Marilyn Appleby
Chairman
Marilyn Appleby is a principal architect at Anderson Kulwiec Appleby Architects (AKA). With a back-ground in design and publishing, Marilyn worked in the Washington DC area prior to earning a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Maryland. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Utah. She is a member of the Santa Paula Rotary Club, and Girl Scout Leader, former Santa Paula Planning Commissioner, former AIA Board Member, and is certified as a Cal EMA Safety Assessor.
Zahid Shah
Immediate Past Chair
Zahid Shah is the President of United Shah Corporation, a land development, and automotive services company. He serves on the Workforce Investment Board and the Citizen Transportation Board Advisory Board of Ventura County. Mr. Shah was President of the Board of the Briggs School District and chairman commission on human concern ventura county. He graduated from Punjab University and City college of New York
Al Guilin
Chair Elect
Al Guilin owns AG consultants which provide consulting services to the Agricultural industry. He received his BS degree from California Polytechnic University and worked for Limoneira Company for a number of years and retired as a Company Vice President.
Mr. Guilin is the published author of “The Lemon Thorn”, Sweet Lemons and “The Short Handle Hoe”. His latest book, “Conflict Lemons” was published in late summer 2014. He is also an Ordained Deacon in the Catholic Church and is very involved in the Santa Paula Community.
John Chamberlain
Board Member
John Chamberlain is the Director of Marketing for Limoneira Company, a global agribusiness company with major real estate development projects. John has 25+ years marketing, brand development and communications experience with global multinationals; he lived and worked in Europe for 8 years – provided marketing solutions for clients in Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia, Asia and Latin America.
Jack Pitluk
Secretary/CEO
A native of San Antonio Texas, Jack graduated from Menlo College’s School of Business in Menlo Park, CA and, later, while working for Ford Motor Company, performed graduate MBA studies at Pepperdine and the University of Virginia. Jack joined Ford Motor Company’s satellite and defense business initially and lived in Palo Alto, Colorado Springs, Washington DC, and Detroit. Later Jack joined Ford’s automotive business in Detroit where he gained experiences in managing change, growth, and helping solve some of the challenges of customers, and small business owners across the United States. During his time with Ford, Jack held a number of positions with the Ford Finance and Operations teams eventually becoming the Sales and Marketing Controller for the Ford Customer Service Division.
After a brief venture to start a new automotive import company, Jack came to Santa Paula in 2010 to assist at a friend’s silicone manufacturing business, Applied Silicone Corporation, and soon agreed to move permanently to Santa Paula. Jack is responsible for Finance and Administrative activities along with Business Development and Community Relations for Applied Silicone.
Jose Luiz Melgar
Board Member
Jose Luiz Melgar owns the successful Melgar Photo Studio and Palazzio Event Center. A resident of Santa Paula for 24 years, he is active in the community and is a member of Business Network International and Latino Town Hall.
Mark Rasmussen
Board Member
Mark Rasmussen is the CEO of No Cover magazine which features up and coming artists from all over the US. Mark is a well known event planner in Ventura County and is responsible for events such as the Ventura County Music Awards as well as the Annual Core Pour event in November right here in Santa Paula. Mark lives in Santa Paula with his family.
Don Tello
Board Member
Don Tello, Division President of Santa Paula Community Bank, brings a broad knowledge of banking, with expertise in business and consumer banking since 1985.
He has spent the last 12 years with Santa Barbara Bank & Trust where he served as Vice President, Manager and Relationship Manager and managed a portfolio of consumer and business relationships.
Tello is a Fillmore High School business advisory member, a past president of the Santa Clara Valley Boys & Girls Club and past advisory board member of Women’s Economic Ventures of Ventura County. He has been a Rotarian since 1993.
Tracy Grove
Board Member
Tracy Grove is an Assistant Vice President, Operations Manager with Bank of the Sierra, with over 20 years’ experience in Community Banking. Tracy manages the day to day operations of the Bank, focusing on customer service with consumer and business relationships. Prior to joining Bank of the Sierra she served as Operations Manager with Santa Clara Valley Bank for 13 years. Tracy maintains active involvement in several community service organizations. Currently, she serves as a member of Rotary International of Santa Paula, and is a past board member of Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley. You can contact Tracy at tgrove@bankofthesierra.com or 805-525-1999 x5010
Clayton Strahan
Board Member
Clayton Strahan is the Senior Park Service Officer at the Lake Piru Recreation Area for United Water Conservation District. He received his Bachelors of Science in Recreation & Leisure Service from California State University Fresno and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration as well. Since 2008 he has proudly served the communities of Eastern Ventura County at Lake Piru and worked to ensure that the residents of Piru, Fillmore, Santa Paula and other County communities have safe and enjoyable experiences at Lake Piru. Clayton has extensive knowledge in event planning, government affairs and public outreach. He was recognized in 2006 by the California State Assembly for his efforts in developing an afterschool recreation program for at risk youth in the struggling Eastern Kern County Community of Mojave, California. Clayton believes that communities are enhanced through the development of our youth and strives to provide youth with experiences that will give them a sense of value and belonging.
Sheila Murphy
Board Member
Sheila Murphy is the Public Information Officer for The Ventura County Health Care Agency, a regional network of over 60 community-based service locations throughout the County. Through this network, the Agency provides comprehensive care encompassing education, prevention, primary care, specialty, mental health, alcohol and drug, chronic disease management, emergency and acute services. These sites include the “Medical Home” model that ensures care is coordinated across a system of care.
Ned Branch
Board Member
Ned Branch is the Director of the Blanchard Community Library. Previously, he worked in private post-secondary education for 27 years, having been affiliated with the institutions in Northern and Southern California and Oregon. During that time, he also frequently served as a member of accreditation review teams and worked extensively with state education agencies. During the most recent school year, he initiated a partnership amont the local school district, First Five of California, and the library to provide daytime ESL classes for parents and preschool instruction for children while the parents were in class. The district, First Five, and the library recently agreed to continue the program in the 2017-2018 school year.
Jesse Cortez
Board Member
Jesse Cortez is the owner of 949 The Cut, Cor Plumbing, and IXIVIX Records.