Meet the Board of Directors

The mission of United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay is to enhance the quality of life of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, their families, and their communities.

We are fortunate to have a very talented Board of Directors to help guide and accomplish our mission.  They bring experience and expertise in a variety of areas and put in countless volunteer hours to ensure that UCP of the North Bay is providing the highest quality programs and services. 

UCP of the North Bay Board of Directors at Holiday Luncheon held at Starks Restaurant in Santa Rosa on December 8, 2011. (Back Row l-r: Steve Lohrer, Claire Martin, Elaine McHugh, Mimi Schott, George Triest, Linda Blong, Jack Stuart, Janet Hart)

Steve Lohrer, Ph.D., Board President, Autistic Spectrum Disorders Guidelines Project Director, Napa County Office of Education. Parent of child with cerebral palsy.  Member since 2008.

Dr. Lohrer is the Director for the Autism Spectrum Disorders: Guidelines for Effective Interventions Project at the Napa County Office of Education.  The project, sponsored by the California Department of Developmental Services, represents a collaborative effort to conduct an evidence-based evaluation of interventions for persons with autism spectrum disorders, involving experts from California and across the country.  Dr. Lohrer received his Ph.D. from the Columbia University School of Social Work in New York and was a Post-Doctoral Fellow in Developmental Disabilities Research at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.  He also has a background as a clinical social worker and service program manager.  Dr. Lohrer serves on the Organizational Development Committee and the Fundraising Committee at United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay.

 
Elaine McHugh, Ph.D., Board Vice-President, Adapted Physical Education Professor, Sonoma State University.  Member since 1995.

Dr. McHugh is the Department Chair and Adapted Physical Education Coordinator in the Department of Kinesiology at Sonoma State University.  She has published many journal articles on adapted physical education and has conducted research on a variety of disability-related issues including the use of adapted bicycles.  Among her many accomplishments is the development of our Bike Camp, which she continues to direct on-site and, at ten years, is the longest running bike camp in the country. She has also been the Conference Director of the National Conference on Physical Activity for the Exceptional Individual and recipient of numerous grants for adapted physical education. Dr. McHugh serves on the Organizational Development Committee at United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay.

Claire Martin, Board Secretary, Participant and Volunteer, UCPNB, Retired.  Member since 1990.

Born with Cerebral Palsy and having attended high school and college in the 1940's, Ms. Martin has participated in the dramatic changes that have taken place for people with disabilities.   Her expertise and experience has been invaluable to the growth and development of services for children and adults with developmental disabilities in Sonoma, Napa, and Solano Counties.  Ms. Martin is a long-time advocate for persons with cerebral palsy and she provides support for all Board Committees of United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay.

Janet Hart, Board Treasurer, Certified Financial Planner, The Hart Group. Member since 2010.

Ms. Hart is a Certified Financial Planner.  She is a licensed registered principal with Foothill Securities, Inc. and holds a California life/disability insurance license.  Ms. Hart has 20 years of financial planning experience with 15 years as an independent planner.  She leads many client seminars and teaches classes at Santa Rosa Junior College Community Education program and the Santa Rosa Parks and Recreation Department.  Ms. Hart serves on the Finance & Investment Committee at United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay.

Mimi Schott, Board Member, Independent Contractor, Bookkeeper.  Grandparent of child with cerebral palsy.  Member since 1999. 

Ms. Schott is a Bookkeeper at National Association for the self-employed in the accounting industry.  She is a home healthcare provider and she provides administrative support for the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable.  Ms. Schott is a long-time volunteer at Boost Camp, an intensive movement education program for children with cerebral palsy that increases their ability to participate in school and the community.  She is a long-time volunteer with Canine Companions for Independence.  Ms. Schott serves on both the Finance & Investment Committee and Fundraising Committee at United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay.

Linda Blong, Ph.D., Board Member, Project Specialist, CalSTAT, California Department of Education.  Member, Consumer Advisory Committee, Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, The Mind Institute; University of California, Davis.  Parent of child with cerebral palsy.  Member since 2001.

Dr. Blong is the Senior Project Specialist at the Napa County Office of Education, providing content and process expertise to two special projects of the California Department of Education: the California Services for Technical Assistance and Training Project (CalSTAT) and the State Performance Plan Technical Assistance Project (SPPTAP).  Linda is also a Senior Consultant for Public Dialogue Consortium, a network of communication and engagement experts who work collaboratively with clients primarily in the public and non-profit sectors.  Dr. Blong’s previous positions include Co-Leader and Faculty for the Dialogue, Deliberation and Public Engagement Certificate Program at Fielding Graduate University, and Director of Projects at California Institute on Human Services, Sonoma State University.  Dr. Blong has an A.B. in Linguistics from San Diego State University and a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University.  She serves on the Organizational Development Committee at United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay.

George Triest - Board Member, State Performance Plan Technical Assistance Project Director, California Department of Education, Member since 2009.

Mr. Triest is the Director of the State Performance Plan Technical Assistance Project, funded by the California Department of Education. He is a Board Member with the Center for Innovation and Resources, Inc. He is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate.  Previously, he was Senior Director at Sonoma State University where he oversaw the successful implementation of over $100 million of grant-funded programs that have benefited children and families throughout California and the United States.  He has served as the Board President of Becoming Independent, a major provider of services for people with developmental disabilities in Sonoma County.  Mr. Triest has an M.A. in Special Education from Sonoma State University and undergraduate degrees from University of California at Santa Barbara.  Mr. Triest serves on the Organizational Development Committee at United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay.

Jack Stuart, Board Member, Winemaker & Partner, Trivium Wine.  Member since 2009.

Mr. Stuart was General Manager and Winemaster of Napa Valley’s Silverado Vineyards for 25 years.  He established Silverado as a national brand known for the quality of its wines.  He directed four major winery building projects and developed seven different vineyard properties in Napa and Sonoma counties.  Mr. Stuart oversaw production, public relations and marketing, finance, personnel, and government relations.  He is past president of both the Napa Valley Vintners and the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association.  He sits on the Enology Committee of the American Vineyard Foundation and chairs the Projects Committee of the Land Trust of Napa County.  Mr. Stuart received a bachelor’s degree from Stanford and took his graduate study in viticulture and enology at the University of California at Davis.  Mr. Stuart serves on the WineBev Advisory Committee at United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay.