BOARD OF TRUSTEES
James Burk, Chairman of the Board
James is a senior partner of the law firm of Burk Law Firm P.C. (DC), and has been in the private practice of law for over 40 years. He specializes in assisting emerging companies in their initial stages of organization and then growing with the companies through the public offering stage.Mr. Burk began his career in 1969 as an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission investigating consumer protection matters. He then returned to his hometown of San Antonio, Texas where he served as Senior Law Clerk to the Chief Judge of United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. After completing his District Court clerkship, he was appointed Attorney-Advisor to a judge on the U.S. Tax Court in Washington, D.C.
He has been a senior partner in law firms located in New York and Washington D.C. and his practice is national in scope. The firm is located in Washington, DC.
His practice includes general business matters including corporations, contracts, mergers, acquisitions, venture capital financings, tax, securities and non-profit law. He has also assisted companies in securing seed and mezzanine funding for emerging companies. He has sat on the board of directors of several non-profit companies including: Institute of Mentalphysics where is he is currently Chairman of the Board and previously on the Boards of Americans For Health Freedom Foundation and the Washington Studio School.
He is the author of How to Start a Business in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia and Financing Your Small Business published by Sphinx Legal, a division of Sourcebooks, Inc. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin Law School and is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia and Texas (inactive).
Paul Andrews, Vice-Chair, Board Member
Following a near death experience in 1976 Paul Andrews became involved in the metaphysical field, studying first with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and then with Bob Monroe of Monroe Institute.
In 1984 he founded the Threshold company which went on the own and manage the Whole Life Expo and Whole Life Times Magazine. Paul ran Whole Life from 1986 through 1997. In 2002, along with Julie Kline, he produced the Health Freedom Expo from 2002-2012. He currently co-produces “Contact In the Desert” which is going on its seventh year. Paul Has been involved with The Institute Of Mentalphysics since 1989 and on the Board since 1990.
Jerry Noonan, Treasurer, Board Member
Gerard (Jerry) is president of Focus1Hospitality and has multiple corporate and independent restaurant developments under his influence. Of note locally is his tenure of 12 years as Chief Operating Officer of the Fisherman’s Market & Grill chain of restaurants, Shanghai Reds oyster bar, and The Fisherman’s Landing at the JW Marriott’s Desert Springs Resort & Spa.
“It is humbling and an honor to be called to serve on this amazing Board and to help in the noble effort to restore and preserve the treasured architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright & Son and to provide an enduring, place of learning, appreciation of the arts and nature as nourishment for the mind, body and soul as we continue exploration into the infinite human potential for generations to come.”
Keith Greco, Board Member
Keith has bounced between his homes in Los Angeles & the Mojave Desert for the better part of four decades. Keith’s creation of “Experiential, Interactive & Immersive Events” began generations before these terms were a prevalent part of our global lexicon. His client list, to name a few, includes: Academy of Motion Pictures, Activision, AEG, Adidas, Apple, Coachella Music Festival, Disney, Goldenvoice, Lionsgate Pictures, Netflix, Nike, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Red Bull, SAG-AFTRA, Warner Bros. and a 25 year run as a hired gun for Cirque du Soleil’s special event department. Keith also served as artistic director of the Hunter S. Thompson Memorial & is a founding member of the HST Institute. Keith has been a contributing member of the Burning Man Community for the better part of the past 20 years and continues to design restaurants, retail, residential, festival, special event & amusement spaces throughout our planet.
J. Cheryl Bookout, Secretary, Board Member
Has a passion for collaborative public art projects. Bookout is the ED & Co-Founder of The Chimaera Project, a nonprofit focusing on advocacy and action for female filmmakers. As an individual artist, Bookout is included in the California Women Artist Project archived at the University of Southern California and Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries, a project organized by Gloria Orenstein, Professor of Women in Literature and Art at USC. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Mil-Tree Veteran Project and the Joshua Tree Retreat Center; Advisory Board Member for Southern California Women’s Caucus for Art (SCWCA); past President of SCWCA 2012 – 2016; and has been a guest speaker on numerous panels throughout the U.S. Bookout has co-produced two award-winning short films and has a feature-length documentary film in development.
Terry Taylor-Castillo, Executive Director
Terry (aka Terry Lynn Taylor) moved to Joshua Tree in 2014 with her husband Rolo Castillo and opened Taylor Junction art gallery and event space. After reconnecting with friends from the metaphysical world she joined the board of directors of the Institute of Mentalphysics /Joshua Tree Retreat Center, eventually stepping off the board to become the ED.
In her other lives, she was the executive director of a non-profit community art gallery in Pomona, author of several spiritual books on Angel Consciousness, and worked with youth during the 80’s and 90’s as a teacher and human relations facilitator.
From 2009 to 2013 she was president of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 30 in Pomona and District 18 community chair, advocating and raising funds for military families and veterans. Her commitment to this work led to her joining the board of Mil-Tree a local non-profit established to bring together veterans, active-duty military, and civilians through communication and the arts.