Marc Okicich
Marc Okicich is your classic pogue. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1987 which makes him incredibly old. After completing Engineering School at Courthouse Bay, NC he served on America’s finest beaches at Camp Pendleton, CA, and Kaneohe Bay, HI. Although on active duty during Desert Shield/Storm he smashed his leg to bits working on a piece of equipment at 1st LSB (Red Patchers, what!). Thus he did not deploy and cemented his legendary pogue status.
Marc’s highest service to the Corps was earning All-Marine and Combined Services rugby caps. Yes, playing rugby was something you could actually get orders to back in the day.
Marc was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1993 and went on to earn his BA in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland. He quickly moved back to SoCal from Maryland but a job took him to Chicago in 2000.
After many years of Marine Corps birthday celebrations in bars with 10-15 people doing Jamo shots and telling lies, he decided to put together a birthday celebration with a purpose.
Working with a group of Marines from the Marine 4 Life Chicago organization, the group started the Chicago Marines Foundation and the Chicago Marine Corps Birthday Celebration.
In 2014, the inaugural event drew over 200 guests withj $17,000+ raised for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.
Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter has been the Guest of Honor twice in Chicago, and in 2019 helped draw our biggest crowd of over 700 with more than $35,000 raised for veteran-centric charities.
Marc recently moved back to San Diego and is excited to build the San Diego Marines Foundation and create a legacy of giving and fun with the San Diego Marine Corps Birthday Celebration.
Lori Sutherland
Lori Sutherland is a long-time San Diego resident and active volunteer to several veteran and first-responder organizations.
Lori is one of the top-producing realtors for Willis-Allen in La Jolla and a regional vice-president for Arbonne.
She is absolutely the best and is looking forward to making the San Diego Marines Foundation a vibrant, beneficial organization.
Paul Ramirez
1st Sergeant Paul Ramirez is an active duty company 1st Sgt with 1st CEB at Camp Pendleton, CA. Paul was involved with the Chicago Marines Foundation early on and believed in the mission so much that he was inspired to help build a similar organization in San Diego.
Paul served as a platoon sergeant with the Wounded Warrior Regiment at Walter Reed where he met Kyle Carpenter.
Paul lives in Fallbrook with his beautiful family and has been instrumental in founding the San Diego Marines Foundation.