MAPDA – Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse

Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse

Our Ambassadors

Our Ambassadors are individuals who have personal experience with the issue or are passionate about the cause who lend their voices and efforts to raise awareness, provide support, and advocate for policy changes.

These ambassadors play a crucial role in outreach, education, and fundraising efforts for the organization and with policymakers to enact change and address the challenges associated with prescription drug abuse.

STEPHEN S. OSWALD

Steve Oswald founded Syzygy Enterprises, LLC after retiring from The Boeing Company in March 2012. Syzygy is a provider of consulting services in the aerospace, defense, intelligence and homeland security sectors, operating out of Northern Virginia.

A senior executive with Boeing for over ten years, Oswald served as vice president and general manager of Intelligence & Security Systems (I&SS), responsible for providing integrated solutions for intelligence community and homeland security customers, including Customs and Border Protection. I&SS had revenue in excess of $1B/year and had more than 3500 Boeing employees at over 20 sites nationwide. Oswald’s principle location was in Northern Virginia.  Prior to his move to Virginia, Oswald was vice president and program manager of Boeing’s Space Shuttle program, supporting United Space Alliance and NASA in the operation of the Space Shuttle system, headquartered in Houston, TX.  

Immediately prior to joining Boeing in late 2001, Rear Admiral Oswald, U.S. Navy, served as Deputy Commander of a Washington-based Joint Task Force responsible for the defense of more than three million Department of Defense computers and their associated networks.  During his 30-plus year government career with both the Navy and NASA, he served as a naval aviator, test pilot, Space Shuttle astronaut, and senior executive. As an astronaut, he flew three Space Shuttle missions, commanding STS-67 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in March of 1995 after piloting two missions aboard Discovery in 1992 and 1993. In 1996-98, Oswald was assigned to NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. as Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Operations, responsible for the Space Shuttle, Expendable Launch Vehicles, and Space Communications programs for the agency. 

Oswald is a 1973 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy as an Aerospace Engineer and a 1978 graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.  He and his wife Mary Bono split their time between Alexandria, VA and Durango, CO. Between them, they have five adult children and eight grandchildren.

EILEEN DAVIDSON

Emmy winning actress Eileen Davidson is known to millions of television viewers as Ashley Abbott on the number one rated daytime drama “The Young and the Restless” and also as Kristen Dimera on “Days of Our Lives.” She has made several Primetime television appearances including being a regular on the series “Broken Badges”, opposite Miguel Ferrer and Ernie Hudson and has starred in several feature films including “7 Days to Vegas” opposite her husband Vince Van Patten who also wrote the film. She was one of the first actresses to appear on the pop culture reality show “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” for three seasons. She resides in Malibu, California with her husband and their son Jesse. She is also the stepmother of Duke and Vinny Van Patten. 

RICK ROCKHILL

Rick has 25 years of experience in the pet industry, in key executive roles in companies such as Petco, Natural Balance, Del Monte, Big Heart Pet Brands, and Lucy Pet Products. Rick has deep experience in pet food nutrition marketing, brand management, strategy, product development, innovation, business development, and operations. Rick has served on multiple advisory boards in pet food manufacturing and pet food ingredient innovation teams. He is passionate about pets, animal advocacy, and service dog programs. Rick has a former service dog trainee (now pet) standard poodle named Adele who joins him at work in the Breeder’s Choice offices.

BROOKE BEARE

Brooke Beare is an Emmy winning journalist and government communicator. Graduating cum laude from the Annenberg School of Communicaion and Journalism at the University of Southern California, Brooke began her broadcast journalism career at two NBC affiliates in Texas. During that time, she was fortunate enough to interview Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, a number of governors, and cover the breakup of the Space Shuttle Columbia from the ground. 

Over the next 16 years, she established herself as a respected investigative journalist, working in San Diego, and eventually as the evening news anchor for the CBS affiliate in Palm Springs. Brooke is the spokesperson and public information officer for the Riverside County District Attorney’s office.

DANIELLE BISUTTI

Danielle Bisutti is a Los Angeles born and raised Emmy Award winning, two-time BAFTA Award nominated actress, writer, producer, director and singer-songwriter. In 2019, Danielle earned a BAFTA Award, “Best Performer in a Lead Role,” nomination for her performance as The Norse Goddess “Freya” in Sony PlayStation’s top grossing “Game of the Year” and BAFTA “Best Game” award-winning video-game, God of War. In 2023, Danielle received another BAFTA nomination, “Best Performer in a Supporting Role,” for her reprisal of Freya, in God of War Ragnarök. She also voiced Frozen’s “Elsa” in Disney’s “Best Family Game” BAFTA nominated video game, Dreamlight Valley. She won a Los Angeles area Emmy Award for hosting Street Music Los Angeles in 2002Danielle performance captured “Claudia Grimstone” in Madden NFL 21: Face of the Franchise: Rise to Fame 2020, and voiced “Wonder Woman” in The Lego Movie 2 Videogame. She portrayed the ominous “Ms. Grey” in Lifetime’s Nanny Killer, “Dana Gallagher” in Shonda Rhimes’ For the People and series regular role as Witch “Hexela” in BUYtv’s Dwight in Shining Armor distributed by Paramount.  Film credits include top grossing Sony Pictures’ Insidious: Chapter 2, starring as “Barb” in Universal Studio’s Curse of Chucky, “Norma Steele” in The Blue Rose and the indie comedy Back in the Day. Bisutti is iconically known for her series regular role as”Amanda Cantwell” opposite Keke Palmer on the hit Nickelodeon series True Jackson, VP. She’s recurred on Matador for Robert Rodriguez’s El Rey Network, Parks & RecreationLast Man StandingCSI Miami, Without A Trace, Raising the Bar and The O.C. She received a Los Angeles Music Award for “Best Female Singer-Songwriter.” Her album “Glimmer” was nominated for AAA Album of the Year and her song “In Passing” has received Unanimous Choice Recipient Award for Independent AC Single of the Year.

KAY AND RANDY FLORENCE

Randy is a full time resident of the Coachella Valley with his wife of 43 years, Kay. 

Randy retired twice. Once after a 39 year Banking career where he managed some of the highest producing Mortgage teams in the Country over his career. In his final role as National Director of Home Building services for a top 5 Bank, Randy oversaw production eventually exceeding $2Billion per year across 45 states. 

After leaving the Mortgage Banking world, Randy accepted the role as President and CEO of the Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce, but now is happily full retired. He spends most of his time writing, traveling with his wife, trying to get his granddaughters to return a call and consulting for non-Profits in the Coachella Valley. 

Randy has also officiated over 40 weddings in the Valley since arriving in 2011. He was previously the Chairman of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership as well as a Board member of Lifestream Blood Services and the Boys and Girls Club of Coachella Valley. 

In addition to his work with local non-profits, Randy is also the co-host with KESQ TV personality, Patrick Evans, of the popular podcast, Big Conversations/Little Bar. 

In 2018, Randy and Kay began to see the effects of the horrific issue of prescription and Opiod drug use. Seeking to deal with the challenge as parents and spouses brought Randy to a conversation with Kim Waltrip. That conversation confirmed that he wanted to be a part of the solution. 

He is committed to providing any time and energy needed to combat this issue that is taking away the people most dear to us. 

DOUG DVORAK

Doug Dvorak is the CEO of The Sales Coaching Institute, a worldwide organization that assists clients with sales & marketing leadership consulting, sales productivity, and customer success/experience management workshops Mr. Dvorak has earned an international reputation for his powerful educational methods and motivational techniques, as well as his experience in all levels of business, corporate education and success training. His background in sales, leadership, and management has allowed him to become one of world’s most sought-after consultants, lecturers and teachers.

Doug is a master certified sales coach & trainer & certified management consultant and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing Management & Doctor of Laws, h.c. 30 + years of experience leading and managing worldwide sales & marketing teams in the information technology and renewable energy sectors.

 – CSO/CMO for WorldNet & Boca Research (NASDAQ: BOCI)

 – Lead 3 start-up technology companies exceed over $35M in sales

 – 30+ years of experience in leading coaching & mentoring sales organizations and executives in 50+ countries

Doug is a member of the National Speakers Association and is an Advisory Board Member of “Best Buddies International, Inc.”, which is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.   In August 2014, Doug was inducted into the Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame.  Only 68 other Motivational Speakers have been asked to join this prestigious club.  Other luminaries include, Zig Ziglar, Ronald Reagan, Dr, Wayne Dwyer, Bill Clinton, as well as many other business, civic & political dignitaries. Doug is also a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) the highest earned designation from the National Speakers Association (NSA).  Doug has presented to over 1 million people on 5 continents.

 

Anthony and Wanda Matranga

Anthony and Wanda boast 40 years of experience in the print and graphic industry. They moved from Pasadena to establish and expand The Printing Place. Additionally, Anthony served as a South Pasadena police reserve for 10 years, retiring in 1991. In 1996, Anthony and his wife Wanda opened the first of several World Gym fitness centers in the valley. Through their printing company, they have supported numerous charitable events over the years.