The Volunteer Center Board of Directors

Luis Aguilar, Jr., Treasurer

Luis is a Manager for Chevron's Finance Development Program and is based in San Ramon, California. He graduated magna cum laude from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Financial Management. Luis proudly joined our board after being thoroughly impressed with the Volunteer Center's efforts in coordinating the East Bay Area's annual Week of Caring event. Previous volunteer experiences have included Junior Achievement, Habitat for Humanity, the San Francisco Food Bank, and serving on various corporate diversity councils. Luis has also served as a professional mentor for Bay Area college students through his involvement with the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA).

Eileen Berry

A resident of Pleasanton, Eileen Berry has worked in the financial services industry for over twenty years in the areas of marketing and technology. She was formerly a board member of CASR of Contra Costa (now called Court Appointed Special Advocates) and has served on several other not-for-profit boards. Early in her career, Eileen co-founded a regional professional development association for credit union marketers. Over the years she has produced and assisted several fund-raising events to benefit local charities. As a member of the Volunteer Center of the East Bay, Eileen hopes to use her expertise in strategic planning, project management and technology to increase local volunteerism.

Lonna Coleman

Lonna is a marketing professional with Bank of the West. She has responsibility for the Private Banking segment and coordinates Private Banking activities in 19 states. With an Economics degree from Mills College in Oakland, Lonna's career has primarily been in the financial industry. However, from 1992-1996 she served as Executive Director of the local Partners in Education program, placing business volunteers in the classroom to assist students and teachers. Her position on the Volunteer Center Board of Directors helps fulfill her interest in promoting volunteerism. Lonna and her husband John live in Walnut Creek and have two adult daughters.

Carmella Icay-Johnson

Carmella has over 30 years of education and experience in the areas of philanthropy, community relations and community economic development. She is now a consultant in the area of Community Relations. She has a 20-year history with The Clorox Company Foundation in Oakland, CA, where she was Contributions Manager, responsible for managing and disbursing the Foundation's assets (1981-2001), up to $2.5 million annually. While at Clorox, she served on many local (Oakland/Alameda County) nonprofit boards of directors. including the United Way of Alameda County and United Way of the Bay Area. Carmella attended Foothill College, Los Altos Hills, CA and St. Mary's College (Extended Degree Program), Moraga, CA.

She is Chairperson of the Executive Council of her Tribe Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake. She has served on the Interim Tribal Council since September, 1998, and accepted the role of Secretary. In October 2001, Carmella assumed the position of Chairperson of the (ITC). In June 2004, she was elected as Chairperson of the Executive Council following the Secretarial Election. Her dedication and commitment to the Tribe dates back to the early 1980's where she was elected to serve as Treasurer of the predecessor organization prior to the reorganization of the new Tribe in 1998. Carmella was born and raised in Upper Lake and moved to the Bay Area in 1969. She still maintains close contacts and relationships in Lake County and spends much time traveling to Clear Lake from Alameda, CA where she resides with her as part of her Tribal work.

Marlo Johnston

Marlo lives in Contra Costa County with her family. She is an Employment Manager for Sutter Health, and specializes in Recruitment, Training and Human Resources. Her volunteer history includes work with Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross and many job training organizations. Marlo joined our Board in April 2003. She is a former member of the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity and regularly speaks at high schools and universities about career options and training. Marlo enjoys being outdoors, getting involved in community activities, and spending time with her family.

Elaine Lai

Elaine is a business faculty member and Campus Coordinator of City College of San Francisco. Her previous volunteer experiences include serving on the Advisory Board of the Career Resources Development Center, Chinatown North Beach Campus Advisory Committee, and CCSF New Campus Building Committee. She conducted the fundraising campaign for the American Institute for Cancer Research and has organized after-school programs for elementary schools. Elaine joined the Volunteer Center Board because she is inspired by its mission to provide ample volunteering opportunities to businesses, organizations, and individuals. In addition, she always encourages her children to give back to the community by helping them to promote the spirit of volunteerism.

Peter Meadow, Secretary

Peter comes to the Volunteer Center board with 23 years of experience as an attorney in both the public and private sector. In the early part of his career he practiced law in New York and New Jersey specializing in criminal law, civil rights, and general business law. More recently, for six years he was in-house counsel to a New York based international non-profit corporation. In 2004, Peter moved to Berkeley with his wife Hannah and their two teenage sons, Joshua and Elijah. Recently admitted to the California bar, he maintains a private practice focusing on providing general legal counsel, alternative dispute resolution and mediation services for individuals and small businesses. He offers volunteer legal services for a number of non-profits and volunteers as well at East Bay Community Mediation in Berkeley.

Deborah Nordstrom

Deborah's newspaper career spans 30 years, heading up marketing and promotion departments at newspapers across the country. She joined Knight Ridder at the Gary (IN) Post-Tribune in 1997. She returned to the Bay Area with the Contra Costa Times in 2000, managing community relations, public relations, special events and marketing promotions for Contra Costa Newspapers, Hills Newspapers and Fronteras. Deborah also manages the Contra Costa Times Share The Spirit program. She works closely with the Volunteer Center to administer the funds collected through this community Holiday fundraiser. Deborah has been a board member since 2001 and is proud of her involvement with the Volunteer Center.

Robin Raber-Luna, Chair

Robin is a Senior Vice President with the Consumer Deposits Group at Wells Fargo. She served as the Chairperson for two years for the company's Volunteer Leave Committee. She's also a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and was the Clinical Program Director for San Francisco Suicide Prevention for 6 years. Robin has had a long time commitment to volunteerism. She began volunteering at the age of 10 when she tutored other elementary school students. Other volunteer experiences include working with the Special Olympics, Social Advocates for Youth, Assistant Troop Leader for daughter's Girl Scouts troop, taught GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) classes at the local elementary school, Field Marshal for the West Contra Costa Youth Soccer league, Treasurer of her son's Boy Scouts troop and coordinated an annual adopt-a-family program at the local high school and in her workplace. Robin is also a published author of children's books.

Dalen Randa, Vice-Chair

Ever since the Navy transferred Dalen to the Bay Area in 1987, he has considered it home. He remains a member of the US Navy Reserves, but works full-time as a Deputy Probation Officer for Alameda County. Dalen earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Forensic Sciences degree from National University in La Jolla near San Diego. He lives in San Leandro with his wife and their two sons, and enjoys competitive Powerlifting in his off time. Dalen joined our board in July 2005, attracted to the position based on volunteer service beginning as a teenager in Alaska. Some of his volunteer efforts include: Red Cross CPR instructor, trap depot coordinator for the Feral Cat Coalition, and adult literacy teacher. His involvement with non-profit agencies includes working as the security program manager for one of the largest homeless shelters in California.

Chris Styles

Chris is a student at UC Davis. He is a volunteer at UC Davis Medical Center as well as Community Service Chair and Centennial Director for the UCD Student Alumni Association. Chris has been associated with the Volunteer Center for almost five years. He served as President of our Youth Action Council and was originally appointed to the board to represent this group. We consider ourselves fortunate that Chris has remained on our board as a general member.

Paul Wehrley, Jr.

Paul retired from Chevron Products Company as a marketing business unit manager. He formerly held managerial positions in several marketing divisions throughout the United States. He was a founding member of Friends of the Children of San Francisco, a non-profit organization dedicated to affecting a long term positive impact on our most at-risk children. He recently served as Chairman of Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa. The organization feeds the hungry of the east bay community. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon and holds an MBA degree from the University of Portland. Paul lives in Alamo with his wife Marcie and spends his free time fly fishing and writing.