Our Story

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Vice President | Treasurer 

Mr. Steve Nichols brings decades of experience in corporate America and as a private entrepreneur. He has spent many years in the sales, marketing and advertising industries along with more recently in the family entertainment and attraction business. Now, with the addition of an International Patent pending application which is set to be released soon. He has a facile ability to conceptualize business opportunities and combines that with an aggressive approach toward growth, leading to mergers and acquisitions of companies he has represented as the seller and to those companies he has owned. His main career focus had been in the outdoor advertising business having operated several successful firms in the Northeastern U.S. His entrepreneurial acumen has led him into a number of other areas including recruiting, food service ownership, and consulting with a variety of establishments that include Fortune 500 companies. Steve's philanthropic is equally impressive both here in his adopted state of Florida and his first home in Upstate New York. His board work with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Florida Hospital for Children at The Walt Disney Pavilion, and The Dr. Phillips YMCA are the quintessential definition of the entrepreneurial spirit and serving his community.

Mr. Nichols greatest enjoyment is first and foremost the path that his daughter Makaila is taking in making a difference for children all across the country. Anything beyond this is secondary.

Secretary  

Julie Broughton is a news anchor and meteorologist for News 6 in Orlando. In addition to her anchor duties, Julie loves highlighting positive news in her Getting Results in Our Schools segment. In fact, that’s how she met The Blatantly Honest Foundation founder, Makaila Nichols! Julie was so inspired by Makaila’s anti-bullying and body positive messages, that here she is serving on the board!

Julie grew up outside of Louisville, Kentucky and has worked on-air at television stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Chicago and Orlando. While in Orlando, Julie covered the historic 2004 hurricane season and still jumps back in front of the weather wall during major weather events like hurricanes or tornadoes.

Julie also has a passion for entertainment news. She’s interviewed celebrities like Lance Bass, Wayne Brady, and Scott Stapp. Her very first celebrity interview was Muhammad Ali back when she was an intern!

Julie believes it’s never too early to start conversations about bullying and inclusivity and encourages her tween daughter, Isla, to live blatantly honest. And oh, if you ever meet Julie or Isla, be warned that they will show you lots of pictures of their golden-doodle puppy, Jake Faberge.

Officer

Mr. Thomas Reale is seasoned veteran of the publishing industry, Tom Reale brought over 30 years of diverse experience to BBPG when he joined the organization in 2014. In the five years since his arrival at the Texas-based publisher, BBPG has experienced sales and distribution growth of more than 900 percent, and in 2018 and 2019, Publishers Weekly ranked the company No. 2 on their Fast-Growing Independent Publishers list. Following his highly effective leadership as COO, Tom was promoted to the role of President in 2018. Tom has previously served in various capacities at Random House, HarperCollins, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, among others. He led the pre-merger change initiative Custom Advantage at Harcourt Education, as well as the project management office for product development after Harcourt’s merger with Houghton Mifflin.

  Board Member 

James Haven, Champion of the Defenseless, Anti-Human Trafficking & Child Exploitation Expert has worked with three US Presidential Administrations, Global Leaders and lobbied Congress multiple times on children's rights. He sponsored AB3189, which allows youth ages 14-18 to get sexual assault forensic examinations without parental consent. James understands when children are allowed a voice, empowered and free, revolutionary change can manifest. James' mission is to unite our future Global Leaders, Government Agencies, Federal Departments, NGOs and Multinational Corporations to address trafficking at its core. 

James, brother of Angelina Jolie and son of actor Jon Voight, is no stranger to the influence the media has on our world. He produces compelling content on awareness, transforming dark subject matter laden with insidious overtones into illuminating positive solutions. James plans to produce and direct a film based upon Rachael Denhollander's book What Is a Girl Worth?. She is a TIME 100 honoree, gymnast, attorney and the first plaintiff to publicly accuse Larry Nassar, the former MSU and USA Olympic doctor of sexual assault. 

The Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) at the Palomar Forensic Health Services changed the course of James' entire life. He teamed with Dr. Bremley Lyngdoh, Co-Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Education Caucus. James is working with Dr. Lyngdoh's partner Hasina Kharbhih, recipient of the Gold Star Award from the US State Department in 2013 and the Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice in 2019, to replicate her Impulse Model around the world to stop the trafficking of refugees. James is collaborating with Alicia Kozakiewicz, The Alicia Project & Alicia's Law, to architect an all- inclusive hub for research, knowledge, guidelines, resources and inspiration. He joined Alicia's crusade to protect children from online predators. 

He believes must be the catalyst for change, and not just a think tank without mechanisms in place to effect transformation worldwide. James' vision is to educate and uplift humanity as well as help survivors restore their dignity, shielding them as they heal and thrive as conquerors, never-again as victims. 

Board Member 

As the Manager of Partners in Education for Orange County Public Schools and the current President of Florida Association of Partners in Education; Kathleen works with businesses and their philanthropic goals for schools. Educating children has always been a passion for Kathleen, with a total of 19 years in education, 15 of which was in the classroom. She has seen the the results of bullying and the positive outcomes of mentoring and role models. 

Board Member

David van de Velde has been the President of Luctor International for the past 25 years and retired 10 years ago and settled in The Villages FL. He founded Luctor Intl. in 1982 for the purpose of importing beer and vodkas from his native country, The Netherlands. In particular, he co-founded Ketel One vodka (1983 – 1996) and Van Gogh vodkas (1997 – 2008). Mr. van de Velde became a US citizen in 1975.

Prior to being President of Luctor International, in his younger days, he was a deck officer for Holland America Line and climbed-up to the rank of Port Captain.

Being one of the first employees at the ECT (European Container Terminus) in Rotterdam as Operations manager, he got deeply involved in the new mode of transportation, called containerization.

He emigrated to Oakland CA where he was instrumental in creating the first public container terminal. Also, on the West Coast, container shipping was new and again became a challenging endeavor.

As a true entrepreneur, he changed his career, to move on as President of an international transportation company in the business of maritime shipping of automobiles and port operations.

Moving on, as part owner of an aerospace testing company in the Los Angeles area, he took on a challenge in a whole new field to turn this company around with great success.

When he founded Ketel One vodka, which is a story by itself, another successful career emerged. After he sold Ketel One, he wanted to do it again by founding Van Gogh flavored vodkas.

Each of the companies, which David either founded or was instrumental in establishing, are all still successful and considered to be medium to large companies. In today’s world of retirement, he is involved daily with Rotary charity programs. His motto, that he has advocated through his business life in the US is: “Find a hole and fill it”. He saw this painted on a cement truck in San Francisco in 1969 and indeed, he found many holes and did fill them.

Space Advisor

Since the late 1970s John has been one of very few designers pioneering the field of outer space architecture. He worked on designs for NASA for the “International Space Station” (ISS) assembled in Earth orbit and did the first interior designs/models for the “SpaceHab” human-rated module which flew 15 times in the Space Shuttle cargo bay.

In 1982 he started pioneering the space tourism industry, basing it on the cruise line industry, and since the mid-1990s he has been designing his original concept for an orbital super yacht called “Destiny.”

He is the author with Karen L. Rugg of the first book on space tourism published in the United States called Space Tourism—Do You Want to Go? In 1996 he founded the Space Tourism Society. 

http://spacetourismsociety.org/ and http://spacetourismconf.com/

He has an extensive background in spaceport planning and design and designed the interiors for an underwater hab/lab for NOAA still in operation and a science base built in Antarctica for NSF.

He has been quoted and appeared in over 200 TV and radio shows, newspaper and magazines articles on space tourism. He coined the term Space Experience Economy (SEE) in 2005.

Paralleling his real space work is his design and development work on Earth-based space themed real estate ventures, with over $340 million invested in building his space/future, Sci-Fi concepts to date.

He is currently designing a proposed $2 billion space/Mars/future themed mixed-use complex called “Mars World” to be built in Las Vegas (not yet funded). Recent design projects include a terminal building for the Mojave Air and Space Port and the “Space World” pavilion interiors at the South Korean Science Center.  It opened to the public in early 2015. His concept and master plan design for the “Space World Japan” theme park opened to the public in 1991. It attracted over 1.2 million annual visitors. It closed in late 2017 after 27 years and 40 million visitors because of land values rising and need for high-tech commercial development.

He is also an advisor on space/future themed movies, TV shows and computer games. He has provided advice to James Cameron on his Mars movie, Steven Spielberg’s company Amblin Entertainment on two TV shows and is currently advising Disney Junior’s team for the animated TV series “Miles From Tomorrowland.”  He is also currently advising JJ Abrams company, Bad Robot on a space movie. He is a senior space science/futurist advisor for the Science and Entertainment Exchange which is a part of the National Academy of Sciences.

http://www.scienceandentertainmentexchange.org/

The fusion of real space and entertainment space design provides a unique perspective and service to his clients and his own ventures.

Advisor

For 20 years, Kenny has written, produced, designed and directed award-winning branded content projects for TV and film. Ever the visionary, he delivers immersive concepts and projects for theme park attractions, executive briefing centers, innovations centers, live events and exhibitions.

Early in his career, Kenny helped launch the Golf Channel as well as other brands that now have national recognition and retail presence. Kenny brings a creative energy to GoConvergence that inspires all of us to be the best brand team in the industry and to always be thinking of the next big idea!

Advisor

Dan Rosenstein is a Financial Advisor with experience in asset and liability management for high net worth individuals, businesses, foundations and endowments. He provides highly customized portfolios and investment strategies in addition to efficient financing strategies and risk management for clients. Every engagement with a client starts with a comprehensive review of their current overall financial life, resulting in a carefully drafted financial plan that outlines the steps necessary to help achieve their short and long term financial goals.

Philanthropy, Impact, Diversity and the Arts are particularly important to Dan. Dan sits on multiple not-for-profit boards and advisory committees.