WHO WE ARE
Board of Trustees
David J. Benjamin, III, Chair
Mr. Benjamin holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University. He is president and managing member of Benjamin Media Investments, LLC. He founded Triad Broadcasting Company, based in Monterey, CA, in 1999, serving as its president and chief executive officer. Triad operated 50 middle-market radio stations across eleven states. In May 2013, Mr. Benjamin sold Triad Broadcasting Company. He has served as a board member of the National Association of Broadcasters as well as the California Broadcasters Association. He is a former president of the Oregon Association of Broadcasters and was a member of the board of directors of the Radio Advertising Bureau in New York City, NY.
Mr. Benjamin has served on various boards on the Monterey Peninsula, including the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and the Stevenson School. In addition, he is a former chairman of the board of trustees of the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (Montage Health) and a former president of the Community Foundation for Monterey County.
In 2008, Mr. Benjamin was selected by the Monterey Chamber of Commerce as its Citizen of the Year for his positive impact on the business community and for demonstrating excellent leadership. In 2012, he and his wife, Laurie, received the annual Distinguished Trustee Award from the Community Foundation for Monterey County. Mr. Benjamin has been with the Foundation since 2011. He and Laurie reside in Carmel Valley, CA.
Wayne Downey, Vice Chair & Secretary
Mr. Downey grew up in Monterey, graduating from Monterey High School, Monterey Peninsula College, and San Jose State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Counseling, Guidance, and Administration.
Mr. Downey’s professional experience has been in elementary and middle school education and both junior and senior high school counseling and guidance. He has served as director of the Monterey Adult School, the Regional Occupational Program (ROP), and as the District Hearing Officer for Student Discipline. He has also served as a consultant to the Monterey County Office of Education, evaluating schools in Monterey County for compliance.
Mr. Downey is an active member of the community, serving as Carmel and Monterey Presbyterian Church Trustee and on the Monterey Grand Jury. He has also served as past president of Volunteers in Action (VIA), the Phi Delta Kappa (educational) Monterey Chapter, the Association of California School Administrators Monterey Chapter, and the Rotary Club Monterey. He is a member of the board of the Pacheco Club and past chair of the Salvation Army Monterey. The Rotary Club of Monterey named Mr. Downey Rotarian of the Year 2020, and he is a member of the International Club of Carmel.
Mr. Downey has been with the Foundation since 2014. He and his wife, Libby, reside in Monterey, CA.
Demi Briscoe, Treasurer
Demi Briscoe was raised on the Monterey Peninsula and attended schools in Pacific Grove, Carmel Valley, and Carmel. She graduated from California State University, Los Angeles, in 1969 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.
Ms. Briscoe’s career began as a legal assistant in Monterey and progressed to the banking field, where she worked for First Interstate Bank of California, attending their management training program. She went on to manage several branches of the bank on the Peninsula. She later joined First National Bank of Central California, managing the Carmel Rancho Branch from 1994 until her retirement in 2010.
Ms. Briscoe is active in many non-profit organizations on the Monterey Peninsula and has served as president of the Carmel Chamber of Commerce, Soroptimist International of Carmel Bay, the Carmel Valley Village Improvement Committee, and the Carmel Valley Women's Club. She has also served as a trustee for the Big Sur Land Trust and as an Officer of the Friends of the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. Civic leaders in Carmel Valley awarded Ms. Briscoe their prestigious "Good Egg" award in 2008.
Ms. Briscoe has been with the Foundation since 2018. She and her husband, Richard Briscoe, live in Carmel Valley, CA.
Craig Beller, Trustee at Large
Mr. Beller earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Claremont McKenna College and his Master’s degree in Educational Supervision and Administration from San Jose State University. His career in education included classroom teaching, coaching, site and district administration, and consulting in both the public and private sectors. He has over 42 years of experience in a variety of Northern and Central California communities.
Immediately prior to his retirement, he served as principal of Pacific Grove Adult and Forest Grove Elementary schools in Pacific Grove, CA. During his time at Pacific Grove Adult School, Mr. Beller represented Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties on the ACSA State Adult Education Council. Additionally, he was named ACSA’s Adult Education Administrator of the Year for Region 10 in 2012.
An animal lover, Mr. Beller has volunteered his services at the SPCA for Monterey County. Mr. Beller served as Executive Director of the Foundation from 2016 to September 30, 2024, He resides in Pebble Beach, CA with his wife Cheryl and their menagerie.
Dr. Robert G. Gard, Jr, Trustee Emeritus
Dr. Gard earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and a Master’s in Public Administration and a PhD in Political Economy and Government, both from Harvard University. He is also a graduate of the National War College.
Dr. Gard served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1981, retiring as a Lieutenant General. He saw combat duty in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and was Commanding General of Fort Ord and the 7th Infantry Division from 1973 -75. He also was president of the National Defense University for five years.
Immediately following his military career, Dr. Gard was Visiting Professor of International Relations at the American University in Paris, France, for an academic year before serving five years as Director of the Bologna, Italy. branch of the School of Advanced International Studies, a division of Johns Hopkins University, and then as president of the Monterey Institute of International Studies from 1987 to 1998. From 1998 to 2016, he consulted with non-profit organizations on education and international security in Washington, D.C., and Monterey, CA. He has been a member of the Council on Foreign Relations since 1971 and the Board of Trustees of the Foundation since 1997. Dr. Gard resides in Arlington, VA.
Alejandro Hogan, Executive Director
Mr. Hogan earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He started his career at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. He then moved to public education as a teacher, school vice principal, principal, district office director, assistant superintendent, and superintendent of South San Francisco Unified School District. He retired after serving in the field of education for over 40 years.
Mr. Hogan was a member of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), where he served as president of Region 10 (Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties). While with ACSA, he also served as the state representative for Region 10 on the ACSA State Board, where he received the Negotiator of the Year Award in 2003.
Mr. Hogan came to the foundation in 2024. He is a former Rotarian and is the current president of the Kiwanis Literacy Club of Salinas. He is an avid chess player and enjoys playing golf and swimming. Mr. Hogan lives in Salinas with his wife, Vickie.
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