OFFICERS

Chairperson:
Suanne (Sue) Ramar

Sue is Senior Vice President/Investment Counselor at Bailard Wealth Management and was previously with Nelson Capital Manager and Wells Fargo Wealth Management Group. She is Chair of the Uplift Board, past Chair of Governance, and past Treasurer. Sue has also served as President, Board of Regents; Archbishop Mitty High School.

Vice Chair:
Heather Jones

Heather is an active community leader who previously worked in public relations for KCBS-TV. She has been on the Uplift/Hollygrove boards since 1999. She currently serves on four boards including the St. Matthew’s Day Camp and Thrift Shop boards and is Past President of Westside Guild for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Her current committee involvement includes Co-Chair of the Los Angeles Board of Governors and Chair of the Governance Committee.

Treasurer:
Peter Brown

Peter is a CPA, leading Green Hasson Jank’s Forensic Services Practice. He previously spent nearly 30 years at Big Four accounting firms, where he served as the Forensic Services Practice leader for investigations and disputes for Southern CA. Currently Peter is Chair of Uplift's Finance/Administration Committee, Board Treasurer, and past Chairperson. He serves on the following committees: Exec, FIN, Invest, COMP, LA Board of Governors.

Secretary:
Michael (Mike) McAndrews

Mike is a Certified Public Accountant and Principal at Abbott, Stringham & Lynch. Previously, he retired from PWC, where he led the Private Company Services Tax Practice for Northern California. Mike is on Uplift's Exec, Compensation and Audit Committees.

MEMBERS

Roger Barney

Roger is a management consultant specializing in executive coaching and team building. He previously held major roles at several technology companies including SVP Corporate Services at both Borland Software and Network Equipment Technologies. Roger was past Chairperson for two terms on Uplift's Board and currently serves the Exec, Bay area Community Leadership Board and Compensation Committees.

Greg Bowman

Greg Bowman, EdD, served the Burbank schools from 1994-2009 including eight years as Superintendent. He retired on July 1, 2009, completing a 45-year-long career in public education. Before his work in Burbank, Dr. Bowman has served on the Boards of Directors for several different nonprofit organizations, including: Leadership Burbank and the Burbank YMCA. Upon retiring in 2009, Dr. Bowman was elected to the Pacific Clinics Board of Directors. Dr. Bowman is an Adjunct Professor in the Rossier School of Education at USC. In addition, Dr. Bowman is a member of the President’s Council at Woodbury University.

Russell Chung

Russ served in the United States Army and the U.S. Army
Reserve as a helicopter pilot, maintenance test pilot, company
commander, plans and operations officer, and assault helicopter battalion commander. After leaving the Army, Russ joined Security Pacific National Bank. He is currently serving as Chapter Secretary for the Southern California Chapter of the Army Aviation Association of America and as a delegate to the South District of the California Four Wheel Drive Association. Russ served on the Board of Portals House, Inc. from 1992 until 2007, including a two-year term as Board Chair.

Arpita Chowdhuri

Arpita comes to Pacific Clinics as Senior Vice President, Digital at Capital Group | American Funds here in Los Angeles. She has worked with and for industry-leading companies such as Hewlett Packard, Omnicom, PepsiCo, and Ogilvy and Mather where she distinguished herself in business and brand turnarounds focused primarily on value creation by defining strategy, creating innovative programs, re-organizing various disciplines, putting required tech infrastructure and organizations in place, identifying and hiring high-performing talent and scaling best practices.

Vincent DeRosa

Vincent DeRosa is the Founder and Chairman of the award-winning restaurant and catering company, Picasso’s Café, Bakery & Catering Company. Before entering the culinary world, Mr. DeRosa studied classical piano performance under the direction of the world-renowned Juilliard School of Music Instructor, Madame Rosina Lhevinne. Mr. DeRosa has volunteered with many nonprofit and civic organizations, including Mt. San Antonio College Educational Foundation; Irwindale Chamber of Commerce; Citrus Valley Health Foundation; Queen of the Valley Hospital; and Citrus Valley Hospice.

Neal Dempsey

Neal is Managing General Partner at Bay Partners (venture capitalist). Over the past 28 years has guided many technology startups to highly successful outcomes. He created the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Univ. of Washington, his alma mater and was a prior trustee of Claremont McKenna College. Neal is a 32-year Uplift Board veteran and Immediate Past Chairperson.

Geoff Edelstein

Geoff is Managing Director, Principal & Portfolio Manager for Granite Investment Partners LLC and current Chair of Uplift’s Investment Committee. Has held prior senior leadership roles at both Transamerica Investment management and Westcap Investors. He earned a JD from Northwestern School of Law. Geoff previously served as Chairperson of the Board for Hollygrove. His current committee involvement includes FIN, Invest and COMP.

Charles (Chuck) Erikson

Chuck is a business consultant specializing in company revitalization, coaching & mentoring, and startup guidance. He served for 10 years as ED and CEO of the Environmental, Technology and International Business Incubators in San Jose. He was also the former President of Olivetti Advanced technology Center. Chuck's Board committee involvement includes Bay area Community Leadership Board and Audit.

Michele Hamlett

Michele is the Chief Operating Officer at Retirement Choices of California. She has a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry and is highly skilled in the areas of Portfolio Management, Risk Management, Banking, Business Development, and Strategic Planning. Michele has served in a variety of managerial roles for Goldman Sachs, UBS Wealth Management, Wedbush Morgan Securities, and JPMorgan Chase.

Jonathon (Jon) Hicks

Jon is an attorney, currently serving as Senior Legal Counsel, Employment Law at Netflix. He is an active community leader having served or is serving on the Boards of the San Jose Youth Symphony, Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley, Family Giving Tree and the American Leadership Forum. His committee involvement at Uplift includes Governance and Bay Area Community Leadership Board.

Zaven Kazazian

Mr. Kazazian began his career in employee benefits in 197 as a Claims Examiner for Occidental Life of California. He joined CNA Insurance Companies in 1979. Mr. Kazazian served as a board member of the Group and Pension Committee of the Life Insurance Management and Research Association from 1992-1997. Mr. Kazazian also served on the Board of the Los Angeles Association of Health Underwriters. In addition to his service on the Pacific Clinics Board of Directors, Mr. Kazazian is past President of the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Glendale Sunrise.

William (Bill) Klein

Bill is an attorney/litigator, with a focus on environmental matters, who served as Hopkins & Carley’s Managing Shareholder and President for more than 15 years. He previously served as Board Chair of both the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and Good Karma Bikes. Bill currently serves on Uplift’s Bay Area Community Leadership Board.

William (Bill) Kron

Bill is a retired Senior IBM Sales Executive who moved into Energy Management Software consulting. He was the Founder and Chairperson of Saratoga National Bank and served on the Wells Fargo Bank Advisory Board. Bill's current Uplift committee involvement includes Compensation, Governance, and Audit.

Judy Kwan

Judy Kwan is Product & Commercial Counsel for HelloSign. Before joining HelloSign in 2019, she served as Legal Counsel for Oracle. She also spent over seven years as a Managing Associate with Orrick, Herrington, & Sutcliffe, LLP. Ms. Kwan was also a law clerk at the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. and the Learning Rights Law Center in Los Angeles. She also served as the Chair of the PILF Grant Committee. Ms. Kwan has served as a Sunday School Teacher, Children’s Summer Program Teacher, Vacation Bible School Director, and Children’s Ministry Worker. She served as the co-Chair of the Anti-Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Youth Council that received several awards and recognitions for their work.

Audrey Lee

Audrey Lee is Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Starz. Lee is responsible for developing the strategic direction of business and legal affairs for the company, including distribution, content acquisition, production, litigation, employment matters, and legal and regulatory compliance worldwide. Lee is a seasoned media executive with more than 20 years of legal and business experience. Lee was recently name Counsel of the Year by The Association of Media & Entertainment Counsel and CableFax’s Most Powerful Women 2018 honoree.

Jessica Mack

Jessica Mack is Principal Partner of Program Development at Okapi Architecture, a firm focused on sustainable and energy efficient design and development. She began her career with the City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Engineering, where she worked on the design and construction of many public works projects. Jessica currently serves on the Altadena Land Use Committee. She is a proud mentor for the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE) program, which helps broaden workforce and career development opportunities for high school students in Montebello.

Kathy McCarthy

Since joining Pacific Clinics in 2010, McCarthy has held various roles, including chief legal counsel, chief administrative officer and chief operating officer/general counsel. Before joining the agency, she spent 26 years in private legal practice, 14 of which she served as outside counsel and managing shareholder for Hoge Fenton. McCarthy is a member and past president of the Santa Clara County Bar Association, fellow with American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley and former chair of its board of directors. She also served on the boards of The Health Trust, Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce and Santa Clara School of Law. She was named a Woman of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. McCarthy has a Juris Doctorate from Santa Clara University School of Law.

Karen Meyer

Karen spent 26 years in the high-tech manufacturing sector. She joined Homeland Security startup as VP, Operations in 2002 to commercialize a holographic body scanner that is currently deployed in airports around the world. Karen served as a Board member of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival for 12 years. She is now a member of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare and a member of the task force associated with the oversight of all three festival companies: Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, and Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival. Her Uplift committee involvement includes Governance and Chair of the Bay Area Community Leadership Board.

Bradley (Brad) Slocum

Brad is currently Co-Founder and Principal for Granite Investment Partners LLC. He has held prior senior leadership/Managing Director roles at both Transamerica Investment management and Westcap Investors. Brad is currently serving on Uplift's LA Board of Governors (co-chair), Executive, and Investment Committees.

John J. Tallarida

John is a long-time shareholder currently serving as Managing Senior Vice President and on the Board of Directors for Heffernan Insurance Brokers. Has served as a Board member for the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers. John currently serves on Uplift’s Bay Area Community Leadership Board.

Jana Turner

Jana is currently a Principal/Partner for Real Estate Talent Solutions, providing talent for the commercial real estate industry. With more than 30 years in the real estate services sector, she previously served as President of the Asset Services Division for CB Richard Ellis where under her guidance the Division was responsible for managing 650 million square feet of institutionally owned real estate. Jana is a past Chairperson of the Uplift Board and currently serves on the Executive Committee and LA Board of Governors.

Kimila (Kim) Ulrich

Kim is an active community leader and 14-year veteran of Uplift's Board. She has had a long-term involvement with both Hollygrove’s after school programming (directly volunteering and fund raising) and the Junior League of Los Angeles. Kim currently serves on Uplift's LA Board of Governors and Governance Committees.

Jerry Winklhofer

Jerry Winkholfer is Controller at Exer Urgent Care. Exer operates 15+ locations in West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. Jerry has also worked for Stars Behavior Health Services, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Medical Group, and Integro Health Services. He is an Elder at Sherman Oaks Presbyterian Church and has served in various leadership posts over the last 12 years.

Jerry holds a B.S. in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge. He also completed post-graduate work in Accounting at California State University Los Angeles.