Rod Dixon OLY NYCM – President
A passion for running and healthy lifestyle led Dixon to create the Rod Dixon’s KiDSMARATHON Foundation, an 8-10 week in-school running and nutrition education program that enables students to complete a full (26.2 mile) marathon by running approximately 3 miles per week. Students learn the value of good exercise and nutrition habits for healthy living and, best of all, they have fun. The program has grown to include 37,000 children annually in greater Los Angeles, 6,500 in Connecticut, 7,000 in New Zealand, 1,000 in Waterford (Ireland) with programs being developed in The Philippines.
Rod Dixon was appointed Vice President and Director of Coaching and Training at the City of Los Angeles Marathon in 1986 by Dr. William Burke and Mayor Tom Bradley. He was appointed Race Director of the Round the Bays Auckland New Zealand and in 1990 created the Rod Dixon Family 5k and 2k Fun Runs which developed into the Rod Dixon’s KiDSMARATHON. He also served as a special events consultant coordinator and ambassador for a variety of events around the world including the California Mile Series, the New Zealand Sovereign Assurance Mile Series, the New York City marathon, the Boston freedom Trail Road race, the Manufacturers Hanover Corporate Challenge/JP Morgan Corporate Challenge and the San Francisco Bay to Breakers Road Race.
William Burgess – Chairman
Bill is a seasoned executive, experience-proven as a marketer, business manager and management consultant. Included among the 50 most influential people (2011) “non-profit organizer” of Litchfield County by Morris Media Group & Litchfield Magazine. LHFS awarded for Civic Improvement (The Garden Club of America 2008) and Conservation (The White Memorial Foundation 2010). Bill has over 40 years of business management and management consulting experience. His areas of expertise include business strategy, consumer marketing and new business development. He has facilitated organization-change programs for executive teams of Fortune 100 corporations. Bill is a qualified expert witness in the U.S. Federal Court System for his expertise in consumer goods marketing and new business development.
Lorraine Moller OLY MBE
Lorraine is a 4-time Olympian, Olympic bronze medalist, world track and field finalist, multiple Commonwealth Games track medalist, and winner of 16 major international marathons, including the Boston Marathon. She holds the distinction of being the only woman to have run all of the 20th century Olympic marathons for women. Her career started out as an exceptional 14-year-old middle distance runner, coached by 1964 Olympic 1500m bronze medalist, John Davies. Lorraine wound up a 28-year stellar career as an undefeated masters runner at her 4th Olympic Games at the age of 41, having performed with international distinction in events from 400 meters to cross-country to the 50K. Her wide range of accomplishments earned her the accolade from Sir Peter Snell as “New Zealand’s greatest women’s distance runner”.
Benita Powar-Barhpaga
Benita was born and raised in New Zealand. She holds a law degree from Waikato University and worked as a Senior Immigration Consultant in Auckland before relocating to the United States. Admitted to the New York Bar in 2004, after spending time with a full service boutique law firm in Fairfield, Connecticut, Benita most recently worked in the area of lawyer marketing, authoring legal articles for firms with a concentration in Personal Injury cases. Dedicated to raising her family with American, New Zealand and global awareness in mind, Benita is honored to have been brought into the KiDSMARATHON organization and hopes to continue its mission of promoting health, mindfulness and fitness knowledge, especially to young children who might not otherwise have had the opportunity.
Jim Duncan
Jim is the senior vice president for strategy, sales and marketing for the Meggitt PLC’s Equipment Group division. Meggitt is traded on the London exchange (MGGT) and member of the FTSE100. It is a global, $2Billion, 10,000 employees, corporation that serves the aerospace, defense, energy and industrial markets.
Jim Duncan has been an active runner marathon runner ultrarunner and is very involved in health and wellness programs within the corporation and is also to a very active cyclist and supporter of school athletic programs.