BOARD MEMBERS

Maria Palozola - President & Founder

Maria Palozola is a nationally known Golf Professional and owner of St. Louis Golf Lessons and the Lead Instructor for the Golf Channel Academy with Maria Palozola in St. Louis, MO.  Since 1994 Maria has dedicated many hours to grow the game initiatives working with handicapped golfers, juniors, women golfers, beginners and the like to make golf more accessible. She decided to take action on her long time dream of developing a foundation that could use golf to help others in May of 2018.  Having  a Father who fought in WW2 in the Battle of the Bulge and Grandfather that fought in WW1 (both who loved to golf) and a nephew that fought in both Iraq and Afghanistan.  Maria had planned to work with her nephew (who dedicated his life to helping his fellow veterans), before he passed to use the game of Golf to better the lives of veterans and their families.  She resides in St. Louis with her 2 sons. 

Sally Palozola Cherre - Vice President & Co-Founder

Mindy Berry - Vice President

Sally Cherre is Co-Owner and Practice Manager of Cherre Orthodontics. Sally has a long history of volunteering and fundraising, including being on the founding committee for the first Manchester Homecoming Weekend and being its Marketing chair for ten years. She was Cashbah Auction Chair, Card Party Chair, Mothers Club President and Alumni Mothers Club President at St. Louis University High School. She served as a Board Member of the LaSalle Retreat Center, creating a successful "Buy a Bed" campaign. As a member of St. Joseph Parish, Sally has chaired some major events including a kick-off event for its Foundations for the Future capital campaign and several dinner auctions.  She also served on their ACTS Core Team and has served on 30 ACTS retreat teams throughout the St. Louis area, and in Illinois and Toledo, Ohio.  Along with Maria, Sally is passionate about honoring her father, grandfather, and nephews by helping their fellow veterans through Forces on the Fairways. 

​Mindy Berry is an Information Technology Executive with more than 30 years experience leading all areas of IT.  She has significant experience in the international marketplace leading teams, creating strategic and operational plans, and researching new technologies in multi-cultural environments.  Mindy has a B.S. in Computer Science and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Mindy worked for McDonnell Douglas for many years managing teams supporting the defense missile and military aircraft computer centers.  While at MDC, Mindy volunteered at various military air shows and as a liaison with the United Way of Greater St. Louis. Mindy's father was a retired Marine and was the Curator of the Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis where she also volunteered as a teenager with the USO.  She lives in St. Louis with her husband, Jim and 4 children. 

Ryan Whitaker - Treasurer

Captain James A. Muir, P.E. - Secretary

Brigadier General David Irwin

Ryan Whitaker attended UMSL where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, He started his career working as an analyst for a large local corporation while working to earn his Masters of Business Administration, graduating in December 2017.  He is currently the Finance Manager of an Engineering firm in the St. Louis area.  Ryan is very active in his church where he serves on the world missions team and is the co-chairman of their annual golf tournament which raises funding to support missionaries all over the world. He lives in Imperial, MO with his 2 children and wife Sarah.

Captain James A. Muir, P.E. served 27 years in the United States Navy as an officer in the Civil Engineer Corps.  His early career was spent with Naval Reserve Construction Force (SEABEES) units.  In 2003, then CDR Muir was called to active duty to serve as the Operations Officer for the Navy’s Anti-Terrorism and Force Protections Ashore Program.  He deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 as a member of the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan’s Detainee Operations Directorate.  During that tour he was wounded by a suicide bomber near the detention facility in Pol-e-Charkhi. He completed his deployment in April of 2007 and returned to reserve status.  He was recalled again in 2009 to serve as the Head of Emergency Management at the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) in Washington, DC.  In 2010 he was assigned to the Afghanistan – Pakistan Hands Program and deployed for 12 months to Kabul to serve as the in-theater Program Manager.  Upon return he was assigned as a Division Chief on the Joint Staff Pakistan – Afghanistan Coordination Cell.  Jim retired at the rank of Captain in 2014.  CAPT Muir is Seabee Combat Warfare qualified, and authorized to wear the Joint Staff Identification Badge.  His numerous decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (2 awards), Navy Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2 awards), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (4 campaign stars), and Combat Action Ribbon. 
Jim currently works as a lab manager for Boeing Research & Technology.  He is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Missouri and holds 4 patents.  He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri – Rolla and a Master’s in Business Administration from Maryville University.  Jim is a lifelong resident of St Louis (except during his active duty recalls).  He is married (Pat) with three daughters (Jenny, Jessie & Jamie) and three grandchildren (Reagan, Madeline & Henry).  He’s an active member of the Knights of Columbus, and serves on the Parish Council for St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Manchester, MO.

​​Retired Brigadier General David Irwin served more than 31 years in the United States Army and National Guard.  He began his military career as a Field Artillery Officer at Ft. Sill, OK.  After leaving active duty, he joined the Missouri National Guard where he held command positions in the 128th and 129th Field Artillery Battalions.  He commanded the 70th Troop Command in St. Louis before being promoted to Brigadier General and command of the 35th Engineer Brigade.  General Irwin is Chair of the Salute to the Troops, an annual event during Fair St. Louis to thank troops and families for their service.  He is on the Board of Directors for Care Packages for the Troops Foundation doing business as Operation Sunscreen, an organization founded by his wife, Karen, which sends care packages to deployed service members each year.  He retired from service as Deputy Commanding General for the 35th Infantry Division in 2013, and is currently an International Training Program Manager with The Boeing Company.  David and his wife Karen live in Ballwin, MO and have two sons, David and Stephen.

Patrick Lepski

Patrick Lepski a is Civil Engineer from the Missouri University of Science & Technology and has extensive experience in leadership and management.  He has served as National Sales Manager for Schneider Electric, a Fortune Global 500 company.  He is presently Assistant Director of Investment Relations for Visionary Private Equity Group which is headquartered in Saint Charles, Missouri.  Pat also serves on Board of Directors for FAST (Foster Adoption Support Team) which brings food and services to families with foster and adopted children as well as for TREE House of Greater Saint Louis, an organization that is a leader in the field of equine-assisted therapy (horse-back riding) for children and adults with special needs to help them develop core strength to lead a more fulfilling life.  Pat is also involved with Boy Scouts of America and is currently working to improve the Scouting for Food program that is done nationwide every Thanksgiving to support food pantries.  Pat currently resides in Saint Peters, Missouri with his wife Christine and son Daniel. 

Jay Rogers

Jay Rogers is an avid golfer, reader and traveler.  He is married to Beth and has two daughters, Meredith and Kathryn.  Jay has lived and worked for companies in St. Louis all his life.  He is currently a resident of Webster Groves, but has also lived in Spanish Lake, Jennings, Dellwood, Oakville, St. Ann and University City.
 
Jay works for Purina Animal Nutrition, a division of Land O’Lakes, as a director of Sales Operations.  His office is in Labadie, MO.

John Nohava

John Nohava is a sales & marketing manager for Land O’Lakes - Purina Animal Nutrition with more than 48 years of experience helping independent entrepreneurs grow their business.  He is well versed in cutting edge business practices that result in growth and employs various marketing and creative techniques to help his customers achieve excellent returns. He has been active with the National MS Society-Gateway Chapter and Pedal the Cause. In his spare time, he loves to hike and bicycle in the Colorado mountains and referee Soccer and Australian Rules Football. John resides in Saint Peters, Missouri with his wife Barbara

Terry Burns

​Terry brings to the Board 45 years (38 of which are here in St. Louis) of sales and marketing experience with major corporations and smaller privately owned firms. He and his wife Linda have lived in Webster Groves for 24 years. They enjoy having their children and grandchildren nearby in the St Louis area. Terry is an avid golfer and loves to travel with Linda, friends and family.
 
In addition to his professional experience, Terry brings valuable volunteer and board experience to our organization having been active in St. Vincent DePaul Society (Chapter President), Knights of Columbus, Parish Men’s Club (Treasurer), Scramble For Kids Tournament Committee, Alzheimer’s Association and St. Patrick’s Center Sports Trivia Championship Committee. In addition to The Palozola Foundation, Terry is a current board member and past Treasurer for Join Hands, ESL whose mission is to empower children and families in East St Louis through youth programming, mentoring programs and the pursuit of education as a pathway out of poverty. 
  

ADVISORY BOARD

​Myrle Hughes  - recently returned to St. Louis after 30 years as an executive in the automotive supply industry in the Detroit,  ichigan Metropolitan area. While in Detroit he served as Vice Chairman of Winning Futures, a mentoring organization, and as President of the Motor City Symphony Orchestra. He brings the administrative skills developed with those organizations to the Palozola Foundation and Forces on the Fairways.

Jace Brotherton - ​Jace Brotherton is a graduate of St. Louis University Law School. As a real estate agent, attorney, and investor, Jace is dedicated to serving others in numerous ways. He make a personal commitment to daily education in order to continuously improve his skills and offer the very best for his clients. On a personal side, he love sports, music, traveling, and simply experiencing everything life has to offer.

Matt Matava - Matthew Matava, M.D. is currently a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Physical Therapy at Washington University in St. Louis where he is also Chief of the Sports Medicine Service. ​He was the Head Team Physician for the St. Louis Rams for 16 years and was president of the National Football League Physicians Society (NFLPS) from 2013-2015. He has also been a team physician for the NHL's St. Louis Blues for the past 20 years, and he is the Head Team Physician for the Washington University Varsity Athletic Program. ​

Greg Paulus - Greg is a retired Army Veteran, father of a Marine and retired Partner form Rubin Brown LLP.
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Ryan Young - Ryan is a veteran of the United States Army, where he served for 6 years including a term in Southwest Asia.  As part of his service he received the Southwest Asia Ribbon.  Ryan is currently a golf instructor for St. Louis Golf Lessons