Gary Simpson has joined the board of directors of the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF). Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA— Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF) welcomes Gary Simpson to the Board of Directors. Simpson brings his experience in running local businesses, his United States Coast Guard service and involvement with other nonprofit organizations to the foundation.
Simpson attended UC Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara City College prior to joining the Coast Guard in 1970. He was honorably discharged after an injury in 1971. Afterward, he decided to experience the world through traveling. He began his experience with a short business undertaking in Micronesia. Later, he worked and traveled throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Upon returning to California, he worked at Santa Barbara Mill and Lumber, his family’s lumber business. Shortly after, he began creating custom furniture and cabinetry and moved on to remodeling several homes. Since 1983, he has been the President and General Manager at the Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center.
Simpson grew up in Santa Barbara and Pasadena. He enjoys traveling the world as much as possible with his significant other, Jill Nida.
About Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation: Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation was founded by John W. Blankenship in 2003 with an initial $1 million personal gift from Pierre Claeyssens. With his wife, Hazel, he has assembled an Executive Board and an Advisory Board that is involved with several projects which honor all veterans of all wars. An extensive collection of artwork, memorabilia and personal histories are collected and ready for exhibit. Santa Barbara and the Tri-County areas from Ventura to San Luis Obispo have played vital roles in all of the wars and conflicts of the 20th Century and have a proud history of service to our nation. The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation hosts many events throughout the year to support and honor Veterans and Active Duty Military. For more information, visit www.pcvf.org or Facebook (PCVML).