Founding Board of Directors

COPSS was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in
December of 2006. The founding board of directors from the left: Tom Villiger, Lonna Calhoun, Carter Calhoun, Peter Gravett, and Mike Feyder.

Board Biographies

Lonna Calhoun
Chair of the Board

  Lonna Calhoun has had an extensive career in both the private and non-profit business sectors.  For over 20 years she enjoyed an extensive entrepreneurial career while successfully owing and operating health clubs on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  She concurrently conducted international fitness education seminars where she developed curriculum achieving accreditation from the State of California and national certification organizations; authored numerous publications related to fitness; co-authored 16 books on fitness education; was a featured presenter at industry conventions.  She conducted educational seminars in 25 countries and directed her company to become one of the largest and most successful educational seminar programs for fitness professionals, preparing over 6000 students for industry certification.  Lonna successfully sold her business in the 90’s and entered a new career in the non-profit sector as a fundraiser and event coordinator for community non-profits including the San Pedro and Peninsula YMCA and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor.  She has been an active board member of the United States Gymnastic Federation (USAG), and the International Federation Gymnastic (FIG).  She founded the Accredited Trainers Alliance (ATA) and was the Director of National and International Relations for the United States Competitive Aerobic Federation (USCAF). Lonna also enjoys community activism and is committed to the safety and security of the community.  She is an elected board member on the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council (CSPNC) since 2004.  She founded and Chairs the Committee on Port Safety & Security, (C.O.P.S.S) which is an at-large joint committee of six Harbor area Neighborhood Councils and member of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce.

Michael Feyder

  Mr. Feyder is a 20 year resident of Harbor City. He resides with his wife, daughter, and son in the Pines neighborhood of Harbor City and has been active in his community for many years. He is the Executive Vice President of Quest International LLC, a management consultancy serving Japanese corporations doing business in the United States, located in the Harbor Gateway. He serves on the executive committee of the Japan America Society, and is on the advisory board of three Southern California corporations. Mr. Feyder has served for four years on the board of the Harbor City Neighborhood Council. In his last two terms, Mr. Feyder represented the Council as President. Mr. Feyder is currently the chair of the safety committee for the Harbor Regional Park advisory board.

Peter J. Gravett

  Major General Peter J. Gravett retired from the military in 2002 following 35 years of commissioned service in the US Army and the Army National Guard. He has held command and key staff positions at every level from platoon to division. He culminated his career with a dual assignment as Commanding General, 40^th Infantry Division (Mechanized) and Senior NATO Military Representative (Partnership for Peace), Kiev, Ukraine. Major General Gravett served in over fifteen countries in Western Europe, Central Europe, Asia, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and throughout the United States, to include tours of duty at the Pentagon. He has been presented over 25 awards and decorations to include the Distinguished Service Medal, the nation’s fourth highest award. Additionally, he has been recognized by several foreign governments. With over 20 years of service in the Police Department, which included various line and staff assignments, he retired and returned to active military duty. He holds the Department’s highest award, The Medal of Valor. Following military retired he served three years as President/CEO of Sentinel Systems, Inc. prior to founding Gravett & Associates, Inc. where he serves as President and Chief Executive Officer. Major General Gravett holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in addition to Executive Certificates and Diploma’s from California State University Long Beach, University of Southern California, University of Virginia and Harvard University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Army War College. He serves on numerous Corporate Boards, Commissions and Foundations and holds memberships in a plethora of organizations.

Tom Villiger
Secretary of the Board

 Tom Villiger resides in San Pedro, California where he has lived since 1996 following his retirement from positions of Associate Director of the Illinois Coalition for Community Services and Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. He has a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan. Tom has been an activist in the social work and child welfare fields. He has served as President of the Illinois Welfare Association, President of the Illinois Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, President of the Lincoln Land Epilepsy Association, Board Member of the American Humane Association, the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrations, and the National Association of State Administrators of Child Development. In California, Tom was a founding member of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council of Los Angeles, active in Habitat for Humanity...especially the Hollywood Blitz Build, Chairs two ministries and serves on the Parish Council of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in San Pedro, has volunteered for Meals on Wheels, serves on the Social Concerns Committee of the South Bay Interfaith Council, and is a member of the Steering Committee for the Bandini Canyon Park Project. Tom has served as one of the original members of the Committee on Port Security and Safety whose initial goal is emergency planning for the Harbor Area residents.

Carter Calhoun
Treasurer of the Board

  Carter Calhoun has lived in San Pedro, California for 15 years. He maintains an active commitment and interest in his community through a diverse number of interests. Carter is the owner and manager of PC Nerds Onsite, a professional computer support company well-known in San Pedro and surrounding cities by their reputation of fast, friendly, and professional service. In addition to his entrepreneurial interests, Carter has spent the last several years getting involved with a number of different community service organizations and non-profit organizations. He served two years as chair of the Annual Teams Fundraising campaign for the San Pedro and Peninsula YMCA, where he led over 200 volunteers in a coordinated fundraising effort. He then went on to organize the Teen Phone-A-Thon for the San Pedro and Wilmington Boys and Grils Clubs. From there he established contacts with the American Red Cross and volunteered for disaster relief during Hurricane Katrina. Since 2006 most of his efforts have been dedicated to COPSS. He graduated in 2007 from California State University Long Beach with his baccalaureate degree in Sociology.