Board
BTF Board at our 2023 Bull & Shrimp Roast
Pictured left to right
Rich Blood, Zach Long, Katie Nuce, Candi Tolson, Jon Tolson, Pam Long, Geri Riley, Stew Riley, Lisa Tolson & Beth Tolson
We believe that we all share the important component of helping others out of a deep love for us and for Brandon.
Candi Tolson
CEO / Co-Founder
Candi Tolson is a co-founder of The Brandon Tolson Foundation (BTF) alongside her husband, Jon Tolson. She is Brandon’s mom and serves as CEO of the foundation. When this foundation was started in 2017, she began looking for ways to keep Brandon’s memory and legacy alive through helping other bereaved parents. Brandon’s mantra of “Don’t Waste Your Life” became a driving force in finding a way to transform her own grief into a mission of healing and hope for others on the same path.
She and Jon raised their two sons, Brandon and Collin in the Forest Hill, MD area. Candi has been a night shift nurse for 30 years. Her passion to help others has evolved since the loss of Brandon from a nurse at the bedside to walking side by side with our families. Our BTF families are where she finds her passion and purpose.
She loves music, mind/body fitness and Amazon. She strongly believes in choosing joy even in the dark hours of life. Her words to live by are “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”.
Pam Long
Executive Director
Pam is an original board member and was invited by Candi & Jon because of their bond through their son’s friendship. Her position has morphed over time, serving as our Treasurer and now as our Executive Director. She brings her previous board experiences and her way with checks, balances, finances and is our master of all things needing to get done. She is our backbone. She also co-chairs our Annual Bull & Shrimp Roast each spring.
Pam and her husband, Michael, are longtime residents of Forest Hill, MD where they raised their two children Zach & Rachel. They are very proud that Zach is a part of the BTF Board as it’s Treasurer. In her day job, she works in the debt collection & debt sales industry as an Sales Account Executive with EverChain and is very thankful this role provides her the flexibility to serve BTF. She is fiercely dedicated to her family & friends, loves the beach, is an avid reader and strongly believes we should all make a difference in someone’s life, every day.
Jonathan Tolson
President / Co-Founder
Jon Tolson is a co-founder of the Brandon Tolson Foundation (BTF) with his wife, Candi Tolson. Jon is first & foremost Brandon’s Dad and secondly the assistant to his wife and our CEO, Candi. His gift is his constant vision of what BTF looks like in 5 years.
Beth Tolson
Secretary
Beth is our Secretary and our sister-in-law. She was invited to be on the board as an original member knowing she was capable of the organization and administrative skills but also because of her sincerity in helping Jon and I heal and remember Brandon through good deeds and giving to others.
Beth and her husband Shelby, one of Jon’s brothers, are residents of Bel Air. They have two children: daughter Kara and her husband Jordan live in Salisbury, MD; their son Jeff and his wife Tori live in Harleysville, PA, along with their two sons. Beth is a paralegal with the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office. She has spent 25 years working for local government in various administrative positions. She also is a member of Immanuel Baptist Church, where she is the Church Clerk/Treasurer. Faith and family are very important in her life. She loves spending time with family, especially her grandsons!
Zach Long
Treasurer
Zach started as the BTF Treasurer in 2022. Being close with the Tolson family from a young age and one of Brandon’s best friends, he is honored to enhance his friend’s legacy and provide support to the families BTF helps. Being a CPA and having a background in accounting (including previously auditing non-profits) made for a good fit in handling BTF’s financials.
Brandon & Zach met while playing travel soccer together, but their friendship flourished in High School when Jon and Candi would take Brandon, Collin & Zach to Youth Group every Wednesday night. You could always find the pair watching a soccer game or playing ping pong. If you could not find them there, they were most likely longboarding to get a Little Caesars pizza to take home and play Texas Hold ‘Em.
During his career Zach previously worked for The Baltimore Orioles as their Senior Accountant for four years. Part of those responsibilities were completing the accounting for The Baltimore Orioles Foundation. In 2025 Zach switched gears and is now the Accounting Manager at Brightview Senior Living. Enjoying the unique accounting that job entails & giving back to the community, it was a great landing spot for personal & professional growth.
Having become a father in 2025 the Foundation hits home even more now. Knowing not even an ounce of what losing a child feels like the thought of it can be paralyzing in and of itself. Gaining even that small bit of perspective has drilled home even more why this organization is so unique and so powerful, being able to bring any sort of light in the darkest of times.
Music was a connection Brandon & Zach shared. A great line by the band Seahaven is “I am furthest from the Sun, closest to roots of the tree, you’re not the only one under shade suffering”. For some reason that line for Zach is the epitome of what BTF is, all these families BTF helps cannot see the light after all they have lost. But BTF shows them they are not alone, and we are here to help make the burden they carry a little less heavy.
Geri Riley
Geri is an original board and it was imperative to bringing on our board due to our mutual friendship coupled with her son being one of Brandon’s best friends. She fills Candi & Jon’s need to have folks who are truly vested in keeping Brandon’s Legacy alive and also true friends who actively make sure they continue healing. Geri is multifaceted in what she brings, how she volunteers and how she gently brings the necessary devil’s advocate to the table. She also co-chairs our Annual Bull & Shrimp Roast each spring.
Katie Nuce
Katie is also one of our original board members chosen for her special connection with Brandon and our family. She brings phenomenal skill in graphic design as she creates all of our necessary logos and and is now partnering with our social media person.
Lisa Tolson
Lisa Tolson is an original board member of the foundation, invited by Candi and Jon not only to represent the Tolson family, but also for her extensive expertise in human resources.
Lisa resides in Phoenix, Maryland with her husband, Patrick. They have two children, Paige and Chad, and are proud grandparents to Maddie and Ansel. After a distinguished 40-year career with the Baltimore Orioles—where she served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Chief People Officer—Lisa retired, though she remains active in her community. She currently substitute teaches at Perry Hall Christian School and enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.
When asked why she chose to serve on the board, Lisa shared:
“Brandon was such a bright light in the Tolson family, and serving on the board of this foundation is just one way to honor his spirit and spread hope and love to those who suffer the loss of a child.”
Rich Blood
Rich and Julie were introduced to the Brandon Tolson Foundation in November 2019 after the heartbreaking loss of their son, Evan, to an accidental fentanyl overdose. In the wake of their grief, they found strength in community and purpose through the Brandon Tolson Foundation supporting other bereaved parents and families.
They are also proud parents to their daughter, Ally, an emergency room nurse in Tampa, Florida, whose dedication to helping others reflects the values instilled in their family.
To honor Evan’s memory and continue his legacy, Rich and Julie host an annual benefit concert. This heartfelt event supports both the Brandon Tolson Foundation and The Evan Blood Memorial Fund, helping raise awareness and provide resources for families who have experienced similar losses.
Through their advocacy, compassion, and commitment, Rich and Julie remain dedicated to turning their pain into purpose—supporting others while keeping Evan’s spirit alive.
Michael Hoy
Michael Hoy is the CEO of Great Day Improvements, with a proven track record of driving growth and fostering a thriving organizational culture. As the Chief Executive Officer of Great Day Improvements, Michael has spearheaded the company’s expansion and success since assuming the role in 2015, growing to over 288 locations nationwide
Michael is a native Baltimorean. He currently splits his time in Maryland and Florida with his wife Tracey. They have two beautiful adult daughters, Brittany (25) and Megan (23).
Joining the board of the Brandon Tolson Foundation is an opportunity to drive meaningful engagement, share my expertise, and help shape a mission that improves lives for people, in what is the most difficult time in their lives. — Michael Hoy
Heather Matricciani
Heather first met the Tolsons in 2018 following the tragic loss of her 19-year-old son, Joel, in a car accident. Seeing their resilience gave her hope that she could find a way forward.
A certified Life Coach and Grief Educator, Heather helps other grieving parents navigate life after loss. Encouraging and uplifting others has always been her passion, but after losing her son, that passion evolved into supporting other bereaved parents. Drawing on her own experience, she brings a unique depth of understanding, comfort, and compassion—helping families rebuild their lives around their grief.
To honor Joel’s memory, Heather organizes our annual Miles of Smiles 5K fundraiser—named for the many smiles Joel shared and the joy he left behind.
Heather and her husband Andy live in Bel Air, and are grateful to have both of their surviving children, Jeremy and Drew, living close by right here in Harford County. They have been blessed with 2 beautiful grandchildren, Jacob Joel and Lily Rose, who bring them endless joy.