Retired-Point Loma Nazarene University
Karen is a retired Art Education Professor and Chair Emeritus of the Department of Art and Design for Point Loma Nazarene University.
Karen was born on an emergency room gurney in the hallway while her dad was parking the car, and she’s been in a hurry ever since. She used her timeliness well while teaching art and design at the college level for over forty years. During that time she served on an array of local, state and national boards including 20-years of service on the Art Advisory Panel for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing which was responsible for writing CTC State Standards, approving art education programs across the state of California, and producing standardized tests for the discipline. Outside of the collegiate scope, Karen has taught art to children experiencing homelessness at the St. Vincent de Paul Center and San Diego County schools for eight years, and she sings in the La Jolla Presbyterian Church Choir.
She has a Ph. D. in Art Education from the University of Oregon and interned at the Planning Department after completing her graduate studies. The joy of giving to the health and well-being of San Diego neighborhoods has contributed to content in her visual arts and across her career.
Karen thanks her sponsors Goldie Sinegal, Roger Haines and Walter Lam.
Associations-YMCA
Kari has been the Regional Executive Director of YMCA San Diego County since 2012.
She grew up in Thousand Oaks, CA, and then attended University of New Mexico State on a full athletic scholarship for division 1 volleyball. After graduating Kari became the Assistant Director of Athletic Marketing and Promotions at UC Santa Barbara, an Event Director for Elite Racing, Inc., the Assistant Director of Athletics for Development at USD, Executive Director of Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, and then in 2008, the Vice President of Competitor Group, Inc., producing 9 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathons and half marathons.
Kari’s husband David was a Rotary Youth Exchange Student in Spain, and still credits that year as the transformational experience that truly changed the trajectory of his life. Together they have two sons who love sports, outdoor activities, food and theater.
“If we put our hands, heads and hearts together, anything is possible!”
Kari thanks her sponsors Tracy Sundlun, Sidd Vivek and Courtney Pendleton.
Real Estate Development – Acquisition
Eli was born in Spain, has Portuguese citizenship and speaks French. He and his wife, fellow San Diego Rotary member Betsy Brennan, have a blended family with 5 teenagers.
Having retired from a career practicing pediatric anesthesia, Eli is now developing a real estate portfolio and management corporation, MANAKA LLC. Although he loved the practice of medicine, he left that career at young age to get away from the bureaucracy that often comes with it. One of the things he loved most in his medical practice was going on medical missions. There was something energizing in working in a foreign country without the use of our everyday resources, while also having the money aspect of the work taken out of it. One of these missions he embarked on was sponsored by the Rotary. He knew from then on he would be involved with Rotarians in some way.
Eli thanks his sponsors Betsy Brennan, Nikki Clay and Ben Clay
