Quality of Life Connections (d/b/a San Diego VeloYouth)
operates with an all-volunteer Board of Directors and staff.
Meet the special people who make it all happen.
Matthew Hoffmann, President, Director of Programs, 2014 – Present
Matt Hoffmann is a former pro-cyclist, coach and event coordinator. Before joining the Board, Matt volunteered and coached for San Diego VeloYouth. In addition, he works with the Challenged Athletes Foundation and coaches private clients. Matt is very accomplished both on and off the bike, with recent accomplishments including racing and completing solo Race Across the West (RAW) in 2014 and solo Race Across America (RAAM) in 2015. Additionally, Matt was part of the winning Team Chase as a crew member at the Silver State 508 in 2015.
Robert Panzera, Treasurer, 2024 – Present
After a brief stint away, Rob has returned to the VeloYouth board bringing more than seventeen years of experience in fundraising, events, and outreach for nonprofits in New York and California. He currently serves as Assistant Director of Development at the Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, NY. In this role, Rob focuses on creating a more relationship-driven, donor-centric fundraising strategy to build new corporate partnerships and invigorate donor engagement. Rob is also Founder and President of CCSD Sport Event, an event management company focusing on operations and logistics for single and multi-day endurance sports events for nonprofit and for-profit organizations.
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.
Hannah Smith, Board 2019- Present Hannah Smith is a graduate of the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business. Hannah has been involved with Event Management with non-profit organizations such as the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s Million Dollar Challenge, Padres Pedal the Cause and Project Hero for over ten years. Hannah has also coordinated events with For-profit companies that include events at the Indianapolis 500, Ryder Cup, PGA Championships and the Daytona 500. She is currently contracting with multiple organizations that parallel her passion to help those with challenges achieve more through sport and encouraging communities.
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.
Jose Escobedo, Board Member, 2021- Present Jose Escobedo is a graduate of the VeloYouth Program and a Site Coordinator. After completing the VeloYouth class Jose went on to mentor following classes from 2014-2016. After graduating at Herbert Hoover High Jose went on to work for The IMIN after School program at his alma mater(Hoover) and now is the Site Coordinator.
Denie Vivas, Board Member 2021- Present Denie Vivas worked in healthcare for over 25 years. She has a degree in medical administration with an emphasis on medical management, software, and database management. She is CPC and CRC certified Denie personally trained clients’ physicians and office staff. Denie has 4 children and 4 grandchildren whom she and her husband love to spoil. Denie was an avid cyclist and enjoyed both road and track cycling, she recently had a medical complication that left her partially paralyzed and looks forward to getting back on the bike and continues to enjoy working with the VeloYouth team.
Whitney DeSpain, Board Member 2023- Present Whitney has been riding bikes, both on and off the track, for most of the past 50 years. Before becoming a stay at home mom, she worked as a primatologist, studying social behavior in monkeys and apes. She currently volunteers with Voices for Children as a court-appointed special advocate for at-risk foster youth. She is married to her college boyfriend, and together they have a daughter who is a student at UCSD. In her free time, she enjoys riding bikes, reading books, and hanging out with her pack of senior dogs.
Advisory Board
Quality of Life Connections (d/b/a San Diego VeloYouth) is honored to be supported by a group of recognized professionals:
Sandra Bishop – After School Program Director, Sweetwater Unified School District
Dana Harwood – 8th Grade Teacher, Monarch School
Terrence Johnes – Assistant Principal, Hoover High School
Lisa Johnson – Executive Director, NTC Foundation
Linda Wergeland – Real Estate Executive (retired), Yoga Instructor
Robert Panzera – Owner & Operator, CCSD Sport Event