OUR LEADERS
Our leaders embody a commitment to transformative healing, guide others with compassion and integrity, and foster a supportive community dedicated to personal growth and societal change.
There’s a lot of people that were supposed to die in prison, who are out here living productive lives being fathers, and brothers, and sons because of Inside Circle.
STAFF
Our team is small but mighty, and it’s growing.
Our team of facilitators and organization-builders bring our deep attention and focus to communities across the country.
Eldra Jackson, III
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A writer and sought after public speaker on the topics of personal development, effective “rehabilitation” and turning around toxic masculinity, Eldra brings clarity of purpose, mission focus, and inspiration to his role at Inside Circle. He was an inmate at New Folsom Prison when he found Inside Circle and began the inner personal journey that eventually led to his release in 2014 and his current leadership role. A living example of successful rehabilitation and re-entry, Eldra has dedicated his free time on the outside to serving youth, and acting as a facilitator, trainer, and mentor.
Felix Mickens
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIST
A management professional with more than 25 years of experience in juvenile justice, Felix has an extensive background in planning and managing cross-functional corrections operations. Serving as Deputy Executive Director for Operations within the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) for over 10 years, Felix oversaw all juvenile secure-care facilities, parole and re-entry services, classification, training, and the JJC’s gang management unit. Today, he brings this experience to bear at Inside Circle, working to expand our reach and support network within the justice-involved juvenile population.
Aaron Burris
FACILITATOR & MENTOR
A shining example of the power of our work, Aaron once believed he was going to die in prison living a life defined by strife, chaos, drugs, gangs, and violence. Inside Circle changed all of that, opening his heart in a new direction and supporting his transformation into the leader he is today. After serving 22 years of a life sentence, he is an entrepreneur, husband, father, youth advocate, and student. He is deeply dedicated to bringing the recovery and transformational healing that saved his life in prison to the world.
Verónica Vargas
Youth Justice & Reentry SpecialisT
A focused leader with over 20 years of experience developing and executing re-entry and therapeutic programming, Verónica Vargas has led work for agencies, foundations, and domestic and international settings, including USAID. Born in Cudahy, California, she did her undergraduate studies at Humboldt State University and graduate work at the University of New Mexico. Veronica’s interests in re-entry programs and marginalized populations stem from her upbringing, where she was raised in a disabled single-parent, immigrant home and witnessed firsthand the impact of gangs on families and communities.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our dedicated Board provides oversight, governance, guidance, and support for the organization. Our Board meets Quarterly.
Ari rosen
BOARD MEMBER
Eldra Jackson III
BOARD MEMBER
A writer and sought after public speaker on the topics of personal development, effective “rehabilitation” and turning around toxic masculinity, Eldra brings clarity of purpose, mission focus, and inspiration to his role at Inside Circle. He was an inmate at New Folsom Prison when he found Inside Circle and began the inner personal journey that eventually led to his release in 2014 and his current leadership role. A living example of successful rehabilitation and re-entry, Eldra has dedicated his free time on the outside to serving youth, and acting as a facilitator, trainer, and mentor.
GORDON BROWN
VICE CHAIR
A seasoned business leader and non-profit steward, Gordon’s background is in real estate where he spent over 40 years as a successful investor. Most recently, he founded the Brown Investment Group and dedicates much of his time to causes ranging from the environment to social justice to personal growth and accountability. He has served various non-profits over the years including Authentic Leadership Center and the Waterkeeper Alliance. He holds a B.A. in communications from CSU, Chico and is a graduate of the Stanford University School of Media.
Greg Mellor
SECRETARY
Jeff Buenrostro
TREASURER
Jeff is Founder and COO of Metric Theory, a digital marketing company, and an instructor of Interpersonal Dynamics at Stanford University. Previously, Jeff was an investor and now runs his own consulting practice, Engaged Management, guiding company cultures through transformation and complexity and generating optimal results by emphasizing social and emotional alignment. On the Board of Directors at Boys to Men and Cultivate the Karass, Jeff holds an MBA from Stanford and a BS in Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt.
Lisa Siglain Blum
BOARD MEMBER
MANUEL RUIZ
BOARD CHAIR
As board chair, Manuel is the leading voice for all of the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men served by this program. He ensures that Inside Circle stays mission focused and dedicated to realizing the founding vision of the late Founder Pat Nolan. An early member of the Men’s Support Group within New Folsom Prison, the origin of what is today Inside Circle, Manuel spent 14 years sitting in circle slowly growing into a facilitator, mentor, leader and curious student. Overall, Manuel served 21 years of a life sentence and is a powerful example of the transformative power of our work.
Stephen Walker
BOARD MEMBER
Tina Jones
BOARD MEMBER
With over 30 years of experience leading and owning successful Real Estate businesses, most recently opening 4 offices in the San Francisco East Bay, growing these offices to 225 agents. Tina is now bringing her business knowledge and experience to others as founder of The Jones Company Coaching and Consulting. Tina has been involved in numerous nonprofits over the years including Elk Grove Community Food Bank Services, Shanti Christo Foundation and Atkinsons Youth Services. Tina’s profound experience at her first Outside Circle Intensive brought her to the realization she wanted to be a part of Inside Circle’s work serving system-impacted people inside and outside.
ELDER COUNCIL
Lifetime Ex-Officio Board Members, this council is comprised of those who have made formative contributions to Inside Circle. Protecting the integrity of our work and ensuring that essential knowledge is passed down to developing facilitators, our Elder Council provides ongoing facilitation training, mentorship, and spiritual leadership to our team.
Bharataji Joplin
Elder, Board Member
Bill wich
Elder, Board Member
Dr. James
McLeary
Elder, Board Member
ROB ALLBEE
Founder, Elder, Board Member
ADVISORY BOARD
Our Advisory Board are specially selected members of the Inside Circle family and network who serve on-call and bring important expertise, insight, and perspective to our work.
ANDREW Blum
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Andrew serves as chair of our Strategic Advancement Committee. Leveraging 25 years of global consulting experience as CEO of The Trium Group, a leading consultancy, Andrew lends strategic guidance to the organization, connecting Inside Circle with leaders across industries and disciplines. A thought leader and consulting pioneer, Andrew has led breakthrough engagements at many of the world’s leading organizations. His mission is to change the world by changing the way business leaders think. Prior to founding Trium, Andrew served as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He holds an MBA from Georgetown University and a BA in philosophy from Reed College.
Brian O’Keefe
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Leveraging his extensive experience in financial services and management, Brian brings deep expertise in finance and strategy to the board. He is currently the chief investment officer at Parallel Advisors. Prior to Parallel, Brian served as CIO of a late-stage venture co-investment fund and logged over 10 years as managing director and vice president in investment banking focused on private capital formation. A former U.S. Army Officer, Brian holds an MBA from University of Chicago, Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomechanics from Marquette University.
Christina
Hollenback
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Winner of the prestigious POLLY award at just 27 for her work at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Christina became one of the youngest Executive Directors in US national politics organizing her generation. In 2014, she transitioned into impact investing and began working with those same frontline communities to build sustainable solutions as a core part of their strategies organizing for justice from Baltimore to Standing Rock. Her investment fund grows visionary alternatives to the criminal justice system. Christina is the Founding Chair of the NEXUS Network’s Working Group Toward Equal Justice.
James Maskell
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
James has spent the last decade innovating at the cross section of functional medicine and community. He grew up in an intentional community, and has lived in South Africa, UK and America. Originaally trained in health economics, James is on a mission to flatten the curve of healthcare costs building companies and creating content along the way. A lively speaker and in demand impresario, James has spoken to audiences on six continents. He lives in Northern California with his wife and two daughters. He loves playing cricket, riding horses and plotting our survival on this planet and emergence into our potential.
Roth Herrlinger
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Roth Herrlinger is an executive coach, management consultant and strategic advisor with several decades’ experience assisting companies and nonprofits in a wide variety of industries throughout the U.S. and worldwide. He’s cofounded two companies, and has worked with startup and established firms as both a senior executive and consultant, leading teams in operations, finance, M&A, strategic planning, process improvement, new business creation and product development. He spends many of his weekends volunteering in prisons with a consortium of nonprofits that provide facilitated peer-to-peer support systems for incarcerated men.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR BOARD?
Please click the button below or email [email protected], with the subject line: Board Inquiry. Include a CV and a brief summary about why you’re interested in joining our board, and we’ll be glad to start a conversation.