Commission Members

Darrell Steinberg, Chair

Darrell Steinberg was elected on November 7, 2006 to the California State Senate, representing the 6th District, which includes the capital city of Sacramento, parts of Elk Grove and Citrus Heights.

Steinberg is the chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. He also serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Health Committee, the Environmental Quality Committee, the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee and Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources. Steinberg also chairs the Senate Select Committee on High School Graduation.

In addition, Steinberg is a Senate appointee to the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (chair), the Wildlife Conservation Board, the California Ocean Protection Council and the Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism (chair).

Prior to his election to the State Senate, Steinberg served three terms representing the 9th District of the State Assembly, which includes most of the capital city of Sacramento. He is the author and co-proponent of Proposition 63, the mental health initiative that was approved by more than 5.6 million California voters on November 2, 2004. Proposition 63 will generate more than $1 billion per year in state and federal funds to establish mental health programs throughout the state based on the highly successful AB 34 and AB 2034 programs that Steinberg authored earlier.

Steinberg's hard work and dedication in the Assembly brought him an array of public recognition. He was honored in California Journal's biennial "Minnie Awards", which recognize legislators who represent "a pattern of conduct, an outlook and demeanor that exemplifies the best kind of public service". The nonpartisan magazine named Steinberg "Assemblymember of the Year" for 2004 and also honored him as the Assembly's top member in the categories of integrity, best problem-solver, and hardest working.

In 2000, during his first term in office, Steinberg was a nearly unanimous choice for the magazine's "Rookie of the Year" award. In 2002, he was honored as the Assembly's best problem solver and the member with the most integrity. Steinberg was twice named Legislator of the Year by the California Psychiatric Association. Other Legislator of the Year awards include the California School Boards Association; California Federation of Teachers; Californians for Disability Rights; Girl Scout Councils of California; and the California Probation, Parole and Correctional Association. Mr. Steinberg also received the outstanding Public Service Award from the California School Employees Association and the Phillip S. Tow Government Award (Clean Air Award) from the American Lung Association.

During his tenure in the Assembly, Steinberg served as Chair of the Assembly Committees on Budget, Appropriations, Judiciary, Labor and Employment, and the Select Committee on High Priority Schools. He also served as a member of the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committees. Upon election to the State Senate, Steinberg was named chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.

Steinberg and his wife Julie have two children - a daughter, Jordana, 12, and a son, Ari, 9.

Dr. Barbara Firestone, Vice Chair

As the President, CEO and founder of The Help Group, Dr. Barbara Firestone has dedicated her career to helping children with special needs realize their fullest potential. In 1975, she established a nonprofit special education day school that would evolve into the family of agencies known today as The Help Group. Under her leadership, The Help Group has become nation's largest and most comprehensive nonprofit of its kind serving children with special needs related to autism, learning disabilities, ADHD, mental retardation, emotional and behavioral disabilities and abuse and neglect.

At the forefront of helping children with autism and their families, The Help Group is widely regarded for its innovation, unique scope of services and high standards of excellence. It is the largest nonprofit provider of specialized education serving more than 750 students ages 3 to 22 with all forms and degrees of autism. The Help Group's services include diagnostic assessments, intervention, family support, after school programs. Through its professional, graduate and post graduate, training programs, parent education, publications, conferences, seminars, and public awareness campaigns, The Help Group touches the lives of children with special needs across the country and in other parts of the world.

Recognized as a leader in the field, Dr. Firestone actively promotes autism awareness and the expansion of education and treatment programs for children, adolescents and young adults. Recently, she was appointed as the vice chair of the newly established Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism for the State of California. She is currently writing a book to help families confront the challenges of autism that will be published in the fall of 2007.

David T. Feinberg, MD, MBA

Dr. David Feinberg is the Medical Director of the Resnick Neuropsychiaric Hospital (NPH) at UCLA. The Resnick NPH is considered to be the premier psychiatric hospital in the Western United States and was ranked in 2006 by U.S. News and World Report as the fifth best psychiatric hospital in the country.

Dr. Feinberg is triple Board Certified in the specialties of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Adult Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry. He is a Professor of Clinical Psychiatry in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Feinberg graduated cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley in Economics and went on to graduate with distinction from Medical School at the University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School. In 2002 Dr. Feinberg received his Masters of Business Administration from Pepperdine University.

Dr. Feinberg has published and spoken on numerous occasions on Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism, Pediatric Bipolar Disorder, Pediatric Depression and Adolescent Substance Abuse. Dr. Feinberg is a highly sought after consultant to healthcare agencies regarding the industrialization of medicine.

Ms. Cindy Asner

Cindy Asner has had a prolific career as a producer in various media forms. She was nominated for an Emmy as well as a Golden Globe as a producer on the CBS film "Gypsy" starring Bette Midler. She produced a daily radio talk show and award winning commercials. Asner has moved from the field of entertainment to the floor of legislation. An activist for better diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues, especially Autism, she is in the process of creating increased community awareness leading to specific changes in this arena. Now a proponent for progressive change in the media. Working on Clean Voting Machine Issues, helping to get progressive Democratic candidates elected and involved in getting Prop 89 for public financing of elections to pass in November. She is on the boards of Progressive Democrats of America, California Clean Money Campaign and the Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism for the State of California.

Magdalena Beltrán-del Olmo

Magdalena Beltrán-del Olmo is the vice president of communications for The California Wellness Foundation, which is nationally recognized in the field of philanthropy for its strategic communications program and public education campaigns. Beltrán-del Olmo has 25 years professional experience in communications management, social marketing and journalism. Before joining the Foundation in 1996, Beltrán-del Olmo was a director of public affairs and communications for Kaiser Permanente in the Los Angeles area. Prior to that, she was vice president at Coronado Communications - a firm specializing in social marketing - where she oversaw public education, entertainment and corporate accounts, including the national, multilingual, multi-media public education campaign for the 1986 immigration amnesty legalization and the California tobacco education campaign. As associate director with the USC-based California Chicano News Media Association (CCNMA) in the 1980s, she developed the nation's first computerized job referral service for ethnic journalists in the news media, helping more than 300 professionals and students be hired by major news media organizations across the country. She worked with CCNMA to help found the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Beltrán-del Olmo has worked as a newspaper reporter with the Orange County Register and Gannett-owned Salinas Californian. She has received numerous awards for her communications and advocacy work, among them a national recognition for a public broadcasting program on domestic violence, several Public Relations Society of America's PRISM awards and 10 nods from the Council on Foundations and Communications Network to receive the Wilmer Shields Rich Award. Beltrán-del Olmo serves on the Communications Network board of directors and was appointed to the California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism. She previously served on the board of Hispanics in Philanthropy and the Council on Foundations' communications committee. She served on the mayoral transition team for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and volunteers her communications expertise for Cure Autism Now. Beltrán-del Olmo graduated in 1982 with degrees in journalism and Mexican-American studies from California State University, Northridge, where she received the Outstanding Graduate in Journalism award from the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi. She was inducted in Kappa Tau Alpha, the national honor society for journalism and mass communications. She is the co-editor of "Frank del Olmo: Commentaries on His Times," a book of columns written by her husband, the late Frank del Olmo, Los Angeles Times associate editor, who died in 2004. She resides in the Los Angeles area with their son, Francisco, who battles autism.

Steve Beneto

Steve Beneto was born and raised in Sacramento, California and attended the local schools. Married to wife, Darlene for 49 years, father of four one son and three daughters

Steve began his working career in 1956, as a salesman for Rainbo Baking Company. In 1960, he became the owner of an A & W Rootbeer drive-in restaurant that he sold in 1972. From 1966 to 1970 he owned and raced horses at several race tracks and fairs throughout the state. In 1972 he established Beneto Tank Lines that he sold in May 2003. He also is the owner of Beneto, Inc, that was established in 1972.

Steve is a current Board Member for The M.I.N.D. Institute dedicated to the research, development of cures and education of neurological disorders.

Steve also served as a California State Fair Board Member and has been reappointed for another four years. He has served on the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army, The Board of Regents for Christian Brothers High School, and is also a past Board Member of Capital Bank of Commerce.

As a community Leader, Steve's generosity is well known. He was one of the founders of a developmental living center for autistic children in Sacramento and was instrumental in starting two group homes for these children.

An accomplished hunter & horseman, Steve enjoys spending his free time as a member of several trail riding groups, giving up hunting for the Harley.

Maureen O'Leary Burness

Maureen is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services for the Folsom Cordova Unified School District in Sacramento County, Prior to beginning this position in July of 2006, she has served as the Assistant Superintendent for Placer County SELPA, Placer Nevada SELPA, and Yolo County SELPA.

She has been in public education for 29 years, starting as a teacher in Davis Junior High schools, a school psychologist for Winters and Esparto Districts in Yolo County, Workability Coordinator, Program Specialist, Principal, and Director of Special Education in Winters, Director of Student Services in Roseville, and Alternative Education Administrator in Placer County prior to starting in work for SELPAs.

Maureen has received many honors and recognition for her work for students with disabilities, including Special Education Administrator of the Year from the Association of California Administrators (State, regional, and charter levels), and from the Council for Exceptional Children, as well as the Outstanding Community Service Support award from Alta California Regional Center, Alumnus of the Year from California State University Sacramento, several awards from the California Department of Education, and others.

Her passions include finding the best solutions to challenges in a collaborative partnership with families and other partners. One current effort is with a Community of Practice focusing on improving the educational system for ALL children in California.

Rudy M. Castruita

Dr. Rudy M. Castruita has been a dynamic force in the field of education for 39 years. He served as the San Diego County Superintendent of Schools for 12 years. Prior to that, he was Superintendent of the Santa Ana Unified School District.

Dr. Castruita’s accomplishments in school reform have been recognized throughout the educational community, garnering him numerous awards and accolades for his dramatic reform efforts and for raising student achievement in low-wealth school districts. He was named California’s Superintendent of the Year, and he has received the Marcus Foster Award from the California Association of School Administrators, that organization’s highest honor. Because of his success in producing National Blue Ribbon Schools and State Distinguished Schools, Dr. Castruita was asked to be the National Blue Ribbon Schools trainer and evaluator. He was recently named one of 12 “Tech Savvy Superintendents” in the nation by E-School News.

Dr. Castruita has taken an active role among educational leaders. He has served as past-president of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) and the California Urban Superintendents. He currently serves on the State Superintendent’s Advisory Committee for Implementing the Public School Accountability Act of 1999, the Governance Task Force of the state committee to develop a Master Plan for Education, the California Reading First Initiative Leadership Team, and was chair of the statewide Language Arts Task Force to Develop Standards for High School Graduates. Most recently, Dr. Castruita was appointed to the State’s Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism by the State’s Legislators.

Dr. Castruita serves on several national boards including Scholarship America, the prestigious Educational Research & Development Institute, and the Board for Harvard’s Urban Superintendent Program. Recently, Dr. Castruita was nominated by the President of the United States, and appointed by the United States Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling, to serve on the President’s Advisory for Department of Defense Schools for military based schools overseas.

In Dr. Castruita’s capacity as the University of Southern California Irving & Virginia Melbo Chair for the Rosier School of Education, he brings relevant urban reform strategies and leadership experience to the doctoral program at the University of Southern California.

Dr. Castruita is known for his public speaking engagements that have taken him to Cornell, Columbia, and Harvard universities, University of California, Berkeley, and his alma mater, the University of Southern California; and he is frequently asked to deliver keynote addresses at major events sponsored by a wide variety professional organizations.

Dr. Ron Huff

Ron Huff was recently appointed Director of Clinical and Intake Services at Alta California Regional Center. In his former position at the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) in Sacramento, he coordinated the Autistic Spectrum Disorders Initiative for DDS. Most of Dr. Huff's work has focused on creating service delivery systems that offer accessible and effective applications of behavioral/teaching technologies. More recently, Dr. Huff has compiled two reports (1999 and 2003) for the California legislature that described dramatic increases in the rates of autism over the past 15 years. In 2002, on behalf of DDS he coordinated a statewide effort to develop and publish best practice guidelines for screening, diagnosing and assessing autistic spectrum disorders. More recently, he has coordinated the Northern California Learning Collaborative that promoted implementation and use of the ASD Best Practice Guidelines. He is a consultant to DDS's current Evidence-Based Intervention Guideline.

David J. Kears

Dave Kears was born in Oakland, California, where he still resides with his wife and family.

Mr. Kears' scholastic endeavors brought him to the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated in 1968 with a major in Sociology. He continued his graduate work at Berkeley and received a Masters Degree in 1970 in Social Welfare with a Psychiatric Casework Specialty. He also holds a Clinical Social Work license.

While in school, Mr. Kears performed his internship at the Sonoma State Hospital and Children's Guidance Clinic in Palo Alto. After graduation, he went to work as a Psychiatric Social Worker at Napa State Hospital. He thrived in that setting from 1970 to 1974 and advanced to Assistant Program Director. Besides sharpening his own clinical and managerial skills during that period, he had improved relationships with counties and expanded and revised Napa's ward programs.

Mr. Kears began his career with Alameda County as a Psychiatric Social Worker in 1974. In the ensuing years, Mr. Kears has held a number of major department head positions in the Health Care Services Agency: Mental Health Services, Community Health Services, and Alcohol and Drug Services. In March, 1986, Mr. Kears was appointed to the Agency Director position, at which time he not only took over the weighty matters of the Agency but also became Acting Director of Highland General Hospital during a time of reorganization.

Currently, as Director of Health Care Services Agency, Mr. Kears provides overall direction, consultation, and trouble-shooting to the four major departments comprising the agency: 1) Indigent Care; 2) Public Health Department (including Emergency Medical Services); 3) Environmental Health Services; and 4) Behavioral Health Care Services (including Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug Services). From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Kears assumed the additional responsibility for developing a public/private Medi-Cal managed care program, the Alameda Alliance for Health, pursuant to the State of California Department of Health Services' directives. The Alliance is now a fully licensed HMO composed of traditional Medi-Cal and safety net county and community providers.

Current major program responsibilities include coordinating the County's Indigent Medical Care System and monitoring contracts with the Alameda County Medical Center (three hospital facilities and both non-hospital and hospital-based outpatient clinics) and a broad network of community-based primary care providers. Since 1996, Mr. Kears has chaired Alameda County's Interagency Children's Policy Council, the purpose of which includes the improved communication, coordination, and integration of county-operated and funded children, youth, and family services. Mr. Kears also completed the development of an alternative governance structure for the County's Medical Care System and the transition of both governance and hospital employees to a separate, public hospital authority in 1999. Mr. Kears is also currently the Chair of Safe Passages, a Robert Wood Johnson decade-long initiative to improve outcomes for children and youth. This is a City of Oakland-based initiative composed of a partnership of leaders in the City of Oakland, county agencies, and Oakland schools committed to redirecting Oakland's public and private resources to implement strategies proven to keep kids in school and engaged in positive activities. With the passage of Proposition 10, Mr. Kears led the development and provided initial funding support for the local Every Child Counts/First 5 Alameda County. In May, 2006 he was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the First 5 California State Commission.

Mr. Kears reports directly to the Board of Supervisors and is responsible for coordination, development, and implementation of county and state health care policies, and he oversees the agency budget of approximately $490 million.

Lynn Kern Koegel, Ph.D.

Lynn Kern Koegel, Ph.D. is a Clinical Director of Autism Services at the Koegel Autism Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has been active in the development of programs to improve communication in children with autism, including the development of first words, development of grammatical structures and pragmatics. Dr. Koegel is co-author and co-editor of major textbooks on autism and positive behavioral support and is co-author of the bestselling book, Overcoming Autism: Finding the3 Answers, Strategies, and Hope That Can Transform a Child's Life (Penguin, 2004). In addition to her published books and articles in the area of communication and language development, she has developed and published procedures and field manuals in the area of self-management and functional analysis that are used in school districts throughout the United States and have been translated in most major languages used throughout the world. Dr. Koegel is actively involved in providing support and intervention services in school districts, both locally in California and throughout the United States. Dr. Koegel, and her husband Robert, were awarded the first annual recipient of the Sesame Street Children's Workshop Award for brightening the lives of children. She has also been features in news reports on television stations throughout the United States and has appeared on episodes of the internationally broadcast ABC television series, SuperNanny.

Areva D. Martin, Esq.

Areva D. Martin is Managing Partner of Martin & Martin, LLP, in Los Angeles. She practices civil litigation with an emphasis on employment, education and business litigation. A part of Martin's legal practice involves providing legal representation in due process hearings, mediations and IEPs. A syndicated columnist, professional speaker, and national authority on educating children with disabilities, Martin is regularly featured on radio and television. She has developed a signature program on how to write winning IEPs. She is a frequent speaker at regional centers and conferences for disability and community groups on special education law and procedures. She has been published in local and national magazines, newspapers and electronic media. Martin is the co-authored of "A Parent's Guide to Developmental Disabilities," and the author of "Journey to the Top."

Martin is active on multiple corporate and non-profit boards. She is the Chair of the Risk Management Committee and Director of AbilityFirst; a director of The California Black Women's Health Project; a director (advisory) Lean Forward Media., Inc.; and Legal Counsel and Secretary of 21st Century Empowerment. Martin is also the co-founder and President of Special Needs Network, Inc., a grass roots organization that provides resources to underserved families who are raising adults or children with disabilities. The Cities of Los Angeles, Inglewood, Long Beach and various organizations have honored her for her work on behalf of children and families. She was selected by the Public Affairs Department of KTYM as a "Los Angeles Hero," in 2006.

An honors graduate from both the University of Chicago and Harvard Law School, Martin is the member of various professional organizations including the American Bar Association, the Los Angeles Bar Association, The Black Women's Lawyers Association, the National Association of Female Executives and the California Minority Counsel Program.

Martin resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Ernest, also a Harvard trained attorney, and their three children: Michael, Morgan and Marty, who was diagnosed at the age of two with autism.

Rick Rollens

Rick Rollens, 55, resides with his wife of 29 years, Janna, and their two sons Matthew, 20, and Russell, 15, in Granite Bay, California...a suburb 30 miles east of Sacramento, California.

Rick is the former Secretary of the California State Senate, a position he held for many of his 24 years of distinguished service to the California State Senate. Prior to his career with the California Senate, Rick served on the staff of Congressman Jerome Waldie in Washington, D.C. Currently Rick is President of Rollens Consulting, a government relations company in Sacramento. Rick serves as the Legislative Advisor to ARCA, the Association of Regional Center Agencies which provides services and support to the over 200,000 Californian's with developmental disabilities, including autism.

Fourteen years ago when his son Russell was diagnosed with autism, Rick began what has become an unprecedented father's battle to find a cure for his son's disability. Shortly after Russell was diagnosed, Rick became a cofounder of the Sacramento family support group FEAT, Families for Early Autism Treatment. Rick's contribution included establishing an annual "Autism Treatment Awareness Week" that was proclaimed by the Governor and Legislature each year. Rick is also responsible for raising more money and support for FEAT than any other individual in the history of the organization. FEAT honored Rick by establishing the "Rick Rollens Research Award" which is presented each year to an outstanding person in the field of autism and autism research. FEAT currently has dozens of chapters worldwide, promoting, advocating, and providing support for early intervention services for children with autism, a support network for parents and families with children with autism. Rick is a former Honorary Board member of CAN, Cure Autism Now, a former national board member of the Autism Society of America, a board member of the M.I.N.D. Institute, a board member Autism Education Network, a member of the Board of Advisors of the New York based Autism Coalition for Research and Education (Autism Coalition), and an Honorary Board member of Unlocking Autism. In March 2006, Rick was appointed by the California Speaker of the State Assembly to serve on the Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism. He is featured in the New York Times bestseller "Evidence of Harm", and was featured in a recent article in Southwest Airlines Sprit magazine. Rick has received dozens of awards and recognition for his tireless efforts on behalf of autism.

With his numerous government and private contacts both on the state and federal level, Rick was successful in securing legislation in California which produced the "California Report," the first ever state or federal report documenting the alarming increase in autism as well as securing the concept and funding for the recently released Byrd study examining factors that have been linked to California's autism epidemic. Rick has testified before Congress regarding autism, and has testified on numerous pieces of legislation both in California and in Washington involving various aspects of autism.

Rick is a regular speaker at autism conferences and meetings throughout the world. Rick has been heavily involved with the NIH, sitting on numerous committees, and advising NIH on its autism research agenda. He has been the subject of hundreds of radio, newspaper, television, and magazine interviews and profile stories both here in the United States and throughout the world. Of his many accomplishments in raising awareness of autism, his family was featured, and his son Russell graced the cover, of the July 31, 2000 issue of Newsweek. This issue went on to become the all time best selling issue of Newsweek ever. Others major media stories on 60 Minutes, Reader's Digest, Washington Post, New York Times, BBC radio and television. Rick and his son Russell were featured in the 60 Minutes style program Newsnight on BBC TV.

Rick's most recent efforts have involved the establishment and major funding of the U.C. Davis M.I.N.D. Institute. In 1998, Rick was successful in securing the passage of legislation creating the M.I.N.D. Institute. Rick has been directly responsible for raising millions of dollars for autism and the M.I.N.D. Institute, including substantial ongoing funding, from state and private sources for M.I.N.D. In six years, the M.I.N.D. Institute has become the largest private or public organization dedicated to research, clinic services, and education for autism anywhere in the world.

Currently Rick is hard at work raising awareness and money for autism. He has dedicated his life to helping to find the answers to autism, and a cure for his beloved son, Russell.

Kenneth Simril

Ken Simril currently holds the position of President at Fleischmann's Vinegar Company and is responsible for the management of the Company's operating activities, financial performance and strategic initiatives.

Prior to joining Fleischmann's, Ken served as Chief Financial Officer for Clipper Corporation and ClearPath Networks where he directed all aspects of finance, accounting, strategy, business development and administrative functions.

Ken formerly held the position of Vice President of Finance for Global Crossing Ltd. At Global Crossing, Ken helped manage the company's $400 million initial public offering and was also instrumental in the issuance of various corporate securities totaling more than $10 billion. Ken also managed day-to-day treasury operations, business development and investor relations.

As a Venture Developer for Mobil Oil Corporation, Ken was responsible for the development of fiscal terms and financial feasibility for Mobil's LNG Venture Development projects in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Additionally, he served as a member of Mobil's Scenario Planning Group, which developed strategies for addressing future economic and political uncertainty for the company's Nigerian Affiliate. As an engineer for Mobil, Ken was in charge of the engineering design, project planning and field operations for exploration and development wells throughout the United States and also served as a construction engineer for Mobil's resale facilities in southern California.

Ken received his MBA from Harvard Business School and holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from the University of Southern California.

Eleni Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis

Eleni Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis is President of AKT Development Corporation, one of the largest and most successful land development companies in Northern California. A native of Sacramento, Eleni left the region briefly to earn her BA from Dartmouth and an MBA from UC Berkeley, but returned in 1993 to join AKT Development as a project manager. During the next six years she moved up through the ranks, ultimately becoming president of the company in 1998. During Eleni's tenure as president, the company has grown from a multi-million dollar business to a nearly $1 billion enterprise, prompting Sacramento Magazine to name her one of the region's most powerful women in 2006. State Treasurer Phil Angelides was quoted in the issue, calling Eleni "very smart, very hardworking, very high-energy, and a progressive thinker who is very concerned about the direction of the Sacramento region." To that end, she has made countless contributions to the region's cultural legacy as well as its housing options

Community and Philanthropic Commitments As a member of one of the most philanthropic families in the Sacramento region, Eleni remains devoted to supporting issues she holds close to her heart. Among her many charitable duties, she serves as a trustee to a number of organizations including the Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism and the San Francisco War Memorial Opera Board. A proud Greek-American, she is also the president of the Tsakopoulos Hellenic Foundation, which supports education and cultural advancement of Hellenic ideals of democracy in western civilization. Eleni is also a strong advocate for public education and has adopted the Cesar Chavez Intermediate School, helping to develop their library and computer lab. Eleni also served as a commissioner on the California World Trade Commission, a trustee for the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, Valley Vision, the Vryonis Center for the Study of Hellenism, and the World Conference of Religions for Peace, and a three-time delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

Eleni married Markos Kounalakis in 2000 in Istanbul, Turkey. Markos is a veteran print and network broadcast journalist and author. He is also the President and Publisher of The Washington Monthly. The couple has two sons, Neo, (5) and Eon, (4).

Dr. Albert Wang

Dr. Albert Wang is an internist and a partner at the Palo Alto Medical Clinic. He has broad experience in community service in many area. He has served as President of the American Cancer Society, Northern California Chinese Unit, Citizens for Better Community, Friends of Children with Special Needs (which he and his wife Anna founded in 1996 to serve immigrant Chinese American families with special needs children), and is currently Chairman of Vision New America (non-profit to develop leadership and provide political internship for Asian American youth). He is the recipient of the American Cancer Society Silicon Valley Region Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award, and the Dana Sambor Volunteerism Award from Alameda and Contra Costa County Joint Developmental Disability Council. Dr. Wang counts among his proudest achievement his launching of the Citizens for Better Community Summer Youth Internship program, and driving the newly completed $2.5 million Friends of Children with Special Needs "Dream Center" project.