Board Members

Board

Bernard Irvin
Pipeline Advisory Board
Bernard Irvin is a resourceful and adaptable team-player that has developed a 12-year career combined in Higher Education and Human Resources, inclusive of enrollment management, academic support, risk management, recruiting, retention, training, and career development. He is passionate about creating access and educational opportunities for individuals, using social capital to develop community partnerships, and is known amongst his peers and community partners as a fiscal conservative and economic strategist with expansive creativity capacity.
Caren Woodruff
Advisory Board
Caren is passionate about helping young people find their way in this challenging culture. She lives in Omaha, NE with her husband Mark, where they raised their 3 children. They have 5 grandchildren. Caren is currently a life coach, among many other things.
Cheri Bass
Global Board
Cheri has worked in both the investment and construction industries in administration and customer service. Additionally, she has taught English as a Second Language and has a desire to see expats, as well as young people of all cultures, develop the skills to succeed in life. She holds a bachelor’s degree in counseling and resides with her husband, Chuck, in Marco Island, Florida, while caring for her aging mother in their home.
Chris Hyatt
Global Board
Chris Hyatt is the Senior Pastor at Covenant Life Church in Lawrenceville, GA. Originally from New Mexico, Chris and his wife, Donna, live in Buford, Georgia and have four adult children: Ben, Katie, Olivia and Emily. Chris, a sought out speaker and developer of young leaders, if given the time will also quickly tell you about his eleven grandchildren.
Chuck Bass
Global Board
Chuck is an entrepreneur, who has worked as a sole proprietor or partner in diverse businesses including a manufacturers’ rep firm, international property development firm, and a restaurant group. Presently, he travels the world partnering with indigenous leaders who primarily specialize in blessing the marginalized people in their cultures focusing on both spiritual and economic development. Chuck resides with his wife, Cheri, and Cheri’s mom in Marco Island, Florida.
Derriqk Roberts Sr.
Pipeline Advisory Board
Derriqk has over 19 years of leadership experience. He is currently a Store Manager for Walgreens in Norcross, GA. Derriqk and his wife Stephanie, have 5 beautiful children: Derriqk Jr, Alexandria, Hunter, Olivia, and Marlee.
Dr. Nyasha Gondora
Global Board
Dr. Nyasha Gondora was born and raised in Zimbabwe, where she developed a passion for science through observing the impact of science and medicine on her community. After completing a BSc. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas where she was the recipient of a $92,000 academic scholarship, Nyasha earned a Ph.D. in Neuropharmacology at the University of Waterloo where she was the recipient of numerous awards. Nyasha currently works for the Canadian federal government at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. In her spare time, Nyasha enjoys keeping active, volunteering and engaging with her community.
Ed Liebenthal
Global Board
Native of Chicago, Dr. Ed Liebenthal and his wife, Sue, have owned and operated a dental practice in Kalamazoo, Michigan for over thirty years while also developing and launching short-term dental clinics in at-risk neighborhoods with extreme economic disadvantage. The Liebenthals have three grown children: Corlynne, Julie and Marc.
Gordon Green
Global Board
Gordon T. Green, CRP is Chief Strategy Officer for Rideau Recognition Solutions, a Canada-based company that helps corporations support the growth of their employees as individuals and helps them reach their full potential. Gord and his wife, Selena, live in Hamilton, Ontario where they raised their three sons, Alex, Zack and Harrison.
Kudzaishe Gondora
Global Board
Kudzaishe Gondora, was born and raised in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe. Growing up in a nation grappling with poverty and economic turmoil, she realized from an early age her passion and drive to help improve the well-being of the underprivileged. Having resided in Canada for over a decade, Kudzaishe currently serves as the Grants Finance Manager at World Vision Canada. In this role, she oversees the complete financial life cycle of development projects in vulnerable contexts worldwide. Kudzai earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology and Biology from St Mary’s University and obtained a Master of Global Affairs from the University of Toronto, with a specialization in Capital Markets and Global Innovation Policy. Apart from her professional commitments, Kudzai actively volunteers in event planning for various organizations in Toronto. In her leisure time, she enjoys activities such as swimming, hiking, and reading.
Mark Woodruff
Global Board
Boy With a Ball’s Board Chair since 2012, Mark has a passion for mentoring and networking young people to support them in fulfilling their destiny. Mark currently works as a physician at Whole Person Healthcare in Omaha, NE where he resides with his wife, Caren.
Marvin Lim
Pipeline Advisory Board
Marvin Lim is a securities attorney with Holcomb + Ward, LLP; a State Representative for House District 98, which includes portions of unincorporated Norcross, Tucker, and Lilburn in Gwinnett County; and CEO/Founder of the Lucky Shoals Community Association. Marvin immigrated to Georgia from the Philippines at the age of seven.
Rebecca Alexander
Pipeline Advisory Board
As the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Gwinnett Technical College, Rebecca Alexander oversees the College’s 140+ academic programs and works with faculty to ensure curricula supports the College’s mission of workforce development. Ms. Alexander and her family have been residents of Gwinnett County since 2004. They enjoy spending time together traveling and exploring new places.
Roger Hyatt
Global Board
Roger is now retired after a fifty year career in building and leading communications companies in the oil field country of west Texas. Roger and his wife, Darlene, live in the Atlanta area and have two grown sons: Chris and Chad.

Scientific Advisory Board

Dr. Caterina Gouvis-Roman
Temple University
Dr. Caterina Gouvis-Roman joined the Department of Criminal Justice at Temple University in Fall 2008 after two decades with The Urban Institute in Washington, DC. Dr. Roman’s research interests include prisoner reentry; gang violence; the role of community organizations and institutions and other aspects of social capital in crime prevention and neighborhood well being; and the spatial and temporal relationship between neighborhood characteristics and violence.
Dr. Jean Rhodes
University of Massachusetts
Dr. Jean Rhodes, Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, is one of the world’s leading authorities on mentoring. She is Chair of the Research and Policy Council of the National Mentoring Partnership.
Dr. Michael Nakkula
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Michael Nakkula is the Practice Professor and Chair of Applied Psychology – Human Development at the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education. Dr. Nakkula’s teaching and research focus on the development of resilience and the promotion of possibility development among low-income children and youth.
Dr. Michael Karcher
University of Texas San Antonio
Michael J. Karcher, Ed.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Karcher conducts research on school-based and cross age peer mentoring as weel as on adolescent connectedness. He authored the Cross-Age Mentoring Program (CAMP) and materials that Boy With a Ball's Velocity is built around. education.utsa.edu