Board of Directors
Melissa L Hart
Founder & Board President
Tom Hart and I were happily married for more than 27 years. We shared our two amazing sons, Alex and Austin, and a passion to someday form a nonprofit designed to help others in Arizona. Little did I know that Tom’s death on August 12, 2021, would solidify our nonprofit’s mission.
As you learn more about our story, you’ll see why it’s clear to Alex, Austin, and me – that helping children and young adults process grief and heal is a natural fit for our KMFF mission. Those close to us saw our suffering after we lost Tom – the trials and valleys we moved through to heal and effectively move forward. We embraced counseling and targeted therapies to help us process Tom’s transition.
So many children and young adults are suffering with parental loss and don’t have the adequate support or resources to ensure healing and a meaningful recovery. In addition, the surviving parent is often overwhelmed with added responsibilities and just can’t provide the proper support and services for their grieving children. It’s my hope that through KMFF we’ll serve this need in our local community.
My educational and professional work experiences rest in the areas of human resources and organization development. I’ve led global human resources (HR) teams in numerous corporate roles, and I’ve always had a passion for coaching and developing others to achieve their fullest potential. For the past 12 years, I’ve owned and operated my own HR and leadership development consultancy, www.thehumanvantage.com. I’ve also had the honor of working with both profit and non-profit organizations – sharing my considerable experience in strategic planning, team and leadership development, organization effectiveness, and change management. I’m excited to use my skills and broad experiences to lead KMFF.
I’m honored to serve in various nonprofit organizations across Arizona, specifically the Summit School of Ahwatukee and the East Valley Women’s League (EVWL), where I assist with the foster child program and the scholarship team. I’ve also led parent volunteers to support and grow cross country, ice hockey and lacrosse leagues in our community.
I’m a “creative” at heart – there’s always a new project or venture in play. I’ve authored a book for toddlers, Max & the Diaper Fairy, based on a true story of fun potty-training experiences (www.maxandthediaperfairy.com). In 2018, I partnered with Andrew Rafal of Bayntree Wealth Advisors (www.bayntree.com) to publish, The Heartful Retirement: Your Journey to What Matters Most. I also serve as a certified Retirement Coach and help others plan and navigate through life transitions (www.thehartofchange.com).
I enjoy traveling, exploring new places, and scuba diving. I’m also an advocate for wellness lifestyles, including physical fitness and healthy holistic eating. As a certified holistic nutritionist, I promote the healing power of foods, supplements, exercise, and meditation. These elements have helped me heal and move forward.
I hope you find our site helpful. Please share your unique journey with us. KMFF has an amazing future – our team will achieve exceptional results and have a huge impact in our community. We invite and welcome you to be a part of this future – through your donations, corporate sponsorships, alliances/partnerships, and volunteerism. KEEP MOVING FORWARD!
Alexander Hart
Board Treasurer
I’m the first-born son of Melissa and Tom Hart, and it’s an honor to be a founding member of KMFF. I never thought I’d lose my Dad at his young age of 53. I mean – he was a healthy, active guy completing Iron Man competitions.
Our Dad was amazing for so many reasons. He was an incredible role model, hard worker, and provider for our family. I’ll always have fond memories of the ways he supported my academic and sports activities – especially my cross country days in high school and college. He was always there for us, and despite a demanding work schedule, he found time to be present and involved with our activities and life events.
I graduated from Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, AZ , and the University of Arizona’s Eller School of Business, in Tucson, AZ, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. I’m very analytical and enjoy reviewing data so I can make recommendations for investing and growth agendas.
I’m excited to bring my technical skills and finance background to KMFF as our Board Treasurer. I’m committed to doing my part to achieve our financial and fundraising goals. Our financial goals will help us establish a successful foundation and ensure KMFF can offer resources and services for many years. I believe in the vision of this organization. And with our amazing team, I’m confident we’ll accomplish many great things for grieving children and young adults in Arizona.
I enjoy running and exercising; I work at maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle. I believe this focus has helped me remain vibrant and strong throughout my grief journey. A focus on wellness will be a critical feature of KMFF’s services and education.
My incredible group of friends helped me immensely through the dark periods of my grief, and I’m forever grateful to them… and their on-going support.
I look forward to connecting with you and sharing more about KMFF’s bright future.
Austin Hart
Board Vice President of Fundraising
As the second son of Melissa and Tom Hart, I’ve had the privilege of having the best big brother a guy could ask for. Alex and I have shared a lot together over the last 21 years. Both he and my mom have helped me heal and personally move forward while processing the loss and grief of our awesome Dad.
It’s hard to put into words how I felt when our Dad died. I can’t really describe the trauma I experienced. You never think something like losing a parent will happen to you, especially at age 19. Like many of my peers, I assumed and took for granted the notion that my parents would live forever. I expected them both to be here for all my life events – like graduations, marriage, and even children one day.
Even though my Dad won’t be here for those things, I’m very thankful for the time I had with him. He was always actively involved in my school and sports activities. When I told my parents I wanted to be a goalie in ice hockey, they supported me; and my Dad was my loudest cheerleader.
My parents taught me so many valuable things in life – such as hard work and helping others. But it was my Dad who emphasized the importance of my faith in God, and the strength and determination to persevere in life – no matter what curve balls come our way.
I’m grateful that my Dad was such a positive role model. I’m also incredibly appreciative of my mom who recognized I needed the proper support and counseling to process the loss and grief. Through targeted support efforts, I learned a lot about myself, and was able to heal with the help of incredible therapists. There is no shame in seeking help and counseling. I encourage anyone facing emotional hardship or difficulty – to reach out and ask for help. You’ll be glad you did.
Like my brother Alex, I graduated from Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, AZ. I’m currently in my final year at University of Arizona, Department of Mathematics, pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Data Science and Statistics, with a minor in Computer Science. I’m very interested in predictive sports betting and creating statistical and programming models to predict performance.
I’m an active member of Theta Xi Fraternity. I’ve served as the group’s Treasurer and I’m active in fundraising and philanthropic activities. Through our brotherhood, I met other young men who lost a parent. It was clear that we all needed help. During the college years, it’s easy to turn to unhealthy addictions to help numb the negative feelings.
As I lead the KMFF fundraising efforts, I’m committed to ensuring we focus our programs to best serve our community. I want to partner with Arizona universities and colleges, along with the Greek System to help KMFF become a resource and approved philanthropy for campus fraternities and sororities.
When I think of fundraising, one of the first things I ask is, what did my Dad like to do? I know he loved running – he even completed three Iron Man races. So, I’m pretty sure we’ll host a 5K Race/Walk in the future.
I hope you join our community. Please help us by becoming a sponsor or a volunteer for one or more fundraising events. It’ll be a lot of fun and very meaningful. While we serve those suffering a parental loss, we’ll work to keep my Dad’s legacy very much alive.
I enjoy running, hitting the gym, playing poker, and creating predictive models. I have a great group of friends who helped me soar over the past year, and I am super grateful for them.
I look forward to connecting with you and sharing more about KMFF’s fundraising efforts. Please stay tuned and check for updates on our website. We’ll need your support and we welcome your ideas.
Noah Overbeck
Board Secretary
I met Austin Hart during college, and our friendship grew through shared experiences, conversations, and the challenges of young adulthood. After the loss of his father, Tom, I had the privilege of talking with Austin as he processed his grief and began navigating life without his father. Through that experience, I saw firsthand how support and access to professional help can improve the lives of those experience familial loss.
It is an honor to serve on the Board of Directors for the Keep Moving Forward Foundation (KMFF) and help preserve the memory of Tom Hart while supporting youth and young adults who have lost a loved one far too early. Grief can feel isolating at any age, but for children, teenagers, and young adults, the loss of a parent can be especially difficult to understand and carry. Everyone deserves access to people and resources that help them feel seen, supported, and less alone.
My hope for KMFF is to help expand access to therapy, counseling, mentorship, and other healing resources for young people experiencing grief. Through my friendship with Austin, I learned that therapy is not simply a place to talk about loss. It can be a place to rebuild, reflect, and find the strength to keep moving forward.
As someone pursuing a career in medicine, I am passionate about helping others through moments of vulnerability and hardship. My experiences volunteering with people experiencing homelessness, mentoring students, and working with patients have shown me the importance of meeting people with empathy, patience, and compassion. I hope to bring these values to KMFF as we work to support young people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a foundation rooted in love, remembrance, and service. Through KMFF, I hope to honor Tom’s legacy by helping others find support, healing, and hope.
Anya Greany
Board Member-at-Large and Working Member
My name is Anya Greany and I am a therapist living and working in Tempe, Arizona. I received my BA in Psychology at Northern Arizona University and my Masters in Clinical Social Work at Arizona State University. I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) working in a small group private practice called Centered Wellness. We serve clients across the state of Arizona experiencing a wide variety of diagnoses and other challenges through a virtual platform. I have experience working in the community mental health setting, hospital setting, school settings and within the collaborative care model. I have specialized training in Emotion Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Solutions Focused Brief Therapy.
I look forward to joining the team at the Keep Moving Forward Foundation as I have closely known the Hart family for the past decade and am passionate about supporting families and individuals through each unique grief experience. I hope to offer connections to the counseling community of Arizona and a clinical perspective as the foundation continues to grow.
Naomi Maza
Community Outreach Coordinator
My name is Naomi Maza, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Arizona. I completed my undergraduate degrees in Social Work and Criminal Justice, along with a minor in Spanish, before earning my graduate degree in Social Work from Arizona State University. Over the past seven years, I have worked within the Arizona community across foster care and reunification systems, community mental health organizations, medical settings, and private practice. I have also volunteered with a mentorship program supporting teens experiencing housing insecurity.
My work has centered on understanding the impact trauma can have on individuals and families. Trauma can create deep feelings of isolation and affect many aspects of a person’s emotional well-being, identity, and relationships. I am dedicated to supporting teens and young adults through grief, trauma, and major life transitions by providing compassionate, trauma-informed care that empowers young people to navigate emotional challenges and build resilience.
I strongly believe in the importance of accessible, culturally responsive mental health services and early emotional support for youth and their families. Through my clinical experience and community involvement, I bring a strong commitment to mental health advocacy and community support to my role on the board. I am honored to continue working alongside fellow board members to further this mission.