Becky Douglas and her husband, John, are the biological parents of seven children. In addition, they adopted two children from Lithuania, one of whom is paraplegic. The Douglas’s have long been advocates of disadvantaged children and adults. Over the years they have cared for many children in their home who were in tremendous need. Some were refugee families sponsored by the Douglas’s, some were run-away children needing a home, some were from mental care programs, and some were simply troubled youth. In an extension of these efforts, Becky is one of the founders of Rising Star Outreach. Becky and John are motivated by the belief that every person deserves opportunity and a life of dignity.

Ron and Joyce Hanson joined Rising Star in December of 2005. They met as undergraduates at Stanford and have been married for forty-five years. Ron received his law degree from Berkeley in 1962 and has spent most of his professional career in development and management of various real estate projects. Ron has served as President of the Pacific Symphony, the Western Mobile home Park Owners Association (trade group) the Emerald Bay Community Association (their community), the local Stanford Alumni group, and in several leadership positions in their Church. Ron and Joyce have four married children and seventeen grandchildren. They enjoy skiing, golf, photography, and fly fishing.

Margaret was born in St. George, Utah and attended Dixie State College.  She graduated cum laude in three years from Weber State University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a minor in child development.  She frequently took 24 hours per quarter in addition to working.  Margaret taught school in Boston while Nolan attended the Harvard Business School.

Margaret is co-author of the book An Emotional First Aid Kit for Mothers and has spoken at several seminars and conferences on raising children.

Margaret has served as Relief Society President, three times as Primary President, President of the Young Women and numerous other callings in the different wards and stakes where she has lived.  She currently serves as a member of the International and Government Affairs Committee for the Church, the National Advisory Committee for the BYU Marriott School of Business, the President’s Leadership Council for BYU, and as a board member for Rising Star Outreach Orphanage in India.

She is the mother of seven sons and one daughter.  Jason, age 36, is a graduate of Duke Medical School and is currently doing an Orthopedic Surgery Residency at Johns Hopkins University.  Lance, age 34, is a graduate of the Harvard Business School and works for a division of Hewlett Packard.  Jared, age 32, graduated from Harvard University and the Stanford Business School and works for a Private Equity Company.  Jordan, age 30, is currently attending the Harvard Business School. Anthony, age 28, is a graduate of Brigham Young University and works for GE.  Cameron, age 26, graduated from BYU and is working for 3M in Shanghai, China.  Austin, 24, is attending BYU.  Ashley, 21, also attends BYU.  All seven sons are Eagle Scouts and all have served missions. Six of the seven boys are married and there are 5 grandchildren.

Margaret has moved the family eight different times.  She has lived in Boston, Montreal, Vermont, Texas, Ohio, California, Chicago and Washington, D.C.

Margaret enjoys reading, photography, playing tennis and traveling.

Dr. Mani Balu is chief of Pediatrics at Uniontown Hospital in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Prior to his work in Uniontown, he practiced medicine at Good Samaritan Hospital, Long Island Jewish Hospital and at Queens Hospital Center in New York and was chief of the pediatric department and head of the medical staff in Big Stone Gap, Virginia for eighteen years. He was also a member of the board in the Dickenson Wise Medical Association. Dr. Balu now donates a significant portion of his time every year working with the Rising Star clinic and visiting the various Leprosy colonies attending to their health needs.

In their 36 year marriage Hugh and Ellen Morton have been blessed with two lovely daughters and six wonderful grandchildren. Ellen holds both a master's and a specialist's degree in educational media from Auburn University. Hugh holds a Master's of Business Administration also from Auburn where they met. Ellen is a retired media specialist who decorates model homes for Hugh's building company. A former banker Hugh is owner and president of Peachtree Homes, Inc. a residential construction company located on the southside of Atlanta. Ellen enjoys decorating homes and spending time with their children and grandchildren as well as caring for her elderly mother. Hugh is a former mountaineer who has climbed the Seven Summits. He enjoys climbing, hiking, spending time with his grandchildren and serving on the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America. They have hosted children from all over the world who have had serious medical needs. Hugh and Ellen have always enjoyed the company of friends from other cultures. Being a small part of Rising Star has undergirded their belief that we all are responsible for the sick, poor and downtrodden people of the world regardless of their country of origin. They both have been deeply inspired by the principles and the on-going work of Rising Star Outreach and they are deeply gratified to be able to support the medical services the organization provides to the leprosy affected people and their children.

Bob and Kathleen Zenger Nilsen joined the board in 2006 after volunteering in India with their 5 children. They have had the opportunity to live overseas for many years and serve on 4 continents. Their opportunities have included starting a school in a northern Johannesburg township, working in orphanages, church leadership and through corporate initiatives, etc. The Nilsens currently reside in Salt Lake City, Utah where they are the owners of Cafe Rio. Bob is a former President of Burger King and Chief Operating Officer for Taco Bell where he served on the world wide Partner's Council for YUM Brands. He is a graduate of the University of Utah and Harvard Business School and sits on several advisory boards including American Indian Services and the Elliott Leadership Institute. In his spare time he likes to coach his kid's basketball teams and work at their cattle ranch. Kathleen is an alumnus of the University of Utah with degrees in Psychology, Anthropology and a Secondary Teaching Certificate. She serves on the board of Eye Care 4 Kids and various school advisory committees as well as a grief therapist for children. Her favorite job is spending time with her own kids and their family motto is: Be the miracle.

Brent and Meg Pratt met as students at Brigham Young University.  After graduation they moved to Potomac, Maryland where they have resided throughout their 35 years of marriage.  Brent is a principal with Foulger-Pratt Companies, a commercial real estate construction and development group. Brent has served on the board of Associated Builders and Contractors for the Metro D.C area and currently serves on the board of Delta-GE, an alternative energy company.   Brent has served in numerous leadership positions in their church.  Meg has devoted her life to raising their eight children and serving in their church.  She serves on the board of the Family Leader Foundation, an organization that seeks to promote family values in public policy. As grandparents of two  children with cystic fibrosis, Brent and Meg have been dedicated to fund–raising for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Brent and Meg are blessed with ten wonderful grandchildren.  They enjoy golfing, skiing and boating for recreation. 

President, Utah Jazz/Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment Group of Companies

Now in his 22nd season with the Utah Jazz organization, Randy Rigby enters his first as president and chief operating officer of Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment Group of Companies after being appointed to the position in July of 2007.

In his new role, Rigby sets the strategic goals for the franchise as well as analyzes future growth opportunities.  On a day-to-day basis, he leads the senior management team responsible for overseeing the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake Bees, EnergySolutions Arena, KJZZ-TV, the new Fan Super Sports Network (which includes KFAN, ESPN radio, KJZZ and FSN Utah), All-Star Catering, Fanzz retail sports apparel stores and LHM Advertising.  He also oversees operations at Jordan Commons and the Megaplex Theatres. 

Rigby previously served as senior vice president of sales and chief marketing officer, in addition to senior vice president of broadcasting.  In that role, Rigby oversaw the sales and marketing directions taken by the Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment Group of Companies, being directly responsible for the development of FSN Utah, the regional sports network, the naming rights of the EnergySolutions Arena, the Lexus Club and the new Fan Super Sports Network which includes KFAN and ESPN radio.

As senior vice president of broadcasting, Rigby was responsible for all aspects of Jazz and Bees broadcasting and productions. These included TV and cable scheduling, the Jazz Radio Network, all Jazz programming, Jazz Productions, broadcast talent, broadcasting personnel and the negotiations of all broadcasting contracts.  He was also general manager of KJZZ-TV, the flagship station for the Jazz. KJZZ-TV is the local television rights holder of Utah State University, Utah High School Athletics Association, and the July 24th Marathon and 10K. KJZZ-TV produces more live sports than any other television station in the Western States, and is one of the fastest growing independent stations in the country. 

Rigby came to the Jazz from CFS Financial Corp., where he worked for three years as senior vice president. He is a 1979 graduate of Brigham Young University, where he earned a degree in business management with a special emphasis in finance and marketing.

Rigby serves on the Huntsman Cancer Institute Fundraising Executive Board and as an Alternative on the NBA Board of Governors.  Rigby has served as a board member and past president of the Utah Broadcasters Association as well as the NBA Broadcasting Advisory Board. 

Rigby and his wife, Sandra, are the parents of five children — four daughters and a son and one granddaughter, (along with a couple more grandchildren on their way) — and live in Farmington, Utah. In his spare time he enjoys golfing, scuba diving and fly-fishing.

Christin Holbrook Harding is an accomplished part-time chef/caterer, full-time mother, and former international development executive. A graduate of the University of Utah in Political Science, Christin pursued a career in philanthropy as the Executive Director of the Ouelessebougou-Utah Alliance. As its first Executive Director, she helped organize and establish this organization, focused on fundraising efforts that supported water wells, medical clinics, and women's cooperative businesses in Mali, Africa. 15 years after leaving this organization, it is still among the most vibrant and thriving not-for-profit organizations in the greater Salt Lake City area. Christin continues to focus on community service in her spare time. Christins culinary skills largely come from self instruction and years of practice, in addition to a brief stint at the Ritz-Escoffier School in Paris. Christin hosts numerous dinner parties and has catered a wide variety of weddings, baby showers, corporate events, and social club gatherings in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Minneapolis, and Boston. Her culinary style has been influenced by her extensive travels around the world and by seeking out the best cuisine wherever she goes.She is currently working on a book that combines her two passions for service and cuisine. She intends to donate the proceeds of the book to several deserving charitable organizations. Christin resides in the Boston area with her three children and husband.

David Harding is a business executive in the Medical Devices and Diagnostics industry. A graduate of the University of Southern California, David received a degree in Aerospace Engineering. He worked initially as an engineer on the Space Shuttle program and later applied his skills at a Japanese automotive components manufacturer. David then earned an MBA degree from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and became an associate, and ultimately a partner, at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm. During his 11 years at McKinsey he focused on serving a wide variety of clients around the globe in the disciplines of corporate strategy, purchasing and supply management, and sales and marketing management. David then joined Cytyc Corporation, a global women's medical device and diagnostics company, where he served as the VP of Marketing and the President of the International business. After Cytyc was acquired by Hologic, the largest women's health company in the world, David was tapped to lead the company's Interventional Breast Solutions division. He now focuses on bringing superior breast biopsy and cancer therapy devices to women around the world. David loves to run, travel, and spend time with his wife and three daughters.

Keith and Sally have lived in the New York Metropolitan area for over twenty years and are currently living in Connecticut. They are parents of four children. Sally graduated with a B.S. in Education from Brigham Young University and has a Masters of Education (M.ED.) from the University of Utah. She has taught in a Gifted and Talented Program in Utah and at the Browning School in New York City. She is a community activist, a church volunteer, and a full-time mother. Keith is a Managing Director at Cerberus Capital Management, a money management and private equity firm, based in New York City. Prior to joining Cerberus, Keith was at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce where he was a member of the U.S. Management Committee. He received his B.S. degree and his Masters degree in Accountancy from the University of Utah. Keith and Sally are actively involved in poverty relief and humanitarian aid. As a family they have volunteered in helping Cambodian Refugees, schools in Tanzania, and several orphanages in Taiwan. Locally, they volunteer at homeless shelters and with the STAR organization. They enjoy sports, travel, outdoor recreation, photography, and horseback riding.

Randall and Robin are the parents of seven children and joined the board in 2010 after two of their children volunteered at Rising Star Outreach.  They have lived in a variety of places during the past twenty five years, including New York, London, Paris and Washington, D.C.  Robin received a B.S. from Brigham Young University in 1980, with high honors and as valedictorian of the College of Family Life.  She has taught high school and served in a variety of positions at church and in her local communities helping those in need.  Randall is the Head of the Financial Institutions Group at Davis Polk & Wardwell, an international law firm headquartered in New York City.  Before joining Davis Polk, he was a law clerk to Justice William H. Rehnquist of the U.S. Supreme Court.  He received a B.A. from Brigham Young University in 1981 and a J.D. from the University of Virginia in 1984.  Robin and Randall are co-founders of the Constitutional Sources Project, a non-profit organization that is building the first online library of original source materials for the U.S. Constitution.  Randall has also provided legal advice to Our Courts, a non-profit organization established by former U.S. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, that provides on-line games and engaging tools for high school students to learn U.S. civics.

Helen Claire Sievers is the Executive Director of WorldTeach, an NGO  that sends volunteers to teach in developing countries. She has held that position since 2001, except in 2008-2009 when she was in Bangladesh and India.  Helen Claire lived for 18 years in the Marshall Islands where she was at various times a high school principel, administrator of the local hospital, and the presiding judge of the community court.  Previously, Helen Claire taught astronomy at Wellesley and Bentley Colleges.  She is a graduate of Wellesley College with a degree in astronomy and holds a MS in physics from Brigham Young University.  She is married and has five children.

Ronald C. Gunnell Co-founded The Paradigm Group in 1999. The Paradigm Group has three areas of focus, Venture Capital, Entertainment, and Real Estate.  Ron currently serves on a number of Boards, including, Hale Center Theatre, University of Utah School of Music, Founding Trustee - Operation Kids, The President’s National Advisory Board Utah Valley State University, National Advisory Board Best of State, International Advisory Board Chairman for Enterprise Mentors International, and most recently Rising Star Outreach.

He has been a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir since 1997. He was called and set apart as Assistant to the President for Special Projects for The Mormon Tabernacle Choir in 2001. His primary responsibilities include securing and negotiating for guest artists and celebrities to perform with the Choir.

Ron Graduated with a degree in Public Relations and Psychology from Brigham Young University in 1978. He is married to Kaye Ashby Gunnell and has three daughters, Kristen 21, Lauren 19 and Natilyn 11.

Kirk Peterson has been married for 30 years to his sweetheart Nancy.  Together they have six children and five grandchildren.  For 20 years, Kirk has been owner and president of Peterson Enterprises Inc., a commercial, residential, and luxury recreational company.  Prior to his current occupation, Kirk was involved in co-founding and operating a chain of retail clothing stores in Idaho and Utah.  Kirk has been a Board Member for the Red Cross, the Idaho Falls Downtown Redevelopment Committee, the Rotary Club, and has assisted with an organization to help battered women and children.  Kirk and his family are deeply committed to their church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He is currently serving in an ecclesiastical leadership position.  Kirk enjoys many sports and hobbies.  He plays competitive tennis, and has  hiked the Grand Teton, White Clouds, Sawtelle, Big Horn Crags, and Teton mountain ranges. Kirk is also a licensed pilot, certified scuba diver, and an experienced water and snow skier. On a quieter side, he enjoys painting and photography. He has been his children's football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, and tennis coach.  Being actively involved with his family has brought him the most joy in his life.

Robert "Bob" Cowan- born and raised in Southern California; married for 29 years with four children; a Landscape contractor with extensive public work experience- who loves spending time with his family in shared hobbies and travel.