CRLA Board of Directors

Kevin Pratt - Board President

Kevin is the father of six Capistrano Unified School District students and San Clemente resident. From 2018-2020, his kids were in a classical charter school in Texas, not unlike the proposed California Republic Leadership Academy. Kevin is the President of San Juan Capistrano-based Pacifico Power, a developer of commercial and industrial energy projects. He has filled many different leadership and strategy roles throughout his career, including as an Infantry officer in the US Army, a Special Agent in the FBI (Los Angeles), as a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and with Copart, an international auto auction company. As a consultant with BCG, Kevin was engaged by Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and other clients for both strategic and operational projects to advise on strategy and efficiency. Kevin received a BA in International Relations from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the University of Southern California. (Term Expires: 6/30/25)

Peter Cordero - Board Secretary

Pete Cordero is the VP of Client Success with BloomBoard Inc, a leading software platform enabling educator professional advancement via micro-credentials. In this role, he leads a team which supports BloomBoard partner organizations in successfully implementing their micro-credential programs and supporting their educators.

Pete has twenty-five years of both public and private sector experience. Before coming to BloomBoard, he was the Chief Operating Officer of Amethod Public Schools (AMPS), a high performing charter school network serving over 2000 Bay Area students, where he led the operations, finance and talent teams. Prior to AMPS, he was the Director of the Broad Residency in Urban Education, a two-year nationwide leadership development program. He started his education career as Director of School Support Services at PUC Charter Network in Los Angeles, CA.

Before transitioning into the education sector in 2007, Pete worked in sales and sales leadership roles with both mid-sized and Fortune 500 companies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from The University of Southern California and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University, The George L. Graziadio School of Business and Management. (Term Expires: 6/30/24)

Brian Mew

Brian Mew is the owner of MewCo (Mew Consulting), a political consulting and fundraising firm in Orange County. Aside from consulting and fundraising, Brian's professional background is in non-profit operations, events, government relations, advocacy and public policy. Previously, Brian worked as Senior Communications Consultant for Quimby Group Consulting; Director of Advocacy and Government Relations for the South Orange County Economic Coalition; and Operations and Events Manager for the Lincoln Club of Orange County.

Brian earned his Bachelor's Degree in Communications and graduated cum laude from California State University, Fullerton. He is currently pursuing his Executive MBA at Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business and Economics and is enrolled in Chapman's Argyros Executive Leadership Program. 

In 2022, Brian was sponsored as a Generation Liberty Fellow at the State Policy Network's annual conference. The program recognizes rising leaders from organizations across the country that are empowering their communities through local policy solutions. As a young man, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout as part of Troop 737, based at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in San Clemente. (Term Expires: 6/30/25)

John Taylor

As the third child in a family of six, John emigrated from Canada to the United States when he four for the educational opportunities that were not available to the general public in Canada in the 1950’s. John was the first in his family to graduate from college, earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree from UC Irvine. During that time he joined the Peace Corps and taught vocational agriculture in Liberia, West Africa.

John’s career eventually settled in commercial construction and property management, where he owned his own business building office buildings from the ground up and then also providing day to day property management.

John has been intricately involved in civic activities, serving as President of San Juan Capistrano Little League, AYSO Coach and Referee, President of the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, and also serving as a San Juan Capistrano City Council Member from 2010 – 2014, and 2018 to present. He was Mayor in 2013 and 2021. (Term Expires: 6/30/25)