OUR BOARD
2021-2022
Thank you to our board for their constant support and dedication
to the OCCTAC dream!
Our Board of Directors
Sam Chari
Board President
Senior Vice President, Experian
Sam Chari is currently SVP, Global Head of Risk and Compliance at Experian. Based in Southern California, Mr. Chari provides oversight of enterprise risks across the firm. Previously, Mr. Chari has been in several risk management related roles, including serving as the Head of Enterprise Risk at PIMCO and Head of Operational Risk at AllianceBernstein. He holds a MBA from the Stern Business School (NYU) and a MS from Clemson University.
Melody Winter Head
Board Vice President & Nominations/Board Governance Chair
Regional Manager, So. Cal.
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (on disability)
Since joining the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank in 2003, Melody has engaged private and nonprofit financial institutions, community development leaders and government agencies in developing solutions to pressing neighborhood issues in low-wealth communities of Southern California. Through community preservation and capacity building strategies she has contributed to the fields of affordable housing finance, small and micro business development, workforce development, asset building health, wealth and diversity, and K-12 education reform. Melody is active with several community-based nonprofit organizations and serves in various capacities at the Clearinghouse CDFI, the Orange County Community Housing Corporation, OCCTAC, the Housing Opportunities Collaborative of the Inland Empire, and the Los Angeles Education Partnership.
Rossina Gallegos
Board Member
Director & CSR Officer
Corporate Social Responsibility, Union Bank
Rossina Gallegos joined Union Bank in 1981. She facilitates and manages the charitable contribution and foundation requests for Orange County, San Diego, and the Inland Empire. She also implements strategies, tactics and programs to maximize the talent and availability of Union Bank employees with the needs of low-and moderate-income communities. Rossina’s community outreach work heightens Union Bank’s presence to address the Bank’s Community Reinvestment Act commitment, public image opportunities, and employees’ desire for engagement. Rossina has served in various positions in small business lending, Special Assets management and multicultural markets. Rossina is active with numerous civic and community organizations. Rossina is the President of the Santa Ana College Foundation. She serves on the Boards of OCCTAC as well as Orange County Human Relations. She is also on the Advisory Board of the National Hispanic Business Women Association (NHBW), the Orange County Community Housing Corporation, and the Affordable Housing Clearing House.
Claude Goldenberg
Board Secretary
Nomellini & Olivier Professor of Education,
Stanford University
As a native of Argentina, his areas of research center on promoting academic achievement among language minority students. He received his A.B. in history from Princeton University and M.A. and Ph.D. from Graduate School of Education, UCLA. He has taught junior high school in San Antonio, TX, and first grade in a bilingual elementary school in Los Angeles. Goldenberg received the 1993 Albert J. Harris Award from the International Reading Association (now International Literacy Association) for an article describing improvements in early Spanish reading achievement at an elementary school where he taught first grade. His 2004 book Successful School Change: Creating Settings to Improve Teaching a Learning was the basis for the 2010 Best Research Award from Learning Forward. Goldenberg is also co-author of Promoting Academic Achievement among English Learners: A Guide to the Research (Corwin) and co-editor of Language and Literacy Development in Bilingual Settings (Guilford). He has directed studies of literacy development among English learners, school reform in largely language-minority schools, identifying elements of effective classroom instruction for English learners, and evaluation of an early literacy intervention in Rwanda. Goldenberg was on the National Research Council's Committee for the Prevention of Early Reading Difficulties in Young Children and on the National Literacy Panel, which synthesized research on literacy development among language-minority children and youth. More recently he chaired two international committees advising the Council for Higher Education in Israel on improvements in English education, and he currently chairs a national research advisory panel on early childhood education for Arizona’s First Things First. He is an expert witness for the US Department of Justice on English Learner issues and serves on several boards related to children and education in Africa and the U.S.
Kim M. Kaston
Board Co-chair, Fund Development
Supply Chain and Communications Professional
Choreographer
Kim has led a dual career in aerospace and entertainment. Kim was a senior manager in Communications, supporting enterprise supply chain for The Boeing Company. She was responsible for functional excellence areas that included Supplier Relationship Management, Knowledge Management, supplier engagement communications, and supplier advocacy. Her most recent primary responsibility involved creative design and production execution of international and US-based executive strategic supplier engagement events. Kim maintained a concurrent career as a choreographer for The Walt Disney Company, DisneyParks Live Entertainment. Starting as a performer, Kim choreographed, trained performers, and maintained performance quality of various shows and parades. Kim also has a passion for travel and cultural exchange that has led her to six continents in over sixty countries, trekking and exploring remote locations in the European, South American, Himalayan, Caucasus, and East Asia regions. Kim has a BA in Sociology from UCLA; a Master’s in Communication Management [M.C.M.] from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at USC; a certificate in Public Diplomacy from the Summer Institute, USC Center on Public Diplomacy, at the Annenberg School; and recently completed an executive certificate in Nonprofit Fund Development from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame. Kim currently volunteers her time supporting two nonprofits focused on civic engagement and education in a global diaspora community. Kim believes in OCCTAC’s mission and the healing power of the arts and is honored to join the OCCTAC community.
Stuart M. Nichols
Board Co-chair, Fund Development
Vice President,
Sun Apparel
Stuart Nichols currently serves as Vice President of Sun Apparel/Screen Printers Resource in Fullerton, CA. With over 30 years of Business Management experience, Stuart has extensive Domestic and International Executive Management experience with responsibility for Profit and Loss Statements and Balance Sheets for multiple subsidiaries in Public, Private, and Nonprofit sectors. His passion is serving others, and he is especially driven to serve at-promise populations such as the unhoused in Orange County and those with substance abuse issues. In addition to serving on OCCTAC’s board, Stuart also serves on the board of Infinite Arches Recovery and as volunteer CFO for Journey Church.
John Tran
Board Finance Committee Chair
Senior Vice President
Head of Portfolio Management
CommerceWest Bank
John Tran is currently the Senior Vice President and Head of Portfolio Management at CommerceWest Bank, Headquartered in Irvine, California. With over 20 years of Commercial Banking and Lending experience, John leads a team of Commercial Banking Professionals who originate commercial real estate and term loans loans to Small Businesses and Middle Market companies in California.
Passionate in giving back to his community, John was on the Board of Directors for OCCTAC from 2007 through 2010 before moving to the Northeast. After he moved back to California in 2020, John rejoined the Board of Directors in 2021. He is also on the Finance Committee.
Dr. Ana Jimenez-Hami
Board Member
Founder and Executive Director,
Orange County Children's Therapeutic Arts Center (OCCTAC)
Dr. Ana Jimenez-Hami is the Founder and Executive Director of the Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center (OCCTAC). During the past 35 years, Dr. Jimenez-Hami has dedicated her life to helping underserved communities and families with special needs students in California and Puerto Rico. Prior to founding OCCTAC, Dr. Jimenez taught at various universities in Southern California and Puerto Rico, such as: Chapman University (2015-1999), California State University, Northridge (1998-1995), Loyola Marymount University (1995-1993), University of Southern California (1993-1989) and the University of Puerto Rico (1988-1986). Dr. Jimenez-Hami’s passion is to bring artistic access, educational and therapeutic programs for families with special needs children of limited resources; and inspire youth and parents from underrepresented communities through educational empowerment, advocacy, and social justice to fulfill their highest potential in life! Dr. Ana Jimenez-Hami has been recognized continuously in the community for her contributions in the fields of Arts and Culture, Education and Social Services. Some of her awards include: a (2020) OC LULAC Award, (2017) Women who Make a Difference in OC Award; a (2013) OC Register Hero of the Year award; a (2012) OC Department of Education, Outstanding Contributions to Education Award; a (2007) National Hispanic Business Women Association Award for Organizational Entrepreneurship; a (2007) Faculty Award from Chapman University; a (2006) City of Santa Ana Community Building award; a (2006) Human Relations Award from the Orange County Human Relations Commission for promoting equality, human rights and social justice; a (2003) Arts & Culture Award by the National Organization of MANA, and others.
If you would like to speak to our Board of Directors with questions or concerns, please contact:
Board of Directors
E: Board@occtac.org