Board of Directors Biographies
Ken Thunberg, Board Chair
Information Technology Executive
Ken Thunberg is the chief information officer for Salem Communications Corporation. Mr. Thunberg is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in the information technology field. He holds a Presidential/Key Executive M.B.A. from Pepperdine University and a B.S. in computer science from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). He is the proud father of seven children and lives with his wife and family in Simi Valley.
Ken Thunberg is the chief information officer for Salem Communications Corporation. Mr. Thunberg is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in the information technology field. He holds a Presidential/Key Executive M.B.A. from Pepperdine University and a B.S. in computer science from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). He is the proud father of seven children and lives with his wife and family in Simi Valley.
Dilys Tosteson García, Board Vice Chair
Marketing Executive
Dilys García is vice chair of CCRC’s Board of Directors and an experienced senior marketing executive. She is currently the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). The former CEO of a La Agencia de Orci, a national Latino advertising agency serving blue chip companies like Allstate, Honda and Verizon, Ms. García has also worked as a communications consultant in the public sector for Los Angeles County on a variety of child welfare initiatives like tobacco control, perinatal programs and services for emancipating foster youth.
Dilys García is vice chair of CCRC’s Board of Directors and an experienced senior marketing executive. She is currently the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). The former CEO of a La Agencia de Orci, a national Latino advertising agency serving blue chip companies like Allstate, Honda and Verizon, Ms. García has also worked as a communications consultant in the public sector for Los Angeles County on a variety of child welfare initiatives like tobacco control, perinatal programs and services for emancipating foster youth.
Jeriel Smith, Esq., Board Secretary
Litigation Attorney
Jeriel Smith is secretary of CCRC’s Board of Directors, and is a construction claims litigation attorney with Gibbs, Giden, Locher, Turner & Senet, LLP. He has worked with several non-profit organizations including the World Federalist Association, Meditation Groups, Inc., and the Los Angeles InterGroup, Inc. Mr. Smith holds a J.D. degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in political science from UCLA as well as a California Lifetime Teaching Credential. He is married and has three children.
Anthony Peña
Commercial Banker, Board Treasurer
Anthony Peña has worked at Wells Fargo Bank since 2005 and is currently Vice President and Relationship Manager of Commercial Banking. He manages one of the largest relationships in the office, a construction rental company, with commitments of $70 million and annual bank profitability of $1.5 million. He has originated and structured $15 million in new real estate loans for the company. Anthony participates in the Board Leadership Institute at the Ventura County Charitable Foundation and volunteers at both UCLA Anderson Riordan Program and El Concilio del Condado de Ventura. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a bachelor of science degree in Latin American Studies with a concentration in Economics. He also spent time in Salvador, Brazil studying Intensive Portuguese and International Economics.
Alyce Akers, Ph.D.
University Professor, Emeritus
Alyce Akers serves as CCRC’s Board of Directors Chair Emeritus. Dr. Akers is retired and was awarded University Professor, Emeritus at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Dr. Akers has served as president of the Council of Accreditation of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). She holds a B.A. in home economics from San Diego State University (SDSU), an M.A. in home economics from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), and a Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Southern California (USC). She is married, has four children and five grandchildren.
Alyce Akers serves as CCRC’s Board of Directors Chair Emeritus. Dr. Akers is retired and was awarded University Professor, Emeritus at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Dr. Akers has served as president of the Council of Accreditation of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). She holds a B.A. in home economics from San Diego State University (SDSU), an M.A. in home economics from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), and a Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Southern California (USC). She is married, has four children and five grandchildren.
Roy Allenstein, Esq.
Real Estate Developer
Roy Allenstein is a real estate professional with expertise in industrial properties and in commercial development and renovation. He is a former private practice attorney with Allenstein & Perry and Allenstein, Meyberg & Perry. Mr. Allenstein holds a J.D. degree from the University of Southern California (USC) School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He has two children and lives in the San Fernando Valley with his wife.
Roy Allenstein is a real estate professional with expertise in industrial properties and in commercial development and renovation. He is a former private practice attorney with Allenstein & Perry and Allenstein, Meyberg & Perry. Mr. Allenstein holds a J.D. degree from the University of Southern California (USC) School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He has two children and lives in the San Fernando Valley with his wife.
Carol Bathke, M.A., M.S.
Educator
Carol Bathke is an accomplished secondary school educator who has served as a teacher, advisor and program manager in drug and tobacco education/prevention and in Title I programs. She has been involved in the education of ESL and immigrant students and their parents and is also an experienced researcher in trends related to economic consumption of cotton products. Ms. Bathke holds a B.S. degree in education and a M.S. in textile chemistry from the University of Minnesota, and a M.A. in secondary school administration from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). In her first 6-year term as a member of CCRC’s Board of Directors, she served as vice president and on committees supporting community outreach and Head Start programs. As a volunteer, she delivers meals to homebound adults. Ms. Bathke has two children and has recently retired from the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Aaron Green
Political Consultant
Aaron Green is Director of Political and Community Relations for Afriat Consulting, a full service firm specializing in governmental advocacy, political consulting, land use entitlement and community relations. Prior to joining Afriat, Aaron served as the Legislative Affairs Manager for the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA), a business and political advocacy organization serving the greater San Fernando Valley region. Aaron was the national street team tours coordinator for Rock the Vote and interned in the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations under Vice President (then Senator) Joseph Biden. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Aaron holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Hamilton College and participated in a program studying abroad at Oxford University.
Edward Hill, Esq.
Civil & Geotechnical Engineer
Ed Hill has been a CCRC board member since 2002 and served as Chair from 2005-2008. He is the President of Geotechnologies, Inc. which has consulted on more than 20,000 projects. He is a successful civil and geotechnical engineer, geologist, and a member of the California Bar Association. He has over 30 years experience serving the Greater Los Angeles area in seismic, soils and foundation engineering projects. His current responsibilities include marketing, client development, coordination and performance of field exploration, laboratory testing and preparation of formal geotechnical reports. Mr. Hill is an Eagle Scout as well as a member of the Californial Geotechnical Engineers Association and the City of Santa Clarita Recycling Committee. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.S. degree in geology and from Glendale University College of Law receiving his Doctor of Jurisprudence. He is married and has two daughters.
Judith Hirshberg
Community Leader
Judith Hirshberg has a long and distinguished career in politics and community well-being. She has been active in local, state and national political campaigns and has been a candidate for Los Angeles City Council. She is a founder of the Los Angeles City Commission on the Status of Women, a former Vice President of the National Women’s Political Caucus and a board member of the Jeopardy Foundation. She has been twice selected as “Woman of the Year” by Assemblymembers Tom Bane and Robert Hertzberg. Judith is a graduate of Goucher College in Maryland and has resided in the San Fernando Valley with her husband Arthur since 1974. She and her husband have three grown children and enjoy spending time with their grandchildren.
Javier La Fianza
Non-Profit Executive
Javier La Fianza is the President and CEO of HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership), a youth leadership and service organization designed to inspire and develop a global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovations. Formerly, he was the chief operating officer for Crystal Stairs, Inc. He served as the public policy chair for the California Alternative Payment Program Association (CAPPA) and chaired several teams within First 5 LA’s Universal Preschool Master Plan Advisory Committee. Mr. La Fianza holds a M.A. in public affairs from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs. He is married and has a son and a daughter.
Roberta Lachman, Member at Large - Executive Committee
Professional Development Executive
Roberta Lachman is a professional development specialist who helps executives and entrepreneurs prosper by re-engineering themselves and taking a strategic approach to growing their businesses and careers. A trainer and coach, she is especially proud of helping businesswomen acquire the confidence they need to succeed on their own terms. With a background in communications development and market research, Roberta has worked both for global corporations and as a solopreneur in her own business ventures. She teaches classes in communications, entrepreneurship and career development on an ongoing basis at UCLA Extension in the Department of Business and Management, and has coached students in the Anderson School of Management Executive Program. Roberta has done considerable pro bono work, especially in the area of AIDS education.
Roberta Lachman is a professional development specialist who helps executives and entrepreneurs prosper by re-engineering themselves and taking a strategic approach to growing their businesses and careers. A trainer and coach, she is especially proud of helping businesswomen acquire the confidence they need to succeed on their own terms. With a background in communications development and market research, Roberta has worked both for global corporations and as a solopreneur in her own business ventures. She teaches classes in communications, entrepreneurship and career development on an ongoing basis at UCLA Extension in the Department of Business and Management, and has coached students in the Anderson School of Management Executive Program. Roberta has done considerable pro bono work, especially in the area of AIDS education.
Stacylee Longmore, Ph.D.
College Professor
Stacylee Longmore is an assistant child development professor at Los Angeles Pierce College. She also has experience in Head Start programs and The Higher Education Hispanic Partnership Project at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Stacylee is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Society for Research on Child Development and the National Council on Family Relations. She has also volunteered as a student mentor at Ohio State University. Stacylee earned her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Sciences from Ohio State University and received the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Graduate Student.
Bernie Mueller
Children's Center Director
Bernie Mueller is the director of The Disney Children's Center which he started for the Walt Disney Company 18 years ago. He has been in the Child Development field for the past 40 years. Mr. Mueller has also served past CCRC board terms from 1993-1995 and 1997-2003. He is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and holds a B.A. Degree in Child Development from Antioch College. He has two sons, one daughter and four granddaughters.
Shirley Robinson, M.F.A.
Actor
Shirley Robinson is accomplished in theater arts holding a M.F.A. in Musical Theatre from United States International University School of Performing and Visual Arts of San Diego (now called Alliant University), and a MFA in Theatre Arts from the University of Arizona. She is a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild and Actor’s Equity Association, and spends her time in the community working with KaBOOM!™ and her church. Ms. Robinson has put her career on hold to raise her four children – Emiliana, Dewain II, Dominic, and Donavon – along with her husband, Dewain.
Joan Binder Weiss
Television Writer and Producer
Joan Binder Weiss is an accomplished television writer and producer with credits on major dramas such as The Gilmore Girls, Everwood and Supervising Producer on the hit television series, White Collar. Along with her impressive Hollywood writer’s credits, Joan brings marketing and business expertise from time spent with American Express and The Danbury Mint. A resident of Studio City, Joan is the proud mom of a ten year old boy and enjoys doing volunteer work for children’s causes. She also contributes to the Writer’s Give Back charity.
Joan Binder Weiss is an accomplished television writer and producer with credits on major dramas such as The Gilmore Girls, Everwood and Supervising Producer on the hit television series, White Collar. Along with her impressive Hollywood writer’s credits, Joan brings marketing and business expertise from time spent with American Express and The Danbury Mint. A resident of Studio City, Joan is the proud mom of a ten year old boy and enjoys doing volunteer work for children’s causes. She also contributes to the Writer’s Give Back charity.