Board of Directors
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Board of Directors |
Staff |
Our Board of Directors
Rachael Ross Steidl - President
Rachael Steidl is a Santa Barbara native. She holds a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University . She is married to seismologist, Jamie Steidl and they have 3 girls (9-year-old twins and a 5-year-old). Ms. Steidl is the founder of SBParent.com, a resource site for families that has expanded nationwide as ParentClick, Inc. Her focus is on supporting families in our community both through her business and as an active volunteer in the community. In addition to her role with TBCF, Ms. Steidl is currently on the oversight committee of the Women’s Fund of SB, a Santa Barbara Foundation-Katherine Harvey Fellow, Hope School PTA, and the past president of Santa Barbara Parents of Multiples.
Michelle Pickett - Vice President
Michelle Pickett is a corporate and tax attorney at Hatch & Parent where she serves as legal advisor to individuals, emerging and established companies, and private foundations and public charities on business and tax matters. Michelle is actively involved in the community, serving on the boards of directors and/or committees for Santa Barbara Foundation, The Children's Project, and Women’s Economic Ventures. The inspiration to Michelle’s life, however, are her two children (a precious 9-year old daughter and a rambunctious 2-year old son) and supportive husband, Matt, who together supply a never-ending amount of laughter, joy and memories.
Travis wilson- treasurer
Travis graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Business Economics (Emphasis in Accounting) and Political Science. He has obtained the CFP® certification issued by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. and the PFS (Personal Financial Specialist) designation granted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He became a licensed Certified Public Accountant in 2005, a CFP® professional and Personal Financial Specialist in 2006, and is a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. He has been with McGowan Guntermann since 2001 working primarily in the areas of financial accounting and consulting, audit, nonprofit, real estate, and small business accounting and taxation. Travis is currently serving on the board of directors for the Italian Cultural Heritage Foundation, as secretary for UNICO Santa Barbara, and is participating in the Katherine Harvey Fellows program established by the Santa Barbara Foundation.
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Rosalind Rea Amorteguy - Director
Rosalind Rea Amorteguy is a graduate of SB High, and an honors graduate from the University of California , at Berkeley . She also graduated from the Harvard-Radcliffe Program in Business Administration for Women.
Upon returning to Santa Barbara in 1988 she became active with the SB Museum of Art, serving as a docent, and was Chairman of the Museum Collectors Council.She was also active with SB Beautiful, and served in various capacities, including President.
Presently, she is President of PARC (Parks and Recreation Community Foundation), and of PASF (Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation). She is Secretary of the SB Chamber Orchestra and has served for over 12 years on the board. She is also a member of CAN (Community Angels Network). She also is Chairman of the Fitness Center at Birnam Wood Golf Club, and has played on the Women's Golf Team since it's inception. She is a former Chairman of the Women's Golf Association.
Rosalind is married to Al bert E. Amorteguy, a neurologist, and is the mother of three children and three step children. One of her daughter's, Marjorie S. Gies, is a SB psychiatrist.
Dr. Richard E. Behrman - Director
Richard E. Behrman, MD is a pediatrician who moved to Santa Barbara in January, 2007, where his son and 2 grandchildren live. He has 4 children and 8 grandchildren.
Dr. Behrman previously held positions as Professor and Chair of the depts..of pediatrics at Columbia and Case Western Reserve(CWRU) universities and Physician-in-Chief at their children's hospitals; Dean and V-P at CWRU medical center; Exec. Dir. of The Center for the Future of Children at the David and Lucile Packard Fd; Chair of the boards of Dir. at the Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Univ.and it's Fd; and Exec. Dir of the Federation of Pediatric Organizations. Currently, Dr. Behrman is Exec. Dir. of Non-Profit Healthcare and Educational Consultants to Medical Institutions and serves on the board of The Children's Hospice and Palliative Care.
Jo Berkus - Director
Jo Berkus has lived and worked in Santa Barbara for the past 35 years and was educated at the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University . She served as Editor of a sports magazine, arranged world sporting events at the Pasadena Rose Bowl, managed a large fixed base operation at Van Nuys Airport, volunteered at the Special Olympics under Eunice Shriver, was a single mother of two wonderful children and worked in high-profile environments for presidents and owners of large corporations until her retirement in 2004. She and her husband Barry support innumerable non-profits and host events in their home, and both are passionate about sharing their time and blessings with those less fortunate.
Gary Caesar - Director
Gary Caesar is a Santa Barbara Native and received his Bachelors of Science from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. Joining his families Insurance Brokerage- Caesar&Seider Ins.-HUB International in 1995, where he works as an insurance consultant. He completed his professional designation as Certified Insurance Counselor in 2004. Involved as participant in local youth sports programs and organizations growing up, Gary knows the benefit of a strong community and youth programming. He donates his time as a board of directors of youth related nonprofits: Page Youth CenterSanta Barbara Athletic Round Table. Gary has 4 children (who are 4 and under) and is married to his wife Jennifer. Together they own “My Gym Children’s Fitness Center ” and lived on the Mesa.
Jennifer Caesar - Director
Jennifer Caesar grew up in Walnut Creek, California and received her BA in Education and California State Teaching Credential. She moved to Santa Barbara in 1996 after she met her husband Gary and taught elementary school in Carpinteria for 6 years. She received her Masters in Education and taught CTAP classes through UCSB. Jennifer & Gary opened MY GYM Children’s Fitness Center in 2003 in order to continue working with the children and families in Santa Barbara while still enjoying staying home with their 4 children. Jennifer has served on the Board of PEP (Postpartum Education for Parents) for 3 years and is actively involved at All Saints Preschool and Mt. Carmel School.
Stan, along with his wife Roberta has lived in Santa Barbara for 21 years. They have 4 children and 9 grandchildren. Along with being a retired executive and entrepreneur in retail and merchandising, Stan’s list of philanthropic activities in Santa Barbara is impressive. He as served on the boards of the Visiting Nurses and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara, and was Vice President of the executive board for the Foundation for Santa Barbara City College. His vast knowledge and experience in the world of entrepreneurism and philanthropy are greatly beneficial to the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation’s mission and goals.
Wells Hughes- Director
Wells grew up in Tallahassee, Florida and studied at the University of Florida. He received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1986 before moving to Santa Barbara to work with a financial planning firm. Mr. Hughes began his practice at Merrill Lynch in 1997, specializing in helping people achieve their retirement goals.
He and his wife, Diane, live in Santa Barbara with their daughter, Isabelle. Mr. Hughes is active in the community, serving on the boards of two non-profits and volunteering as a "Big Brother" in the Family Service Agency BBBS Program. He was matched with his "little brother" in 1998 and they are still active together.
Susannah Elizabeth Rake - Director
Susannah Elizabeth Rake was born and raised on the East coast and graduated with a B.A., M. Arch. and M.S. in Historic Preservation and Restoration from Columbia College and the Columbia University School of Architecture. Her New York career encompassed editorial positions with Conde Nast Publications. Susannah’s 15 1/2 year old daughter is her main focus in addition to a variety of organizations she serves: Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County, GIRLS, Inc. One Hundred Committee, Santa Barbara Historic Museum, CAMA Fellows, seventh grade music appreciation docent-teacher at Goleta Valley Junior High, Laguna Blanca School, Lay Eucharist Minister, All Saints by-the-Sea. Susannah and her daughter and are members of the National Charity League in Santa Barbara . In the fifteen years she has lived in Santa Barbara , family, and the support of services for family and their welfare are a primary mission for her work.
Pat Snyder - Director
Pat has lived in Santa Barbara for 13 years, after moving from Honolulu in 1995 to join Santa Barbara City College, where she served as the Foundation Executive Director and chief fundraiser from 1995 to 2001. She then served as the Foundation Executive Director for Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care, until stepping into her current position in January 2008 as the Senior Gift Planning Director. She is currently completing a $10 million capital campaign to build a new 18-bed hospice residential facility in Santa Barbara. She serves as the volunteer president of the SBCC Continuing Education Citizens Advisory Council, and as a board member for the SBCC Foundation, Santa Barbara Children's Museum and Center for Successful Aging. She was recognized as AFP Fundraiser of the Year for Santa Barbara/Ventura in 2005, and as the California Community College Fundraiser of the Year in 2001. She has two children and two grandchildren. Her son who lives in Santa Barbara is a sculptor, and her daughter in San Diego is married to a killer whale trainer at Sea World.