Board of Directors

The Board of Directors support the work of because I said I would and provide mission-based leadership and strategic governance. While day-to-day operations are led by because I said I would’s Founder, the Board-Founder relationship is a partnership, and the appropriate involvement of the Board is both critical and expected. We are currently seeking board volunteer leaders with professional experience in marketing, law and finance.  In addition, business, government, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector. If you are interested in a board position, please fill out the form below.

Current Board Members


Larry Dorfman

Larry Dorfman is the Co-Founder and former Chairman/CEO of APCO Holdings, Inc. Founded in 1984, APCO holdings delivers the EasyCare, GWC, MemberCare, and Covideo brands to OEM’s, dealers, and customers in the automotive and RV industry. He led the company through its initial public offering (IPO) in 1988 and subsequent purchase by Ford Motor Company in 1999. Larry and management bought APCO back in 2007 with Stone Point Capital equity partners and transacted again in 2016 with Ontario Teachers Pension Plan (OTPP). During his 35 years with the company, APCO has been a consistent Top 100 Company to Work for nationally, enjoyed 90%+ Employee Engagement scores, and is one of the Healthiest Places To Work nationally. He is also an investor and a member of the Board of Directors for Ranger Distribution, Inc., on the Senior Board of Advisors for Get Help (www.gethelp.com), a for-profit B Corp in Los Angeles, CA focused on providing solutions that coordinate the providers and the users of mental health, addiction and homeless services. He is the founder of Share The Learning (www.sharethelearning.com)  – a website dedicated to sharing a broad spectrum of learning among people who have a strong student mentality and desire for personal growth.

Nate Fletcher

Nate Fletcher has spent over 15 years working in healthcare IT and currently serves as Director of Operations for Vital Software, which focuses on artificial intelligence in Emergency Medicine. Prior to this role, he served at Stericycle Communications, and GetWellNetwork, where he first heard Alex Sheen speak at a conference. Nate joins us from Denver Colorado, where he lives with his wife, yellow lab, and two small children. When he’s spending time with his family, he can be found on the ski slopes, cooking, or playing his guitar. He holds a bachelor’s in arts from Vanderbilt University and originally hails from the ocean state, Rhode Island.

Kevin Matthews

Kevin Matthews is the Founder and President of Noble Accounting LLC (www.nobleaccountingllc.com), a firm that specializes in providing accounting and CFO services to nonprofits. Kevin has over 20 years of experience as a nonprofit CFO and combines that with his love of technology to bring the latest cloud-based accounting systems to his clients. Kevin and his entire team are committed to the nonprofit community and strive to provide excellent service to a sector that has traditionally been under-served. Since the inception of Noble Accounting in 2015, the firm has won the Best of Accounting award for 6 consecutive years despite the award being given to less than 1% of firms nationally each year. Kevin is a Fellow of the Chartered Certified Accountants and a Certified Fraud Examiner. He is a dual citizen of Great Britain and the United States, and considers himself to be fluent in both English and American.

Brad Levin

Brad Levin is a Managing Director and Senior Wealth Advisor at The Colony Group. He brings nearly 30 years of experience as a financial advisor and many years as a business owner prior to joining the firm.

Brad was the founder of Legacy Wealth Partners, a boutique wealth management firm in Calabasas, CA, prior to merging with The Colony Group in 2021. Previously, he was a Vice President and financial advisor with The Householder Group and a financial advisor at Kavesh and Gau.

Brad graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics. He holds the designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Chartered Market Technician®, making him one of a small number of financial professionals to hold both these designations.

Brad currently lives in Calabasas with his wife, Jennifer, and their four children. His time away from the office is devoted to family, traveling, and engaging in physical activities of all types. Blessed in his career and passionate about positively impacting the lives of others, Brad supports a number of local and national charities.


Joe Savarise

Joe Savarise is President & CEO of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association. OHLA is a business association that provides strategic direction for Ohio’s hotel and lodging industry. Part of that effort involves increasing and coordinating the industry’s response to human trafficking. Joe is currently Chair of the Board of Directors for the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority and a member of the boards for the Greater Columbus Sports Commission and numerous other organizations. Joe is a native Ohioan, born and raised in Ashtabula and now living near Pickerington, and is a graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in Athens.


Carma Peters

Carma Peters; started her career as a Co-op student in Iowa in 1979. President/Chief Executive Officer of Michigan Legacy Credit, with five branches surrounding Metro Detroit. Carma has been instrumental in five mergers, seven conversions, two Field of Membership Expansion and one name change. Carma has worked for credit unions and banks from coast to coast.Carma also serves as Vice Chair of the Michigan Credit Union League, former Chair of the Michigan Credit Union Foundation 2014-2020, Former Chair of Xtend Board a credit union service organization, Vice Chair Crime Stoppers of SE Michigan Board and Chair of the American Lung Association’s local leadership board. Carma has been married 41 years to her husband Dave, has two grown children Jayson and Kayla and three granddaughters.

Carma serves at her church 2l42 Community Church in Monroe, Michigan, and also volunteers on a Unit Business Committee for the University of Michigan Hospital. Carma spearheads the Euchre Change a Life tournament benefiting Haitian schoolchildren in Monroe, Michigan. Carma enjoys cooking, traveling, concerts, crafting, and enjoying time with her family and friends.

Dan Stoltz

Dan Stoltz is CEO of Blaze Credit Union from the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Blaze is a $4 billion institution serving over 250,000 members. Stoltz believes that leadership is less about doing and more about being. Stoltz was recently named a 2024 Top 100 Leader in Minnesota by Twin Cities Business. Stoltz has also recently received multiple awards and recognitions during his career, 2022 AARP 50 Over 50 Honoree –Growth Giver, 2020 Most Admired CEOs by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and the 2018 Community Builder Award by the Boy Scouts of America.

Stoltz and his best friend, Robin are celebrating 40 years of marriage. He has three children and eleven grandchildren. Stoltz currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Regions Hospital Foundation, Ordway Theater, Twin Cities PSB (TPT), Eagle Brook Church, Alloya Corporate, Friend’s of the St. Paul Public Library, St. Paul Area Chamber, and Team 4 Diabetes Foundation. Colleagues know well Stoltz’s personal philosophy: “Life is about giving, not getting.” He is a leader driven to make Blaze a top financial institution while improving the financial wellness of its members and owners.

Open Board Positions

We are currently seeking volunteer board leaders with professional experience in marketing, law, finance, business, government, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector.

Job Title: Board Member Location: Rocky River, Ohio/Remote Work hours: 4 Quarterly Board meetings and quarterly calls with Founder.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?
Leadership, governance and oversight
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to the Founder as he develops and implements because I said I would’s programs, campaigns and initiatives.
  • Review outcomes and metrics for the organization’s impact and effectiveness.
  • Approve because I said I would annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions; being informed of, and meeting all, legal and fiduciary responsibilities.
  • Contribute to an annual performance evaluation of the Founder.
  • Assist the Founder/CEO and board chair in identifying and recruiting other board members.
  • Partner with the Founder and other board members to ensure that board resolutions are accomplished.
  • Serve on committees or task forces and take on special assignments.
  • Represent because I said I would to stakeholders; acting as an ambassador for the organization.
  • Ensure because I said I would’s responsibility to a diverse and well-rounded Board of Directors and Associate Board, reflecting the various populations that the organization serves.
Fundraising
  • Board members will consider because I said I would a philanthropic priority and make annual gifts that reflect that priority.
  • Assist with soliciting contributions from foundations, organizations, and individuals.
  • Board members must make an annual contribution of at least $10,000
Recruiting New Board Members
  • Through networking opportunities, board members should be on the lookout for potential new board members who would bring additional knowledge, talent, experiences, and perspective to the board.
  • They should educate and inform prospective board members about the work of the board and invite them to board meetings and other organizational activities.
  • Board members should suggest possible candidates to the board as openings arise.
BOARD TERMS/PARTICIPATION

Because I said I would’s Board Members will serve a three-year term and can be eligible for one additional three-year term. Board meetings will be held quarterly and committee meetings (when applicable) will be held in coordination with full board meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about because I said I would’s mission and who has a track record of board leadership. Selected members will have achieved leadership stature in a business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector. His/her accomplishments will allow him/her to attract other well-qualified, high-performing board members. Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:

  • Extensive professional finance, marketing or law experience in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector.
  • A commitment to and understanding of because I said I would’s beneficiaries, preferably based on experience.
  • Savvy diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals.
  • Personal qualities of accountability integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of because I said I would’s beneficiaries.
  • Ability to make and keep a promise.

If you are interested in a board position, please fill out the form below. SUBJECT LINE:Application: Board Member – [Insert Your Name Here]

Board of Directors

If you are interested in a board position, please fill out the form below.

Name(Required)
Home Address(Required)
Please include other nonprofit boards and committees
Select all that apply

Nate joins us from Denver Colorado, where he lives with his wife, yellow lab, and two small children. When he’s spending time with his family, he can be found on the ski slopes, cooking, or playing his guitar. He holds a bachelor’s in arts from Vanderbilt University and originally hails from the ocean state, Rhode Island.

Kevin Matthews

Kevin Matthews is the Founder and President of Noble Accounting LLC (www.nobleaccountingllc.com), a firm that specializes in providing accounting and CFO services to nonprofits. Kevin has over 20 years of experience as a nonprofit CFO and combines that with his love of technology to bring the latest cloud-based accounting systems to his clients. Kevin and his entire team are committed to the nonprofit community and strive to provide excellent service to a sector that has traditionally been under-served. Since the inception of Noble Accounting in 2015, the firm has won the Best of Accounting award for 6 consecutive years despite the award being given to less than 1% of firms nationally each year. Kevin is a Fellow of the Chartered Certified Accountants and a Certified Fraud Examiner. He is a dual citizen of Great Britain and the United States, and considers himself to be fluent in both English and American.

Brad Levin

Brad Levin is a Managing Director and Senior Wealth Advisor at The Colony Group. He brings nearly 30 years of experience as a financial advisor and many years as a business owner prior to joining the firm.

Brad was the founder of Legacy Wealth Partners, a boutique wealth management firm in Calabasas, CA, prior to merging with The Colony Group in 2021. Previously, he was a Vice President and financial advisor with The Householder Group and a financial advisor at Kavesh and Gau.

Brad graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics. He holds the designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Chartered Market Technician®, making him one of a small number of financial professionals to hold both these designations.

Brad currently lives in Calabasas with his wife, Jennifer, and their four children. His time away from the office is devoted to family, traveling, and engaging in physical activities of all types. Blessed in his career and passionate about positively impacting the lives of others, Brad supports a number of local and national charities.


Joe Savarise

Joe Savarise is President & CEO of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association. OHLA is a business association that provides strategic direction for Ohio’s hotel and lodging industry. Part of that effort involves increasing and coordinating the industry’s response to human trafficking. Joe is currently Chair of the Board of Directors for the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority and a member of the boards for the Greater Columbus Sports Commission and numerous other organizations. Joe is a native Ohioan, born and raised in Ashtabula and now living near Pickerington, and is a graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in Athens.


Carma Peters

Carma Peters; started her career as a Co-op student in Iowa in 1979. President/Chief Executive Officer of Michigan Legacy Credit, with five branches surrounding Metro Detroit. Carma has been instrumental in five mergers, seven conversions, two Field of Membership Expansion and one name change. Carma has worked for credit unions and banks from coast to coast.Carma also serves as Vice Chair of the Michigan Credit Union League, former Chair of the Michigan Credit Union Foundation 2014-2020, Former Chair of Xtend Board a credit union service organization, Vice Chair Crime Stoppers of SE Michigan Board and Chair of the American Lung Association’s local leadership board. Carma has been married 41 years to her husband Dave, has two grown children Jayson and Kayla and three granddaughters.

Carma serves at her church 2l42 Community Church in Monroe, Michigan, and also volunteers on a Unit Business Committee for the University of Michigan Hospital. Carma spearheads the Euchre Change a Life tournament benefiting Haitian schoolchildren in Monroe, Michigan. Carma enjoys cooking, traveling, concerts, crafting, and enjoying time with her family and friends.

Dan Stoltz

Dan Stoltz is CEO of Blaze Credit Union from the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Blaze is a $4 billion institution serving over 250,000 members. Stoltz believes that leadership is less about doing and more about being. Stoltz was recently named a 2024 Top 100 Leader in Minnesota by Twin Cities Business. Stoltz has also recently received multiple awards and recognitions during his career, 2022 AARP 50 Over 50 Honoree –Growth Giver, 2020 Most Admired CEOs by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and the 2018 Community Builder Award by the Boy Scouts of America.

Stoltz and his best friend, Robin are celebrating 40 years of marriage. He has three children and eleven grandchildren. Stoltz currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Regions Hospital Foundation, Ordway Theater, Twin Cities PSB (TPT), Eagle Brook Church, Alloya Corporate, Friend’s of the St. Paul Public Library, St. Paul Area Chamber, and Team 4 Diabetes Foundation. Colleagues know well Stoltz’s personal philosophy: “Life is about giving, not getting.” He is a leader driven to make Blaze a top financial institution while improving the financial wellness of its members and owners.

Open Board Positions

We are currently seeking volunteer board leaders with professional experience in marketing, law, finance, business, government, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector.

Job Title: Board Member Location: Rocky River, Ohio/Remote Work hours: 4 Quarterly Board meetings and quarterly calls with Founder.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?
Leadership, governance and oversight
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to the Founder as he develops and implements because I said I would’s programs, campaigns and initiatives.
  • Review outcomes and metrics for the organization’s impact and effectiveness.
  • Approve because I said I would annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions; being informed of, and meeting all, legal and fiduciary responsibilities.
  • Contribute to an annual performance evaluation of the Founder.
  • Assist the Founder/CEO and board chair in identifying and recruiting other board members.
  • Partner with the Founder and other board members to ensure that board resolutions are accomplished.
  • Serve on committees or task forces and take on special assignments.
  • Represent because I said I would to stakeholders; acting as an ambassador for the organization.
  • Ensure because I said I would’s responsibility to a diverse and well-rounded Board of Directors and Associate Board, reflecting the various populations that the organization serves.
Fundraising
  • Board members will consider because I said I would a philanthropic priority and make annual gifts that reflect that priority.
  • Assist with soliciting contributions from foundations, organizations, and individuals.
  • Board members must make an annual contribution of at least $10,000
Recruiting New Board Members
  • Through networking opportunities, board members should be on the lookout for potential new board members who would bring additional knowledge, talent, experiences, and perspective to the board.
  • They should educate and inform prospective board members about the work of the board and invite them to board meetings and other organizational activities.
  • Board members should suggest possible candidates to the board as openings arise.
BOARD TERMS/PARTICIPATION

Because I said I would’s Board Members will serve a three-year term and can be eligible for one additional three-year term. Board meetings will be held quarterly and committee meetings (when applicable) will be held in coordination with full board meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about because I said I would’s mission and who has a track record of board leadership. Selected members will have achieved leadership stature in a business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector. His/her accomplishments will allow him/her to attract other well-qualified, high-performing board members. Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:

  • Extensive professional finance, marketing or law experience in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector.
  • A commitment to and understanding of because I said I would’s beneficiaries, preferably based on experience.
  • Savvy diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals.
  • Personal qualities of accountability integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of because I said I would’s beneficiaries.
  • Ability to make and keep a promise.

If you are interested in a board position, please fill out the form below. SUBJECT LINE:Application: Board Member – [Insert Your Name Here]

Board of Directors

If you are interested in a board position, please fill out the form below.

Name(Required)
Home Address(Required)
Please include other nonprofit boards and committees
Select all that apply