THE BOARD
LETS GO is fortunate to have an experienced Board of Directors leading our mission.
Clark “Corky” Graham
Dr. Clark ‘Corky‘ Graham is the Founder and CEO of the non-profit LET’S GO Boys and Girls, Inc. Dr. Graham retired from Northrop Grumman in July 2008 as a Senior Vice President in the shipbuilding sector. Positions at Northrop Grumman included Technical Director of the Zumwalt Destroyer program and Senior Vice President in charge of Northrop Grumman’s Gulf Coast shipbuilding operations with over 10,000 employees. Dr. Graham joined Northrop Grumman Ship Systems from a former Litton Division, Litton Marine Systems, where he served as President. Prior to joining Litton, Dr. Graham completed a 30-year career with the U.S. Navy after graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1964, attaining the rank of Captain. He received a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT in 1969 and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the US Naval Academy.
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Jim Arrison
Over his 27 years of active duty, Captain Arrison served on the USS Benjamin Stoddert (DDG-22), PCF-80/81, USS Sampson (DDG-10) and USS Sellers (DDG-11) prior to commanding USS John Hancock (DD-981) and USS Ticonderoga (CG-47), and serving as Chief of Staff to Commander Carrier Group Eight during Desert Storm. In 1991, Jim took an entry level position at Merrill Lynch in pursuit of his longstanding ambition to have successful careers in both the U.S. Navy and business. Over the next 20 years, he became a successful financial advisor, Certified Financial Planner and team leader while rising to the position of Senior Vice-President, Investments. Revenues from his business grew from nothing to over $3 million in 15 years.
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Kathy Benson
Ms. Benson has a cross-section of experience. She was a database software developer for 15 years, then she was an elementary school computer lab teacher for 17 years. Presently, she is combining what she learned while teaching with her expertise in software development. She advises, volunteers, advocates, and provides training for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.
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Thomas J. Eccles
Admiral Eccles has four degrees from MIT: a bachelors in electrical engineering, masters’ in mechanical engineering and management of technology, and a professional degree of Naval Engineer. He became the Chief Executive Officer of Trident Maritime Systems (previously US Joiner-IMECO) on January 1, 2014. He has served 32 years in the US Navy and was the Chief Engineer for ships, submarines and aircraft carriers from 2008 to 2013. He was responsible for designing and constructing the first Virginia-class submarines and the unmanned autonomous submarine Cutthroat.
Henry Hopkins
Henry Hopkins was, until his retirement on March 31, 2008, a Vice President of T. Rowe Price Group and Vice President of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., and Director of T. Rowe Price Trust Company. He served as the Chief Legal Counsel in the Legal Department of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. since 1987 and was a Director of T. Rowe Price Group from 1987 to 2006. Prior to 1987 and since joining the firm in January 1972, Henry was an Associate Counsel in the Legal Department. He also served as the Chair of the Firm’s Ethics Committee from 1973 until his retirement. He received his L.L.B degree in law from the University of Maryland’s School of Law in 1968. He was admitted into the Maryland Bar in November of 1968.
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Bob Kavetsky
Bob Kavetsky has forty-two years of experience in RDT&E program development and management; the design and development of systems for undersea warfare; design and operation of hypersonic wind tunnel facilities; and Defense Department and Navy Department policy development. Mr. Kavetsky has both private sector and government experience in the management of large, integrated RDT&E programs that includes hands-on direction of science and technology efforts. He is also a nationally-recognized expert in science and engineering workforce issues, having written extensively on that topic. Mr. Kavetsky has co-authored 10 books on topics ranging from recent advances in energetic materials to policy recommendations regarding the future health of the DoD and Navy in-house laboratories.
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Yanni Niebuhr
Yanni Niebuhr is Director of Investment Operations at BFG Financial Advisors. His primary role is to collaborate with the firm’s advisory team in the development of financial planning, wealth management advice, and delivering and implementing recommendations for the firm’s clients. In addition, he currently serves on the firm’s investment committee. Mr. Niebuhr holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Towson University. He earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM (CFP®) designation in 2015 and holds his FINRA Series 7 (General Securities Representative) and 66 (Uniform Combine State Law Examination) licenses through Kestra Investment Services, LLC.
Patrick Prout
Patrick Prout is Managing Director within the Financial Services practice of ZRG Partners, LLC. He is also a member of the Industrial/Manufacturing and Corporate Board practices.
Previously, Patrick was a Managing Director with Diversified Search. Prior to joining Diversified Search, he had launched his own executive search organization, The Prout Group, with responsibility for developing and managing the strategic direction and the daily operations of the firm as well as providing leadership for the firm’s financial services practice. Additionally, he conducted senior-level search assignments in the Industrial/Manufacturing, Non-profit, Corporate Board, and Corporate Infrastructure practices.
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Richard D. Spivey
Rick Spivey has over thirty years of experience in the financial services industry, and specializes in wealth accumulation, wealth protection, and wealth transfer strategies. Prior to joining The Warner Companies, Mr. Spivey was a Managing Director at United Bank. Mr. Spivey has been involved with sophisticated life insurance transactions throughout his career, and is considered an expert in that area, providing services to business owners, corporate executives, professional athletes, banks, and publicly-traded companies. In addition, he has served on the Board of the Baltimore Estate Planning Council, is a Registered Representative with United Brokerage Services Inc., and holds the designations of Chartered Financial Consultant® and Chartered Life Underwriter® from the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania..
Dianna Dudley
Dianna Dudley has worked in the hospitality, media and sports industries where her work focused on branding and marketing. More recently she was a Compliance Officer for an international bank, focused on ensuring that bank employees adhere to the regulatory rules and regulations within the framework of Conduct and Regulatory Affairs and Risk Assessment Compliance Assurance Testing. As an Advisory Partner at August Leadership, a talent focused executive search firm, she is actively involved in senior mandates leading to successful outcomes for clients.
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Robert W. Graham III
Bob Graham graduated from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. where he earned a Doctorate in Education and a Masters in English. He also earned a Bachelor of Science at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts. He has professional experience with Florida Council for Educational Change, Hillsborough Education Foundation, Partnership to Advance School Success (PASS), Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, Bailey Family Foundation, United Bank of Virginia, Pardoe and Graham Real Estate, Metropolitan Regional Information System, Inc., First Savings Mortgage, and Graham Development.