Cathie
Babb, Director
Discovery Center Task Force
cbabb@cuesta.edu
Cathie Babb is very active in promoting the concept of
a Discovery Center on the California Coast and directs
the operations of the Discovery Center Task Force. She
is also the Sciences Division Assistant at Cuesta College
and mother of eight children.
Dave
Romero
dromero@romeroformayor.com
Dave Romero is currently Mayor for San Luis Obispo, CA.
Mayor Romero
has spent the better part of life seeking to make San
Luis Obispo a place where we can all feel proud to live.
He believes the Discovery
Center would be a great boon to educaton and tourism
for the Central California coast.
Iris
Marie Swisher
iswisher@midstatebank.com
Iris Swisher
is Vice President of Midstate Bank in Arroyo Grande. She
is very active in our community a avid promoter of education
for our children.
Nicole
Honait Luxor
info@dancinghorse.net
Nicole Luxor is founder of the Dancing Horse Foundation,
created to empower young women, and has been a nutritional
biochemist for over 30 years. She is owner of the Dancing
Horse Ranch.
Dr.
Sandy Sachs
drsachs@health-in-motion.net
Dr. Sachs is a chiropractor for the Health in Motion Chiropratic
Center. He has considerable expertise and resources for
family wellness programs.
Praveen
Babu, Ph.D.
pbabu@cuesta.edu
Dr. Babu is an assistant professor of chemistry at Cuesta
College. Dr. Babu has a broad background in biomedical
research and is passionate about promoting science education
on California's Central Coast. Dr. Babu received his B.S.
in Biochemistry from Boston College and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry
& Molecular Biology from LSU Health Sciences Center.
Joy
Pedersen
jmpeders@calpoly.edu
Joy Pedersen is Coordinator of The Community Center at
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She is interested in experiential
and service-learning.
Bruce
Tedone
btedone@slcusd.org
BruceTedone is a long time chemistry teacher at San Luis
Obispo high school. He is interested in supporting university
- K-12 partnerships.
Dr.
Mark Gaskell
mlgaskell@ucdavis.edu
Mark Gaskell is a Farm Advisor with the University of
California Cooperative Extension and is responsible for
research and extension programs in San Luis Obispo and
Santa Barbara Counties. He has a doctorate degree in Crop
Production Physiology and more than 25 years of professional
experience in agricultural research, teaching, extension,
and commercial crop production. His current research and
educational outreach program focuses on alternative new
crop research and development and cost-effective nutrient
management in organic production systems.
Sue
McClure
smcclure@calpoly.edu
Sue McClure teaches chemistry at Cal Poly and Cuesta.
She is interested in mentoring students competing for
the Young
Scientist Recognition Banquet this Fall.
Michael
Alamo, MS, CPT
michaela@kennedyclubs.com
Michael Alamo is Director of Lifestyle and Community Development
at Kennedy Club Fitness. He conducts wellness programs
that emphasize exercise and fitness.
Jenny
Weaver
jweaver@co.slo.ca.us
Jenny Weaver works as an Agricultural Inspector/Biologist
for the San Luis Obispo County Department of Agriculture.
She has worked there since 1995 and is currently involved
in the pest exclusion and organic programs. She processes
organic registrations and performs inspections of organic
producers, handlers and retail facilities. Visit http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/agcomm.htm.
Jenny graduated from California Polytechnic SLO with a
B.S. in Fruit Science. She also received teaching credentials
from SJSU and Portland SU, OR.
Jim
Babb
jbabb@thetribunenews.com
Jim Babb is Facilities Manager for San Luis Obispo The
Tribune. He has been employed there for 23 years, and
has lived in this area for nearly 50 years. He fully supports
the idea that children thrive when they are given opportunities
to learn and explore.
Rodger
Anderson
info@anderson
for supervisor.com
Roger Anderson is a 5th generation resident of SLO County.
He has served as a councilmember and as mayor of MorroBay,
and is currently active on a number of Service Boards.
He believes in protecting and preserving our area's quality
of life, supporting local control, and providing opportunities
for future generations. He is running for county supervisor.
(RodgerStevie@charter.net)
Alan
Strasbaugh
alan@strasbaugh.com
Alan Strasbaugh has worked at his family’s business,
Strasbaugh for
forty-five years, since the age of twelve. Strasbaugh
designs and builds automated equipment for the Semiconductor,
Aerospace and Optics industries. Alan has worked in all
phases of the business and was CEO from 1978 to 1998.
He is currently Board Chairman. Under Alan’s direction,
Strasbaugh guided and funded the Robotics Curriculum at
Cuesta College and sponsored internship programs at Cal
Poly, Cuesta and Arroyo Grande High School. Alan has a
B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cal Poly, Pomona
and holds seven U.S. patents related to semiconductor
manufacturing.
Rod
Blackner
rblackner@king.prps.k12.ca.us
RodBlackner is Director of Food Services for Paso Robles
Public Schools. He has conducted research in food science
and nutrition.
Randy
Dettmer, AIA, NCARB
rcdettmer@dettmerarchitecture.com
Randy Dettmer, and his firm Dettmer
Architecture have been designing and building projects
throughout the western United States for over 29 years.
He has also been a member of the Cal Poly Department of
Architecture faculty for 20 years, teaching architectural
design, professional practice, and construction technology.
He has a Bachelor of Architecture from Cal Poly San Luis
Obispo, is a licensed general building contractor, and
commercially rated pilot. He is licensed to practice architecture
in California, Idaho, Colorado, Washington, and Hawaii,
and is currently Legislative Director of the American
Institute of Architects Central Coast Chapter.
Walter
Reil
ccas@ccastronomy.org
Member of the CCAS
since 1999. Involved with the Atascadero Education Foundation
since the early 1990's, chairing, designing and coordinating
the installation of a hands-on math & science laboratory
classroom at the Monterey Road Elementary School. A public
outreach representative for Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
as a volunteer JPL Solar System Ambassador since January
2004, conducting free multimedia presentations for schools
and community organizations about space exploration and
astronomy. A PG&E employee at the Diablo Canyon Power
Plant, working in the nuclear power business for thirty
years. Walt is a strong, vocal advocate of enhanced science,
technology, engineering and mathematics public education
opportunities.
Melissa
McGann Babu, Esq
mbabu@amblaw.com
Melissa McGann Babu, Esq. is an attorney with the law
firm of Andre, Morris & Buttery. She concentrates
her practice in intellectual property law, computer law
and business law. She believes in the importance of fostering
strong educational backgrounds in science, math and technology
for all students.
Gerard
Pardeilhan
optix@earthlink.net
Gerard Pardeilhan is an optician specialist and has been
product manager for Strasbaugh's Precision Optics Equipment
line in San Luis Obispo since 1996. He became interested
in astronomy and optics after building numerous astronomical
telescopes through the 1970's. Gerard founded the popular
public observational astronomy program at the Lawrence
Hall of Science in Berkeley. During the 1980's and 1990's
he worked for Tinsley Labs in Berkeley and then Lick Observatory
at UCSC as a master optician.
Susan
Greco-Neubert
sneubert@tcsn.net
Susan Greco-Neubert has taught science for many years
in SLO schools. She taught and developed chemistry, physics,
and AVID programs as well as courses that emphasize the
application of technology. She is currently serving as
Treasurer for the Discovery Institute.
Noah
Doughty
ndoughty@missionprep.org
Noah Doughty teaches science at Mission College Preparatory
in San Luis Obispo.
Mike
di Milo
sciencediscovery@sbcglobal.net
Mike di Milo owns Science Discovery, an educational development
company located in San Luis Obispo. His business creates
education programs, videos and museum exhibits and curriculum
that teach about various natural resource related topics.
Mike graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree
in natural resources management, and has also taught environmental
education for Kern County Schools.
Natalie
Schaefer
naturemomma@hotmail.com
Natalie Schaefer, M.S. grew up in the redwoods of Humboldt
County, California. She graduated from CSU Chico with
degrees in Geography and American Indian Studies. While
completing her M.S. in Environmental Sciences, she involved
over 400 students in a service learning project restoring
park habitat in Carmel Valley. She's been in education
for over 20 years as a teacher, park ranger and programs
administrator. She currently resides in Atascadero, California
with her husband, son, dog and guinea pig.
Laurie
Huffman, Ph.D.
huffmanlaurie@comcast.net
Laurie Huffman has served as a bi-cultural/bilingual college
professor for 20 years. She specializes in online teaching
and training and is currently running for council woman
(http://www.voteforlaurie.com).
She also owns and manages a
tropical rain forest in Costa Rica which may become
the Costa Rica Discovery Center.
Kathrine
C. Chen, Ph.D.
kcchen@calpoly.edu
Kathrine Chen is Associate Professor at Cal Poly State
University and is current chair of the Materials and Engineering
Department. She is actiive in promoting student outreach
programs.
Paul
Lichtman
plichtman@paullichtman.com
Paul Lichtman
has played a key role in opening Eastern Europe to American
and international film and television productions. Fluent
in four languages, he can converse with his European associates
in English, German, Dutch, and French, in addition to
a modest amount of Serbo-Croatian. He served on the Board
of Directors of the US-Yugoslav Economic Council. As an
actor, he is most recognized as the affable yet cantankerous
janitor on “Barney Miller. As a writer, Mr. Lichtman
penned episodes of a number of television shows, including,
'All in the Family" and "The Bob Newhart Show."
He is also a member of the New York Bar.
Kena
Burke, MPP
kena@slohealthykids.org
Kena Burke is executive director of the Children's
Health Initiative. She is a mother and a strong advocate
for better education. Her daughter recently competed in
the Young Scientist Recognition Banquet sponsored by the
Discovery Institute
Kira
Olshefski
kolshefski@yahoo.com
Kira Olshefski has been a teacher for eleven years. For
the past five years, she has been teaching a sel -contained
class of 7th and 8th graders at Pleasant Valley School
in San Miguel. She has two daughters (5th grade and 8th
grade) are very active in 4-H and have a high interest
in the Sciences.
Melissa
Guise
mguise@co.slo.ca.us
Melissa Guise is C-5 Coordinator for the Central
Coast Clean Cities Coalition. Their mission is to
promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and
to expand the fueling infrastructure throughout the Central
Coast
Michael
Holmes
mholmes@cueta.edu
Michael Holmes teaches science at Cuesta College and Alan
Hancock College. He is interested in promoting STEM education
in our local community.
Frank
Fontes Jr.
frank.v.fontes.jr@lmco.com
Frank Fontes is employed with Lockheed Martin as a senior
systems engineer in their engineering leadership development
program (ELDP). The program was created to develop and
retain early career high potential professionals for future
leadership positions. His current assignment under this
program is serving as an engineering project manager and
control accounts manager. Frank
graduated from Calpoly, SLO in 2000 with a degree in Management
Information Systems and presently pursuing a Masters in
Information Technology at the University of Maryland,
Patrick
Mayeda
patrick.mayeda@productiveimpact.com
A San Luis Obispo local, Patrick Mayeda is the Managing
Principal for
Productive Impact, LLC. The company specializes in business
development and project management, assisting companies
in the preparation of business plans and economic impact
studies for large scale projects. Mr. Mayeda has previous
employment as an engineer and engineering manager for
a high tech manufacturing company, where he gained valuable
experience in project concept development, including the
preparation of operation images and feasibility studies.
He holds an MBA and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from
Cal Poly.
David
Porter
d.porter@crystalengineering.net
Dave Porter is Director of Director of Engineering at
Cyrstal Engineering
Corporation.
Diana
DeGarmo CHT IA CMT
laughingbuddhabeach@yahoo.com
Diana is practitioner of metaphysics in mind\body and
is certified in Yoga, massage therapy, hypnotherapy, trans
personal astrology, feng shui, space clearing and soul
coaching. She runs a small spiritual bed & breakfast
retreat and spa in Shell Beach called The laughing Buddha
beach inn and spa. She has spent the past 10 years traveling
the world studying with indigenous cultures in Southeast
Asia, Brazil, Australi, and New Zealand and has over 1000
hours in mind body training through the Esalen Institute
in Big Sur. She has been in the Shell Beach area since
1984 and attended Cal Poly in mid 80's. She has two grown
daughters who attend Cuesta.
Lisa
Ramser
lramser@missioncommunitybank.com
Lisa Ramser is Senior Vice President/ Controller at
Mission Community Bank in San Luis Obispo.
Jim
Wheeler
jimwheeler@aol.com
Jim Wheeler
lives in Oceano and consults as audiovisual forensic expert.
He is world renowned for his work with instant replay
and in-flight video. He received an EMMY for the invention
of auto-tracking (Instant Replay), the NY Film Anthology
Award, and the AMIA Career Achievement Award. He holds
a degree from U.C. Berkeley.
