WHO WE ARE
We’re a small team of friends, service members, and veterans determined to have a positive impact on military families.
The Crew
Our co-founders, Catherine and Jeff, currently serve as Co-Executive Directors of The Ready Room Project, overseeing day-to-day operations, fundraising, and philanthropic projects alongside our Director of Finance and intern.
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Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director
Catherine has been a military spouse for 17+ years. She’s a self-taught graphic designer and runs the digital studio All The Best. She taught high school in Pennsylvania and California, participating in a Hays-Fulbright program in China and the Street Law Institute at Georgetown Law Center.
Catherine has led spouses organizations, and volunteered countless hours in service of military families.
She graduated from Northwestern University and earned her Masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Catherine and her family have lived in San Diego, Fallon, Newport, Germany, and Lemoore (3 times!). She and her husband Nick currently live in Northern Virginia with their two boys, Ben and Owen.
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Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director
Jeff recently completed 20+ years as a decorated fighter pilot in the United States Navy. A combat-proven aviator, TOPGUN Instructor and F-35 squadron Commanding Officer, he has led high velocity organizations in the most demanding environments. Since retirement he has joined Raytheon Intelligence and Space as an Associate Director for future aerospace mission systems.
Jeff graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in Economics and was a stand-out, 4-year varsity letter winner on the Men’s Lacrosse Team. He and his wife Courtney live in Dallas, Texas, with their three kids Griffin, Graham, and Molly (and Skipper - the sweetest dog ever).
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Director of Finance
Mackenzie is a Certified Public Accountant, military spouse to a newly-retired fighter pilot, and mom. She operates her own accounting business and recently led the VFA-31 Officer Spouses Group.
Mackenzie brings non-profit experience in financial compliance, accounting, and bookkeeping to the team. She has been instrumental in helping set up The Ready Room Project, apply for federal tax exempt status, and ensure our financial integrity.
Mackenzie currently lives in Virginia Beach, VA with her college sweetheart, Mike, their three children, and their precious pup, Posey.
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Advisor and Volunteer
Courtney is married to her recently-retired high school sweetheart, Jeff, and was a military spouse for 20 years. When her youngest was 9 months old, Courtney pivoted her career and attended nursing school while Jeff deployed. She worked as a neonatal intensive care unit nurse in California and Florida, and currently. works as a school nurse in Dallas, Texas.
Courtney has led spouses groups and volunteered countless hours in service of military families. She brings a wealth of knowledge about military. family life to the team.
Courtney graduated from American University, where she played NCAA Division I soccer for four years.
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Intern
Mae came on board with The Ready Room Project to help with the website, marketing, social media, and provide a much-needed extra set of hands. She is empathetic, talented, and a joy to work with.
Mae grew up in Los Angeles, California and relocated to Nashville with her family mid-way. through high school. She’s a recent high school graduate with interests in acting, writing, production, and entrepreneurship and is college bound in Fall 2023.
Board of Directors
Our Board provides corporate oversight, valuable insight, and ensures we stay on track toward both our mission of providing out-of-reach opportunities for military family members and our goal of committing 80% of funds raised directly to programming.
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Member, Board of Directors
Angela is a Founding Team Partner of Vallis Advisors and Managing Director at UBS Private Wealth Management. With her extensive career as an investment professional, Angela aims to deliver the entirety of the firm with a focus on overseeing the investment portfolios of her clients. Angela joined UBS from J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where she served most recently as a Managing Director and Global Investment Specialist. She also led the Northern California Private Bank Healthcare practice that specialized in advising private and public company executives in pre-transaction planning, equity compensation and investment strategies.
Angela has over 20 years of global capital markets and investment management experience. She holds a B.S. from California State University, Stanislaus where she was a four-year starter on the women’s basketball team. Angela and her two children, Hayden and Nora live in Redwood City, California.
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Member, Board of Directors
Nick is a business executive working in the defense industry and resides in McKinney, Texas with his wife Jacqueline. They have two adult daughters: Lauren and Kellie.
Prior to his defense industry career, Nick served nearly 28 years as a Naval Officer and FA-18 Strike Fighter pilot. His military career milestones include tours as: TOPGUN Executive Officer, Strike Fighter squadron command, and Pacific Missile Range Facility installation command.
He is a graduate of Western Connecticut State University and the Naval War College. His hobbies include travel, biking, and hiking.
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President, Board of Directors
Nick is a Captain in the United States Navy with over 20 years of active duty service in aviation, requirements, and global security. Nick brings a wealth of leadership experience to the Board as a former TOPGUN instructor and Commanding Officer.
Nick currently serves as the Special Programs Branch Head for Naval Aviation. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Nick and his wife, Catherine, have been married for over 17 years, spending 11+ years in Lemoore, California over the course of four tours. He loves his work, but nothing beats playing catch with his two boys, Ben and Owen.
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Member, Board of Directors
Paul is a co-founder and a Managing Partner of Detail Provisions Co. and has spent the last 20+ years in consumer products and eCommerce. Prior to founding DPC, Paul was the President of Cufflinks, Inc. Under his leadership, the company successfully expanded category growth, formed and grew licensing partnerships with Disney, Lucasfilm, Marvel, CBS Entertainment and was a 7-time honoree of Inc. Magazine Fastest Growing Companies.
Paul attended the University of Texas at Austin, is a resident of Dallas with his wife of 15 years. When not working, he can likely be found on a court or field watching or coaching his 3 wonderful kids.
