Foundation

Marlene R. Bane

Marlene Bane is the President and CEO of Marlene Bane Associates.  She is an extremely active community member,  serving  in leadership roles with the Jewish Home for the Aging, Encino/Tarzana Hospital, the AJC, ADL, the National Council of Jewish Women, Democratic National Committee, Philharmonic Society, JNF, City of Hope; NIH Review, Lupus Appropriation Commission,  and others. She is the widow of the late Honorable Tom Bane.  Marlene Bane has been active in CSUN's fund raising efforts and has served on the President's Associates Board, the President's Business Council's Steering Committee and the Foundation Board Membership Committee.

Vincent P. ‘Vince’ Barabba (’62)

Vince Barabba is the Chairman of Kings County Ventures and the Market Insight Corporation. He retired in 2003 as the general manager, Corporate Strategy, General Motors Corporation. He was recently appointed Chairman of the State of the USA; a non-profit corporation with an educational mission to provide quality information, including quantitative indicators, to the American public on key changing societal, economic, and environmental conditions.

Mr. Barabba twice served as Director of the U.S. Bureau of the Census and is the only person to have been appointed to that position by Presidents of different political parties.  Between his government service and GM assignments he served the Manager of Market Research for the Xerox Corporation and Director of Market Intelligence for Eastman Kodak.  Mr. Barabba was the co-founder of Decision Making Information and from 1969 to 1973 provided electoral information to political campaigns from City Hall to the Presidency.

In recognition of his performance in the private and public sectors he was recently inducted into the Market Research Hall of Fame.  He also received the American Marketing Association’s Parlin Award for leadership in the application of science to the discipline of marketing research, the MIT/GM Henry Grady Weaver Award for individuals who have contributed the most to the advancement of theory  and practice in Marketing science, and the Certificate of Distinguished Service for Contribution to the Federal Statistical System from the Office of Management and Budget.

He is the author of Surviving Transformation (2004 Oxford) and Meeting of the Minds (1995 HBS Press).  He is the co-author of Hearing the Voice of the Market (1991 HBS Press) and The 1980 Census: Policy Making Amid Turbulence (1983 Lexington Books).

Mr. Barabba is a past president and a fellow of the American Statistical Association, has served as U.S. representative to the Population Commission of the United Nations, Board Member of the National Opinion Research Center, and Chairman of the National Research Council Panel to review the statistical program of the National Center for Education Statistics.

Sara Bauer

Sara Bauer was vice president of the Board of Directors of the W.P. Whitsett Foundation from 1996 until dissolution of the Foundation in February 2007.  The Whitsett Foundation established an endowed chair in California history at CSUN in 1986.  A long-time resident of Northridge, Sara was president of parent associations at the public schools that her children attended.  She has served for 35 years as clerk of session (governing body) of the First Presbyterian Church of Granada Hills.  In 1991-1992, she chaired the Women’s Ministry Unit Committee of the Presbyterian Church (USA).  From 1994-1998, she was a member of Occidental College Alumni Association Board of Governors.  At CSUN, she has served on the Community Advisory Board of the Center for Southern California Studies and a member of The University Corporation Board of Directors.  She has been president of the Historical Museum Association at Los Angeles Valley College.

Harvey A. Bookstein (’70)

Harvey Bookstein is the Managing Visionary Partner for RBZ. As Managing Visionary Partner, Harvey will identify and tap into opportunities such as practice acquisition, new niche practice areas and additional office locations. Harvey is also a co-founding Partner of RBZ and has more than 36 years of public accounting experience. Throughout his entire career, Harvey has provided tax, accounting and business consulting services to clients in the real estate industry. His clients include land developers, residential and commercial builders, property managers, investors and commercial building owners, architectural firms, general contractors and construction companies. Harvey also heads up the Real Estate Services Group with one of his partners, Yunna Barats, and has invested over $300,000,000 in real estate investments. In addition, Harvey works with high-net-worth individuals and their families, and family or other closely-held businesses and specializes in estate planning, charitable giving, and dealing with financial issues relating to children, divorce and the development of strategies to pass family businesses from one generation to the next – a method he has developed and has registered as, “Therapeutic Accounting®.”

Harvey oversees a wide range of services, including entity selection and structuring, structuring and negotiating acquisitions and dispositions, pre-acquisition due diligence, debt restructuring, property repositioning strategies, foreign ownership, succession planning and tax-free exchanges. His goal is to anticipate his clients’ needs, ask the right questions, and then develop meaningful ideas and solutions that enable his clients to maintain a competitive edge.

Beyond his commitment to his clients, Harvey established the Harvey and Harriet Bookstein Chair in Taxation within CSUN’s College of Business and Economics in 2005. This endowment will also fund the Bookstein Institute for Higher Education in Taxation (Master in Taxation). In addition, Harvey is currently serving as a Director for Mitos Pharmaceuticals and is on the Board of Directors for The University Corporation of California State University. In the past, Harvey has served on the Board of Directors for The Entrepreneurship Institute, Northridge, and Students for a Better Tomorrow. He is a former President and Board Member of Los Angeles Telecommunications Commission, past Chairman of United Cerebral Palsy/Spastic Children’s Foundation of Greater Los Angeles/Ventura, past Board Member of Hathaway Children’s Services and Phoenix House, and was Chairman of a local bank.

Harvey is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. Harvey graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Harvey is also a graduate of Leadership Los Angeles.

John W. Bradley

John Bradley is the Vice President Finance & CFO for Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne located in Canoga Park.  He currently  serves on the College of Business & Economics Business Partners Advisory Committee and is a former member of the BSEC Advisory Committee. Mr. Bradley also serves on the boards of the YMCA of Southwest Ventura County, the Alliance for the Arts, The Discovery Center, Junior Achievement and Warner Center Association.  He is on the Board of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association and is a past recipient of the Golden Knights of Management Award.  John served as Co-Chair of the CSUN Foundation Development Committee from 2002- 2009.

Wayne-Kent A. Bradshaw

Wayne Bradshaw is President and Chief Operating Officer of Broadway Federal Bank.  Previously Wayne was the President of the Community and External Affairs Division's Southwest and Northwest Intermountain Region for WA MU (Washington Mutual).   Prior to joining Washington Mutual in 2003, Bradshaw was President and Chief Executive Officer of Family Savings Bank until it was acquired in December 2002.  With more than 33 years of experience in a finance and regulatory environment, Bradshaw's background includes positions as President/CEO of Founders Federal Savings and Loan Association in Southern California and former Chief Deputy Superintendent of the California State Banking Department.  Wayne served as Vice Chair of the CSUN Foundation Board during the 2006-08 term.

Ralph A. Courtney III

Ralph Courtney is a retired Deputy Public Defender IV with the Los Angeles County Public Defenders office.  He serves on the Board of Trustees of the First United Methodist Church of Reseda and is a member of the Board of the Granada Hills High School Boosters Club.  Mr. Courtney teaches law and constitutional law in Simi Valley School District Adult Education and UC Santa Barbara Extension.

Earl S. Enzer (’83)

Earl Enzer received his B.S. in Finance from CSUN and went on to earn his MBA from Northwestern University.  Enzer is a Managing Director with Goldman Sachs Los Angeles office, an international banking, equity, asset management and research corporation.  His wife, Karen Dunbar-Enzer is also an alumna of CSUN - she received her B.A. in Journalism.  Earl served as a Co-Chair of the CSUN Foundation Finance and Investment Committees and currently serves on the Finance/Investment Committee. In June 2009, Mr. Enzer was elected Chair of the Foundation Board.

David W. Fleming (Hon. D. '09)

David Fleming is Of Counsel to the international law firm of Latham & Watkins.  He is a past recipient of the Fernando Award and has been involved in the civic and charitable organizations for over 40 years.  A past president of the Los Angeles City Fire Commission and the California Transportation Commission, he serves as a White House trustee of the James Madison Foundation, a national trust bestowing scholarships on high school American history teachers throughout the US.  He chairs the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley, and was a major donor to Cal State Northridge School of Education, having chaired its $2.5 million building fund drive. He is the vice chair of the Los Angeles County Children's Planning Council and is a past chair of VICA.

John R. Golisch (’72)

John Golisch is a Certified Public Accountant and partner with BDO Seidman, LLP.  John is a past president of the California State University, Northridge Foundation having served as a Board member since 1985.  He has served on the Development, Finance, Investment and Nominating Committees.  John is a member of the College of Business Administration and Economics Advisory Committee.  In 1990 the President’s Associates presented Mr. Golisch their Community Leadership Award for his leadership role in securing the first endowed faculty fellowship gift of $100,00 in Accounting, from Arthur Andersen & Co to the College of Business.  Mr. Golisch received the Distinguished Alumni Award from our CSUN Alumni Association in 1985.  He is a past chair of the original Trust Fund (renamed CSUN Foundation in 1995) and has served as the CFO of the CSUN Foundation Board of Directors and Chair of the Finance Committee.

William C. ‘Bill’ Griffeth (‘80)

With more than 20 years experience in business television, Bill Griffeth is one of the most respected financial journalists in the country. Best known for his quick wit and his ability to think on his feet, he brings an extensive knowledge of the markets and market history to CNBC’s programming.

Bill was part of the production team that in 1981 started the Financial News Network, the first cable channel devoted to business news. During his ten years there he was nominated for a Cable ACE award as best news anchor for his work anchoring FNN’s coverage of the stock market crash of 1987.

In 1991, when NBC purchased FNN, Bill joined the CNBC team. He has anchored a number of programs for the network, including Market Wrap, Mutual Fund Investor, The Money Club, and – his current assignment – the very popular “Power Lunch,” (M-F, 12-2 p.m. ET) which he co-hosts with Sue Herera. Along the way, he garnered 6 more Cable ACE nominations. 

Bill has always believed that educating viewers about how the markets work is as important as informing them about the latest news. That is why he helped develop CNBC’s Student Stock Tournament, an online stock-picking contest designed to teach 4th -12th graders about stocks. More than 40,000 students in the U.S. and parts of Canada participated during the 4 years the tournament was conducted in the 1990’s. And the tournament’s Web site won the Beacon Award in 1998 for being the Internet’s best educational site. And in 2001, upon Bill’s 20th anniversary in the business, the National Association of Investors Corp. awarded Bill its Distinguished Service Award in Investor Education.

Bill has also written three books to date. His most recent book, By Faith Alone: One Family's Epic Journey Through 400 Years of American Protestantism (Harmony), was published December 1, 2007. His other two books, Bill Griffeth’s Ten Steps to Financial Prosperity (Warner Books), which was published in 1994, and The Mutual Fund Masters (McGraw-Hill), published in 1995, were both Fortune Book Club main selections.

He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism in 1980 from California State University, Northridge. In 2000, CSUN honored him with its Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Michael Grobstein (’65)

Michael Grobstein is the founder (1967) and senior partner of one of the largest regional CPA firms in Los Angeles County.  The firm employs approximately 80 people.  Grobstein, Horwath & Company LLP, is a full service accounting and business consulting firm, and is a member firm of Horwath International which has over 240 affiliate offices worldwide.  An alumnus of CSUN's College of Business Administration and Economics, Grobstein received his B.S. in Business Administration in 1965.  He is very active in the community, where he supports many professional and civic organizations.  Mr. Grobstein was appointed chair of the Finance & Investment Committee from July 2002 until June 30, 2009.

Dr. Harold Hellenbrand

Dr. Harold Hellenbrand has been appointed Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs effective August 1, 2004 by President Jolene Koester. Dr. Hellenbrand brings a wide range of administrative and academic experiences to California State University, Northridge, including 18 years of experience within the CSU System.

Provost Hellenbrand served as Dean, and Professor at the College of Liberal Arts at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo from 1998-2004; as Dean, and Professor at the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, Duluth from 1994 - 1998; and as Chair, and Professor of the English Department at California State University, San Bernardino from 1982 - 1994.

His background reflects strengths in planning, K-12 linkages, retention efforts, and commitment to diversity. Dr. Hellenbrand is happy for his return to the Los Angeles area, and especially to the public urban university setting which he considers central to regional economic success and closer to major political and social currents. He is also attracted to Northridge's dedication to teacher renewal, something that is crucial to the Los Angeles area now and over the next 20 years.

As Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Hellenbrand is responsible for directing more than 2,500 faculty and staff members in the Division of Academic Affairs, the largest unit within the university with an annual budget exceeding $160 million. Dr. Hellenbrand oversees eight academic colleges; the college of extended learning; the university library; academic support units; and six central academic affairs administrative offices.

Provost Hellenbrand serves as a member of the CSU Academic Council, the President's Cabinet at CSUN, and the CSUN Foundation's Board of Directors. He also chairs the Provost's Council, and the University Planning and Budget Group (UPBG).

After earning his bachelor's degree in English and American literature from Harvard College in 1975, Provost Hellenbrand received his doctorate in modern thought and literature from Stanford University in 1980.

David S. Honda

David Honda has served as president of D.S. Honda Construction, Inc., specializing in building high-rise business and medical offices since 1980.  His designs are seen in buildings around Los Angeles including the Directors Guild of America offices and the Special Olympics Archery Range Complexes in Rancho Park and Woodley Park.  He has held leadership positions in the Valley Economic Development Center, United Chambers of Commerce, Valley Economic Alliance, Rotary Club, Rebuild LA, and the Mid Valley Chamber of Commerce and numerous other organizations.  David Honda is actively assisting with plans and fund raising efforts for the College of Health and Human Development's Adaptive Aquatic Facility, and is a Past Chair of the CSUN Foundation Board.

Dr. Jolene Koester

Dr. Jolene Koester began her appointment as the fourth president of California State University, Northridge on July 1, 2000. The Board of Trustees of the California State University (CSU) formally announced their appointment of Dr. Koester as president on November 16, 1999.

Prior to her appointment, Dr. Koester served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at California State University, Sacramento, a post she had held since 1993. Before her service as provost, she held other executive positions in the academic affairs division at Sacramento State, and was a faculty member there, as a professor of communication studies, since 1980. She earned a Bachelor's of Arts from the University of Minnesota in 1970, a Master's of Arts in communication arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1971, and a Ph.D. in speech communication from Minnesota in 1980.

As an active member of the community, Dr. Koester serves on the boards of directors for the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley, the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, and the Southern California Biomedical Council. She also is a board member of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council and the Los Angeles Jobs and Economy Committee. Known nationally for her leadership in the area of higher education, she currently is chair of the Board of Directors for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for 2008-2009, and also serves on the Board of Directors for the American Council on Education’s Commission on Women in Higher Education. For the CSU, she serves on the Systemwide Budget Advisory Committee, the Human Resources Advisory Group, the Presidents' Task Force on the Preparation of School Administrators, the Systemwide Task Force on Shared Governance, the Systemwide Admissions Advisory Council, Task Force on Excess Units, the Presidents' Council on Underserved Communities, the Housing Review Committee, and the Technology Steering Committee. Dr. Koester has been recognized for her leadership in the community with the 2004 Pioneer Woman Award for Los Angeles City Council District 12, presented by the Los Angeles Commission on the Status of Women and the Los Angeles City Council; the Armand Arabian Leaders in Public Service Award given by the Encino Chamber of Commerce in 2002; and a "Woman Who Means Business" Award given by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal, also in 2002. In 2003, Dr. Koester accepted a Star of the Valley Award from the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley on behalf of the University.

Since her arrival at the University, Dr. Koester has been committed to furthering the excellence of Cal State Northridge. Under her leadership, the University remains accessible to qualified students, maintains its historical commitment to diversity, and has achieved record levels of fundraising. The University also continues to play an indispensable role in the community and the region. At the beginning of her presidency, Dr. Koester identified several goals to serve as the focus of the campus' efforts. These include improving graduation rates, creating a user-friendly campus, strengthening the University's connections to the community, and increasing fundraising. In spring 2006, CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed and the Board of Trustees completed their second three-year performance evaluation of President Koester. The public summary concluded that Dr. Koester "continues to deliver an outstanding performance as president of a very large urban university."

Cal State Northridge is one of the largest universities in the 23-campus California State University system. Founded in 1958, the University has grown to encompass 356 acres, with more than 32,000 diverse students and nearly 4,000 employees. As a comprehensive university, Cal State Northridge offers more than 90 different degrees at the bachelor's and master's levels in more than 60 different majors. In 2008, the institution will celebrate its 50th anniversary as the only public university located in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, home to about 1.8 million residents.

Mark Lainer

Mark Lainer works in real estate development and investments and is a Director of the National Bank of California.   He recently joined the Board of Directors of the California State University Northridge Foundation.  His current community positions include:  Chair of the California State University, Northridge, Jewish Studies Program Advisory Board., Chair of the Los Angeles Bureau of Jewish Education Day School Capacity Building Project, and Chair of the Endowment Committee of United Jewish Communities (UJC) and he is a member of the boards of New Community Jewish High School,  Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School,  Heschel Day School West and American Jewish University.

Mark is a past Chair of the Los Angeles Jewish Community Foundation, past Chair of Jewish Education Service of North America (JESNA), past Chair of the L.A. Bureau of Jewish Education, and was the first Chair of the Board of the Ziegler Rabbinical School at American Jewish University.  He is a past officer and board member of the Los Angeles Jewish Federation and past chair of the Federation’s Planning & Allocations and Project Renewal Committees.  He was an officer of Temple Valley Beth Shalom, in Encino, and of the Council of Jewish Federations.  He was the founding president of the Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School in Northridge, California.

Mark served as a director of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, representing the City of Los Angeles, and was a director of the United Way, North Angeles Region.  Mark received a degree in accounting from UCLA and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Judy Landy

In March 1999, Judy Landy was appointed Alternate Secretary to the CSUN Foundation Board. Ms. Landy serves as staff to the Board and is a non-voting member.  She is the Special Projects Coordinator for University Advancement division of Donor Relations.

Albert M. ‘Al’ Lapides (M’68)

Cal State Northridge alum Albert Lapides is President of Replacement Parts Industries.  He joined the Foundation Board of Directors in 1985 and has served as secretary for several years and as vice chair of the Foundation Board.  Mr. Lapides received his M.S. in Business Administration from Cal State Northridge in 1968.  He has served on the Board of Directors of the President’s Associates since 1976 and was president in 1979.  Al has served as the chair of the CSUN Major and Planned Gifts Committee, and serves on the Board Advancement Committee.   He is also a director of Northridge Hospital Foundation and serves on other prominent boards and committees.

Philip S. ‘Phil’ Magaram (Hon.D. ’03)

Philip Magaram is attorney/principal of Valensi Rose PLC.  The Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition & Dietetics was founded in memory of Marilyn Magaram in 1991 with generous donations provided by Mr. Magaram and the Joseph Drown Foundation.  He serves on the Honorary Board of Directors of the Marilyn Magaram Center.  Mr. Magaram is a member of the Board of Directors and Secretary of the Joseph Drown Foundation.  He is a founding member of the former School of Communication, Health and Human Services Dean’s Roundtable and received the college’s James W. Cleary Award at the 1993 Commencement.  In July 2002, Mr. Magaram was appointed Chair of the CSUN Major Gifts Committee, he served as the Vice Chair of the Foundation Board from 2002 until 2006.  Mr. Magaram served as Chair of the Foundation Board from 2006 through 2009.  As the Immediate Past Chair, Mr. Magaram will serve as Chair of the Board membership committee.

Thomas McCarron

In addition to his current appointment as Vice President of Administration and Finance, Thomas McCarron heads two auxiliaries of California State University, Northridge. As Executive Director and President of The University Corporation, McCarron oversees campus commercial services, grants and contracts administration, faculty/staff housing and University licensing. As Executive Director and President of the North Campus-University Park Development Corporation, he is responsible for the prudent and integrated development of sixty-five acres of the University’s north campus.

Most recently, McCarron has spearheaded the development of several key projects at Cal State Northridge including the Sierra Center, the Arbor Court, and the Bookstore Complex Renovation. The Corporation plans to break ground on Faculty/Staff Housing in the Fall of 2008.

Prior to his appointment at Northridge, McCarron was Chief Financial Officer of the CSU Institute, an entrepreneurial auxiliary tasked with developing system-wide business opportunities and public/private partnerships for the CSU. In addition to his fifteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector, McCarron has extensive management, finance and accounting experience in the for-profit sector.

McCarron received his B.S. in Accounting from Cal State Northridge and his MBA from Pepperdine University. He is past President of the Auxiliary Organizations Association (AOA), the statewide association of all CSU auxiliaries.

Philip J. ‘Phil’ Mundy, Jr.  (’71 )

Phil Mundy has served as President of Mundy Medical Marketing Inc., specializing in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopic surgical equipment, since 1979.  He pioneered much of the high tech equipment now commonly used in Arthroscopy.  Upon graduation from CSUN with a BS in Business Administration, he started in the Pharmaceutical industry and then moved to the medical device industry where he has spent the last 33 years.  He has served on many boards in both the nonprofit and for profit industry.   Most recently he spent 6 years on the Board of Woodland Hills Country Club serving 2 years as its President. In the nineties he spent 6 years on the Board of Chaminade College Preparatory School serving 2 years as its Chairman. In the eighties he served on the Board of LifeTech Industries during the initial IPO.  Currently he is a Member of Parcus Medical LLC serving as its Vice President of Business Development and a Member of DME Therapies LLC serving as its President.  In January 2009 he accepted a position as Chair of the Los Angeles Valley College Athletic Endowment Advisory Board with a mission to support student success through athletics by raising funds and developing community relationships.

Sanford ‘Sandy’ Paris

Sandy Paris is a developer of industrial parks.  He has had a long and active relationship with the CSUN College of Business Administration and Economics that has included serving as guest lecturer for real estate classes.  He received the Community Leadership Award in 1998 from the College of Business.  Mr. Paris is involved with many non-profits, serving on the boards of the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, L.A. Headquarters Association, L.A. City Library Foundation, Valley Industry & Commerce Association, California State Bar Association, the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, the Southwestern Law School as well as the Encino Chamber of Commerce.  Paris received a B.S. in Accounting from UCLA, LL.B. from Southwestern Law School, and was named “Man of the Year” by the Anti-Defamation League in 1987.  Mr. Paris was appointed Chair of the Foundation Finance & Investment committee in June 2009.

Dr. Vance Peterson

Dr. Peterson serves as President of the CSUN Foundation.  As past president of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and former president of Sierra Nevada College, he brought an exceptional range of experience in higher education and university advancement to his appointment at California State University, Northridge in July 2007.

Dr. Peterson also serves as Vice President for University Advancement and oversees the departments of alumni relations, community relations, development, public relations and strategic communications, special events, and governmental affairs.  In addition, he directs the university’s $50 million “Imagine the Arts” fundraising campaign to support construction of the new Valley Performing Arts Center at California State University, Northridge Foundation.

In his long and distinguished career in higher education, Dr. Peterson, a Southern California native, has also held senior advancement positions at UCLA, USC and Occidental College.

His academic background includes a B.A. in English Literature from Occidental College, an M.S. in administration from The George Washington University and a Ph.D. from Stanford University in higher education administration and policy analysis.

Joy Picus

Former Los Angeles City Council member Joy Picus continues to be actively involved in the community currently serving as Chair of the Board of Friends of the (Griffith) Observatory. She chairs the University of Wisconsin Foundation’s Committee in Los Angeles, and is a member of the Board of Visitors of the College of Letters and Science of the University. She recently served as Chair of the University of Wisconsin Foundation's Women’s Philanthropy Council, and on the Foundation Board of Directors. Joy serves on the Foundation Board of the Children’s Planning Council, a public private partnership created to promote programs to improve children’s lives. She has served on the Board of the Jewish Home for the Aging, and is currently a member of the Valley Alliance of the Jewish Federation Council.  She also serves on the Board of Community Partners.  At CSUN Joy is a member of the Dean’s Circle Executive Board in the College of Arts, Media and Communication, is a member of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Dean’s Ambassadors, and recently accepted a position on the Board of the Jewish Studies Program.

Robert J. ‘Bob’ Rawitch (’67)

Robert Rawitch is a senior vice president with the Century City-based public relations consulting firm of Winner & Associates.  He was the former executive editor and editorial operations director for the Los Angeles Times Valley and Ventura Edition.  Rawitch previously served as assistant metro editor, editor of the valley section, and suburban editor of the Los Angeles Times.  Mr. Rawitch received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Cal State Northridge, and a master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University.  He lectured at Cal State Northridge from 1971 until 1983, and 2003 to present, and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Youth News Service, chairman of the California Freedom of Information Committee, president of the Board of Directors of the California First Amendment Coalition, and president of the California Society of Newspaper Editors.  His wife, Cynthia, is associate vice president for undergraduate studies at Cal State Northridge.

Todd Russell Reinstein

Todd Reinstein has been a Board Certified Specialist in Taxation Law (State Bar of California) since the inception of the program in 1973 and is currently an attorney with the law firm of Ervin, Cohen & Jessup LLP.  He is a Certified Public Accountant, and a Professor of Accounting and Information Systems, Emeritus at California State University, Northridge, and is the co-founder of the Master of Science in Taxation program.  He was a Professor at the College of Business and Economics at CSUN from 1967 until 2006, teaching courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  He has served as a board member on the Planned Giving Committee of the John Wayne Cancer Institute at St. Johns Hospital and has also served on various University and College of Business and Economics committees.  His over 40 years of legal practice has emphasized tax planning, complex business transactions, estate planning, tax controversy, probate, real estate, corporate and partnership law.  In June 2009, Mr. Reinstein was appointed Chair of the Board Development committee.

James H. Ring (’70)

James Ring is President of Ring Financial, a Santa Monica-based real estate development and management company.  Mr. Ring received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Urban Studies from Cal State Northridge.

Robin ‘Rob’ Rousselet (’79, M.’97)

Robin Rousselet, CPA, retired in 2007 from the position of Chief Financial Officer for The Voit Companies.  He was formerly controller for three subsidiaries of the Carlsberg Corporation, and a senior accountant with Deloitte and Touche.  Rousselet graduated Magna cum laude from CSUN in 1979, and received his master’s degree in Business Administration from UCLA.  He serves on the Development Committee of the Council of Business Advisors for the College of Business Administration and Economics.  Rousselet is a past Co-Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee of the CSUN Foundation Board.

Dale Surowitz

Dale Surowitz is the Chief Executive of the Providence Tarzana Medical Center.  He previously headed the North Hollywood Medical Center, and worked as an administrator for the Doctor’s Hospital of Montclair and Ontario Community Hospital.  Mr. Surowitz is an active member of the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce and the V.I.C.A.  He is also the Vice Chair of the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation.  Mr. Surowitz is a four-time winner of the Tenet-Circle of Excellence Award and in 2001 was named “Outstanding Business Person of the Year” by the Encino Chamber of Commerce.

Tammy L. Tolgo ‘02

Tammy Tolgo was elected 27th President of the Cal State Northridge Alumni Association in June 2009.

Tammy's volunteer involvement with Cal State Northridge began shortly after graduation when she joined the MBA program staff as the assistant director. Tammy volunteered her own time to support and join a group of recent MBA graduates in founding the Masters of Business Alumni Association, an alumni chapter of the CSUN Alumni Association.

Tammy began her career in college admissions. After eight years in university education, she became an Executive Recruiter with Ajilon Finance. After a successful tenure at Ajilon, Tolgo went on to lead talent acquisition for the Southern Pacific region of UBS. Her career at UBS opened doors to take on a larger territory for Morgan Stanley’s talent management and professional development team.

As a first generation college graduate with a strong understanding of the profound impact of a college education, Tolgo has always taken the time to give back to her alma maters. Tammy led the MBA Alumni Chapter as Membership Chair and Chapter President. She has organized resume workshops and speed mentoring programs for the Association and has volunteered as a resume evaluator for several of the Alumni Association Chapter events.

A recipient of a 2004 Volunteer Service Award, Tammy has served on the Alumni Association Executive Committee and the Distinguished Alumni Awards Nomination Committee.  Tammy is currently a strategic planning and business growth consultant. She and her husband Colin live in the San Fernando Valley.

Milton G.’Milt’ Valera (‘68)

Milt Valera is President and Chairman of the National Notary Association and the National Notary Group.  Since he took leadership in 1982, the Association has become the largest  and most recognized organization serving America's Notaries. Valera has played an indispensable role in professionalizing America’s Notaries, and has brought the NNA's significant influence to government and the business, legal, educational and international communities.  Among his achievements are two influential standards: The Uniform Notary Act of 1973, and its successors, the Model Notary Acts of 1984 and 2002, and The Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility, which is today considered the definitive ethical guide for Notaries in the United States. Before joining the NNA in 1969, Valera was successful in newspapers, marketing and public relations. He attended Los Angeles City College and California State University Northridge (’68), where he earned a BA Degree in Journalism. Valera is an active CSUN alumnus and board member at the Journalism Alumni Association, the Alumni Association, the Dean's Circle, the President's Associates, and the Imagine the Arts Campaign Development Committee for the University's new Performing Arts Center project.  He also serves on several corporate boards. 

Melanie S. Williams

Melanie Stallings Williams is an attorney and business law professor at CSUN.  She received her B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz and her J.D. from Boston University School of Law.  She is the Chair & Professor of Business Law at California State University, Northridge, where she has served as the Graduate Director of the College of Business & Economics. She has taught business law in the college at the undergraduate and graduate levels and in the university’s Knowledge Management program. She has also worked in employee training for government agencies and firms. Her law practice has focused on business litigation, including intellectual property, employment law and administrative law.  She has published in the area of antitrust law, pedagogy, corporate governance and ethics. 

She is a member and past president of the Pacific Southwest Academy of Legal Studies in Business, member and past delegate, Academy of Legal Studies in Business. She has served on a variety of university and business boards and committees and is a volunteer for CASA and Maryvale.