Board of Directors

Beryl Kreisel, President Beryl Kreisel is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in Santa Barbara, CA. She holds an MSW from New York University, an MA in History from Columbia University and a BS from Boston University. Prior to working in the field of social work Ms. Kreisel worked at both WNBC and CBS News where she was a Producer and the Network Planning Editor. Beryl has been married for 42 years, has two sons, two daughters-in-law, three granddaughters and two Weimeraners.

 

RonPulice, Vice President He was CEO and Chairman of Pulice Construction, Inc. from 1986 – 2006. He was a member of the Board of Associated General Contractors of America from 1980 – 1990, and served as its President in 1986 and 1989. While living in Arizona, he was a Board Member of the Phoenix Economic Growth Council from 1988 – 1992, and helped establish trade missions in both Japan and China. After settling in Santa Barbara, Ron became involved in OPUS Archives and Research Center and served as Chairman of the Board from 2006 – 2009, and the Board of Multimedia Arts and Design Academy (MAD Academy) at Santa Barbara High School. Ron Pulice attended the University of Arizona; he graduated in 1971 with a B.A. in Economics, and received his M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in 1993.

Jennifer Freed, Co-founder/Co-director For more than 25 years, Jennifer Freed, Ph.D., has been a licensed marriage and family counselor, group psychotherapist and educator. She was the clinical director at Pacifica Graduate Institute, one of the country’s leading centers for depth psychology, where she continues to serve as a professor and workshop leader. Dr. Freed is a recognized expert on matters such as teen bullying, character development, marriage and family relationships, and diversity appreciation. She has provided thousands with the practical tools to compassionately reassess personal behaviors and make significant life changes. Dr. Freed created the teen and young adult workbook series Become Your Best Self, which includes workbooks on Relationship Wisdom, Character, Compassion and Creative Expression. In addition to the workbook series, Dr. Freed has published The Ultimate Personality Guide, a popular interactive guidebook for understanding personality typologies. Her book, Lessons from Stanley the Cat: Nine Lives of Everyday Wisdom (Penguin) is now a top-selling book on Amazon.com. National media appearances include Good Morning America, USA Today, National Public Radio, Sirius/XM radio, Fox News, ABC, and others. She is also the host of the popular radio program FREED UP! on VoiceAmerica.com.

Rendy Freedman, Co-founder/Co-directorRendy Freedman, LMFT, has been with The Family Therapy Institute since 1994 and specializes in working with adolescents, couples, families, groups, and trauma issues through EMDR. She has worked extensively with women’s issues and leads groups for parents of teens. She is a licensed mediator and certified EMDR practitioner and has had significant training and experience in body related healing modalities, as well as in relational therapy systems including self psychology, family systems, the mutuality philosophy of the Stone Center at Wellesley College, and council practice from The Ojai Foundation. She received her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University in Santa Barbara and a bachelor of arts degree in secondary education from the University of Iowa. She has taught in both public and private schools and was one of the founders of The Waldorf School of Santa Barbara. She taught undergraduate and graduate classes at Antioch University for 10 years and has lectured frequently in schools, local agencies, and groups on the topic of social and emotional intelligence. She leads experiential workshops for parents of teens–especially mothers and daughters. She has led and participated in dozens of trainings on diversity celebration and creative arts applications of social and emotional intelligence. She is the proud mother of three adult children and enjoys adventuring in the beautiful Santa Barbara mountains and ocean.

Nancy Grinstein Nancy Grinstein has lived with her husband Neal in Santa Barbara since 1982. They have two daughters, one in college and the other in her last year of elementary school. Nancy’s far–ranging career began as an award-winning regional theater director and cable TV director & editor. She founded and operated an industry-leading international import company for 17 years. She has worked with at-risk youth, raised considerable funds for the public school system, was a board member for The Neighbor Clinics and is currently a board member of the Arts Mentorship Program (AMP) in Santa Barbara.

Angel Martinez A legend in the world of footwear, Martinez took the helm at Deckers in 2005 after CEO stints at Rockport and Keen shoe companies, not to mention a critical role at Reebok, where he launched the company’s first women’s aerobic shoe line. “I’m not a fan of fear; you can’t live with it, and you have to eliminate it from the workplace,” “I believe you invent your own future,” and “A great company is not about the sales; it is about the people,” and you cannot help but believe him. Better yet, his employees do, too, and, well, the results of his methods are undeniable.

Neil Kreisel After receiving an MBA in 1968, Mr. Kreisel joined a major Wall Street firm as a securities analyst and in 1972 became one of its youngest partners. He earned a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and Institutional Investor magazine ranked him the number one securities analyst in his field on their first All-American Research Team. In 1977 he left Wall Street for the real estate business, retiring in 1998 as the president and CEO of the largest residential real estate company in the United States. After moving to Santa Barbara he wrote his yet to be published first novel. He also teaches Fin 201- Investments and Fin 202- Managerial Finance at Santa Barbara City College and is President of the Foundation for Santa Barbara City College. He and his wife of forty-two years moved from New York in 1999. They have two grown, married sons, three grandchildren and two not-so-grown-up Weimaraners. Lifelong hobbies include marathon running and hiking.

Jill Martin Long-time resident of Santa Barbara, AHA!supporter, world traveler, and portrait photographer with a passion for empowering girls and women, Jill is currently developing a website to spread her message of self-love and body acceptance.

 

 

Stacy Pulice A veteran of the television industry, Stacy has been a therapist and a writer for the last 17 years. She is the creator of the “Fabulous and Interesting Women” speakers’ series and the mother of three teenagers. Stacy lives in Santa Barbara with her husband and family, and is currently writing her doctoral dissertation on mindfulness in education.

 

Neal Rabin Neal Rabin worked in Hollywood for several years before moving to Santa Barbara in 1982 with his wife Nancy. He founded and served as the CEO of a global software company for over fifteen years. He has served on the boards of the American Red Cross and several technology companies in the Santa Barbara area. He currently divides his time between the Marine Mammal Rescue Center, AHA!, mentorships, gentleman farming, and writing. Neal and Nancy have been married for 27 years with two perfect children, two wild dogs, two non-descript birds, and mercifully only one hamster.

 

Jack Rivas Jack is a native son who attended local public schools, graduated from UCSB, and undertook graduate work at Pacifica. He is a counselor and instructor at UCSB and is dedicated to issues of social equity.

 

 

 

Tjuana “Tia” Walker Armed with more than two decades of business management and marketing experience, Tjuana, or Tia as many call her, founded The Inspired CEO™ an executive coaching and consulting firm. Tia believes that we are each the CEO of our life and are therefore empowered to make the work that we do serve as an inspiration to others. A believer in the vastness of the human spirit, Tia has developed coaching programs that combine personal development, work satisfaction and an element of service. As an entrepreneur who quickly built her own successful consulting business, she also empathetically helps other business owners and professionals set priorities and create the balance they want between life and work. She simply lights up while assisting organizations and individuals who are interested in becoming catalysts of change. One of her most provocative messages is about living a congruent life, both personally and professionally. Tia has assisted her clients in developing a philanthropic strategy–believing that it’s never too early or too late for a business to become involved in the communities they serve. Her development work has raised thousands for charitable organizations ranging from large non-profits to “solopreneurs”. She is the President of the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Women’s Business Network, Women’s Initiative for Self Employment Silicon Valley Board Member, Shakti Rising Director’s Circle Member, Founder of The Senior Makeover Project and devotes countless hours to charitable organizations.

 

Marilee Gordon, LCSW, received her B.S. in Psychology and MSW from the University of Utah. She has worked in private practice for over 25 years and also started the Wyoming Parenting Society, a Private non-profit pro-choice adoption agency that she directed for 20 years. She has been a part-time resident of Santa Barbara for 15 years and for the past two years she has coached and mentored the participants of AHA’s Sing It Out! Program
Marilee is also a singer/songwriter who has facilitated children and adult workshops in harmony singing while also enjoying singing harmony with her sisters and daughters.
She shares her life with her husband Stephen and their 2 Aussies, Annie and Maury. They recently adopetd Roxy, a border collie mix. When not in Santa Barbara, she and her husband Stephen spend the rest of their time in rural Wyoming on their cattle ranch.
They have 4 grown daughters, 2 sons in law and 3 grandchildren who are the loves of their lives along with each other and the doggies.

 

Bobby Shand Founder of TSG (The Shand Group) in 1980, Bobby has helped guide successful marketing initiatives for such well-recognized brands as Platinum Guild International, GIA (Gemological Institute of America) , IWC, Tag Heuer, Absolut Vodka, and Rio Tinto among others. Bobby travels frequently to his team who work from satellite offices in NY, San Francisco, Westlake, Seattle, Miami, and overseas in Shanghai and Mumbai. His unflagging dedication to his staff and clients ensure that all projects are successful, innovative, and rewarding for all participants. Bobby has been married to wife Susan for 21 of the most outstanding years of his life and has two beautiful children Ryan, 20 and Justin, 18.