer in Vietnam. He chairs the Finance Committee, serves on events committees and advises New Directions on financial matters.
Chuck Hurewitz Entertainment attorney Chuck Hurewitz represents clients in the music, television and film industries at firm Isaacson, Kaufman & Painter. Chuck brings with him more than 30 years of experience leading and assisting community service organizations in the Los Angeles area. Among his many offices, he has served as President of Jewish Family Service and President of Affordable Living for the Aging (ALA).
Chuck Kahn Retired founding partner of Berger Kahn, a 64-member law firm. A psychology intern specializing in homeless and addicted persons, Chuck also serves as a consultant to Douglas Emmett Inc., a real estate investment trust. Chuck brings a variety of legal, investment and psychological experience to the board.
Jennifer Kim Deputy California Department of Justice Attorney General Jennifer Kim brings more than 15 years of government and policy expertise to the New Directions Board of Directors. In addition to volunteering with New Directions to make the annual Honoring Our Heroes dinner a success, Jennifer is an Executive Committee Member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and Vice Chair of the Conference of Delegates.
Scott Sale, M.D. Internist and allergist practicing in the greater Los Angeles area. He volunteers his time at several agencies throughout the community, including Leo Baeck Temple, PATH and Imagine LA. He has served on the Board of Directors since 2003, was past Chair of the Governance Committee, and has helped coordinate golf and tennis tournaments for New Directions.
Phil Scully is a Research Associate with Capital International. Prior to joining Capital International, Phil earned an MBA from Georgetown University and a BA from Kenyon College.
Bill Shean An honorably discharged Vietnam Veteran who served as a Seabee E-4 Builder in the U.S. Navy, Bill currently works as Senior Project Manager at R.W. Selby and Company. He brings his expertise as a facility/construction consultant and his experience as an NDI alumnus to the organization.
Stephanie Stone, Secretary. A retired US Navy Hospital Corpsman and a graduate of the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs, Stephanie was the first woman elected as Chair of the Los Angeles Mayor's Veterans Advisory Committee and currently serves as the Chair of the Los Angeles County Veterans Advisory Commission. As its sole female commissioner, she is a strong advocate for women’s veteran health care and focuses on the tragedy of military sexual trauma. She has extensive experience in Strategic Planning, Project Management, Team Leadership, Communications and Outreach.
Honorary Director:
John Keaveney. John served two tours of duty in Vietnam as an Army combat infantryman and returned from the war in 1972. After years of suffering from substance abuse and PTSD, John was helped by a VA program called New Directions. When that program was shut down, John committed to building another New Directions, and he recruited Toni Reinis, a leading Southern California housing and homeless advocate, and Larry Williams, a fellow Vietnam veteran, to join in this effort. The three co-founded New Directions, bringing it into being on February 15, 1992. It has operated continuously since then as a tax-exempt California public benefit corporation recognized under IRS section 501 [c] [3], helping homeless veterans recover from the invisible wounds of war, and move from homelessness to families and the community.
Members of SpringBoard
SpringBoard is New Directions’ Junior Board of Directors comprised of young professionals. Many are veterans themselves (signified by the * by their names). SpringBoard members work to raise public awareness of the challenges facing veterans and promote New Directions and its mission within their communities.
Elijah Adams: Bain & Company
Ric Arthur: Screenwriter/Producer & Truman National Security Project*
Ben Gales: Public Counsel Law Center
Joshua Jacobs: TGA – Premier Junior Golf
Steve Keesal: Oppenheimer & Company*
Jeremy Lai: MBA Graduate Student at UCLA Anderson*
Ralph Martinsen: Government consultant*
Jim Murphy: Spin Master*
Sabir Rashid: Goldman Sachs*
Jeff Shane: BRC Advisors
Shiwan Tribbett: FUTURE
Michael Valania: USC M.P.P. Graduate Student
Brian VanRiper: Political consultant*
Stacy Garrick Zimmerman: Public Counsel’s Center for Veterans Advancement