Julie Ward was born and raised in Altadena and Pasadena. She graduated with a B.A. in History from UC Santa Cruz, and a J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law. She was a litigation attorney for 24 years, and was a partner of Arnold & Porter LLP for the last eleven years of her practice. After her retirement, she taught Legal Writing and Oral Advocacy at USC School of Law. She has volunteered at a number of non-profit organizations, and has been on the board of several non-profits in addition to Families Forward, including the Pasadena Art Alliance (President and many other positions), Side Street Projects (ditto), and ArtCenter100 (Membership and Programs). She is deeply committed to the well-being of the families in the greater Pasadena community. Julie’s now-adult children volunteered at Mothers’ Club (now Families Forward) when they were students at Polytechnic School in Pasadena. Among the many activities she enjoys are playing ping-pong, collecting contemporary art with her husband, reading, gardening, traveling, snorkeling, and being with her growing family, including her toddler grandson. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Richard Childs is Vice President, Disney Stores and Global Business Operations for Disney Direct to Consumer Retail. Richard grew up in the UK. He has a BSc in Cellular and Molecular pathology and is a Chartered Accountant. He moved to the USA to continue his career with Disney in 2008 and has now been with the company 22 years. Over that time he has held roles in retail operations finance, real estate, supply chain and E-commerce. Richard and his family live in Altadena. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Ron has a B.A. in business administration and a B.S. in computer science and over twenty years’ experience in retail operations, technology, ecommerce, and supply chain. His key areas of expertise lie in strategy/roadmap development, digital commerce operations, customer service operations, supply chain operations and digital experience development. Ron is currently the Chief Information Officer at Gelson’s Markets. At Gelson’s, he is responsible for internal and customer facing technology. In addition, he manages Payroll, Supply Chain and Customer Service. Based on the example of his parents, Ron has been involved in volunteer activities throughout his life, including various roles and responsibilities with United Way, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and some regional food banks. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Sarah is the Financial Controller for CRP Services, LLC, a multiplatform global brand with a variety of shows, comic books, graphic novels, animation, podcasts, licensed products, and merchandise. Sarah previously served as the Chief Financial Officer for Sapphos Environmental, Inc., which resolves planning, resource management and environmental compliance issues. Prior to returning to Pasadena in 2015, Sarah was Manager of Strategic Projects with Merchants Fleet Management, Business Intelligence Analyst at Arch Coal, Inc., and Marketing Analyst for Suddenlink Communications. Sarah earned her BA from Vanderbilt University and MBA from Washington University Olin Business School. Sarah is the daughter of former Families Forward (then called Mothers’ Club) Board member Marie Campbell and was a Mothers’ Club volunteer when she attended Westridge. She lives in Pasadena with her husband, Jonathan, and son, Kenneth (“Turtle”). (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Born and raised in Pasadena, California, Liz is no stranger to Families Forward. Liz first became involved with Families Forward 25 years ago when she volunteered as a tutor through Westridge School. It was through this experience that her parents became more involved in the organization. Liz remained involved helping her mom, Nancy Carlton, teach an advanced ESL course where they used cooking as a way to use conversational English in the kitchen. For the seven years her mother taught this class, Liz would help out any chance she could get. Liz earned B.A.s in Latin American Studies and Spanish Literature, and an MBA, all from George Washington University. With over 12 years of marketing experience, Liz is currently an Account Director at Agency Five Eighty, where she works in partnership with clients to develop strategies and marketing campaigns that drive business forward. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Peggy Coleman owns a successful business strategy consulting firm that is focused on working with start-ups and businesses undergoing transformational shifts within private, public and non-profit sectors. Peggy’s firm, COLEMAN, is a unique practice that focuses on developing and executing customer-centric business strategies by delivering thoughtful and creative solutions that balance return on investment, third party alliances, human capital and customer needs. The desired result increase market share, customer engagement and satisfaction. Previously, Peggy worked in the creative and marketing services department for Applause, DIRECTV and The Disney Channel. She holds a BA in Graphic Design with an emphasis in Communications from the University of Arkansas, and holds a certificate of Customer Experience from the Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Ruth is a native New Yorker but became a converted Californian after moving to Orange County, CA in high school. She has a BA in Economics from UCI and an MBA from UCLA focusing on finance and marketing. After working in banking for several years she moved on to marketing management at Nestle, working in brand management with a final role as director of new business development. After 10 years at Nestle she moved to the Agency side as Client Director at Noble Communications working with large food manufacturers and national restaurants chains. She is currently co-owner of Nourish Marketing, a marketing consulting practice working with large and small clients, assisting with marketing strategy and planning, brand positioning, market research, innovation ideation, advertising and promotions, direct marketing, and new product development. Ruth has two daughters in college and has been on Parent Boards and planning or fundraising committees at various schools from the time her girls were in elementary school all the way through high school. She has a passion for early child development and mentoring students of all ages. Families Forward has been a wonderful experience as a board member proudly assisting with supporting and sustaining the organization’s valuable service to the community. Ruth is also Guild President at Five Acres in Altadena, a transitional foster care facility for children from 5 to 14. The Guild organizes and facilitates activities, educational programs, life learning and other special events to benefit and celebrate the children living at Five Acres. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Sandy Esserman retired in 2012 following a 36-year career in education. Her area of expertise was special education where she served in instructional and administrative positions – providing support for students with special needs at the elementary, middle and high school levels over the course of her career. She was a credentialed teacher in Florida, New Jersey and predominantly California, where she held teaching and administrative positions. Before retiring from Los Angeles Unified School District, she served as a Mentor, Master Teacher and Special Education Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Florida and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from California State University, Los Angeles. An avid life-long learner, Sandy enjoys travelling, creating jewelry and participating in adult studies classes. Sandy’s husband is the Founder and ED of the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, and she and her husband have two adult sons. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Mary Freeman is a retired attorney who served as Group Counsel for the Office Products Group of Avery Dennison Corporation, and as a private mediator and arbitrator. Mary has extensive non-profit experience, including volunteering with special needs students in the Harvest Garden at Descanso, at the Union Station Adult Center, as a Planned Parenthood community outreach ambassador, coaching and training student and adult mediators at the Western Justice Center, and an adult literacy tutor with the Pasadena Public Library. She has also been a Pasadena Schools Reading Partners’ tutor. Mary has a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Minnesota, an M.A. in Educational Psychology from Michigan State University, and a J.D. from the University of San Diego. Since her retirement Mary has worked on her Spanish language skills, taking numerous classes at Pasadena City College as well as studying in Morelia, Mexico, and Madrid. She and her husband (Michael Davis) also trained in Spain to qualify as teachers of English as a foreign language and spent several months teaching English in Seville, Spain. Mary resides in Pasadena with her husband, and has three children and two young grandchildren. She is an avid traveler. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Ruth Anne Hammond is the author of Respecting Babies: A Guide to Educaring for Parents and Professionals (Zero to Three, 2019), and is a consultant for infant/toddler care and education. She teaches and mentors parents and professionals as a RIE Associate with Resources for Infant Educarers in the US and abroad. She served on RIE’s board for many years and was President from 2006 through 2011. She was on the faculty of Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School as both a member of the Senior Adjunct Faculty and a Master Teacher in the Infant/Toddler-Parent Program from 1996 to 2014. Ms. Hammond has a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Dance from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Arts in Human Development, with specializations in Infant/Toddler Studies and Leadership in Education from Pacific Oaks College. She is also a longtime member of psychologist Allan Schore’s interpersonal neurobiology study group. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Linda Lopez was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and immigrated to Southern California at the age of ten. She graduated from Cal Poly Pomona University with a degree in Marketing and also completed the University of Southern California, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate Ross Program. Linda has established herself as a top real estate agent representing a 30-year-plus referral base. Prior to starting her career as a Real Estate Broker, Linda worked at IBM in technical marketing and sales. She currently serves as a Trustee for the Saint Mark’s School Board of Trustees in Altadena where her children currently attend school. Linda lives with her husband and twins, Sofia and Julian. She enjoys running and has completed eight marathons, three triathlons and is also a tennis enthusiast. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Miguel Loza, Jr. is Of Counsel in Gibson Dunn’s Los Angeles office, where he practices in the firm’s Litigation Department. Miguel focuses on complex litigation matters, with a particular expertise in transnational issues and cases arising out of Latin America. Miguel grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and is a proud first-generation college graduate and first-generation professional. He is deeply committed to promoting diversity, mentoring, pro bono work, and community service, both in his law firm and in the community in general. Miguel leads the First-Generation Professionals and the Latinx affinity groups in the firm’s Los Angeles office. He currently sits on the Board of Trustees for the Mexican American Bar Foundation, which provides financial help to Latinx law students pursuing a legal career. Miguel earned his J.D. from Cornell Law School, where he served as a Managing Editor of the Cornell International Law Journal and was a student contributor to the Supreme Court Bulletin of the Cornell Legal Information Institute. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2005 from Stanford University, with a double major in History and Political Science. Miguel lives in Sierra Madre with his family. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Sue Miller retired in 2021 as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Avery Dennison Corporation, a Fortune 500 company with headquarters in Glendale. Sue joined Avery Dennison in 1991 and was elected to her most recent position in 2008. Prior to joining Avery Dennison, Sue served as an associate at the law firms of Latham & Watkins in Los Angeles and Kirkpatrick & Lockhart in Pittsburgh. Sue previously served on the boards of the Constitutional Rights Foundation and the San Francisco Advisory Board of FM Global. Sue received an A.B. Degree in Management Sciences/Accounting from Duke University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Sylvia Heumann Paz was born in Chile to European Holocaust survivor parents. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mathematics Education from the Universidad Católica de Chile and Harvard University, respectively. After working in Chile for five years, immigrating to the United States and raising two daughters, she returned to school to obtain a Master’s in Biostatistics and Epidemiology, and then a PhD in Public Health from UCLA. Sylvia has managed multiple NIH-funded multi-million-dollar grants and has been awarded several NIH grants to study health and access to care of under-served minority populations. In particular, her research focuses on measurement of health disparities among subgroups of the U.S. population. In addition to her research, Sylvia has served on the Boards of Planned Parenthood and Santiago College, for which she served as President of its U.S. Board of Trustees for the past four years. Santiago College is a highly regarded private international college preparatory school in Santiago, Chile. Sylvia has served on the board of Families Forward Learning Center for 13 years. She has chaired the Nominating and Governance committee, the Programs committee, and has served as Vice-President and President of the board. She also spearheaded a formal evaluation program that included a longitudinal study conducted by the RAND Corporation that focused on measuring the organization’s long-term efficacy. In her spare time, Sylvia enjoys reading, cooking, walking, swimming in the ocean, and above all, spending time with her family, which includes two toddler granddaughters. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Susan Stannard retired from the investment management business in 2021. Prior to working at First Quadrant, Susan was a partner at Seneca Capital Management and Fluor Corporation. Susan earned a BS in business at California State University, Long Beach. When not working, Susan has been involved with Junior Achievement, Assistance League and PEO. She also enjoys traveling, baking and the arts. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Raymond R. Tabandeh is a partner in Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie’s Intellectual Property practice group. He has extensive experience in intellectual property law and also holds electrical engineering degrees along with an MBA. Raymond specializes in helping clients with cybersecurity and Internet IP law. He has also been a visiting lecturer in the School of Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. Raymond lives in San Marino with his family, and has been on the boards of other non-profit organizations. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Carie Wickers is a Senior Vice President and Controller of Whittier Trust Company, where she manages the Corporate Accounting department. She has previously worked with Union Bank Investment Services, Mercantile National Bank, and Arthur Anderson. Carie graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. In her spare time, she enjoys teaching the Personal Management Merit Badge class to the scouts of San Marino Troop 335, where she is currently the Advisory Committee’s Merit Badge Coordinator. (Back to BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
980 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91103
626-792-2687
