Sylmar Neighborhood Council: SNC Board


Name:	Quyen Vo-Ramirez
Role:	President Co-Chair Public Safety
Representing:	At Large
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Quyen
Bio:	As a wife, parent and business owner, education is and has been an important part of my life. From kindergarten to Grover Cleveland High School, I grew up in LAUSD. I furthered my education with a B.A. from Occidental College. I then received my Masters in Landscape Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona. As President, I see myself as a mediator and problem solver between the SNC Board and the community to enhance the quality of life in Sylmar.
Goals:	My goal is to collaborate and foster partnerships with our community based organizations and the City entities to ensure we receive our fair share of services.

Name:	Hiral Bhakta
Role:	Vice President of Administration Co-Chair Outreach Committee
Representing:	Retail
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Hiral
Bio:	Graduate from San Fernando HS in 2003 and UC Santa Cruz in 2006 w/ B.S. in Business Management Economics and Accounting Concentration. I have lived in Sylmar for 9 years as my family runs a small business in Sylmar. My experience in both living and running a business in Sylmar with my academic experience and my youthful energy will be the catalyst that illuminates the greatness of Sylmar.
Goals:	To eliminate the fear of "darkness" in Sylmar. To bring a "Night Culture" in Sylmar where both young and old can both together enjoy, without being in fear.

Name:	Tammy Flores
Role:	Vice President of Communications
Representing:	Renters Co-Chair Public Safety
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Tammy
Bio:	I am a 7 year resident of Sylmar. I have been with the SNC since 2004 and proudly served as the first President of this board until 2008. I graduated with honors from a certification program in Zoology from UCLA and continued my work in exotic animal conservation with the Wildlife Waystation. I currently serve as an Ambassador for the Make a Wish foundation where my role is to grant wishes for children with life threatening diseases; a few of which are from our community. I have been a City of LA Crisis Response team member for 3 years which helps families by being a liaison between them and the public safety services during the time of a crisis due to death or any homeland security issue. As a trained Ambassador for the Emergency Preparedness team developed by the Mayor’s office, my job is to also make sure that our community has a plan in place in case of catastrophic disaster. In 2005, I graduated from the Valley Leadership Program. My background is in Marketing and Financial Planning.
Goals:	My goal is to promote community involvement in all issues pertaining to a cleaner safer community. My biggest goal at this time is to green our freeways, and with the help of our elected officials, upgrade our community so that we get the services that we are long overdue for.

Name:	Randall Kelly
Role:	Treasurer Budget Committee Chair
Representing:	Home / Condo Owner
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Randall
Bio:	I am a native of the North Valley; born in Sun Valley, raised in Lakeview Terrace and living in Sylmar for almost 20 years. I am a graduate of Olive Vista Junior High, Kennedy High, and Humboldt State University with a BA Degree in Recreation Administration and a Minor in Business. I have served the community for over 27 years through the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks department, currently serving as a Recreation Supervisor.
Goals:	As Superintendent of Youth Activities at Bible Baptist Church in Sylmar, I am working to develop responsible youth for a life time of service.

Name:	Nicholas J. Krall
Role:	Public Relations Coordinator
Representing:	At Large
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Nick
Bio:	Nick Krall is a 7 year Sylmar resident, money manager, musician, horseman, motorcyclist and hang-glider. His career has included teaching, computer programming, business consulting, and financial guidance for families and owner & employee retirement plans. Nick says, "Occasionally, 'Hell No!' is a successful community response, but more often a better result is reached through discussion and compromise.
Goals:	My goal on the council is to get to protect and improve our quality of life, raise the level of skills and opportunities for our kids, and promote a strong business community. The more we all get and stay involved, the greater improvement we will see in the responsiveness of our government agencies to our needs. We have made great progress in the years I have been on the Board, but there is always some new opportunity or threat to our community and we must stand together in vigilance. We generally want the same things, although we often disagree on the best solutions. Still, I am excited about the progress we are making.

Name:	Ricardo Benitez
Role:	Vice Chair Outreach Committee
Representing:	Community Based Organization
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Ricardo
Bio:	As an immigrant I came to the United States from El Salvador about 34 years ago. In 1990 I got a license as a plumber and electrical contractor. Since then I have been living in California. As a board member I see myself helping a lot of families in their need in my community.
Goals:	My goal is to be active in community groups, help with public services, fight to protect hard working families, protect family values, morals, and principles, improve quality of life in my community, improve education for our children.

Name:	Cheri Blose
Role:	Board Member
Representing:	Equestrian
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Cheri
Bio:
Goals:

Name:	Hector Cabrera
Role:	Board Member
Representing:	At Large
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Hector
Bio:	Born in Cananea Sonora, Mexico Masters of Arts from U.C. Berkeley, in Psychology M.Div. from Jesuit School of theology Elected to SNC June 18, 2005 Hector currently serves on City of San Fernando Children, Youth and Families Advisory Committee, was co-chair from 2004 to 2006 and Chair 2006 to 2007 Hector has worked for fourteen years as a Foster Care Social Worker in Los Angeles and San Francisco. He was Director of the Welfare to Work Program For Catholic Charities Program 1999 to 2000. He was named Special Assistant Congressman Gamez from Sonora from 2000 to 2003. He was named to serve on the Synod for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles from 2002 to 2003. He presently working with at risk youth programs.
Goals:	Having been past Chair and Co-chair of SNC, Public Safety Committee he continues to be very involved in local schools that youth are safe. Hector is very passionate about having better lit streets and more street humps to secure safety of residents.

Name:	Rosemary Jenkins
Role:	Board Member
Representing:	Senior
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Rosemary
Bio:	After receiving my degrees in English and history from UC, Santa Barbara, I taught for over 37 years in Valley public schools, including Sylmar High School where I have recently been involved with its Wind and Solar Academy. During this entire period I have been a community activist in such organizations as the Fair Housing Council, the NAACP, the Community Redevelopment Agency, school leadership councils, the boards of several youth athletic programs, and boards of organizations that promote sustainable, prevailing-wage, career jobs that also support “green” projects. I have lived in the Northeast Valley for over 35 years with my husband, Willie, and have children and grandchildren who are dedicated to this community as well.
Goals:	As a Board Member I am committed to partnering with both my fellow Board Members and our community stakeholders to ameliorate conditions and develop a community which is safer, more productive, and richer in its offerings than ever before.

Name:	Martin Laufer
Role:	Parliamentarian, Co-Chair of the Bylaws Committee
Representing:	Home / Condo Owner
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Martin
Bio:	Martin has lived in his home in Sylmar for twenty years. He has a wife and two adult sons who are both married. Martin and his wife Bea are REALTORS and help people to buy and sell homes and land in Sylmar and the North Los Angeles County. Martin was on the original bylaws committee and was instrumental in getting the Sylmar Neighborhood Council certified.
Goals:	Martin's goal is to work with the neighborhood council to facilitate getting our fair share of city services including street paving, traffic safety, police and fire protection, and an effective education environment in our public schools. I desire to work with the city councilman's office of Richard Alarcon, and the various agencies to have open and meaningful communication that can improve the daily lives of the Sylmar stakeholders.

Name:	Liz Meher
Role:	Board Member
Representing:	Community Based Organization
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Liz
Bio:	Growing up in the mid west, I came to Los Angeles in 1997 for college and graduated with a B. A. in Politics and a minor in Art from Occidental College. Ever since I was a child volunteering has always been a passion of mine. My experience ranges from working at group homes, soup kitchens, tutoring at risk youth to helping people cope with Dementia and Alzheimer’s. As a board member I would like to bridge the gap between the community and local officials.
Goals:	As the owner of The USA Fitness Center in Sylmar, I meet numerous residents, and hear about various issues and challenges facing the community. I would like to act as a liaison between residents and local politicians to insure that people’s concerns are addressed to the best of the board’s ability so that everyone feels their voice is heard.

Name:	Donald Neal
Role:	Co-Chair Public Services Committee
Representing:	Educational Institution
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Don
Bio:	I believe strongly in leadership, leadership development, and developing and working with our youth. I am a homeowner, and my wife, Judith, and I have been residents since 2006 and we have tried hard to become activists in our community. I believe it is an honor and a privilege to be a member of this council and represent my community. To lead, is to serve. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, graduating Cum Laude (3.5 GPA) from California State University-Dominguez Hills. I have been a mathematics teacher in LAUSD for 19 years and a football coach for 22 years. I have taught everything from Algebra I to AP Calculus. I currently teach mathematics at Sylmar HS. I am a member of the Business & Technical Education Academy, and also work with the Solar & Wind Academy. As a football coach, I spent 10 years in Junior College football. I was lucky enough to have coached at Dorsey HS when we won the Los Angeles 4A City Championship in 1989, and again in 1991. Keyshawn Johnson (USC-Jets-Bucs-Cowboys-Panthers) and Karim Abdul-Jabbar (UCLA-Dolphins) were members of those teams. Current Chicago Bear WR, Rashied Davis, played on my West LA College football team. I am currently the varsity defensive coordinator at Granada Hills Charter HS.
Goals:

Name:	George Ortega
Role:	Sergeant At Arms
Representing:	Recreation / Open Space
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email George
Bio:	I have a BS Degree in Civil Engineering and have worked 22 years in the City of Burbank Public Works Dept: 4 years with Sanitary Engineering, 10 years with Permits, 8 years with Traffic Engineering.
Goals:	My goals are to lend some expertise to the board about improving infrastructure, advocate improving and increasing parks and recreational facilities and being a voice of deliberation and reason. Specially working on improving bus stops in our community.

Name:	Guillermo (Memo) Reyes
Role:	Co-Chair Public Services Committee
Representing:	Home / Condo Owner
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Memo
Bio:	I was born and raised in Los Angeles, moving further east in my young adult years. In 2002, I came to Sylmar to work and, met my wife Ana. From there my life changed, since Ana gave me the confidence to do basically any thing I want to do. I involved myself with the Sylmar Chamber of Commerce while becoming a real estate agent. Since living in Sylmar I started noticing the deteriorated condition of local streets. Instead of laying back and complaining, however, I decided to become involved with the Sylmar Neighborhood Council. Before I became a board director I was involved with the Land Use, Public Services, the Beautification and the Outreach Committee.
Goals:	My goal is to make Sylmar a better community. I want our main corridors to stand out. I want people passing through our town and say, “What a nice community!”

Name:	Jeanne Rowe
Role:	Co-Chair Bylaws Committee Co-Chair Outreach Committee
Representing:	Retail
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	818-367-5410
Bio:	I have been a Sylmar resident since 1960. Began my business, Rowe Accounting Service in 1962. Clients over the last 45 years have included legal, educational, and general office, Orange Julius stores, contractors, plumbing, electrical, construction, retail. Past president of Sylmar Chamber of Commerce, Mission College Foundation, SF Emblem Club #37, Co-Founder Foothill Advisory Booster Association, Active Board Mission Community Police Council, Support of Corral #12, SIBL, Friends of Library.
Goals:	My goal is to include and serve as many neighbors, businesses and issues that effect the community as possible.

Name:	Enrique Segura
Role:	Board Member
Representing:	Youth Representative
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Enrique
Bio:	Since I was eight years old I wanted to serve my community. So, as I grew, so my desire to help others; a necessity to care for others. When I became a Sylmar High School student, I met Mr. Neal, a fellow board member, and I impromptu was interested on the SNC.
Goals:	My goals are pretty straightforward: to engage the youth in order to do some changes on Sylmar, second, to help the youth on the education effort, and third, to help everyone who comes to the NC for help.

Name:	Roy Smith
Role:	Co-Chair Land Use Committee
Representing:	Home / Condo Owner
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Roy
Bio:	My family moved to Sylmar in 1977 from Sun Valley. As a youth I played baseball at Sylmar and El Cariso Park. I attended Sylmar Elementary, Olive Vista Jr. High and Sylmar high. I enrolled in Ameritech College in 1992. And then received my Diploma and received special recognition for Academic Achievement. I also attended Mission College for Accounting in 2000. Met my wife Cindy at Olive Vista Jr. High School. I have been a long time Sylmarian and have seen a lot of changes in this community the good and the bad. In all this time I have learned that if you don’t get involved the bad doesn’t change without good people making the difference. I have been active in this community for the last 10 years trying to make Sylmar a better place for all of us.
Goals:	My goal is to unite us with Truth and Personal Responsibly and to empower each stakeholder in making the difference in our community for the improvement in quality of life for the young and old alike.

Name:	Esteban Tabarez
Role:	Co-Chair of Outreach Committee
Representing:	Retail
Term Ends:	June 2012
Contact:	Email Esteban
Bio:
Goals: