Chairman:
Mary T. Roche
Former Indian Wells Mayor and City Council Member Mary T. Roche was elected to the council in 2000, named mayor in 2003, and reelected in 2004. She currently serves as Indian Wells’ representative to the Riverside CountyTransportation Commission, Coachella Valley Transportation Commission, Coachella Valley Conservation Commission, Coachella Valley Energy & Environment Committee, and Santa Rosa & San Jacinto National Monument Advisory Board.
Roche has extensive community involvement with an impressive list of leadership positions.She founded the Homeowners/Residents Association of Indian Wells, and Indian Wells Historic Preservation Foundation. She is founding president of Desert Horizons Women’s Club, as well as past president of Desert Horizons Homeowners Association. Roche is active in many other community organizations.
An educator and businesswoman, Roche retired from Los Angeles Community College District after 25 years as an administrator and professor. She foundedand served as CEO/president of Linens Unlimited II, a retail bed and bath chain.
Roche earned her master of arts in educational administration from California State University, Long Beach, and her bachelor of arts from California State University, Los Angeles.
President:
Rebecca Kenary
& Wall Street Teens Chairperson
President@wlfdesert.org
Rebecca Kenary retired from a 20-year career in investment banking in 1999. Born and raised in Worcester, Massachussetts, Kenary earned a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business.
Rebecca began her career in foreign exchange sales and trading at First National Bank of Chicago. She subsequently worked for institutions including Citibank,Salomon Brothers, AIG and UBS in New York, Paris, London and Singapore. Rebecca's responsibilities as a currency trader included managing the British Pound trading desk for Citibank NY and an Emerging Markets currency desk for AIG. As a foreign exchange sales advisor, her clients included Central Banks and Investment Authorities, hedge funds,mutual funds and large corporations in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North and South America.
Since retiring and moving to Palm Desert, Rebecca has worked with local artists, authors and not-for-profit organizations to help promote their work and organize the financial side of their creative businesses. She has edited and created book proposals for two books. In addition, she continues her lifelong commitment to charitable activities.Rebecca serves as the treasurer of Women Leaders Forum and chairs its Wall Street Teens program. She is thrilled to be able to use hercareer experience to help young women discover the thrill of "Financial Independence!"
Secretary:
Margot Nelligan
secretary@wlfdesert.org
Margot spent 28 years in the corporate world, working for Xerox Corporation in various positions, including training, marketing, and strategic alliance management. She retired from Xerox in 2002, and moved to the desert in 2003, where she started a retail clothing business.
Margot has been a member of WLF since 2006, and participated in organizing WLF’s Nite Out with the Girlz and the TIAW Conference co-hosted by WLF in 2007. Margot currently chairs the WLF/TIAW Microbank Program, which raises funds to provide small – or “micro” loans to working women in underdeveloped countries.
Her previous volunteer leadership roles include:
- Secretary and Chair, Tree Musketeers, El Segundo, CA, a non-profit run by kids using environmental programs to teach them leadership and social skills
- President and Board Member, Lake Mirage Homeowners Association, Rancho Mirage, CA
- President, Surfside Homeowner’s Association, Redondo Beach, CA
- President, Xerox Women’s Information Network
- Member, Redondo Beach Environmental and Public Utilities Commission, Redondo Beach, CA
- Founder and member representative, South Bay Business Environmental Coalition, El Segundo, CA
- Advisor to the El Segundo Citizen’s Committee on Environmental Programs
Margot lives in Rancho Mirage and enjoys travel, hiking and reading.
Treasurer:
Paula Tapia
Treasurer@wlfdesert.org
Paula Tapia, Assistant Vice President with Pacific Western Bank, began her career in banking 6 years ago, following her graduation from California State University, San Bernardino where she attained a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration and a Minor in Finance. Since joining Pacific Western Bank in 2004 Paula has tenaciously moved her way up the ladder from FinancialS ervices Representative to Assistant Vice President, Client Services Officer.
Paula is passionate about the importance of community service and is actively involved with many local organizations including the American Heart Association, United Way of the Desert and Soroptimist International. She is also a member of various professional groups including the Community Association Institute, National Notary Association and is a 2009 graduateof Leadership Coachella Valley.
Immediate Past President:
Kate Spates
Kate Spates is community-minded and has always taken an interest in the growth anddevelopment of the desert. She recently graduated from the prestigious Leadership Coachella Valley program.
Kate is a graduate of California State University, San Bernardino. Her career has included positions in hospitality, accounting, administration, and retail sales.
In 1996, Kate formed WebSites 2000. After 10 years and more than 200 clients, WebSites 2000 became Image Marketing Concepts, a full-service website development and marketing firm.
Kate has assisted local charities such as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, United Way of the Desert, and Habitat for Humanity Coachella Valley by creating a Web presence for them. She and her husband, Brent, have twin daughters, Abby and Cassidy.
Membership Chair:
Renell E. Burch, Esq.
membership@wlfdesert.org
As a Coachella Valley resident since 2000 and having practiced law at one of the valley’s top litigation firms, Renell recently decided to take on the exciting challenge of opening her own law practice. Located in Indian Wells, the Law Offices of Renell E. Burch, a Professional Corporation offers legal services in the areas of civil litigation, real estate and corporate law. The firm engages in all aspects of business related matters from preventive and pre-litigation counseling through trial and post trial proceedings.
Renell is a graduate of the University of California at Irvine and the University of West Los Angeles School of Law. She is an active member of the local American Inns of Court, Warren Slaughter-Richard Roemer Chapter, the American Bar Association, the Desert Bar Association and the State Bar of California. Renell has been listed on the Who’s Who in the legal profession and has been awarded the top rating for her years in practice among her colleagues for her legal ability and ethical standards. An advocate of early resolution, Renell sits on the civil bench panel of mediators with the Riverside Superior Court offering mediation services to the community.
Active in her community, Renell has served on the Board of Directors for the Family YMCA of the Desert and as a member of the Junior League of the Palm Springs Desert Communities. She is also a volunteer at many of local nonprofit organizations throughout the valley.
Renell is a firm believer that the Coachella Valley offers tremendous opportunities not only in the business arena, but for our youth in the desert. As the valley grows Renell is excited to play an integral part of what our valley has to offer.
Board Member:
Andrea Carter
communications@wlfdesert.org
Andrea Carter is a marketing consultant with 15 years experience in marketing, advertising and public relations. Prior to starting her own marketing consulting business at age 36 in 2008, Andrea was the Vice President of Client Services for Kiner Communications. Andrea served a variety of clients for the firm, but her primary account was the City of La Quinta. Since 2000, Andrea has developed, implemented and managed all aspects of the City's annual marketing program.
Andrea was a member of the Board of Directors of Desert Arc (serving more than 700 developmentally disabled clients in the region) through 2009 and also served as the Board's Secretary and Vice President. She recently joined the Board of Directors of Women Leaders Forum. Andrea is periodically aguest writer for Desert Entertainer magazine, and has recently worked as a copywriter for JW Marriott Las Vegas, JW Marriott at L.A. Live, JW Marriott Desert Springs, Renaissance Esmerelda and The Claremont in Berkeley. She graduated from the Leadership Coachella Valley program in 2006.
Prior to moving to the desert in 2000, Andrea was anaccount manager with the Maccabee Group in Minneapolis, where she handled public relations campaigns for companies like General Mills, Nextel and Cirque du Soleil.
Board Member:
Robin Costello
robin@eventertainmentbiz.com
Robin Costello is co-owner of Eventertainment, a full-service entertainment booking agency. Prior to owning her own business, Robin worked at the Palm Springs Desert Resorts
Convention and Visitors Authority where she was responsible for
supporting sales and marketing efforts with convention services and event management. She has 20 years of hotel sales and event experience for companies such as Wyndham, Hilton,
Hyatt and Red Lion hotels. Robin is still involved in Desert Resort's
tourism sales by volunteering her time planning various events for the
hospitality community in an effort to promote the valley's tourism and
convention industry.
Board Member:
Connie Golds
conniegolds@gmail.com
Connie Golds is the
President and Co-Founder of Desert Best Friend’s Closet, a non-profit
organization that provides clothing for low-income residents of the Coachella
Valley. Desert Best Friend’s Closet focuses on work-appropriate clothing
for men and women and prom attire for high school girls. Her organization’s motto—“a new outfit
creates a new outlook”—supports the belief that reusing, recycling and repurposing
can help others and reduce our carbon footprint.
Connie has a strong commitment
to and record of community service in the Coachella Valley, particularly with charities
that benefit youth or education. She dedicated
13 years to volunteering as a Girl Scout leader, earning honors like
Outstanding Leader, Outstanding Volunteer and the GSUSA Appreciation Award. Today she is an active member of numerous
volunteer organizations, serving on the Scholarship Committee of the Desert
Community Foundation, as Board Secretary for Sheltering Sisters, the Auxiliary
of Shelter From the Storm, and as co-chair of the UCLA Alumni Scholarships
Committee. She was recently elected by her fellow directors to Chair the
Marywood-Palm Valley School Board of Trustees.
Her enthusiasm for education comes from her work as a teacher; she
taught American Sign Language at College of the Desert for ten years and prior
to that, she was an interpreter and tutor for Deaf students around the
Coachella Valley.
A desert resident for nearly three decades, Connie received her Master
in Public Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills and
her BA from UCLA. She is a 2009 graduate of the Leadership Coachella Valley
program.
Board Member:
Ellen Grosser
Ellen Grosser, Senior Real Estate Specialist, has served buyers and sellers in real estate for more than a decade. After traveling throughout the world and living in Los Angeles, on the East Coast, and Spain, Ellen chose the Southern California desert for her home.
When Ellen is not working, you might find her organizing a Women Leaders Forum event, at the Palm Springs Air Museum, or at a meeting of the Palm Desert or LaQuinta Chambers of Commerce. You might also find her tending to her garden, entertaining, reading a book, or playing with her six grandchildren.
Ellen offers a variety of real estate services to a diverse clientele. She specializes in finding dream homes for her clients and going the extra mile. She listens and makes the home buying and selling process simple for her clients.
Board Member:
Judith A. Mathes
Judy Mathes has more than 30 years experience in the financial services industry. A licensed securities principal and California Life Agent, she has owned and operated her own financial planning business for more than 28 years. Her expertise includes all types of securities investments, estate planning and preservation, tax planning and retirement planning. She also specializes in securitized real estate such as tenant-in-common and DST investments, either through a 1031exchange or direct investment, as well as public and private REITs, LLCs and other real estate securities.
Judy is a well-known public speaker on investments, estate planning, planned giving and other tax planning strategies, as well as 1031 exchanges and tenant-in-common investments. She has appeared in Women’s Day, The New York Times, The Modesto Bee and other publications. She co-produced her business’ cable television show entitled You and Your Money, has conducted evening classes on financial planning and investments at Modesto Junior College, and has been an instructor for Golden GateUniversity Extension.
Judy is also active in the community. She is a board member of Women Leaders Forum and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert, an affiliate member of the California Desert Association of Realtors and the Women’s Council of Realtors, and a member of The Girlfriend Factor. She is also past president and co-founder of the Central California Chapter, International Association for Financial Planning.
A native of Oakdale, California, Judy relocated to Indio, California in early 2005, and continues to provide quality personal service to her clients throughout the state.
Board Member:
Dr. Nicole Ortiz
ywa@wlfdesert.org
Dr. Nicole Ortiz is the co-founder of Live Well Clinic in La Quinta, where she is a primary care doctor with a focus on holistic family medicine. She received her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland,OR, a four-year, post-graduate medical program. Her passion is helping individuals achieve a better quality of life through a holistic preventative and proactive approach to health. She was recently featured in Suzanne Sommer’sbook, “Knockout,” for a contribution in treating patients with cancer through supportive integrative approaches. She believes that any dream can be realized with a bit of common sense and intelligent persistence.
Nicole has a track record of leadership initiative and has organized and directed numerous projects over the years, which are in line with her core philosophy. This includes serving on Boards, heading women’s solidarity projects through her sorority Delta Gamma, mentoring young girls pursing medicine, raising money to fund an orphanage in Ecuador and founding a public speaking group, Action Potential, for medical students to share their education with the community. Since moving to the Coachella Valley, Nicole's community service includes working with Pathways to Success mentoring local high school women, co-chairing the first annual Desert’s Biggest Loser Challenge and Charity, and seminars focused on empowering women to achieve better health. Nicole is amember of WLF's Education Series Committee and presented one of WLF's Educational Seminars. As a WLF Board member, she is particularly interested in working to expand on the opportunities for Young Women Ambassadors and leading the mentor program helping women of any age believe in their full potential and vision a clear path toward reaching their dreams.
Board Member:
Jasenka Sabanovic
A Bosnian native, Jasenka Sabanovic moved to the United States in 1998 after spending four years experiencing the horrors of civil war. Prior to coming to the U.S. Jasenka escaped to Germany, only to be denied asylum. Feeling rejected, confused and alone, she applied to come to the U.S. to find her peace. After going through a deep depression, she enrolled in college, and supported herself and her family by working full time. Four years later, Jasenka graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Economics.
Jasenka returned to the desert and started her own company, Coaching to Vision. As a life coach, she feels that she is paving a road for humanity to get to a better place - a place of peave.Her knowledge in helping people learn how to overcome obstacles, create vision, and find fulfillment comes from her amazing life experience, as well as the coaching skills that she learned working for a company that coached CEOs and corporate executives.
In addition to serving as a co-chair of WLF's Desert Women Entrepreneurs program, Jasenka has has worked with children at the YMCA in Oakland, California ,teaching them to take charge of and create the lives that they dream about outside the boundaries of race, gender and religion. She also serves as a committee chair for the Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade, and is on the board of the Desert Coaches Network.
Jasenka was featured in Palm Spring Life magazine's "40 under 40" story, as well as other publications and media. She speaks several languages.
"My vision is to translate learning into purposeful action and to create quantum shifts one person at the time."
Board Member:
Sheila Stillman
ywa@wlfdesert.org
Sheila Stillman, a transplanted New Yorker, has made her home in Southern California for many years and the Coachella Valley for the past sixteen years. She’s spent 30 years in the world of banking and finance for a variety of entities as a commercial lender, a mortgage lender, and a retail lender as well as run desert Financial Services for Riverside Superior Court for 10 years. Concurrently Sheila owned and operated a construction permit service and was a correspondent for the Hemet News. Returning to her creative roots Sheila is presently completing a novel and is writing a screenplay.
Always active in her communities Sheila has served on the Board of Soroptimists, acted as treasurer and president for Toastmasters, been a Rotary speech contest judge, served twice in an elected council seat for AVMAC in an unincorporated area of Riverside County, spoke countywide on behalf of State Ballot Propositions and developed and taught seminars for the courts and other government agencies on subjects such as “Handling Change” and “Time Management.”
Sheila has been a member of WLF since 2006 heading theTIAW speaker liaison committee, a committee member for all subsequent “Take theLead” events, and most recently as a mentor with WLF’s Young Women Ambassadors program. She believes one of our organization’s most important goals is to find, include, encourage and support our valley’s young woman toward developing their leadership potential.
