Board

Founder and Executive Director of The John Preston “Pete” Hill Foundation, Ronald Hill is the great nephew of Baseball Hall of Famer and Negro Leagues player, John Preston (Pete) Hill. Raised in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA, Ron often heard through his older relatives that there was a great baseball player in his family. Little did Ron know that he would live through some of his Uncle Pete’s struggles to find an equal place in society to excel and advocate for his civil rights. Although Ron’s sport of choice was football from an early age, it was this opportunity to be part of a team working towards the goal of victory that cemented much of his path in life.

Ron attended Westinghouse High School, where he became a standout on the football field striving for and achieving a championship. He then attended Tuskegee University, where he again, soon found his place on the football team and soared toward victory. Leaving Tuskegee in 1969, Ron joined The United States Marines. Ron knew that it had only been about 30 years for African Americans to be part of the Marines. Yet even in the late 60s and early 70s, Ron quickly realized that African Americans still were not treated equally as other members of the corps. After the military, Ron enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh.

In the early 1980s, Ron worked for DiCesare Engler Productions managing security and promotions for music venues, working with many black entertainers including the likes of Earth Wind and Fire and Smokey Robinson. Still, Ron noticed even then in the 1980s, the public’s preconceived notion was that, when the performers were African Americans, trouble was coming. Ron made it his mission to keep things running smoothly and to prove them wrong. He went on to work for Sylvia Robinson as the Road Manager for The Sugarhill Gang. Eventually, Ron left touring and management and returned to Pittsburgh. He then worked at the Allegheny County Jail for over 20 years rising from Correction Officer to the position of Major until his retirement.

Rashene is the great-great nephew of Baseball Hall of Fame legend John Preston “Pete” Hill. Rashene has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Networking and has been working as a Network Engineer for 21 years. He is a music aficionado and has been married to his high school sweetheart Tamara for 25 years. They have two daughters: Amirah and Mariah, who both attend Howard University.

Ashley Hill is a seasoned fashion and retail professional with over 10 years of experience leading creative, retail, and operational initiatives for global brands, including Bombas, Balenciaga, and Burberry. She is highly skilled in cross-functional leadership, process optimization, and delivering complex projects from concept to execution.

Throughout her career, Ashley has demonstrated a unique ability to bridge the gap between creative vision and operational success. She brings this same commitment to excellence and strategic growth to her role on the board, where she is dedicated to advancing the Foundation's mission of youth empowerment and historical preservation.

A dedicated professional and lifelong Pittsburgh sports enthusiast, Montel Hill serves as a Route Supervisor for Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), a role where his passion for public service and community connection shines daily.

Beyond his professional commitments, family is the cornerstone of his life. He has been married for 28 years to his wife, Monica Staples, sharing a beautiful journey of over 42 years together. They are the proud parents of four children, grandparents to 12, and great-grandparents to one grandson.

An avid sports fan, Montel fiercely supports all of Pittsburgh’s home teams and has given back to local youth as a basketball coach. In his personal time, he enjoys traveling, embarking on cruises, and staying active. During the summer months, you can find him out on the open road riding his Harley-Davidson or enjoying warm-weather walks and exercise routines with his wife.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Carl's journey has been shaped by leadership, service, and an unwavering commitment to helping others reach their full potential. His passion for excellence was ignited at age four by the game of baseball, teaching him the discipline, teamwork, and resilience that continue to influence his leadership today.

Carl earned a bachelor's degree in Pre-Physical Therapy from Coppin State University and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Walden University. A proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, he embodies the principle of "Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor."

With over 20 years of leadership experience across retail, local government, and entrepreneurship, Carl is committed to developing people and leading with integrity. As a former Level V special education teacher, he believes every individual has unique potential. Today, his mission is to educate, empower, and inspire others through servant leadership, mentorship, and a commitment to leaving every community better than he found it.

Michael H. Smith is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Destiny International Ministries (DIM), a non-denominational church located in the east end section of Pittsburgh with church and offices located in Lincoln-Lemington and Homewood. Pastor Mike, as he is affectionately called, has been in full-time ministry since 1994 and holds a Masters in Religion from Trinity School for Ministry.

DIM was launched on November 15, 2001 with the mission of “teaching the people of God their purpose in God to fulfill the will of God which brings glory to God.” Pastor Mike was born, raised, and was a negative product of the streets of Homewood. His life changed in 1993 after he found Jesus and a wonderful church, Petra Ministries, whose mission was to help others like himself transform their lives into positive and productive citizens. His purpose and passion in life is to bond with those individuals whom Jesus described as “the least of these brothers and sisters of mine” and to teach, encourage, and help them positively transform their lives.

Pastor Mike is the father of one son and married to Dr. Camille Clarke-Smith, EdD, MS and together they use their individual talents, skills, and gifts to help heal a broken community of people.

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