Who We Are

Rochelle is a long time Martinez resident and her two young adult children are alums of Morello Park, Martinez Junior High School (MJHS), and Alhambra High School. She worked for over 25 years in Brokerage Operations and Institutional investments and was Managing Director of Investment Operations with global responsibilities until she retired to begin an “encore career” as the owner of her own personal training business. Rochelle became an MEF Board Member in 2015 and has volunteered on the Outreach, Grant, and Marketing/Public Relations Committees.  She has also served as both the MEF Vice President and President. Rochelle believes in supporting grants for alternative classroom furniture and funding such items as Hokki Stools, a creative seat for those having a challenging time sitting still, as they enable students to focus and achieve their full potential. Rochelle is also proud that MEF has funded grant requests for the MJHS Robotics Program and is excited that it teaches students about technology, coding, and process development.

Carol joined the MEF Board in 2020 soon after retiring from Chevron. During her 35-year career with the company, she managed local and global education partnership programs as well as Chevron’s giving, matching and volunteer program for U.S. employees and retirees. In 1993, she established Chevron’s first education partnership initiative with Martinez Unified, Mt. Diablo Unified, San Ramon Valley Unified and Walnut Creek School District involving thousands of volunteer hours and annual classroom grants. She has lived in Martinez for 30 years with her husband Gary and daughter Erin. As a parent to a MUSD student, she has been an active volunteer at Morello Park Elementary, served on the Morello Park PTA and was a member of MUSD’s first Technology Committee. Carol is immensely proud of the work MEF does to enhance student learning in Reading, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) and Music.

Cheryl graduated from the University of the Pacific and has been a Martinez resident for 28 years. After a career in management and personnel, she found her calling as a volunteer, serving on the boards of Buena Vista Auxiliary of Assistance League of Diablo Valley, Pleasant Hill Aquatics, and the Morello Park and Martinez Junior High School PTAs. Cheryl is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and a CASA Team Leader. She is passionate about enhancing the educational experiences of our Martinez students and became a MEF Board member in 2009. Cheryl has served the Foundation as Recording Secretary, Vice President and President. She has been involved with the Martinez Unified School District as a Para Educator, and a committee member of the Local Control Accountability Plan, Curriculum Advisory Council, Alhambra High School WASC, three different school Site Councils, and AHS Grad Night. Cheryl is honored to be a member of MEF, a non-profit, all volunteer organization, that, since 1986, has funded educator grant requests totaling over $3.3 million – all for the benefit of our Martinez Unified School District students.

Catherine has lived in Martinez for twenty years and has two children who attend schools in the Martinez Unified School District. She holds a B.S. in Communicative Disorders and an M.S. in Nonprofit Management and Organizational Psychology. Catherine is a former social worker and has worked for the Contra Costa College Community District for eighteen years. She is a huge advocate for high-quality, open-access public education, and is a firm believer of giving back to the community and supporting positive social change. Due to her experience in managing grants at Diablo Valley College, she is extremely interested in finding ways to ensure the funds MEF raises is used to support opportunities for our students and faculty that they otherwise would not be able to gain access to.

Shannon graduated from St. Mary’s College and has been employed for more than 30 years as an administrative assistant and office manager. Shannon has been a board member for the Martinez Pee Wee Baseball and Martinez Little League and joined our MEF board in 2016. She is an enthusiastic volunteer and after the 2017 Sonoma fires, helped at the Bodega Bay Shelter and Information Center. Additionally, Shannon has raised funds for local food banks, underprivileged Oakland schools, and the Martinez Education Foundation. Shannon is proud that the MEF Grant Program supports the Martinez Unified School District and improves the classroom experience for all our Martinez students.

Leslie is a 22-year Martinez resident with two (now young adult) children who matriculated through the Martinez Unified School District and now enjoy very successful careers because of it. Prior to joining MEF, Leslie served on the PTA of Morello Park Elementary for six years in various capacities, including chairing their biggest annual fundraising event.  She was the Director of the “Parent Educator Program (PEP)” at Morello Park for five years, leading a team of volunteer parents in teaching resiliency skills once per week to students in grades 3-5.  And it was through her time volunteering on the Alhambra High School “Grad Night” committee (serving as Chair for two years) that she gained an appreciation for the lasting power a unique and robust educational experience can have on both students and teachers.  An experience that can be made richer with the support of volunteer hours and MEF grants.  Countless MUSD graduates over the years come back to Martinez and share their gratitude and special memories around the incredible support and life preparation provided by our programs, teachers and volunteers.  Leslie graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Business Administration degree, and received an MBA in Organizational Development from Golden Gate University.  She is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources, and is currently the Onboarding and Transitions Leader for Ernst & Young LLP’s West Region.  Leslie is excited to bring her experience and passion around diversity, inclusiveness and communications to MEF as it continues to support the long tradition of learning excellence in Martinez.

Bobbi is a 43-year Martinez resident with a degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master’s in Education Leadership from Cal State East Bay. Bobbi taught for 22 years in the Martinez Unified School District (MUSD) and then went into administration for Benicia schools. She first became active with MEF in 2015 as the MUSD School Board Liaison, and after leaving the school board, continued volunteering with the education foundation because she valued its dedication to making our schools better. It gives Bobbi great pleasure to see the teachers in MUSD receive financial help to make their classrooms a special learning environment for their students. Bobbi believes that providing funds for technology, books, furniture, and experiences, all help MEF create dream classrooms.

Phil served for six years in the United States Air Force, and along with many medals, awards, and citations he also received an honorable discharge. He has a degree in Organizational Development from the University of San Francisco and has been employed for 15 years with a financial services/business consulting firm as their Chief Operations Officer and Senior Consultant. Phil joined the MEF board in 2021 and comes with a variety of previous volunteer experience, including: Hospice of the East Bay as a Family Support Specialist,  Commissioner for the City of Martinez Veteran’s Commission, and a member of Alhambra High School (AHS) Boosters and Grad Night committees. He was also a member of the Morello Park Elementary Parent Educator Program (PEP) and has coached a number of youth sports teams. Phil is excited to work with MEF to support students and teachers by providing the necessary tools and equipment for the most enhanced learning environment.

Mike graduated with a Chemical Engineering degree from University of Nevada-Reno and worked for the Shell Martinez Refinery for over 30 years. He is now employed by the Martinez Refining Company and is a former Martinez Citizen of the Year. Mike has served on a variety of committees for the Martinez Unified School District and volunteers with Main Street Martinez. He serves on the MEF Finance Committee and the Run for Education Committee. Mike believes that supporting grant requests for robotics inspire a student’s curiosity, creativity, and invention through connected play and coding.

Anne grew up in Martinez and is a proud alum of John Swett Elementary, Martinez Junior High School, and Alhambra High School. Anne taught English and Yearbook at MJHS from 2012-2019 and now serves as the MUSD school board trustee for area 2. She joined the MEF Board in 2019, and as a parent of a John Muir student, Anne is especially proud of the work MEF does to get students and teachers the resources they need to make Martinez schools exceptional.

Jen was an accountancy major at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse and has a master’s degree in tax from Golden Gate University. She has been working in tax and accounting in the Bay Area for 20 years and previously served on the San Francisco California Society of CPA’s board of directors. Jen’s husband is a science teacher, and they have two children attending elementary school in the Martinez Unified School District. Jen joined the MEF Board in 2022 and is an enthusiastic member of our Grants Committee.

Kathy has lived in the Martinez community for 31 years. Her son was in the first kindergarten class at Morello Park Elementary and graduated from Alhambra High School in 2005. Her late daughter was also a student in the Martinez Unified School District and completed her first year at AHS before her cancer diagnosis. Kathy has a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in Community Health Education and a M.S. from East Stroudsburg University. She worked for Health East in PA and was the executive director for the Bethlehem YWCA. Kathy had almost 30 years with Kaiser Permanente as a Service Area Director in the Napa Solano Service Area, overseeing five outpatient departments located in the two hospitals and two clinics. Kathy joined the MEF Board in 2022 and comes to us with a variety of volunteer experience. She is a member of the Purdue University College of Health and Human Services Deans Leadership Council, a 13-year AHS Grad Night Committee member, a former Morello Park Elementary Dinner Dance Committee member, and has taught Religious Education to various grades at St. Catherine’s. Kathy is most interested in grants where there is collaboration with other teachers in the same grade or multiple grades. She is also enthusiastic about duplicating successful grant programs at other grade levels and school sites.