Mark Pucci, Founder and President/CEO of NILJ, is a highly decorated, retired NYPD Detective. Mark's investigative experience while working for the New York City Police Department encompassed all facets of law enforcement from Vice, Narcotics, Illegal Firearms, Gangs, and other violent crime related investigations, to Special Operations Division, city-wide major-crime pattern identification, and the apprehension of many of the city's most wanted criminals.

Mark's extensive undercover, observational surveillance and covert / special operations' training and experience during his tenure as a Detective with the NYPD are considered by many to be unparalleled in the private sector. Since Mark's retirement from the NYPD and re-entry into private sector investigations, Mark has worked with several large scale National & International Investigative Firms in the capacity of, Executive Vice President, Chief Investigator, Chief Compliance Officer and National / International Investigative Consultant.

Throughout his career in the private sector, Mark has successfully investigated and supervised the completion of thousands of cases in a wide array of investigative practices, (many of which have garnered "national and international" media coverage and attention), encompassing, civil / criminal law, accidental / wrongful deaths, homicides, missing persons, child abductions, cold cases, white collar, corporate, and cyber-crimes, insurance defense, matrimonial practice and a passionate personal specialty in "Adoption-Adoptee Location" (birth-parents/children/siblings); and the "identification, location and reunification", of those who desire to be reunited.

Kiersten Parsons Hathcock, Co-Founder/Chair of the Board + Secretary, is also the founder/CEO of Mod Mom Furniture, TEDx Speaker, Activist and Author. She left a marketing career with A&E and The History Channel in 2003 to spend more time with her kids and wound up building an internationally-known kids’ furniture brand (featured on ABC TV’s Shark Tank) out of her garage. Today, her furniture line is produced in Colorado and sold worldwide.

In addition to heading up Mod Mom, Kiersten is an activist who speaks nationally about the power of intuition and the role it played in helping her heal from childhood sexual abuse and escape domestic violence. She took to the TEDx Sedona stage in 2018, and her debut memoir entitled Little Voices released in September 2022. Detective Pucci wrote the foreword for Kiersten’s memoir after having worked with her (as an evidential medium volunteering her time) on a missing persons’ homicide case. Kiersten is passionate about NILJ’s mission having volunteered on many missing persons’ cases over the past ten years.

Jeneda Benally, Founding Board Member, award-winning singer, musician, actor, traditional dancer, and activist is from the Navajo nation. Known worldwide for her performing work with her family's dance troupe, "The Jones Benally Family," Jeneda is also well-known for her work for human rights, sacred sites, forced relocation, and environmental and animal rights. Jeneda was part of the Delos Convention for the U.N. in Greece, and was a plaintiff in the federal court case against reclaimed wastewater in order to protect the Sacred San Francisco Peaks.

A traditional practitioner of Navajo medicine, Jeneda has been featured on NPR, in the Nanobah Beckers film "The Sixth World," and has appeared in numerous TV specials and in National and International press. Jeneda Benally has travelled the world sharing her Navajo Culture and important critical issues. Jeneda is passionate about bringing awareness to the fact that many Indigenous women and children continue to go missing or are found murdered. She’s committed to NILJ’s mission of helping bring her Indigenous sisters home.

Mike Palma, Board Treasurer, is the Managing Director of Traverse Capital Management. After graduating from Lehigh University in 2008, Mike spent over eleven years at two large firms in Manhattan where he received quality training, worked with top money managers, and ultimately led the investment division of his team. He established Traverse Capital Management in 2019, seeking to deliver greater independence for his clients away from the bias of large firms, and closer engagement with his local Long Island community.

Mike lives in Bethpage, NY with his wonderful wife Diane and their three spunky daughters, Rose, Stefania, and Teresa. He does his best to make his family proud every day. He loves skiing and nothing makes him happier than being able to share that passion with them.

Joelle A. Perez, Esq.

Joelle Perez is an attorney, divorce mediator, conflict resolution specialist, and the founder of Peacemaker Divorce Mediation. Joelle has been a practicing attorney for over 22 years and a conflict resolution specialist for more than half that time.

Joelle’s experience as an attorney includes working as Of Counsel for Ali Law Group, P.C., a labor and employment law firm where she provides employment law and compliance counseling to large and small companies on various federal and state legal issues and represents clients in civil litigation in both federal and state court. Her experience also includes working as a Litigation Associate at The Law Offices of David Sutton, P.C., a general commercial litigation law firm in Garden City, New York; as a Litigation Associate at Cuthbertson Law, a general commercial litigation law firm in Huntington, New York; and as Associate General Counsel for Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, where she assisted the General Counsel in overseeing all aspects of the University’s legal affairs. Following her graduation from law school, Joelle practiced as a Litigation Associate for two prestigious law firms, Bingham McCutchen LLP and Loeb & Loeb LLP, both located in New York City, where she worked in a fast-paced environment and gained extensive experience in many areas of the law.

Joelle is the President and Founder of The Golden Fund for Autism, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 2007 which provides financial assistance to children diagnosed with autism to assist them with accessing treatments and therapies not otherwise covered by insurance. Joelle’s neurodiverse son, Liam, was the inspiration for founding this organization and continues to enhance her life and inspire her life’s direction in countless and immeasurable ways.

Joelle is on the Board of Directors and is the Immediate Past President of the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation (“NYSCDM”), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the highest professional standards of divorce mediation. Joelle is also the chair of the NYSCDM Nominating Committee and co-chair of NYSCDM's Education Committee.

Joelle graduated from Hofstra University School of Law in 2000 at the top of her class With Distinction where she was a member of the Hofstra Law Review.

Michael J. Danzi, Board Member, is a results orientated entrepreneur whose community involvement and philanthropy spans almost 40 years. His philanthropic skills include: donor relations, gift prospecting, capital campaigns, strategic planning, philanthropic events, event planning and community outreach.

Michael is one of the Executive Directors and current Board Treasurer of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD). He has been on LICADD’s board since 2003. He is also the current golf committee chair for Mercy Haven. Michael’s involvement includes, but is not limited to the Clark Gillies Foundation, the Association for the help of Retarded Children (AHRC), Tuesday’s Children (golf committee), The Inn, The Arthritis Foundation (100 hole challenge) Paws of War, Horsability, Joining Everyone to Share (JETS of America) and the Long Island Cares / the Harry Chapin Foundation.

Michael holds a BA from Brown University (‘87) in Business Economics and Management as well as an MBA from Hofstra University (’96) in Banking and Finance.

Michael resides in Smithtown, Long Island, New York with his wife Patty and their beagle Sam. They have six children: John, Douglas, Megan, Thomas, Michael Jr. and Helena.

Betty Lyons, Advisory Committee Member for NILJ & President & Executive Director of the American Indian Law Alliance (AILA), is an Indigenous and environmental activist and citizen of the Onondaga Nation. Betty has worked for the Onondaga Nation for over 20 years. Ms. Lyons serves as a member of the Haudenosaunee External Relations Committee and has been an active participant at the annual United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) since the first session in 2001 as a delegate of the Onondaga Nation.

Betty attended Cazenovia College and is a Bryant Stratton College Graduate of the Paralegal Program. Under the Leadership of Tonya Gonnella Frichner, Betty worked closely with AILA since 1997 and joined AILA in 2014.

During her time at AILA, Betty has worked on numerous issues, including: advocating for the Rights of Mother Earth, Treaty support, educating on the Doctrine of Discovery, advocates for Indigenous Nations and peoples at the United Nations, Right to Self Determination and Sovereignty, teaching the Indigenous history of women’s rights, honoring the Two Row Wampum Treaty in New York City, polishing the Covenant Chain with the United States as part of the Canandaigua Treaty obligations.

Betty continues to work for the protection of Indigenous peoples who are fighting to protect their traditions, territories, resources, and care for Mother Earth.

Out of her concern for Indigenous peoples and Mother Earth, Betty serves on numerous boards like: 4 The Future Foundation, Connie Hogarth Center, Center for Earth Ethics, The MOST, Skä•noñh- Great Law of Peace Center Academic Collaborative, and is Co-Chair of the Center of Earth Ethics Advisory Board.

Shannon Tooke, Advisory Council Member, is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. She is originally from Tuba City (To'Nanees'Dizi), AZ, within the Navajo Nation, and now resides in Blanding, UT. She is of the Irish people (Nimasii Diné), born for Zuni Water’s Edge Clan (Naasht’ézhí Tábąąhá). Her maternal grandfathers are the Irish People (Nimasii Diné), and her paternal grandfathers are the Red-Running-Into-The-Water Clan (Táchii’nii).

Shannon’s educational background includes a bachelor's and master’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s in Human Resources from Utah State University. She has worked in the business sector for 25+ years in construction and administrative management, human resources, grant research, accounting, negotiations, marketing, public speaking, public relations, communications, cultural awareness, community awareness, campaigns for sustainable energy, and advocacy for all forms of education.

Through her education and life experiences, Shannon has developed an understanding and passion for addressing the importance of three basic principles: education, enlightenment, and empathy. Using those principles persuaded her to enroll at the University of Oklahoma, College of Law, Master of Legal Studies (MLS), Indigenous Peoples Law program in the spring of 2023. By acquiring an MLS degree, it offers two opportunities. First, it will allow her to advocate in contracts and negotiations between the Indigenous nations and commercial and private businesses pertaining to sustainable energy. Second, she would use the degree to work under the Navajo Nation Judicial branch as a legal advocate for her people.

Last her desire in life to constantly learn. Whether that is by education or the people she meets. Leading by example for others to see they represent the word ‘possibility’; we are all ‘the possibility.’