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The Staff of CASA of Santa Cruz County |
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 Nancy Sherrod Executive Director |
Nancy brings more than 25 years of experience working in education, the arts and children’s services to her current position as Executive Director of CASA of Santa Cruz County. Her previous work includes being a parent educator and trainer at the Child Development Resource Center and the program director for more than 13 years at the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County, where she managed the SPECTRA arts in education program. The award-winning SPECTRA program offered professional artists who worked with children in all 40+ public K-8 schools in the county. She was Deputy Director at Community Bridges and was a lead on the team that started two comprehensive one-stop Family Resource Centers in the county. She is the happy mother of four children who all miraculously live in Santa Cruz and the proud Grammy of two! |
 Juan Ascencio Case Supervisor & Court Liaison |
Born in Jalisco, Mexico, Juan has lived in Santa Cruz since 1986. A graduate of UC Santa Cruz Juan has an extensive background in working with youth and their families. His most recent job was working as a Mental Health Client Specialist through Youth Services. In that position, he worked with youth in the juvenile probation department, ensuring that youth stayed “on track” with positive social and educational goals. He also supported their families in the process. He has a great deal of knowledge of community resources, the schools and working with other community agencies. |
 Linda Bixby Development Director |
Linda comes to CASA from the field of journalism, with a B.A. in English from Portland State University. She has a long history of service to nonprofits for children, literacy and the arts. Linda is a trained CASA Advocate and joined the staff in 2006. She serves on the City of Santa Cruz Arts Commission and the Board of Kuumbwa Jazz. She has two wonderful daughters and a much loved son-in-law, and lives in Santa Cruz with her yellow lab Joey.
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 Alma Rocha Education Liaison & Case Supervisor |
Alma Rocha was born in Salinas, CA. She comes from a migrant farm working family background. She has a B.A. in Collaborative Health and Human Services with a concentration in Social Work from CSU Monterey Bay and a M.A. degree in Education-Counseling and Student Personnel and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential from San Jose State University. Prior to coming to CASA she worked as a Family Advocate and has extensive knowledge of working with students who were considered "at-risk" and their families within K-12 public schools and college level within Monterey County. She brings compassion, respect, and motivation to underrepresented children, youth, and adults while providing both guidance and advocacy in order to assure that all individuals of at any age can continue into higher education. When Alma is not working, she enjoys spending family time with her beloved husband Juan Carlos Rocha and their adorable 2 year-old son Noah Rocha. |
 Fred Koehler Case Supervisor |
Fred was born and raised in Los Angeles but had the good sense to move to Santa Cruz 25 years ago. He owned and operated restaurant and catering businesses and worked in the corporate world of high tech manufacturing. He is a former CASA advocate and has worked in the non-profit world for many years. He was president of the board for Native Images helping to link youth and artist mentors. He produced and organized workshops, teaching and speaking events for two Native American elders and consulted on the establishment of an American Indian educational and cultural foundation. For the last five years he has worked with the Mankind Project teaching, coaching and facilitating personal growth work in small groups as well as trainings and workshops of all sizes with a focus on integrity, emotional literacy and personal responsibility. Fred lives in Felton with his furry friends June and Fergus.  
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 Charles Lerner Program Manager |
Charles joined the CASA team after several years in the Bay Area, where he coordinated the state’s only LGBTQ foster care program and worked in a permanency program for older youth. He has worked in Human Services for 15 years as a therapist, nonprofit trainer, and social worker. Charles spent the first years of his life in foster care and is an adoptee. He is from Miami, Florida and has lived as an adult in New York, Minnesota, and Ohio. He has a BA in Psychology, MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, and is a doctoral candidate in Human Development and Family Science. Charles also teaches part-time at Cal State- East Bay in their graduate program for Marriage and Family Therapists. Charles has a passion for supporting older youth in the child welfare system and issues of social justice. When he is not pondering how to improve the lives of foster youth, he is an avid tennis player and loves to do anything that gets him out under the open sky. |
 Lois Keiser Case Supervisor |
Lois comes to CASA with 20 years of social work experience working for the State of Vermont with children, youth and families, and prior to that several years of work in a private psychiatric facility. Born and raised in Memphis TN, Lois settled in Santa Cruz three years ago to be near her three adult children and to experience the adventure of living on the West Coast. She lives in Ben Lomond, in a converted water tower, on an heirloom tomato farm, with her cat Hershey. She enjoys all outdoor activities, particularly camping, hiking, biking and beaching, reading, writing, and live music. |
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Danielle grew up in Santa Cruz County in the small community of Corralitos and attended San Francisco State University where she graduated with a degree in Communications. While attending SFSU she studied abroad in Queretaro, Mexico, where she became bilingual in Spanish. Before coming to CASA of Santa Cruz County she worked for The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and several multi-national venture capital firms. She enjoys surfing and spending time with her boyfriend Jeremy and her dog Jody.
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 Allison Turner Administrative Coordinator |
Allison began her work for CASA as an undergraduate at Arizona State University. There she raised money for the children of CASA’s Phoenix Chapter through a campus philanthropic group. After graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Justice and Social Inquiry, Allison moved back to her hometown in Southern California and worked for a boutique Family Law Firm. After visiting her brother in beautiful Santa Cruz, she decided to move. She spent her first 4 years in Santa Cruz managing a local restaurant. She became a CASA advocate in the Fall of 2007 and became a staff member in September of 2008. Allison lives in Santa Cruz with her sweetie and canine daughter, Pu’a Lani. 
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 Kevin West Program Assistant |
Kevin West is a former foster youth in his early 20s. He was born into the child welfare system and spent his entire adolescence in a combination of kinship care, shelters, foster homes, juvenile hall, mental health facilities, and group homes and in turn he has spent the last 1/3 of his life working to improve the system and post-emancipation outcomes for foster kids and youth. He has worked with many organizations both nationally and locally including the California Youth Connection, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the Y.O.U.T.H. Training project. He holds awards from members of Congress in California and Washington, and the California State Assembly. He attends Cabrillo College full-time, with a future educational goal of obtaining his MSW. He also has the “cutest kitty in the world” named Mamas. 
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| Board of Directors: Officers | |
 Leola Lapides President |
Leola was born in Nagoya, Japan, graduated from UC Berkeley in 1975 and Santa Clara Law School in 1978. She and her husband, Bob Katz, are partners in Katz and Lapides Law Firm and have lived in Santa Cruz County since 1979. Leola is a trained CASA Advocate; the proud companion to many fish and two fabulous kitties, Mikey and Clay; and the mother of two adult kids who are attending school on the East Coast. Whenever possible, she loves to spend time in the garden, at the beach, traveling, or watching Sharks Hockey.   
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 Lonnie Truax Vice President |
Lonnie was born in New Jersey and moved to Santa Cruz County in 1975, settling here to raise her family. Lonnie graduated from Syracuse University and, after moving to California, obtained a nursing degree from Cabrillo College. Lonnie worked as pediatric nurse for many years, concentrating her practice on the care of newborn babies. In 1991, Lonnie began a second career, graduating from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1994. Lonnie’s two favorite pastimes are backpacking in the Sierras with her husband, Ian and spending time with her granddaughter, Ginger. |
 Karen Semingson Treasurer |
Karen is a CPA and partner with Hutchinson and Bloodgood LLP in Watsonville. She has extensive audit experience, including many non-profit clients, and is a member of the firm’s Accounting and Auditing Committee. Karen relocated to the Santa Cruz area in 1999 after having spent most of her life in far northern California. She is actively involved in the Capitola Aptos Rotary Club and is a member of The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County’s Community Advisor’s Network. Karen has one son who recently graduated from college, and she enjoys playing tennis in her spare time. |
 Kathryn Bates Secretary |
Kathryn was born in Illinois but has lived in California since the age of 12. She attended junior and senior high in southern California and graduated from UCLA with a degree in psychology. Later, she obtained a Master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology from San Jose State University. In 1971, she married Santa Cruz native Phil Bates, an attorney and developer, and they have two children and a grandson. While living in the Bay Area, Kathryn was a CASA Advocate for six years. Upon returning to Santa Cruz, she was happy to be able to continue working on behalf of children by joining the Board of CASA, and is currently serving her second term. |
| Members | |
 Rob Allen |
Rob is a true local, born at Dominican Hospital, raised in Corralitos and a graduate of Aptos High. After college he lived and worked in Chile before getting serious and returning to law school at George Mason University in Virginia, where he hit the lottery by meeting his wife Christine. After returning to Santa Cruz County, Rob followed his mom Joanne’s lead to become both a CASA Advocate and an avid member of the family’s Team CASA relay team in the annual Big Sur Marathon. He practices law with his dad Dick in Watsonville and also serves on the boards of Rotary Club of Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley Historical Society. Rob is the world’s proudest dad of son Sam. He is also an avid dog lover and does his best to hide from the public his lifelong obsession with surfing. |
 Carmen Arriaga-Kumasaka |
Carmen was born in Colombia, grew up in Los Angeles, and has lived in Santa Cruz for the past 27 years. She has extensive experience in nursing, mental health and clinical supervision. Carmen is licensed as a Registered Nurse and a Marriage and Family Therapist; she currently works for Catholic Charities as a clinical supervisor and for Santa Clara University as adjunct faculty in the Counseling Psychology program. Being bilingual and bicultural, Carmen has been serving Latino families, adolescents, and children in our community for many years. Through her professional experiences she sees the power of CASA to positively affect the direction of children’s lives. Carmen and her husband, Andy, have two sons. In addition to her community involvement she enjoys reading and running. |
 Celestial Cassman |
Celestial is an attorney with the Santa Cruz law firm Atchison, Barisone, Condotti & Kovacevich. She was born in Hawaii and grew up in Lake County in northern California. Celestial attended UC Santa Cruz, where she graduated with a B.A. in Politics and fell in love with the area. After college, Celestial spent 6 months traveling around Costa Rica and South America. She then moved to Portland, Oregon, where she worked for a non-profit community development organization. Celestial returned to California to attend law school at UC Davis’ King Hall School of Law. After law school, Celestial worked for a larger law firm in Sacramento for 3 years. She was delighted to return to Santa Cruz in 2007. Celestial’s favorite pastimes include enjoying the local beaches, multi-media art, wine tasting, yoga, cooking, and learning to surf. |
 Alicia Flores |
Alicia Flores grew up in Watsonville where she continues to reside with her husband Arturo, daughter Brianna and son Arturo Jr. Alicia attended local schools, graduated from Watsonville High School, attended Cabrillo College, and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Alicia has worked for Bay Federal Credit Union for over 27 years, and is currently the Vice President of Member Services. Alicia enjoys volunteering in local community events that make a difference in our community. |
 Amy Rosa Harrington |
Amy Rosa Harrington has lived in Santa Cruz since 1976 after graduating from UCSC in Community Studies. Amy obtained her bilingual teaching credential and Masters in Education from the Universtiy of Santa Clara and taught in local public schools from 1980-2006. She has always been active in her community providing support and leadership on political and social justice issues, as well as, working with children and their parents to ensure that every child receives the quality education he or she deserves. Amy and her husband David Harrington, a professor at UCSC in psychology, have two children in college. Amy is a CASA advocate and also works as a part-time investigator for children who are in Child Protective Services. |
 Deutron Kebebew |
Deutron has worked in local non-profit agencies in Santa Cruz for the last 9 years in various capacities to help nurture and develop unique programs to assist families, youth and children in our community. Deutron is currently the Program Director for PAPÁS, Supporting Father Involvement, a clinical state-wide research project focusing on positive father involvement and co-parenting. Deutron has a B.S in Electrical Engineering from UC Santa Cruz. Deutron is a past President of the Board for California Youth Connection and is a current Board member for Smith Renaissance Society. Deutron mentors three former foster youth and continues to advocate and empower current and former foster youth. |
 Patrice Keet |
Patrice is a transplant from the Adirondack mountains in upstate New York. She has been a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in Santa Cruz County for the past 25 years. Her work in psychology and education has reinforced her belief in the invaluable services CASA provides to children. She and her husband, Bob, a physician with Dominican Medical Foundation moved to Santa Cruz 31 years ago, raising their two children who have followed in the career footsteps of their father. Patrice keeps busy with active interests ranging from jewelry making and skiing to working with local and national politics. Patrice and Bob the proud grandparents of two amazing grandchildren. |
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 Gerry Levandoski |
Gerry grew up in New Jersey and attended Rutgers University. He began his westward migration when he served as a VISTA volunteer in Dallas. Following a stint with the Peace Corps in Nicaragua, he earned his Masters Degree at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Gerry has lived and worked in California since 1983. For the majority of his teaching career, he served students in the Pajaro Valley. Primarily, he taught ESL at Watsonville High. His other contributions to the community have included coaching recreational youth sports and serving on the Mid-County Youth Soccer Club board. Now retired, Gerry and his Esther, his wife, spend their time hiking, biking, traveling and volunteering. Gerry plans to use his educational experience and his organizational skills to benefit CASA and its children. |
 Melanie Stern |
Melanie was born in Los Angeles and moved to Santa Cruz in 1977 with 15 others and opened up a residential treatment center/commune for adolescents and never looked back. She is a social worker, therapist, trainer and consultant. She presently provides training and consultation throughout the state in areas of Clinical Supervision, Management & Supervision, Teambuilding, Intercultural Awareness, Stress Management, Law & Ethics and Group Facilitation. For twelve years she was Program Manager/Clinical Supervisor at Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance in Watsonville. She has a private practice in Santa Cruz specializing in working with individuals, couples, children and cross cultural issues. Her love for teaching and learning has her working as adjunct faculty at Santa Clara University and Cabrillo College. She enjoys dancing, the outdoors, yoga, gardening and time with her two grandchildren. |
 Jeff Talmadge |
Jeff was born and raised in Los Angeles and moved to the Santa Cruz area with his wife, Adele in 1984. Together, they own and operate Talmadge Construction, Inc. a Design/Build residential remodeling company located in Aptos. Jeff and Adele have been married for 23 years and have a son attending Aptos High School. Jeff was a key to the successful relocation of Valencia Hall and served on the Board of Directors for Santa Cruz Montessori School for three years. |
 Kent Thompson |
Kent is a retired pediatrician. A native Californian, he received a BA in psychology from UC Berkeley in 1961. Following a 21 month enlistment in the US Army, he attended Tulane University School of Medicine, receiving an MD degree in 1967. In 1971, after completing further pediatric training, he joined an established group of pediatricians in Santa Cruz. His immediate family includes six adult children and stepchildren as well as seven (going on eight) grandchildren. He currently resides in Corralitos, a location from which he can easily harass his children and grandchildren. |
 Susan Williams |
Susan Williams along with her husband, Dr Jeffrey Williams and her son, Ryan Williams have been residents of Santa Cruz County since 1991. Her background is in Foods and Nutrition. She worked for various agencies and hospitals as a dietitian after receiving her degree from UC San Francisco. Since moving to Santa Cruz she has pursued her passion of interior design and works with several local designers in the area. Susan has served as a board member and past president of Hospice of Santa Cruz for six years. She also served as a trustee on the Happy Valley School Board and became president of the School Site Council. In Susan’s leisure time she likes to garden, travel and take walks on the beach. |
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To find us at CASA: Telephone: 831. 761.2956 |
Fax Number: 831. 761.2913 |
Address: 294 Green Valley Road, Suite 326, Watsonville, CA 95076 | Link to
Map to CASA
Helpful Links : | Contact Info. | National CASA | Member Info | Print this Page | Site Map | Annual Report | Go to the top of this page | |
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