James McFarlin, President
A former Air Force officer and high tech CEO, James McFarlin is a recognized authority, author and popular national speaker on cybersecurity and cyberwarfare. His cyber thriller, “Aftershock: A Novel” debuted as an Amazon pick of the month and is widely read internationally.
Jim has served as Chair of the Program Committee, bringing outstanding speakers to our desert to inform and educate our members and guests at the WACD Dinner/Speaker Events at Thunderbird Country Club.
A former Air Force officer and high tech CEO, James McFarlin is a recognized authority, author and popular national speaker on cybersecurity and cyberwarfare. His cyber thriller, “Aftershock: A Novel” debuted as an Amazon pick of the month and is widely read internationally.
Jim has served as Chair of the Program Committee, bringing outstanding speakers to our desert to inform and educate our members and guests at the WACD Dinner/Speaker Events at Thunderbird Country Club.
Dr. John Welty, Chairman
Past President of World Affairs Council of the Desert, Dr. John D. Welty is President Emeritus of California State University, Fresno. He served as president of California State University, Fresno for 22 years (1991-2013) and is also a professor in the Kremen School of Education and Human Development. He served as Trustee Professor of the California State University for two years after retiring from the Fresno State Presidency and currently serves as a Senior Associate at AASCU Consulting and is Chair of the California Health Sciences University Board of Trustees.
Dr. Welty received his bachelor's degree in Social Science from Western Illinois University, Macomb, in 1965; his master in College Student Personnel Services from Michigan State University in 1967; and his doctorate in Administration of Higher Education from Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1974. Dr. Welty and his wife, Dr. Sharon Brown-Welty, have five children and five grandchildren.
Past President of World Affairs Council of the Desert, Dr. John D. Welty is President Emeritus of California State University, Fresno. He served as president of California State University, Fresno for 22 years (1991-2013) and is also a professor in the Kremen School of Education and Human Development. He served as Trustee Professor of the California State University for two years after retiring from the Fresno State Presidency and currently serves as a Senior Associate at AASCU Consulting and is Chair of the California Health Sciences University Board of Trustees.
Dr. Welty received his bachelor's degree in Social Science from Western Illinois University, Macomb, in 1965; his master in College Student Personnel Services from Michigan State University in 1967; and his doctorate in Administration of Higher Education from Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1974. Dr. Welty and his wife, Dr. Sharon Brown-Welty, have five children and five grandchildren.
John Westerholm, Vice President/CFO
John received a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Detroit and a MBA from Pepperdine University. He served as an Adjunct Professor in the MBA program of Pepperdine for three years. His corporate work experience includes manufacturing and financial management. For the last 30 years he has owned a business in the financial services arena performing accounting, financial planning (Certified Financial Planner), and tax preparation services. Volunteer activities include 31 years as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s office, and currently serves as the Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and Vice Chair of the Emergency Preparedness Committee in Sun City Palm Desert.
John received a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Detroit and a MBA from Pepperdine University. He served as an Adjunct Professor in the MBA program of Pepperdine for three years. His corporate work experience includes manufacturing and financial management. For the last 30 years he has owned a business in the financial services arena performing accounting, financial planning (Certified Financial Planner), and tax preparation services. Volunteer activities include 31 years as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s office, and currently serves as the Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and Vice Chair of the Emergency Preparedness Committee in Sun City Palm Desert.
Christopher Hebb, Secretary
Christopher holds an LL.B. from the University of Toronto and a B.A. (History) from the University of Alberta. He is a retired member of the Law Societies of Alberta and British Columbia. Much of Mr. Hebb’s experience has been in corporate turnarounds. He has operated and held senior executive positions in a variety of businesses including oil and gas, coal, steel manufacturing and fabrication, food, consumer products, diamond exploration, real estate and investment management. He is former Executive Vice President of Kaiser Resources Ltd. in Canada and Senior Vice President of Kaiser Steel Corporation in Oakland, California. He has served as a director and president of the Churchill Society of British Columbia for fifteen years and is a former director of the International Churchill Society based in Washington, D.C.
Christopher and his wife, Dorothy, reside in West Vancouver, British Columbia and have a home in Palm Springs. A long-time member of the World Affairs Council of the Desert, he is now a welcome addition to the Board of Directors.
Christopher holds an LL.B. from the University of Toronto and a B.A. (History) from the University of Alberta. He is a retired member of the Law Societies of Alberta and British Columbia. Much of Mr. Hebb’s experience has been in corporate turnarounds. He has operated and held senior executive positions in a variety of businesses including oil and gas, coal, steel manufacturing and fabrication, food, consumer products, diamond exploration, real estate and investment management. He is former Executive Vice President of Kaiser Resources Ltd. in Canada and Senior Vice President of Kaiser Steel Corporation in Oakland, California. He has served as a director and president of the Churchill Society of British Columbia for fifteen years and is a former director of the International Churchill Society based in Washington, D.C.
Christopher and his wife, Dorothy, reside in West Vancouver, British Columbia and have a home in Palm Springs. A long-time member of the World Affairs Council of the Desert, he is now a welcome addition to the Board of Directors.
Jean Carrus, Life Member and Director since 1985
Jean has resided in the desert since 1985 and is a well-known philanthropist who serves and has served on many Boards for Coachella Valley non-profits. A partial list includes Brandeis University National Committee, The Palm Springs Art Museum, The Virginia Waring International Piano Competition, the Palm Spring Opera Guild of the Desert, the College of the Desert Foundation, and the Tolerance Education Center.
Jean has resided in the desert since 1985 and is a well-known philanthropist who serves and has served on many Boards for Coachella Valley non-profits. A partial list includes Brandeis University National Committee, The Palm Springs Art Museum, The Virginia Waring International Piano Competition, the Palm Spring Opera Guild of the Desert, the College of the Desert Foundation, and the Tolerance Education Center.
Marly Bergerud
Marly's career spans 30+ years in higher education within the California Community Colleges, primarily in management leadership. Her higher education career includes serving as Vice President at DeAnza College in Cupertino, CA, and Dean of Business at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA. Her earlier career was that of a Professor of Business at Cypress College, Cypress, CA.
Her reputation is that of a nationally recognized educational leader, author, and speaker building national and global partnerships between educational institutions and their industry partners specializing in technology innovation and restructuring for the workforce of the 21st century.
Bergerud has authored and published 25 computer technology textbooks, contributed to the Greater Palm Springs edition of the magazine, LOCALE, and is actively working on her Memoir, “My Dance with the Devil.”
She served as President of the Palm Springs Writers Guild, Vice President on the Board of the Steinway Society and very much enjoys being an Educational Ambassador of the McCallum Theatre Muses.
Marly's career spans 30+ years in higher education within the California Community Colleges, primarily in management leadership. Her higher education career includes serving as Vice President at DeAnza College in Cupertino, CA, and Dean of Business at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA. Her earlier career was that of a Professor of Business at Cypress College, Cypress, CA.
Her reputation is that of a nationally recognized educational leader, author, and speaker building national and global partnerships between educational institutions and their industry partners specializing in technology innovation and restructuring for the workforce of the 21st century.
Bergerud has authored and published 25 computer technology textbooks, contributed to the Greater Palm Springs edition of the magazine, LOCALE, and is actively working on her Memoir, “My Dance with the Devil.”
She served as President of the Palm Springs Writers Guild, Vice President on the Board of the Steinway Society and very much enjoys being an Educational Ambassador of the McCallum Theatre Muses.
Ken Bouldin
Major General Ken Bouldin, US Army (ret) and his wife Marianne have been residents of Palm Desert and members of the World Affairs Council of the Desert for approximately 10 years. General Bouldin is a native Tennessean and a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He is also a graduate of the US Army War College. As a citizen soldier, Ken has held a number of positions as a business executive and concurrently served in the US Army in both an active and reserve status for over 30 years.
Major General Ken Bouldin, US Army (ret) and his wife Marianne have been residents of Palm Desert and members of the World Affairs Council of the Desert for approximately 10 years. General Bouldin is a native Tennessean and a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He is also a graduate of the US Army War College. As a citizen soldier, Ken has held a number of positions as a business executive and concurrently served in the US Army in both an active and reserve status for over 30 years.
Suz Hunt
Suz was born and raised in Oil City, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Penn State University. She spent 36 years at Woodruff-Sawyer & Co., one the country’s largest privately held insurance brokerage and consulting firms, headquartered in San Francisco; her last position with the firm was President from 1996 to 2008. While working, she was recognized for 3 years as one of Most Influential Women in the Bay Area.
Since retiring and moving to the Coachella Valley in early 2009, Suz has been involved in a number of organizations, including COD where she served on the Foundation Board for seven years and as Treasurer, Chair of the Development Committee and President of the Board, the McCallum Theatre serving on the McCallum Theatre Education Committee and is a Silver Patroness and many other organizations.
Suz was born and raised in Oil City, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Penn State University. She spent 36 years at Woodruff-Sawyer & Co., one the country’s largest privately held insurance brokerage and consulting firms, headquartered in San Francisco; her last position with the firm was President from 1996 to 2008. While working, she was recognized for 3 years as one of Most Influential Women in the Bay Area.
Since retiring and moving to the Coachella Valley in early 2009, Suz has been involved in a number of organizations, including COD where she served on the Foundation Board for seven years and as Treasurer, Chair of the Development Committee and President of the Board, the McCallum Theatre serving on the McCallum Theatre Education Committee and is a Silver Patroness and many other organizations.
Gordon Kramer
Gordon worked as an Aerospace Engineer from 1959 to 1996. He worked primarily as a researcher with semiconductor sensors and later as a Program Manager on programs related to Ballistic Missile defense at Hughes Aircraft Company. He graduated from Cal Tech with a Master of Science degree in Engineering Science. Following retirement from engineering Gordon spent 10 years as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) with American Express and Ameriprise Financial. He volunteers his time to tutor students in math at Palm Desert Middle School and at the Boys and Girls Club. He has been married for 26 years to his wife Eve and they enjoy their six grandchildren.
Gordon worked as an Aerospace Engineer from 1959 to 1996. He worked primarily as a researcher with semiconductor sensors and later as a Program Manager on programs related to Ballistic Missile defense at Hughes Aircraft Company. He graduated from Cal Tech with a Master of Science degree in Engineering Science. Following retirement from engineering Gordon spent 10 years as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) with American Express and Ameriprise Financial. He volunteers his time to tutor students in math at Palm Desert Middle School and at the Boys and Girls Club. He has been married for 26 years to his wife Eve and they enjoy their six grandchildren.
Becky Kurtz
Becky is currently the Executive Director of the Desert Town Hall, the desert’s renowned lecture series that hosts leaders from around the world. She is the former editor of Palm Springs Life magazine.
She previously served on the World Affairs Council of the Desert’s Board of Directors as Vice-President and has frequently served on the WACD Program Committee. She is an invaluable member of the Board of Directors.
Becky is currently the Executive Director of the Desert Town Hall, the desert’s renowned lecture series that hosts leaders from around the world. She is the former editor of Palm Springs Life magazine.
She previously served on the World Affairs Council of the Desert’s Board of Directors as Vice-President and has frequently served on the WACD Program Committee. She is an invaluable member of the Board of Directors.
Patrick Lizza
One of the new Directors of WACD, Pat is the Branch Manager of the Indian Wells office of UBS and a member of the Flanagan, Bruner, Lizza Wealth Management team. He joined UBS in 2011 and has worked with the team to hone their client-focused approach to their wealth management practice.
Prior to joining UBS, Pat spent 17 years in the high-end hospitality industry developing significant trust with clients and an understanding of their needs. He served as treasurer on the Board of Directors of Xavier Jesuit College Preparatory High School and currently serves on the Southwestern Growers Tournament Committee for the Boys and Girls Club of the Coachella Valley.
Pat and his wife, Tricia (who is a math teacher and Academic WorldQuest Coach) live in La Quinta and enjoy spending time with their two grown children, Meg and Hogan.
One of the new Directors of WACD, Pat is the Branch Manager of the Indian Wells office of UBS and a member of the Flanagan, Bruner, Lizza Wealth Management team. He joined UBS in 2011 and has worked with the team to hone their client-focused approach to their wealth management practice.
Prior to joining UBS, Pat spent 17 years in the high-end hospitality industry developing significant trust with clients and an understanding of their needs. He served as treasurer on the Board of Directors of Xavier Jesuit College Preparatory High School and currently serves on the Southwestern Growers Tournament Committee for the Boys and Girls Club of the Coachella Valley.
Pat and his wife, Tricia (who is a math teacher and Academic WorldQuest Coach) live in La Quinta and enjoy spending time with their two grown children, Meg and Hogan.
Hal Marchick
Hal received his AB from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts and his MBA from Stanford University School of Business. He served in the US Army with programming and analysis assignments at the Pentagon and European Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany.
As a Principal of the Curo Group in Palo Alto, California, Hal spent 25+ years consulting and acting CFO for small to mid-size companies, managing and creating financial procedures, strategic plans, and information systems as well as providing finance and valuation expert witness testimony in legal proceedings. His varied clientele were in technology, retail, health care, manufacturing, and distribution.
Hal was an active member of the University Rotary Club in Palo Alto, where he served as President and Treasurer during his more than 20-year stint. Coaching and refereeing children’s sports, math tutoring, and temple and non-profit board memberships were also on his busy schedule.
Hal received his AB from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts and his MBA from Stanford University School of Business. He served in the US Army with programming and analysis assignments at the Pentagon and European Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany.
As a Principal of the Curo Group in Palo Alto, California, Hal spent 25+ years consulting and acting CFO for small to mid-size companies, managing and creating financial procedures, strategic plans, and information systems as well as providing finance and valuation expert witness testimony in legal proceedings. His varied clientele were in technology, retail, health care, manufacturing, and distribution.
Hal was an active member of the University Rotary Club in Palo Alto, where he served as President and Treasurer during his more than 20-year stint. Coaching and refereeing children’s sports, math tutoring, and temple and non-profit board memberships were also on his busy schedule.
Thomas Riley
Tom was the United States Ambassador to Morocco from 2003 to 2009, receiving the State Department’s 2009 Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service, the only award given by the State Department to a political-appointee Ambassador.
Born and raised in San Mateo, California, Tom received his BS in Industrial Engineering from Stanford, he worked as an engineer at Boeing for a year, then attended Harvard Business School, receiving his MBA, and then went on to work at TRW Mission in London and Paris.
After four years, he returned to the U.S. and began a 20+ year career in Silicon Valley in several and varied organizations as founder and director. He is the holder of United States Patent 5303767 for an energy management system and is married to Nancy Vieira da Rosa Riley, a former tax attorney.
Tom was the United States Ambassador to Morocco from 2003 to 2009, receiving the State Department’s 2009 Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service, the only award given by the State Department to a political-appointee Ambassador.
Born and raised in San Mateo, California, Tom received his BS in Industrial Engineering from Stanford, he worked as an engineer at Boeing for a year, then attended Harvard Business School, receiving his MBA, and then went on to work at TRW Mission in London and Paris.
After four years, he returned to the U.S. and began a 20+ year career in Silicon Valley in several and varied organizations as founder and director. He is the holder of United States Patent 5303767 for an energy management system and is married to Nancy Vieira da Rosa Riley, a former tax attorney.
Yul Roe
Yul is a landscape architect with over 30 years of experience in design, project management and development of integrated residential, golf course, and resort based recreational communities. Yul grew up in south central British Columbia and obtained a degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of British Columbia. He worked as a Landscape Architect in Calgary and Vancouver prior to moving to California in 1997. His family moved to the Coachella Valley in 2000.
Yul and his family have dual citizenships in the US and Canada, and have traveled extensively throughout the western United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Yul is a landscape architect with over 30 years of experience in design, project management and development of integrated residential, golf course, and resort based recreational communities. Yul grew up in south central British Columbia and obtained a degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of British Columbia. He worked as a Landscape Architect in Calgary and Vancouver prior to moving to California in 1997. His family moved to the Coachella Valley in 2000.
Yul and his family have dual citizenships in the US and Canada, and have traveled extensively throughout the western United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Dr. Jake Zhu
We are honored to have Jake serve as one of the newest members of the WACD Board of Directors. A Cal State San Bernardino professor of information and decision sciences, Jake was named the new dean of the Palm Desert Campus in July, 2019.
Dr. Zhu joined CSUSB in 2002 as an assistant professor in the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration’s Information and Decision Sciences Department where he was soon promoted to professor. He served as co-director of the college’s Cybersecurity Center and was a co-founder of the Center of Academic Excellence in cyber security education at the Brown College.
Jake was a Fellow with the American Council on Education in Washington, D.C. and holds a Ph.D. in education from UC Riverside, a master’s degree in education from the University of Redlands and a bachelor’s degree in English from the Hunan Educational Institute in Hunan, China.
We are honored to have Jake serve as one of the newest members of the WACD Board of Directors. A Cal State San Bernardino professor of information and decision sciences, Jake was named the new dean of the Palm Desert Campus in July, 2019.
Dr. Zhu joined CSUSB in 2002 as an assistant professor in the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration’s Information and Decision Sciences Department where he was soon promoted to professor. He served as co-director of the college’s Cybersecurity Center and was a co-founder of the Center of Academic Excellence in cyber security education at the Brown College.
Jake was a Fellow with the American Council on Education in Washington, D.C. and holds a Ph.D. in education from UC Riverside, a master’s degree in education from the University of Redlands and a bachelor’s degree in English from the Hunan Educational Institute in Hunan, China.
