Jan Plourde is the Executive Director of The REAL Program, Inc, a non-profit organization which aims to elevate literacy, social skills, and good nutrition for underserved children and families – this in accord with its community-based service-learning model that offers experiential teaching and learning opportunities, book distribution, homework assistance, social programs, and enrichment activities in Lynn.

    Jan founded The REAL Program in 2013. Under her leadership, REAL (Reading, Education Assistance and Learning) has cemented itself in its home at 17 Atlantic Street, Lynn; collected and distributed over 150,000 children’s books; placed over 40 little free libraries in Lynn and 12 more in surrounding towns; and provided Before Home experiences for children who mostly attend the Brickett School. Jan, a resident of Beverly, teaches early childhood education at North Shore Community College, and she is the president of Fulton Publishing/Developmental Teaching, LLC that publishes teacher plan books. She is an honors graduate of Salem State University and Lesley University.

Diane began her career in 1985 as a Financial Internal Auditor with E.F. Hutton Company and, when they were acquired by Shearson Lehman Brothers, moved to the Investment Advisor Group where she worked as an Assistant Portfolio Manager. She later worked in the same capacity at Campbell Cowperthwait & Co., a boutique money manager firm, where she was promoted to Analyst and Portfolio Strategist. In 1990, she became a Certified Financial Analyst and, when Campbell Cowperthwait & Co. was acquired by U.S. Trust, was promoted to a Senior Portfolio Manager position. With U.S. Trust, she created an internal mutual fund called the U.S. Trust Optimum Growth Fund. In 1996, Diane started Optimum Growth Advisors in Marblehead, MA. The company was sold to Atlanta Capital Group in December 2012 and she continued to work in the same capacity in the ACG Optimum Growth Investment Strategy Product. Diane left in 2017 after completing her buy out contract and is currently a consultant, working to help and educate people in their personal financial management.
   Inspired by decades of volunteer work serving children and the community, Diane founded Someone Else’s Child in 1997 to help kids in need. As a student in high school and college, she worked at a nursery school and day care center. She has served the greater Boston area as a Big Sister, a Sunday School teacher, and as a volunteer with Women in Community Service, Gregg House Preschool, Girl’s Inc., My Brother’s Table, and Lifebridge. In addition to her leadership of Someone Else’s Child, she also serves as a committee member for The Wang Theatre and Thompson Island Outward Bound Camp.

   Diane graduated from Boston College in 1985 with a double major in Economics and Psychology.

Michael Christian has served as Managing Director of Someone Else’s Child, Inc. (SEC) for over 20 years. The foundation supports children’s causes throughout the U.S. and Africa, with areas of emphasis including education, literacy, arts, health, economic justice, and collaborative efforts with other similarly-minded non-profits. SEC’s mission is to inspire and encourage children/teens to become involved in their community and to actively participate in helping others in need.

   Mike currently serves on several non-profit boards including the Boch Center/Wang Theater, Boston Explorers, The REAL Program, The Museum of Justice, and the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers.

   Mike is also the founder and Chairman of Risk Strategies, a leading national insurance brokerage firm. In his role as Chairman, Mike works with Risk Strategies' senior team, private equity partner, and the board of directors on strategic initiatives.

   He was the Chief Executive Officer of Risk Strategies from 1997 to 2019. He led the company from its start-up beginnings into a top national risk advisor/broker with revenues of over $600M. Mike utilized private equity extensively over the past 12 years to build Risk Strategies, resulting in four successful recapitalizations. Prior to Risk Strategies, Mike held several leadership positions with Jardine Insurance Brokers, including serving on the U.S. Board of Directors, AON and Alexander & Alexander.

   Mike majored in Philosophy at the University of California in Santa Barbara.