Tag: New Ambassador

Meet New Board Ambassador: Samantha Smith

(Meet New Board Ambassador: Samantha Smith) First Tee – Silicon Valley’s board recently elected Samantha Smith to our Board of Ambassadors.

“First Tee served as the foundation for developing integrity as one of my core values,” Samantha shares. “From age five, the program was instrumental in shaping not just my golf skills, but my character and worldview. The community I found through First Tee has supported me beyond the golf course and throughout my career; I’m passionate about creating those same opportunities for the next generation. The mentors who guided me remain important figures in my life today, which speaks to the program’s lasting impact. I’m thrilled to bring my experience full circle by joining the First Tee – Silicon Valley chapter.”

Samantha’s connection with First Tee runs deep, having participated in First Tee – Greater Houston from age 5 (2002) until achieving Ace certification alongside her brother, Lonnie. As a scratch golfer, she served as a Junior Mentor from 2008-2015. Her First Tee journey included attending the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach and First Tee Player’s Academy with Kunal Shalia (FTSV Alumni & Ambassador), with whom she has maintained contact over the years.

Samantha is completing her Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior (Micro) at Harvard Business School, where she researches strategic decision-making under competition and develops evidence-based strategies for organizations to leverage diverse talent. After marrying Modibo, a Stanford Graduate School of Business professor, in summer 2024, she now maintains a bicoastal presence between Cambridge, MA and Palo Alto, CA.

While completing her Ph.D. at Harvard, Samantha is concurrently a Research Fellow at ghSMART and Faculty Instructor/Course Designer at Harvard Extension School. Her previous experiences include a Behavioral Research Fellowship at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She earned her AB in psychology with minors in neuroscience and cognitive science from Princeton University. 

Samantha joins First Tee – Silicon Valley as a Board Ambassador and is interviewing First Tee Alumni as part of a Harvard case study on the organization’s growth and long-term impact. She feels a special connection with First Tee and is passionate about giving back to the foundation that played the most formative role in her development.

LinkedIN: Samantha Smith

Published: 04-01-2025

Meet New Board Ambassador: Justin Hill

First Tee – Silicon Valley’s board recently elected Justin Hill to our Board of Ambassadors.

After relocating from Manhattan to Silicon Valley, Justin was drawn to First Tee’s mission to promote youth development through golf and integrating the game of golf with life skills.

Justin was relatively late to golf, choosing to play more traditional team sports in his youth, but as he grew older, he began to appreciate the physical and psychological aspects of the game, the camaraderie among the players, and lessons learned from golf that translate off the course.  

Justin is thrilled to assist First Tee – Silicon Valley attract more local youth to the game of golf, especially players with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Justin has 14 years of banking experience spanning roles in relationship management, underwriting, and portfolio management held at Truist, RBC Capital Markets, and Capital One. Justin is currently an underwriter at Capital One where he makes debt and equity investments in multi-family affordable housing developments across the U.S.  He received his undergraduate Business degree from the University of Oregon and earned his MBA from George Washington University.  Justin lives in Cupertino with his wife and two children, Morgan and Porter.  

LinkedIn: Justin Hill

Justin is a great addition to our Board of Ambassadors. Board Ambassadors give advice, assist with projects, represent the organization in the community at events, help raise funds, and expand FTSV’s network throughout Silicon Valley and beyond. Click here to meet all our Board Members. Contact Judy Deaton if you have interest in learning more about a volunteer Board opportunity.

FTSV Ambassador Justin Hill

Published: 01-09-2025

Meet New FTSV Board Ambassador: Lorena Hathaway

Meet newly elected First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) Board Ambassador: Lorena Hathaway.

Lorena wants her journey to be a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and continuous learning which is in direct alignment with FTSV’s mission.

Lorena shared “I honored to join FTSV as an Ambassador, knowing the profound difference it can make for kids and teens.  Golf has always meant so much to me and my family and I’m thrilled to share my passion for the game and its values with the next generation – especially honesty. Teaching young players to be truthful and act with integrity both on and off the course, is a lesson that extends far beyond the game and builds a foundation for lifelong success.” 

FTSV is grateful that Lorena is also donating her time as volunteer coach.

Lorena has over two decades of experience in B2B marketing creating and executing high-impact demand generation campaigns for technology products and services. She has recently held Marketing Directors positions at Televerde, DataStax, Fenris Digital, and Precisely proceeded by almost 9 years at Pitney Bowes.

LinkedIN: Lorena Hathaway

Lorena is a great addition to our Board of Ambassadors. Board Ambassadors give advice, assist with projects, represent the organization in the community at events, help raise funds, and expand FTSV’s network throughout Silicon Valley and beyond. Click here to meet all our Board Members. Contact Judy Deaton if you have interest in learning more about a volunteer Board opportunity.

New FTSV Ambassador: Lorena Hathaway

Published: 11-26-2024