Leadership
The lean team behind the scenes.
Leadership
The lean team behind the scenes.
The development, the therapy, the research and the sessions are all possible through the leadership of….
Andy Dellenbach
JMMF Chief Executive Officer
Andy is the CEO of the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation, focused on long term vision, strategy, program development, fundraising and marketing for JMMF. In addition to his CEO role at JMMF, Andy has a solar consulting business – South Bay Solar Company – that helps friends and family save money and transition to clean, renewable energy. Before launching SBSC, Andy had a long and successful career in the advertising and media industry. Andy was a co-founder of Mind Over Eye Inc. a production/postproduction and content creation powerhouse which he sold to Source Interlink Media in 2011.
Prior to forming Mind Over Eye, Andy managed advertising sales for various magazines and media brands for Petersen Publishing including the Latin America territory for Skin Diver (scuba diving), the Action Sports Group (Surfer, Snowboarder, Skateboarder, Powder and Bike) and the NBC-televised action sports festival, the Gravity Games.
Connection to JMMF:
- Grew up with Jimmy at 4th Street in Manhattan Beach surfing, volleyball, friends
- Attended UC Berkeley with Jimmy, roommates in college
- Traveled to San Sebastian, Spain the year before Jimmy went and shared travel notes and surfing tips that motivated Jimmy to venture to Europe the following year
- Desire to share my and Jimmy’s love of surfing and therapeutic nature of the ocean
Pam Sousa
JMMF Director of Operations, Program Manager
Pam is a native of the South Bay. She has a background in marketing, event operations, administration and travel. She was the co-owner of Liquid Adventures, an outdoor adventure company in Seward, Alaska that specialized in expedition travel in kayaks and Stand Up paddleboards. Pam has a genuine love for the ocean and continues to recreate and spend as much time in the water as possible. Her hobbies include volunteering at church, surfing, yoga and travel. She has a true passion for helping people and sharing her stoke for the ocean.
Nick Borrelli
Military/Veterans Ocean Therapy Clinical Manager
Nick is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) operating out of Encinitas California. Nick served 6 years of active duty as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps and achieved the rank of Captain prior to his departure in 2010. He was privileged to lead Marines on two combat deployments to Iraq in 2005 and again in 2007. He has extensive background in the nonprofit Veteran Services and Surfing sector, having worked for both the Travis Manion Foundation as a Veteran Programs Manager and Peer Support Specialist and the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) as a Membership Manager. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia in 2004 and his Master of Social Work Degree from University of Southern California in 2012, where he first volunteered with JMMF while working at the Wounded Warrior Battalion as a clinical intern. He is married to Agatha Borrelli and has 7 year-old twins, West and Eva. His love of surfing and the healing powers of the ocean combined with his desire to be of service to his community through healing, processing, and movement makes him very grateful to follow Kevin’s path as Manager of Veteran and Military services for the foundation.
Haley Falzon
Lead Ocean Therapist
Haley was born and raised in the South Bay and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). After graduating from USC, it was serendipity that brought her back to Hermosa Beach to train under Kevin Sousa. She has a passion for strengthening our South Bay community’s mental health. Haley has a private practice in Hermosa Beach where she supports clients of varying needs with a special interest in trauma, anxiety/OCD, and depression. Whether it was swimming at 2nd street Hermosa every day after school or sunset walks in the sand, Haley has appreciated the ocean from a young age. She is always encouraging others to take care of themselves and spend time with the healing benefits of nature. For fun, Haley finds joy exploring new places, spending time with family and friends, and snowboarding all winter long!
Brendan O’Reilly
Ocean Therapist
As a South Bay native, Brendan feels blessed to have grown up in this community. He enjoyed Junior LifeGuards, all day on the beach, skating, snowboarding, Mira Costa High School, and the local music scene with the greatest group of friends which provided him with love, support and community. Brendan still lives right here with his wife and dogs and has two masters degrees from Pepperdine University in General and Clinical Psychology. He is passionate about supporting our community as an associate Psychotherapist mentored and supervised by Kevin Sousa and Dr. Michael Collins. Brendan has amazing memories of growing up at the Miller house with Jeff and Jimmy and looking up to Jimmy as another big brother. Brendan is proud to be a part of the JMMF foundation to be able to continue to share Jimmy’s legacy and Stoke for the ocean!
Kat Rhodes
Ocean Therapist
Kat Rhodes, MA CFT, started her journey with the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation as a volunteer, at Kevin Sousa’s urging. In the intervening years, Kat earned her master’s degree in Couple and Family Therapy from Antioch University and became one of the Ocean Therapists with JMMF. Kat loves Ocean Therapy and seeing the immediate positive impact each session has on the athletes, the volunteers, and the staff. Kat’s emphasis on safety and support encourages an atmosphere of openness and trust where participants can feel safe enough to be brave. Kat’s been a beginning surfer for about 10 years and recognizes the value of meeting folks right where they’re at. When she’s not doing Ocean Therapy with JMMF, Kat enjoys working with individuals and couples utilizing tools and principles from a wide range of approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-based Therapy, Polyvagal Theory, Buddhist Psychology, and Adventure Therapy. Kat commutes between northern and southern California for work and play and enjoys cycling, backpacking, surfing, bingeworthy tv, and hot springs.
Jess Ripley
Ocean Therapist
Jess Ripley is a compassionate and dedicated healer who holds dual certifications as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). Through her practice Sea Love Healing, Jess provides trauma processing, 1:1 surf therapy and other holistic approaches to individuals, couples and families. Her mission is rooted in integrating her life experiences and expertise to guide others through their pain and towards inner strength and self-love. Jess began volunteering with JMMF in 2015 and, under the guidance of Carly Rogers, honed her skills as a surf instructor. Through her volunteer work, she not only discovered the joy of assisting others but also found a tight-knit community and a deep sense of belonging. Jess transitioned into facilitating JMMF Ocean Therapy sessions as a therapist in 2018. She firmly believes in the transformative power of surfing, viewing it as an integral component of the healing process. Surfing, in Jess’s eyes, provides a gateway to rediscovering the beauty, joy, and personal growth opportunities that every individual deserves.
Zachary Ruff
Ocean Therapist
Zachary is a native of Los Angeles who enjoys surfing, snowboarding, and baseball! Zach graduated from California State University of Long Beach with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Master degree in the Science of Psychology. Zach has completed internships at Didi Hirsch and The Beacon House where he learned strategic interventions to help men and women who struggle with a variety of mental health diagnoses. Currently Zach works in private practice and enjoys free time spent with his wife Brittany and daughter Summer.
Kevin Sousa
Past Program and Clinical Director
Kevin Sousa served as JMMF’s Program and Clinical Director from 2018-2023, guiding our Ocean Therapy program and supporting our tremendous growth. Kevin was one of the most loving and compassionate healers and therapist you’ll ever meet. He was a truly giving servant that blessed our community through counseling others in his private practice, leading and teaching Ocean Therapy sessions for JMMF and through his incredible musical talent. Kevin mentored and supervised most of the Ocean Therapist leading JMMF sessions today. Kevin passed away in May 2023 from melanoma cancer and even though we miss him every day, we sense his leadership and guidance through the Ocean Therapists he guided and his immeasurable impact on our Ocean Therapy Program.
