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Board of Advisors

Meet the accomplished and dedicated individuals who comprise the Passionaries Board of Advisors. Their passion and encouragement is contagious and energizing. The Passionaries Institute thanks each of them for their advice and involvement.

Peggy Wehmeyer Woods
Host, “World Vision Report”; Former Correspondent, ABC-TV News; Trustee of Wheaton College: As host of the “World Vision Report,” Peggy Wehmeyer has interviewed everyone from the international economist, Jeffrey Sachs and New York Times columnist, Nicholas Kristof, to hip hop star Wyclef Jean. For seven years, Ms. Wehmeyer Woods served as the first religion correspondent for ABC World News Tonight. Her stories also aired on 20/20 and Good Morning America. Her work has received numerous awards, including the Columbus International Film and Video Festival Award, a New York Festivals award, and two Cine Golden Eagle Award.
Dr. Art & Priscilla Ulene

Dr. Ulene is a medical doctor and author who appeared on NBC’s Today Show for 23 years promoting nationwide medical and public-health issues. He serves on the national board of AARP. Priscilla Ulene has been in the travel and bookstore business for many years, promoting good works worldwide.

Ellen Stiefler

Intellectual Property Attorney and Literary Agent: Ms. Stiefler is Founder and CEO of the Stiefler Law Group, PC and the Transmedia Agency, with offices in California and New York. Ellen’s passion is nurturing creative talent and facilitating the sharing of wonderful ideas in multi-media throughout the world. Ellen also serves on for-profit boards such as Home2Office and charitable boards, especially in the areas of medicine, education, and children. She co-founded Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine in 1998 and has served on its Board for the last decade. With her children in mind, Ms. Stiefler founded The Gratitude Foundation through which she gives back 10% of her earnings to those in need.

Daniel Sharp

Founding President and CEO of the Royal Institution World Science Assembly and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Large Scale Innovation (ILSI). He was Forum Coordinator for the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Forum, July ’08 in Vienna, drawing on his 20 years of organizing and leading global conferences. He was the General Coordinator of the first conference of presidents of emerging democratic countries (Spain in 2001) co-led by King Juan Carlos and Mikhail Gorbachev. The 35 attending heads of state established the permanent Club of Madrid to help strengthen democracy throughout the world. Mr. Sharp was 20 years with Xerox Corporation, directing international activities, negotiating with foreign governments and advising on strategy.

 

Mr. Sharp has traveled in more than 75 countries and worked in 35 using 3 foreign languages. He served with the U.S. Delegation, UN ECOSOC, negotiated 5 international treaties for the US, created and directed Peace Corps staff training, chaired the Advisory Board of the Council of the Americas for 7 years. He is Counselor to the Board of the Institute for Innovation and Information Productivity, and member Council on Foreign Relations, National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Pacific Council on International Policy, Conference Board’s Council on Business Continuity and Crisis Management, and the Century Association. He holds a J.D. degree Harvard Law School and B.A. degree International Relations, University of California. In 2009, he was a speaker at the TED conference.

Marlene Nicholson

Director of Government Relations, Barclays Bank PLC: Marlene Nicholson joined Barclays in 1981 and in 1985 she became Economic Adviser North America for the Barclays Group. In 1987 Ms. Nicholson relocated to Washington, D.C. to open Barclays Washington government relations office. Marlene holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in economics from the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. In 2005 she was awarded honorary membership in the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to British Banking and Trade.

Paula Mulford

Corporate educator and coach to more than 65 diverse companies, including chemical, high tech, banking and aerospace. Ms. Mulford has fifteen years of experience in sales and sales management. She is often serves as a keynote speaker for conferences and conventions.

Betty J. Mohlenbrock, M. Ed

Consultant, Founder and Chair Emeritus of United Through Reading, a nonprofit helping hundreds of thousands of deployed military personnel maintain close relationships with their children through the read aloud experience on DVDs. Ms. Mohlenbrock’s awards include: Traditional Home publication’s “The Classic Woman Award”, the 2008 University of Illinois Alumni Humanitarian Award, and the 2006 Peter Drucker Award for Non-Profit Innovation.

Dennis K. Metzler, Non-Executive Chairman

Brings advice drawn from several years experience as a lawyer, businessman, farmer, as well as chairman and president of several for profit and non-profit organizations. He has been non-executive chair of several leadership boards including The Fuller Seminary Foundation Board, and serves on the Fuller Seminary Board and the Board of Leaders of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.

Susan McClellan

Worked extensively with non-profits in the San Diego County area, including serving as President of the Junior League of San Diego & National Charity League. She has chaired fundraisers including the Jewel Ball for Las Patronas, RITZ for the San Diego Zoo, Sharp Healthcare's 50th Anniversary Gala, Girl Scout's Urban Campout, and National Charity Leagues Fashion Show.

Megan Graham

Human Resources, Qualcomm: She has worked closely with organizations to align vital human resource functions with crucial business and organization needs to improve areas including retention, productivity, profitability, customer engagement and employee engagement. Ms. Graham is currently leading Qualcomm Inc.’s Career Development Center which supports employees as they discover a sense of mission, purpose, connection and productivity in their work. Formerly she led the Practice Lead for Talent Management at the Gallup Organization, managing a talent selection practice and created processes to radically improve the way organizations source, select, hire and develop employees for their most critical positions.

George Francis

CEO of Alta Vista Insurance Agency: Mr. Francis is active with Kiwanis, a global organization of volunteers working to make the world a better place. He is the Past District Governor.

Barbara Bowers

Milken Family Foundation Media and Public Affairs Manager: Barbara Bowers is an education advocate focused on K-12 school reform. Her extensive experience with nonprofit organizations includes professional positions in development and public relations, as well as numerous board posts. Improving educational opportunities for all children is her driving passion.

Arlene Powers, MSC. La Jolla, CA

She is an active volunteer, teacher and counselor. As a college instructor and marriage family therapist at the University of San Diego she conducts classes and workshops on family and social issues for counselors, primary to college level teachers and school nurses.