MICKEY MINNICH, FOUNDER
Mickey Minnich is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Vickie's Angel Foundation, an organization he and his two sons, Mike and Jason, created in 2003 in memory of his beloved wife, Vickie. Together Mickey and Vickie battled her cancer, and his compassion, empathy and understanding forged the basis for VAF, with a mission to lighten the load for others journeying with a loved one fighting cancer.
Mickey graduated from William Penn High School and attended Gettysburg College, Shippensburg University, and Western Maryland College earning Master's degrees in Counseling and School Administration. Mickey served in the US Army from 1960 through 1963. Afterwards, he found success as a Football Coach at John Harris, Harrisburg and Steelton-Highspire High Schools. He spent 25 years in the field of Education as Teacher, Coach, Counselor, Assistant Principal and Acting Superintendent. In 1985, Mickey was named Executive Director of Pennsylvania's Big 33 Football Classic and was also Membership Chairman for the PSFCA. Mickey resigned from both positions in 2007, leaving the Big 33 Scholarship Foundation having raised a $2.5 million endowment. Retirement from these organizations allowed Mickey to devote all his time to propagating Vickie's Angel Foundation throughout nine counties in Central Pennsylvania.
Now in 21 years since its inception, and with over $4 million provided in assistance, Mickey continues to help lead the way as VAF shines as a Beacon of Hope for families fighting cancer, continuing to distribute 100% of donations to families struggling to pay household bills during cancer treatments.
MIKE DAVIS, CHAIRMAN
Mike is a lifelong resident of Central Pa., having grown up in the Allison Hill section of Harrisburg. He graduated from John Harris HS where he was part of “ The Decade of Champions “ football teams and played on the first team that Mickey Minnich ever coached.
Mike also spearheads the annual Evening of Heart & Soul dance, benefitting Vickie’s Angel Foundation. Incredibly popular with members of the Decade of Champions, this dance is now in its tenth year!
He graduated from Gettysburg College with a BA , majoring in Business Administration and started a very active 43 year management career in the property and casualty insurance industry. In 2013 he retired as Senior VP of Millers Mutual Insurance after 35 years with the company.
During his business career he continued his education and attained the designation of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU). He taught insurance for over 20 years at various venues including HACC. He has been involved with various community charitable organizations ( Boys Club , CAGA, YMCA, etc.) his entire adult life.
At present , Mike is actively involved in the VAF “ Commitment To Excellence” and “ The Decade of Champions”. In addition to being part of the VAF board, he sits on the boards of PA Central FCU and the East Shore Branch of the YMCA.
CAROL ORR, SECRETARY
Carol Orr first learned of Vickie’s Angel Foundation from a fundraiser she saw advertised in a physician’s office waiting room. Candles were being sold to benefit the organization, and she not only supported the fundraiser, but placed a phone call later that made the connection. That was the start of a friendship with Mickey Minnich, and a dedication to this unique organization with an immediate response to serving those in need. VAF’s premise of helping specifically cancer patients on the basis of Love, Faith, Hope and Compassion fuels that dedication. Since 2006, she has served as Grant Writer, member of the Families Evaluation Committee, member on Board of Directors, and Board Secretary with the Foundation.
Carol has over 13 years experience as an Oncology Social Worker, and is a Certified Patient Navigator by the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute. She holds a B.S. in Rehabilitation Services and Psychology from Springfield College in Springfield, MA. She has contributed to articles concerning Cancer Survivorship.
Carol’s family is the center of her life. She and her husband, Bill, recently down-sized and moved to the Linglestown, PA area. They are extremely proud of their four grown children and two (so far!) grandchildren, and grab every opportunity to spend time with them all.
MICHAEL BOARMAN
Michael Boarman is a father of four children, a grandfather of two and a devoted husband. He is the Founder of Waterday Properties, which buys, sells and operates Class A/B+ office buildings. These buildings are strategically located around the city of Harrisburg, the capitol of Pennsylvania.
The Waterday Properties portfolio of buildings is currently valued at over $90MM, with a multi-building footprint of over 500,000 square feet and an average occupancy of over ninety-five percent.
Entities, interests and historical information:
Founder - Waterday Services, LLC; Building Maintainance, Light Construction and Office Cleaning.
Founder - Waterday Foundation; Mission: To carefully and thoughtfully share the resources and money generated by various enterprises, for the benefit of select, qualified and worthy causes.
Passive Investment - Fraser Center, State College Pa. A new construction mixed use facility which includes condos, retail, and a Hyatt Hotel overlooking PennState Campus, DataMotion, various retail.
Passion / Paid Hobby - Bass Guitar, Guitar and Vocals; The band Pentagon: 5 time winner “Simply the Best” Harrisburg Magazine and 2021 Central Pa Musician’s Hall of Fame Award recipient. Recording sessions Bass and Vocals: The Gabriel’s, Damascus, Pentagon, Savage Bliss, Hybrid Ice.
Volunteer - Board Member, Vickies Angels Foundation - Professional Development Mentor
Business Development Consultant - MCL Circuit Boards, Inshane designs, Steele Associates, Hoffer Cleaning.
Acquisitions / Start Ups / Sales: Lebanon Valley Paper - West Shore paper - Bortek Industries (President Emeritus) - Lincoln Services - Disco Products - BEL Leasing - JMD Realestate - 4201 Crums Mill Road - 75 S Houck’s Road - 2 Lemoyne Drive - 105N 16th Street - ILP Laser.
Inventions / Trade Marks: Sanifil Aircraft Lav Deicer - Sanifil Quasar tile, grout and shower restorer - Sanifil Products.
DOLORES MINNICH
Dolores Minnich has been an indispensable member of our volunteer staff for nearly 15 years. Joining the board in 2020, she brings a wide variety of knowledge and experience as well as the vital benefit of being a bilingual translator. Dolores graduated from Bradley Academy of Visual arts, spent 18 years as a textbook illustrator for publishers like Pearson and Simon & Schuster. She has freelanced for the art studio, Academy Artworks. She has been a certified translator for 5 years now as well as working in the English as a second
language department for K through 5th grade for more than 10 years with the West Shore School District. Dolores is a wife and mother of two.
DAN THAU
Daniel Thau is the President and CEO of Millennium Circuits Limited (MCL), a Harrisburg-based printed circuit board supplier. MCL was founded in January 2005 and has experienced a trajectory of growth ever since. MCL’s exponential growth has helped Dan to become an expert in this industry. Dan attended HACC, studying engineering, while simultaneously starting this business.
Dan has received multiple awards and accolades due to his personal success and the success of MCL. In 2013, Dan received a Distinguished Alumnus award from HACC, a top honor an alumnus can receive. Dan has continued to work with HACC by speaking at public events and assists with recruiting at promotional events. In 2013, Dan also was named one of the 40 Under 40 by the Central Penn Business Journal and was a Finalist for a Growth Specialist Award. MCL has also been ranked as one of the Top 50 Fastest Growing companies in Central PA six times.
Dan also has business interests in commercial flooring, having ownership in a national flooring company as well as a premier LVT flooring manufacturer since 2016.
In 2007, Dan bought and converted an old bed and breakfast into multi-family housing and from then his interest in real estate was born. Since then, Dan has been involved in many student housing and multi-family properties and projects over the years. In the more recent past, Dan’s interests have shifted to Class A office space and hotel/retail projects both locally and along the east coast.
When Dan isn’t working on one of his numerous ventures, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. In his spare time, he also enjoys working with fellow entrepreneurs, giving business advice and guidance, helping to provide direction, and networking with like-minded individuals. Dan’s non-business passions include enjoying the great outdoors, traveling, and trying new foods.
DR. SATISH SHAH
Dr. Shah is the CEO of PCSRI, Penn State Cancer Specialists. He graduated from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara in 1980 and completed a Medical Oncology fellowship at Penn State Hershey Medical Center in 1988. Shortly thereafter, in 1989, he opened the first oncology practice in Adams County and also pioneered the Cancer Program at Gettysburg Hospital. Dr. Shah’s areas of interest include solid tumors such as lung, breast, and colon as well as hematological disorders, anemia, lymphoma, and leukemia.
Education & Training
Residency: Clinical Health System
Member: American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, Quality Cancer Care Alliance, Premier Oncology Hematology Management Services, Association of Community Cancer Centers, Community Oncology Alliance
Medical School: Baroda Medical College
Fellowships: Penn State Hershey Medical Center, GC Morton Cancer Research
Alan Todd
Wharton entrepreneur-in-residence. (Advisor to education technology startups).
Inc. Magazine/Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. (High Technology category)
Founder KnowledgeSoft (acquired by Randstad). (Tech bootcamps across the northeast USA)
Founder KnowledgePlanet (acquired by private equity led by GE). (Helped launch the online learning industry with backing from Gartner, IBM, Netscape)
Founder CorpU (acquired by Udemy). (Leadership Development Platform with top university professors and online cohort learning)
Co-Founder and Trustee Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. (The first non-profit University created in PA in over 100 years).
Former Trustee Dickinson College. (One of the oldest, private liberal arts colleges in America, founded by Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Indepedence).
Appointed by Governor to PA State Higher Education Commission. (To improve access and affordability of higher education in the commonwealth of PA)
Trustee Vickie's Angel Foundation. (A purely volunteer organization that contributes 100% of income to to help families struggling to make it through cancer treatment. Have raised over $4 million)
Greg Nielsen
Greg Nielsen grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania graduating from John Harris High School and attending Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. Shortly after College, he moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where he was a medical equipment salesman which soon transitioned into the role of International Sales Manager for a manufacturer of respiratory therapy equipment. Seven years later the company was purchased by Allied Healthcare, a larger public company that manufacturers medical equipment based in St. Louis, Missouri. The acquisition offered the opportunity to manage the International Sales and marketing for Allied Healthcare which necessitated a move to St. Louis in 1983. After a few short years at Allied Healthcare Greg felt the desire to run his own business and opened a Hearing Aid franchise in 1987 which rapidly grew from one store to sixteen locations. With locations in Missouri, Illinois, Florida, and England, Greg moved his family to Tampa. After 11 years in the hearing aid industry the business was sold and a commercial marine supply company was purchased in 1999. Over the next 13 years this company grew over 600 percent until it was sold in 2012. Since then, Greg has focused on his own commercial real estate investments which he still does today on a part time basis with his son.
Greg has many friends and family in Central Pennsylvania and visits several times per year. He is an active golfer, boater, music lover and car enthusiast. He is also a father of two, a husband and a grandfather of four boys.
The Greg & Cindy Nielsen Charitable Trust are supporters of their church, Meals on Wheels, and Vickie’s Angels Foundation to name a few.