Our Board Members

John is located in Northern Virginia, where he is the Executive Vice President of Operations at Trident Systems. John has an expansive history of volunteering, ranging from being the chairman of the Loudoun County Salvation Army, volunteering at local churches, helping with Kettle Bell Ringing and Angel Tree, and assisting with functions for local group homes. John has been fundraising and advocating for the Bopolu Mission Station since 2012, and became the chairman of COT in 2016. While assisting the mission station, John was able to raise funds to complete the school and clinic, and send supplies for the Bopolu Mission Station. During the Ebola outbreak in the region, John ensured there was enough supplies to prevent it from spreading throughout the area. Currently, John is focused on completing the mission station in Bopolu, and laying the blueprints for the future of COT.

Angie was born and raised in northern Virginia and completed her Bachelors of Science at Longwood University. She is a recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with her Masters in Social Work and a certificate in Nonprofit Management. Angie has been serving in the Navy Reserves as a Hospital Corpsman since 2014. She has volunteered for the past ten years for a variety of organizations, which motivated her to pursue her degree and serve as the Board Secretary of COT.

Matt was born and raised in Northern Virginia, where he has volunteered for over ten years for a variety of local organizations, including becoming an Eagle Scout in 2009. He graduated in 2015 from Bridgewater College with his Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Guitar. Upon graduation, he dedicated a year to working at the Salvation Army where he managed and coordinated their Kettle Bell Ringing, assisted with their Angel Tree Program and Tools for School program, Vacation Bible School, and music for the weekly church service. He currently works at Bach to Rock in South Riding, Virginia where he assists management and teaches a variety classes, from individual lessons to rock bands. Matt has been on the board of COT since 2016.

Dr. Gatewood is a professor emeritus at Virginia Tech, having retired in 2006. Before coming to VPI&SU in 1980, he was a member of the faculty at Central Michigan University for ten years. From 1964 to 1970, he was a public school educator in Illinois and an instructor at Indiana University. He received his B.S. from Illinois State University, M.S. from Southern Illinois University, and Ed.D. from Indiana University.

Dr. Gatewood was one of the founders and a past president of the National Middle School Association. He was the first editor of NMSA’s MIDDLE SCHOOL JOURNAL. He served as a consultant to over 300 school systems in most of the states and in several foreign countries in Europe, Asia and South America, as well as Bermuda, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He authored or co-authored over 50 publications that appeared in several professional journals and books.

He is a Past Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army of Loudoun County, VA, and Past President of the Purcellville Rotary Club. He has been married to his wife Barbara for 55 years and they are the parents of three adult children and seven grandchildren.

Laurie is a long time resident of Loudoun County, Virginia. Currently she is a Parent Liaison for Loudoun County Public Schools. Laurie enjoys helping people so she joined the Salvation Army Advisory Board which is a great venue for her passion to serve the community. In partnership with the Salvation Army, she is the liaison for the Feed the Hungry of Loudoun, a ministry that helps those who have food insecurity. She also oversees the annual Thanksgiving dinner and assists with many other programs, such as Angel Tree and Tools for School. In Laurie's spare time, she likes to garden, read, travel, walk her two dogs and spend time with friends and family.

Mandeesha “Neesha” is currently located in Richmond, working for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She earned her BA in Psychology at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA in 2016 and moved to Richmond shortly after. Since March 2017, Neesha is a Research Coordinator working with Veterans on multiple studies related to amputation and traumatic brain injury. Neesha has been devoted to volunteering for nearly ten years. In her spare time, she enjoys reading mysteries and thrillers.

Mike worked for the Federal Government with a tour in Tokyo, Japan, and was also a realtor and writer in Northern Virginia for many years. He enjoys volunteering with experiences ranging from teaching English as a Second Language to serving on the Board for Loudoun County Salvation Army and serving meals to group home residents. Mike is a co-founder of Changing our Tomorrows.

Becky has many years of experience in the Federal Government and as a small business owner focused on executive coaching and leadership development. She has been an English as a Second Language instructor at several different locations and a mentor for women entrepreneurs at Empowered Women International. Becky is a co-founder of Changing our Tomorrows.

Kay worked with a international insurance group and previously worked in the commercial art field, before retiring in 2021.

She has been active in various volunteer groups in Loudoun County over the last 50+ years and has been a member of several local boards including the Salvation Army of Loudoun County, VA, Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing, and the Franklin Park Art Center.

Kay is the parent of two adult children and three grandchildren. She spends her free time with her family, reading and doing watercolors.