Peter Geoffrey de Krassel
Founder & Chairman
Peter Geoffrey de Krassel is a lawyer, strategic planner, and author of the Custom Maid books series. He started his university studies at City College of New York in 1965, and worked as a photographer and caption editor. As a photographer he covered the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War protests; and the violent confrontations at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago where he started his legal studies.
In 1968 he received his B.Sc. in political science – with honors –from California State University, Northridge; and received his Juris Doctor – with honors – in 1971 from the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings).
He was the founder of Mercantile National Bank in 1980, at the time, the largest initially capitalized U.S. bank. He became involved with American partisan politics and fund-raising on a national and local level. He was a member of the Executive Finance Council of the Democratic National Committee (1973-1977); member of the Jimmy Carter for President Steering Committee (1976); and founding member of Democrats for Reagan (1979-80).
He served on the California State Motion Picture Council and the California Secretary of State’s China Trade Commission.
de Krassel first came to Hong Kong in 1983 with a trade mission headed by California Secretary of State March Fong Eu. de Krassel has been an environmental activist since May 9, 1979 when he rode his horse from his home in Pacific palisades to his law office in Beverly Hills to protest the Arab oil embargo, with follow up rides in Los Angeles protesting the price of gasoline and excessive greed of oil companies; and written numerous blogs warning of the dangers of Climate Breakdown and Change.
In 2006, with his partner Dr. Pauline Taylor, he co-founded Pets Central, a network of veterinary hospitals and Pets Central Veterinary Academy. They divide their time between their homes in Prescott, Arizona and Hong Kong.
Michael Broggie
Board Member
Michael Broggie is widely recognized as an authority on the life and legacy of Walt Disney and the global empire he inspired. Michael earned his MBA and a Doctorate in Business Administration (summa cum laude) at Pacific University, San Diego.
He is co-founder and chairman of the board of governors of The Carolwood Society and chairman emeritus of the Carolwood Foundation, which operates Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn Museum in Griffith Park on behalf of the Walt Disney Family Foundation. He is a partner of Broggie Campbell Productions, a firm that produces railroad-related products for the Walt Disney Company and the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.
Michael is an award-winning author publishing eight books. His latest book is the official souvenir guide to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California.
Michael is married to Sharon Charmagne, co-founder of the Carolwood Society and Foundation and an accomplished artist. They reside in Prescott Lakes, Arizona, where they support civic and community organizations. Michael served as chair of the Appeals Board of the Prescott Fire Department and is the founding president and CEO of the Prescott Police Foundation.
Kenneth David Tiven
Board Member
Kenneth David Tiven is a retired executive with management experience in multiple U.S. and global media companies.
He started his professional career working as an Editor on the International Desk at The Washington Post in 1969. He is a graduate of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism where he earned his MS with honors in 1969 and won the Society of Silurians award for Investigative reporting.
He held senior management positions at numerous television channels and networks, including Orange County NewsChannel, Santa Ana, CA 1989-1982; WQEX-TV (1986-1989), WQED-TV People’s Business (1984-1985), and WPXI (1981-1984) Pittsburgh, PA; NBC Network News Washington DC 1985-1986; ABC Network News Chicago 1978-1980; KYW-TV, Philadelphia, PA 1975-1978; WSB-TV Atlanta, GA 1974-1975; before joining CNN Cable News Network, Atlanta, GA as Vice President Television systems, 1992-2003, creating CNN.COM, CNN Sports illustrated, CNN FN, CNN en Espanol channels, while launching foreign channels in Spain, Turkey, Australia, & Germany.
He shifted CNN from its analog roots to a digital approach to television news. His perception was the internet would transform the information ecosphere.
After retiring from CNN in 2003, he became a principal in Intelligent Media Consultants, a consulting company for global television and media projects, including India’s most successful 24:7 news channel, AajTak; two Regional news channels for Star India and PULS, Vienna, Austria. He has designed, trained, and launched channels in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Pakistan (3) and India (2), and Bulgaria, where he worked closely with client management on all aspects of the projects.
Tiven is married to An Wentzel, an acclaimed writer, teacher, award winning film maker, and Media and Communications consultant. They divide their time between their homes in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania and Cape Town, South Africa.
Mark Tigan, Ph D.
Adviser to the Founder
Mark Tigan, Ph D. is a retired community development professional and published author with deep expertise in the development of cities and towns. Mark reviewed BHM materials and provided input to the founder as the initiative developed. Most recently he was a professor at Clark University in Worcester, MA and for many years Mark worked in the city of Santa Monica, CA. Prior to that he lead economic and community development efforts in the city of Winooski, VT. Professor Tigan has advised BHM from a community development perspective.
Grover L. McKeen
Adviser to the Founder
Grover L. McKeen has 50 years of experience leading municipal and private investment banking institutions. In various senior leadership roles Mr. McKeen has overseen the management of state pension funds, municipal funds and marketed to public pension funds among other capacities. His leadership experience has also included acting as Chief Deputy State Treasurer for the state of California for 6 years. He currently holds several certifications including Series 52 Municipal Securities Representative, Series 63 Uniform Securities Agent and Series 65 Uniform Investment Advisor. He has held more than 21 prime board seats for a diverse list of dynamic Californian Municipal, Social and Academic Institutions. Grover holds a Juris Doctorate from Loyola University of Los Angeles. Mr. Grover has advised BHM from a developer and municipal financial management perspective.
Hope Boonshaft
Adviser to the Founder
Hope Boonshaft is a consultant for government , community and media relations. Hope served as EVP/General Manager for Hill & Knowlton’s Los Angeles and Irvine offices. Prior to Hill & Knowlton, Hope spent 10 years at Sony Pictures Entertainment as Executive Vice President Worldwide Public Policy. Working closely with their operating units, Hope developed a legislative and regulatory agenda that supported the business strategies of the company’s motion picture, television, home entertainment and digital studio divisions. She was the Studio’s liaison to all branches of the military and to the Pentagon.
Early in her career, Hope spent time in the White House, serving in the administration of Jimmy Carter as Director of Community Relations. Hope was a political liaison for 16 major cities and to their national, state and local elected officials.
Hope is actively involved in several non-profit groups including Children of the Night, Habitat for Humanity, The Carter Center, Make a Wish Foundation, and City of Hope. She serves on several government Commissions including the LA County Economy and Efficiency in Government. Hope has advised BHM from a government relations perspective.
Eungsoo Kim
Adviser to the Founder
Eungsoo Kim is a renowned architect with a diverse portfolio of work spanning the United States, China, Korea, India, and Hong Kong over the past 20 years. He has collaborated with reputable architecture firms such as Cesar Pelli and SOM, as well as prominent developers, driven by his belief that architects can enrich lives and improve communities while prioritizing sustainable design.
He holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania. His accolades include winning the third prize in an international competition in Busan, Korea, receiving the Dales Traveling Fellowship, and earning membership in the Tau Sigma Delta Architecture Honor Society.
Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated his passion for architecture and dedication to creating spaces that enrich the lives of individuals and communities. His global experience, innovative design approach, and commitment to sustainability make him a visionary in the field. Mr, Kim advises BHM from a housing design and finance perspective.
Yitz Dekel
Adviser to the Founder
Yitz Dekel was born and raised in Israel. Upon the breakout of the six day war in 1967 he came to the US as the Israeli Cultural Emissary; and received a BA degree in Behavioural & Political Science in 1969, and a Masters degree in Urban Sociology and Communications in 1971 from Roosevelt University.
Yitz has over 50 years of Leadership & Executive positions with community and philanthropic (non profit) organizations in Chicago, New York, Baltimore and Los Angeles. He has published more than 2,500 articles, editorial opinions, analysis and commentaries on social, sociological and political topics. Yitz has advised BHM from a charitable and philanthropic organization perspective.
Amy Mosher Berry
Adviser to the Founder
Amy Mosher Berry is a social entrepreneur and community development professional with over 20 years of diverse experience in business, government, and the nonprofit sector, including 10 years running her workforce consulting firm, five years teaching college, and now as the CEO & Founder of Visions Internships.
Based in Central Massachusetts, Amy is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)® with a Master’s degree in Community Development and Planning from Clark University and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies/ Spanish from the University of Vermont.
Visions Internships was hired to research the history of rent control and develop a New England BHM strategy.
Scott Graves
Adviser to the Founder
Scott Graves is founder of SMGraves Associates where for 18 years he has put to effective use the principles and skills he garnered in the entertainment industry to use in leading economic and community development projects. For the last decade he has focused on the development of programming for several tech and tech-enabled business accelerator-powered incubators in Massachusetts and Vermont. Formerly Scott owned and operated Smash Music, a music merchandising and education company. More recently he managed a construction firm, managed the development of several housing projects and was fiduciary for Exponent Property Investment Cooperative, a data-driven real estate investment program where he provided management and lead the effort to develop the data-focused approach of the program.
Scott’s work includes developing a network of mixed use properties combined with venture capital and other resources for tech and tech-enabled households under the brand Living Local. He has developed the concept of ‘Scaled Incrementalism’, a new strategy for invigorating de-industrialized neighbourhoods. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Scott is the Vermont Director & Coordinator of BHM.