Meet our Advisory Council! If you’re interested in getting involved, please visit our Become a Member page.
Chairperson
Karen Gorback
Karen Gorback, Ph.D. is a retired dean from the Ventura County Community College District and holds a Doctorate in Education and Policy from UCSB. She is a past chair of the Thousand Oaks Council on Aging and the Ventura County Commission for Women. Karen was honored in 2015 with the title of Ms. Senior Ventura County. She is the author of several books, and serves as a Senior Senator in the California Senior Legislature advocating for older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout the state.
Past Chairperson
Antoinette Olson
Antoinette “Toni” Olson spent her career in nursing and healthcare, retiring from Los Robles Medical Center as Director of Acute Rehabilitation. Toni became a volunteer with the Simi Valley Police Department in 1999 and was Volunteer of the Year in 2011. She’s a member of the SV Council on Aging, FBI Infragard information sharing team, Simi Valley Unified School District Independent Oversight Committee, and is an Amber Alert volunteer.
City of Camarillo
Dr. Allen Zatkin
Dr. Allen Zatkin was selected to represent the City of Camarillo.
This position is currently vacant.
John Gardner
John Gardner is Executive Director of Triad Leadership Group. He has 40+ years of executive level management and leadership experience and is a Life Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is a former President of Toast Masters International (Westlake Village) and serves on the advisory council of CFA Foundation. He is actively involved in the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce and is on the Advisory Council on Aging for the City of Camarillo.
City of Fillmore
Vacant
This position is vacant.
Vacant
This seat is currently vacant.
City of Moorpark
Sandra Fide
Sandy Fide retired from the Southern California Gas Company in November 2009, having worked various positions in her 40 years of service. For more than 14 years, she has enjoyed volunteering as an usher for the Thousand Oaks Civic Theatre. She sings with the Forever Young Singers from the Goebel Senior Center in Thousand Oaks, entertaining the elderly at many area retirement homes. Sandy enjoys seeing her three grandsons who live in Fresno.
Breeze Zuckerman
Breeze Zuckerman was born in Israel, moved to the US in 1996, and has been living in Ventura County since 1999. She served in the IDF as an Operation Officer and has background in law, journalism, and psychology. She volunteered in various organizations and now looking forward to contribute to the well being of the aging community in Ventura County.
City of Ojai
Deirdre Daly
Deirdre Daly is the representative for the City of Ojai.
Bill Nugent
Bill Nugent's professional life involved 38 years of law enforcement. He spent 9 years with the Port Hueneme Police Department, 22 years with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and 8 years with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. Bill and his wife of 61 years have two children. He is currently is a board member for Help of Ojai, a counselor for the Heath Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program and an AARP income tax preparer.
City of Oxnard
Clark Owens
Resident of West Ventura County since 1967, Clark Owens was an area realtor for 45 years. He serves on the Oxnard Senior Services Commission for a new senior center. As co-chair of the VC Coalition of Home Modification, he helped seniors and adults with disabilities continue to live independently. He has also held roles on the Ventura Planning Commission, was Chairman of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, and served as President of the Ventura Board of Realtors.
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 St. John’s Healthcare Foundation, and belonged to VC Forty Leaguers. She is chair of the Oxnard Senior Services Commission and 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 3 children and 2 grandchildren.
City of Port Hueneme
Vacant
The City of Port Hueneme has a vacant position on the VCAAA's Advisory Council. For more information about the application process please contact Anna Hanely at ahanely@cityofporthueneme.org.
Vacant
The City of Port Hueneme has a vacant position on the VCAAA's Advisory Council. For more information about the application process please contact Anna Hanely at ahanely@cityofporthueneme.org.
City of Santa Paula
Vacant
Vacant
Dr. 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.
City of Simi Valley
Dr. Marietta Sperry
Dr. Marietta Sperry has worked as a nurse for over 40 years. She has been involved in volunteering in her church and teaching CPR in community settings. She has a Master’s in Nursing Education and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. She and her husband of 34 years, Charles Sperry, have 5 children and 5 grandchildren. She looks forward to advising the VCAAA on issues relating to the health and nutrition of seniors as she moves forward to the next chapter of her life.
Carol Martin
Carol Martin was selected to represent the City of Simi Valley.
City of Thousand Oaks
Loretta Allen
Loretta graduated with her Masters in Nursing from UCSF (University of California San Francisco Medical Center). She has had a rich career in nursing from staff nurse to Nursing Administration - starting new projects. Since 1982 she has been involved in all aspects of the Electronic Health Record. She served on the Council on Aging for Thousand Oaks for 6 years, currently she is involved with the Conejo Valley Village.
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 Thousands Oaks Council on Aging. She is a retired school teacher with nearly 40 years dedicated to serving students in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
City of Ventura
William Nelson
William (“Bill”) Nelson is a senior level human resources professional with more than 35 years’ experience in both for-profit and non-profit organizations across diverse locations in the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia. He is an active volunteer with Caregivers, Humane Society, and sits on the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles board of directors.
Vacant
This position is currently vacant.
Supervisorial Appointees
Jeanette Sanchez-Palacios
District 1
Jeannette 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 CLU.
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.
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.
Aleta Buckelew
District 2
Aleta Buckelew chose to leave her career in law to help care for her mother who was living with Parkinson’s Disease. She now helps care for her 94-year-old aunt. Aleta and her fiancé find great joy singing for older adults and veterans living in local assisted living and nursing facilities.
Bill Cunneen
District 3
Bill Cunneen is a retired Navy Officer who served as a pilot and technical manager. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Physics. In retirement he became a caregiver for his wife who became an invalid in 2006 and died in 2013. He represents County Supervisor Kelly Long on the Advisory Council and is involved in adapting the Ventura County educational system to develop the workforce of the future.
Smita Dandekar
District 4
Smita Dandekar enjoys teaching ``Yoga for Wellness`` classes in 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.
Vacant
District 5
The position is currently vacant.
Service Provider Representatives
Martha Shapiro
Martha Shapiro, LCSW, is director of programs for Senior Concerns, overseeing 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 in Social Welfare from UCLA and holds a License in Clinical Social Work. Martha serves on the LGBT Aging Coalition of Ventura County, Ventura County Compassionate Care Coalition, and Dementia Friendly Ventura County.
Mike Williams
Mike Williams is president of Grey Law of Ventura County Inc. He is a graduate of Alan Hancock College and CSU Fresno. He served in the Coast Guard from 1970 to 1973, and joined Grey Law in 1979 before becoming president and director in 1981. Mike has served as a commissioner for the Ventura County Housing Commission and has held a regular role as an instructor at the Ventura College of Law, He maintains a private law practice that is limited to Estate Planning and Probate.
Focused Population Representatives
Carol Leish
Disabilities
Carol 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.
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
Family Caregiver
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. Currently she 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 our County.
Ronald Berkowsky
LGBT+
Ron 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. Ron also serves on the LGBT Aging Issues Network (LAIN) Constituency Council for the American Society on Aging.
Peter Schreiner
Behavioral Health
Peter Schreiner, LCSW, is currently the Clinic Administrator of Older Adult Program and Benefits Program with Ventura County Behavioral Health. He has worked with seriously mentally ill (SMI) consumers with Youth and Family Division and now with Adult Division for over 19 years. He received his MSW from UCLA and is a Diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, providing coaching and training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for VCBH staff.
Sylvia Taylor Stein
Veterans
Sylvia Taylor Stein is Executive Director of Long Term Care Services of Ventura County Ombudsman Program. She serves on the board of the Calif. Long Term Care Ombudsman Association and is a member & 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, sponsor of SB 345, LTCO Program Independence and Improvement Act of 2012.
Sue Tatangelo
Consumer
This position is currently vacant.
Lynette Harvey
Medical Provider
Lynette Harvey is an RN whose background includes acute care, home health, managed care, national health plan experience. Due to her varied work across the health care continuum, she brings a unique perspective to the Advisory Council. 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.
California Senior Legislators
Karen Gorback, Ph.D.
Karen Gorback, Ph.D., is a retired dean from the Ventura County Community College District and taught in the Graduate Schools of Education at CLU and CSUN. Karen is commissioner on the Thousand Oaks Council on Aging and volunteers with the Conejo Valley Village and KCLU Radio. She was crowned 2015 Ms. Senior Ventura County and is enjoying an encore career as a writer. Karen loves teaching Memoir Writing at Conejo Valley Adult School and promoting re-entry education and writing.
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.
Rossanna Guerra
Rossanna Guerra was appointed to the California Senior Legislature.