Leadership and Board

Art delaCruz serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Team Rubicon. In this capacity, he is responsible for all facets of the veteran-led humanitarian organization that helps global communities before, during, and after crises and disasters. Prior to becoming CEO, he was the Chief Operating Officer responsible for programs and operations, volunteers, technology, marketing and communications, and developing and executing the organization’s strategy.

A retired Naval Officer, delaCruz served as Director of Strategic Planning at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems prior to Team Rubicon. He served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years with notable tours including serving as an instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and as the Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron TWO.

During his career, he made six deployments as an F-14 and F/A-18 Naval Flight Officer. In 2010, he was one of 12 senior Department of Defense officers selected as a Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow. In this capacity, he was trained by and served with McKinsey & Co. In his final military assignment, delaCruz served as the Deputy of Strategic Policy, and as Systems Innovation Lead at the U.S. Special Operations Command.

delaCruz earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from the US Naval Academy and a master’s degree in operations management from the University of Arkansas.

Dane Barata serves as Team Rubicon’s Chief Financial Officer. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and the business world, he oversees our organization’s fiscal planning, reporting, analysis, and strategy with a determined, nothing-gets-past-me eye.

Throughout a 25-year career that includes everything from scrappy startups to multinational corporations, Dane has seen success at every stage. His drive to see Team Rubicon reach that upper echelon—along with a knack for numbers—has powered our astronomical growth over the past few years.

It’s fitting that Dane identifies best with the Team Rubicon principle of “Get Shit Done.” Since day one, his focus on acting quickly, effectively, and intelligently has allowed us to maximize the power of every dollar and, as a result, the impact we’ve made on communities around the world.

Larissa Rydin is the Chief Advancement Officer at Team Rubicon, where she oversees the organization’s development, brand, and communications functions. She is responsible for leading initiatives that support Team Rubicon’s mission to assist communities before, during, and after disasters.

 
With over 20 years of experience in marketing, fundraising, and leadership, Larissa has worked across nonprofit and corporate sectors, securing major partnerships and leading teams responsible for large-scale fundraising, marketing, and brand initiatives.

 
Larissa’s expertise spans disaster relief, health, and social impact, with a track record of building high-impact campaigns and strengthening brand positioning. Prior to joining Team Rubicon, she served as Vice President of Corporate Alliances at the USO, leading corporate engagement and revenue strategies. She also held executive roles at United Way Worldwide, Tiltify, Autism Speaks, and ALSAC/St. Jude.

 
Over the course of her career, Larissa has successfully navigated complex organizational structures, led multi-million-dollar fundraising and marketing initiatives, and cultivated partnerships with Fortune 500 companies to enhance brand visibility and revenue growth.

 
She most closely aligns with Team Rubicon’s core value to Get Shit Done: “I lead with strategy, empathy, and a bias for action, bringing people and ideas together to drive meaningful impact.”

Sheng-te Yang serves as our Chief Information Officer, responsible for steering Team Rubicon’s strategic vision for tech, and then deploying the appropriate tools and people to make it happen.

His knack for revolutionizing workflows runs deep, and spans from eCommerce to DreamWorks Animation at the highest level. Now, Sheng-te channels his 30 years of tech experience and constant drive for improvement into magnifying Team Rubicon’s capabilities through quantifiable metrics, streamlined processes, and operational efficiency.

For Sheng-te, “Mission First, Greyshirts Always” rings especially true. It serves as a reminder that even though we are a technology-driven nonprofit, our primary focus is always our mission, and we are all Greyshirts—on the ground or from behind the screen.

Jeff Byard, our SVP of Operations, personifies the heart and grit of our organization. He holds a distinguished service record in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1990-1994, bringing a wealth of experience to disaster response and mitigation.

Prior to serving with Team Rubicon, Jeff was appointed to the Office of Response and Recovery for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He managed 185 Presidential Major Disasters and Emergency Declarations with FEMA, including for the devastating 2017 hurricane season, totaling $39 billion in Disaster Relief Fund expenditures.

Jeff now spearheads Team Rubicon’s disaster response efforts. His relentless pursuit of organizational optimization and strategic partnerships ensures the maximum impact of our operations.

Jeff is clear and unrelenting in his purpose: others before self, every time. That hard-nosed tenacity uplifts both his team and those in the midst of disaster. With Jeff at the helm, we stand strong in our mission to deliver aid and empower communities when it seriously counts.

Danica Deming serves as Team Rubicon’s Vice President of Workforce Development and Long Term Recovery. Her role connects Team Rubicon’s robust disaster recovery efforts to the larger recovery cycle, focusing on supporting communities, homes, families, and individuals to achieve resiliency. Her approach embodies a person-centered focus, connecting Team Rubicon’s mission in new ways.

 
For more than 15 years, Danica has supported nonprofits in the workforce development space. She has experience eliminating barriers, upskilling, and connecting individuals to employment opportunities. Prior to supporting veterans, their families, and those impacted by disasters at Team Rubicon, Danica supported individuals who are justice-involved, experiencing food insecurity and homelessness, and who have substance use disorders and mental health disabilities.

 
Danica believes in taking on challenging situations and finding growth in discomfort, so it is no surprise that she best identifies with the Team Rubicon principle of “Step Into the Arena.” Serving individuals and communities is a privilege and Danica is proud to work for an organization as mission-driven as Team Rubicon.

Tim Norman leads as Vice President of People Operations at Team Rubicon. His invaluable input—from volunteer strategy to full-time talent acquisition—allows him to relentlessly support the team that makes up Team Rubicon.

He enriches the role with two decades of unique insights from powerhouses like DreamWorks Animation, Niantic, Inc., and NBCUniversal. Outside the studios, Tim served on the Human Resources Advisory Council for LA Mayor Eric Garcetti’s “10,000 Strong” Veterans Hiring Initiative and sat on the Board of Directors for SHARE!, an LA nonprofit that creates solutions for individuals facing homelessness or addiction. Tim is also a U.S. Army veteran who served as part of the F Company, 51st Infantry LRSU during Desert Storm.

His dedication to service is evident in both his contributions to human resource initiatives and his active role across nonprofits.  He is currently a board member of his local American Legion branch, was an early Board Director for Veterans in Film and Television, and previously served as a partner and adviser to the national Got Your 6 PSA campaign. No matter the challenge, Tim’s actions clearly illustrate his personal understanding of Built to Serve: that the most fulfilling way he could spend his professional time is in service of others.