Board of Directors

Board of Directors:
 

Shawna Whitfield: Vice President, Board of Directors. 
Ms. Whitfield is a former fourth and fifth grade elementary school teacher who now parents a son on the Autism Spectrum. First-hand experience dealing with the services and providers in San Luis Obispo County has prepared Ms. Whitfield to share her knowledge with families who are in similar situations and expand the field of opportunities for those affected by autism.  As the Center’s WALK for Autism Coordinator, Ms. Whitfield works to manage, fundraise, and garner sponsorships for this event with a two-thousand person involvement.  The desire for inclusion and acceptance is what drives Ms. Whitfield to take action by contributing to the Autism Spectrum Center.

Sandra Price: Secretary, Board of Directors.
Ms. Price is the mother of a child with autism that was diagnosed at three years of age. This experience has driven Ms. Price to help other families through participation on the board of directors, to affect positive systems change. As a credentialed general education teacher, currently on a leave of absence, Ms. Price brings the expertise of management and administration. She has experienced the inclusion of children with special needs in her classrooms, participated in Student Study Teams (SST’s), understands the Individualized Education Plans (IEP’s), and knows what it means to be on either side of the table during conversations regarding the needs of children with autism spectrum disorders. Ms. Price has a great deal of training in the field of autism, having attended California Association of Resource Specialists and Special Education Teachers (CARS Plus), and trainings provided through Tri-Counties Regional Center including “Parent-to-Parent” Trainings, Occupational Therapy (OT) trainings by Diana Henry, and Socialization Trainings by Michele Garcia Winner. The Price home has been host to a variety of behaviorists, and there is a desire to see programs, generally designed for the “typical” child, accept and include children/individuals with autism and other special needs.

Mercedes Meier: Treasurer, Board of Directors. 
Ms. Meier is the bookkeeper and human resource administrator for LMB investments. LMB Investments manages and operates nine bars and restaurants and three investment corporations. Ms. Meier’s duties include initial opening of the business and implementing policies and procedures as well as ongoing management of financials, payroll and personnel. Ms. Meier is also the mother of a child diagnosed with autism and is passionate about improving local resources for families that are living with autism.

Michael Ruef, PhD: Member at Large, Board of Directors.
Dr. Ruef is a Professor and Co-Coordinator of Special Education Programs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo where he teaches graduate courses in family theory, positive behavioral support, autism and research methods. He has worked to embed hands on autism training in the Cal Poly special education teacher training program and is currently working to establish an autism institute on the Cal Poly campus. He currently administers a $777,000 personnel preparation grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
Prior to coming to Cal Poly, Dr. Ruef served as an Associate Research Professor at the Kansas University’s Beach Center on Families and Disability. While at the Beach Center, he worked on several federal grants including the NIDRR funded Rehabilitation and Research Center on Positive Behavioral Support. He also worked at the Kansas State Department of Education and served as the Director of the Kansas Positive Behavioral Support State Training Team.

Debra Balke, MD: Member at Large, Board of Directors.
Dr. Balke is a board-certified pediatric neurologist with expertise in epilepsy and autism.  She received her medical training at the UCLA Medical Center and also worked during these years to support a free pediatric neurology outreach clinic in Bakersfield.  She is a founding member of CCASK and CCASC and is a co-founder of the North County Autism Support Group.  She runs a busy, part-time, solo pediatric neurology practice in San Luis Obispo County. Dr. Balke is also the proud and busy mother of two children with autism spectrum disorder, one of which is currently home schooled.

Steve Lumm: Member at Large.
Mr. Lumm served as the Interim President/CEO for Kinecta Federal Credit Union from January through May of 2010, and assisted the Kinecta Board of Directors on their CEO search and merger strategy.  He was a consultant for Nice Enterprises for three years, working with CEOs, executive staff, and boards of directors in the credit union industry.  Steve was the President/CEO of Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union for 12 years, retiring from that position early in 2007.  He also served as the Treasurer on the Credit Union’s Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Addison Avenue Financial Partners, and the Chairman of the Board of Essex National Securities Inc, an investment broker/dealer purchased by Addison Avenue FCU.   Before becoming the credit union’s CEO in 1994, Steve was on the HP Employees Federal Credit Union Board of Directors for six years, serving as Board Chairman for four years.  Steve also served on the Supervisory Committee for seven years and chaired the committee for three years. Steve joined Hewlett-Packard in 1969 and held positions in finance, controllership and marketing. Steve holds a BS in Accounting and an MBA from Indiana University.
 

Other Officers:

Juli Miller: Founder and Executive Director.
Ms. Miller has degrees in Early Childhood Education and Social Services Administration. She created and directed the E.L. Wiegand Infant Care Center at Transition House in Santa Barbara, serving the infants and toddlers of families experiencing homelessness. During this time she acted as the Children’s Policy advisor to Congressman Walter Capps, was a founding member of the Board of Directors for Concerned Citizens for Children, was an active member of the Tri- Counties and California Associations for the Education for Young Children (CAEYC) and implemented an acting Student Council at Antioch University, Santa Barbara. Upon moving to San Luis Obispo County, Ms. Miller was Vineyard Administrator for the then new, Seven Peaks Winery in Creston. She developed all policies and procedures for staff and contract help, with special attention to human resources, finance, and the development of the company health care policies and selecting a high quality health care plan for minimum wage employees. Ms. Miller has 14 years of experience in administration and development of non profit, and for profit, corporations. Since leaving the professional world to be a stay home mother, she has acted as a Girl Scout Leader, Boy Scout volunteer, and created a Lego Club for children ages 6-12 in Templeton.