Board of Trustees

Betty Mohlenbrock, M.Ed.

President & Chairperson

Educator, Reading Specialist

Betty is an educator, reading specialist, Founder and CEO (Retired) of Family Literacy Foundation, United Through Reading, and Founder and President of Reading Legacies (her current endeavor).  

Betty’s numerous awards include The Congressional Medal of Honor Society Community Service Hero Award for United Through Reading, the Peter Drucker Award for Non- Profit Innovation, LEAD San Diego Visionary Award, Traditional Home “The Classic Woman Award”, University of Illinois Alumni Humanitarian Award, Coronado Legend Award, the Daughters of the American Revolution Medal of Honor, and the George Washington Honor Medal from Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge,  San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce 20th Annual Women in Leadership Award, the Success Above Self Award from the Rotary Club of Coronado, San Diego Business Journal’s Business Women of the Year Finalist. 

Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts, as well as a Master’s Degree in Education with a specialty in teaching Reading. Both degrees are from the University of Illinois. 

Richard M. Radosh

Vice Chair

Community Volunteer

Richard M. Radosh, Attorney at Law, is a sole practitioner helping clients with wills, trusts, philanthropy planning and corporate governance. He is also an avid trumpet player performing with the Coastal Communities Concert Band. Richard serves on the Board of Directors and as Development Director of the Coastal Communities Concert Band Foundation which supports and operates the band.

During 2009, He served as principal researcher on the San Diego Jewish Community Foundation study entitled “Feeding the Hungry in San Diego.” During 2007, Richard worked as a temporary executive for United Through Reading®, Betty Mohlenbrock’s previous organization, assisting with the organization’s transition to its current CEO.

Michael Malone

Treasurer / Chair

Vistage International

Mike is an experienced senior software executive who has specialized in managing and growing leading edge technology companies. He was the founding President of the San Diego Software Industry Council and has served as a Director and advisor to many San Diego technology companies. 

Mike began as a Vistage Chair in 2005, and currently chairs a Chief Executive Group and a Trusted Advisor Group since March of 2008. He currently coaches 31 CEOs of companies of various sizes.

Julie B. Beaty

Secretary

Community Volunteer

Julie is currently a community volunteer recently relocated to San Diego.

A graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law and Birmingham-Southern College, Julie has extensive experience in public policy and law in Washington, DC.

Derek Cox, MBA

Trustee

Contract Advisor

After retiring from professional football, Derek earned his Master’s in Business Administration at UCLA Anderson School of Management and is an Independent Sports Agent and Conultant.

Derek believes that the Reading Legacies initiative can bring much needed motivation to youth. Many of them struggle with motivation and understanding how they can make a difference in the world. This program shows them that they can make a difference in the world at the most important place – home.

Elena Levens-Craig

Trustee

Board of Education, Santee School District

Community Volunteer

Elana Levens-Craig possesses nearly two decades of executive-level corporate, non-profit, and education leadership with lauded success in a myriad of environments. She is a former special education teacher in both public and non-public schools. Elana is currently serving her tenth-consecutive year as an elected member of the Santee School District Board of Education, most recently serving as Board President. She co-founded Packaging Solutions for Today’s Industry in 2004 with her husband, and successfully sold the company in 2020.

Elana’s volunteer activities include East County Meals on Wheels, Father Joe’s Villages, Jewish Family Service, Susan G. Komen, Salvation Army, Rotary International, and events with the local Chambers of Commerce. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree, Magna Cum Laude, and Master’s degree from San Diego State University and is the recipient of more than a dozen industry and volunteer awards. When she is not traveling, hiking or reading, she is spending time with her two grandchildren

Eric Manese

Trustee

Rancho Santa Fe Insurance

Eric is Branch Manager at Rancho Santa Fe Insurance. Aside from serving as a Trustee for Reading Legacies, Eric is a Board Member and Finance Committee Member at Sharp HealthCare Foundation, and President at Future Legends Chuck Courtney Honorary Scholarship Fund.

Erica ward

Erica Ward

Trustee

BAE Systems

Erica joined the Board of Trustees in 2023 and continues to work on expanding the programs and their outreach. Erica is an experienced pricing and compliance senior principal within the aerospace and defense industry.

Erica holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, with a minor in Finance and a Master’s Degree in the Study of Law, Government Contracting and Procurement Law.

In addition to being an active volunteer, treasurer and member of her community and public schools system, Erica is passionate about and shares many of the same values that are at the core of Reading Legacies, especially its commitment to building and strengthening relationships through the joy of reading aloud to children.

GIVING of our time and resources is one of the best investments in our children and future.

Liz Valenzuela Banker​

Trustee

Pres/CEO/Veteran

Valbanks Consulting

Coming Soon…!

Michael j. Haynes

Trustee

Pro Football Hall of Fame &

All NFL 100 Year Anniversary Team

A graduate of ASU and former New England Patriot and Los Angeles Raider, Mike is a member of the NFL Hall of Fame as well as the All NFL 100 Year Anniversary Team.

He serves on the board of the Retired Hall of Fame and is the national spokesperson for the American Urological Association.

A father of six, Mike is a strong advocate for children and youth in San Diego and beyond.

Shaun R. Wiley

Trustee

ZUZA Print | Market | Mail

Shaun has been involved with marketing efforts for nearly 20 years. His current role as an executive marketing consultant at ZUZA Marketing Asset Management allows him to work closely and guide business leadership from various industries across the globe. 

Before moving to California in 2014, he served as Director of Admissions with the Art Institutes in Georgia and Florida. As an alumni of Georgia State University, he holds a dual-Bachelors in Journalism and Sociology. His secret to success: Treat others like they want to be treated.

Vivian Lin

Contract Advisor

Vivi Lin, a trailblazer in sports and entertainment with over 25 years of experience, is the first Asian American woman to own and lead a professional football team. Lin, who served as the VP of Business Development and Player Engagement for the San Diego Strike Force, took over as the team’s owner/CEO in 2020. Her leadership brought the club back after the COVID-19 pandemic and the team’s most successful year.

Building on her success with the San Diego Strike Force, Lin joined a team of five executives and launched the privately owned Frontwave Arena, which is set to be the future home of the Los Angeles Clippers’ G-League team.

Her extensive background includes leading marketing and events for the US National Surf Team and being one of the creators of the San Diego Zoo Global Academy, which now generates over $350 million in annual revenue.

Lin’s current project is to launch her a professional arena football team in Austin, Texas, in 2025, making her the first woman to launch a professional football expansion team.

Lin graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with an undergraduate degree in Educational Psychology and Communications. She received a master’s in Sports Business Leadership from Columbia University and graduated in the top two in her class with an Executive MBA in Global Sports Business Management from the University of East London.

David Bejarano

Chief of Police (Retired)

San Diego and Chula Vista Police Departments 

Reo Carr

Founder/CEO, Research Group of Companies, LLC

Ken Culver

Commander (Retired) 

San Diego County Sheriff’s Department 

Edward DeRoche, Ph.D.

University of San Diego

Director, Character Development Center

Rhonda Su'esu'e-Hernandez, RCFE (Trustee)

Activities Director of Greater San Diego (ADGSD)

 

Valerie G. Hong, Esq. (Trustee)

Garcia Hong Law APC

Jessica Hughes, M.Ed.

School Counseling

Cheryl Carter King

Member of Founding Board, Retired

Stephen R. Lewis, M.D. Legacy Fund Representative 

Rachael Horn Langford

Adjunct Professor of Sociology, Point Loma Nazarene University

Ashley Rae Rawlins

RAWLINS LAW, APC

Renee K. Resko

Vice President of Development, Helen Woodward Animal Center

Carolos Ramirez Reyes

Third Grade Teacher, San Diego Unified School District

Stephanie Scott

Quality Review Analyst
American Specialty Health

Lee E. Winslett

Wells Fargo, SVP & Division Mgr. New Markets
Lending/Investment

Cecil Steppe

Director, Dept. of Social Services/San Diego County Chief Probation Officer/CEO San Diego Urban League (Ret) 

Col. Marianne S. Waldrop, USMC (Ret.), Ph.D.

University of North Carolina NROTC Alumni Association, Pres. 

Greg Williams

Campus Supervisor, 
Liberty Charter High School

We are honored

To carry on the legacy of Stephen R. Lewis, M.D.

A beloved and respected physician, and family friend. His life was an exemplary model of dedication to family and community, and a strong belief in providing a foundation for children and youth to be successful in life. To that end, our Board of Trustees has established the Stephen R. Lewis, M.D. Legacy Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation with the purpose of funding the leadership position of Reading Legacies, the Stephen R. Lewis, M.D. Presidential Chair.

Reading Legacies is working closely with his family to deliver programs with highest integrity that will fulfill his vision for children and youth. The Board is both grateful for and humbled by the generosity of so many of Steve’s family and friends. Together, we are paying a high tribute to this wonderful man’s life. In order to participate in this Legacy Fund, simply make note of this on your contribution. If you desire further information, please contact us.

Nicole Vargas

My name is Nicole Vargas. I joined the Reading Legacies team in January 2023. I have a BA in Child Development from Point Loma Nazarene University and 6 years’ experience working with children from ages infancy to adolescence. My role as the Storybook Readers Program Manager is to oversee the programing and implementation of our Youth Readers and Storybook Inspirations programs. As a child development professional, I have firsthand experience seeing the immense impact that reading aloud to children has on their early literacy skills and relationship building within the family and community. One of my favorite children’s books is If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff.