Ron Fitzsimmons
Executive Director
Ron was raised in West Islip, New York just 50 miles from downtown Manhattan. He and his two younger siblings had a less than ideal childhood after their father abandoned the family. They were forced to rely on welfare payments which barely paid for food and rent but the experience gave him a unique perspective on the challenges faced by children living in poverty. Those experiences ultimately led to the formation of Alice’s Kids. Mr. Fitzsimmons spent most of his working years in the national political arena. Beginning in 1977, he worked for three Members of Congress, was the Director of Government Relations for a Portland-based law firm and in 1991 he formed a national organization that for 15 years lobbied to preserve reproductive rights for women. In recognition of that work, in 1994 the “Washingtonian Magazine” named him one of the “Top 50 Lobbyists” in Washington, D.C. Upon leaving the national scene, Mr. Fitzsimmons served as a staff person for Mount Vernon Supervisor Gerry Hyland for 5 years and as a substitute teacher at Mount Vernon High School. A strong believer in public service, Mr. Fitzsimmons has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the Landlord-Tenant Board, the Consumer Affairs Commission, United Community Ministries, the Wessynton Homeowner’s Association and the Fairfax Partnership for Youth. He was the President of the Mount Vernon High School Academic Boosters Corp and served on the Advisory Board for “Students Under Suspension.” In 2017 he was named “Mount Vernon Citizen of the Year” by Supervisor Dan Storck. A published author (“Chicken Soup for the Soul: Golf Edition”), Mr. Fitzsimmons received his B.A. in Political Science in 1977 from the State University of New York at Stonybrook. He is married and has two children.
Laura Basse
Deputy Director
Laura grew up in Fairfax County and graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary. She continued her education at Randolph-Macon College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She worked for several years as a writer, editor, and proposal manager in the defense industry before retiring to raise her four children. After many years of the glamour of stay-home life, she went to school and earned her Real Estate license. Shortly thereafter, she discovered Alice’s Kids and knew she had to get involved. She first signed on as a volunteer, and then joined the staff in December 2019. Laura and her husband flip houses together and catch as many Caps and Nats games as possible. They also enjoy traveling to watch their college kids play baseball and soccer, and cheer locally for their son and South County Football.
John Knemeyer
Outreach Director
John Knemeyer was raised in California's Mojave Desert, living on the China Lake Naval Weapons Center, where his father was an aeronautical engineer. In 1975, John left the area to attend Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. After three semesters, he transferred to the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA. In 1979 John graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry. In early 1980, he started his career working for Pacific Gas & Electric, at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, located near Avila Beach, CA. John progressed from technician, to chemistry engineer, and finally to supervising chemistry engineer. After approximately 36 years, John retired at the end of 2015. During this time, John volunteered for the American Red Cross, primarily as part of a Disaster Action Team, responding to local disasters to ensure clients had the appropriate shelter, food and clothing to help them start their recovery. In 2019, John started volunteering for Alice's Kids. He soon took on the roles of Grant Manager and Outreach Committee chair. John and his wife raised two children on the central coast of California.
Mark LoProto
IT Director
Mark is a Long Island native who made the trek west to Las Vegas. There, he established a freelance writing service and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an emphasis on professional writing. Mark has been providing content writing, social media management, copywriting, event planning, and public relations spanning multiple industries since 2009. Along with Alice’s Kids, he has worked with high-profile clients and small businesses to develop brands and communities for improved outreach. Mark has managed several private campaigns to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network and the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and has worked alongside Las Vegas' Opportunity Village for several of its Halloween and Christmas events. He lives with his supportive wife, Toni, and two boys, Jack and Ichabod.
Supporting Strategies
Finance Managers
Supporting Strategies has been serving businesses across the United States for 15 years, providing outsourced bookkeeping and controller services. The dedicated team behind Support Strategies works multiple aspects of business financing and has signed on to assist Alice’s Kids with the many facets of its accounting structure. Businesses big and small have turned to the dedicated team of bookkeepers and controllers at Supporting Strategies for streamlined accounting using the latest in remote bookkeeping software.