Board of Directors

Maria Keckler, Ph.D., is an award-winning leader, transdisciplinary behavioral researcher, and author with over 20 years of experience as a trusted strategist and advisor to executive leaders and teams across industries, including construction, life sciences, financial services, healthcare, technology, and higher education. She helps leaders and teams elevate their communication, leadership, and strategic acumen to drive meaningful impact.

Maria is the co-founder of the EmpathyRx Lab for Healthcare Research and Education at San Diego State University, where she advances research to address the growing crisis of declining empathy in healthcare. She is also the founder and president of Keckler & Co., an advisory firm that produces research-based tools, education, and inspiration to support creativity, innovation, and more impactful and compassionate leadership.

Recognized for her influence and contributions, Maria was named one of the 50 Most Influential Latino Leaders in San Diego by the San Diego Business Journal and the San Diego Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Her book, Bridge Builders: How Superb Communicators Get What They Want in Business and in Life, was recognized by INC Magazine as one of the top 60 business and communications books for women.

Maria holds a Ph.D. in Education from Claremont Graduate University and is a sought-after speaker and strategist. She brings a unique outsider’s perspective to help illuminate innovative pathways for sustainable success.

Brandon Steppe is a transformative force in the lives of opportunity youth in his hometown of San Diego, California. A life-long musician, Brandon began his musical career at San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts where he studied Jazz Saxophone since age 9. After graduation, Brandon continued his musical endeavors, converting his college dorm room into a recording studio to help pay for his tuition.

After obtaining his Bachelor of Science degree in International Business from the University of San Francisco, Brandon began a career in Corporate Management. After rising quickly though the corporate ranks, he made a decisive career change, stepping out on faith to convert his father’s garage in Southeast San Diego, into a recording studio where he eventually allowed local youth to trade their good grades for studio time. When he saw the academic success that resulted, Brandon Founded The David’s Harp Foundation in 2009.

As DHF Founder and Executive Director, Brandon has overseen the organization’s growth from his father’s garage in Southeast San Diego to a state-of-the-art studio facility located in Downtown San Diego’s East Village community. He has developed numerous corporate and community partnerships, leveraging the power of music/media production to foster an environment of academic accountability where his students thrive.

Geneviéve Jones-Wright has always had a passion for our youth. After graduating from the University of San Francisco with a B.A. in mass media communications and in keeping with her goal of “carrying the bags” of Justice Thurgood Marshall, she attended Howard University School of Law. During this time, she co-founded a non-profit that mentored young ladies between the ages of 11-18. It was also during this time at Howard that she discovered her passion in criminal law through her work as a student attorney representing the criminally accused. After graduating from Howard Law, she obtained a Masters of Law (LL.M.) in trial advocacy specializing in federal criminal defense from California Western School of Law.

In addition to being an inaugural board member and serving as President of the Board of Directors for the David’s Harp Foundation, Geneviéve is the founder of Motivation.In.Action, a professional motivational speaking firm through which she empowers individuals to “write their own stories” and to live on purpose. She is also a volunteer attorney for the California Innocence Project, an adjunct professor at Point Loma Nazarene University, and a co-founder and the Executive Director of Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance (MoGo) — an impact litigation organization whose mission is to hold government accountable to all people, especially those who have been marginalized by society. MoGo’s work is centered on achieving racial and social justice.

With over 20 years of experience working in the Media Industry, Brinton has managed large scale technology projects for most of the major media companies around the globe. Currently Brinton serves as Executive Vice President of Media Technology and Operations for Discovery Inc (Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, etc). In this role Brinton manages all aspects of Discovery’s engineering functions supporting Live Production, Post Production and Broadcast as well as Technical Operations supporting Discovery’s Linear and Digital content distribution.

Brinton is passionate about seeing young lives positively impacted at the David’s Harp Foundation and elsewhere; values that he learned early on from his socially active mother and father. Brinton has worked tirelessly, contributing time and treasure to make The David’s Harp Foundation a reality. Brinton has a Master’s of Science in Information Systems Management from George Washington University, School of Business, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lehigh University.

Carolyn graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California in 1985 with bachelor’s degree in business and an emphasis in management. After moving to San Diego in 1990, she started a marketing agency. She sold that business in 2000 and became the in-house marketing manager for a large privately-held business. She was recruited into the insurance business in 2004, when she joined her husband, John, at Konecki Insurance. After that agency was sold, she joined Cavignac & Associates to start their Private Client division. Carolyn received her Certified Private Risk Manager designation in March, 2018, the first person in San Diego to achieve that designation.

Carolyn is very involved in the San Diego community and is a member of several professional and charitable organizations including David’s Harp Foundation, the San Diego Women’s Foundation, Stars & Stripes Children’s Foundation, Provisors, and La Jolla Real Estate Brokers Association.