Ken Loy joins the Board of Directors; Cliff Johnson and Kathy Witsil return after previous service. From left to right: Ken Loy, Cliff Johnson, and Kathy Witsil.
YouthBuild Global, headquarters for the YouthBuild movement, has announced the appointment of senior aerospace and defense executive Ken Loy to its Board of Directors. The organization also welcomes back Cliff Johnson and Kathy Witsil, both of whom previously served on the Board and have now returned to continue their service on behalf of YouthBuild Global’s network of local programs and the young people they serve.
Loy brings more than two decades of leadership experience in the aerospace and defense industry, including chief executive roles at Hensoldt Inc. and Marshall USA, where he delivered sensor, electronics and aviation solutions for U.S. military members. He also served 21 years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot, flying in combat and conducting flight tests of experimental aircraft. Loy is mentor to many young professionals and an engaged alumnus of the University of Southern California and Georgetown University.
“Ken has spent his career leading teams through difficult challenges and supporting people on their paths to recognizing the power and potential in themselves,” said John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild Global. “That same belief in collaboration and community is at the heart of everything we do at YouthBuild. We’re grateful to have his leadership and perspective on our Board as we continue to open doors for young people around the world.”
“Leadership is about connecting people with the tools and confidence to succeed,” Loy said. “That’s also an integral part of the YouthBuild mission. I’m honored to work with the organization and all of its team members do the same for young people around the world.”
Johnson and Witsil return to the Board, continuing their longstanding commitment to YouthBuild and providing deep institutional knowledge of the organization and the overall youth services field.
Johnson’s connection to YouthBuild spans more than 35 years, dating back to the first YouthBuild program in East Harlem, New York. He worked alongside YouthBuild founder Dorothy Stoneman to draft the original legislation authorizing YouthBuild as a federal program, and he leveraged his position at the Children’s Defense Fund to organize support for its enactment. Johnson first joined the YouthBuild Global (then YouthBuild USA) Board of Directors in 1992. He went on to serve for 21 years at the National League of Cities, empowering municipal leaders across the country to improve outcomes for children, youth and families, and currently provides consulting support for nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C.
“Cliff has been part of the YouthBuild movement from the very beginning,” said John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild Global. “More than three decades later, his knowledge, perspective and deep passion for championing young people are as valuable to this organization and network as ever. We’re honored to have him back at the table, and grateful for our continued work together.”
“I’ve had the privilege of helping YouthBuild grow from an idea into a national network and now a global one,” Johnson said. “Returning to the Board means continuing to invest in the young people who are building better futures for themselves, their families and their communities. I couldn’t be more thrilled.”
Witsil is a retired financial services executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience at JPMorgan Chase and its predecessor organizations, where she led operations, product management, customer experience and strategic information initiatives across consumer and small business banking. A recognized innovator, she holds several patents related to data and financial technologies. Witsil first joined YouthBuild Global’s Board of Directors in 2019, becoming the body’s vice chair in 2022; she has also served on the Boards of the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation and the Chester County Fund for Women. She also supports organizations in Arizona and Colorado focused on education, opportunity and community impact.
“Kathy brings a rare combination of financial rigor and genuine heart to everything she does,” said John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild Global. “Her time as vice chair strengthened this organization in ways that are still visible today, and we’re thrilled to welcome her back to the Board.”
“The YouthBuild movement changes lives and communities around the world,” Witsil said. “I am honored to return to the Board to strengthen YouthBuild Global and its incredible network of programs as they open doors of opportunity for this driven, talented group of young people.”
The YouthBuild Global Board of Directors consists of a wide-ranging group of dedicated individuals, including YouthBuild alumni and program directors, with expertise spanning public policy, research, financial management, housing, youth development, economic development and more. The Board guides YouthBuild Global’s work to expand economic mobility and opportunity for young people worldwide.
In YouthBuild programs, young people who are out of school or out of work reclaim their education, gain job skills and credentials, and become leaders in their communities. Within the opportunity youth population, YouthBuild primarily serves young people who lack a high school diploma and financial resources. YouthBuild Global is the headquarters for the YouthBuild movement, unifying and partnering with an expansive network for more than 340 YouthBuild programs around the world.
