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2010 BOOST CONFERENCE LEADERSHIP TEAM

 

The BOOST Leadership Team is critically important to the success of our event. This amazing Team is guided by the National BOOST Conference Advisory Board and provides big ideas, new connections, practical strategies and adds credibility to the planning process. This comprehensive Leadership Team represents the diversity of after school and out-of-school time programs and includes representatives serving at all levels of the field. We are a quality conference truly planned by after school professionals, adding voice and value to the needs of the field.

 

Andrew-photoAndrew Cagle, BOOST Ambassador
BOOST Collaborative, San Diego, CA

Andrew is a senior at Health Sciences Middle and High College in City Heights where some very important figures in his life reside. Doug Fisher and Mike Wegenka, to name a few, are always looking out for him and even brought him the opportunity to intern with Tia and the BOOST Team. Andrew was one of the first interns at the BOOST Collaborative and remains an active and valuable part of the team. Andrew does whatever is needed of him and goes the extra mile to make sure projects are completed including managing the client map. Andrew prides himself on being BOOST’s backbone as I am sure many of you have witnessed his efforts at the 2009 BOOST Conference, such as those sweet lunch tickets he left you in all 2,000 lanyards! Don’t waste a little 17 year old intern’s hard work by not attending this year’s conference or not using all of the information you get to help other boys and girls like him in the dark world afterschool.

Andrew is a part of the 2010 BOOST Leadership Team and participates on the Special Events and General Sessions Sub-Committee. He enjoys spending times with friends in various neighborhoods around San Diego. He loves the natural world and enjoys hiking and camping or just spending time in the green outdoors. After graduation in 2010, Andrew plans to pursue his interests in alternative medicine. Whether it is simple nutrition or complex herbal concoctions, the clean, green approach to life is for Andrew.

 

Glenda-Photo

Glenda DeVeaux
Child Development Director for Mission Valley YMCA, San Diego, CA

Glenda DeVeaux is currently the Child Development Director for Mission Valley YMCA in San Diego, CA. She works with seven Primetime Sites and five Licensed After-School programs to provide quality affordable programs that serve over 1,000 children daily. She previously worked in Houston TX providing training, technical assistance and evaluating sites for quality assurance, to over 260 after-school programs for the YMCA of Greater Houston Association. Additionally Glenda has held various positions with Morale Welfare and Recreation Naval Youth Programs for the Department of Defense. Glenda has been in the field of After-School programming for over nine years and has served on the Board of South East Texas After-School Association and is a member of the National After-School Association. Glenda DeVeaux is from Eagle Pass, Texas and earned Bachelors in Kinesiology at Texas A&M Kingsville. She is also a certified Physical Education Teacher K-12 in California and Texas.

 

Joelle-PhotoJoelle Felton, Program Coordinator
After-School All-Stars San Diego, San Diego, CA

Joelle Felton grew up in Southern California where she developed a passion for sports and fitness. She attended San Diego State University on a Diving scholarship. Collegiate studies in Kinesiology she continued her interest and passion for health and fitness. She joined After-School All-Stars in 2007, as a part of their development team for a childhood obesity prevention program. Joelle provided direct insight services, direction, and management of the program. In 2008, she graduated from SDSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Fitness, Nutrition and Health. Upon completion of her degree she became the program coordinator for the childhood obesity prevention program. Now she is a crucial part of the ASAS team; managing various aspects of the organization from daily activities to program development.

When Joelle is not working, you can find her outside running on the beach or hiking the trails in San Diego. She loves San Diego and is extremely passionate about the goals of ASAS.

 

julia-gabor

Julia Gabor, Manager of Tiger’s Action Plan
Tiger Woods Foundation, Irvine, CA

Julia Gabor is the Senior Manager of the Tiger’s Action Plan program for the Tiger Woods Foundation (TWF.) Tigers Action Plan is a free youth development curriculum that focuses on leadership, goal setting, service learning and career exploration. She currently trains educators and develops implementation strategies across the nation using Tiger’s Action Plan as a tool for student success. Prior to joining TWF, Julia was a Coordinator for the After School All Stars in Los Angeles, where she taught a range of middle school enrichment classes - from personal leadership to sports, to performance and visual art classes.   Julia has been teaching/leading groups since she was a teenager working alongside her mother, who is an acting teacher, and coach in the USA and Europe.  Julia has served as a trainer/facilitator in disguised learning and cultural diversity throughout California. In 2009, Julia received the Honored Educator Award from Cal State Fullerton for dedication to education in the Orange County community.  Miss Gabor is a graduate of the State University of New York, Fredonia receiving her bachelor's degree in the Fine Arts. She is currently studying for her masters in educational leadership and change at Antioch University

 

Eddie-PhotoEddie Garcia, Director of After School Program
Lennox School District, Lennox, CA

Eddie Garcia has been the Director of the After School Program in the Lennox School District for the last 5 years, working to provide a safe environment for students to participate in a quality after school program that has a strong Youth Development focus. Prior to the after school program, Eddie was the coordinator of the “El Espejo” Mentoring program. El Espejo is a reputable program in the district that has been in existence for over 15 years. It matches middle school student with Loyola Marymount University students to provide academic mentoring and college awareness.

Eddie graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 1999, where he received his degree in Liberal Arts. After raising his teenage nephew and niece because of the passing of his beloved sister, Eddie pursued a Masters Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach. He strongly believes that higher education is the key to success and continuously reinforces it with the students of Lennox. He is a Site Reviewer with the Los Angeles County Office of Education After School Division, a Youth Development Trainer with WestEd, and a member of the LACOE Work-Plan Advisory Group, which serves as the executive committee for after school programs in Los Angeles County. One of the experiences that he enjoys most is being a Site Reviewer because it allows him time to connect with other after school programs in the county to enhance the after school experience for student in the Southern California area.

 

Thierry-PhotoThierry Gonzalez, CEO
Afterschoolproducts.com, Denver, CO

Beginning his career in after school education with Beyond the Bell, Thierry Gonzalez possesses nearly a decade of experience working within the after school industry. His passion for working with underserved student populations allowed him to rise through the ranks at After school All-stars, as well as, propell him into entrepreneurship with the launch of his own organizations; AfterschoolProducts. Com, LLC and the Youth Rock Coalition. Although he has experienced many milestones while severing as a program leader and eventualy the Director of Community Affairs with After school All-stars, he considers his work with the All-stars and setting up the After School All Stars of Rock his most valued accomplishment. Thierry continues to employ dedicated work ethic and passion for kids by creating products that increase enrollment through out of box innovation with his own organization, AfterschoolProducts.com. In addition, Thierry is passionate about seeing rock based programs catering to underserved student populations span across the U.S. This passion led him to create the Youth Rock Coalition, which seeks to raise funds to support such program growth.

 

Mary-Jo-PhotoMary Jo Ginty, Region 11 Lead
Los Angeles County Office of Education, Downey, CA

Mary Jo Ginty is the Regional Lead/Program Coordinator overseeing the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) After School Technical Assistance Unit. This Unit provides staff training and development, consultation and technical assistance services to the 1300+ school sites providing after school programs funded through the After School Education and Safety Program (ASES) and/or 21st Century Community Learning Center grants. Over 130,000 students participate in these programs which also provide over 10,000 employment opportunities in the county. Ms. Ginty directed and oversaw after school programs at the elementary, middle and high school level; she has experienced the power of change these programs bring to students and their families. Her professional experiences over the past years include: Owner of a successful consulting firm, highschool teacher, high school principal, college professor, lobbyist and community organizer. She holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from UCLA and a Bachelors Degree in Business and Social Welfare Administration from Ursuline College. Her spare time is spent enjoying her family, leading a Junior Girl Scout troop, music and cooking in all forms and sitting on the Board of Directors of her 10 year old daughter’s school.

Mary Jo Ginty believes that after school programs have the potential to assist youth to gain the skill sets, tools and knowledge and have the experiences necessary to Make A Life for themselves and their families.

 

Marti-PhotoMarti Hess, Executive Director
After-School All-Stars San Diego, San Diego, CA

Marti Hess served as Executive Director of After School All Stars in San Diego for 3 years. During her tenure, the organization served more than 6000 middle and elementary school children with high quality, meaningful programs during the after school hours. Prior to After School All Stars, Marti worked for the San Diego County YMCA for nearly 10 years in varying capacities including grant writing, event planning, program development and contract oversight. Marti has just begun her own business as a consultant to non-profits, and also is working towards establish a non-profit giving foundation to support women throughout the world.

 

 

christineChristine McKenna, Coordinator
BOOST Collaborative, San Diego, CA

Christine McKenna grew up in Los Angeles, California where she worked with diverse populations of youth as a sports instructor and camp counselor. She was also involved in community outreach and mentoring projects in the Inner City Housing Projects of Los Angeles, California. Christine moved to San Diego where she continued to work in youth education and development. Prior to joining the BOOST Collaborative, Christine worked for non-profit agencies in San Diego providing direct services and program management to before and after school programs throughout San Diego County at both the elementary and middle school level. Christine earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from San Diego State University. She enjoys spending her free time with family and playing softball.

 

KateKate Nadeau, Communications Liason
BOOST Collaborative, San Diego, CA

Kate grew up in Boston, MA and is a recent graduate of Clark University with a degree in Sociology and a concentration in Race and Ethnic Relations. In her junior year she opted to travel abroad and attended the University of Sussex in Brighton, England. There she put most of her focus on learning about British race relations and culture. Social action has been a large part of her life and has worked with several organizations. Most recently she organized a fundraiser for BeadforLife, an organization which helps women in Uganda lift their families out of poverty through sustainable projects. For the past three summers she worked as an intern for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the New England Regional Office of Public Housing. She comes to BOOST with hopes of immersing herself in the world of education based non-profits and learning as much as possible. Having just moved to San Diego Kate is enjoying getting to know the area, biking, and photography.

 

michelleMichelle R. Perrenoud, Project Coordinator
Los Angeles County Office of Education, Downey, CA

Michelle R. Perrenoud has worked in the fields of youth development, organizational leadership, and after school for the past twenty years. She currently works with the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) in the Curriculum and Instructional Services (CIS) Division. She is the Region 11 Project Coordinator for the After School Technical Assistance Unit. Michelle serves as the Regional Facilitator for the 21st CCLC ASSETs Learning Community and provides technical assistance and capacity building for more than 120 21st CCLC ASSETs funded programs throughout Los Angeles County. She is a member of the California Department of Education statewide high school ASSETs Planning Group. Michelle is also the founder and principle of Mindset Solutions: A Leadership Training, Development, and Coaching Firm.

Michelle’s wide-ranging experience and her ability to bring together individuals from different communities to create common solutions together make her a powerful, effective voice. She leads by example, by inspiring a shared vision and demonstrating a commitment to civic engagement and to the goal of making a positive impact in community. Her experience in developing youth and leading after school programs began while working with the YMCA. One of her areas of specialization includes teaching youth leadership and working with older youth to become leaders in their community. Additionally, she is passionate about teaching youth development and building the leadership capacity of after school program leaders. Michelle is recognized for her ability as a leader to empower others around her to cultivate their best self and lead from their current position.

 

For more than 16 years, Tia Quinn has worked at all levels of programming in the field of after school, supporting out-of school time programs throughout the nation via training, technical assistance, quality assurance, and program development. In addition to serving youth through not-for-profits in Hartford, CT and San Diego, Tia spent the first part of her west coast experience working at an after school program and later as a Program Director, overseeing programming at 65 before and after school programs through Harmonium Children’s Services, one of the largest after school providers in California. Tia also served for 5 years as the Co Lead for Region 9 Technical Assistance Center, After School programs at the San Diego County Office of Education. In this capacity, she supported over 600 after school program sites in San Diego, Orange and Imperial Counties, serving over 50,000 students annually. While in this role Tia managed numerous regional and statewide committees and after school initiatives including the well known After School Math website www.afterschoolmath.org and the After School Content Literacy Project for California in collaboration with the California Department of Education and San Diego State University.
In the regional lead capacity, Tia and her team were the 2005 recipients of the California School Board Association’s Golden Bell Award for Partnerships and Collaboratives as well as the Cities, Counties, and Schools (CCS) Partnership Award 2005. Additionally, Tia is the recipient of the 2001 Director of the Year, awarded by Mentor San Diego; and the California School-Age Consortium’s 2006 Award of Excellence, Program Administrator of the Year. A proud moment was having a research paper, Children of Divorce, A Population At Risk, published in Spectrum, an undergraduate scholarly journal, during undergraduate studies in Psychology and Sociology, University of Hartford. Tia serves on the Board of Directors for Eveoke Dance Theatre in San Diego and supports the pursuit of Eveoke’s mission to cultivate compassionate social action. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Collaborative Solutions, Sacramento, CA and believes in the CCS mission to help others discover innovative and effective ways to achieve shared goals. Most recently, Tia is a member of the Mission Hills Town Council in San Diego to directly impact the community where she lives.
As an Out-of-School Time Consultant, Tia presents customized workshops and staff development seminars at numerous local, state and national conferences. Tia works closely with school district administrators, CEO’s, non-profit agencies, program directors, supervisors, and line staff to increase student retention, promote academic achievement, and overall student success through quality staff development opportunities. With contracts throughout the U.S., Tia trains on topics such as No Parent Left Behind, Positive Discipline, Professionalism, Creating Community Partnerships, as well as intensive work in the area of Staff and Program Leadership, and assisting programs serving older youth through student surveys and focus groups.
Tia is the Founder and Executive Director of the BOOST (Best of Out-of-School Time) Collaborative, supporting out-of-school time professionals through quality professional development opportunities, program and resource development, building community partnerships, promoting the importance of quality out-of-school time programming, opportunities to share promising practices, and a variety of consulting services. She is the founder of the Annual BOOST (Best of Out-of-School Time) Conference in Palm Springs, California, one of the nation’s largest conferences for after school and out-of-school time professionals, bringing together all levels of key stakeholders to initiate change and inspire quality programming. Tia is passionate about creating positive change for today’s youth as well as the people, communities, and partners supporting them in the out-of-school time hours.
tiaTia Quinn, Executive Director
BOOST Collaborative, San Diego, CA
For more than 16 years, Tia Quinn has worked at all levels of programming in the field of after school, supporting out-of school time programs throughout the nation via training, technical assistance, quality assurance, and program development. In addition to serving youth through not-for-profits in Hartford, CT and San Diego, Tia spent the first part of her west coast experience working at an after school program and later as a Program Director, overseeing programming at 65 before and after school programs through Harmonium Children’s Services, one of the largest after school providers in California. Tia also served for 5 years as the Co Lead for Region 9 Technical Assistance Center, After School programs at the San Diego County Office of Education. In this capacity, she supported over 600 after school program sites in San Diego, Orange and Imperial Counties, serving over 50,000 students annually. While in this role Tia managed numerous regional and statewide committees and after school initiatives including the well known After School Math website www.afterschoolmath.org and the After School Content Literacy Project for California in collaboration with the California Department of Education and San Diego State University.
In the regional lead capacity, Tia and her team were the 2005 recipients of the California School Board Association’s Golden Bell Award for Partnerships and Collaboratives as well as the Cities, Counties, and Schools (CCS) Partnership Award 2005. Additionally, Tia is the recipient of the 2001 Director of the Year, awarded by Mentor San Diego; and the California School-Age Consortium’s 2006 Award of Excellence, Program Administrator of the Year. A proud moment was having a research paper, Children of Divorce, A Population At Risk, published in Spectrum, an undergraduate scholarly journal, during undergraduate studies in Psychology and Sociology, University of Hartford. Tia serves on the Board of Directors for Eveoke Dance Theatre in San Diego and supports the pursuit of Eveoke’s mission to cultivate compassionate social action. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Collaborative Solutions, Sacramento, CA and believes in the CCS mission to help others discover innovative and effective ways to achieve shared goals. Most recently, Tia is a member of the Mission Hills Town Council in San Diego to directly impact the community where she lives.
As an Out-of-School Time Consultant, Tia presents customized workshops and staff development seminars at numerous local, state and national conferences. Tia works closely with school district administrators, CEO’s, non-profit agencies, program directors, supervisors, and line staff to increase student retention, promote academic achievement, and overall student success through quality staff development opportunities. With contracts throughout the U.S., Tia trains on topics such as No Parent Left Behind, Positive Discipline, Professionalism, Creating Community Partnerships, as well as intensive work in the area of Staff and Program Leadership, and assisting programs serving older youth through student surveys and focus groups.
Tia is the Founder and Executive Director of the BOOST (Best of Out-of-School Time) Collaborative, supporting out-of-school time professionals through quality professional development opportunities, program and resource development, building community partnerships, promoting the importance of quality out-of-school time programming, opportunities to share promising practices, and a variety of consulting services. She is the founder of the Annual BOOST (Best of Out-of-School Time) Conference in Palm Springs, California, one of the nation’s largest conferences for after school and out-of-school time professionals, bringing together all levels of key stakeholders to initiate change and inspire quality programming. Tia is passionate about creating positive change for today’s youth as well as the people, communities, and partners supporting them in the out-of-school time hours.

 

Cati-PicCati Rodriguez, Family Literacy Coordinator
Youth Policy Institute, Los Angeles, CA

Cati Rodriguez grew up in Los Angeles, California where she has worked in the after school field for the past 8 years. She graduated from CSUN in 2000 with a degree in Child and Adolescent Development. While at CSUN, she was an Undergraduate Academic Advisor in Fall 2000. As an Advisor, Cati provided academic advisement and support to students pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Child Development. In addition, Cati was a founding member and President of the Child Development Association. After graduation, she moved to Hawaii and worked as a Preschool Teacher for a year at the Early Childhood Education Center in Honolulu. Her work in after school began as a Site Coordinator at Byrd Middle School in the San Fernando Valley. From there, Cati managed a variety of LAUSD after school sites as a Program Coordinator. From 2004-2009, she worked as the Site Director with Pasadena LEARNs at Wilson and Washington Middle School, in Pasadena, CA. Her dedication and passion for the field has allowed her to pursue after school as a career. Currently, as the Family Literacy Specialist with Youth Policy Institute (YPI), she leads the team effort in providing Family Literacy to 56 schools throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Fernando Valley. Her team is dedicated to empowering parents in becoming advocates of their children’s education and their own, through a variety of workshops and trainings.

She is also the mother of beautiful 8 year boy named Walter who is the 3rd grade. Cati is the youngest of three girls, daughter of Raul and Maria Luz Acevedo and a proud Salvadorian-American.

 

Norma-PhotoNorma Ruiz, Volunteer Services Director
Anaheim Family YMCA, Anaheim, CA

For the last 8 years, Norma has had the privilege to work in the city where she grew up as an employee for the Anaheim Family YMCA. She started as an Anaheim Achieves Group Leader, straight out of high school. Norma later became a supervisor for the afterschool program and hosted AmeriCorps members at her site. These members provided mentoring, tutoring, and enrichment to her students. Norma’s experience with AmeriCorps members and the AmeriCorps program led to an opportunity to oversee the entire Anaheim Achieves AmeriCorps Program. She has been involved with volunteers ever since. She is currently the Volunteer Service Director and with the help of two amazing staff she oversees all the Anaheim Achieves volunteer and mentoring programs. In the 2008-2009 school year the Anaheim Achieves program had over 200 volunteers!!! She graduated from Cal State, Fullerton with a BA in Liberal Studies. Norma enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Traveling is her favorite thing to do!!

 

Carola-Photo3Carola Secada, Operations and Training Director
Downtown Community Development YMCA, Long Beach, CA

Carola Secada, B.A. in Psychology and Social Behavior from University of California, Irvine, has 6 years of experience working with school age children and 3 years of experience working with high school youth. Carola has been working for the YMCA for the past 7 years and is currently the After School Operations and Training Director. She oversees grant requirements are fulfilled for the 21st Century Community Schools and ASES After School programs, including the successful implementation of the balanced literacy program. She also is the lead for After School University , which is a comprehensive practitioner based training program for after school staff with the ultimate goal of helping children succeed in school, at home and in life. Carola specializes in Diversity, Youth Development & Program Development trainings covering topics such as Communication, Leadership Styles, Conflict Resolution, & Staff Development.

 

Becky-PhotoBecky Shultz, Director of After School Program
Whittier City School District, Orange, CA

Becky Shultz holds a Masters Degree and Pupil Personnel Services Credential from California State University Long Beach. She began her counseling career at Orangewood Children's Home (then called Albert Sitton Home) in 1976 and later changed her focus to Elementary School Counseling when she graduated in 1984. This continued until 1999, when approached about writing a grant to support and after school program in Whittier City School District. She has been the Director of After School Programs for Whittier City School District for 10 years. In addition, Becky is a member of the Workplan Advisory Group (WAG), a Co-Facilitator for LLC#2, BOOST Leadership Team, a Peer Reviewer, a Mentor and a board member for Helpline Youth Counseling Inc. She is married to Terry Shultz and has two wonderful daughters, Nicole and Kristen.
Becky Shultz can be reached at (562) 789-3156 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Jim-PhotoJim Stephens, Director of Child Development Services
Orange Unified School District, Orange, CA

Since 1990, Jim Stephens has been the director of the Child Development Services department with Orange Unified School District, in Orange County. The Child Development Services department includes the 23 School Age Care “SAC” programs, preschools and the child development programs located throughout the district, serving over 1700 children. Jim has been working in the afterschool field since 1978. In addition to undergraduate degrees in Child Development and Business, Jim has a Masters in Education, which has allowed him the opportunity to teach human development courses at Cal State Fullerton and the local community colleges in Orange County. He has been involved with the BOOST Conference for many years and enjoys serving on the Leadership Team. Jim has been married to Barbara since 1993 and they are the extremely proud parents of their daughter Waverly, who was born in 1996, and son Spencer, born in 1999.

BOOST Collaborative  |  1666 Garnet Avenue PMB 126   |  San Diego, California 92109
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