NCPF Board Members

Anne SorensenTim JochnerKara NavolioEric WeberRalph AustinKim Moore
John McMorrisJim McClellandKaren KruegerJon CampopianoMichael Stark

Advisory Committee

Christy CannonKassie WenzellLee OllerGary SkrelRich ErgoLou Carella

NCPF Board Members

Anne Sorensen
Anne Sorensen has been a resident of Walnut Creek since 1986. She and her husband, Gregg, have 3 children, one at Northgate High School, one in college, and one at Foothill Middle School. Anne was involved in real estate syndication, finance and development prior to becoming the business manager for her husband's medical practice. She has volunteered for various positions on the Walnut Acres PFC and the Northgate PFA. Anne was on the board of Scottsdale Swim Team for several years. After experiencing the disadvantage Northgate swimmers and water polo players have by not having a home pool, she became a member of The Northgate Community Pride Board. Her goal is to build a competitive Aquatic Center at Northgate High School.

Tim Jochner
Tim Jochner was born and raised in Walnut Creek, and has resided in Walnut Creek ever since. He and his wife Courtney attended Walnut Acres, Valle Verde, Foothill and Northgate. While at Northgate Tim lettered in Baseball, Wrestling and sat first chair on the Jazz band as a senior. Tim and Courtney have two girls; one attends Northgate and one attends Valle Verde. Tim is currently President and Chairman of Superior Financial Group LLC, Walnut Creek, California. He owns and operates Shadowbrook Winery in Walnut Creek, California as well as Diablo Vineyards, a vineyard planting and management company. Tim has owned and operated 3 successful businesses in the financial services industry, two of which were separately honored by Entrepreneurial magazine as top 100 fastest growing companies. Tim has volunteered in many of his children's school functions and serves as Chairman of the board of the Northgate Baseball dugout club (www.northgatebaseball.com). Having enjoyed much business success Tim is dedicated to improving the Northgate area schools so that the current and future students can have the best opportunities for success. Tim's goal for the Northgate Community Pride Foundation and the reason he joined the Board is to improve all of the school's "outside the classroom" activities that he believes are just as important as the "in classroom" activities in a young person's growth and development. "Producing good citizens will enhance our community and give our children a foundation for success."

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Kara Navolio
Kara has been an active volunteer in the Northgate area schools for 11 years. She has held PTA board positions and committee chair positions at Valle Verde Elementary. She was a girl scout leader for 7 years. She has been active in the parent-taught drug prevention program (PEP) at the elementary and middle school levels, teaching for 11 years and recruiting and coordinating the program for 9 years. Her business background is in marketing research, and she holds a B.S. in business from U.C. Berkeley. She has been involved with Northgate Community Pride Foundation since 2005 writing grant applications and fundraising in the community. Kara has been an active volunteer in the Northgate area schools for 11 years. She has held PTA board positions and committee chair positions at Valle Verde Elementary. She was a girl scout leader for 7 years. She has been active in the parent-taught drug prevention program (PEP) at the elementary and middle school levels, teaching for 11 years and recruiting and coordinating the program for 9 years.

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Eric Weber
Eric Weber has been a resident of Walnut since 1999. He and his wife, Sheri, have 3 children, one at Northgate High School, one in college and one at Foothill Middle School. Eric currently works for the Institutional Solutions Group of the Hartford where he calls on Fortune 1000 companies and has been in financial services industry his entire career. Eric is an active volunteer within the aquatics community. He is a parent advisor the Northgate High School water polo program, a volunteer coach for Diablo Water Polo club team and currently plays masters water polo for the Olympic Club. Eric's goal for Northgate Community Pride and the reason he joined the board is to build a state of the art aquatics facility by leveraging his extensive knowledge of the aquatics industry and give our students and community the opportunity to improve our competitive edge.

Ralph Austin,
Sports Complex Construction Manager
Ralph Austin has lived in Walnut Creek since 1972 and graduated from Del Valle High School in 1974. Ralph and his wife Sydney have 3 children who attend Northgate and Foothill Middle School. He has owned and operated Surebuilt Construction Company, a high-end residential construction firm, for 28 years and has been a partner in ProSiding, Inc., a siding installation company, for 6 years. He is very active in the local sports community, coaching soccer for 12 years and baseball for 10.

Kim Moore

John McMorris

Jim McClelland

Karen Krueger

Jon Campopiano

Michael Stark

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Advisory Committee

Christy Cannon
Christy has been a resident of Walnut Creek since 1995. She and her husband, K.C., have three boys: two at Northgate High School and one at Foothill. She has been actively involved in the Northgate area schools for the past 12 years, teaching in the classrooms, chairing various volunteer committees and serving on the Executive Board for the elementary school PFC and middle school's PFA. She has been a Pride Board member and Communications Chair of the Capital Campaign since 2004. Christy is a former Director of Scottsdale Swim team and also served as the DCSL League representative for the Board. She is also a sustaining member of the Junior League of Oakland-East Bay. She operates her own design consulting business, christine marie.

Kassie Wenzell
Kassie has been a Walnut Creek resident since 1995. She and her husband Mike have 3 children, 2 in college and one at Northgate. Kassie has served on the Stadium Project committee since its inception in 2003, helped with grant writing and general fundraising. She is currently a Substitute teacher in the Mount Diablo Unified School District, a member of the John Muir Hospital Auxiliary and the Teens and Parents Service Society. Kassie has also served as a board member on the Las Lomas-Northgate Football Foundation, PEP and Smart Start Teacher, School Site Councils and various community improvement committees. Her professional experiences include property management, retail management and office financial management.

Lee Oller
Lee Oller has been a resident of Walnut Creek since 1993. She and her husband, Art, have 3 children: a senior at Northgate High School, a son at the College of William and Mary, and a daughter who graduated from UCSD. Lee is a substitute teacher for the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. She is also the Drama Director for the Walnut Acres Children's Theater, which presents a full-scale musical each spring and a Theatre Camp every summer. In addition, Lee is a mentor and Teaching Artist for the ArtReach Program in Walnut Creek. In addition to her teaching work, Lee is active in her volunteer pursuits. She has held many positions on the parent/faculty boards and Site Councils of the 3 schools her children have attended. She has also served on the City of Walnut Creek Arts Education Advisory Council for six years. Lee has been active on the Northgate Community Pride Board for 7 years. She was Project Leader, with Rick Callaway, on the Jack De Rieux Little Theatre renovation project, which was completed in Fall, 2006. Lee currently serves on the Board as the Chair of the Board Development Committee.

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Gary Skrel
Gary Skrel is one of the co-founders of the NCPF. He has been on the Board since its inception in 1998. His initial focus area on the Board was the successful renovation of the Northgate Gymnasium, which was completed in 2001. Gary is a Walnut Creek City Council member, currently serving as Mayor Pro Tem. He is a professional engineer and founding principal with The Covello Group, Inc., a construction management consulting firm.

Rich Ergo
Rich Ergo has been on the NCPF board since its inception. Rich and his wife Linda have lived in Walnut Creek since 1984 and have four children. Rich has served on the board for Walnut Creek Little League and the Walnut Creek Fountain for Youth Foundation. He has coached youth soccer, baseball and basketball teams in the community since 1986. Rich is a partner with the Walnut Creek law firm of Bowles & Verna.

Lou Carella
Lou Carella has been on the Board of the NGPF since 2000 and currently serves as the Board's Vice President. Lou, his wife Tricia, and three daughters Kaitlin, Mia and Emma have lived in Walnut Creek since 1994. Lou works for a consulting engineering firm located in Walnut Creek. He participates in a church community youth group home building program for families in Mexico, and tries staying in shape playing basketball and softball.

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