VOLUNTEER
LEADERSHIP
At the helm of our mission is a dynamic group of philanthropists, community leaders and Knight Nation champions collectively working to power a future the world has only begun to imagine. Black and gold runs through their veins — innovation and ingenuity at their core. And together, we are Go For Launch.
UCF FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS
In mission control, we have the UCF Foundation Board of Directors. It’s with their guidance and leadership that this mission stays on course and our important objectives will be achieved.
CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE
Carrie Daanen '92 and Karl Tourville
Co-Chairs
Carrie Daanen is an alumna of the University of Central Florida (UCF), where she earned a B.S. in Business Administration (BSBA) in Business Economics. She has remained deeply engaged with UCF, serving as Chair of the UCF Foundation Board of Directors (2021–2023) and chairing the Investment Committee. In 2016, she was inducted into the UCF College of Business Hall of Fame. She also serves on several UCF boards and is actively involved in the university’s historic $3B transformational campaign.
Carrie retired after a 30-year career in the institutional investment business, including serving as Managing Partner of Galliard Capital Management. Today, she focuses on advisory work, board leadership, philanthropy, and mentoring women in finance.
Karl Tourville has more than 35 years of experience in the investment industry and co-founded Galliard Capital Management in 1995, where he served as Managing Partner, President, and Chairman of the firm’s Executive Operating Committee. Under his leadership, Galliard grew to more than $95 billion in assets under management, serving U.S.-based clients that included Fortune 500 companies, retirement plans, foundations, and endowments. Since his retirement in 2019, Karl has remained active in the investment industry and in philanthropy. He holds a B.A. in Economics and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.
Chris Tomasso ’93 and Melissa Tomasso ’94 P'22 P'25
Co-Chairs
Chris Tomasso is the President and Chief Executive Officer of First Watch Restaurant Group, a leading high-growth and award-winning Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch restaurant concept known for its chef-driven menu and commitment to fresh ingredients. Under his leadership, First Watch has grown from less than 60 restaurants in 7 states to more than 630 across 33 states. Tomasso joined First Watch in 2006 and played a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s identity and growth trajectory before successfully leading the company in its Initial Public Offering (IPO) in October 2021.
Prior to First Watch, Tomasso held senior executive roles at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Hard Rock Café International, where he helped launch global brand extensions including Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos and Hard Rock Live music venues.
A graduate of the University of Central Florida, Tomasso earned a B.A. in Journalism and has remained actively involved with his alma mater, serving on the UCF Foundation Board of Directors (2018-2023) and the UCF Alumni Board (1998-2016). He was inducted into the Nicholson School of Communication and Media Hall of Fame at UCF and has been recognized as one of the restaurant industry’s most admired executives, earning a spot on Nation’s Restaurant News’ Power List and receiving the 2024 Gold Plate Award from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA).
Melissa Tomasso is a marketing and communications expert with a background in the hospitality and aerospace sectors. She is a proud graduate of the Nicholson School of Communication and Media, earning her B.A. in Journalism in 1994. She previously served as the Manager of Public Relations at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where she led initiatives in collaboration with Mercury and Apollo astronauts and helped launch major projects like HBO’s From the Earth to the Moon and Paramount’s Armageddon. After taking some time off to focus on her family, Melissa worked as the Manager of Marketing for Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School then as a stylist for Cabi Clothing, a home-based fashion brand.
Melissa is an active member of the UCF Alumni Board of Directors (2017—present), currently serving as Chair-Elect. She has traveled to Tallahassee on several occasions to meet with state lawmakers to effectively advocate for UCF as Florida’s premier engineering and technology university. Together with her husband, Chris, she has hosted UCF’s annual Freshman Welcome at their home since 2018, helping incoming students connect with the university community. The Tomassos are also proud parents to Alum-Knights Jared ’22 and Malia ’25.
Chris and Melissa are recipients of UCF’s Distinguished Alumni Award ‘24.
Mark Norato '91 and Keri Palmer
Manish '98 and Vieng Hirapara '99
Kevin '92 and Christine '93 Wydra
Joyce Worthington Virga '98
John H'18 P'16 P'23 and Julie Euliano
Dr. Jogi and Annapurna Pattisapu
CAMPAIGN HONORARY COMMITTEE
Rick Walsh ’77, ’83MS and Trish Chard Walsh
Honorary Co-Chairs
Rick and Trish are deeply rooted in the Central Florida community, each bringing distinctive expertise and leadership to their respective fields.
Rick, a two-time UCF graduate, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Central Florida and has remained one of the university’s most dedicated champions. He built a distinguished career with Darden Restaurants, where he served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and helped guide the company through significant growth. Today, Rick is Chairman and CEO of Knob Hill Companies, a media, investment, and strategic management firm. A past chair of both the UCF Board of Trustees and the $500 million IGNITE: The Campaign for UCF, Rick continues to play a key role in advancing the university’s mission and the region’s prosperity. His leadership extends throughout Central Florida, where he serves with organizations such as the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation and Nemours Children’s Health.
Trish is an Orlando-based personal trainer and fitness consultant with more than 20 years of experience. She works with clients ranging from executives and athletes to families, designing creative, personalized workouts that emphasize variety and lasting results. In addition to individual training, she consults on fitness space design for homes, corporations, and luxury properties, and has been featured in several local and national publications.
Together, Rick and Trish embody UCF’s spirit of excellence, innovation, and community engagement—each contributing to the betterment of Central Florida in their own unique way.
HONORARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
- Dave Albertson H'89
- Judy Albertson H'14
- Jim Atchison '92MBA
- Ken Bradley, '85MVA
- Cesar Calvet
- Olga Calvet '71
- Meg Crofton
- Richard Crofton
- Andrea Eliscu
- Trustee Alan Florez '98
- Justine Florez
- Bob Garvy H'18
- Carol Garvy
- Charlie Gray H'16
- Saundra Gray H'21
- Christa Grindstaff
- Micky Grindstaff '78
- Marc Hagle H'23
- Sharon Hagle H'23
- Andrew Hardy
- George Kalogridis '76
- Phyllis Klock HD'14
- Karen Manglardi P'15 '16 '20 H'20
- Michael Manglardi '84
- Marcos Marchena '82
- Nancy Marchena '85
- David Odahowski
- Heather Odahowski
- Mike Okaty '96 '97
- Nicole Okaty '95
- Margery Pabst-Steinmetz H'20
- Tico Perez Esq. '83
- Roger Pynn '73
- Shelley Pynn '74
- Cindy Robinson
- Ken Robinson
- Conrad Santiago
- Joanne Santiago
- Chris Schmidt Sr. '71 '75MS
- Chuck Steinmetz
- Blaine Sweatt III '76
- Rebecca Sweatt
- Rasesh Thakkar '84
- Rupalben Thakkar
- Al Weiss '76
- Brea Weiss
CAMPAIGN ADVOCATE NETWORK
- Joe MacLellan '04 | Co-Chair
- Rhett Rosen '05 | Co-Chair
- Tandreia Bellamy ‘98
- Lourdes Diaz-McAgy ‘99
- Joseph DiNapoli
- Charlie Lousignont ‘81
- Mason Moore ‘97
- Davia Moss ’93 ‘09
- Wilfredo Ortiz Jr. ‘17
- Dana Patton ‘93
- Ben Patz ‘85
- Heather Pigman ‘94
- Tom Riordan ’78 ‘79
- Anne Smallwood
- Dr. Yun Wang
CAMPUS LEADERSHIP TEAM
- Tiffany Hughes | Co-Chair
- Cassandra "Cassi" Willard JD '98 | Co-Chair
- Andrea Borowczak, Ed.D. '92
- Mike Borowczak, Ph.D.
- Mark Bush, D.H.A., M.B.A
- Martin "Marty" Dupuis, Ph.D.
- Michelle Dusseau, Ph.D.
- Linda Gooch '85
- Ali Gordon, Ph.D.
- Fred Kittinger '80
- Timothy Letzring, J.D., Ed.D.
- Bob Mello '06 '20MBA
- Jacqueline Sullivan
- Jay Thibodeau, Ph.D., CPA
- Dr. Jayne Willis '94 '20DNP,RN,NEA-BC, CENP
- Austin Wilson '22 '25MPA
CAMPAIGN LAUNCH CIRCLE
- Lea Assenmacher ’94 ‘11MSM
- Loretta Corey P'08 '11 '15 H‘17
- Michele Engle ‘88 P'21
- Karen Manglardi P'15 '16 '20 H'20
- Lisa Moore
- Sonja Nicholson H‘20