BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kiplee Bell Morris,
MD MS PA-C
Founder & CEO
Dr. Kiplee Bell is a physician, author, educator, and visionary leader whose life and work are anchored in legacy, mentorship, and impact. Personally mentored by Colonel Kevin John McAleese, Dr. Bell witnessed firsthand the power of leadership grounded in humility and the belief that education is one of the greatest gifts we can offer another.
In 2017, she founded The Kevin John McAleese Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to carry forward Colonel McAleese’s enduring legacy of service. The Foundation supports families affected by glioblastoma and has gifted over $50,000 in tuition assistance, funded memory-making experiences for grieving children, and contributed to research and respite efforts at leading cancer institutions. Today, under Dr. Bell’s leadership, it expands that mission with the Glioblastoma Tuition Initiative — a new, purpose-driven scholarship effort honoring the dreams of children left behind.
A trailblazer in medicine, Dr. Bell is among the less than 2% of women of color nationally to achieve both MD and PA-C credentials. Her career spans over two decades in emergency, internal, and geriatric medicine. She also holds advanced degrees in Gerontology and Sociology, all of which fuel her patient-centered, equity-focused approach to healthcare.
But her greatest achievements are not titles — they are moments of service. Mentoring students from underrepresented communities. Caring for aging patients at home. Writing and speaking to honor caregivers. Walking families through loss with grace and empathy.
Dr. Bell's leadership style is transparent and deeply personal, shaped by her own experience as a caregiver and her belief that legacies are not measured in accolades, but in the lives we empower.
Through the Foundation, she invites others — donors, institutions, and corporate partners — to walk beside families navigating unimaginable loss. To gift hope. To carry forward legacy. To help write the next chapter in a story that matters.
EIN: 81-5209759 | www.kevinjohnmcaleesefoundation.org
Irv Levy
Consultant to the Board
A proud Philadelphia native and longtime executive in the financial recruiting industry, Irv Levy brings over three decades of leadership and service to the board of the Kevin John McAleese Foundation. Founder of EC-ES, an executive search firm specializing in the banking sector since 1998, Irv has spent his career connecting talent with opportunity — a value that mirrors the mission of the Foundation.
Irv’s relationship with Colonel Kevin John McAleese began in 1990 at a Philadelphia recruiting firm, and from that professional connection grew a lifelong friendship rooted in shared values, creativity, and community impact. Together, they co-wrote and recorded the official Miss Philadelphia song at the legendary Sigma Sound Studio in 1996 — a tribute to the organization they both supported with great pride.
When Kevin was deployed to Bosnia in 1999, Irv stepped in as acting Executive Director of the Miss Philadelphia Organization during Dr. Kiplee Bell’s reign as Miss Philadelphia. Ever the mentor, Kevin encouraged Irv’s daughter, Bethany — also a proud graduate of Central High School — to compete in the pageant. She was crowned Miss Philadelphia in 2002, a moment that reflected the full-circle legacy of mentorship and empowerment that Kevin embodied.
Irv was honored to have Kevin serve as the best man at his wedding in 2001. Today, he carries that friendship forward through dedicated board service, helping guide the Foundation’s scholarship efforts and patient-family advocacy.
Irv and his wife Lex reside in Limerick, PA, where they enjoy life with their children, grandchildren, and two beloved cats — not always in that order.
Rebecca A. Walker, BSN RN IBCLC
Chief Operating Officer
Rebecca A. Walker serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Kevin John McAleese Foundation, where her leadership is anchored in purpose, compassion, and legacy. A Certified Nurse-Midwife, Board-Certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), she brings deep clinical expertise and heartfelt advocacy to families impacted by glioblastoma.
Known to many as “Beckie,” she is a Hershey native and proud Philadelphia transplant. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Drexel University, with a minor in Addictions Counseling and a concentration in Human Lactation & Breastfeeding. Her early career included positions at leading institutions such as the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and Lankenau Medical Center.
In 2017, Rebecca launched BestFeeding Lactation & Feeding Consultation, LLC, where she has provided evidence-based, family-centered lactation care to parents and newborns across the region.
As CEO of the Foundation, she leads with strategic clarity and deep emotional insight, helping expand initiatives like the Glioblastoma Tuition Initiative, which supports the children of brain cancer sufferers in pursuing higher education. Her leadership builds upon the enduring mission of Colonel Kevin John McAleese—ensuring that grief never eclipses opportunity, and that every legacy has room to grow.
Rebecca is the proud mother of Everly, whose arrival deepened her commitment to supporting families through the most sacred and challenging seasons of life. Her perspective as a mother, clinician, and leader continues to shape a future where love, education, and legacy intersect with impact.
Ron Unger, CPA
Treasurer
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Ron Unger brings over three decades of experience in public accounting, business education, and community service. A proud graduate of Central High School, David holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from Temple University.
Ron is a partner at Krassenstein & Unger LLC, a boutique CPA firm based in Jenkintown, PA, that provides tax and accounting services to individuals and small businesses across the region. With a deep understanding of financial strategy and compliance, he plays a vital role in stewarding the fiscal integrity of the Kevin John McAleese Foundation as its Board Treasurer.
A passionate educator, Ron has served as an adjunct instructor in the Accounting Department at Temple University’s Fox School of Business for over six years and previously taught at Ursinus College. His teaching reflects a commitment to developing the next generation of financial professionals with integrity and excellence.
Ron and his family reside in Abington, PA, where he enjoys time with his wife, son, two cats, and the occasional visit from a beloved grand-dog.
Raymond H. Melcher, Jr.
Advisor to the Board
With over four decades of distinguished leadership across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, Raymond H. Melcher, Jr. brings unparalleled experience in corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and civic engagement to the Kevin John McAleese Foundation board.
Ray is a licensed investment banker and has served since 2006 as President, CEO, and Owner of Marathon Business Group, LLC, which operates as Marathon Capital Advisors and Marathon Franchise Advisors—recognized affiliates of the global VR Mergers & Acquisitions network. His firms specialize in business transitions, including succession planning, strategic growth, and divestitures. In addition, Ray leads Marathon Financing Advisors and Marathon Executive Placement, supporting entrepreneurs with capital access and executive recruitment.
A seasoned C-suite leader, Ray is often called upon to serve as interim or part-time CEO/COO for companies in periods of change, providing stability and expert direction. His deep business acumen is also reflected in the classroom, where he serves as Adjunct Faculty at Alvernia University, teaching both graduate and undergraduate business students.
Ray holds an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Kutztown University and Alvernia College, along with advanced financial services training through the University of Virginia’s Consumer Bankers Association School.
Beyond business, Ray is a champion for civic progress. He has served on the boards of more than 40 nonprofit organizations, many in leadership roles, focusing his volunteerism on education, youth, and economic development. His contributions have earned him widespread recognition, including:
Business Leader of the Year, Berks County Chamber of Commerce
Eastern PA Executive Spotlight Award
Distinguished Alumnus, Alvernia College
Community Leadership by Example Award, Senior Citizens Council
Citation for Service, Kutztown University
A devoted family man, Ray is married to Terri Lampe Melcher and is a proud father and grandfather. His legacy of leadership and mentorship aligns powerfully with the mission of the Kevin John McAleese Foundation to uplift families and future generations through education and hope.
Laura Kemner
Fundraising Development
Laura brings a rare blend of professional excellence, personal resilience, and heartfelt compassion to her role as Fundraising Coordinator for the Kevin John McAleese Foundation. A proud mother of five and grandmother of seven, Laura leads with a family-first ethos that deeply informs her passion for service.
A graduate of Council Rock High School in Newtown, PA, and Sanford-Brown University, Laura earned membership in the National Honor Society and was honored with the Professionalism Award—early reflections of her lifelong commitment to excellence and integrity.
Over the course of a 30-year career in healthcare, Laura has touched countless lives—most notably during her 10-year tenure in the Emergency Department at Virtua Voorhees, where she worked under pressure with compassion and skill. She also shared her expertise as an instructor at Merritt Institute in Mt. Laurel, NJ, helping shape the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Today, Laura channels her energy into fundraising and donor engagement at the Foundation, working tirelessly to ensure families affected by glioblastoma receive the support, recognition, and resources they deserve. As a Certified Life Coach and co-owner of a Grief Recovery & Compassion Support Service, Laura continues to create safe, healing spaces for those navigating profound loss.
In her free time, Laura is a devoted volunteer, serving as a Visitation Minister through her church, and is actively pursuing a personal goal: earning her pilot’s license—a powerful testament to her belief that it’s never too late to chase a dream.
Laura’s life and leadership are living proof that hope can be lifted, even through grief, and that the legacy of love is often carried forward by those who serve with quiet strength and unwavering purpose.
Sheronda N. Mike Fernandez , JD, MPH
Legal Advisor
Sheronda brings a wealth of experience in law, public health, education, and youth advocacy to her role on the Board of the Kevin John McAleese Foundation. A proud graduate of The College of New Jersey, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biologywith a minor in Chemistry and later earned a Master of Public Health from Drexel University School of Public Health, where she specialized in public policy.
After receiving a prestigious Public Policy Fellowship in Washington, D.C., Ms. Mike returned to New Jersey and became a driving force behind the development and implementation of a statewide youth public health initiative. Her leadership helped shape a model adopted by other states seeking to elevate health outcomes and access for young people.
Inspired to broaden her impact, Ms. Mike earned her Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University–Newark School of Law. She went on to serve the people of New Jersey as an Assistant Prosecutor for nine years, with a decade total in criminal practice. Her work in the courtroom was driven by a commitment to justice, fairness, and the well-being of families and communities.
Currently, Ms. Mike advocates for youth as an attorney representing children in family court matters, ensuring that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard. In addition to her legal practice, she serves as adjunct faculty at Rowan University, teaching courses in criminal justice and mentoring the next generation of public servants.
Her cross-disciplinary career exemplifies the Foundation’s values of service, mentorship, and legacy. With deep roots in both policy and practice, Ms. Mike brings a powerful perspective to our mission of honoring lives, uplifting families, and gifting hope.
Holly Harrar Jones
Multimedia Producer
Holly Harrar Jones brings a compelling voice to the Kevin John McAleese Foundation as its Multimedia Producer. A seasoned journalist and empathetic storyteller, she crafts video narratives that honor Colonel Kevin McAleese’s enduring legacy and the lives he touched.
Holly currently reports for WFMZ-TV 69 News in Allentown, PA — part of the state’s third-largest business district — where she covers major stories, including interviews with White House officials, civil rights events, and pandemic-related health updates. Her work reflects a deep respect for informed storytelling and community impact.
Crowned Miss Philadelphia in 2016, Holly previously represented the region as Miss Lehigh Area in 2014, using her platform to advocate for the disability community. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications/Journalism with a Minor in Disability Studies from Shippensburg University, and her early work earned a Mid‑Atlantic College Production Emmy.
More recently, Holly and her husband, Keith Jones of CBS News, welcomed their son, Keith Jones III, expanding her role to include her most cherished identity: boy-mom. Her new role has deepened her appreciation for family stories and strengthened her commitment to telling them with warmth and authenticity.
From multimedia production at the Foundation to frontline news work and motherhood, Holly isn’t just documenting stories — she’s living them. Her commitment to legacy, family, and storytelling is central to the Foundation’s mission.