CSUCI Foundation

Ventura County Office of Education Board Member  

Dr. Mark Lisagor received both his Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health and his degree in Dentistry, at UCLA. Following service in the United States Public Health Service (Indian Health Branch), he completed his residency training in Pediatric Dentistry at UCLA-Harbor General Hospital. Now retired, Dr. Lisagor, a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, was the founding partner of a large pediatric dental group practice serving Ventura County since 1977. A frequent volunteer in third world countries, including Vietnam, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Bhutan, Jordan, India, and Nepal, Dr. Lisagor leads four volunteer teams each year. To date he has led more than sixty teams and been a volunteer on many more.

Vice President, Branch Manager Montecito Bank & Trust  

Armando Casillas is the Vice President and Branch Manager at Montecito Bank & Trust in Oxnard. He has over 23 years of leadership experience in the financial sector. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from The University of La Verne. In addition, he has been Vice President of Kids 2 Kids since 2015 and is an Executive Board Member and Vice President for the Boys and Girls Club of Ventura.

President, Meissner Filtration Products, Inc.  

Mr. Meissner was born and raised in Southern California. He attended Santa Clara University in Northern California, and graduated with his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering. In 1989 he established Meissner Filtration Products, Inc., which develops, manufactures, supplies and services advanced microfiltration products and single-use systems worldwide. Mr. Meissner has been a part of numerous local organization’s boards and committees. The Meissner family resides in Camarillo where Mr. Meissner enjoys giving back to his community.

Tech Executive, Former CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA

President and CEO, Ventura County Community Foundation

Vanessa Bechtel currently serves as President and CEO of the Ventura County Community Foundation, where she has helped lead more than $160 million in grants supporting key community priorities. She has been widely recognized for her leadership, receiving an honorary doctorate from CSU Channel Islands in 2024, the Trailblazer Award from Women’s Economic Ventures in 2023, and multiple other regional honors. Bechtel previously served as executive director of the Santa Barbara City College Foundation and co‑founded Monarch Wealth Strategies. She holds a degree in Law and Society from UC Santa Barbara, a master’s degree from USC’s Marshall School of Business, and a master’s certificate from the International Institute for the Sociology of Law in Spain.

Mrs. Broome is a long-time friend and neighbor to CSU Channel Islands. The John Spoor Broome Library is named in her father-in-law’s namesake. She has served on the planning committee for the President’s Dinner for several years. Cheryl is a steadfast supporter of higher education. She has learned about and supported the community’s goals to provide local students with an accessible four-year college experience.

Partner Cohen, Begun and Deck, LLP  

Mr. Cohen is an attorney with specialty in land use and real estate since 1972. Arbitration of real estate matters through the American Arbitration Association. Land development and land use law representing public and private entities in the development of commercial, residential, industrial and institutional projects in numerous southern California cities and counties. Served as city Planning Commissioner, Councilman, and Mayor Thousand Oaks CA. Served on the Water Bond Committee, which brought Metropolitan Water to the Conejo Valley leading to incorporation of the City of Thousand Oaks. Highly involved citizen on several boards and non-profits in Ventura County and is known for counsel and facilitation.

General Counsel CheckAlt  

Kevin Cruz graduated from CSUCI in 2008 and has two decades of experience working in large financial institutions including Bank of America, PennyMac, MUFG Union Bank, and Logix Federal Credit Union. He currently works as General Counsel at CheckAlt, a small FinTech Payments vendor, and supports hundreds of banks, credit unions, insurance companies, and property managers. He oversees the CheckAlt legal team and provides legal guidance to all areas of the business.

Former Owner of Mandalay Berry Farms  

Ms. Dullam is a longtime member of the Ventura County agriculture community. She is an active volunteer in the community. She serves on the Camarillo Hospice board and is a former board member of the California Strawberry Festival and FOODShare of Ventura County.

Joint Owner, Grether Farming Company  

Betsy Grether is a business woman in agriculture and a trained landscape architect. She holds bachelor’s degrees from USC in Art History and Cal Poly in Landscape Architecture. She has served in various capacities with non-profit organizations such as St. Johns Healthcare Foundation and The Thacher School in Ojai, among others. Betsy is the daughter of John Spoor Broome, the benefactor for the University’s Library.

Senior Partner, Farr Johnen & Associates and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

Jonathan specializing in life, disability, and long-term care insurance. He holds a degree in Business Economics from UC Santa Barbara and serves clients across Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. As a true broker, he matches individuals and business owners with tailored insurance solutions that support long-term financial security. Jonathan has been deeply involved with the University’s Planned Giving Advisory Council and is inspired by its commitment to diversity and opportunity. His passion for mentorship, shaped by his own experiences, led to his support of the Peer Mentorship Ambassador Program, which empowers both students and mentors to grow as leaders. As a Foundation Board member, he is dedicated to advancing impactful programs like this. He lived in Camarillo with his wife Kristy and their three children, and enjoys running, surfing, and family time.

Retired CFO Resonant Inc.  

Martin “Marty” McDermut, with more than 30 years of broad financial leadership, has a strong track record in strategic and financial planning, business development, mergers and acquisitions, and public equity markets for technology companies. Most recently Marty was the Chief Financial Officer of Resonant Inc., an industry leader in RF Front End design, from 2018-March 2022. McDermut holds a BA in economics from the University of Southern California and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Chief Supply Chain Officer, Deckers Outdoor Corporation  

Angela Salanoa Ogbechie is a highly experienced professional in the field of supply chain management and operations. Currently holding the position of Chief Supply Chain Officer at Deckers Brands, Angela has held various senior leadership roles within the company since June 2008. Prior to her current role, Angela was a consultant. She holds a BA in Economics from Stanford University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Columbia Business School. A graduate of Hueneme High School, Angela was born in Ventura County and raised in Oxnard. She continues to reside locally with her husband, five children, and extended family.

President/CEO of Premier America Credit Union  

Rudy Pereira is the President/CEO of Premier America Credit Union. Previously, he served as President/CEO at Royal Credit Union in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and served as Senior Vice President of Operations and Technology at Alliant Credit Union in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to his career in financial services, he worked at Hughes Aircraft and Hewlett-Packard.Pereira received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from California State University, Northridge; Master of Business Administration at Norwich University; HonoraryAlumnus University Wisconsin, Eau Claire and he has a Black Belt in Six Sigma from MotorolaUniversity.

Faculty Representative (coming soon)  

President, bkm office environments

Charles Schwab Corporation  

Student Representative (coming soon)

Government Relations Manager, Southern California Edison

Retired, C.O.O.Deckers Outdoor Corporation