Meet Our Board
Dr. Gil Brady, Interim Chair
Master Facilitator at Core Strengths, Former President of Nativity Prep Academy
Dr. Gil Brady graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1987. After serving in the military, his career in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology brought him to the Bay Area where he eventually served as Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for Elan Pharmaceuticals. After the birth of his second son, Gil changed careers and worked as a Junior High School Math Teacher and K-6 principal for Pinewood School in Los Altos, CA. While completing his doctorate in Executive Leadership, Gil founded Relationship Impact, a leadership development firm focused on Executive Team Development. In July of 2018, Gil began serving as the President of Nativity Prep Academy of San Diego, San Diego’s only all-scholarship school focused on serving students from low-income situations who will be among the first generation in their family to graduate from college.
In addition to his Bachelor of Science Degree from United States Military Academy, Gil holds a M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Santa Clara University as well as a Doctorate in Education from George Washington University. Gil serves on the Board of Curriki, an educational technology non-profit company based in San Jose, CA. Gil also serves as a Board Member for Francis Parker School in San Diego.
Joe Bonin
Managing Director for SVN/Vanguard
Joe Bonin is Managing Director for SVN/Vanguard. In 1980, he began his brokerage career at a small boutique firm in the east county of San Diego. In 1984, he bought the company and rebranded it East County Properties. After significant growth and adding a property management division, the company was moved to its current location in central San Diego and the company was renamed ECP Commercial. In 2018, ECP Commercial merged with the SVN/Vanguard Orange County office to become the premier SVN office in Southern California offering leasing, sales and property management and maintenance services.
In addition to company management, Joe has completed 3,000 plus transactions of every type with total sales over 1 billion dollars. He also does development and syndication and is a founder and current owner of SmartSpace, an office space and art gallery concept that has two locations in San Diego county. He also enjoys volunteering as the Facilities Director for Nativity Prep Academy in San Diego, at which he was just inducted into the Magi Circle. He graduated from University of San Diego and National University with a Bachelor of Arts in Real Estate.
Bridgett Brown
Fernando Brun
Small Business Owner
Fernando Brun holds an MS in Business Leadership from Duxx Graduate School of Business Leadership, a BA in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Panamericana and a diploma in Culinary Arts from San Diego Culinary Institute. From a young age, he has been engaged in different church organizations and activities, like leading Evangelizadores de Tiempo Completo, a group of full-time lay ministers working for priests in remote Mexican parishes. He also founded and led Slimarket, a healthy-food restaurant and a vegetable farming and packing business. Fernando is currently an active board member of Bodesa, SAPI, a retail chain founded in 1887 by his great-grandfather and currently operating more than 90 stores in Western Mexico.
Kevin Calkins
President, Cathedral Catholic High School
Kevin Calkins is the President of Cathedral Catholic High School and adjunct lecturer at the University of San Diego. Kevin has spent his entire professional career in Catholic education, including teaching at Verbum Dei High School in LA. Kevin earned a Ph.D. in educational leadership from The Catholic University of America, a master’s degree in education from Fordham University, and bachelor’s degree from Boston College.
Deacon Mike Daniels
Small Business Owner and Deacon, St. Brigid Parish
Deacon Mike Daniels is active Deacon for the Catholic Diocese of San Diego, serving at St Brigid Parish. As Feasibility Study Chair, Deacon Mike led the initial effort to open Cristo Rey San Diego High School. He sits on the Board of Regents for Seattle University and is a past Board Member at Fr. Joes Villages Homeless Shelter. Deacon Mike was a Founding Board Member of The Monarch School and Nativity Prep School, and is a Past President of San Diego Executives Associate, National Artist Materials Associate, and All Hallows Parish Council.
David Davenport
Dean Dwyer
Director and former CEO, David C. Copley Foundation
Dean Dwyer currently serves as a Director and is the President/CEO of the David C. Copley Foundation. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Catholic Community Foundation of San Diego. He was formerly a Director and the President of The Copley Press, Inc., where he served in various finance and other capacities since 1985. Prior to his time at Copley, he worked as a CPA in public accounting with what is now Ernst & Young. Dean previously served as a member of the Finance Council for the Diocese of San Diego. Dean is active in the local Cursillo movement and served on the Board of Directors for All for God. He is a former Board Chair for the Copley-Price Family YMCA.
Dr. Stephen Ferruolo
Former Dean for USD School of Law from 2011-2020
Dr. Stphen Ferruolo served as Dean for USD School of Law from 2011-2020. Prior to that, he taught history at Stanford University, clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals, and served as partner of the San Diego office of Goodwin Procter LLP and the Corporate/VLG Practice Group at Heller Ehrman LLP in its Palo Alto and San Diego offices. From 2003 to 2011, he served as vice president and general counsel of BIOCOM, the world’s largest regional life sciences association, and then as its vice-chairman from 2011 to 2014. Dr. Ferruolo has received numerous awards, such as his recognition by Chambers: USA as one of The Best Lawyers in America.
Dr. Ferruolo graduated magna cum laude with high honors from Wesleyan University and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. He earned his PhD in History at Princeton University and his JD at Stanford University, where he graduated with honors.
Anjie Frias
Private Attorney
Anjie Frias is an attorney who recently relocated to San Diego. She currently offers legal services pro bono through the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program. She also serves on the Parent Advisory Board of San Diego State University. Prior to moving to San Diego, Anjie resided in Atlanta where she was very active in the Catholic community both working in a Catholic grade school and volunteering through her children’s Catholic schools. She also assisted low-income families in resolving their legal issues as part of an Atlanta medical-legal partnership. She graduated, with honors, from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and received her law degree from Emory University School of Law.
Connor Heaton
Director of School Growth, Cristo Rey Network
Conor Heaton is the Director of School Growth at the Cristo Rey Network. Prior to Cristo Rey, Conor practiced as a trial attorney in Chicago, where he was active in the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and was recognized as a ”40 Under Forty” by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company as one of Illinois’s up-and-coming attorneys in 2015, and received the St. Robert Bellarmine Award in 2016 from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. A trial lawyer and longtime Chicagoland resident, Conor has been involved with Cristo Rey in myriad ways, including consulting work at Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep.
Gerry Leneweaver
Former Senior Vice President of People Services at Rubio’s Restaurants Inc. and Human Resource Consultant
Gerry Leneweaver was Vice President Human Resources for Unidine from 2011 to 2013. Prior to that, Gerry was Senior Vice President of People Services at Rubio’s Restaurants Inc. from 2005 – 2011. He has also served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources at American Hospitality Concepts, Inc. (The Ground Round, Inc.) from May 1999 to February 2004.
Gerry has been in senior management roles at TGI Friday’s, Inc., The Limited, Inc., Atari, Inc., and PepsiCo, Inc. (Pizza Hut and Frito-Lay). Gerry has also led his own human resources consulting firm, AGL Associates, in Boston, from 1987 to 2023 to provide a broad range of management expertise to help drive business and people strategies. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Relations from LaSalle University in Philadelphia.
Christopher Lopez
CPA and Senior Manager, Lindsay & Brownell LLP
Chris Lopez, CPA, CRFAC, has over 15 years of experience in accounting and assurance engagements. Chris began his career at Deloitte, a big-four accounting firm. While gaining important industry knowledge, Chris advanced to the position of audit senior. In 2007, Chris joined Lindsay & Brownell, LLP, focusing the majority of his efforts on audits of nonprofit organizations, and was a key contributor to the development of the firm’s audit practice. Chris was promoted to senior manager where he transitioned to a technical lead for the audit practice. In addition to working on multiple audits with his team, Chris is tasked with the responsibilities of achieving business development and growth goals and cultivating and maintaining client relationships. Chris also provides advisory services in the areas of internal control analysis, application of U.S. GAAP, and financial reporting.
Chris attended San Diego State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He is a CPA and earned his CRFAC. He resides in San Diego with his wife and two young children, and is an avid guitar player. Chris is also a dedicated student and practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Debbie Rider
David Rivera
Residential and Commercial Real Estate Advisor for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Nonprofit Start-up and Strategy Advisor, and Founder of Nativity Prep Academy
David Rivera has been in real estate since 1989 with Berkshire Hathaway. David’s value-added background is founding nonprofit organizations and overseeing $25 million in property improvements.
Born and raised in San Diego, David credits his deep understanding of neighborhoods to criss-crossing the county while playing football and baseball in high school and college. His volunteer service is extensive and includes assisting a number of youth, adoption, and faith-based groups improve systems, programs and outcomes. David is a graduate of the University of San Diego and the University of Notre Dame Law School. David’s efforts in alleviating effects of poverty led him to be recognized for a Leadership Award from ABC Channel 10 and as a ChangeMaker by CBS Channel 8. USD has awarded David the University Service Award and the Bishop Buddy Award, as well as honoring him as its 2014 Commencement Speaker
Father Bill Rowland, CJM
U.S. Regional Superior, Congregation of Jesus and Mary
Father Bill Rowland has spent his career in Catholic education. He served as teacher and principal at Cardinal Dougherty High School in Buffalo, and taught at Mater Dei High School in San Diego. He has been pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in San Diego, where he also served the Newman Club at SDSU. He was appointed pastor at St. Patrick in 2004, Regional Councilor for the CJM in 2011, and Regional Bursar in 2012. He was appointed US Region Superior in 2017.
Ben Wood
Mark Zangrando
Sr. Director of Mission, Scripps Mercy Hospital
Mark Zangrando is the Senior Director of Mission at Scripps Mercy Hospital and has served in that role at hospitals in the Providence Health System. Prior to moving to health care, Mark served at Loyola Marymount University in several roles, including Dean of Students. He is a former Catholic high school teacher and campus minister, and has a passion for the mission of Cristo Rey schools. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Whole Person Care Initiative, a statewide ministry sponsored by the California Catholic Conference. Mark holds a Master of Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University.