BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Don Hodges, La Jolla Community Center board of director delivers speech at the 10th Anniversary celebration
Don Hodges, La Jolla Community Center board of director delivers speech at the 10th Anniversary celebration
Glen Rasmussen
Chairman
Glen is a native San Diegan who has lived in La Jolla near the community center for 40 years. He is a practicing attorney with a focus on property law, contracts and litigation and received his law degree from California Western School of Law in 1984. Glenn joined the board in 2007 and is one of the founding members. He was instrumental in assisting La Jolla Community Center obtain its nonprofit status and secure funding from individuals and community organizations in 2008 in support of revitalizing the center. Glen’s vision was that for the building to become a viable and well managed community center through building renovation and an efficient management structure. In part due to his tenacity and belief in that possibility, the new Center took form and became synonymous with community service—addressing the needs of individuals of all ages with its programs and services. Glen’s philosophy is that the community center be a place where all individuals feel welcomed and accepted, where discrimination based on age is abandoned, and a place where members and visitors can find fun, inspiration, and peace in their lives.
Ruth Yansick
Chief Executive Officer
Ruth is a retired entrepreneur and successful business-woman. She has worked with venture capitalists doing mergers and acquisitions with such clients as Oracle and Microsoft. Previously, Ruth was in education and taught everything from kindergarten to graduate school. She holds a Master’s Degree in media communications.
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Ruth has been a La Jolla Community Center board member since 2009. Although volunteerism has always been an important part of her life, her philosophy of service over self was developed during her years as a member of the La Jolla Rotary Club and with the La Jolla Town Council. As CEO, Ruth uses her entrepreneurial and fundraising initiatives to actualize the vision for the center through aiding in the completion of major renovations. She immerses herself in all facets of the organization and utilizes her marketing and business savvy to advance the organization. She works tirelessly to make the center a better place for adults of all ages to engage in lifelong learning, friendship and wellness.
Donald C. Hodges
Second VP
Don was a principal with Hodges & Hodges Architects in La Jolla for 26 years and joined the board in 2010 as chair of the Facilities Committee. In this position, he provides assess-ments related to the current and future energy requirements and building renovation projects. Don provided oversight of the Center’s 2010 building renovation, its LED (lighting) retrofit, and is assessing additional upgrade options such as solar energy and roofing improvements. Don is a past president and a current member of the Kiwanis Club of La Jolla and chairman of the Foundation Board Scholarship Committee and the annual Hope of America program. Don received a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from MIT and is a member of the American Institute of Architects. Don served as a Peace Corps volunteer with his wife Lucy in Tunisia after college. He enjoys tennis, kayaking, sailing, playing guitar, gardening, painting and woodworking.
Dottie Stanley
Board Member
Dottie Stanley is a vice president/financial advisor with a major investment bank in La Jolla and a registered financial advisor since 1989. She received her B.S. degree from Rutgers University. Dottie was recognized as the Best Financial Advisor for several consecutive years in readers’ polls in both the La Jolla Light and the La Jolla Village News. Dottie has served on the board of numerous professional and nonprofit institutions including as board member of the YWCA in San Diego; founder and past president of Allied Artists Association of San Diego; co-founder and past president of the La Jolla Charter Chapter of American Business Women’s Association and past president of the Executive Women’s Council of the University Club. She is a current board member of Charter 100 and was the past president of Patrons of the Prado and a past recipient of the Living Legacy award from the International Women’s Center of San Diego. Dottie is an accomplished artist and is a Fellow of the American Artists Professional League. Dottie manages the art exhibits and has taught numerous canvas painting classes at the Center. She joined the board in 2010.
James Poirier
Board Member
James "Jim" Poirier received his chemistry degree as a member of the first graduating class at UCSD’s Revelle’s College in 1968 and studied science at the Max Planck Institute in Berlin for a year. For 25 years, he taught high school chemistry at La Jolla High School before retiring in 2003. He was hired by the College Board to train Advanced Placement Chemistry teachers in the US West Coast. For the last several years, he has been a tax preparer with a growing number of clients. Jim was a former president of the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary in 2005. He joined the board in 2012 and is also active in the La Jolla Community with such organizations as the La Jolla Presbyterian Church. He is an avid swimmer and swims the Cove four times a week with a group called “the Dawn Patrol.”
Ann Kerr Bache
Board Member
Denise Casey
Board Member
Denise Casey brings energy, enthusiasm and a wealth of experience to her position as a new board member. She has a Ph.D. in Communications and specializes in Public Relations and Strategic Communications in business and the professions. Casey is an Adjunct Professor at several different universities including SUNY Oswego, Appalachian State University and the University of Florida. In addition to teaching and training, she is a Conservation Ambassador at the San Diego Zoo. In her spare time, she enjoys participating in programs at the Center and is pleased that her board service will provide her with an opportunity to give back.
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Jim Thimmes
Board Member
Jim Thimmes is a seasoned professional salesperson and the current national brand manager for an international company
with more than 100 locations. In that position, he secures brand approval for order confirmation systems (drive-through kiosks, digital menu boards, etc.) used by such well-known brands as Starbuck’s, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, and others. Jim is an expert in brand awareness and looks forward to contributing his skills and abilities to forward the brand of the La Jolla Community Center. He is a resident of La Jolla and has been a member of the Center for the past five years. Jim enjoys yoga classes, attending events, and working on projects at the center. He holds a degree in Business Administration and Marketing.
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George Coles
Board Member
George Coles served as president of Coles Fine Flooring family business for 45 years until his retirement in 2013—helping to grow the business from 4 to 100 plus employees, now with 7 locations in San Diego. During his capacity as president, the company received several first and second place awards by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in the category of 100-150 employees. He also served as a member of the board for the BBB for 12 years. In addition, he was a member of the Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) organization for 15 years; served as chairman for 5 years; and received a CALA award for his dedicated service in 2009. For more than 16 years, he also served as a trustee for the San Diego Humane Society, and enjoyed assisting this nonprofit—a position that also exemplified his love for dogs and cats. Coles received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Santa Clara University. He is a long-time La Jolla resident where he lives with his wife and companion, his White Labrador. His hobbies include traveling with his family and ocean swimming.
Marilyn Adler Lindberg
Board Member
Marilyn is an award-winning marketer, strategic planner, lecturer, teacher and entrepreneur. Her impressive background includes lecturing on communication and entrepreneurship for Queens College in New York City and UCSD Rady School of Business. Her company Creative Targets, Inc. in New York City won awards for creating and implementing marketing, branding and sales strategies for more than 50 Fortune-500 companies. Apple, IBM, General Motors, Microsoft, Time Warner., AT&T, Paramount,The Association of Publishers, MTV, American Express, and Citibank were among her clients.
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Marilyn’s passion is assisting nonprofit organizations. She launched unique cause-oriented marketing campaigns that resulted in corporate funding for these organizations. The campaigns created significant educational programs on campuses and schools nationwide. In San Diego, she inspired Well Lean Foods, Inc. Marilyn is on the board of the San Diego Youth Symphony and inspired CHIMES, their children’s preschool project. Recently her STOP the Spread of COVID-19 awareness campaign was implemented with the Union Tribune and Fox News. In New York, Marilyn established the rockers2read literacy project and was also a writer. She wrote the McGraw Hill Off to College e-book. published The Sun Worshipers Bible, Partying Magazine, Key to Success Tabloid and others. Marilyn produced corporate videos for her Fortune 500 clients and nonprofits.
Marilyn received her degree in Speech and Hearing Therapy, Special Education and Perceptual Training from Ohio State University. A Teaching Fellowship in communications was her Masters work at the City University of New York She is a grateful wife, proud mother, grandmother, family member and community supporter. She currently resides in La Jolla and has a home in New York City.
Symphony Moussighi
Board Member
Symphony Moussighi, a successful business owner with experience in fundraising, team leadership, event planning and volunteerism joined the board of the La Jolla Community Center on October 3.
Moussighi is the CEO and founder of a successful San Diego women-owned International commercial textile product design and related product import company. She brings extensive experience in fundraising, team leadership, event planning, and volunteering to the Community Center and holds a degree in International Business. Previously, she was president of the Community Association and the parent-teacher association at the San Diego French American School. In these positions, she created new bylaws for the board and developed a successful volunteer program. She also donated and created fundraising efforts for the Association.
Moussighi sponsored and was an instructor for the refugee programs in the San Diego Jewish Community Center. Volunteering has always been an important part of her life. “Being able to say I changed something positive in the world and inspiring the lives of others gives meaning to my being here beyond simply looking after myself,” she explains, adding that she has volunteered in many capacities, with children, seniors, community associations, and fundraisers.