Board of Directors

David Almeida

PRESIDENT

David Almeida has been a Private Wealth Advisor with Lincoln Financial Advisors since 2000. Dave has built his practice using a one-on-one approach. He takes the time to learn what is important to his clients and how best to help them accumulate, protect, and ultimately distribute their assets. He has the ability to bring options from some of the strongest financial companies to the table. This allows him to provide competitive, diversified and personalized investment and insurance solutions, which help meet his client's needs. He also helps local employers design and implement company sponsored retirement plans and educates their employees about the value of investing to obtain their financial goals.

He obtained his BA in IT from Humboldt State University. He worked for many years as a manufacturing engineer but made the transition to the financial industry to better apply his skills and passion to help people solidify their financial futures.

Dave is an active part of the Santa Barbara community where he lives with his wife, Kristiana and their two dogs. He is a longtime volunteer with the American Red Cross, Santa Barbara County Chapter, and sat as a board member for 8 years.

In his free time Dave enjoys Cross Fit, running marathons, soccer, family time, and running his dogs at the beach.

Mory Fontanez

VICE PRESIDENT

Mory Fontanez is a brand strategist and crisis management advisor who spent 20 years helping Fortune 500s build their reputations, reach new audiences, and navigate challenges. Working closely with brands and businesses in most every industry, she climbed the corporate ladder of various companies to become a Managing Director of Strategy at a global PR firm. As a woman of color in a white- and male-dominated corporate world, she worked to help break the mold of what traditional business has looked like.

Today, Mory is an Executive Purpose Coach and Founder and CEO of 822 Group, which helps clients bring meaningful change to an outdated, ineffective workforce system through empathy, intuition, and emotional intelligence. Central to her work is supporting clients in understanding their own higher purpose—an essential part of living well, achieving true success, and making the biggest possible positive impact on community, business, and family.

Bibi Moezzi

TREASURER

Bibi Moezzi is Senior Vice President, Director of Commercial Banking for Pacific Premier in Santa Barbara. As a Director of Commercial Banking, she leads her team in Santa Barbara with their efforts in developing new opportunities while strengthening existing relationships. Throughout her 20-year banking career in Santa Barbara, Bibi has garnered the trust and respect of her team, as well as her clients, with her hard work and genuine care.

Bibi was born and raised in Tehran, Iran where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering. She moved to Santa Barbara in 1999 to continue her education, but instead found her way into banking. She is actively involved in the Santa Barbara Community, and has served on many boards.

Bibi received the "Extra Step Award" from Congresswoman Lois Capps and the Santa Barbara Police Department for going above and beyond the call of duty. Additionally, She received the Pacific Coast Business Times, 40 Under 40 Award.

Laura Campobasso

SECRETARY

Through her firm, Progressive Consulting Services, Laura focuses on providing leadership, management, and organizational training and skill development nationally and internationally to for-profit businesses and non-profit environmental, medical, educational and family service organizations. Her engagements span the globe from Europe to Latin America to Asia to the United States, including work with indigenous populations from around the world.

Laura started Progressive Consulting Service in 1995 and before founding the firm, Laura served as the Executive Director of the Whitecap Foundation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on family support and youth education. Before that, Laura was Director of World Wildlife Fund's Organizational Development Program (ODP). Her primary responsibilities included assisting conservation organizations in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the United States with the organization's self-reliance and viability. During her tenure at WWF, Laura co-authored three publications designed to enhance an organization's capability and create self-reliance: "A Guide to Financial Resource Development," "A Guide to Designing Effective Proposals" and "A Guide to Effective Human Resource Development."

Laura has worked extensively with numerous non-profits over the years and is passionate about helping young people effectively navigate the challenges faced in the teen and emerging adulthood years. Laura has two grown children. The AHA! Board looks forward to having her energy, enthusiasm, and wisdom on the team.

Rendy Freedman

CO-FOUNDER

Rendy Freedman has been a psychotherapist and mediator for over 20 years, and an educator for over 35 years. She specializes in working with adolescents, couples, families, groups, and trauma issues through EMDR. She has worked extensively with women's issues and leads groups for parents of teens. She is a licensed mediator and certified EMDR practitioner and has had significant training and experience in body related healing modalities, as well as in relational therapy systems including self psychology, family systems, the mutuality philosophy of the Stone Center at Wellesley College, and council practice from The Ojai Foundation.

In between teaching high school English and entering her masters program in clinical psychology she spent five years in advertising and film production in Denver and Los Angeles. She received her master's degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University in Santa Barbara and a bachelor of arts degree in secondary education from the University of Iowa. She has taught in both public and private schools and was one of the founders of The Waldorf School of Santa Barbara. She taught undergraduate and graduate classes at Antioch University for 10 years and has lectured frequently in schools, local agencies, and groups on the topic of social and emotional intelligence.

She leads experiential workshops for parents of teens–especially mothers and daughters. She has led and participated in dozens of trainings on diversity celebration and creative arts applications of social and emotional intelligence. She is the proud mother of three adult children, has an adorable grandchild, and enjoys adventuring in the beautiful Santa Barbara mountains and ocean.

Stephen Masterson

Stephen Masterson's career has focused on finance and corporate board governance, with over twenty years in public accounting and ten years in the finance industry as a CFO, COO, and CCO. He previously served as a Forbes Finance Council Member and is known for his expertise in ESG, nonprofit board governance, finance/accounting, and risk management. Stephen brings to AHA!'s Board a passion about AHA!'s mission, long-term experience sitting on local nonprofit boards (UC Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Zoo, and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden), and comfort and enthusiasm around fundraising—specifically, with corporations.

Julian Castillo

Julian is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist trained in EMDR, Somatic Therapy, and Mindfulness Based Counseling. He received his Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Santa Barbara in 2018 and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Minor in Religious Studies from San Diego State University in 2014.

As a practicing clinician he is active in counseling teens and their families on how to get along better and normalize the often awkward and misunderstood rite of passage transition out of adolescence and into young adulthood. In addition to working with teens and their families, Julian also sees a good deal of young men navigating an inner exploration of their emotional frontiers and often uncharted internal landscapes.

As an alumni of the AHA! program and a former staff member Julian provides a unique perspective on programming as well as fundraising. As a board member Julian will be dedicated in volunteering his time towards fund-raising events, attending donor functions as a representative, as well as offering invaluable insights into appropriate instruction and facilitation.

Stephanie Ramírez Zárate

Stephanie Ramírez Zárate serves as District Director for Senator Monique Limón. She rejoined Team Limón in this position in January of 2023. Prior to this, she lived in Los Angeles, where she worked in the nonprofit sector for an organization called Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), where she led the development of leadership programs designed for Latinas to increase their civic participation and enhance their skills as policy advocates. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Stephanie served as a Field Representative for then, Assemblymember Monique Limón, a role that inspired a commitment to public service.

Stephanie was born and raised in México City, her family migrated to Santa Barbara when she was 10 years old. She attended Bishop Diego High School and was a proud transfer student from Santa Barbara City College, later on earning her Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Public Policy from UCLA (GO Bruins!). Stephanie is passionate about serving her community in the Central Coast. She is a community leader and is devoted to making a positive impact in her local community. Stephanie lives in Ventura with her husband Ryan and their schnauzer Olive. In her spare time, she enjoys propagating plants and getting her hands in soil making succulent arrangements!

Jack Rivas

Jack is a native son who attended local public schools, graduated from UCSB and completed UCSB's Graduate School of Education and attended PACIFICA studying Counseling Psychology. After teaching at SBHS, Jack went to work as a counselor and instructor at UCSB where he has been since 1979. He serves or served on the boards of many non-profit organizations, including ADELANTE Dual Language Immersion School, Just Communities Central Coast and PALABRA. He is dedicated to issues of social justice.

Tony Rodgers

Dr. Rogers received his M.D. from Texas Tech University. As a medical student, Tony worked in El Paso, where he learned Spanish and developed a love of treating underserved urban populations. At Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, he continued to work with underserved populations while specializing in Family Medicine and developing a holistic approach to healing the individual. Since 2003, Tony has assisted the Santa Barbara Department of Public Health with initiatives serving houseless, undocumented, and other at-risk individuals. He and his wife Kyra both served on the board of the Wilderness Youth Project, a local nonprofit with whom AHA! has enjoyed a long partnership.

Jason Cobb Storck

Jason Cobb Storck is a father to two wonderful children and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Most of Jason's experience in psychotherapy has been with children and families in school-based settings. After graduating from CSULA with a Master's in Counseling with an Option in School-Based Family Therapy, Jason worked in Los Angeles-area schools and agencies before working locally with both the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (CADA) and Family Service Agency (FSA), mostly in the Carpinteria School District.

He is currently taking a break from the therapy world to enter full-time dad mode (alongside his husband) at home and in their children's schools. Among other volunteering opportunities, Jason is the current Vice President of the Board of the Lou Grant Parent-Child Workshop, of which he has been a member for the past two years.

Elana Wien

Elana Wien is a trusted community leader, nonprofit executive and advisor with over 20 years of experience, known for her thoughtful, creative approach to philanthropy and social impact. Elana advises a select portfolio of individuals, families and foundations on their philanthropic strategy, charitable giving, and grantmaking through her private consultancy practice, Elana Wien LLC.

She previously served as inaugural executive director of a North American network and grantmaker of over 175 organizations focused on nonprofit best practices, workplace culture and equity issues, awarding over $5 million in grants during her tenure. Prior to that, Elana led grantmaking programs and advised a portfolio of family foundations at a community foundation with over $1 billion in assets, overseeing over $100 million in grants over the course of her 8-year tenure. Elana has also previously served as fund development consultant to a portfolio of nonprofit clients including a regional medical center, a national early childhood think tank, a major Los Angeles County community clinic system, and a youth homeless services agency.

Elana graduated magna cum laude from UC Berkeley with a bachelor's degree in geography and received a master's degree in anthropology from the Universidad de las Americas as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to Mexico. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Elana is an alumna of the Coro Southern California Women in Leadership Cohort 2, a former Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies Fellow and a former Wexner Foundation Field Fellow. She received the LGBTQ Professionals Network Leadership Award of Southern California Grantmakers in 2019 and previously served on the Family Philanthropy Advisory Council of Southern California Grantmakers. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she currently resides in Ventura on the Central Coast of California with her wife and children, having previously lived in the Bay Area, Washington, D.C., NYC, Brazil, Mexico and Spain.

Kerrilee Gore

Kerrilee Gore is the creator, writer, and executive producer of an immersive theatrical production "When The Lights Go Out" which has been playing since 2014. Kerrilee, a former Los Angeles-based performer, has worked internationally alongside acclaimed artists including comedian John Cleese. Former dance director and performer for the Los Angeles based cirque troupe "Zen Arts" from 2008-2010, she has vast experience in creative performance and events including casting, curating acts, costuming, and choreography. In 2010, she relocated to Santa Barbara to serve as entertainment director of local theatre, Savoy, where she curated performance acts and created house cirque show, Gypzy Suite. Eager to continue bringing the creative performance arts to the Santa Barbara community, Kerrilee founded local boutique performance and dance theatre "The Black Box" in 2019.

During her time in Santa Barbara, Kerrilee became immersed in local philanthropy and mentorship. In 2015, Kerrilee became a certified court appointed special advocate for local nonprofit, CASA, with active service through 2018. Kerrilee also served as the talent director for Teen Dance Star. She sat on the board of Arts Mentorship Program for five years serving as President in 2020. She is an active board member of AHA and has served on the board since 2019.

Kerrilee is a mama bear to two littles and is about to launch the 2024 season of immersive theatrical performance at The Black Box.

Stacy Pulice

Ambassador of Education

Stacy Pulice serves on the USC Civic Engagement Board of Councilors, which provides education and services to schools surrounding its campus, and she is the Chair of its Education Committee. She is the educational consultant on the board of AHA! (Achievement, Harmony, Attitude), a non-profit providing social and emotional learning programs for at-risk teens. She also serves on the board of Multimedia Art and Design (MAD) Academy at Santa Barbara High School, offering integrated, project-based learning using media arts and technology.

Dr. Pulice recently launched a non-profit focused on helping teachers nurture the "genius" in every child. After receiving a B.A. in Economics from UC Irvine, she worked in the television industry for 10 years. Earning an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute led to a private psychotherapy practice for two decades, specializing in empowering young women, as well as Jungian psychology. She returned to Pacifica to earn a Ph.D. in Psychology, and specialized in transformational education.

Stacy contributes time and resources to bringing programs such as Restorative Approaches and emotional intelligence training for underprivileged and at-risk youth in Santa Barbara.

Honorary Board

This wonderful group of luminaries has endorsed our work:

Jennifer Buffett
Peter Buffett
Lou Buglioli
John Cleese
Cat Cora
Dr. Anne Davin
Chaz Ebert
Byron Katie
Kate Lear
Maggie Lear
Norman Lear
Natalie Orfalea
Suzanne Peck
Justine Roddick
Tina Schlieske
Tosha Silver
Victoria Mann Simms