Meet our Board

Joey is the President of Matchfire, an award-winning digital agency that has built campaigns for Fortune 50 companies and global nonprofits. He’s directed cause campaigns that have raised over $100 million for non-profits across the United States. Joey also serves on the Board of the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum.

Trudie is co-founder of Trust Automation, has been its CFO for over twenty years also serving on its board of directors. She is a former member of an international management advisory and educational consulting firm. Her board experience includes twelve years with a local non-profit whose major fundraiser brings 500+ participants to the area annually.

Maryellen spent most of her professional career as a legal administrator, retiring from Andre, Morris & Buttery in San Luis Obispo. Today she focuses on management consulting with both nonprofit and for profit clients, including the SLO Symphony, Festival Mozaic, and the SLO Repertory Theatre.  She has also served on several local boards and is the Immediate Past President of PCPA Foundation.

Morgen Houlis, a CPA and Principal with Glenn Burdette for 25 years, is an expert in cost segregation studies and fixed and capitalized asset concepts, focusing on the hospitality industry. She is also passionate about trust administration. In addition to serving as acting Treasurer for the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center, Morgen serves as Treasurer for RISE, an organization which provides crisis intervention and treatment services to survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence. Morgen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cal Poly and has practiced as a licensed CPA in New York and Wyoming. She is the former Treasurer of both SLOHS Boosters and San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden.

Geri LaChance is President/CEO of SESLOC Federal Credit Union, the largest financial institution headquartered in San Luis Obispo County serving the community since 1942. In addition to FPAC, Geri is serving on the Cal Poly Corporation board, the SLO YMCA board (chair 2015-2017), the CA Credit Union League board and Martin Resorts advisory board. She is past chair of the SLO Chamber board of directors, and previously served as a board member with Leadership SLO and the SLO Housing Trust Fund. Geri has been named one of the Top 50 Women in Business by the Pacific Coast Business Times five times; SESLOC Federal Credit Union has been selected as one of the “Best Places to Work on the Central Coast” multiple times by the same publication.

Prior to assuming his current role, Tom was the Executive Vice President and Region Manager of the Central Coast. Mr. Strait’s banking experience spans three decades, with banks in Los Angeles, San Diego and Texas. He has held a diverse array of positions during his career in banking including, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Credit Officer and Managing Director of Alternative Delivery Channels. Mr. Strait is active in the local nonprofit community, recently serving as the Board Chair of Goodwill Central Coast. He proactively seeks out sponsorship opportunities with valued community groups, such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County. Mr. Strait actively participates in ongoing education through the California Bankers Association and the Risk Management Association.

Skye Christakos is a shareholder at George Cyr & Christakos, where she specializes in estate planning, trust and probate law, with emphasis on tax planning and administration of estates. She is the past President and Treasurer of the Central Coast Memorial Society, board member of the Women Lawyer’s Association of San Luis Obispo, and an alumni of Leadership SLO’s Class XXI. Skye was born and raised in San Luis Obispo where she currently resides with her husband and kids. When she is not in the office, you may find her writing novels in her spare time.

Brandon is marketing and creative services director at KSBY-TV, a position he has held since 2008. His technical background in editing, writing, producing, and directing, combined with his strategic and thoughtful thinking has made Brandon a key asset in many areas of the television station. Brandon is active in the local community, serving on numerous non-profit boards. He’s a member of the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and has also served on the boards for the San Luis Obispo County YMCA, United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County, and Leadership San Luis Obispo where he served two terms as board chair. He spent most of his childhood in the small coastal town of Cambria and graduated from Cal Poly with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. He and his wife Shannon, live in Arroyo Grande with their 11-year-old son, Carter.

With over 15 years of experience as an attorney, Maren focuses her practice on litigation, corporate work, ethics and compliance, while offering risk-weighted and practical business advice. Before her move to the central coast, Maren focused on investigations and enforcement defense while a partner at a large Orange County-based law firm. In her next venture, she gained significant client-side experience as a compliance professional in the public sector at a nationally ranked university. A Pepperdine-trained mediator, Maren has experience with administrative hearings, alternative dispute resolution, discourtesy and bias community facilitation, and restorative justice solutions. Maren is active with the Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo, and the proud parent of two SLCUSD students. The Huftons reside in San Luis Obispo, near Maren’s parents and her sister – a Cal Poly Proud grad. Maren enjoys fitness, book clubs, and hiking with her labradoodle Barley.

Nicole is a SLO native and is deeply connected and involved in our local community. She is a CPA and Principal at Russell, Mainini, and Franklin, LLP. She earned a Master of Business degree in Financial Accounting and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration at Cal Poly and is a devoted Mustang! Nicole has enjoyed volunteering with organizations in the community, including the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, Reading is Fundamental, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the VITA Clinic at Cal Poly. Nicole danced through high school with local studios in San Luis Obispo, grew up performing on the stage of the Performing Arts Center, and eventually concluded her college career choreographing with Cal Poly’s dance program. She loves living on the central coast, spending time with her big family and sweet puppy Sadie, and serving the San Luis Obispo community.

Skylar has over 24 years of experience in the wine industry. Born in Portland, he has lived around the world and holds an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University, Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Skylar also serves on the Rhône Rangers Board of Directors, Partner Advisory Board of MUST! Charities, and Trade Marketing Committee of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.

Claude currently serves as the west coast director of business development for international engineering firm, Watterford Consultants, LLC. He has always been passionate about music and has maintained a presence in a variety of musical groups. Whether as a session musician or leading original music ensembles, his love and commitment to the arts has always burned brightly. Claude resides in San Luis Obispo with his fiancé Amanda, who has a very successful event planning business.

Ashley Wilken, CFP^® is a Senior Wealth Manager and Portfolio Manager at The Rice Partnership in their San Luis Obispo office. Ashley is a Cal Poly graduate with a degree in Agribusiness and an MBA with a concentration in Agribusiness. Previous to The Rice Partnership, she worked as a commercial and agricultural lender in San Luis Obispo County.