Our Executive Team
Rick Baker, Executive Director
Rick Baker, Executive Director
Rick Baker, Executive Director
Rick Baker is the Founder of the BBF and has enjoyed a number of highly successful careers. First, as a senior pastor for many years, he then transitioned into the media as a talk radio host and finally as a best-selling author. He launched the Becky Baker Foundation in May of 2017 after his wife, Becky, passed away from stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.
Dr. Barb Hughson, President
Rick Baker, Executive Director
Rick Baker, Executive Director
Dr. Barb, who is the President of the Foundation holds a Doctorate in Leadership and has been involved in education and learning for several decades. A serial entrepreneur, she has literally helped thousands of people in her career and now utilizes her experience to design and develop the education arm of the BBF.
Our Board Members
Linda Hagan, Board Member
Linda is a two-time cancer survivor and an avid evangelist of the life saving importance of early detection. Linda is the former President and owner of FirstLight Home Care of Sun City; a provider of in-home life care in Phoenix, AZ. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017, Linda made the difficult decision to sell that business and practice what she preached to clients: caregivers need to remember to care for themselves. This brought Linda back to her roots in Colorado and connected her with the Becky Baker Foundation. The Foundation’s mission to educate and fight breast cancer via prevention and early detection aligns with Linda’s personal passion for the same.
Prior to opening her own business, Linda had a successful 20-year career in media with USA TODAY/Gannett Co. Linda graduated cum laude from Montana State University - Northern with her bachelor’s degree in Business Technology and Marketing.
William Daron Ball, Board Member
William Daron Ball, affectionately known by his friends as "db" was born and raised in Southern California. He served as a pastor on Dr. Jack Hayford's staff for 11 years at The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, CA where he met his wife, Abby. The two have been happily married for over 26 years and are blessed with three wonderful children. Daron holds an M.Div Degree from The King's University, and have resided in Colorado Springs since 2003. He also helped plant The Denver United Church as part of their leadership team and watched it grow to over 1,000 members four years. Daron's corporate world experience includes launching a successful career in Medical Device sales representing companies like Becton-Dickinson as well as serving as a specialist in the operating room guiding surgeons in surgical technique for companies like Stryker Medical. Daron enjoys sports, music, Seinfeld, reading, hermeneutics, practical theology, teaching, coaching basketball, golf architecture, snowboarding and traveling the world with his bride of 26 years, especially Paris.
Douglas Howe, Board Member
Douglas Howe has been a trusted advisor to companies and leaders in business, non-profits, education, politics and government for three decades, having been a business owner, social entrepreneur and non-profit director himself. His professional experience includes Succession Planning, Mergers & Acquisition, Trusted Advising and Human Resource Development, and has served such clients as Procter and Gamble, AK Steel, Duke Energy and Carespring Healthcare.
Doug has served on several Boards including Epipheo, Phillips Tube Group, Young Life, University of Northern Kentucky Business School, Stepping Stones, Horizon and Insignia Foundation. Personal highlights including finishing the New York Marathon, coaching his daughter’s girls basketball team to the Cincinnati Metro Championship, speaking and advisory meetings with political leaders including President George W. Bush, and being chosen for the Burbank Walk of Fame. He and Denise have raised their four adult children in Burbank, CA and Cincinnati, OH.
Geoffrey Albert, Board Member
Geoffrey moved to Colorado Springs with his family in 1997. In July 2008, he joined the Army where he served as a Forward Observer (FO). A FO calls for and adjusts artillery and mortar fire, as well as coordinates aerial attacks by helicopter – or airplane-based weapons platforms like the Apache helicopter or F-16. Geoff deployed overseas twice during his service; serving in Afghanistan from Oct 10-Oct 11 and Kuwait from Feb-Nov 15, and was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in combat. Geoff achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant before being medically separated from the Army in November 2016 after eight and a half years of service.