San Diego CA— McAlister Institute, a non-profit organization that helps bring life-saving services in substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, life skills education, and vocational training to individuals and families regardless of their inability to pay, has announced three new board members; Mary Johnson, Robert “Bob” Jones, and Michelle Kveen have officially joined the 12 dedicated, community members and professionals currently serving on the board.
“We are honored that Mary, Bob, and Michelle have joined our board,” said Steve Allen, the McAlister Institute’s Board President. “The impressive set of skills and experience each of these new members brings will prove invaluable to furthering the agency’s mission to heal lives through the miracle of recovery.”
Mary Johnson
Mary Johnson, of La Jolla, has devoted her 23 years in San Diego to volunteer work in social services, education, arts, and research and development. Upon joining the board, Mrs. Johnson took on the lead role of the board’s Resource Development Committee. Her community service includes work with the San Diego Education Fund, Salvation Army’s Sierra Del Mar Division, Uplift, Scripps Integrative Medicine Fitness Center, American Women for International Understanding, The Nile Sisters Development Initiative, Board of Directors, St. Germaine Auxiliary of the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation, La Jolla Debutante Ball Committee, Globe Guilders of the Old Globe Theatre, the Neurosciences Institute, La Jolla Presbyterian Church. and San Diego Youth and Community Services. Mary went from being a Proposal Writer to being a Contract Negotiator, where she was one of the first women in the US negotiating contracts with the Federal Government. She was recruited to become the Director of Contracts and Marketing for the Life Sciences Division of Whittaker Corporation in Bethesda, MD., a position she held until leaving to rear her two stepchildren and daughter. She continued consulting as a strategic planner in Marketing and as a proposal writer for many years. Mrs. Johnson comes to McAlister Institute with a wealth of recent awards and honors, as well; these include the Spirit of Community Award (2013) from San Diego Women’s Club, Woman of Dedication (2009), from the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, Style Award (2006) for Community Outreach, from Fashion Group International of San Diego, Inc., and San Diego Woman of the Year (2014) from the Irish Congress of Southern California.
Robert “Bob” Jones
Bob Jones of Carlsbad has more than 30 years of senior level human resources leadership experience, which includes Fortune 100 companies, non-profits, and start-ups. In addition, Bob has been a key advisor to CEO’s on organizational strategy, executive development and succession planning, team building, compensation, and matters related to BOD and policy. Bob’s community work includes having been San Diego Chapter Director of the COO Forum, serving on the Board of Directors for the SD Rescue Mission and San Diego County Junior Achievement, being on the Workforce Planning Committee for BIOCOM, San Diego, and co-founding North County Senior Human Resources Group.
Michelle Kveen
Michelle has been passionate about the cause of recovery for more than 20 years. A resident of Del Cerro, Michelle is an operating partner of BO Beau Kitchen + Garden, a La Mesa Village restaurant. Michelle said, “I believe as business owners, we have a responsibility to our communities. Whether we own a restaurant or a lumber yard, we need to support our local communities.”