BOOST CONFERENCE LEADERSHIP TEAM
2012 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.
Justin Apger, Director of Operations & Finance
The AjA Project, San Diego, CA
Since 2009, Justin has worked with The AjA Project, a non-profit organization that runs in-school and after-school arts-based educational programs for refugee and other at-risk youth. At AjA, Justin oversees the financial, grant, human resources and contract needs of the organization and its programs.
Through an understanding of after-school programming demands, Justin has implemented effective staff leadership models that have strengthened programs and brought new growth opportunities to organizations. He also adds experience in working with diverse communities and populations as a trainer, delivering on topics that integrate cross-cultural views and approaches.
After graduating with a B.A. in International Studies and a minor in Business Administration, he moved to Massachusetts, where he received his M.A. in Intercultural Relations with a focus in training and consulting. While in Cambridge, Justin worked with GLSEN Boston and the Latino Health Institute, furthering his understanding of program design and facilitation within community-based organizations. After moving to California, Justin worked at Family Health Centers of San Diego as a prevention counselor and coordinator for a community level intervention. Justin is committed to creating a sense of community and tolerance for youth that fosters inclusive school environments and encourages youth to thrive in their own self-expression.
Eddie 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.
Mary 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.
Christina Hale-Nardi, Director of Afterschool Programs
San Bernardino City Unified School District, San Bernardino, CA
Christina Hale-Nardi is currently the Director of afterschool programs for youth in San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD); the seventh largest school district and ASES grantee in the State. CAPS (Creative Before- and Afterschool Programs for Success) serves over 11,000 youth daily at 58 schools, K-12. CAPS’ afterschool programs include ASES and 21st Century Community Learning Center funded programs as well as California Cadet Corps (CACC) and Middle School Intercollegiate Sports.
Christina has over six years experience in youth development and afterschool programs. She was the Project Director of Cal Poly Pomona’s partnership with Hacienda-La Puente USD on a GEAR-UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant, which aimed to increase college-going rates among low-income and underrepresented populations. Her experience includes heading Pasadena LEARNs, a former Regional Learning Center. Christina also has over ten years experience as an adjunct professor and student-teacher supervisor with Cal Poly Pomona and UC Riverside. Her training and academic experience has had a significant impact on building a career pathway through competency development in the CAPS afterschool environment.
As a single parent of two, Christina earned a Masters degree in International Education and Policy Analysis from Stanford University. She is also a proud “Banana Slug”, having fought the good fight over the mascot in the early 80s, and graduating with a BA and Teaching Credential from UC Santa Cruz.
Christina has a life-long track record of community organizing in both the local electoral and international solidarity arenas. As a fully bilingual person, she is an experienced translator and interpreter in Spanish and English. Her 12+ years as a classroom teacher spanned grades 2-7, bilingual and dual-immersion classes, and immigrant and private educational populations. Christina lived in Central America for 10 years and has worked in journalism, business development, marketing, office management, and contracting in the private sector.
Ranie Lambe, Directory of Strategic Partnerships
Revolution Prep, Santa Monica, CA
Ranie works at Revolution Prep, supporting urban middle and high schools through educational programs to increase students’ proficiency rates and college readiness. An educator for over ten years, education is one of Ranie’s passions. She grew up in Seattle, where she was a French major at the University of Washington, and earned a Masters in Education from Seattle Pacific University. While in graduate school, Ranie worked as a Trainer and Customer Service Manager at Nordstrom, bringing service and learning together. As a classroom teacher in Los Angeles, her desire to support children and help them reach their potential grew. After seeing the line between affluence and poverty firsthand in Los Angeles, Ranie’s focus shifting to impacting education in urban communities. By bringing high-quality educational services to local schools via Revolution, she has found a huge opportunity to affect change right at home. Ranie also volunteers as an Associate Board Member to HOLA, Heart of Los Angeles Youth, an after-school program near Lafayette Park in Los Angeles. She loves the So Cal weather and educational community, but braves the rain in Seattle as often as possible to see friends & family.
Brad Lupien, Co-President and Co-Founder
Champions: Adventure, After School and Sports Programs, Inglewood, CA
Brad Lupien holds a Bachelor's in Social Work from the University of Vermont and a Master's in Teaching from Simmons College in Boston, MA . While teaching in the inner-cities of the Boston Public School system, he developed the Outdoor Education Club. His extensive athletic and outdoor experience includes guiding month-long wilderness excursions through the Rocky Mountains and National Parks. Brad left teaching in the classroom to teach in the outdoors. In 2001 Brad met Gary Lipsky, a Los Angeles based entrepreneur, and they began Good Sports Plus, which incorporated later as Champions: Adventure, After School and Sports Programs. At Champions, Brad currently oversees 32 after school sites, 4 PE sites, and Outdoor Adventure Clubs at over 70 youth organizations. Champions older youth model has won city, state and national accolades in the past 3 years. Additionally, Brad is a board member for multiple CBOs including CORE Educational Services, Interfaith Family, SOS Classroom, and the Take Action Campaign
Mark Marano, After School Program Coordinator
YMCA of Greater Long Beach, Community Development Branch
Currently working towards his teaching credential, Mark has ten years of experience working with school-age children in after school programs. During his tenure at the YMCA of Greater Long Beach, Mark has served as a front-line staff working directly with Kindergarten participants, as an Assistant Site Director and then as a Site Director leading day-to-day operations. He currently serves as a Program Coordinator supporting and coaching 4 programs, one of them part of the California Department of Education’s California After School Demonstration Program at the Stevenson-YMCA Community School. In addition, Mark works closely with the Los Angles County Office of Education’s After School Technical Assistance Unit as both a Mentor and a Peer Site Reviewer. Mark is also a trainer with After School University, a practitioner-based training program designed for front-line staff
Christine 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.
Susan Neufeld, Director, Children & Youth Development Services
Hope Through Housing Foundation, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Susan Neufeld has a Master's degree in Applied Developmental Psychology from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. Prior to working at Hope Through Housing Foundation, Ms. Neufeld served as the Collaboration Manager for Mustangs on the Move, a consortium of community-based organizations that provides after school programming to high school youth in Northwest Pasadena. She also worked for Communities Organizing Resources to Advance Learning (CORAL), Pasadena, a multi-city after school initiative launched by the Irvine Foundation, first as a program evaluator then as Associate Director. Currently, Ms. Neufeld serves on Si Se Puede! Learning Centers Advisory Council of the National Farm Workers Service Center. In her position at Hope Through Housing, Ms. Neufeld has responsibility for youth development programming at National CORE's affordable housing communities.
Ana Perez
San Diego, CA
Ana Perez has many years experience working with youth. In addition to teaching ESL in Washington, DC, she has worked for both the Juvenile and Adult Divisions of the San Diego Public Defender's Office. It was her time in the Juvenile Delinquency Division that solidified her passion to work for and with children. Ana has also volunteered to serve as a mentor to at-risk youth at local schools, introducing them to potential careers in the legal field. She currently volunteers for the Mission Valley YMCA in San Diego in a variety of capacities. Ana had the pleasure of joining the BOOST team for the 2010 BOOST Conference and looks forward to a successful 2012 conference.
Ana received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The George Washington University, Washington DC in December 2002, and her Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego, CA in May 2009.
Michelle 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.
Tia Quinn, Executive DirectorBOOST Collaborative, San Diego, CA
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.
Becky Shultz, Director of After School Program
Whittier City School District, Whittier, 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.
Jim 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.
Rachel Whiteside, Event Coordinator
BOOST Collaborative, San Diego, CA
Rachel grew up in Gilroy, California, fondly known as the "Garlic Capital of the World". She left her friendly and potent home for UC San Diego in 2007 and recently graduated June 2011 with a degree in Sociology and English Literature. Her love for sociological theory and compassion for people has taken her to many places in life including Thailand to teach English and Malawi, Africa for two summers. Her trip to Malawi the second time was a Human Rights team that she lead made up of professionals and graduate students in the fields of counseling, law, and child development. Her team put together a conference with the help of the Malawi Human Rights Resource Center to educate villagers about gender equality, property laws, and children's rights. She hopes to one day pursue a career in Urban Planning, with an emphasis on public policy. In her spare time she enjoys writing prose and exploring the many delicious eating establishments in San Diego with her boyfriend.
