Hinkle Charitable Foundation

William H. (Hal) Hinkle

B.S. Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine (with honors); M.B.A. Business Economics, Columbia University (Beta Gamma Sigma), MPhil, MS, PhD Neurosciences, Columbia University, Graduate Research Fellow of the National Science Foundation (2007-2011). Worked at Goldman Sachs on Wall Street for 22 years following which Hal retired.  Then he started BrokerTec Global, as CEO, for a consortium of global investment banks. After a successful start-up, BrokerTec became the leading electronic wholesale bond trading platform. BrokerTec was sold to ICAP PLC, the largest voice broker, following which Hal retired. In addition, Hal has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for TradeWeb, LLC, a Director of the Public Securities Association ("PSA"), the Chairman of the Mortgage Division of PSA and a member of several non-profit boards. Then he established the Hinkle Charitable Foundation to advocate for musical, environmental and nutritional education, following which he retired.  Then he began doctoral studies in the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior at the Columbia University Medical Center in Fall 2007 and was recognized as a Graduate Research Fellow of the National Science Foundation from 2008 to 2012. He was driven to pursue neurosciences to allow him to study how music engages the brain to elicit emotions. During this work he conducted several targeted studies on Dr.Oliver Sacks that were featured in a PBS Nova television special. His interest in how the brain processes music expanded to how the human reward system works. He concluded his PhD work in late 2012 with studies of how exercise modulates appetite and cognitive control over food cues in the environment, following which Hal retired. In 2009, Hal found himself in Geyserville, CA, in Sonoma County's beautiful Alexander Valley, the Gateway to the Wine Country.  Alexander Valley seemed like a most suitable place for his eventual retirement so in 2010 he purchased the 140 year old Fay Ranch, which allowed Hal to establish Sei Querce Vineyards with the goal of being one of the ecologically conserved agricultural properties in Sonoma County. Subsequently, the adjoining Ellis Ranch was acquired to became part of Sei Querce. More recently, the old Geyserville Post Office was acquired and is being remodeled to become the Geyserville Green to help bring the products of the farm into the town. With ample projects from growing vegetables to making wine in bucolic Alexander Valley, Hal had finally found the perfect location for his kick-back retirement. Then he assumed the leadership of BamCore, LLC a bamboo-based building products manufacturer with a scaleable and uniquely beneficial carbon footprint.  Currently, he also serves as a member of the Strategic Task Force for the Pepperwood Preserve Foundation and the Climate Action Advisory Committee for the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Agency.  Hal has promised himself that after BamCore, he'll re-retire (really) again, following which he'll turn to his great loves of music, nature, and his family. 

Katherine McCall Bailon

B.S. Management and International Business, with honors in Finance, The Pennsylvania State University. Worked at Goldman Sachs for 11 years before moving to Andor Capital as a buy-side analyst. Katherine’s current passion is green transportation, and she is anxiously awaiting the arrival of a certain electric vehicle of her own.

Patricia Deacon

B.A. in Design from UCLA, graduate work in Advertising at Art Center College of Design. Patricia works in the graphic design field, coordinating integrated marketing solutions for companies in a variety of industries. She was instrumental in the redesign of www.thehcf.org and has been studying sustainable design over the past year and a half. An avid equestrian and skier, Patricia enjoys sports of all types, traveling, and gourmet cooking. She is happiest when she can spend time riding her beloved Thoroughbred, Bordeaux, who never idles.

Timothy Hinkle

B.A. Religious Studies, Wesleyan University; works painting houses to facilitate his dreams. Timothy is moving to Oregon to help in the greening of our world. He is interested in sustainable aspects of our built environment, from houses to cities, and is considering grad school in this area. He enjoys resting the mind and climbing beech trees. If you ask, he will point you to the best climbing tree in New England.

Katarzyna (Kasia) Duda

Graduated from Tadeusz Kosciuszko High School, one of the top ten high schools in Poland. Finished first year of law at University of Nicolaus Copernicus in Torun. Member of ELSA - European Law Student Association. Currently enrolled as an international transfer student at Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ, studying Political Science.