BOARD & ADVISORS
Peter Ellis
Director of Ranch & Program Development
At a young age, my father taught me that everyone and everything deserves a chance. By sixteen I had applied to join the Army, and at seventeen I was accepted. During those years of service, my proudest moment wasn’t about medals or orders—it was the day I broke protocol for the sake of those around me. That was when I understood what real care and empathy meant, and what being a soldier was truly about.
From saddle to camo, life taught me two defining lessons: discipline and compassion.
As a kid, I struggled with anger and didn’t know how to control it. Later in life, I found healing in the presence of horses. Their quiet strength and complex emotions calmed my mind and gave me a sense of peace nothing else could. From that day forward, I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to being around them.
The Army gave me an incredible four years. It was tough—long nights, sweat, tears—but it was worth it every time I saw the pride in the public’s eyes when I wore the uniform. More than anything, it taught me to value people, not just rules.
At the end of the day, I’m no different than anyone else. If you’re reading this and think I’m someone to look up to, know that you can be the same. That’s what joy in life is about—healing, self-discovery, and remembering to find meaning and fun along the way.
Nicole Hopman
Founder & President
Nicole Hopman is the founder and president of Joy for Life, a nonprofit she co-founded in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to bring comfort and connection to children with serious illnesses. What began as a gesture of empathy—hand-delivering handcrafted stuffed animals—has grown into a broader mission: to build a therapeutic ranch where children, teens and young adults can find purpose, healing, and community.
A lifelong philanthropist, Nicole has volunteered teaching children in wheelchairs how to play tennis, combining athleticism with empathy and joy. She is also the founder of Élyssora, a boutique instruction service offering elite tennis coaching, classical piano lessons, and private language tutoring in French and Japanese. In addition, Nicole serves as an educator at her alma mater, the French International School, where her love of language, culture, and service first took root.
Nicole holds a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from Marquette University, where she competed as a Division 1 tennis player and conducted neuroscience research focused on psychiatric disorders—specifically investigating mechanisms underlying Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and addiction. A classically trained pianist and fluent speaker of English, Japanese, French, and Spanish, she brings both scientific depth and artistic soul to everything she does.
Driven by compassion, curiosity, and conviction, Nicole Hopman is building a life—and a legacy—defined by purpose.
Ryan L Hopman, Ph.D.
Co-Founder / Strategic Advisor
Dr. Ryan L. Hopman is a serial entrepreneur, aerospace pilot, educator, strategic innovator, and real estate investor who divides his time between Portland, Oregon, and Santa Barbara, California. With a rare combination of six advanced degrees—including a Ph.D. in Business & Entrepreneurship, an MLS from Pepperdine University’s Caruso School of Law, an MBA and MS from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, as well as bachelor’s degrees in both Aerospace & Meteorology and Business Administration & Entrepreneurship—he has built a career that refuses to be confined to a single discipline. His professional journey spans startups, academia, aviation, cybersecurity, real estate, and broadcasting, weaving together seemingly disparate fields into one coherent strength: the ability to craft inventive solutions from unorthodox intersections.
Over the years, Ryan has established himself as a strategic advisor and entrepreneur, guiding enterprises and investors with sharp analysis and leadership development. As a seasoned aviator, he is a certified commercial pilot in both single and multiengine aircraft, an instrument-rated flight instructor (CFI, CFII, MEI), and an aerobatics performer with membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association. In academia, he has served as professor and program director, specializing in aerospace, aviation safety, human factors, business, and finance, while contributing original research on generational workplace dynamics. His voice has also reached the airwaves as a former Portland radio host, and he continues to share insights through digital broadcasting and thought leadership. Beyond aviation and education, Ryan has worked extensively in technology as a systems architect and cybersecurity consultant, while also contributing as a researcher, published author, and mentor.
A Mensa member and active advisor, Ryan’s expertise stretches across entrepreneurship, real estate, aerospace, human factors psychology, business development, enterprise technologies, higher education, public speaking, innovation, and mentorship. His ventures include Hopman Holdings LLC, Hopman Holdings DE LLC, and Hopman Real Estate LLC—each a pillar of his real estate investment work—alongside VERTIGO | GROUP, a technology strategy and innovation consultancy he founded in 1998.
Equal parts scientist and artist, aviator and entrepreneur, Dr. Hopman blends intellectual rigor with real-world execution, embodying a philosophy of refusing to play just one hand. Whether in the cockpit, the boardroom, the classroom, or at the helm of his companies, he continues to push boundaries, bridging disciplines in pursuit of bold, creative solutions.
Mason Azose
Vice President & Banker, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Mason Azose is a Vice President and Banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where he partners with very-high-net-worth families, entrepreneurs, and executives to craft strategies that preserve and grow wealth across generations. Based in Seattle, Mason is part of J.P. Morgan’s distinguished Private Bank team—trusted by clients worldwide for their sophisticated solutions in investment management, credit and lending, estate planning, and philanthropy.
Known for his relationship-driven approach, Mason takes the time to understand each client’s vision, challenges, and long-term goals. He draws upon the resources of one of the world’s most respected financial institutions, delivering bespoke advice that balances risk management with opportunity. His clients value not only his financial expertise but also his discretion, discipline, and ability to navigate complex, multi-jurisdictional portfolios.
Mason’s career reflects his dedication to client service and financial stewardship, with a focus on building enduring partnerships grounded in trust and performance.
Montecito Concierge Medicine
Montecito Concierge Medicine is a boutique medical practice redefining healthcare in Santa Barbara. Built on a foundation of personalized, one-on-one care, the practice offers membership-based and on-demand services ranging from house calls and telemedicine to executive physicals, advanced wellness programs, and medical weight loss.
The practice was founded by Dr. Alan J. Viglione, a board-certified internist with extensive training in molecular biology, exercise physiology, and sports performance, and Mary Sidavanh, RN, who brings clinical depth and patient advocacy to the model. Together, they have designed a practice that mirrors the standards of elite concierge medicine while maintaining a personal, accessible feel for every patient.
Members of Montecito Concierge Medicine enjoy 24/7 access to their physician team, same-day appointments, in-home diagnostics, and coordinated specialist care. From preventive health and lifestyle optimization to acute medical needs, their approach prioritizes time, access, and trust—the very elements missing from traditional healthcare systems.
Montecito Concierge Medicine has quickly become the premier choice for patients in Santa Barbara seeking not just treatment, but partnership in lifelong wellness.
BestMind Behavioral Health
BestMind Behavioral Health is one of Oregon’s leading behavioral health organizations, dedicated to transforming the way individuals experience mental health care. With clinics located in the Portland metro area, as well as robust telehealth offerings, BestMind makes evidence-based, personalized treatment accessible to children, adolescents, and adults across the region.
Their team of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and mental health specialists provides comprehensive services for depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, OCD, and other conditions. BestMind is particularly known for its innovative approach to treatment, blending traditional psychiatric care with emerging therapies, while ensuring that care remains patient-centered, outcome-driven, and grounded in compassion.
BestMind’s mission is simple yet profound: to remove barriers to mental health treatment and empower every patient to live with clarity, stability, and hope. By accepting insurance and offering flexible care models, they have expanded access to communities often overlooked in the mental health system, while setting a new standard for behavioral health in Oregon.
Nick Gower, Esq.
Gower Law Group
Nick Gower is a Portland-based attorney whose practice is dedicated to representing policyholders in disputes with insurance companies. Known for his relentless advocacy, Nick has built his career on one core principle: individuals and businesses deserve the full protection of the policies they pay for—not the diluted, delayed, or denied claims insurance companies often provide.
For over a decade, Nick has fought on behalf of clients facing insurance denials, underpayments, and claim delays. He combines litigation skill with a deep understanding of insurance law, bringing clarity and results to a field often defined by complexity and fine print. His clients range from homeowners navigating catastrophic losses to businesses seeking fair treatment after large-scale claims.
Nick is recognized for his pragmatic counsel and courtroom tenacity, but also for his empathy—he understands the profound personal and financial stress that insurance disputes can cause, and he approaches each case as both advocate and ally.
By leveling the playing field against powerful insurers, Nick ensures his clients are heard, respected, and made whole.
Jonathan J. Cavanagh, Esq.
Cable Huston, LLP
Jonathan J. Cavanagh is a partner at Cable Huston LLP, where he advises individuals, families, and closely held businesses on complex tax, estate, and business planning matters. With more than 15 years of experience, Jonathan has become a trusted advisor to clients navigating the intricate intersections of tax law, wealth preservation, and succession planning.
His practice spans estate and trust planning, entity formation and governance, tax strategy, charitable giving, and post-death administration. He is also deeply experienced in business exit planning, guiding owners through transitions that secure both their legacy and their financial security.
Jonathan earned his J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law and an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida. He is admitted to practice in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, and has been recognized by Super Lawyers for excellence in closely held business law, tax, and estate planning. He is also a member of the Estate Planning Council of Portland and has served in leadership roles within the Oregon State Bar’s Taxation Section.
Clients describe Jonathan as detail-oriented, forward-thinking, and unwaveringly committed to their long-term success. His work reflects not only technical expertise but also the sensitivity required when working with families on matters of legacy, inheritance, and stewardship.
This is more than a board — it is a coalition of champions. Each brings their own mastery, yet all share one conviction: that healing, dignity, and belonging are worth building into the very fabric of life. Their wisdom and resolve anchor Joy for Life in both heart and action.