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Advisory Council Member Biographies

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Meet the current members of the VCAAA Advisory Council.

If you are interested in getting involved, please visit our Become a Member page.

Officers
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Dr. Maria Munguia
 Chairperson

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Martha Shapiro
 Vice Chair

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Alice Sweetland
 Secretary

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Dr. Karen Gorback
 Past Chairperson

City Appointees

Camarillo

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Carmen
 Reyes

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Vacant

Fillmore

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Carina
 Forsythe

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Anna
 Reilley

Moorpark

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Lyn
 Cotwright

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Vacant

Ojai

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Vacant

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Bill
 Nugent

Oxnard

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Vacant

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Alice
 Sweetland

Port Hueneme

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Jonnie
 Lisman

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Luis
 Mendez II

Santa Paula

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Dr. Maria
 Munguia

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Vacant

Simi Valley

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Al
 Brown

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Susan
 Zirnite

Thousand Oaks

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Stephanie
 Belding

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Nita
 Vaidya

City of Ventura

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Vacant

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Vacant

Supervisorial Appointees
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Jeannette
 Sanchez-Palacios

District 1
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Sylvia
 Taylor-Stein

District 5
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Denise
 Calhoun

District 2
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Anita
 Ruiz

At-Large
Elwell Deborah

Deborah
 Elwell

District 3
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Smita
 Dandekar

District 4
Service Provider Representatives
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Martha
 Shapiro

Senior Concerns
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Blair
 Barker

CHCD
Focused Population Representatives
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Peter
 Schreiner

Behavioral Health
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Ronald
 Berkowsky

LGBT+
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Sue
 Tatangelo

Consumer
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Lynette
 Harvey

Medical Provider
CarolLeish2

Carol
 Leish

Disabilities
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Vacant

Veterans
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Maureen
 O'Keefe Hodge

Family Caregiver
California Senior Legislators
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Dr. Karen
 Gorback

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Tony
 Gitt

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Brenda
 Birdwell

County of Ventura logo
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Location and Contact

Quick Links

Resources

Maria Munguia

Dr. Maria Munguía Wellman, LISW, LCSW, has served as clinical staff at the University of New Mexico Children’s Psychiatric Center, and as Assistant Professor at New Mexico Highlands University. She taught human diversity/multicultural theory, clinical practice, and qualitative research at NMHU. She remains committed to the ongoing interdisciplinary study, practice, and teaching of identity, community, and culture.

Martha Shapiro

Martha Shapiro, LCSW, is director of programs for Senior Concerns and oversees the Adult Day Program and the Caregiver Support Center, ensuring participants are treated with dignity and respect to maximize quality of life. She earned a master’s degree in social welfare from UCLA and holds a license in clinical social work. Martha serves on the LGBT Aging Coalition of Ventura County, the Ventura County Compassionate Care Coalition, and Dementia Friendly Ventura County.

Alice Sweetland

Alice Frost Sweetland was born at Lying Inn Hospital in Oxnard. She has volunteered with St. John’s Hospital Auxiliary for almost 50 years, served on the Board of the St. John’s Healthcare Foundation, and belonged to VC Forty Leaguers. She is chair of the Oxnard Senior Services Commission and is the coordinator of a speakers’ bureau of senior citizens for the VCOE. A recent widow after 52 years of marriage, she spent most of her married life in Oxnard. Alice has three children and two grandchildren.

Karen Gorback

Karen Gorback, Ph.D., is a retired dean from the Ventura County Community College District who taught in the Graduate Schools of Education at CLU and CSUN. A former chair of the Thousand Oaks Council on Aging, Karen currently serves as a Senior Senator in the California Senior Legislature. She is a past Ms. Senior Ventura County and is enjoying an encore career as a writer.

Carmen Reyes

Carmen E. Reyes is the Director of Community Engagement for the UCLA Department of Medicine. She has more than 50 years of experience in health and human services with an emphasis in the field of aging and aging service network systems. Her work in academic community-partnered research builds meaningful academic/community/stakeholder partnerships. These partnerships form an equitable framework for culturally/linguistically-responsive studies to address health disparities, and inform and advance public policy to improve health status of older persons and systems of care.

Vacant

This position is currently vacant. Please see the Become a Member page for information on filling this spot.

Carina Forsythe

Carina Forsythe served 23 years in the military (U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy, retired). She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in liberal arts from Excelsior University in Albany, N.Y. Carina is also a retired judicial assistant for a U.S. federal judge in the Central District of California. She is a published author of several local history books, a screenwriter, and a contributing column writer for the Fillmore Gazette.

Anna Reilley

Anna Reilley is a realtor at RE/MAX Gold Coast who is committed to helping clients achieve their property goals with expertise and integrity. With 30+ years of marriage to Daniel Reilley and five wonderful children, Anna is a strong believer in community engagement. She serves as a board member for the local Rotary Club, participates actively in the San Buenaventura Women’s Club, and holds the position of Director of Senior Outreach at the First Baptist Church in Fillmore. She has a master’s degree in business and a minor in leadership from the University of La Verne.

Lyn Cotwright

Lyn Cotwright has been a Ventura County resident for more than 45 years. She works as a Real Estate Planner with Keller Williams Realty. She is a certified Senior Relocation Specialist and also holds certifications in 1031 Exchanges, DST’s and Trust and Probate. Cotwright also volunteers her time at her grandchildren’s school as PTA Vice President of the Ladera Stars Academy.

Bill Nugent

Bill Nugent’s professional life involved 38 years of law enforcement. He spent nine years with the Port Hueneme Police Department, 22 years with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and eight years with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. Bill and his wife have two children. He is currently a board member for Help of Ojai, a counselor for the Heath Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, and an AARP income tax preparer.

Jonnie Lisman

Jonnie Lisman is a representative from the City of Port Hueneme.

Luis Mendez II

Luis Mendez II has been a resident of Port Hueneme for more than 35 years and has a deep connection with the city. He graduated from Hueneme High School and he has a B.A. in communications from CSU Northridge. He works in the mortgage industry and helps local families achieve their dream of home ownership. More recently, he has found himself advocating for the elderly in his family.

Al Brown

Al Brown volunteers extensively in his community, including as a board member for the Simi Valley Council on Aging, as the vice chair of the Simi Valley Neighborhood Council #2, as a member of the of the Simi Youth Employment Services Advisory Board, and as a monitor for the Simi Senior Center Computer Lab. He is a Distinguished Toastmaster and a retired magician.

Susan ZIrnite

Susan Zirnite was a floor nurse at Northridge Hospital and became a nurse care manager with several medical groups, including Alta California in Simi Valley. She worked as a case manager with Aetna Health Care, then worked at Identity Medical Group. She enjoys helping older adults and others in her every day travels.

Stephanie Belding

Stephanie Belding has been a Ventura County resident for more than 40 years. She currently serves as a Commissioner and Vice-Chair for the Thousand Oaks Council on Aging. She is a retired school teacher and spent nearly 40 years dedicated to serving students in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.

Nita Vaidya

Nita Vaidya is a representative from the City of Thousand Oaks.

Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios

Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios was appointed by Supervisor Matt LaVere. She holds a master’s degree in public administration and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in higher education leadership at Cal Lutheran. She serves as District Director for the California State Assembly and lives in Ventura with her husband Otto and two grown children. Jeannette enjoys trail running as well as spending time in her garden.

Sylvia Taylor-Stein

Sylvia Taylor-Stein is Executive Director of the Ventura County Ombudsman Program, overseeing the county’s long-term care services. She serves on the board of the California Long Term Care Ombudsman Association and is a member and former officer of the National Association of Local LTCO. She is a member of Consumer Voice and CANHR Least Medicating Team and chairs the Committee for an Independent State Ombudsman, a sponsor of SB 345, the LTCO Program Independence and Improvement Act of 2012.

Denise Calhoun

Denise Calhoun is a postdoc fellow and adjunct professor in Pepperdine University’s graduate school of education. As a National Board-Certified Teacher, Dr. Calhoun developed a language arts curriculum for older adults titled, Changing Seasons: A Language Arts Curriculum for Healthy Aging, published by Purdue University Press. She has a bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from UCLA, a master’s degree from CSUN and an EdD and PhD from Pepperdine University, where her research was focused on linking language to cognitive functioning.

Anita Ruiz

Anita Ruiz has been appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

Deborah Elwell

Deborah Elwell worked in medical environments as part of a front-office staff, and served as a hospice volunteer. She is currently a volunteer leader in the Easy Flow Yoga class at the Camarillo Senior Center. She grew up in Ventura and has lived in Camarillo for more than 45 years. Elwell holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Cal Lutheran.

Smita Dandekar

Smita Dandekar enjoys teaching “Yoga for Wellness” classes at the Simi Valley Senior Center. As a retired person, she works with the members of the VCAAA Advisory Council and volunteers to help seniors in any way she can.

Blair Barker

Blair Barker, MPH, is the Care Services Director at the Camarillo Health Care District and oversees the Caregiver Center, Senior Nutrition Program, and evidence-based health promotion programming. She received her master’s degree in public health, with an emphasis in community health education, from CSU Northridge. Blair serves on the Dementia Friendly Ventura County, Caregiver Consortium, and Ventura County Health Improvement Collaborative. She is an adjunct faculty at CSU Channel Islands in their health sciences department.

Peter Schreiner

Peter Schreiner, LCSW, is currently the Clinic Administrator of the Older Adult and Benefits programs with Ventura County Behavioral Health. He has worked with seriously mentally ill consumers with the Youth and Family Division and now with the Adult Division for approximately 20 years. He received his master’s of social work from UCLA and is a diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, providing coaching and training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for VCBH staff.

Ronald Berkowsky

Ronald Berkowsky is an Assistant Professor of Health Science at California State University Channel Islands, where he specializes in gerontological coursework and serves on the Advisory Committee for the Center for Multicultural Engagement. Ronald also serves on the LGBT Aging Issues Network (LAIN) Constituency Council for the American Society on Aging.

Sue Tatangelo

Sue Tatangelo is a dedicated leader with more than 40 years experience in developing and implementing innovative programs and services that improve the quality of life and health outcomes for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers. She has earned recognition for her coalition building, partnership cultivation, and program development improves access for underserved and vulnerable populations. Tatangelo has a master’s degree in organizational management.

Lynette Harvey

Lynette Harvey is an RN whose background includes acute care, home health, managed care, and national health plan experience. Currently the Clinical Services Director at the Camarillo Health Care District, Lynette leads the Care Management Department, as well as clinical oversight for all District programs. Due to her varied work across the health care continuum, she brings a unique perspective to the Advisory Council.

Carol Leish

Carol Leish graduated from CSU San Bernardino with a master’s degree in education. She has worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations in Ventura County. She currently works as a reporter for the Ventura Breeze and operates Call Me Capable, providing in-service presentations to educate others that we are all more similar than different.

Maureen O'Keefe Hodge

Maureen O’Keefe Hodge, LCSW, has dedicated her career to working with vulnerable and high-risk populations in California as well as in three other countries. She is passionate about bringing private and public services together to better serve those in need. She currently manages a grant specific for caregivers through Community Memorial Hospital and is collaborating with multiple organizations in an effort to enhance services for caregivers in Ventura County.

Tony Gitt

Tony Gitt is the founder of Conejo Valley Village and is a Commissioner on the Thousand Oaks Council on Aging. He has served as chairperson of the Conejo Valley Unified School District Measure I Bond Oversite committee. He also serves on the California Senior Legislature as a Senior Assemblymember. During his career in aerospace, Tony helped develop the original military GPS receivers as well as inertial navigation systems for commercial and military aircraft.

Brenda Birdwell

Brenda Birdwell, MSW, is a Family Consultant for Ventura County at Coast Caregiver Resource Center, where she supports unpaid family caregivers. She earned a master’s degree in social work from USC at age 64 and is obtaining hours for licensure. Birdwell is a member of Ventura County’s LGBT+ Aging Coalition and facilitates an LGBT+ caregiver support group, and facilitates support groups at Cancer Support Community. She is a Founding Member of the Conejo Valley Village.