Our Board
FOUNDATION CHAIRMAN
M.G. Meador
M.G. Meador is a retired CPA and CFP with a master’s degree in business administration. Having served as Becky Valentine’s long-time advisor, he had a front-row seat to her generosity and vision for a better world. He was instrumental in defining the Foundation’s directive and remains dedicated to seeing it through.
Serving on the Board is a way to honor Becky’s trust by ensuring that funds are directed precisely where she wanted them most: underwriting science and engineering education, protecting our planet’s oceans and wildlife, and giving underprivileged children the means to succeed.
TREASURER
Frank Perna
A semi-retired businessman with graduate degrees from MIT and Wayne State. He also has an engineering degree from Kettering University, where he was recently awarded an honorary Doctor of Engineering.
He is a champion for STEM education, sharing our Foundation’s goal to help individuals achieve a meaningful technical education so they can help the changing world in a positive way.
SECRETARY
Philip Garrett Panitz
Phil Panitz is a national tax litigator and California Bar-certified tax specialist. He holds a Doctorate of Law from Loyola Law School and an LLM in Taxation from NYU, with additional studies at the University of Miami and Arizona State. His distinguished legal career is highlighted by a landmark victory against the IRS in the U.S. Supreme Court, a case that fundamentally changed national laws regarding third-party property seizures.
Beyond the courtroom, Phil is a published author; his novel, Lost in Key West, is currently in negotiations for a feature film adaptation.
A lifelong advocate for philanthropy, Phil has served on numerous charitable boards. He is deeply committed to the Foundation’s mission of empowering students with scholarships to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. This work aligns with his personal dedication to protecting the earth and preserving endangered species for future generations—passions he shared with Mrs. Valentine.
Clint Howard
A retired Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Secret Service, who later became the Senior Security and Ethics executive of Hughes Aircraft Co.
Francis M. Dawson, M.D.
Dr. Dawson is a retired UCLA graduate who practiced family medicine in Thousand Oaks and continues to be the volunteer Medical Director of the Conejo Free Clinic since 1978.
Craig Trask
Mr. Trask is a retired investment banker, whose professional career focused on investments in oncology and pathology research and diagnosis. Prior to the board position with The Becky Valentine Foundation, he volunteered extensively with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Make-A-Wish.
Mr. Trask’s passion for the health of our oceans, wildlife, and environmental stewardship was passed down through his mother who held memberships with the San Diego Zoo, Sierra Club, and Greenpeace. He is a lifelong surfer and free diver with a deep concern for the health of our oceans—passions that align perfectly with the mission of The Becky Valentine Foundation.
David Paulsen
A retired Fortune 500 executive and CPA, Mr. Paulsen holds degrees in Accounting and Systems Analysis from the University of Miami. His career progressed from global IT consulting to serving as the US Human Resources Director for Accenture, plc, where he managed a team of over 900 HR personnel.
He is a passionate advocate for education and working families, having led numerous initiatives for the advancement of women and minorities. Mr. Paulsen served as the Finance Committee Chair for Corporate Voices for Working Families, focusing on supplemental education for disadvantaged youth and dealing with the challenges faced by parents in the workplace. He is an avid scuba diver and boater, reflecting his love of the ocean and the creatures who live there.
