Board of Directors
Commitment to the passions and ideals that Jimmy Miller held dear.
Board of Directors & Advisory Board
A shared commitment to the passions and ideals that Jimmy Miller held dear.
Board of Directors
Nancy Miller
Professional:
Nancy has worked with non-profits for most of her professional life. Little did she know that she would join family and friends in 2005, to create the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation. She specialized in event production and cause-related marketing for several charities, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society. As a Special Projects Manager, she co-produced the annual Elton John AIDS Oscar Party and had the honor of traveling with Elton to work on many of his events around the country. After a brief break from event production, Nancy returned to the non-profit world to produce events for Jean-Michel Cousteau, including the successful “An Evening with Keiko, Cameron and Cousteau.” She created events around the world to introduce Ocean Futures Society to ocean loving populations around the world.
Nancy was also Associate Editor of Well Bella Magazine and wrote about the Mind/Body connection, Bella Bodies, and Healthy Travel.
Organizations/Service:
- South Bay Youth Project
- Women at Risk
- Richstone Family Center
- Sandpipers
- Women in Film Philanthropy
- Board Member
- Elton John Aids Foundation
- Ocean Futures Society
Personal:
Wife, mother, “nanny Nancy” to Riley and Austin, sister, friend, traveler, scuba-diver, surfer, “beach mom and water person. Learned to surf at age 50. Practices yoga and Pilates. Power walks on the strand by the ocean.
Connection to JMMF (sigh)
This is how I honor my son’s life. Jimmy’s pure love of surfing and his ability to teach others is an inspiration. The foundation is a way to keep Jimmy’s spirit alive and help others experience the healing power of the ocean.
My job at JMMF is to be the best ambassador possible and to share our story to with the world. I help with communications, events, and volunteers, who are the heart of our program. I believe we are healing ourselves and others, “one wave at a time” through the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation.
Jeff Miller
Professional:
Jeff is the Chief Growth Officer at Sequel Brands and a growth-focused marketing leader in the health, fitness, and wellness industry. He leads marketing and growth across a portfolio of boutique fitness brands, supporting a network of studios nationwide. Jeff previously held senior marketing leadership roles at Orangetheory Fitness, Xponential Fitness where he played a key role in scaling YogaSix and Row House and at YogaWorks. Earlier in his career, Jeff led interactive marketing at Launch DRTV and ecommerce at Body Glove.
In addition to his professional career, Jeff has been a Los Angeles County Ocean Lifeguard for over two decades. He has also worked as a surf guide at an eco-resort in Samoa and as a middle school teacher in both San Francisco and Redondo Beach.
Organizations/Service:
Jeff worked 6 years as a LA County Junior Lifeguard Instructor and also worked for the LA County WATER Program teaching Ocean Safety to kids throughout LA County.
Personal:
Jeff is married to wife, Alissa, and is the proud father to his daughter Riley and son Austin.
Jeff graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in History and has earned his Master’s in Educational Technology and California Teaching Credential from the University of San Francisco.
Interests: Surfing, traveling, volleyball, golf, wine and learning
Connections to JMMF:
Jeff was Jimmy’s only brother and his first student. Jeff looked up to Jimmy his entire life. Jeff followed in Jimmy’s path in so many ways, from Pacific Elementary School, to 4th St, to Mira Costa, to Cal, to San Sebastian, to life guarding, to traveling the globe with a surfboard and back home to Manhattan Beach. Jimmy’s influence continues to shape Jeff’s life, values, and commitment to ocean safety and community.
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffmillernz/
Kevin Barry
Professional:
Kevin is a restaurateur and current partner/investor in several Los Angeles establishments. He recently was the hospitality consultant for a boutique hotel and glamping resort company based in California. He has been a seasonal Los Angeles County Ocean Lifeguard for 45 years and is an Instructor for the Junior Lifeguard Program.
Organizations/Service:
Kevin has produced and catered hundreds of events and has been a leader in the strategic planning of high-profile charitable fundraisers at his restaurants, raising more than three million dollars for local schools, community organizations and non-profit foundations (including the JMMF!) To acknowledge his philanthropic commitment as a restaurateur, the representative for California’s 53rd District honored Kevin in the California State Assembly with the 2011 Small Business of the Year Award.
- Kevin is on the Board of Directors of the South Bay Boardriders Club
- Kevin is on the Board of Directors (past-President) of the Downtown Manhattan Beach Business & Professional Association
- Kevin proudly serves on the Organizing Committee of the International Surf Festival.
Personal:
A San Diego State University graduate, Kevin lives in Hermosa Beach with his wife and two daughters.
Connections to JMMF:
Kevin was a friend, Lifeguard and Junior Lifeguard Instructor with Jimmy and always looks forward to working on the beach and hanging out with his brother, Jeff. He enjoys his role as auctioneer for the annual Jimmy Surf Contest. Just like the Miller family, his love of community service and the gift of helping others is one of the greatest joys in his life!
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-barry-214580124/
Chris Brown
Professional:
Chris Brown is a leader in youth development, sports, and creative programming along the California coast. He serves as Executive Director of Campsurf in Manhattan Beach, overseeing mission-driven programs that use action sports and mentorship to empower young people. Chris is also the President of the California Beach Volleyball Association, where he supports athlete development and the continued growth of competitive beach volleyball across the state. As Creative Director of the California Surf Club, he helps shape brand identity and community-focused surf programming.
Previous professional experience includes:
- Owner/General Manager of Peninsula Surf, a retail surf shop located in Rolling Hills Estates.
- Marketing Specialist for Anheuser Busch.
- Tournament Director, U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball. 2007-Present
Organizations/Service:
- Current President of the California Beach Volleyball Association.
- Member, Heal the Bay – a Santa Monica Bay based environmental organization.
- Usher, Manhattan Beach Community Church.
- Member, United States Volleyball Association Nominating and Governance Committee.
Personal:
Chris is a proud husband (married to Laura) and father of Taylor and Kyla.
Interests:
Surfing, Beach Volleyball, Golf, Travel, Music, Coaching
Connections to JMMF:
Chris grew up with Jimmy playing soccer and surfing and they traveled the world together. Jim, Nancy, Jeff and Alissa are considered part of my family.
It is my sincere hope that the Foundation’s work will help to keep Jimmy’s spirit alive and acquaint many more to the ocean’s healing powers.
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-brown-319b892a/
Tayiika “Ty” Dennis
Professional:
Ty is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Partner at the Southern California boutique firm MiklosCPA, Inc. She specializes in audit, tax and outsourced services to nonprofit organizations. She is a personable and passionate leader who brings the same sense of joy to balancing books as she does to a live concert or a great happy hour, because for Ty, it’s all about the energy in the room. She has channeled that energy into her personal brand and mission, Coolest Profession Around — redefining CPA as not just Certified Public Accountant, but a profession where you can build a career that fits your life.
Organizations/Service:
Ty is an active member of the California CPA Society (CalCPA) and has held numerous leadership positions, including Los Angeles Chapter President and ascending to the State Chair of the society for 2022-2023. She enjoys the role of Past Chair, as she says “all of the glory, with none of the work.” Previous nonprofit board roles include the Treasurer for the Beauty Bus Foundation, a wonderful organization that supports terminally ill clients and their caregivers through beauty and grooming services.
Personal:
Ty is a foodie and enjoys traveling and live music with her “best boyfriend ever” Jereme. You never know what city or time zone they will be in at any given time. She grew up in beautiful South Lake Tahoe, which is a nonnegotiable annual destination. As a first child and first grandchild, she has stepped into the matriarch role of her family once her grandparents passed and looks for every opportunity to bring her tribe together.
Connections to JMMF:
Ty had the honor of performing the first financial statement audit for JMMF back in 2014. Learning about the mission and working with Nancy and Jim (Jimmy’s parents), she saw an organization that was inspirational and transparent and was hooked! Over the years she attended the Benefiesta and The Jimmy and now has the honor of serving on the Board of Directors. Ty never got the pleasure of meeting Jimmy, but in meeting all the people involved in JMMF, it tells her everything she needs to know about how awesome Jimmy was.
Mark Gerold
Professional:
Mark is a commercial insurance underwriter after spending ten years at the two largest commercial insurance brokerage firms in the world.
Personal:
Mark lives in Leucadia with his wife Malia and their two sons, Kai and Wyland. Mark enjoys spending any free time with my family, surfing, traveling, camping and watching/coaching his sons’ sports.
Connections to JMMF:
Mark has been with Pure Surfing Experience, Campsurf, and the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation since their early beginnings. You can still find Mark at Ocean Therapy sessions throughout the year, and he loves to share his love and stoke of surfing and the ocean with everyone!
Mark was a Junior Lifeguard with Jimmy as his instructor. Mark started working for Jimmy in 1997 when he started his surf school, surf camps and (first of its kind) contest series, Pure Surfing Experience. Mark continued to work with Jimmy and built a strong friendship in the water and on land. Mark started with Pure Surfing Experience/Camp Surf as a Junior Instructor and progressed to Head Instructor and eventual partner in Campsurf.
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgerold/
John Kim
Professional:
John is currently the Chief Advancement Officer of Vision To Learn, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing vision screenings and eyeglasses to all students in need. Previously, John was a teacher and dean at Harvard Westlake school from 1999-2020, where he also coached water polo.
Personal:
John grew up in Manhattan Beach with Jimmy and Jeff. He went to Cal with them, worked as a Los Angeles County Lifeguard and Jr. Lifeguard instructor with them, and surfed around the world together with the Miller boys.
John has been a teacher and dean at Harvard Westlake school since 1999, where he also coached water polo. Jimmy and John created the first summer partnership between Harvard Westlake students and Camp Surf in 2000. Since 2005, John has introduced hundreds of Harvard Westlake students to the joys of volunteering and reaching out to others through the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation Ocean Therapy Program in Manhattan Beach. Some of his students have been inspired to become surf instructors, while they pursued college education and beyond.
John splits his time between Manhattan Beach and Studio City where he lives with his wife, Casey, and two sons, Parker and Jake.
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-kim-a047a012/
Tom Rogers
Professional:
Tom (TR) is the Head of Executive Security Services for a large, global investment management firm, overseeing protective operations and risk management for senior leadership. Prior to his current role, he has held executive security leadership positions at FOX, Amgen, BNY, and Westfield, including law enforcement roles with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Investigation, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Tom holds an MS in Criminal Justice and a BS in Business Administration.
Personal:
TR was born and raised in Manhattan Beach and currently still resides there with his wife, Natalie, and his three sons, Thomas (Trey), Nick, and Jack.
Connection to JMMF:
TR grew up alongside Jimmy and has known the Miller family since childhood. Even though they attended different schools, their friendship stayed strong through mutual friends and local sports, where they spent years competing both with and against each other. As they got older, TR and Jimmy often crossed paths at 3rd Street in Manhattan Beach. Jimmy was almost always out in the water, and during breaks, he would share stories from his travels around the world. He had an effortless way of connecting with people, shaped by his love of surfing, adventure, and building friendships wherever he went.
Chase Williams
Professional:
Chase is an Enterprise Account Executive and early sales hire at Arkestro, an artificial intelligence startup focused on helping large organizations to automate and save across their supply chains. Prior to Arkestro in 2022, Chase spent three years at Salesforce specializing in emerging financial technologies.
Organizations/Service:
- Creator/Founder of “Best Day Ever” celebrating Andrew Todd and benefitting JMMF’s Ocean Therapy Program
- Alumni Leader – Spiders in Tech – An annual event for undergraduate students from the University of Richmond to experience the technology field.
- Former Member – University of Richmond Board of Trustees, Student Development Committee
- Former Cadet – Los Angeles County Fire Department, Lifeguard Division
Personal Interests:
Surfing, Beach Volleyball, Golf, Skiing, Travel, Cooking, Water Polo
Connection to JMMF:
Growing up in Manhattan Beach, the JMMF has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Having started volunteering around the age of ten as a surf volunteer, I vividly remember my first sessions at Camp Pendleton. The impact of sharing the water with a group that had given so much was a profound experience that hooked me. In the passing years, Nancy, Jim, and many other frequent volunteers have become an extension of my family and a group I cherish.
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasehwilliams/
Russell Wolfe
Professional:
Russell Wolfe has worked as a professional surf, swim and fitness coach since 2010. He prides himself on being able to teach absolutely anybody not only how to surf, but also how to be confident, safe, and stoked in the water. Russell is an alumnus of Harvard-Westlake and graduated from Colorado College in 2017 with a BA in environmental policy, which he currently utilizes to share his love and deep understanding/desire to preserve our ocean’s waves.
Organizations/Service:
Russell began volunteering for the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation in 2008, while he was in high school and has been involved ever since. He has worked in nearly every role from beach volunteer to assistant surf coach, head surf coach, water safety coordinator, board director, digital brand ambassador, and operations assistant. Russell has also worked with CampSurf, Beach Sports, the MattMan Surf Kids Foundation, the Compton Surf Club.
Personal:
Born and raised in LA, Russell loves catching party waves with his friends up and down the California coast. Some of Russell’s favorite memories have come from volunteering with JMMF over the years, from riding a wave with Kelly Slater at Camp Pendleton, to learning secret tricks from surf legend Peff Eick. The son of a gallery owner, he often designs and paints his own boards and has had his creations featured in art exhibitions in Santa Monica and West LA.
Connection to JMMF:
After Russell stood up on his first wave at Camp Surf in 2006, he went home and told his dad he wanted to be a pro surfer. Through his work with JMMF, he feels he is now living out his dream. His surf coaches were taught by Jimmy himself, and Russell is proud to be carrying on Jimmy’s legacy with his dedication to spreading the joy and healing properties of the ocean.
Advisory Board
Tome Baldocchi
Tome Baldocchi is an accomplished tax and accounting professional with over 20 years of experience as an Enrolled Agent with firms located in Torrance, Westwood and Manhattan Beach, California.
Tome has extensive experience providing tax and accounting solutions for closely held businesses and high net worth individuals. A valued advisor and business relationship manager, his experience includes tax planning and compliance for individuals, corporations, partnerships, and LLC’s. Additionally, he represents clients with financial matters associated Federal and State Government notices and examinations.
Tome currently lives in Manhattan Beach with his wife Alli and three boys (Kyle, Caden and Maguire). A native of southern California, he is originally from Hermosa Beach and attended Redondo Union High School before graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Mathematics.
Growing up a surfer in Manhattan Beach, Tome shared many waves with Jimmy Miller, which is his personal connection to the organization. As well as his declaration that, “I can personally attest to the healing power of the ocean for the mind, body and soul.”
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomebaldocchi/
Brent Broza
Professional:
Self-taught photographer, Brent Broza, grew up in Manhattan Beach surrounded by the Southern California beach community and culture. Surfing and skateboarding all over the famous South Bay with like-minded friends, Brent became very interested in art, sports and music at an early age. His passions, surfing and traveling, took him all over the world.
Always a fan of photography and with parents that documented so much of his childhood through this medium, Brent was drawn to the art early in his life. He started exploring film photography in 2004, but his passion deeply unfolded a few years down the road. In 2008, Brent returned home to the South Bay from his then home in Maui to care for his father who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
While caring for his father, he came upon a camera of his that hadn’t been used much and started shooting photos to create artistic balance at a time of darkness. What started as a creative emotional release grew into a passion that still has Broza constantly curious, always on an adventure and never without a camera.
In 2016, Brent won the World Surf League’s “Biggest Paddle Award” by capturing the photo of Aaron Gold’s Guinness World Record wave of 63 feet at Jaws on Maui. The wave was documented as being the largest wave ever to be paddled into by a surfer.
His work has been featured by Surfer Magazine, Surfline, The Inertia, Jose Cuervo, Birdwell, Matix, Jack Johnson, Descendents (Back Cover), Pennywise, Blink 182, Shepard Fairey (Obey), Greg ‘Craola’ Simkins, The Seventh Letter, Known Gallery and many more. Broza was also the featured artist at LA’s Fox Studios with a 6-month lobby installation in 2012 & will return again in 2017.
Organizations/Service:
Organizer-Winter Bocce Ball Tournament. Proceeds to JMMF
Personal/Interests:
Surfing, volleyball, reading, visiting with family and friends around the world.
Connection to JMMF:
Brent and Jimmy became friends in elementary school and shared life together growing up in Manhattan Beach. Through surfing, volleyball, travel and modeling, they became best of friends. Brent traveled to Hawaii with the Miller’s in the 80’s and vowed to return. He lived in Maui for years and returned to the South Bay in 2008 to concentrate on photography. Some of his first expressions of art through painting and photography were a way of dealing with Jimmy’s death in 2004.
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-broza-41a6268/
Debbie Goldberg
Professional:
With more than 11 years of experience as a Chief Marketing Officer in the restaurant and hospitality industry, I have a successful track record of creating and executing marketing solutions that yield growth, community awareness, and customer retention.
As a Co-founder of Fresh Brothers, I spent many years learning all aspects of the restaurant business and honing my marketing skills as I developed creative strategies to continuously expand the business. Over the last decade, my vision, creativity, and marketing expertise has transformed Fresh Brothers from a small-town pizzeria to the sixth largest independent pizza chain in the US with 18 locations in California.
In 2018, I established Sand and Surf Digital Marketing to help business owners skip the marketing and brand development learning curve and grow their businesses. I specialize in targeted, community-driven, grass roots social media marketing focusing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Yelp. My goal is to help other organizations cultivate their brand, design their marketing strategy, and promote growth effectively. I leverage my marketing expertise and firsthand experience as a business owner to help small and mid-sized companies develop strategies that achieve actual results.
Personal:
Mother of twins, Nathan and Ryann. Married to my partner and best friend, Adam. Interests: Reading, spending time at the beach, travel, cooking and spinning.
Connections to JMMF:
Adam and I have been proud supporters of the JMMF for the last ten years. Our kids have grown up learning to surf with the Camp Surf crew, and they are now experienced and passionate surfers and Junior Lifeguards.
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-goldberg-9a700712/
Roger “Rocky” Laverty
Professional:
Rocky is a retired business executive with over 40 years’ experience in publicly traded food retailing and distribution businesses.
Rocky worked for Smart & Final, Inc. from 1979 until 1998 retiring as CEO. At Smart & Final he developed and implemented strategies that grew the company from 60 stores and $200 million in revenue to 250 stores and over $1.5 billion in revenue.
He came out of retirement in 2003 to serve as President and CEO of Diedrich Coffee, Inc., a diversified operator of coffee houses and franchises that was known for its expertise and traditions in specialty coffee. Then in 2005 he became the President and CEO of Farmer Bros. Co. a national roaster/distributor of coffee and related products to the foodservice and institutional markets, where he grew the company from $200 million in revenue to over $400 million in five years.
Rocky is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Grandpoint Bank, and Unified Grocers, Inc.
Organizations/Service:
Trustee of The Children’s Bureau of Los Angeles since 1996.
Director of Perkins Scholarship Foundation awarding merit scholarships to sons and daughters of L.A. County sheriffs since 2008.
Personal/Interests:
Rocky grew up in Santa Monica, CA and learned to surf in 1958. He still loves to surf, though with a SUP these days, and enjoys golf, fly-fishing, kids and grandkids.
He has lived in Manhattan Beach since 1976 and is married to Corinne. Together they share four children and a grandchild.
Connection to JMMF:
Rocky has known the Miller family since his son Rory and Jeff Miller played Little League together. The entire Miller family was a great source of strength and comfort to the Laverty’s when they first lost their son Geoff to a car accident and then Rocky’s wife, Jill, to ALS. Preserving memories and legacy in the face of tragedy has been an important bond between our families.
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rocky-laverty-9247134/
Aaron Osten
Professional:
Aaron Osten is a civil trial attorney at Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, representing Plaintiffs who have suffered catastrophic personal injuries as well as employees who have been retaliated against in the workplace. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star from 2017-2020 and was chosen by The Best Lawyers in America as “Ones to Watch” in 2021. He is a graduate of San Diego State University and Loyola Law School.
Organizations/Service:
Aaron is a member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, the American Association for Justice, Association of Business Trial Lawyers, and Attorneys Information Exchange Group. Aaron is also a member of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and helps advocate against cruelty to animals.
Personal/Interests:
Aaron’s personal interests include surfing, running, hiking and ocean paddling.
Connections to JMMF:
“As a lifelong surfer who grew up in the ocean, the JMMF has always hit home to me as an organization that truly makes a difference in people’s lives. I knew Jimmy from an early age, mostly from spending countless hours in the water with him. He was always the guy who surfed for the right reasons, and it made everyone around him better off. It is an honor and privilege to continue Jimmy’s legacy and help promote the positive influence and energy that the JMMF stands for, and to be a part of the incredible healing programs for such deserving people.”
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-osten-383311209/
David Peters
Professional:
David Peters is co-founder of Regency Affiliates, a diversified group of real estate companies which acquire, market, develop and manage residential, industrial and retail properties in the western United States. He is a graduate of Pomona College and of the Coro Foundation Internship in Public Affairs. He holds a master’s degree in urban studies from Occidental College.
Organizations/Service:
In the community, David has served as a mediator with the Centinella Valley Juvenile Diversion Project and in business as a mediator and arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association. He is presently Vice Chairman of the Richstone Family Center. He is former chairman of The California Community Foundation, Coro Southern California, and Liaison Citizens. He was a founder and board member of Leadership Southern California and has also served on the board of governors of Genesis LA, the Thelma Pearl Howard Foundation, the Beverly Hills Land Company and the Warren Christopher Scholarship Fund.
Personal/Interests:
Nancy Miller introduced David and his wife, RL, to each other in 1986. David and RL live in Manhattan Beach and have three adult children, two granddaughters and two grandsons. David’s personal interests include traveling, painting, grandchildren, golf, skiing, fly fishing, stand-up paddle boarding and volunteering with non-profits. Through the sale of his paintings David provides a vehicle for buyers to contribute directly to JMMF and the Richstone Family Center.
Connections to JMMF:
“I met Jimmy when he and my son David played AYSO Soccer. Jim and I coached the boys together and our families have been friends for over 35 years. I have always admired Jimmy’s waterman’s passion, his sense of adventure and his spirituality. Having tremendous respect and love for Nancy and Jim it is an honor to be a board member and participate in the wonderful work of JMMF.”