Board / Chairs

Cynthia Olmstead, president
President, TrustWorks Group, Inc.
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.

Gail Vetter Levin, vice-president
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.

Marilyn Sawyer, treasurer and finance chair/secretary
Community leader
Marilyn brings to the SDWF 25 years of financial management experience with Great American Bank as first vice president.  Her board experience includes Rady's Children's Hospital Foundation Board, Co-Chair of the Charity Ball and Miracle Makers Telethon, LEAD San Diego Inc. Board Chair, Vice Chair of the San Diego Symphony Board, Chair of the Salk Advisory Committee and the "Sensational Salk" Gala. She was a YWCA TWIN award honoree and a Woman of Dedication from the Salvation Army. She earned her bachelor's degree from San Diego State University.

Carol Littlejohn Chang, immediate past-president
Community leader
Carol brings more than 25 years of experience in academic administration and consulting in the health field culminating her career as associate dean of the UCSF School of Dentistry.  She currently serves as a trustee of the UCSD Foundation, chair of the UCSD Moores Cancer Center Board, and vice president of the Fleet Science Center's Board of Trustees. She has chaired numerous fund raising events, including the Charity Ball for Children’s Hospital, the UCSD Cancer Gala, and the RITZ and was honored as a Woman of Dedication.  She has an MPH degree from UC Berkeley.

Berit Durler, governance chair
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.

Judy Conner, impact team co-chair
Director of Admissions, Francis Parker
Judy has spent her entire working career in the field of education. First as an elementary school teacher, then principal of the Middle School, she is now Director of Admission at Francis Parker School.  She holds a bachelor's degree from Scripps College and a Masters degree from Pt. Loma Nazarene University. Her most recent volunteer activity is serving as a board member for the King-Chavez Public Schools.

A.J. Frank, implementation team 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.

Eileen Haag, education chair
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, marketing chair
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.

Suzanne LaTour, membership chair
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.

Lynn Owens, discovery team co-chair
Community Leader
Lynn has lived in eight San Diego zip codes since 1978 and currently lives in Scripps Ranch. Retired from a 30-year computer software career, she now volunteers for several youth and community organizations, including the San Diego Foundation’s Civil Society Working Group. She has a BA in History from Brown University and an MS in Computer Science from Washington State University. She joined the San Diego Women’s Foundation to multiply the impact of her charitable giving and to learn how best she can help sustain lively, welcoming, nurturing communities.

Rita Solberg, grants 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.

Susie Zlotnik impact team co-chair
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.

At-large members:

Marlowe Berg, PhD
Professor Emeritus, San Diego State University
Upon completion of a doctorate at the University of Minnesota, Marlowe accepted a position at San Diego State University where she served as a professor of undergraduate and graduate teacher education programs. Several of the programs received national recognition and awards for innovative practices. Marlowe also published numerous articles, presented at national conferences and directed grants on educational practices. She was appointed coordinator for pre-service programs and director of joint doctoral programs in the College of Education. Upon her retirement, Marlowe brought her education expertise to the San Diego Women's Foundation.

Wendy Gillespie
President, Frontier Trading, Inc.
An exporter of grocery products to Latin America since 1987, Wendy is president of the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce and serves on the boards of the Mexico Business Center, San Diego International Affairs Board, the U.S. District Export Council, and was a founding board member of the S.D. World Trade Center. Wendy is also a board director of the International Community Foundation, USD SOLES, the EDC Foundation and Junior Achievement with a special passion for J.A.Biztown. Recognition includes Junior Achievement’s National Gold Leadership Award, San Diego "Women Who Mean Business", Girl Scouts "Cool Woman" and YWCA TWIN honoree. Wendy has a B.A. in Spanish, business and education from Montclair State University, N.J.

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.

Bethel Nathan
Co-owner and CFO/COO, Initial Impression
After nine years in the investment banking industry in Tokyo, New York and London, Bethel moved back to San Diego for the weather, and a more balanced life. Five years later, she is growing her family’s 25-year-old business and is active in the San Diego Women’s Foundation. Bethel is active in the breast cancer cause, as a seven-time participant in the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk, plus walks for many other causes. She is a past executive committee member of the San Diego United Jewish Federation’s young adult division. Bethel received her bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, in political science and Asian studies/Japan, and her MBA in international finance and Japan from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Julie Ruedi
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.

View the SDWF's Organizational Chart

Past Presidents

Linda L. Katz, founding president
Community Leader
Linda has served as an active community volunteer for 30 years and is the Founding President of the San Diego Women's Foundation. She has served as Board Chair for Planned Parenthood, Senior Community Centers, LEAD San Diego and Rady Children's Hospital Auxiliary and has board service with The San Diego Foundation, Rady Children's Hospital Foundation, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Francis Parker School and the Junior League of San Diego. Her many honors include San Diego Magazine's Volunteer of the Year, Charter 100's Woman of the Year and Planned Parenthood's Margaret Sanger Award. She is a graduate of Arizona State University.

Julie Dubick, past president
Director of Policy for San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders
Julie has practiced law for more than 25 years, first with the United States Department of Justice in Washington, DC, and later as a partner with the law firm of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek. She is a trained mediator and long time member of the American Arbitration Association. She is also a contributing author to the book "It’s Harder in Heels", writing on work/life balance issues. Her board service includes Scripps Health, Las Patronas, NCCJ and SDCBA. Julie has a BA from Mt Holyoke College and a law degree from Case Western Reserve University.

Alicia Foster, past president
Community leader
Alicia has more than 30 years of human resources, executive coaching and development experience.  She was affiliated with The Center for Creative Leadership for more than 17 years as a member of the faculty and as an adjunct executive coach and trainer for Fortune 500 companies, government and non-profit organizations. Alicia retired in 2006 but continues to share her skills with the non-profit community. She served as SDWF’s president from 2005 to 2007. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University and an MEd from the University of San Diego.