The Marina Foundation Board of Directors

The Marina Foundation's twelve-member Board of Directors are long-standing advocates for the Marina community. The all-volunteer board supports events and organizations that improve the quality of life in Marina and provide services that enrich the lives of so many by assisting both financially and with their expertise in problem solving.

Taken at The Marina Foundation Board of Directors' Annual Retreat 2020. Pictured (Left to right): Dorothy Emerson, Steve Emerson, Susan Boettner, Cody Kievlan, Nancy Fortman, Don Livermore, Jeanne Nakagawa, Mike Mast, Carl Faria, Mary Estrada, Linda Wight, Dusan Tatomirov.

President
Steve Emerson

Vice President
Linda Wight

Vice President, Operations
Dorothy Emerson

Secretary
Nancy Fortman

Treasurer
Cody Kievlan

Board Members
Don Livermore
Jeanne Nakagawa
Carl Faria
Mike Mast
Mary Estrada
Susan Boettner
Dusan Tatomirovic
 

The Marina Foundation Founding Benefactors
Marshall and Joan Reeves
Inez Lockwood
Gordon and Jeanne Nakagawa
Don Livermore
Edith Johnsen
Steve and Dorothy Emerson

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Biographies in Alphabetical Order:

Susan Boettner

Susan Boettner owns and is the principal designer for Stensland Design and is the creative director for Ganna Walska Lotusland, a world-renown botanical garden. She has served public, private, and government clients since 1996. Susan has consulted over 40 nonprofit organizations, helping raise more than $48 million for capital campaigns and over $22 million in fundraising event revenue with award-winning campaign and event support communications. She is an expert in graphic design, layout, typography, printing, mailing, email and social platforms, website and digital campaign design, presentations, photo editing, illustration, branding and identity, fundraising campaigns, and event communications. Her invitation packages and annual reports have been featured five times among national design submissions at FoldFactory.com. Susan designed the City of Marina logo and brand identity guidelines in 2008. She served as a Marina economic development commissioner from 2007-2013, including a year as the chair. She was vice president and a board member of the Marina Chamber of Commerce and co-chaired the International Flavors of Marina event for five years. Susan also served as decor chair on the California State University at Monterey Bay’s Have a Heart gala committee.

Dorothy Emerson

Dorothy was born in San Francisco and lived in Chicago and in Philadelphia prior to moving to Los Angeles with her family at the age of 8. Dorothy is a graduate of Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, with a BA in foreign languages. She is also a graduate of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey with an MBA in international management. Dorothy has resided in Monterey since 1981 where she raised her two sons, Max, and Daniel. In 1997, she married Steve. They became business partners in 2004 with the opening of offices in Monterey for First Pacific Financial Services. Dorothy also has her own creative design business, Daisigns, specializing in floral-inspired fabrics and gift cards.

Dorothy is a founding benefactor of The Marina Foundation and has served as Treasurer since its inception up to 2020. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors as Vice President, Operations. Prior to the founding of The Marina Foundation, Dorothy served as Treasurer of the Marina International Festival of the Winds. Dorothy has taken an active role in the schools in the Marina community, serving on School Site Councils at the middle school and high school levels. She was also a member of the District Budget Advisory Committee (DBAC) and the Citizens Oversight Bond Committee for the Monterey Peninsula School District (MPUSD) for many years and is currently on the Marina High School Curriculum Design Team.

Dorothy and Steve co-chaired the effort to pass a local bond measure for the Marina Larger Library and served on its Board of Directors. Dorothy and Steve were named Marina's Citizens of the Year in 2002 and were recognized for their contributions to the Library on National Philanthropy Day in 2004.

Steve Emerson

Steve was born in Oklahoma, grew up in the Chicago area, and attended schools in Durango, Colorado, and Santa Barbara, California. Steve earned a degree in business economics. He spent almost 20 years in the advertising and broadcast industries in Southern California before moving to the Monterey area in 1996. Here, he met his wife, Dorothy, and his two stepsons, Max and Daniel.

Steve opened First Pacific Financial Services in Monterey (now in Marina) in 2004 after working with both Morgan Stanley and Charles Schwab. Today, he specializes in fee-based asset management and retirement services for individuals, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Steve is an Investment Adviser Representative of the Commonwealth Financial Network.

Steve is a founding benefactor and president of The Marina Foundation, serves as president of the National Steinbeck Center, a board member and treasurer of the United Way for Monterey County, and chairman of the United Way Finance Committee. He has served as president of the Marina Chamber of Commerce three times, served on the Marina Economic Development Commission (2006-2020), the Board of Directors of the Marina Police Activities League (PAL) (2018-2021), and was a co-creator and chairman of the Marina International Festival of the Winds.

Steve and his wife, Dorothy, co-chaired the effort to pass a local bond measure for the Marina Larger Library and served on its board of directors. Steve and Dorothy were named Marina's Citizens of the Year in 2002 and were recognized for their contributions to the Library on National Philanthropy Day in 2004.

Mary Estrada

Mary Estrada was raised in a small farm community in southwestern Nebraska. Upon High School graduation she joined the Navy.  Her duty stations were NATTC, Orlando; NTC, Lakehurst N.J.; NAS Guantanamo Bay and Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC), Monterey, CA. Her specialty field was Meteorology (observation (surface and upper air) and forecasting) as well as Information Technology (IT).  After leaving the Navy, she attended Monterey Peninsula College receiving an IT Degree while working as a computer programmer with a local defense contractor.  Mary joined federal service in 1983 as an IT Specialist at FNMOC where she managed Department of Defense aeronautical databases and their related software components. During her 30-year career, she managed personnel at Team, Division and Department levels having responsibility for the support of various services providing operational support for DoD and Governmental organizations. Mary retired in 2010 as Deputy Operations Officer.

During her career she was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Riders and Legion serving in various positions at the Post, District, Area and Department level and continues to serve at the district level.  She focused on educational programs and chaplain services for area veterans. After retirement she continued her service to area veterans on the following county organizations:  United Veterans Council of Monterey County (UVC); Military & Veterans Affairs Advisory Commission (M&VAAC); Veterans Issues Advisory Committee (VIAC).

Mary joined The Marina Foundation in 2014 and currently serves as the Veterans Committee Chair.  She represents the foundation on the UVC keeping abreast of activities that are important to Marina veterans.

Carl Faria

 

Carl was born in Azores, Portugal in 1951, and immigrated with his family to U.S. in 1959. He attended schools in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties and graduated high school in Watsonville 1970.

Carl worked in the grocery industry until entering seminary college in 1982. He received a master’s degree in 1984 in religious studies, and his M.Div. degree in religious studies in 1988. Carl worked in local churches as well as hospital chaplaincy from 1988 to 2003, and as an Archivist for church until his retirement in 2021.

 

Carl currently serves on five nonprofit boards:  The Marina Foundation, Marina Rotary Club Foundation, H.E.R.O.E.S. of Monterey County, Knights of the Rose and Honorable Order of St. Michael the Archangel.

He has served 23 years as police and fire chaplain for Monterey County.

 

Nancy Fortman

Nancy was born in Chicago and raised in Morton Grove, Illinois. She came to CA in 1976 completing her MS Ed with an internship in Outdoor Education at Big Basin State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains. She went on to receive a Certificate in Computer Education from UC Berkeley. She spent 43 years as an educator, teaching math science and technology to middle schoolers in independent schools in Carmel, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Atherton. In 1989 she bought a home in Marina. Since retiring, Nancy has served on the Friends of Marina Library board and volunteers at the Friend’s Community Bookstore. She is very active in volunteer work at her church, serving on the Finance Council, St. Vincent de Paul Foodbank and Eucharistic Minister.  She has been an associate with the Adrian Dominican Sisters since 1991. Marshaling at golf tournaments in Pebble Beach, for over 20 years is a favorite pastime. Nancy is currently serving as Secretary for The Marina Foundation.

Cody Kievlan

Cody graduated from Marina High School in 2011 and received the Don Livermore Scholarship for Marina High School the second year of its inception. Cody graduated from California State University, Monterey Bay in 2014 Cum Laude, with a BS, Business Administration, Accounting. He has worked for Driscoll’s in Watsonville and Redding, California as a Financial Analyst for Nursery Operations, and Dole Fresh Vegetables in Salinas, California as a Senior Financial Analyst managing operation reporting. Cody is currently employed by Armanino, LLP in Austin, Texas where he began as a Senior Consultant for Dynamics 365, and is currently Manager, Consulting, implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations for Mid to Large companies. Cody joined The Marina Foundation in April of 2013 as a Director and is currently the Treasurer and Finance Chair.

Don Livermore

Don worked as an educator in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District for 38 years as a K-12 teacher, librarian and administrator mostly in Marina schools. He also provided courses for several universities, was a technology mentor, a music-art specialist,  served on the State Social Science Adoption Committee, coordinated a Federal K-6 Career Education grant, was selected as The Teacher in marine Science for the County of Monterey, ran a very successful 4th Grade Local History Contest (10 years), authored a number of activity books, envisioned Marina’s Festival of the Winds, served 30 years as an officer on PTSA boards  (4 years as President), and was a frequent presenter at various conferences. He taught 19 years all grades K-6, served 16 years as a K-8 Library Media Specialist and 2 years opening the new Marina High School as Principal. Upon his retirement in 2009, money was donated in his honor for scholarships for Marina High School Seniors. This money provided the seed money for the establishment of The Marina Foundation.  Don holds a BS from Chico State University, Elementary and Secondary Teaching/ Administrative Credentials for the State of California, and a Master of Arts in Library Media Science from San Jose State University. 

Don was one of the founding members of The Marina Foundation. He is currently a director and the Foundation’s scholarship committee chair. The current library at Marina High School was dedicated in his name.

Mike Mast

Mike Mast grew up as an Army Brat and moved to Marina and the Monterey Peninsula permanently in 1970. After graduating from San Jose State University in 1975 he went to work as a State Farm Agent in Marina. Mike has been providing outstanding insurance services to the Monterey Peninsula area since 1975, offering Car insurance, Homeowners insurance, Renters insurance, Condominium Unit Owner insurance, Commercial insurance, Small Business insurance and Life insurance products.

Mike lives in Monterey with his wife Tammy. They have two children. His current volunteerism includes Marina High School Softball Head Coach; Marina Rotary Club Charter Member 1979; The Marina Foundation, Director; and CSUMB and MPC Athletics Supporter.

Jeanne Nakagawa

Jeanne was born and raised in Lincoln, California, and graduated from Sierra College. Jeanne married Gordon, a Naval Aviator that served in the Navy for 32 years.  His last assignment was at the Naval Postgraduate School.

She and her late husband were charter members of The Marina Foundation. As a founding benefactor of The Marina Foundation, Jeanne has served as a volunteer Board member since its inception in 2009. Jeanne also serves on other Boards and assists with community programs, including Marina Youth Arts, Marina In Motion, the American Legion Auxiliary Monterey Cypress Unit 694, the Military Officers Association, the Naval Postgraduate School Wives Club the Japanese American Citizens League, and until recently the Breakfast Program at the Marina Teen Center, which was discontinued due to the COVID19. Jeanne is also an Honorary Member of Marina Rotary and has earned some noteworthy honors including the Marina Chamber of Commerce 2006 Marina Woman of the Year, the 2013 United Way Community Service Award, and the 2014 American Legion Auxiliary Unit Member of the Year. Jeanne is the widow of Captain Gordon Ross Nakagawa, USN (ret) a career naval officer, the mother of Greg, living in Puerto Rico, Kathy, living in Los Angeles and a professor at USC, Steve, living in Florida, and grandmother to Ryan, Graham, and Tait. Jeanne has lived in Marina, CA since 1990. The gym at Marina High School was dedicated in their name.

Dusan Tatomirovic

Dusan Tatomirovic considers himself to be a very lucky person who has managed to live his love of moving images and technology. As a successful artist, journalist, broadcaster, producer, engineer and manager, during the past four decades, Dusan was able to create for the Department of Defense, the Department of State, international organizations like UNICEF and CARE, major television networks like PBS, NBC, BBC, CBS, humanitarian organizations like the Will Rogers Institute, as well as numerous European media companies. In addition to designing and building the very first commercial ISP in SE Europe, back in early 1993 just as the modern web appeared, Dusan also managed the largest film studio and one of the television networks in former Yugoslavia. With production experience spanning both U.S. coasts and multiple overseas countries, Dusan enables easier understanding of diverse cultures, needs and interests. Demanding and pragmatic, yet collaborative, Dusan fosters team dialog as a mutually stimulating environment which breeds creativity. Dusan Tatomirovic is married and happily resides in Marina, California, where he participates in the life of the city as a Board member for The Marina Foundation. Also, Dusan is the Chairman of the Board of the Monterey County public access station Access Media Productions (AMP), staff officer with USCG Auxiliary Flotilla Monterey, a nascent ham operator, and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). His documentary and feature film interests are now focused towards the SEEfest, an annual film festival held in Los Angeles, which promotes short and long form films from eighteen Balkan countries. In addition to participating in long conversations with his tuxedo cat Sylvester, Dusan enjoys walks on the beach and around town.

Linda A. Wight

Linda Wight is originally from Baltimore, Maryland, a graduate of Towson University in Baltimore, with a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, History, and a minor in Education.  She graduated with a master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Development from Chapman College in Orange, CA.   Linda moved to the Monterey Peninsula in 1988 and has been a Marina resident since 1994.

Linda has spent most of her career working with institutions of higher education in the field of Human Resources.  She joined California State University Monterey Bay’s (CSUMB) Office of Planning and Development in 1994, as part of the team dedicated to creating one of the first base conversion projects for the former Ft. Ord.  She retired in October 2011 as the Associate Vice President of Human Resources at CSUMB.     

Currently, Linda volunteers as a Board member and Vice President for The Marina Foundation and as the President of the Northwest Regional Board of Canine Companions for Independence.  She has been a member of Marina Rotary and served as a founding board member for Papillon, Center for Loss and Transition, a 501(c)3 providing bereavement services free of charge to local adults, children, and teenagers.   

Linda and her husband, Randy, enjoy traveling to visit their three grandchildren, theatre, and wine tasting, as well as making sure that Randy’s service dog, Neo, is exercised on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula on a regular basis.