The Salvation Army Welcomes New National Advisory Board Members
The newest board members come from various backgrounds including finance and government and are leaders in their fields
Alexandria, VA (February 20,2025) -- The Salvation Army’s National Headquarters is proud to announce the newest members of their National Board of Advisors. They are high achievers in their various fields and communities. Each will lend their expertise toward shaping the organization's future.
The National Board of Advisors includes community representatives who provide valuable assistance and advice in support of The Salvation Army’s mission. By lending their voices and strategic insights, they have the power to shape the direction, policies, and initiatives of the organization.
“We are so grateful for this new class of board members. There is no doubt, they will contribute wonderful knowledge and innovative ideas to the organization.” said Commissioner Kenneth Hodder, National Commander of The Salvation Army USA.
The newest NAB members were installed at the quarterly meeting in January.
Meet the newest board members who will help shape the future of The Salvation Army:
Todd Chapman, Former U.S. Ambassador to Brazil and Ecuador
Ambassador Todd Chapman (ret.) served as a career diplomat for 30 years in the U.S. Foreign Service. He was the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil from 2020 to 2021, where he advanced a broad economic, security, and environmental agenda at the sixth-largest U.S. embassy in the world. He was also U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador from 2016 to 2019 with previous assignments in Afghanistan, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Taiwan.
Todd is the recipient of several State Department Superior Honor Awards, two Presidential Rank Awards, and is one of only two U.S. ambassadors ever to receive the Mission Integration Award from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Todd appears frequently in the media, including on BBC, CNN, and CNBC, to comment on international issues and serves on several corporate and not-for-profit boards.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Duke University and a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University. Todd is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.
Married to Janetta for nearly 40 years, they have two sons and daughters-in-law and three grandchildren, who live in Denver, Colorado
Randall (Randy) Hultgren, President and CEO at Illinois Bankers Association
Since 2020, Randy has been the CEO of the Illinois Bankers Association, with primary responsibility for its leadership, strategy, and operational management. In this role he identifies and creates non-membership revenue streams and innovative programs and services. He also ensures that IBA’s organization structure, human capital practices and management systems are efficient and effective.
From 2011 to 2019, Randy served as a Member of Congress in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 14th District of Illinois. He served on the Financial Services Committee of the Capital Markets Subcommittee, as a member of the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee, and the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee among other committees and commissions.
Randy served as Senator in the Illinois State Senate, Illinois District 48, from 2007 to 2011 and before that as a Representative in the Illinois House of Representatives in the 96th District of Illinois.
Randy has been married since 1991 to his wife, Christy, and together they share six children. Randy holds a Juris Doctorate from Chicago Kent College of Law (1993), and a BA in Political Science and Communications from Bethel College (1988).
Nona Jones, Chief Content and Philanthropy Officer at YouVersion
Nona Jones is an internationally renowned speaker, preacher, business executive and author. She is the founder and CEO of Inside Out Leadership, helping individuals and organizations release the secret weapon of resilient leadership to deliver business results. She previously served as Chief Content and Partnerships Officer at YouVersion and Head of Global Faith Partnerships at Meta.
She is the bestselling author of The Gift of Rejection, Killing Comparison, and memoir, Success from the Inside Out, chronicling her journey as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who has gone on to achieve immense career success despite being labeled a problem child at an early age. Nona has become a globally recognized voice of hope, healing, and inspiration, using her platform to equip people to rise from their painful past into a fulfilling future.
Nona has been profiled by ESSENCE Magazine as an “Under 40 Woman to Watch” and Florida Trend Magazine as one of Florida’s “30-Something All Stars.” A sought-after public-speaker, she has delivered keynote addresses for US Bank, Black Enterprise, XO Marriage, the United Nations, and the United States Attorney General.
She holds a bachelor's in communications and Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida where she has been recognized as an Outstanding Young Alumnus. She is also a member of Leadership Florida, the Presidential Leadership Scholars, The Links, Incorporated, Jack and Jill of America, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Anil Kapoor, Managing Director: Central Division Advisor Development Program Executive at Merrill Lynch
Anil currently serves as Director | Region Executive – Central & Mid Atlantic MFSA Region – Merrill Wealth Management at Merrill – A Bank of America Company.
Before his current leadership role, he was the Consumer Investments Region Executive for the Mid-West for Bank of America. In this position, Anil was responsible for implementing national strategies and execution of productivity across the region to help his 200 + Advisors deliver solutions to clients in MI/CHI/MN/IN/KC/STL.
He has served as a Consumer Market Manager, Merrill Edge Market Manager and as a Financial Solutions Advisor, and holds his Series 7, 66, 9 and 10 Licenses. Anil graduated from Old Dominion University where he received his bachelor's degree in finance.
Anil is based in Highland, MI where he lives with his wife and young daughter. Anil was a founding member of the Echelon Leadership Council and completed a term as the Chair for that group. He has served on his local Echelon chapter and as a Southeastern Board Member for the Salvation Army.
Michael Nelson, President and CEO at Amway Corporation
As Chief Executive Officer, Michael Nelson is responsible for driving Amway’s strategic vision and growth initiatives. He partners closely with the global employee base, management team, and with Amway Business Owners (ABOs) to realize the company’s vision of Helping People Live Better, Healthier Lives.
He has been with Amway since 1992 in various leadership roles related to company strategy, vision and growth, working extensively with Amway’s Board of Directors and markets worldwide.
Michael serves on Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, the Economics Club of Grand Rapids, The Right Place Board, and the West Michigan Regional Air Alliance.
Michael earned a BA degree in Business and Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University. He received a Master of Management degree from Aquinas College.
Rob Rhea, Senior Vice President & General Counsel at Federal Express Corporation
Rob Rhea is Senior Vice President of Legal for Federal Express Corporation. He is responsible for oversight of Labor Relations, Employment Law, Regulatory, and Environmental Operations in the U.S., and all Legal and Regulatory functions for Latin America and Canada.
Prior to this role, Rob served for 23 years as SVP & General Counsel for FedEx Freight Corporation, where he was responsible for strategic oversight of Legal, Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, Risk Management, Security, Chemical Management, Environmental Services, Recovery Operations, Communications, Real Estate Services, Facility Solutions, and Facility Maintenance.
Rob began his legal career as an attorney with Heiskell, Donelson, et al in Memphis, TN in 1989 and was hired by FedEx Express as a staff attorney in 1994. Before joining FedEx Freight in 2001, he was managing director for FedEx Express and then staff director for FedEx Corporation.
He has served on the Board of Advisors (including past Chair) for the Memphis Area Command of the Salvation Army for nearly 10 years.
Rob received both his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Mississippi. He is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association and the Association of Corporate Counsel.
Rob and his wife, Carol, have three children.
Elbra Wedgeworth, President at Casel & Associates, LLC
The Honorable Elbra M. Wedgeworth is a proud East Denver native. Her professional experience in the private/public sector spans more than 30 years. Elbra is the only person who has served in all three branches of Denver City Government; City Council, Auditor’s Office, and Mayor’s Office.
Prior to her election to City Council where she served as council president for two years, she worked as the Director of Philanthropic and Government Affairs at Denver Health and Hospital Authority where she launched the Denver Health Foundation. In 2007, she returned to Denver Health to serve as the Chief Government and Community Relations Officer. She was responsible for all governmental legislative matters on the local, state, and federal level and is the hospital’s liaison for Community Engagement Initiatives.
Elbra served on the Board of Trustees for the University of Redlands in Redlands, California, her college alma mater, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology/Anthropology.
Since her retirement in December 2019, Elbra is the Founder and President of Casel & Associates a consulting firm which specializes in Community Engagement, providing support for Leadership Resources and Diversity and Inclusion.
The client list includes Hickenlooper for US Senate, Denver Health, Center for African American Health, Denver Public Schools, Downtown Denver Partnership and the Colorado Department for Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to name a few.
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About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army helped more than 27 million people in 2024 overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food, shelter, eviction prevention assistance, emergency disaster relief, rehabilitation, after-school and summer youth programs, spiritual enrichment, and more The Salvation Army is doing the most good at more than 6,000 centers of operation around the country. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.