Meet Matt & Our Board (Copy)

Tanya Landry, Vice President/Co-Founder, 2006 – Present
Tanya is a social entrepreneur and owner of Elusen, Inc., providing project management, facilitation and training for non-profit and for-profit companies. Founding and leading Quality of Life Connections is a passion and dream fulfillment. In August 2011 she was honored with the 10News Leadership Award for her work with youth through San Diego VeloYouth.

Maryclare Boyle, Secretary/Co-Founder, 2006 – Present
Maryclare is a co-founder and integral to the development of the organization, providing focus and vision. Having served on numerous Boards and having many years experience working with at-risk youth, she uses her knowledge and experience to help guide the organization. Maryclare is a Senior Manager at HD Supply Facilities Maintenance in San Diego.

Marty Katz, Treasurer, 2016 – Present
Marty is the senior partner in Wood Phillips, an intellectual property law firm, and represents a number of corporate clients in the life sciences area. He previously was the Assistant Director of Patents at Merck & Co. and the Patent and Trademark Counsel at Abbott Laboratories. Marty is an avid competitive cyclist and enjoys both road and track cycling. Marty's legal, regulatory, risk assessment experience are an invaluable asset to the San Diego VeloYouth Board as the program expands.

Jim Benedict, Marketing and Development, 2017 – Present
Jim is President of Innovative Giving, a philanthropic management organization based in Del Mar, CA. He is very active in the San Diego philanthropic community, sitting on the Baker Foundation board, as well as the San Diego County YMCA board. He is also the current liaison to the La Jolla YMCA board. He is co-founder of the J&L Pie Company, another major player in the local philanthropic community. Jim brings experience in advertising/PR and marketing from his career as a principle in a highly successful local advertising agency. Jim is also an avid bicycle rider with the CAF bike community.

Robert H. Kaplan, PhD, Board Member, 2016 – Present
Bob is the Associate Program Director of the Leadership of Healthcare Organizations Masters of Advance Studies Program, and an adjunct clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at the School of Medicine, UC San Diego. Dr. Kaplan is a founder and partner with The Torrey Pines Health Group, Inc. that provides consulting to health care organizations, including strategic planning, network development and post-acute care analysis and management services. Bob brings experience in fundraising, development, and programming to San Diego VeloYouth, along with a passion for sport as a life-time athlete.

Chris Wright, Board Member, 2017 – Present
An accomplished litigator, Christopher T. Wright skillfully represents plaintiffs and defendants in multiple practice areas, with particular expertise in real estate and construction law. Before forming his own firm, Wright Law Office, Chris was a partner with Kirby Noonan Lance & Hoge. Actively involved in the legal community, Wright is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, Association of Business Trial Lawyers, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program and Legal Aid Society of San Diego. He is also a proud member of the San Diego Rotary Club 33 and the San Diego Yacht Club. An outdoorsman at heart, Wright spends his time outside of work playing in the mountains and at the beach, especially cycling. He also loves cooking for his wife, Courtney, and their friends. Wright and his wife have two children, Cristiano and Coco.

Jacobo Melcer, Board Member, 2018 – Present
Jacobo co-founded and served as CEO of FrontCom.com, as well as Chairman and President of CPM Electronics, Inc., a leading Distributor of telecommunications and electronics products in Latin America. Mr. Melcer received a Physics Degree from the Universidad National de Mexico (UNAM) and a Masters Degree in Oceanography from Scripps Institute of Technology in San Diego. Jacobo is a dedicated cyclist, both recreationally and competitively since his teenage years in Mexico. He brings a wealth of professional experience to the VeloYouth Board, especially his great connections to the South Bay community.

Melinda Johnson, DPT, Board Member, 2018 – Present
Melinda is a physical therapist whose practice focuses on our active community in San Diego, CA. She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, sports and orthopedic sections. After years of bicycle racing and touring, Melinda is now mentoring cyclists in our community, including for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. She also serves as a board member for Teen Volunteers in Action, a national organization committed to developing community leaders through a structured program of volunteerism, philanthropy, and personal development. Melinda is thrilled to join the talented and devoted board of SDVY and aims to grow our support and empower more youth in our community. Melinda and her husband, Mark, a photojournalist, love to travel, bike and surf with their two sons, Sammy and Nico.