About Break the Cycle
Our Board of Directors
Carol Cheng-Mayer
Carol Cheng-Mayer is an independent consultant with a background in finance, fundraising and business development. Carol serves as US Business Manager for Chibi, LLC and provides strategic planning services to corporations including Streetscape Equities. Carol served as Director of Corporate Giving for LA-based nonprofit Chrysalis. Her extensive financial services experience includes serving as Vice President, Investment Management for Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. and in the Asia Finance Distribution division of Bankers Trust Company. Carol attended Barnard College and received her MBA from New York University.
Eleanor M. Johnson, Board Treasurer
Eleanor M. Johnson is a tax partner in the public accounting firm of Cohen, Miskei & Mowrey LLP. Eleanor is an active member of the Century City Chamber of Commerce where she sits on the Board of Directors, served on the Executive Committee and was the Chairman of the Board in 2002. She has been on the Women's Business Council Steering Committee since 1996, serving as the Chair in 1998. Originally from Boston, Eleanor was certified as a CPA in Massachusetts in 1989 and became certified in California in 1997.
Allison Mellon
Allison Mellon has enjoyed a successful career in the media and entertainment industries, most recently as a member of AOL's entertainment team working with movie studios to promote their films online. Prior, she was Vice President, Sales for National Lampoon and Vice President, Sales and Advertising Operations for Vivendi Universal. Allison also spent many years in radio in sales management for The Beat in Los Angeles, V-103 in Atlanta and KISS-FM, NY. An active participant in community service, Allison has a long-standing commitment to fighting cancer and ending domestic violence.
David Mount, Board Chair
David Mount has been a dedicated supporter since 1998, earning him Break the Cycle's empowerment award in 2002. In 1993, after a prominent career in the music industry, David was appointed chair and CEO of Warner/Elektra/Atlantic, Inc. (WEA), a division of Time Warner with annual revenues of over $2 billion during his tenure. Currently, David is chairman of the board of visitors of Pepperdine University's School of Business as well as chairman of CF Services, a division of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Sam Pryor
Sam Pryor is a partner in Alschuler Grossman Stein & Kahan LLP's Entertainment & Media Department. He has extensive experience as a trial lawyer in entertainment, business, and employment litigation in state and federal courts. Sam represents celebrities, motion picture production and distribution companies, producers, directors, writers and others associated with the entertainment industry. Sam has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Committee on Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property, and an Adjunct Professor of Law at USC law school.
John Shaeffer
John Shaeffer is a partner at O'Donnell Shaeffer Mortimer, a nationally recognized litigation firm located in LA. In addition to an active litigation practice in the areas of intellectual property, entertainment and complex tort, John is an adjunct professor at Santa Clara University School of Law and a frequent lecturer and commentator on a variety of legal topics. Away from the office and in addition to his work with Break the Cycle, John enjoys time with his family and attempts to coach his son's AYSO soccer team.