LITA STAFF

Aline Shaw, Executive Director
Aline served the Bank of America for 15 years as Branch Manager and Manager of Branch Operations. She established operational guidelines, forecasted annual business plans and significantly improved the quality of customer service. A hallmark of Aline's service at the bank included a pilot program which included consolidating all bookkeeping functions from 15 offices to a central control point. This program was adopted statewide. Aline's education emphasis has been organization & management, planning and computer literacy with a special focus on financial record keeping and auditing. Over a period of 10 years, Aline volunteered in several capacities. Aline joined the LITA staff in August 2004.

Gerrda Focardi, Director of Volunteers
After a professional dance career, Gerrda majored in Psychology at Fordam University and San Francisco State. She received her California activity coordinator certification in 1990. Gerrda worked as an activity director in Marin County S.N.F., assisted living and active retirement communities for 15 years. In 2003 she was awarded a Marin Arts Council Grant to create an innovative elder dance, fitness and performance program at The Redwoods. Gerrda has been an active volunteer in elder organizations, including LITA and the Buck Center For Research in Aging. Accompanying Gerrda in her work with elders is her miniature Schnauzer, Lola. Gerrda joined the LITA staff in March 2005.

Kate Cox, Office Volunteer
Kate has served as a volunteer in the LITA office since September 2000. Kate is also a LITA One-to-One Friend Volunteer with her dog Morgan for nearly five years and was named Volunteer of the Week in the Marin Independent Journal in August 2003. Her background includes strong program and management leadership as well as counseling services.

Shirley Cicero, Office Volunteer
Shirley has worked on staff for several nonprofits in Marin. She was the Assistant Director of the Mental Health Association of Marin. Shirley also served as bookkeeper and office manager for the California Center for Wildlife and worked with the Family Service Agency for 5 years as secretary and billing clerk. Shirley has served as a volunteer in the LITA office since October 2004.

LITA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Reed B. McClintock, Chair (1/04)
Grove City College, Grove City, PA; BA English 1966. Owner of Reed B. McClintock & Associates real estate firm; Board of North Bay Brokers (1993 & 1994); Board of Leukemia Lymphoma Society & Major Donor Board (1999 - present); member Central Marin Rotary Club (1988 - present); Ross Valley Little League (1987 - 1991). Resident of Marin for 30 years.

William J. Strawbridge, Vice Chair (2/03)
University of Cincinnati, Ohio, M.A., Sociology/Anthropology. University of Washington, Seattle, WA, M.P.H., Health Services and Ph.D. in Medical Sociology. 1991-present, Associate Research Scientist, Human Population Laboratory, Berkeley, California Public Health Foundation Project Director for the five year NIH grant study; Health and Function over Three Decades in Alameda County. Epidemiologist for the Maintenance of Function in Older Adults study, an analysis of factors affecting functioning in the oldest cohort of the Alameda County study. Numerous honors, including National Science Foundation Fellowship, 1971, and extensive publications including "The role of social and behavior factors in healthy aging." In R. Abeles, H. Gift, & M. Ory (Eds.): Aging and Quality of Life.

Brian Finnegan, Treasurer (4/05)
University of California at Davis, B.S. Managerial Economics. Brian is a Certified Public Accountant working as a Senior Manager in Assurance at Burr, Pilger & Mayer LLP. He is also and Ambassador with the Novato Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Novato Chamber Finance Committee, a Marin First 5 Commission Finance Committee member, a St. Anthony's 8th grade catechist, and was recently named the Leadership Novato Class of 2008 valedictorian. Brian is a life-long resident of Novato, where he currently resides with his wife and two daughters.

Jesssica Devers, Secretary (9/07)
Callifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, B.S. in Business Administration 1985. Jessica is a certified public accountant and owner of JA Devers CPA, Inc., a tax practice. She has been a resident of Marin since 1991 and has two wonderful school-aged children

Judy Bissey (4/02)
B.S. Elementary Education, Southern Illinois University, Certificate of Gerontology, Sonoma State University. Eighteen years experience in Volunteer Management, 14-years as Director of Volunteers, Hospice of Marin. Currently working at Kaiser Permanente as Director of Volunteers for San Rafael, Novato and Petaluma hospital facilities. Served as a LITA volunteer for 10-years. Active member of Northern California Association of Directors of Volunteer Services.

Jenay Cottrell (7/08)
San Jose State University, B.A., Public Relations, minor in Marketing. Jenay is an independent public relations and marketing communications consultant with clients in health care and retirement housing. She currently serves on Sinaloa Middle School's Leadership Site Council and the Advisory Committee for Novato Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Novato Program. A graduate of Leadership Novato, Jenay received that program's Ed Stark Achievement Award. She also served on the board of Good Shepherd Lutheran School in Novato (1996-1999) and has chaired multiple PTA and athletic team committees where her three children have attended school and played sports.

Jane Diephuis (7/08)
San Jose State University, B.A., PB.S. Business/Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; MSW Worden School of Social Services, Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, TX. Administrator of a children's home in Texas for many years. Moved to Marin in 1985, began work with Northern California Presbyterian Homes and Services in 1985 (Manager of low income housing facility in the Tenderloin, then Administrator of The Tamalpais, then Executive Director of The Tamalpais).

Geoff Dugmore (1/07)
Realtor, Provident Real Estate, Residential & Investment property. Geoff Dugmore is a thirty-seven year resident of the northbay. His involvement as a local real estate professional has a growing emphasis in serving the mature market-those needing to downsize or move to senior related community living. His awareness of the growing need for serving the mature market and their unique needs sparked his involvement with LITA and various other community-based venues.

Donald C. Place, Jr. (5/01)
Dartmouth College, B.A. History, University of Illinois School of Law, J.D., Managing Director with Northern Trust Bank of California in the Mill Valley office. Approximately 30 years in trust and investments in various Bay Area banks. Past treasurer and board member of Episcopal Charities Appeal, member of Mill Valley Rotary Club.

Lowell W. Smith (2/06)
Graduate of University of California, Berkeley and UCSF School of Pharmacy. M.A. Degree in Health Care Management from Colombia University. More than 40 years experience in health care menagement in California including 11 years at Novato Community Hospital. Member, Novato rotary Club and the Commonwealth Club. Past President and member of California Grand Jury Association.

Marilyn Smith (4/04)
B.A. Sociology with emphasis in Gerontology, CA State University, Fullerton, CA. Work experience in Human Resource Management. Currently serves as Board Member, Marin Community Health Foundation and Novato Community Hospital Fund Development Committee. Past board member and Auxiliary President of The American Heart Association.