2008 - 2009, Class XIV
PERCY ABRAM
Head of School, Gateway School
Percy moved to Santa Cruz in June 2008, with his wife (Nina), five year-old daughter (Claudia), and two year-old son (Carlos) and works as the Head of Gateway School. Gateway School is a Kindergarten – 8th grade independent school on Santa Cruz’s west side. Prior to joining Gateway School, he was the Upper Division Director at Brentwood School in Los Angeles. An LA native, Percy spent his high school years in Walnut Creek, in San Francisco’s East Bay. He received his B.A. (Economics) and M.A. (Education) degrees from UCLA, and received his Ph.D. in Education from Stanford University. Percy remains committed to the issues of social justice, equity, and multiculturalism in schools. He looks forward to meeting local leaders in politics, medicine, business, and environmental and social justice, anticipating that his experiences with LSCC will allow him to learn more about these issues as they pertain to the residents of Santa Cruz County.
KEVIN BOWLING
Director Information Services, County of Santa Cruz
Kevin and his family moved to the Pajaro Valley 13 years ago from Silicon Valley. His wife’s family has deep roots in the Pajaro Valley farming community and they built a house within the family compound. Kevin spent the last 27 years in Information Technology, working as an executive at a pre-internet search engine company, and then as an executive in a bioinformatics company before deciding it was time to stop driving over the hill and give something back to the community in which he lived and in which his two sons were raised and educated. Kevin expects Leadership Santa Cruz County to broaden his knowledge of the community and allow him to connect with others.
MARVIN BRANDT
Branch Manager, Graniterock Company
A resident in Santa Cruz County for 55 years, Marvin currently lives in Bonny Doon with his wife Sunny. Marvin and Sunny have three adult sons and three grandchildren living in the Bay Area. After 28 years as a manager in the cement manufacturing industry, Marvin joined Graniterock Company in January 2008 as the Branch Manager of their Quail Hollow Quarry. Marvin received his bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Phoenix. He is currently a member of Graniterock’s Santa Cruz County Community Action Volunteers committee. He views Leadership Santa Cruz County as a unique opportunity to learn how local governments, businesses and community organizations strive to improve the county. He hopes to use this information to gain a broader understanding of the community and learn how he can make a meaningful contribution to Santa Cruz County.
WILLIAM (BILL) BULLOCK
Program Manager, Department of Child Support Services, County of Santa Cruz
Bill was born and raised in Southern California, receiving his B.A. in Political Science from Cal State University Humbolt and his M.A. in Public Administration from Cal State University Long Beach. Bill lived for 25 years in Sweden, where he studied Political Science at the University of Uppsala and did Ph.D. work in Public Administration at the University of Gothenberg. While in Sweden, he worked with people with developmental disabilities, including a stint as the Head of Habilitation for three counties on Sweden’s west coast, then three counties on Sweden’s east coast. He was also Head for the Care and Services for People with Developmental Disabilities for Oskarshamn. After returning to the U.S., he has worked for the State of Texas, for Douglas County in Oregon, and now for the County of Santa Cruz. Bill takes pride in being an active member of all of the communities he’s lived in and views LSCC as a step in getting to know Santa Cruz better, developing ties enabling him to be active in this community as well.
LARRY COVERT
Production Manager, CEMEX
Larry is a recent addition to the Santa Cruz County community. Brought here by his nine year career in the cement industry, he and his family of four canʼt imagine a better place to be. His career has taken him across the country working on projects big and small. As a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines, Larry has always looked to different fields of engineering as a challenge and opportunity to solve problems in different ways. He believes that only by working together through compromise can we solve the energy and economic challenges faced by all of us. LSCC offers Larry the opportunity to meet and work with others interested in finding solutions to these difficult challenges.
BILL FERNALD
Director of Guest Services, Mount Hermon Christian Camps and Conference Center
Bill grew up in Vacaville and graduated from Sacramento State University with a B.S. in Commercial Recreation Management. Soon after college, he moved to Santa Cruz County to serve as an intern at Mount Hermon. Thirteen years later, Bill continues to be very active at Mount Hermon, living within the community with his wife Patrice and their 2-1/2 year old son, Landon. He enjoys the adventure of running and riding the world class trails of the county. He’s witnessed attempts by friends to move away from Santa Cruz, only to confirm that this is the most unique and amazing place on the planet. Through LSCC, he hopes to develop new relationships, to deepen his understanding of the broader community, and to contribute where he can to the future of this great county.
MARY FERRICK
Fixed Route Superintendent, Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District
Mary was born and raised in Massachusetts and received her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She moved to Santa Cruz in 1979 and shortly thereafter was employed by Santa Cruz Metro. She has worked as a bus operator, field supervisor, and a schedule analyst. In her current position as a superintendent, she oversees the daily operations of the fixed route bus system. She is married with two children and is a long-term resident of Live Oak.
She is excited to represent public transit and share her knowledge of the important role public transportation plays in connecting people and businesses within a community. She looks forward to meeting new people and expanding her knowledge of the industries of Santa Cruz County.
TOM GRAVES
Deputy City Clerk, City of Santa Cruz
Tom is a Santa Cruz native. After a stint in the Naval Submarine Service during the Vietnam War, he returned to Santa Cruz and graduated from San Jose State in 1978. After retiring from UCSC as a Business Officer, he began working for the City of Santa Cruz in the Planning Department and was selected as Deputy City Clerk in June of 2008. He has served on the Boards of the Santa Cruz AIDS Project, Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center, Santa Cruz SPCA, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and on the County Drug and Alcohol Commission. He is currently on the Governing Council of the First Congregational Church and is an Alternate on the Democratic Central Committee. He and his partner Jim Grove are enthusiastic Cabrillo Music Festival patrons. Community service is important to Tom and he knows LSCC will be an invaluable resource now and in the future.
JAMES HACKETT
Sales Manager, Cruzio Internet
James is Sales manager at Cruzio Internet in downtown Santa Cruz.He moved to the States from the UK in 1993 and to Santa Cruz County in 1995. For the last 8 years he's resided in the San Lorenzo Valley, most recently in Felton. James' passion is for project development and problem solving. He's extremely excited to learn more about the community and discover ways to contribute more. When not working, James loves reading, music and exploring Santa Cruz County with his dog.
KATHY HARTMAN
Chief Executive Officer, Santa Cruz Association of REALTORS®
Kathy was born in Stockton, California and raised in San Jose. A graduate of James Lick High School she received certificates in Non Profit Management from Duke University and the University of Chicago and received the RCE Designation from the National Association of REALTORS® in 1999. She has two grown sons and 3 grandchildren and loves reading, gardening and painting. Thirty years ago, Kathy found her passion in Association Management while working in the Los Angeles area and in helping new association management executives learn the ropes. Kathy is excited about expanding her awareness of the issues facing the county through participation in LSCC and using that knowledge so that she can better serve the Santa Cruz Association of REALTORS® and its communities.
WESTI HAUGHEY
Marketing Manager, Cruzio Internet
Westi is a Santa Cruz native who joined the marketing team at Cruzio in 2004, after many years working in the non-profit arts world. She received her B.A. in Radio, TV and Film from San Jose state and marries her passion and skills as Marketing Manager at Cruzio and as President of the Santa Cruz Film Festival’s Board of Directors. She and her husband love wandering the west in their pop-up camper and find spending time in nature improves every aspect of life. As an active member of Santa Cruz’s next generation of leaders, Westi hopes to learn how to bridge Santa Cruz’s past and future through Leadership Santa Cruz.
KEITH JOHNSON
Administrative Services Manager, Santa Cruz-San Benito County Regional Department of Child Support Services
Keith and his wife, Carol, have lived in the Pleasure Point area of Santa Cruz since 1987 where they raised their two now adult children. Prior to moving his family to Santa Cruz, he worked in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston. Keith has spent the previous two decades managing businesses for him and others; ranging from the arts to manufacturing to computers to agribusiness to finance. He joined the Santa Cruz/San Benito County Regional Department of Child Support Services in 2007 after spending the prior five years operating his own Registered Investment Advisory firm where he was a financial, business and tax consultant. Keith earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a Director for the Youth Resource Bank. Keith looks forward to Leadership Santa Cruz giving him a broader understanding of his community.
ROD JOHNSON
County of Santa Cruz, Health Services Agency, Dept. Administrative Analyst
Rod has lived in the Santa cruz area for over 37 years. He graduated from UCSC in 1972. He has worked for Santa Cruz County since 1975 in the Human Services and Health Services Agencies. He is currently supervisor for the Medi-Cruz program which serves low income residents in Santa Cruz County. Rod lives with his partner Jay in a historic Victorian house in the Live Oak area. He enjoys gardening and skiing for leisure activities. Rod hopes to gain more knowledge through Leadership Santa Cruz about the issues facing Santa Cruz County during this challenging time.
CHASE KALJIAN
Manager of Real Estate, Facilities & Construction, Driscoll’s Strawberries
Chase Kaljian works for Driscollʼs and has more than a dozen years of experience in land use, economic analysis and real estate acquisitions. He and his wife recently moved back to Seabright after living on the East Coast four years for her doctorate. Chase has a MBA from Columbia Business School where he concentrated in real estate finance and a bachelors in economics from UCLA where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. At LSCC, he most looks forward to working collaboratively with community leaders on issues affecting development, agriculture and growth.
BONNIE LIPSCOMB
Economic Development and Redevelopment Director, City of Santa Cruz
As a new resident to Santa Cruz County working in the field of Economic Development, I am hopeful that my involvement in Leadership Santa Cruz will provide a solid foundation for understanding the various complex issues and organizations in the County. The Leadership Santa Cruz program provides not only the context for understanding the issues in Santa Cruz County, but it provides an opportunity to connect with the many people dedicated to making Santa Cruz County one of the best places to live. I hope to build upon my participation in the program to reach out to many of the other leaders in the County to work together on developing programs and solutions to many of the economic challenges we face.
On a personal note, we moved to the Santa Cruz area a little over a year ago and can’t imagine a more wonderful place to live. My husband is a landscape architect and we have two children attending elementary school in Bonny Doon. We love being outdoors and that is where you will find us every weekend enjoying and exploring our beautiful natural areas.
CHRISTINE LOEWE
Outreach and Marketing Coordinator, The Volunteer Centers of SC County
Christine has always chosen work opportunities that focus on empowering individuals to overcome boundaries and recognize their full potential as contributing members of their community. Before coming to Santa Cruz, she worked in youth development and non-profit management, serving as a facilitator for teambuilding programs, directing leadership development programs, and supervising multiple international service learning programs for teens throughout Central America.
She’s thrilled to have found a new home at the Volunteer Center, where she will focus her energy on motivating individuals to be everyday heroes in their community through volunteerism and hopes that what she will learn about the county’s needs through the LSCC program and networking with classmates will help her in her work.
An avid traveler, outdoor enthusiast and soccer fanatic, Christine is a graduate of Evergeen State College in Olympia, WA.
MARIE LOGAN
Director, Office of Planning & Analysis, Business & Administrative Services Div.
UCSC
Marie was born, raised and educated in Michigan. She has a BBA from Western Michigan University and worked at the University of Michigan for 13 years in Ann Arbor, Michigan doing everything from being an Assistant Dean in the School of Natural Resources & the Environment, to being the Director of Corporate and Foundation fundraising in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Then she came to California at the end of 2004 to work at UC Santa Cruz as Assistant Dean of Social Sciences and recently moved to a new position in the Business and Administrative Services Division on campus, as Director of the Office of Planning and Analysis. She thoroughly enjoys her work at the university and loves living near the ocean in Santa Cruz. Marie is an avid bareboat certified sailor and can be found out on Monterey Bay most weekends. She also enjoys international travel, scuba diving and underwater macro photography, ballroom dancing, knitting, oil painting, and making jewelry. Being relatively new to Santa Cruz County, Marie sees LSCC as a way to gain a broader understanding of the community and to learn more about how she can make a more meaningful contribution to the university and the county through her future involvement.
MICHELLE STEPHENSON LUEDTKE
Director of Creative Services & Agency Relations, United Way of SC County
Michelle graduated from Crown College at UC Santa Cruz in 2006 with degrees in History and Studio Art. That same summer, she began work at the United Way of SC County as their Director of Administrative Services and recently transitioned into her current role, which has allowed her the opportunity to develop and showcase her graphic design skills. Michelle is looking forward to the opportunities for knowledge that Leadership Santa Cruz County offers and is excited about deepening her understanding of the community. She and her husband Nathan and their cat Rufus live in Live Oak, where Michelle enjoys baking and crafting in her spare time.
SUSAN MACMILLAN
Director, Strategy & Business Development, Dominican Hospital
Susan moved to Santa Cruz 20 years ago. A resident of Felton, she is married with two sons and one daughter. Susan feels privileged to work at a mission-driven organization, and has worked at Dominican Hospital since 1988. She has held a variety of management roles at Dominican.
Susan implemented new systems and made excellent use of the latest technology in order to provide the highest quality service so that all staff provides the best possible care for the patient. Susan is excited to learn more about the complexities and future needs of the Santa Cruz Community.
She is committed to the concept that organizations should be client or customer driven. With this information she will be able to make recommendations and decisions that are client focused.
TRACEY MARQUART
Imagine--Community Based Disability Services
Tracey has lived in Santa Cruz County for the last five years and is a current resident in the Seabright area. With a passion for community inclusion and civil rights, Tracey has spent her career working in non profit organizations that advance the rights and serve the needs of the community and people with disabilities. Tracey has a BA from Arizona State University, an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Graduate Certificate in Rehabilitation Administration from San Diego State University. Currently, Tracey works with Imagine, a local non profit providing community based disability services and she is a member of the Community Advisory Committee for the North Santa Cruz County SELPA. Tracey looks forward to the LSCC experience and anticipates learning more about our county’s needs and hopes to find new ways to participate and contribute in community life.
SUZANNE MCLEAN
Retired
A third generation Californian, Suzanne graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Psychology. After graduate school at San Jose State, she worked in Psychiatry at San Jose’s Good Samaritan Hospital for nine years. She completed an internship in Organizational Development, where she met – but did not marry – her current husband, LSCC alumnus Allan McLean. Leaving California for other adventures, Suzanne lived in Washington, Alaska, and Oregon. She worked as a Pre-sentence Investigator and Probation/Parole Officer, Program Director for the Mentally Ill, and a Senior Protective Services Investigator. She is state-qualified as a mediator in Oregon, and was board President for the Alaska Women’s Resource Center. She has also held local and state offices for the Oregon Women’s Political Caucuses. When Allan made her an offer she couldn’t refuse, she returned to Santa Cruz County where she hopes her LSCC experience can show her where her talents and expertise can best be used.
MARIA MEAD
Medical Director, Santa Cruz Women’s Health Care
Maria is a California native, who went to University of Washington Medical School and moved to Santa Cruz with her family seven years ago. Maria is a Family Practice Physician, who enjoys combining teaching and helping patients on an individual basis with her love for problem-solving and being an active part of a thriving community clinic. The SCWHC has provided comprehensive medical services to underserved women and children for over thirty years, and Maria enjoys being part of that history as well as being a part of the Safety Net Clinic system throughout Santa Cruz County. Maria is looking forward to LSSC as a way of understanding more of the dynamics of Santa Cruz County outside of health services in order to broaden her role as a community leader.
ALLISON MEYER
Administration Services Mgr., Assistant to Hospital President, Dominican Hospital
Allison, a California native, spent most of her adult years in San Francisco, prior to moving to Santa Cruz two years ago. In the late 1990’s she had a brief experience as a New-Englander, living & working in Boston, MA. Upon return to California, she joined a start up Broker-Dealer in SF, an opportunity that proved to be very demanding and equally rewarding. Now working for Dominican’s Hospital President and supporting the Board of Directors she is at the center of many initiatives and leadership opportunities. By enhancing her leadership talents and community awareness, Allison hopes to positively affect change and strengthen and support the cohesiveness of those with whom she works. When not working, she enjoys gardening, traveling, cooking and playing board games.
LEWIS F. (BUDDY) MORRIS
Director of Environmental Health and Safety, UC Santa Cruz
Buddy was raised in rural Virginia, played one year of basketball at Louisburg College and earned his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech. He began his career in Public Health working for the Virginia Health Department, then moved to Hawaii, where he earned his Masters in Public Health and met his wife Cecile. Hawaii brought wonderful opportunities to sail around the islands, take a trip to Midway and experience an “around the world in 180 days” adventure through Southeast Asia and Europe. Certified in the Comprehensive Practice of Industrial Hygiene since 1985, Buddy has worked in safety and environment on university campuses for the past 28 years, joining UCSC in 1990. He believes leadership is founded on learned skills and will apply his LSCC experience to further the mission of UCSC.
VICTORIA NELSON
Production Manager, Register-Pajaronian
Vikki Nelson has been married to her husband and best friend for 36 years and together they have raised three wonderful children of whom they are immensely proud. She has worked for the Register-Pajaronian newspaper 20 years, most recently as their Production Manager. She loves being involved in the community and learning about current community goals and issues. Her passion is Literacy; she is a volunteer for Watsonville’s “On the Same Page” program, which brings inspiring authors to speak to students, and the Literacy Program of Santa Cruz, teaching adult literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL). Vikki currently serves on the board of the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. She hopes to gain an increased understanding of Santa Cruz County through Leadership Santa Cruz so that she can continue to grow and expand her volunteerism in the community.
JOHN PATTERSON
Executive Director, Community Television of SC County
The arts have played a major role in shaping John’s life. His passion for filmmaking led him to study Radio-TV-Film at Northwestern Univerity. Years later he discovered theater, became a playwright and completed an MFA in Creative Writing at San Francisco State. John’s plays have been published nationally and his works have been produced in Santa Cruz, the Bay Area, and Texas. For 8 years he was Managing Director at Actors’ Theatre in Santa Cruz. In November 2006, John became Executive Director at Community Television. John lives in Capitola with his wife Lisa and their daughter Hannah, who was born in 2007. John is particularly interested in how the arts and culture contribute to a healthy society. He hopes that LSCC will give him a broader perspective on the County as a whole and open his eyes to other key factors in creating a vibrant, sustainable community.
KARLEY POPE
Director of Promotions & Entertainment, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Karley was born and raised in Santa Cruz County. Her parents have always been local business owners, opening their own professional photography studio in Aptos (The Van Zantes) when she was only twelve. She married another Santa Cruz County native and recently welcomed her first child, Ethan, in January 2008. Karley received her BS in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration (with an emphasis in Special Event Management) from Cal Poly SLO. For the past four years she has worked at the Boardwalk planning their special events and promotions such as the Free Friday Night Bands on the Beach and the Clam Chowder Cook-Off. Although she has lived in Santa Cruz throughout her life, she seeks to know it more intimately—looking to learn more about its inner-workings and network with others within the community.
RAQUEL RAMIREZ
Director, Diabetes Health Center Program, Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust
Raquel has more than 10 years experience in the health care industry working with the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency and local non-profit agencies. She has experience in public health programs ranging from promotion of health care access to tobacco and dental disease prevention. Raquel has a degree in American Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
CHASE RENOIS
Retail Sales Coordinator, Driscoll’s Strawberry Associates, Inc.
Raised in the San Joachin Valley, Chase developed a passion for the farming industry, leading him to pursue a career in agriculture. After graduating in 2008 from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in Agriculture Business, he relocated to Santa Cruz to take a position with Driscoll’s as part of their retail sales team. Since he is new to the area, he looks forward to LSCC providing an opportunity to network with and meet county leaders, to learn about the county and its issues and opportunities. He plans to use his experience with LSCC to educate others and promote involvement to make a difference in the community.
JAMIE RIGGS-NAGY
Epidemiologist, Emergency Preparedness, County of Santa Cruz
Jamie has been a resident of Santa Cruz for approximately a year. She works for the County of Santa Cruz as an epidemiologist focusing on emergency preparedness. She grew up in Sacramento where she enjoyed being active in her community and would like to learn more about the Santa Cruz community for both personal and professional betterment. After obtaining a B.S. in Biological Sciences at U.C Davis, she lived and worked in Nepal, Taiwan, and finally, Britain where she received her Masters in Control of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Her interests include access to healthcare, infectious diseases, swimming, Scuba diving, traveling, trying new foods (excluding intentional ingestion of bugs or snails) and looking for new, quirky things to do.
DONNA RODONI
Community Outreach & Volunteer Services Manager, American Red Cross of SC County
Donna has lived in Santa Cruz County for 52 years, moving here is 1956 from the San Fernando Valley, and living to Ben Lomond. She graduated from San Lorenzo Valley High School. Donna was born in St. Louis Missouri and has one brother living in Las Vegas, NM.
Donna has three children, one girl and two boys, all born and raised in Santa Cruz. Donna is the proud grandmother of five horse-crazy girls. Spending time with family and friends is very important to Donna.
Being a resident of this community all her adult life, Donna wanted to give back and decided the Red Cross was where she wanted to be. In joining Leadership Santa Cruz, Donna wants to become more aware of the needs of County residents and help make a difference in their lives through her job and volunteer efforts in the community.
JORGE SANCHEZ
Program Manager, Si Se Puede & SC Residential Recovery, SC Community Counseling Center
Jorgé was born in Michoacan, Mexico. His large family were migrant workers and as a child, he picked strawberries and blackberries. When his father relocated the family to Southern California, Jorge became involved with gangs and drugs. His recovery process got him interested in service work, leading to a Certificate in Addiction Counseling from Bethany University in 1995. He is also certified through the Therapeutics Community (TC) and the Breining Institute. Married for 22 years with two daughters, two sons, and two granddaughters, Jorgé volunteers on the board of the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust and also works with Mensajeras de Confidancy through Hospice SCC. He is a Phil Rather Award winner and was designated a Community Hero through the United Way of SC County in 2003. He plans to use his LSCC experience to connect with others who are interested in giving back to the community.
BETSY STONE
Health Care Administrator, PAMF & Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center
Betsy grew up coming to Santa Cruz to visit her grandparents during the summer. She has worked in healthcare for most of her life, and has a doctorate in epidemiology. Betsy has been involved in quality improvement and patient safety for many years, and is passionate about improving healthcare. She found the opportunity to come and live in Santa Cruz, and work for Palo Alto Medical Foundation, as the Director of Quality Improvement for the Santa Cruz Medical Foundation, Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center, and Visting Nurse Association of Santa Cruz. Returning to Santa Cruz to live with her daughter, Saidie, has felt like coming home, and she loves being able to live and work in the same community. She is looking forward to learning more about SCC and identifying how she can contribute to the community.
LESLIE STROHM
Supervising Accountant, Soquel Creek Water District
Leslie moved to Aptos 12 years ago as a single mother with two small children. She returned to school for a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from San Jose State University. Leslie joined Ernst & Young LLP as a staff auditor, and after becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) began to specialize in non-profit and government accounting. In Santa Cruz, Leslie enjoyed working for Salz Leathers, Monte Vista Christian School and now for the Soquel Creek Water District. She has volunteered with Boy Scouts of America and currently serves on the Board of the Aptos Soccer Club, and hopes to find additional ways to benefit her community through her work at Soquel Creek Water District. She believes Leadership Santa Cruz County is an exciting opportunity to learn more about the challenges that face her community and to find creative solutions for those challenges.
ERIC SUMMERS
Corporate Banking Officer, Comerica Bank
A native of San Luis Obispo County, Eric graduated from Cal Poly SLO in 2005 with a degree in business administration concentrating in Financial Management and a minor in economics. It was in college that he met Tammy, a Santa Cruz native; they have been married for three years and have a three year old dog named Trixie. Eric enjoys travelling, sports, and spending time with family and friends. He is participating in Leadership Santa Cruz County to learn about the history and future of the community and to meet other Santa Cruz County professionals.
CAROL SUTHERLAND
Assistant Recorder, County of Santa Cruz
Carol has lived in Santa Cruz County for most of the last 45 years. She lives with her husband Dennis in Scotts Valley. They have two grown daughters and three grandchildren. Carol is the Assistant Recorder for the County of Santa Cruz and prior to that she worked for the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office as an Advocate for the Victims of Crime Program and for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) which matches children in foster care with a mentor.
In her current position Carol oversees the daily operations of the Recorder’s Office which is responsible for recording real estate land transactions and preserving the County’s Official Land & Vital Records. When she’s not at her office, Carol enjoys RV camping and travel with her husband and grandchildren. In her quiet time Carol enjoys watercolor painting, wine tasting and crocheting. She is committed to helping others through her volunteer work with victims of domestic violence, hospice care and working on the Second Harvest Food Bank Holiday Food Drive. Through LSCC Carol looks forward to building lasting relationships with other community leaders to better serve the public and make a difference in the community through public service and continued volunteer work.
EMILY TREXEL
Associate Attorney, Law Offices of Madeleine Boriss
Emily grew up in Stockton, California, where she graduated from the University of the Pacific with a B.A. in Psychology. She spent three years as a police officer, later
moving to Santa Cruz County and going to law school at the Monterey College of Law. She was an intern for Margaret Leonard, a local leader and retired estate planning and domestic partnership law attorney. Through this, Emily became increasingly active as an advocate for equal rights for all families in this county, and participated in the Diversity Partnership Fund, a million dollar endowment supporting the LGBT community. Emily also spent time as an intern for the Monterey County DA’s Office, and has been a board member and baseball coach for the non-profit Sheriff’s Activity League since 2001. Emily is currently an associate attorney in the Law Offices of Madeleine Boriss, primarily focusing on family law, adoptions, and domestic partner issues. She lives in the Aptos area with her partner Amy and their four dogs, and loves running, swimming, and traveling to exotic places to scuba dive.
SHAROLYNN ULLESTAD
Realtor, Bailey Properties, Inc., Exec. Dir. SV Chamber
Sharolynn and her two beautiful daughters moved from the midwest to Scotts Valley in 1994. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwest Missouri State University in Housing and Interior Design and did her graduate studies in Administration at Drake University. Sharolynn is very involved in her community and was awarded the coveted Scotts Valley “Woman of the Year” award in 2004 for her community volunteer efforts. As a Realtor, she has earned her Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation and is a member of the California & National Association of Realtors, Women’s Council of Realtors, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Santa Cruz Association of Realtors. Sharolynn served on the Board of Directors for the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce several years before stepping up to take on the challenges of balancing executive director & Realtor. But she loves it and looks forward to learning from leaders in the community through LSCC so she can better serve the community, the businesses and her clients.
APRIL WARNOCK
Paratransit Superintendent, Metro Paracruz
April Warnock is the middle child of seven offspring generously inducted into the American population by Ben and Jeanine Warnock. April grew up in Portland, Oregon, and has three children of her own, two of which are active in the military during this time of trouble in Iraq. April has been employed in public transit for over ten years, and paratransit is her specialty. ParaCruz is the complementary service provided by Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District for persons who are unable to access the established fixed route system. ParaCruz is an individualized, detail oriented, problematic service to deliver, and has a high community profile because the clients are disabled and/or elderly. The LSCC experience will give April the opportunity to develop relationships that may ultimately benefit the paratransit community of Santa Cruz County, in regards to both service delivery and program growth. April is currently expecting her first grandchild.
LAUREEN YUNGMEYER
Agent, State Farm Insurance & Financial Services
Laureen is a 21 year resident of Scotts Valley. She and her husband, Bruce, are raising two wonderful sons and have been very active in the Scotts Valley community schools and sports programs. Laureen has been an Insurance & Financial professional since 1991. Her Agency is located in Santa Cruz. Laureen is a life-long learner and enjoys reading and expanding her knowledge. Laureen holds the Certified Financial Planner® certification and has also earned her Chartered Financial Consultant designation. Her passion is sharing her knowledge and focusing on educating her clients--her mission is to help her clients develop, monitor and carryout individualized programs enabling them to protect what they value and achieve and maintain financial independence. She has a proven track record of inspiring others to action! Her vision is to be a leader in the community while becoming a resource for others.
