Ken Bouldin, President
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 over12 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.
He served as Chair of the Programs Committee, bringing outstanding speakers to WACD dinners and livestream virtual events "From Around the World" during the pandemic of 2020 and 2021.
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 over12 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.
He served as Chair of the Programs Committee, bringing outstanding speakers to WACD dinners and livestream virtual events "From Around the World" during the pandemic of 2020 and 2021.
James D McFarlin, Chairman
Immediate Past President of World Affairs Council of the Desert, Jim led us through the Covid-19 years, introducing livestream events and keeping us informed and updated on world affairs. A former Air Force officer and high tech CEO, he 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 previously 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.
Immediate Past President of World Affairs Council of the Desert, Jim led us through the Covid-19 years, introducing livestream events and keeping us informed and updated on world affairs. A former Air Force officer and high tech CEO, he 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 previously 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.
Mark Barnum, Vice President, CFO
Mark Barnum is an experienced sales leader in the financial services industry with over 40 years of experience. He has a strong background in business development, budgeting, problem-solving, and networking events. Mark is passionate about world events, economics, natural history, and spending time with family and friends. He has held prominent positions at UBS Financial Services, specializing in institutional clients and retirement plans. Mark is a retired Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Business. Mark is an active volunteer, serving on committees and boards, including Make-A-Wish and homeowners associations. Mark and his wife Lark split their time between Palm Desert and Bellevue, Washington, spending half of the year in each location. In his free time, he enjoys golf, fishing, travel, boating, and ornithology.
Mark Barnum is an experienced sales leader in the financial services industry with over 40 years of experience. He has a strong background in business development, budgeting, problem-solving, and networking events. Mark is passionate about world events, economics, natural history, and spending time with family and friends. He has held prominent positions at UBS Financial Services, specializing in institutional clients and retirement plans. Mark is a retired Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Business. Mark is an active volunteer, serving on committees and boards, including Make-A-Wish and homeowners associations. Mark and his wife Lark split their time between Palm Desert and Bellevue, Washington, spending half of the year in each location. In his free time, he enjoys golf, fishing, travel, boating, and ornithology.
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.
Marla Ahlgrimm
Marla Ahlgrimm, R.Ph., is a University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy graduate. She has continually been recognized with some of the nation’s top honors for women. Some of her most notable accolades include the 1999 Distinguished University of Wisconsin Alumni Award and the 1994 YWCA Women of Distinction honor. One of the foremost women’s health experts in the United States, her research into hormone related imbalances has revolutionized how American women and their doctors view PMS, perimenopause and menopause. In 1982, Marla co-founded Madison Pharmacy Associates in Madison, Wisconsin – the first pharmacy in America to specialize in women’s health. Marla is also a philanthropist and is the namesake of the Marla Ahlgrimm Scholarship Fund for students at the University of Wisconsin who share her interest in personalized medicine for women.
Marla Ahlgrimm, R.Ph., is a University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy graduate. She has continually been recognized with some of the nation’s top honors for women. Some of her most notable accolades include the 1999 Distinguished University of Wisconsin Alumni Award and the 1994 YWCA Women of Distinction honor. One of the foremost women’s health experts in the United States, her research into hormone related imbalances has revolutionized how American women and their doctors view PMS, perimenopause and menopause. In 1982, Marla co-founded Madison Pharmacy Associates in Madison, Wisconsin – the first pharmacy in America to specialize in women’s health. Marla is also a philanthropist and is the namesake of the Marla Ahlgrimm Scholarship Fund for students at the University of Wisconsin who share her interest in personalized medicine for women.
Marly Bergerud
Marly Bergerud’s career spans 30+ years in higher education within the California Community Colleges, primarily in management leadership, 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.
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. 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.”
Marly Bergerud’s career spans 30+ years in higher education within the California Community Colleges, primarily in management leadership, 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.
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. 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.”
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.
Christine Hughes
A third-generation native San Franciscan, Christine holds a bachelor’s degree from San Francisco College for Women. Her career spans over 30 years of executive level marketing and communications positions including Sr. VP Worldwide Marketing for Novell, VP Marketing for Xerox U.S. Operations and VP for Gartner, a leading research and advisory company.
Since 2018 Christine serves on the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory Foundation board and elected chair of the board in 2021 for a two-year term. She is Chair of the Lincoln Club of Coachella Valley since 2022 and was previously President of the Club in 2019. She is also on the executive board of ConservAmerica, a nonpartisan, nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of sound environmental and conservation policy.
Christine and her husband, Abe Ostrovsky, are full-time residents of Rancho Mirage.
A third-generation native San Franciscan, Christine holds a bachelor’s degree from San Francisco College for Women. Her career spans over 30 years of executive level marketing and communications positions including Sr. VP Worldwide Marketing for Novell, VP Marketing for Xerox U.S. Operations and VP for Gartner, a leading research and advisory company.
Since 2018 Christine serves on the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory Foundation board and elected chair of the board in 2021 for a two-year term. She is Chair of the Lincoln Club of Coachella Valley since 2022 and was previously President of the Club in 2019. She is also on the executive board of ConservAmerica, a nonpartisan, nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of sound environmental and conservation policy.
Christine and her husband, Abe Ostrovsky, are full-time residents of Rancho Mirage.
Suz Hunt
Born and raised in Oil City, Pennsylvania, Suz Hunt 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.
Born and raised in Oil City, Pennsylvania, Suz Hunt 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.
Michael Karp
After double-majoring in history and religious studies at Cal Poly Humboldt, Michael earned his MA and PhD in history at Saint Louis University. Since earning his PhD, he has had the unique privilege to teach in a variety of settings including an independent middle school, public high schools, dual enrollment programs, and community colleges and universities across the United States. In 2020, Michael was hired as one of the first tenure-line faculty at the Palm Desert Campus of California State University, San Bernardino, where he teaches courses in United States history, World history, environmental history, and the history of the American West. He is also Co-Director of the Porter History-Social Science Resource Center at the university.
For the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons, Michael served on the Academic WorldQuest Committee as the Director of Educational Outreach and helped to stage the Academic WorldQuest Competition during the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. He and his wife Blair became parents for the first time with the birth of their son in April, 2023.
After double-majoring in history and religious studies at Cal Poly Humboldt, Michael earned his MA and PhD in history at Saint Louis University. Since earning his PhD, he has had the unique privilege to teach in a variety of settings including an independent middle school, public high schools, dual enrollment programs, and community colleges and universities across the United States. In 2020, Michael was hired as one of the first tenure-line faculty at the Palm Desert Campus of California State University, San Bernardino, where he teaches courses in United States history, World history, environmental history, and the history of the American West. He is also Co-Director of the Porter History-Social Science Resource Center at the university.
For the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons, Michael served on the Academic WorldQuest Committee as the Director of Educational Outreach and helped to stage the Academic WorldQuest Competition during the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. He and his wife Blair became parents for the first time with the birth of their son in April, 2023.
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.
Robert Moon
Robert Moon has 40 years of experience in senior leadership, including 22 years as a Surface Warfare Officer in the US Navy, with combat operations in the Persian Gulf; 15+ years as a senior Information Technology executive; two years as Chairman, Palm Springs Measure J Commission; and four years as the last directly elected Mayor of The City of Palm Springs.
Moon earned an information technology industry reputation as a “turn-around” CIO with a specialty in leading the planning, installation and management of fully integrated and highly efficient and reliable Oracle technology based single instance global enterprise application suites to replace inefficient and outdated architectures. He maintained a track record of rapid implementation and on time, on budget delivery of global integrated systems for finance, distribution, product planning, supply chain, and business intelligence.
Rob holds a Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and did MBA studies at George Washington University in Washington DC. He retired to the desert in 2011 and currently lives full time in Rancho Mirage, where he serves on the Board of the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory Foundation; the Board of the College of the Desert Foundation; the Board of the Coachella Valley Reparatory Theatre; the Editorial Board of The Desert Sun; and as President of The Desert RoundTable. And we can now welcome him as a Director on the Board of World Affairs Council of the Desert.
Robert Moon has 40 years of experience in senior leadership, including 22 years as a Surface Warfare Officer in the US Navy, with combat operations in the Persian Gulf; 15+ years as a senior Information Technology executive; two years as Chairman, Palm Springs Measure J Commission; and four years as the last directly elected Mayor of The City of Palm Springs.
Moon earned an information technology industry reputation as a “turn-around” CIO with a specialty in leading the planning, installation and management of fully integrated and highly efficient and reliable Oracle technology based single instance global enterprise application suites to replace inefficient and outdated architectures. He maintained a track record of rapid implementation and on time, on budget delivery of global integrated systems for finance, distribution, product planning, supply chain, and business intelligence.
Rob holds a Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and did MBA studies at George Washington University in Washington DC. He retired to the desert in 2011 and currently lives full time in Rancho Mirage, where he serves on the Board of the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory Foundation; the Board of the College of the Desert Foundation; the Board of the Coachella Valley Reparatory Theatre; the Editorial Board of The Desert Sun; and as President of The Desert RoundTable. And we can now welcome him as a Director on the Board of World Affairs Council of the Desert.
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.
