Board of Directors

 

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Jerry Hoffmeister, Chairman

Jerry is a community leader who managed and expanded several global technology companies serving the energy industries worldwide until his retirement in 1997. He currently provides strategic support and mentoring to early stage technology companies and community nonprofit organizations.  His current Non-Profit Affiliations include:

  • Chairman – Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery
  • San Diego Foundation Board of Governors since 2002 and currently serves on the Board Governance Committee. Chairs the Science & Technology Working Group since 2004 having served as Vice Chairman in 2003 after joining Working Group in 2000. He also is a member Organizational Success Program Working Group since 2003.
  • Founders Circle - San Diego Social Venture Partners
  • Board Member - Friends of the Powerhouse in Del Mar
  • Chairman of the Board of Trustees - EJE Elementary Academy Charter School in El Cajon

His Past Non Profit Affiliations include:

  • Chairman - International Forum for Corporate Directors from 1996 - 1997
  • Chairman - Chairmen’s RoundTable from 1998 – 2000
  • Board Member - Del Mar Foundation from 1998 - 2002
  • Founder/Board Member - Del Mar Village Association from 2002 – 2004
  • Advisor -  Excellence & Justice in Education (EJE) in El Cajon  2002 - 2005

Jerry’s other board affiliations include being a board member of Ebert Composites, Inc. in Chula Vista and an advisory board member for Advanced Monitors, Inc. in San Diego. 
Jerry also graduated from Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

 

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Davida Herzl, Legal Liaison

Davida Herzl is an emerging social entrepreneur based in San Diego, CA with a diverse background in business, law, politics and the citizen sector. Her current work centers on the environment and underrepresented communities.

Davida is a member of our founding board, and has been integral to our growth and transformation into a thriving nonprofit organization. Davida received her law degree from USD, and holds a triple-degree in Economics, Political Science and Communication from UCSD. Formerly, Davida was Founder and President of TradeWise, a company providing import/export services and custom overseas manufacturing for a major retailer. Davida is also a member of The Consultant Group, where her clients have ranged from multinational giants and major business executives to small business owners and grassroots non-profit organizations. She has consulted businesses on a variety of topics, from responsible management of offshore manufacturing to governmental relations to basic strategic and leadership issues. She is bilingual and has had extensive work experience in Mexico and China.

Over the years, Davida has demonstrated her commitment to the community and its needs by bringing her leadership to pressing issues. Most recently, Davida co-founded The Scripps Foundation for Science and the Environment, and currently serves as President of NextEarth Foundation where she brings an entrepreneurial and analytical approach to problems of the environment.

Davida established and currently manages our ongoing relationship with the law firm of Foley & Lardner and other legal partners.  For Davida, Project Walk is more than just a volunteer project. “This work is an essential part of my life and career. I’m here because Project Walk changes and transforms lives, and I want to do everything in my power to help Project Walk reach as many people as possible.”

Most recently Davida was recognized as a lifetime Next Generation Fellow of the American Assembly at Columbia University.

 

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Lisa J. Biggs, Finance

Lisa is a certified public accountant and a manager in audit services with Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) who, for over seven years, has specialized in servicing both not-for-profit and for-profit companies in the life sciences and biotech industries.  In addition to her client responsibilities, she is involved in Deloitte’s university recruiting activities and is an active member of Deloitte’s volunteer committee that plans outreach activities in the community, including the annual Impact Day where all Deloitte offices in the United States spend the day serving their local communities.

Lisa has been active in fundraising for causes such as cancer research and children with disabilities.  She helped in the effort to find a cure for cancer through her participation in the 2005 Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Three Day Walk and trained for the 2002 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and the 2001 and 2002 Silver Strand Half-marathons with Athletes Helping Athletes (AHA), in order to raise money to purchase special hand-cycles for children with disabilities, like cerebral palsy, so that they can feel the sense of independence and joy that comes with the ability to ride bikes with their friends.

Lisa loves to travel with her husband, Preston, and one of their goals is to travel to a new place internationally each year.  They also enjoy snowboarding in Southern California and Utah.  Lisa studied abroad for a summer in college in Guadalajara, Mexico, has represented the United States of America in the 2003 World Cup for Touch Rugby held in Japan, backpacked through Europe and has visited numerous other parts of the world.

Lisa is a native of San Diego. She earned her bachelors degree with the honors distinction of summa cum laude in accountancy with a minor in Spanish from the University of San Diego and had the privilege of addressing her graduating class during the commencement ceremonies as the valedictorian.

 

 

Jacki Johnson, Philanthropist

Jacqueline Johnson is a seasoned entrepreneur with 20 years experience in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry, 15 of those in senior management.  She has a Ph.D. in Genetics from Stanford School of Medicine and, following a post doctoral fellowship at the Salk Institute, started her scientific career with Hybritech Inc. in San Diego.  She is a founder of Signal Pharmaceuticals and a member of Amylin’s original scientific team.  She was President and CEO of FeRx Incorporated, a development stage biotech company conducting late stage clinical trials for the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to solid tumors.  Dr. Johnson is now President of Development and Strategic Consulting Associates, LLC which specializes in defining clinical and regulatory drug development strategies for biotechnology companies and performing technical due diligence for the private investment community. Dr. Johnson is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rincon Pharmaceuticals and also serves on the Board of Trustees for The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.