Robert F. Adelizzi, Chair Emeritus – Executive Committee
Born and raised in Philadelphia, graduated from Dartmouth College (B.A.), USD Law School (J.D.), Bob served in the Marine Corps as a Captain. He earned All-Ivy, All-American, and All-Marine Football awards. He worked for Home Federal Savings & Loan for 30 years, including CEO & President of HomeFed Corp, and Home Capital Development Corp. Bob was also Chairman & CEO of Temple Inland Financial Services, Inc. and Chairman & CEO of Guaranty Federal Bank. Chairman and Founding Director of San Diego Capital Collaborative, Currently, Bob is Chairman of Monterra Corp., and a Member of the McMillin Companies Board of Directors, and the San Diego Reinvestment Task Force. Previously, Bob served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Children’s Hospital & Health Center. He is also past Chairman of USD School of Law’s Board of Visitors. He served 25 years on the Board of Directors of St. Vincent de Paul/Father Joe’s Villages. He was Chairman of the California League of Savings Institutions and President of the Conference of Federal Savings & Loan Association. He was a member of the Arbitration Panel for the Superior Court of the State of California. He served as Chairman of United Way. and on the Boards of YMCA of San Diego County, Rotary Club of San Diego, LEAD, and Holiday Bowls. He was inducted into the California Home Builders Hall of Fame, given the USD’s Distinguished Alumnus Award, and UNICO’s Italian/American of the Year Award. With his wife, Tommi, they were the first recipient of the Salvation Army’s “Tradition of Caring” Award. He is a Knight of Malta.
Grace Evans Cherashore
Grace Evans Cherashore is Executive Chair of the Evans Hotels ( Bahia, Catamaran, and the Lodge at Torrey Pines) and received a BA degree from the University of Colorado and MBA from Dartmouth. She has served on the Board of Sharp Hospital and the Rady school of business at UCSD as well as Former Board Chair of The Bishop’s School. With a background in banking Ms. Cherashore served on board of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco for five years.
Julie Connolly, Co-Chair Capital Campaign, Executive Committee
Julie is the direct descendant of two longtime and prominent San Diego families: the Gildred family and the Frost family. Her uncle, Philip Gildred, served as Trustee and President of the San Diego Historical Society in the 1980s. Julie graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1991 and immediately joined the pre-opening sales team at the Hyatt Regency San Diego at the Convention Center. Over the next eleven years, she married Michael Connolly and continued her career at Hyatt & Starwood living in five cities and two countries, while serving eight hotels. Returning to San Diego in 2003, Julie became a stay-at-home mother and community volunteer. Her principal volunteer activities have been with Rady Children’s Hospital, in addition to school, youth, and civic endeavors.
Debra L. Cushman-Parrish, Chair Elect 2026-2027, Executive Committee
As a fifth generation San Diegan, Debby is very proud of her family’s dedication to the San Diego community and like them, has been actively involved with many Boards and organizations. Seacrest Foundation, Jewish Community Foundation & Girl Scouts of San Diego; as a leader for 13 years, as well as mentoring girls who achieved their Gold Awards. Debby earned a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from the University of San Diego. She is co-manager of Selma Investments, director of Cush Enterprises, and secretary/treasurer for the Cushman Foundation. Debby formerly co-owned businesses in the automotive and travel industries. Debby is passionate about her family’s long legacy of serving our community, dating back to 1870’s. In her spare time, Debby is an avid genealogist. She also enjoys various hobbies including traveling, cooking, and scuba diving. Debby is married to Kent Parrish, owner of California Flight Academy, and their family includes son Nikolas (Kristen, 1-year old son) & daughter Britny (Tony, 1-year old daughter).
Johnny Elliott
Johnny “Eagle Spirit” Elliott is a current trustee of the San Diego History Center and is a member of the Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. Johnny shares his knowledge and study of traditional Kumeyaay culture and religion through practice and communication. He serves as a member of the Manazanita Tribal Council as well as past Chair of the Kumeyaay Digueño Land Conservancy and is a former member of the Governing Board of the San Diego River Conservancy.
Thompson Fetter, Chair Emeritus, Chair Governance Committee, Executive Committee, Co-Chair Capital Campaign
Tom Fetter is a native San Diegan who received his BA and MBA from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego school of Law. He has owned and operated various retail businesses in San Diego since 1972. Prior to that he spent 13 years with Whitaker Corporation, a Los Angeles-based conglomerate. His current business activities include San Diego Car Care, a group of retail/service businesses consisting of Chevron-branded fuel, convenience stores and car washes. He also owns RV Solutions, Inc., a full-service dealership for recreational vehicles. Tom has extensive experience with Balboa Park institutions including 13 years from 2002 to 2015 as Trustee concluding as President of the Fleet Science Center. He has served the past 29 years as a Trustee of the Zoological Society of San Diego and was President of that organization from 2001 to 2003. He has been a Trustee of the San Diego History Center since 2010, and as its Chair for the past eight years.
Bonnie Fletcher
A San Diego native, Bonnie is a fourth-generation descendent of Col. Ed Fletcher, one of San Diego’s principal early developers, who is individually credited for early development of our freshwater resources. Her interest in the history of our region is stimulated by contributions and service of the large and distinguished Fletcher family. Bonnie is an accomplished businesswoman. She graduated from San Diego State University and later earned an MBA in 1998 from the University of San Diego. After two years with the Fireman’s Fund insurance Company of Northern California she returned to San Diego and began Fletcher Business Services, Inc. which she has owned and operated for over 15 years. Her firm operates the back-office activities for law firms, architects and small professional offices.
Shaka Johnson – Exhibitions Committee
Shaka Johnson serves as Vice President & Associate General Counsel at Sony Electronics Inc. and holds a Jurist Doctor degree from the USD School of Law and serves on their Board of Visitors. He has been broadly recognized for his efforts in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He has served on the Board of the Jackie Robinson YMCA for 10 years and supports the San Diego History Center efforts to collect and commemorate the history of the Black Community of San Diego. Shaka also serves as a member of the Board’s exhibition subcommittee tasked with provide input and guidance on reimagine efforts of the History Center’s Balboa Park museum new permanent exhibition.
Jim Jessop – Capital Campaign Committee
With extensive experience in the jewelry industry and a passion for preserving San Diego’s history, Jim brings valuable expertise to our organization. As the former owner and President of Jessop Jeweler, specializing in estate jewelry, Jim’s deep understanding of San Diego’s cultural heritage is rooted in his fourth-generation native status. He holds a degree from SDSU School of Business and is a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America. With a strong commitment to excellence, Jim served on the Board of Managers for the American Gem Society Diamond Grading Laboratory. He has also made significant contributions to the San Diego community as the former Commodore of the San Diego Yacht Club and a member of the Downtown San Diego Rotary. In addition, Jim has been entrusted with the care of preserving the historic Jessop Clock further exemplifying his commitment to honoring and safeguarding San Diego’s heritage.
Charles Kaminski – Secretary, Executive Committee, Capital Campaign, Exhibitions Committee
Charles Kaminski is a retired UC San Diego architect and currently Board Member Emeritus of the Lambda Archives of San Diego, which collects, preserves and educates about San Diego LGBTQ+ history. A member of the San Diego History Center’s LGBTQ+ Exhibit Funding Committee, Chuck has been instrumental in raising funds for this exhibition. Kaminski, along with his late husband, architect Jeffrey Shorn, is active as a civic leader and has been at forefront of preserving the historic character of and public access to San Diego. These include Salk Institute for Biological Studies, the Balboa Theatre, and El Pueblo Ribera, an innovative collection of beach cottages designed in the early 1920s by internationally known architect Rudolph Schindler. Chuck has been involved with Citizens Coordinate for Century 3, former President of Partners for Livable Places and a Board Member on Installation Gallery and the Kensington-Talmadge Planning Committee.
Helen Kinnaird
Helen Kinnaird served seven years as a SDHC Trustee, then stepped off the Board in 2015. She serves as alternative dispute resolution specialist and also appraises and disposes estate properties. She received her MBA from the University of San Diego. She was the Chairwoman of the Peninsula Planning Board, a citizen organization that advises the City of San Diego on land use-based community goals and development proposals for the Peninsula area of San Diego. Helen and her husband, Webster (Buzz), devote much of their time to community service and non-profits including the Children’s Hospital, Balboa Park Explorer Program, San Diego Museum of Art, ARCS Foundation, San Diego, and the Fleet Science Center. They are widely respected as art collectors. Her knowledge, interest, and contacts in the local arts community will strengthen this important aspect of San Diego History Center’s collection.
Sandra Maas – Capital Campaign Committee
With an impressive background as an Emmy award-winning broadcast veteran in both television and radio, Sandra is nationally recognized as an accomplished leader and communicator. Her insightful interviews with top newsmakers in business, government, and academia have solidified her reputation as a trusted connector, creator, and collaborator.
As a primary news anchor at two prominent television stations in the San Diego market, Sandra achieved ratings dominance in key demographics. Her role as an excellent performer and dynamic content creator led to improved market share and increased revenue. Sandra also pioneered franchises focused on life-saving medical breakthroughs and devices, generating a new revenue stream for the stations and providing worldwide exposure to emerging technology.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Sandra’s commitment to community service is exceptional. She currently serves as the president of the Women’s Museum of California and has contributed her expertise to various boards, including Rady Children’s Hospital, the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, Trojan League Associates of San Diego County, and the Torrey Pines High School Foundation. Her efforts have helped raise millions of dollars for nonprofits such as the National Charity League, Teen Volunteers in Action, Polinsky Children’s Center, San Diego Center for Children, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. All of this makes her an invaluable asset to our board.
Sandra’s outstanding career has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including an Emmy award, 15 Emmy nominations, a Golden Mike Award, an Associated Press Mark Twain Award, recognition from the San Diego Press Club, and honors from the San Diego County Medical Society. She has been inducted into the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and acknowledged by the Salvation Army as a “Woman of Dedication” for her philanthropic work.
Sandra graduated summa cum laude from California State University, Chico, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Political Science. Her exceptional communication, writing, and storytelling skills, combined with her extensive experience and impressive achievements, make Sandra an invaluable asset to our board.
Bruce Mayberry – Co Chair Missing Pieces Black History – All In Community History Project, Capital Campaign
After two 10-year stints in business, the latter with Sempra Energy, Bruce started his own business, JBM Energy Solutions to provide consulting services to the utility industry. For the past 13 years Bruce has also been Chairperson of the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce, which seeks to advance and strengthen Inclusive Economic Development throughout the City and County of San Diego. Bruce is a graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Business Marketing. He also serves on the board of the Fleet Science Center. Bruce is also passionate about gathering and presenting the history of the Black Community San Diego and co-chairs the San Diego History Center’s “Missing Pieces” project for the collection and preservation of the history of San Diego’s Black Community.
Brian Mooney, Chair Exhibitions Subcommittee
Brian Mooney, FAICP, has over 40 years of professional experience specializing in planning, public outreach, environmental analysis, research, and development of public policy. His extensive experience includes preparation, coordination, and completion of sustainable comprehensive and general plans for counties, cities, towns, specialty districts, and tribal governments. Brian’s area of expertise focuses on understanding the complex physical, cultural, political and legal issues of planning and developing communities. As the Managing Principal of the Community Planning & Landscape Architecture Division at Rick Engineering Company, his primary focus is to identify key issues at an early stage, develop methodologies to adequately analyze the issues, integrate stakeholders into the planning process, and create a sense of place with innovative designs that meet the long term needs of a community. He has been recognized with both regional and statewide awards by the American Planning Association (APA), the Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and local government agencies for numerous planning and environmental studies. Brian wrote, narrated, and produced a historic documentary film of the first plan for San Diego titled “The Nolen Plan, Vision, Politics, and Memory in San Diego.”
John Morrell, Immediate Past Chair, Executive Committee, Capital Campaign
John is the retired Chairman and Managing Partner of Higgs, Fletcher, & Mack and specialized in Bankruptcy law. John served as President of the San Diego Bankruptcy Forum in 1997 and was on its Board of Directors from 1996 through 1998. He also served as Vice President of the San Diego County Bar Association in 2003 and served on its Board of Directors from 2001 through 2003. John has been a member of the Downtown San Diego Rotary Club since 1991 and has served as the organization’s President.. He is a third generation San Diegan.
Julie Novak, Capital Campaign
Julie Novak is a Trustee of the San Diego History Center and has also just completed two terms as President of Patrons of the Prado.
In October 2016 Dr. Julie Cowan Novak, DNSc, RN, CPNP, FAANP, FAAN was recruited back home to San Diego from Texas to the Sharp Mary Birch (SMB) Hospital for Women and Newborns Neonatal Research Institute. At that point she had developed 12 clinics for vulnerable and underserved populations. For a decade, SMB had been discussing their need for their own NICU Follow-up Clinic. Over the next 20 months, Julie designed and developed the SMB Nemeth NICU Follow-up Clinic, served as its executive director, hired at outstanding clinic team, and co-led the Growing Together Campaign, securing over $12 million in grants and gifts. The clinic was expanded from 200 NICU graduates enrolled in research studies to 1,500 NICU graduates receiving comprehensive post-NICU follow-up to assure kindergarten readiness. Currently, she is the Principal Investigator and Director of the Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation Innovations in Nursing Care grant with San Diego Neighborhood House Association (NHA) Head Start with over 7,000 preschooler enrollees. With the use of a mobile health van, Dr. Novak provides developmental assessments and health screenings for toddlers and preschoolers, parent coaching and staff education throughout San Diego. She was recently invited to serve as an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego, her alma mater.
Julie believes in supporting the community and since returning to San Diego was invited to join Patrons of the Prado (POP) where she served as Beneficiary Liaison on the POP Board and will serve as their 2020 Gala Chair. She was initiated into Wednesday Club and served as Co-Chair of the San Diego History Center Maker’s Gala in 2018 and 2019. She is a Junior League Sustainer and currently serves as Co-Chair for the Friends of Balboa Park Annual Luncheon to be held October 4, 2019 at the Balboa Park Club. Julie is married to Dr. Robert Novak, Professor Emeritus Purdue University, and Adjunct Professor in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at San Diego State University. Julie and Bob have three married sons, Andrew, Nicholas, and Christopher and a darling granddaughter, Goldie.
Andrea da Rosa
Andrea da Rosa is a Director of Balboa Travel and has over 2 decades of experience in a variety of dynamic industries, developing a deep expertise in travel management, contracts, hospitality, commercial real estate and a passion for delivering exceptional customer service. She has been responsible for account management, overseeing relationship development, strategic marketing, and press communications and more.
Andrea notes that in addition to professional roles, “I am also community advocate, a community strategist and board member to several local / national organizations that promote child welfare & development, cultural diversity, women and the travel industry. I have a strong work ethic and a commitment to creating a better tomorrow for all.”
Andrea is a former Board member of the Women’s Museum of California and is a member of San Diego Rotary (33).
David Ryan, MD.
Dr. David Ryan is a physician that specializes in family medicine and is based in Point Loma. Dr. Ryan received his BS degree from Point Loma Nazarene University and MD from USC. He has served on boards of the Peninsula YMCA, and as an Elder at the Point Loma Community Church. Dr. Ryan has a long family history in San Diego, going back over 100 years. His Grandfather, T. Claude Ryan founded Ryan Aircraft company here in San Diego. His mother Anne Ryan’s mother, Bea Evenson, was a prominent preservationist and philanthropist supporting Balboa Park.
Thomas Sayer, Jr. Chair Elect 2028-2029, Executive Committee, Capital Campaign Committee
Tom Sayer is an attorney in private practice and serves as General Counsel to several real estate, hotel and travel marketing companies. Representation has included handling hundreds of commercial transactions, as well as overseeing numerous lawsuits in the areas of real estate, bankruptcy, employment and commercial law. Tom is a member of the San Diego County Bar, California State Bar and the American Bar Associations and has served as Chair of the Commercial Law Section of the San Diego County Bar Association. Since the inception of the program, Mr. Sayer has taught the Hospitality Law course at San Diego State University’s L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. For over 15 years he has served on the Board of the San Diego Hotel-Motel Association and is Past President and Charter Member of the San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club. Mr. Sayer is a graduate of Cornell University, where he received a BS with honors in Hotel Administration. He received his Law Degree from California Western School graduating third in his class.
Ellis C. Smith – Treasurer, Executive Committee, Capital Campaign
Ellis serves as Treasurer of the San Diego History Center and joined Carmel Capital Partners after the firm acquired Messner and Smith, an investment management firm—that he co-founded in 1984. Specializing in small and mid-cap business, Messner and Smith built a strong reputation in San Diego. Prior to that Ellis owned and managed his own investment advisory firm, Ellis C. Smith Investment Counsel, Inc., which was established in 1974. Ellis is a former Chairman of the Board of the San Diego Downtown YMCA and President of the Executive’s Association of San Diego. He also served as a commissioned officer in the United States Naval Reserve. His financial and investment experience are invaluable to the History Center.
Margie Warner
Margie Warner, served as a San Diego History Center Trustee for seven years and held the position of Assistant Secretary for the Board of Trustees for two years. Due to her extensive background in education, she can provide support for the institution’s Education Program. She received her MA in Public History from University of San Diego. While studying at USD, Margie did much of her thesis research at the San Diego History Center where she was also a volunteer. Margie has served on the San Diego Historic Site Board and the Foundation Board of the San Diego Zoo Global. She is current member of the Board of Directors for the La Jolla Historical Society. She and her husband John Warner, Ph.D., a retired executive from SAIC and Independent Director of Cubic Corporation, have been generous supporters of San Diego nonprofit institutions.
Robert J. Watkins, Chair 2023 – 2025, Executive Committee, Capital Campaign Committee
Robert established R.J. Watkins & Company, Ltd. in 1980, an executive recruiting firm in San Diego, where he serves as the company’s President and Chairman. He is currently President of the San Diego County Board of Education and serves on the Board of Trustees for National University, the San Diego Economic Development Corporation, San Diego International Sports Council, Corporate Directors Forum, La Jolla Institute for Molecular Medicine, Regenesis Biomedical, Inc., and the Hubbs Research Institute. Robert is a partner in Unigate Technology Ventures, a tech-transfer company; Tollbridge Ventures LLC; Aztec Venture Network, LLC, a seed capital venture fund. He also serves as an Executive Committee Member and Trustee of the San Diego National Sports Foundation, the organizer and builder of the US Olympic Training Center in San Diego. Robert previously served as Chairman of the Board of the San Diego County American Red Cross; on the Board of Directors of the YMCA; and President of the San Diego Natural History Museum’s Board of Trustees.
Caroline Wohl
Caroline Wohl is a fourth generation San Diegan and independent Public Relations consultant with 3 decades of experience. She holds a BA degree from Annenberg School. Outside of her Public Relations work she has extensive community service on boards of directors for several local service and nonprofit organizations including the Francis Parker School, Patrons of the Prado, Junior League, and others. Ms Wohl has also served as Chair several major successful fundraising galas in San Diego
