Board of Directors
Lisa Stewart
Lisa Stewart is an executive coach and consultant with a deep love for learning and development. During COVID, she trained as a facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP), which—over its 50-year history—has been dedicated to equipping people with nonviolent communication tools to navigate conflict. The AVP ethos eventually led her to Made New Foundation, where she now serves as Board Chair and a member of the Finance Committee.
A California transplant and proud alumna of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, she left her heart in Chicago and still keeps the city close. While she may not have a dog—thanks to a highly allergic husband— her home and work reflects the same fun-loving, compassionate vibe she brings to her clients and to AVP volunteering inside a California prison.
❏ Executive Chair
Ashley Gardner
Ashley Gardner is an actress whose career has spanned Broadway, film, television, and voice work. For nearly three decades, she has voiced Nancy Hicks Gribble and many other characters on the animated series King of the Hill. Her commitment to advocacy has extended beyond her professional life, including service as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in the Los Angeles foster-care system.
Ashley’s connection to Made New Foundation began personally. Through connections to prison arts and reentry work, she met co-founder Major Bunton shortly after his release from nearly three decades of incarceration. Her experience as a CASA drew her especially to Made New’s work with young people and its commitment to giving children the support, opportunities, and sense of possibility they need to build a different future.
Away from work, Ashley is a devoted Dodgers fan, loves cooking and decorating, and is a hot yoga enthusiast—except while she’s actually doing it.
❏ Vice Chair
Bernard Johns
Bernard is a husband, father, community advocate, and passionate believer in the power of second chances. His personal journey has shaped his belief that no one should be defined solely by their past and that everyone deserves an opportunity to discover their purpose, embrace personal growth, and build a meaningful future. With a background in nonprofit leadership, program management, restorative justice, and organizational development, Bernard has dedicated much of his professional life to helping individuals overcome barriers and reconnect with their communities.
He earned his Bachelor of Applied Science in Health and Human Services with honors and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Organizational Management. His heart for service extends beyond his professional career. He has volunteered with Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA) of San Diego, San Diego County’s Alternatives to Incarceration initiative, and other community organizations focused on restoration, accountability, and creating opportunities for underserved individuals.
Above all, Bernard values his faith, his wife, Yadira, and their blended family. His experiences have taught him the importance of humility, compassion, accountability, and the courage to grow through life’s challenges. For Bernard, serving on the Made New Foundation Board is an opportunity to walk alongside others, encourage hope, and demonstrate that our past does not have to determine our future. He believes that when people are met with compassion, genuine support, and opportunity, lives can truly be made new.
❏ Secretary
Matthew McVay
Matthew McVay is an accomplished corrections executive with more than two decades of experience with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and is a member of the Made New Foundation Finance Committee. He also brings more than 15 years of service with nonprofit organizations and community-focused initiatives. His career has centered on rehabilitation, personal growth, reentry, and helping individuals prepare for productive and meaningful lives beyond incarceration. His combined experience in public service and the nonprofit sector has given him a broad perspective on the importance of coordinated services, community involvement, and individualized support during the transition from incarceration to community life.
Matthew brings the Board of Directors extensive experience in rehabilitation, reentry, organizational leadership, and partnership development. Throughout his career and community service, he has built strong teams, advanced organizational goals, and supported programs that promote accountability, collaboration, compassion, and long-term success. He is committed to applying his leadership experience, professional knowledge, and dedication to public service in support of Made New Foundation’s mission and its efforts to help individuals build stable, resourceful, and fulfilling lives.
❒ Treasurer
David Johnson
David A. Johnson is Chief Philanthropist for the Johnson Family Foundation. As an ordained minister, David is known for his godly passion for creating impact and change in communities. In addition to Made New Foundation, David currently serves on the boards of Testimony Ministries and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice. David’s career spans 35 plus years in higher education technology, faith-based ministries, and stewardship. Before becoming Chief Philanthropist, David founded and led Johnson ERP, LLC, working with mid-market universities and colleges. He also serves on the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Advisory on Social Witness Policy (ASWP) and the International / National Committee for the Self-Development of People (SDOP). SDOP participates in empowering economically poor, oppressed, and disadvantaged people and seeks to change the structures that perpetuate poverty, oppression, and injustice.
He earned his Master of Arts in Bible Exposition with a Certificate in Theology from the Talbot School of Theology at BIOLA University in Los Angeles, California, and his Bachelor of Arts in Financial Management from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California.
David is a dedicated father and grandfather, happily married to InaMarie Johnson, his wife of over 30 years. He calls Palos Verdes Peninsula in southern California and Incline Village, Nevada, in Lake Tahoe home and loves biking, kayaking, snowshoeing, and watching movies.
❒ Board Member
Kevin Waters
Raised in Gardena, California, Kevin C. Waters was introduced to gang life at an early age, a path that ultimately led to a 41-years-to-life prison sentence at just 18 years old. Refusing to allow his past to define his future, Kevin transformed his incarceration into a journey of education, self-discovery, and personal growth, earning a college degree, multiple certifications, and becoming a published author.
Since his release, Kevin has turned his lived experience into a mission of service, establishing successful business ventures and co-founding Dream Live Hope Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to housing, reentry services, youth development, and community empowerment. Through supportive housing, life-skills education, mentorship, and leadership development, he is committed to creating opportunities for others to rewrite their stories.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Kevin’s greatest pride is his family—his beautiful wife and three children. Once sentenced to spend his life behind bars, he now dedicates his life to opening doors for others. Grounded in faith, guided by purpose, and at peace with his journey, Kevin is living proof that your past does not have to determine your future.
❒ Board Member
Rob McGowan
Rob McGowan is Founder and Chief Vision Officer of Diving Within, an executive coaching and organizational development practice. His work centers on Integration Over Balance: helping leaders stop splitting themselves into pieces to succeed. An ICF-certified, trauma-informed coach, Rob walks with high-responsibility Black male executives and with organizations doing frontline community work.
He has partnered with the Weingart Foundation, Ballmer Group, the LA County Office of Violence Prevention, and the White House Initiative on Community Violence Intervention. Reentry work matters to Rob because it gives our brothers and sisters a better chance to acclimate, find their purpose, and remain positive examples of redemption and the highest hopes of our society. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Emilee's husband of 29 years, and a father of four.
❒ Board Member
Reinaldo Henry-Ala
Reinaldo is the Executive Director of Whole Systems Learning, a Long Beach nonprofit dedicated to helping young people and returning citizens find purpose, heal from trauma, and build sustainable futures. His work brings together youth mentorship, reentry support, career development, and entrepreneurship to help people move forward with confidence and opportunity.
As someone who was formerly incarcerated, Reinaldo brings lived experience to his leadership. He understands how much it matters to have someone believe in you, walk alongside you, and help you see possibilities beyond your current circumstances. That understanding drives his commitment to supporting young people facing adversity and individuals rebuilding their lives after incarceration.
Reinaldo believes healing and economic opportunity belong together. Through mentorship, practical skills, and access to resources, he works to help people strengthen their sense of self, pursue meaningful careers, and build financial independence.
Outside of his work, he is a proud father, a basketball fan, and someone passionate about investing, real estate, and giving back. His father remains an important mentor in his life, reminding him of the lasting influence of guidance and example. Reinaldo’s purpose is to extend that same belief and support to others—helping them recognize their value and create a future they can be proud of.
❒ Board Member