Steve Allen, Esquire, President

Steve Allen, Esq. is a California-licensed attorney dedicated to social justice, healing, and equanimity. He received his Juris Doctor in 1994 from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of California, San Diego with Departmental Honors of High Distinction in 1991, and has also studied at universities in Mexico City and Costa Rica. Mr. Allen is the founder and principal of the Law Offices of Steve Allen, Esq., a boutique law firm providing a broad array of civil, criminal, and administrative legal services. Mr. Allen is bilingual (Spanish/English), a Certified Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victim Counselor, and the former Director of Legal Services at Center for Community Solutions, a social change agency providing services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. He began his personal journey of hope and change at McAlister Institute in 1983 and joined the board in 2014.

Dennis Ellman, Vice President

Mr. Ellman, founder and partner at the public relations firm Beck Ellman Heald, has more than 35 years of experience as a marketing professional. Prior to founding the Beck-Ellman Agency in 1986, he worked in corporate communications for high-tech companies and spent 14 years as a professor of English and creative writing with institutions such as University of California, Irvine, Pepperdine University and San Diego State University. Mr. Ellman has applied his extensive public relations experience to help bring awareness to McAlister Institute and its mission. He joined the board in 2014 and became Vice President in 2017.

Paul Sanford, Treasurer

Mr. Sanford joined the McAlister board in 2012 and brings a wealth of financial experience and knowledge to the board.

Marc Stevenson, LCSW, Secretary

For more than 20 years, Marc Stevenson has been helping people in the areas of substance abuse, mental health, criminal justice, family services, and homelessness. As a graduate and former employee of McAlister Institute, Mr. Stevenson has a long, deeply rooted history with McAlister which has helped lay the foundation for his groundbreaking work at Father Joe’s Villages. As the Tenant Services Director, Mr. Stevenson has played a key role in Project 25, an unprecedented and innovative public-private partnership with United Way, the San Diego Housing Commission, Kaiser, Community Health Group, and Molina Health Plan aimed at identifying, engaging, and housing the City of San Diego’s chronically homeless individuals and highest-cost users of emergency services and public resources. He recently became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and brings a deep knowledge of working with special populations to the McAlister board, which he joined in 2014.

Arturo Alemany, Director

Arturo Alemany is President and CEO at MIR International.  Mr. Alemany has more than 25 years of experience as an international business strategist and consultant for Fortune 500 companies throughout the United States, Europe and Latin America. He has consulted in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate development and political consulting; worked for quasi-government transportation concerns; and has specialized in several sectors of private industry, including telecommunications, transportation, gaming, cable television and hospitality.  Mr. Alemany served as President and CEO of the publicly-traded company, USA Broadband, based in California, and has served on the boards of several national and international corporations.  Mr. Alemany joined the McAlister Institute board in 2013.

Carole Buckner, Esquire, Director

Carole Buckner is a Partner and General Counsel at Procopio. Her practice focuses on legal ethics, professional responsibility and the law of lawyering, including advising lawyers and law firms, and rendering expert opinions. Prior to joining Procopio, Ms. Buckner worked in litigation, as in-house counsel, as a federal prosecutor, and also served as the dean of St. Francis School of Law. In addition to her esteemed career and active involvement in the legal community, Ms. Buckner joined McAlister's board in 2019.

Bryn Butolph, Director

Bryn Butolph is the Managing Partner of Cornerstone Hospitality Consulting. He joined McAlister's board in 2019, bringing with him vast knowledge about financial management, hospitality, and events.

Mike Franz, Director

Mr. Franz is the former Deputy Director of McAlister Institute and has over 25 years of experience working in the field of substance abuse treatment and recovery. Upon his retirement, he became an entrepreneur and now runs a small business while continuing to support McAlister Institute’s mission and services. Mr. Franz joined the board in 2010.

Sergeant Frank Giaime, Director

Sergeant Frank Giaime has 17 years of experience as a law enforcement officer and currently works with the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) of the Chula Vista Police Department.  He holds a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in conflict resolution and reconciliation. His work with CVPD's Homeless Outreach Team has made him knowledgeable about the challenges that substance abuse places on citizens, and he contributes an important law enforcement perspective to McAlister. Sgt. Giaime joined the board in 2017.

R. Scott Hoover, Director

Mr. Hoover is a businessman with extensive experience in real estate and finance. He is dedicated to serving those in recovery and extended his service to the McAlister board in 2010. Mr. Hoover is the Chair of the Nominating Committee and plays an important role in recruiting and orienting new board members.

Mary M. Johnson, Director

Ms. Johnson joined the board in 2018 and shares her years of fundraising, research, and development expertise with McAlister as the Chair of the Resource Development Committee.

Michelle Kveen, Director

Michelle Kveen is an operating partner of BO-beau Kitchen + Garden in the La Mesa Village. Beyond serving good food, she also serves the community and recently joined the board of directors of McAlister Institute in 2018.

Kim Murphy, Director

Kim Murphy formalized her commitment and connection to McAlister Institute by joining the board in 2019. As a behavioral health professional overseeing a large outpatient and partial hospitalization program, she brings with her a deep understanding of client care and healthcare management.