Board of Directors
President: Colin Campbell
I am a San Diego native and am a graduate of the San Diego public school system. I attended college at the University of California, Riverside where I earned my Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration. I reside in Alpine with my wife and two sons. My son’s attend Creekside Early Learning Center and Alpine Elementary. As a local business owner, I became involved with the Alpine Chamber of Commerce Education Committee and Kiwanis. It is through these organizations that I became involved in activities designed to promote local education. I have been consistently impressed by the passion and dedication that AUSD administrators and teaching staff consistently display in their efforts to create excellent schools for the children of Alpine. However, as my involvement in Alpine education increased I became aware of how our schools are being impacted by significant budget cuts. When I was invited to join the Alpine Education Foundation I eagerly joined the effort to foster excellent education for the children of Alpine. AEF has filled a significant need in our community to bring community awareness and support to our schools and I have been proud to serve as president.
Vice President/Fundraising Chair/Founder: Chris Newcomb
I grew up in Iowa and attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. I earned my BS in Aerospace Engineering there. I served for eight years in the active-duty Navy as a Submarine Officer. I then joined the Naval Reserves so I could start a new career in Information Technology as a civilian. I was fortunate to have earned my MBA at Chapman University in Orange, CA, and my MS in Systems Engineering Management at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. I am married and we have three children: our daughter is in high school and our two boys attend Joan MacQueen and Boulder Oaks (my wife teaches at Boulder Oaks).
I am a civil servant and I work as a systems engineer/program manager at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command. I retired from the Naval Reserves after 23 years of service in June of 2010. I also teach online courses at Ashford University. I was given a wonderful opportunity when I was appointed to the AUSD Board of Trustees in 2009 and I served for ~1.5 years. That experience was a real eye-opener. Unfortunately, we are facing very serious cuts in our school budgets. While these underfunded state budgets definitely necessitate cuts in our AUSD budget, I felt it was important to develop some self-determination in our District's budget. With that in mind, I founded the Alpine Education Foundation with the Superintendent at that time, Greg Ryan. I believe AEF supports two goals: provide some buffer against the short-sighted policies of Sacramento and ensure we can maintain our very high standards of academic excellence here in Alpine (to include our new high school). Please join me and the AEF Board in achieving those two goals!
Treasurer: George Barnett
Technology Chair: Bill Weaver
Bill Weaver is a California native and grew up in the nearby Imperial Valley. Bill earned an Associate of Science Degree in Physics at Imperial Valley Community College (IVC). He then transferred to California Polytechnic (Cal Poly) University in Pomona, CA, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technologies in 1979.
While nearing graduation at Cal Poly, Bill was recruited and hired as an Engineer- In-Training by a multi-national commercial risk insurance company’s engineering division; Factory Mutual Engineering.
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Bill later worked for the CIGNA Group of property/casualty insurance companies, in their special risk division; then for American International Group’s (AIG) Consultants division, and subsequently co-owned a small company providing expertise in risk management and safety. He left his own company partnership to join Frank B. Hall Co. of Alaska Inc., then later Arthur J. Gallagher Co., both international commercial/industrial insurance brokerage firms. At both, Bill was an executive consultant; he specialized in risk management, and carried double-duty as a licensed commercial risk (property and casualty) insurance broker for Alaska and California.
Using his expertise in risk and insurance he designed and structured special risk, high retention, or self- funded insurance programs, for commercial risks, and public entities such as; municipalities, counties or boroughs, private and public colleges, and public K-12 school districts.
Bill is now semi-retired and dedicates significant amounts of his time to public service. He often volunteers as a community advocate, working with organizations serving mostly education. Besides his current Chairmanships, Bill serves on several other committees and organizations as a committee or board member, including the Alpine Education Foundation. Bill has lived in Alpine, CA for 18 years now. He has 2 children who attend the Alpine schools, which is the main reason for his devotion to community service and education advocacy. The public schools that serve Alpine need the work and help of our entire community to ensure that an exemplary and culturally diverse education will always be delivered locally.
Finance Director: Roger Garay
A First Generation Immigrant, at the age of 7, I was raised in Spanish Harlem, New York City – an experience that taught me many of life’s most important lessons, not the least of which was the value of a good education away from the “Blackboard Jungle” environment of the NYC Public Schools in my neighborhood where survival was a required course.
Because of the places where military service caused my family to live, I sent my kids to private schools, but I am happy to say that my grandchildren have received their education at California (and Virginia) Public Schools and some are now in College. I told my kids that the only inheritance they should expect from me is the best education available; I still believe in that principle. My three children all went to on to higher education.
Concurrent with graduation from Manhattan College, NYC, in 1963 with a BS Degree in Electrical Engineering, I was Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Air Force (via the ROTC Program). While in the military service I obtained an MBA from the University of Chicago. After separation from military service in 1969 I obtained an MS in Finance from USC. I became an Enrolled Agent (one licensed by IRS to Represent Taxpayers) in 1979.
After 6 years of active duty with the US Air Force, I held senior accounting positions in industry (including but not limited to the Telemarketing, Venture Capital & Private Equity, Real Estate Development, Utility Construction Management, and Management Consulting sectors), was Adjunct Professor of Business and Accounting in academia (University of Redlands, University of Phoenix), and was employed by Intuit, on three different occasions, to rigorously test, prior to release, the ProSeries tax preparation software that we use in our office.
While employed in Industry I maintained a small Tax Preparation practice "on the side" until the opportunity to acquire, along with Janet Morse, ownership of my present employer, On Line Bookkeeping & Tax Service, Inc., presented itself in 2002.
At On Line Bookkeeping & Tax Service Inc., we focus our business on the small business community, and have over 12 Non-Profit organizations as our Clients. Perhaps because of my education and varied industry experience over the last 40 years, I gravitate towards the business consulting aspect of providing our business clients with a broader service than strictly accounting or tax preparation. We are open year-round servicing our clients' needs for bookkeeping, payroll, tax and other business consulting services www.olbts.com
Business Partner Chair: Pat Cannon
Donor Recognition Chair: Nancy Brown
Director: Laurie Hallihan
Laurie Hallihan was born in Park Ridge, Illinois and grew up in a suburb outside of Chicago. She graduated from Buffalo Grove High School and went on to attend University of Illinois, Chicago. She began working for State Farm Insurance as an office manager in 1989 in Illinois. As a young woman, she began her love for volunteer work early in working with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. While in college Laurie also worked with inner city teens to try and stop the cycle of having babies as children themselves and staying on welfare.
At age 24, she packed up truck with her best friend from Middle School and moved to Encinitas, CA. She continued her work at State Farm as an office magager, but began feeling the itch to move on to something bigger and better. She had longed for a quieter, country lifestyle the ability to be a part of a community. When a State Farm agency opening became available in Alpine, she jumped at the opportunity and opened her State Farm agency in September of 2001 in Alpine, CA.
Laurie became an active participant in Alpine’s non-profit groups immediately. She was the past president of the Alpine Lions Club and an active member from 2001-2007. She then became the Alpine Chamber President for 2008 and has been a Chamber member since 2001. She has also been a board member on the Back Country Land Trust and a current member with the Alpine Soroptimists Club.
In 2003, Laurie adopted a Border Collie mix rescue dog and became a foster home and application coordinator for Border Collie Recue. In 2007, some members from Border Collie Rescue started their own group called Border Collies in Need and she continued her passion for rescuing dogs with this group. Currently, Laurie is working on getting her dog Midge therapy certified in order to visit Children’s Hospital as well as other hospital settings and have Midge bring sunshine to sick people’s world.
Laurie has always been passionate about education and very concerned about the budget cuts. She had the good fortune of attending excellent schools in Illinois and had many classes in the arts. She is particularly concerned with students not getting exposure to art and music in their curriculum. Laurie has consistently asked the Alpine schools for lists of items needed, especially art/music supplies to help these programs continue through her donations. She is very excited about the prospect that the Alpine Education Foundation will allow donors to help continue the high level of education in Alpine. The Foundation can help children for years to come in realizing their dreams by experiencing all aspects of educational programs.
Director: Danica James
Danica James was born and raised in San Diego County. She graduated from El Capitan High School and went on to attend California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with concentrations in Military Science and Agriculture Education.
After graduating from college, Danica married and moved to North Carolina where she taught Animal Science and Agricultural Engineering at Clinton High School. The following year, Danica was offered a position at Mac Williams Middle School in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She was tasked with creating a project based education program for eighth grade students. She applied for and was granted a new Charter of the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Organization; she used the Charter to create a new Middle School Agricultural program and FFA chapter that focused on teaching students to become leaders, public speakers and “Introduction to Biotechnology.”
Since moving back to our community, Danica has become a mother, public servant, substitute teacher, and a community volunteer. She is a veteran member of the Alpine/Mt. Empire MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club, and through that organization, has supported numerous other non-profit organizations who aim to improve the lives of others. She has also served as a director of the El Capitan Stadium Association’s Miss Rodeo Lakeside Pageant which teaches young women to become spokes people for their community and the sport of Rodeo. Most recently, she earned her Master’s in Public Administration from National University. Aside from work, charity events, PTA meetings, 4-H meetings and sports practices, she is also working toward completing her student teaching to earn her California Teaching Credential. Most of all, she enjoys spending time with her family, riding horses and volunteering in her child’s school here in Alpine.
Danica’s desire to serve on the board of the Alpine Education Foundation grew from her love of children and education. She believes, aside from the love and support given in the home, children’s lives are most often shaped by their educators and the quality of education they receive. Danica believes our community has great schools, but the heavy budget cuts to education also mean there will be inevitable cuts in the quality of our children’s education. She believes with your help, the Foundation can help mitigate the affects these cuts will have on our schools and our children!
Director: Joe Perricone
Director: Bob Ring
Executive Director: Sharon Haven
Alpine Union School District Representative: Tom Pellegrino, Superintendent AUSD
