2005 - 2006 Class XXI Bios & Photos

	Adema - Craig = Page 1	Gomez - Polse = Page 3
	Danielson - Goddard = Page 2	Ramage - Verutti = Page 4

JANENE ADEMA VP/Branch Manager, Rabobank N.A. Janene is VP/Branch Manager for Rabobank N.A, formerly Community Bank of Central California. She is also a professional public speaker, and has traveled worldwide as an international motivational speaker. She enjoys speaking engagements within the Santa Cruz business community. Janene is passionate about supporting non-profit organizations, and is a Bereavement Counselor for Hospice Caring Project. She is on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Cruz, as well as the Santa Cruz Business Council. She serves in the Santa Cruz Rotary Club, the Dominican Hospital Guild, and several other non-profit organizations. Janene has lived in Santa Cruz for 26 years. Janene joined LSCC because of her love for Santa Cruz County and her desire to learn more about it. With the knowledge she will gain from LSCC, it is her desire to ake a greater contribution to this wonderful county.

BECKY ALEXANDER Sales Associate, BT Commercial Real Estate Becky enjoys working in commercial real estate, where she’s able to help businesses buy, sell, and lease property in the Santa Cruz County area. She grew up in Arkansas, got a B.S. in Physics in 1986 and moved to the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area to work for the government. Traveling cross-country on business for several years, she developed a desire to live in California. That opportunity came when she went to work as an engineer for Silicon Systems in Santa Cruz in 1992. Her career transitioned from engineering to sales in 1996 while working at Applied Materials. She continues to enjoy the challenge of sales, although now in a different field and much closer to home. She’s fortunate to share her passion for gardening in this amazing climate as a volunteer gardener with the Assisted Living Project in Scotts Valley.

JO ANN ALLEN Program Coordinator, Santa Cruz County Office of Education Jo Ann has been married 32 years to her high school sweetheart. They have two married children, ages 27 and 29, and one magnificent grandson, age 3. She has been an administrator for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education for 16 years. Jo Ann has an eclectic background in clothing design, art, community organizing, grant writing, education, and program management. Through the application of the latest theories and a common sense trial and error approach, she has designed successful model programs for “high-risk” children, youth and families highlighted at national, state, and regional conferences and in best and promising practices publications. As an innovator of programs and services to meet the changing needs of Santa Cruz County, she feels Leadership Santa Cruz County will expand her experiences and abilities to identify emerging local trends leading to program improvements, enhanced services and, ultimately, success for all Santa Cruz County students.

OMID AMINIFARD Director of Rides and Attractions, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Omid arrived in San Diego, California, as a young boy. During a visit to Sea World, he found his calling in the amusement industry. After years at Sea World, Omid became Lead Ride Operator for the Giant Dipper roller coaster in San Diego. Eventually, he made his move to the ever-expanding Las Vegas strip and was hired as a supervisor for the Rides and Attractions Department at the Luxor Hotel and Casino. Always looking for a new challenge, Omid was hired as the Director of Tower Operations for the Stratosphere Tower. After eight years in Las Vegas, he grew tired of the Las Vegas lifestyle. Omid was offered the position of Arcades and Attractions Director at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and has since taken over the ride operations department. When not working, Omid enjoys spending time with his wife and 14-month-old son.

JOYCE ANDERSON T.V. Producer/Host Joyce is the board chair for the American Red Cross Santa Cruz Chapter. She also serves on the board of directors of Community Television of Santa Cruz County, where she is treasurer and producer, and hosts two weekly television shows, “Inside Santa Cruz” and “Women in Business,” a joint production with the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce. Joyce also does public service announcements for nonprofit events. Her production company, Joyce Anderson Productions, produces and choreographs bridal fashion shows at the Cocoanut Grove in Santa Cruz for the Seaside Company, and for other organizations at the Santa Clara Convention Center. She is the public relations director for Rancho Shopping Center in Los Altos. Through Leadership Santa Cruz County, Joyce hopes to share with others in the community and to grow in mind and spirit.

JUDY ANDERSON V. P. Branch Manager, Comerica Bank Judy works for Comerica Bank as a branch manager, as part of a 36-year career.   Judy started as a teller and worked her way up to her present position.   She currently serves as treasurer on the board of directors for the Aptos Chamber of Commerce.   She is also the president of the Felton Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, a board member of the Mountain Parks Foundation, and a board member of the Felton Cemetery Association.   Judy enjoys participating in community events and giving back whenever she can.   She is very interested in learning more about Santa Cruz County and how each individual community works.

WES ANTHONY Teacher, Musician, Owner of E3 Playhouse Wes is the founder of E3 Playhouse, a new restaurant/bar/"live" music venue in downtown Santa Cruz. E3 stands for Entertainment, Education, Eatery. He plays sax, flute and bass in 10 bands, ranging from swing, salsa, R&B and Americana. His Masters degree in music performance from San Diego State University, along with 2 years teaching elementary, junior high and high school band, inspired him to create his own school of socials arts which includes music, dance, language, and art. Wes wants to bring a high level of culture to Santa Cruz. He plans to be an active member in the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Association, Elks Club and Leadership Santa Cruz County.

STEVE BAUER Firefighter/Apparatus Engineer, Santa Cruz City Fire Department Steve is being sponsored by his employee organization, the Santa Cruz City Firefighters, Union Local 1716. Steve has served the union in various capacities and is looking forward to continuing the union’s efforts at outreach and service to the community at large, and in furthering relationships with community leaders. Steve was born and raised in San Francisco and received a B.S. in aeronautics from San Jose State University. Prior to his firefighting career, he spent seven years in airline and aerospace firms within engineering and technical management. Steve enjoys the outdoors, vintage European cars, and foreign travel, having taken two years off between careers to travel much of the world. He is excited by this opportunity with Leadership Santa Cruz County to learn and experience more of our vibrant, multifaceted, and diverse community.

KATHY BISBEE Director of Marketing, Cruzio Originally from Western Maine, Kathy is the Director of Marketing at Cruzio, voted “Best Internet Service Provider” in Santa Cruz County for the past 11 consecutive years. With a B.A in Political Science/Social Sciences from the University of Maine, Kathy is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Integrated Marketing Communications and Public Relations at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. Kathy enjoys pioneering new efforts: she was the leadership force behind Cruzio’s annual Small Business Fair, the Spanish services program, and Cruzio’s new retail location in downtown Watsonville. She currently serves on the Santa Cruz County Workforce Investment Board, Santa Cruz Downtown Commission, Santa Cruz Film Festival Board of Directors and the Campaign to Renew School Funding (2005). Kathy produces CruzioTV, a monthly technology education program on Channel 25. She often kayaks in Monterey Bay with her husband, Alec VanderWoude, a local web designer/IT professional.

DENNIS BLACK Mortgage Broker, PFS Mortgage Loans Dennis has lived in Santa Cruz County for a total of fifteen years. He and his wife are co-owner/brokers of PFS Mortgage Loans of Santa Cruz. They also own a real estate investment company. Their business thrives on repeat and referral opportunities to serve others. Dennis is in his third year of serving on the Board of Directors of the Aptos Chamber of Commerce. He is also active in building the Aptos Museum. His personal hobbies include golf, fishing around the world, and traveling with his wife, Diane. Dennis is looking forward to learning more about the dynamics of Santa Cruz County and the opportunities for getting even more involved in giving back to the community he loves.

JOY BLANDING Education Coordinator, Go Kids, Inc. Joy, a native Californian, grew up in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Three years ago she returned to the county and lives in Aptos with her lab, Pandora. Joy holds an MBA in Leadership with a B.S. in Human Development. She has published two children's books addressing decision-making and unconditional love. With over 15 years of management, teaching, and training experience, Joy is the Education Coordinator for Go Kids, a child development agency. She ensures quality for children and staff, providing coaching and coordinating training/staff development. Joy serves on the Community Foundation Silicon Valley's "Young Readers-Future Leaders" Advisory Council and sits on the panel for the South County Multi-Disciplinary Support group (MDS) assisting childcare professionals. She is a "trainer of trainers" for the Inclusion Symposium Project, and a member of the Health Consortium Advisory Committee. She enjoys gardening, the outdoors, and traveling and hopes to visit every continent during her lifetime.

HIRANYA BREWER Santa Cruz County Childcare Planning Council Coordinator Hiranya was born in South India (and has lived abroad in both Asia and Europe). She calls Santa Cruz home and has attended school here from kindergarten through her BA program in cultural anthropology and K-12 multiple subject teaching credential program, both at UCSC. Hiranya taught bilingual kindergarten and first grade for four years and then returned to Cabrillo College to study early childhood education. She currently coordinates the Childcare Planning Council for Santa Cruz County, which advocates for quality, sustainable, and affordable childcare. Her passion and vision are to foster and encourage conscious, healthy, and positive relationships between caregivers and children in order to bring about real and lasting social change.

BETH FROST-CRAIG Executive Assistant, Neighborhood Childcare Center After graduating from California State University, Long Beach, with a degree in Psychology, Beth moved to Santa Cruz with a strong desire to work in the education sector. She worked as a Program Coordinator for UCSC’s Web and Internet Technologies Department during the dot-com boom. After that bubble burst, Beth joined Neighborhood Childcare Center. Working at a non-profit childcare center has exposed her to many issues, needs, and opportunities in Santa Cruz County. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the center, she has gotten involved in city government and is currently active in the Fund Development committee, which aims to ensure continued financial stability of the center. Beth enjoys working closely with so many families in the community and hopes to enrich their lives with the experiences that the Leadership program has to offer.

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