Our Board

Board / Chairs
	Eileen Haag, president Community Leader Eileen published community newspapers for more than 20 years and has provided consulting services to a variety of clients. Since the Witch Creek fires of 2007, Eileen has chaired the RB United Coalition, to help Rancho Bernardo recover and rebuild after losing more than 300 homes. She also chairs the board of directors at Casa de las Campanas, a continuing care retirement community, is the vice president of the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation and serves on the board of the Poway Center for Performing Arts Foundation. She is a Soroptimist Woman of Distinction and has been inducted into the Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame.
	Teresa Jacques, vice-president Human Resource Professional Teresa brings over 20 years of global executive experience within the telecommunications, oilfield services and professional services sectors to the SDWF. She has led and established world-class HR functions, incorporating recruitment programs, executive development, employee motivation programs, compensation programs and leadership development. Teresa has served on the Board of Casa de Amparo and Co-Chairs the San Diego Chamber Orchestra Annual Gala. Teresa has a Master of Arts Degree in Manpower Studies from the University of Westminster U.K and completed the General Manager Program at Harvard Business School.
	A.J. Frank, treasurer and finance chair Financial Planner A.J. has over 20 years experience as a financial planner helping people understand and organize their financial lives and achieve their goals. She has served on the local board of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors and has been involved with the Grants Committee of SDWF since 2004. She holds a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Duke University, is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and is a graduate of the College for Financial Planning.
	Susie Zlotnik, secretary Community Leader/Lecturer Susie began her professional life as a middle and high school teacher and coach. She then enjoyed twenty years of owning and operating a local children’s bookstore. She is currently a part-time lecturer in the School of Teacher Education at San Diego State University where her duties include mentoring and supervising student teachers. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and a Masters degree from Northwestern University. Her most recent volunteer activities include being a member of the committee that founded, organized and promoted the Children’s Book Festival for the San Diego City Library Foundation and tutoring at the Monarch School.
	Cynthia Olmstead, past-president President, Olmstead Consuilting With over 20 years’ experience as an organization development specialist, Cindy’s professional focus is on helping organizations and individuals, nationally and internationally, to build and maintain trust. She has developed a series of programs called TrustWorks! that teach a common language of trust, build strategic plans and train leaders. A native San Diegan, Cindy sits on the Second Chance board, is past chair of LEAD San Diego and is a member of the Downtown Rotary Club. Cindy holds a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College and was a master’s candidate with California American University in managerial behaviors.
	Catherine Blair, grants chair Community Leader Catherine Blair retired from The Bishop’s School where she served as Dean of Academic Resources, Director of College Counseling and Admissions Associate. Her vast community involvement includes remaining very active with Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure where she is a board member, grant chairman, 2010 top fundraiser and volunteer. She also serves on the UCSD Moore’s Cancer Center Athena Project Advisory Council and is a Scripps Memorial Hospital Polster Center breast cancer patient mentor. She is also the United Way Women’s Leadership Council governance chair. Catherine supports the SDWF as a charter member, has been site visit chair, a member of the Grants Committee, Discovery Committee, participated in the Discovery 2010 task force and is the Grants Implementation Chair. She was a past president of Junior League of San Diego and Bishop’s School Parent’s Association and served on the boards of Rady’s Children’s Hospital Auxiliary and San Diego Mental Health Association. Catherine received a bachelor’s in Journalism from Oklahoma State University, earned a master’s from National University and graduated from LEAD San Diego.
	Colleen Krause, education chair Program Manager, IRC Colleen Krause brings more than fifteen years of experience in education, nonprofit administration, and refugee programming. She manages the family education programs at the International Rescue Committee. Recognized as an IRC National Field Expert, she has provided technical assistance to programs throughout the United States. She has served as the Chair of the San Diego Literacy Network and on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Council on Literacy. She is currently earning her master’s degree in Nonprofit Management and Leadership at the University of San Diego.
	Marjorie O’Malley, membership chair Retired Healthcare Executive Marjorie retired after a broad career in the healthcare industry, including Senior Vice President at CIGNA HealthCare, President of two pharmacy benefit management companies and President of a healthcare software and service company. She established a consulting practice which provided guidance to executive management at healthcare and pharmaceutical companies in strategy development. In addition, she led industry initiatives to improve and simplify healthcare administrative processes and promote and develop infrastructure and standards for real time electronic transactions and information exchange. Marjorie joined SDWF shortly after moving to San Diego in 2008 and has been active in the Grants committee, Planning Task Force, and the Membership Committee. She holds a degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
	Julie Ruedi, grants implementation chair Retired Biochemist Julie retired after more than 25 years of experience doing biomedical research at The Scripps Research Institute. The first 10 years were spent in the Immunopathology Department, devoted to exploring human immunodeficiency’s, including some very early pioneer work on establishing biomarkers for AIDS patients. The later years she was working on the basic biochemistry of enzyme function in Neutrophils, a type of White Blood Cell.
	Rita Solberg, discovery chair Community Leader A volunteer in the San Diego community for more than 25 years, Rita joined SDWF in 2004 and has been active with the grants committee in the years since. She has served as president of the Junior League of San Diego as well as the Francis Parker School Parents’ Association. She is a past president of MADCAPS (Mothers and Daughters Charity Assisting Philanthropies) and was a board member of Voices for Children and Lutheran Social Services of Southern California. Rita is a LEAD San Diego graduate. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University and a master’s in nursing from UCLA.
	Erica Ueland, governance chair Community Leader/Pilot Erica Ueland’s aviation background includes work as a flight trainer, aerial photographer, and commuter airline captain in Los Angeles. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, she flew as a contractor Lockheed Electra Pilot and Flight Engineer for the USAF LOGAIR (Logistical Airlift) system, based at Hill AFB in Utah, including daily missions for Operation Desert Shield. After retirement, she worked at North Island creating interactive systems lessons in Computer Based Training modules for pilots and Naval Flight Officers, leading the production effort for a team of writers, S-3 pilots, instructional designers, QA specialists, programmers, and 3-D animators. Prior to moving to San Diego, Erica served as Chair of the Mass Care Committee and on the Disaster Response Board of the Greater Salt City Area Red Cross, and was a volunteer for The Salt Lake City Downtown Alliance and Salt Lake Cancer Wellness House. She was Vice President of The Winona Foundation and served on its board of directors for ten years. A member of SDWF since 2004, she has volunteered on the Grants Committee, Discovery Team, and Grants Executive Committee. She has a bachelor’s from Beloit College and a master’s from Westminster College.
At-large members:
	Dana Dahlbo Community Leader Dana K. Dahlbo has worked for the last 20 years at Scripps Institution of Oceanography with scientists in the physical oceanography department. Before that, she worked at UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest. Dana considers herself a grassroots volunteer. She has been president of a local PTA, a North County driver for Meals on Wheels, and an after-school tutor for Kids at Heart, she is currently a tutor for IRC. She joined SDWF in 2000 and has served on the education committee as both co-chair and chair, and on the grants committee, working on both the proposal review and site visit processes.
	Berit Durler Consultant, Charitable Real Estate Gifts Berit has more than 20 years’ senior management experience in major real estate and construction lending, and more than 10 years’ experience in financial and operational management of non-profit organizations. Berit is president/chairman of the board of the Zoological Society of San Diego, past chair of San Diego Hospice and a past board member of a number of non-profits, including the new San Diego Symphony, the San Diego Performing Arts League, LEAD San Diego, and Goodwill Industries. Her MBA is from San Diego State University.
	Pamela Hamilton Lester President and CEO, NTC Foundation The NTC Foundation is responsible for transforming 26 historic structures within 28 acres of the former Naval Training Center into NTC Promenade, a civic, arts and cultural center. From 1982-2006, Pam served in senior management positions with Centre City Development Corporation, San Diego’s downtown redevelopment agency, responsible for transforming the heart of the City from blight to vibrancy. Pam began her career with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C. and later in Los Angeles. Pam has a record of service with many professional, non-profit and philanthropic organizations. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees summa cum laude from Florida State University.
	Leigh Hartman Community Leader Leigh is a Clinical Laboratory Scientist and spent more than 15 years in Clinical Lab Medicine for Mercy Hospital retiring in 2005 from Children’s Hospital where she was the coordinator of The Brain and Tissue Bank for Developmental Disorders. She is a 1995 LEAD San Diego graduate and a past President of National Charity League, Inc. Her volunteer experience includes leadership positions throughout the Episcopal community, Birdrock and Muirlands PTA, La Jolla Village Garden Club and St. Germaine Auxiliary. She has a BS in Microbiology from Arizona State University and a Certificate in Fund Raising and Development from UCSD Extension.
	Valerie Jacobs Philanthropic Consultant and Speaker Valerie Jacobs is dedicated to providing consulting services to individual philanthropists and foundations. She has been a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for over 30 years, specializing in the effects of wealth on relationships and personal well-being. Recognized as an expert on wealth and philanthropy issues, Valerie has been interviewed for numerous books, magazines and newspapers. She has served on her own family’s foundation board since 1988 and is a nationally known speaker who has presented at conferences and events around the country.
	Elaine Kalin Community Leader Elaine has been a member of the SDWF for 5 years and is joining our Board of Directors this July as a Member at Large. She has been very active since joining and has been a member of the Membership Committee each year and has served in all three areas of our Grants Committee—Discovery Team, Implementation, and Impact. Elaine studied and worked as a lawyer and then moved into financial planning and retirement planning. She worked at SAIC for 10 years in Retirement Programs and retired from there 3 years ago.  Her passion is teaching financial education, and she enjoys yoga and volunteering at Junior Achievement.
	Suzanne LaTour Financial Advisor With over 17 years experience, Suzanne is part of a professional wealth management team at Merrill Lynch. In the community, she has worked with San Diego’s Adult Literacy Program, served on the board of the Downtown YMCA and has been a member of LEAD San Diego and the San Diego Leadership Trust. Suzanne received her degree from State University of New York, has a CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designation and earned her Certified Investment Manage Analyst (CIMA) designation through The Wharton School’s executive program.
	Gail Vetter Levin Community Leader Gail’s varied careers include Poway High teacher, Las Vegas television reporter, Westgate Hotel personnel director, press secretary to Clair Burgener, small business “Gifted” owner, sales manager of Jack Nadel, Inc., membership director for the Downtown San Diego Partnership, marketing director for Episcopal Community Services and community outreach director for the Monarch School Project. As a community advocate, along with participation with the SDWF, Gail chairs the San Diego/Imperial County Alzheimer’s Association board of directors, volunteers with the Preuss School and is a member of the Mayor’s Vision Team. She has a BA and teaching credential from California Western University.
	Ashley McElravy Business development professional Ashley has been a member of the SDWF for three years and has been active in the Marketing Committee, Membership Committee, and Long Range Planning Committee. She currently chairs the planning committee related to SDWF’s signature Annual Grant’s Celebration. In addition to her role in business development and marketing at Gafcon Inc., a women-owned construction management and consulting firm with a long history of support for San Diego nonprofit organizations, Ashley is an avid community volunteer and serves on the board for the Urban Land Institute Young Leaders . Ashley is a member of the Society of Marketing Professionals. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA.
	Bethel Nathan Small business owner After nine years working on Wall Street around the globe, and six years of running her family’s small business, Bethel recently launched her own business, Ceremonies by Bethel, officiating weddings, commitment ceremonies, and other life-cycle moments. Bethel has been an active member of the Women’s Foundation for eight years, working on many of the committees. She re-joins the board where she previously served proudly for five years including as the initial Grants Impact Chair. Bethel is also a member of the board of directors of the San Diego Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, where she has been a very active fundraiser. Bethel received her BA in Political Science and Japanese Studies from UC Berkeley, and her MBA in International Business from Thunderbird.
	Lenore Ringler Retired educator Lenore has been a member of the SDWF for six years and has been very active on the Grants Committee and the Discovery Teams. She retired from New York University after a 30-year career where she served as Chair of the Department of Applied Psychology and taught graduate courses in Child Development and Literacy Education. As part of her professional work Lenore was President of the Literacy Research Association and served on the National Academy of Education Commission on Reading. In San Diego she has done volunteer work at the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Humane Society and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institute of Oceanography. Lenore received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from CUNY University and her Ph.D. from New York University.

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