Meet our board
Dr. Barnaba Ruggieri
Founder
DR BARNABA RUGGIERI is the co-Founder and President of Le Ali Morali (Moral Wings), from which he developed The Values Foundation, a non-profit headquartered in Washington DC.
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Barnaba Ruggieri is co-Founder and member of the board of The Values Foundation, writer of the 12 Values Booklets series, and developer of the Values Program. Established in 2006 as a non-profit, Le Ali Morali is a platform for social reform, character building and serving leadership based on 12 life’s core values.
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Since 2006 Barnaba developed initiatives and values programs in the public Education sector, Sport and Prison system.
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Barnaba Ruggieri has been a private consultant specializing in international relations, working with national and international organizations such as the Brazilian Organization for Commerce. His varied and accomplished background in the political sphere, for example as private counsel to the Mayor of Milan, for the World Expo 2015 in Milan, and as a campaign manager or political advisor to other politicians has given him privileged insights into government policy and effective social initiatives specifically in Italy. This together with experience as an auditor for Deloitte, and as a financial consultant executing profit analyses for multimillion-euro development projects has further honed his ability to identify economical solutions to complicated situations. His main focus today is serving leadership and the next generation. He is constantly looking for creative ways to inspire and encourage youth and leaders, to help build men and women of character, equipping them for happy, fulfilled lives.
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The Values Booklets series has been translated in multiple languages.
Laird Garner
Executive Director
Laird is an innovation and marketing consultant with 30 years of experience designing the "next thing" and creating frameworks for expanding their reach in mutiple vertical markets. He has a passion for sustainable business models and systems designed for long-term, self-perpetuating value creation.
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In the corporate world, Laird was most recently a product strategy leader for the Analytics group at Inmar in Winston-Salem, NC. He was immersed in the world of big data and digital media, working with consumer goods brands including Procter & Gamble, Blue Diamond Almonds, Alcon Labs, Hershey, Coca-Cola, and many more. His patent submissions regarding data analytics and digital promotions are still percolating somewhere in the bowels of the US Patent office.
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Previous to Inmar, Laird was involved in multiple new ventures from start-ups to internal corporate innovation teams at Sprint and TracFone. He is also a proud member of the Kansas State Wildcats football program as part of The Foundation - the initial squad of players under Hall of Fame Coach Bill Snyder who participated in what has been called the greatest turnaround in college football history.
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A native of Kansas, Laird moved to North Carolina in 2011, bringing his wife and eight children across the country for a new adventure. Their family culture has been steeped in classic literature, music, history, and the belief that the world can be changed through people committed to core values and willing to stand for what is right.
James R. Helvey, III
Board Member
Mr. Helvey co-founded Cassia Capital Partners, LLC, a registered investment advisor, in 2011 and has served as a managing partner since its formation. From 2005 to 2011, Mr. Helvey was a partner and the Risk Management Officer for CMT Asset Management Limited, a private investment firm. From 2003 to 2004, Mr. Helvey was a candidate for the United States Congress in the 5th District of North Carolina. Mr. Helvey served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cygnifi Derivatives Services, LLC, an online derivatives services provider, from 2000 to 2002. From 1985 to 2000, Mr. Helvey was employed by J.P. Morgan & Co., serving in a variety of capacities, including as Vice Chairman of J.P. Morgan’s Risk Management Committee, Chair of J.P. Morgan’s Liquidity Committee and Global Head of Derivative Counterparty Risk Management. Mr. Helvey graduated magna cum laude with honors from Wake Forest University. Mr. Helvey was also a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Cologne in Germany and received a Master’s degree in international finance and banking from Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs, where he was an International Fellow. Mr. Helvey serves on the Boards of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, Computer Task Group, Piedmont Federal Savings Bank, Verger Capital Management LLC, and has also served on the board of trustees of Wake Forest University and the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
General Mick Kicklighter (Ret.)
Board Member
Mick Kicklighter is a retired Lieutenant General of the United States Armed Forces for over 35 years. After retiring as a Commander of the United States Army Pacific 1989-1991, Lt. General Kicklighter became the Inspector General of the Department of Defense 2007-2008. He also served as the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army for International Affairs, and in 2001, was honored with a nomination by the President of the United States of America to become the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning, Department of Veterans Affairs 2001-2004. During his time as a public servant, Lt. General Kicklighter also served on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity International and held the Chairman position for three years.
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Lieutenant General Kicklighter served as the Director and Principal Investigator of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Program, Homeland Security research organization George Mason University School of Law.
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Mick Kicklighter is a member of the board of the Values Foundation.
Daniel Kim
Board Member
Daniel is a professional management consultant with years of experience in the global arena with a focus on delivering strategic business initiatives. Positioning expert and former advisor to executives and international delegates, he played a key role as a facilitator and tactical planner within result- driven transcontinental operations environment. He also consulted for the largest software company in the world assisting senior executives on strategic incubation and worldwide deployment projects.
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Daniel was involved in global corporations providing consulting services such as international governance, business transformation, positioning strategy, multi-territory marketing initiatives, sales excellence, eGovernment process implementation, and eCommerce B2B alliances.
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In the not-for-profit space, Daniel was involved in high level organizational activities by helping develop business plans, build global infrastructure, and by advising statesmen and delegates all the while streamlining efforts to prioritize the Digital Divide discussion.
After his time working in the inter-government agency and a prosperous high-tech company, Daniel founded 714 Consulting – a firm that functions with a set of core values putting Integrity and Authenticity above all. His business philosophy of putting People “far above” Process and Tools is proving to work by signs of steady growth and market share gains.
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Daniel is born into a rich Asian heritage, but grew up in the heart of the European region, until he moved to study in the American academic system. This background makes him multi-cultural and multi-lingual, proficient and natural in an unusually wide spectrum of multi-lateral and cross-functional relationships.
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Recently, Daniel has begun partnering with his inner circle
comprised of global influencers and connectors to focus on relational approach to global peace and congruence of technology. His heartbeat for the convergence of Next Generation servant leaders in Europe, Asia, and America continues to grow...