Board of Directors
The Ventura College Foundation is made up of a volunteer board of community leaders who serve as the Board of Directors and hundreds of supporters, all of whom are dedicated to enhancing and sustaining the educational experience at Ventura College.
2022-2023 VCF Board Members
Ellyn Dembowski
Board Chair
Ellyn Dembowski,
Board Chair
Ellyn Dembowski is a big believer in community colleges. She's a community college graduate herself and two of her children attended Ventura College. She joined the VC Foundation Board over a decade ago soon after attending a Phoenix Scholarship event. The heartwarming stories from students returning to college to pursue their studies made her realize the huge impact the foundation makes on students' lives. She sees the VC Foundation helping students and their families build for the future as well as boosting the local economy as more graduates enter the workforce with the skills to succeed.
Ellyn is a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway in Ventura. She has ranked in the top one percent of more than 54,000 Berkshire Hathaway agents nationwide. Because of her commitment to the betterment of Ventura County where she lives and works, Ellyn was honored with the Rotary Presidential Citation and the Rotarian of the Year award.
Nicole Kreutz
Vice Chair
Nicole Kreutz,
Vice Chair
Nicole Keutz is a Ventura College alumni. She believes community colleges are a great stepping stone to a four-year college education for students who aren't yet sure of their career path and for students who want to acquire a two-year certification needed for a high-demand job in the workforce. Nicole sees the foundation's programs impacting students every day. She's most proud of the foundation's scholarship opportunities that alleviate students' worry about finances so they can concentrate on their schooling and remain on track for a successful future.
Nicole has been on the VC Foundation board for five years, previously serving as treasurer. She is a vice president/credit officer for Citizens Business Bank in Ventura and is involved in Rotary and other nonprofit organizations in the community.
Abra Flores
Secretary
Michael Orman
Treasurer
Mike Orman
Board Treasurer
Mike Orman, board treasurer, was able to see firsthand the value of the Ventura College experience when one of his daughters attended the school before going on to a four-year university and then graduate school. Mike believes a community college education can change lives and open doors--whether it's a stepping stone for additional education, a re-entry path for those seeking to finish their schooling, or students wanting to pursue a vocation such as nursing, paramedics, or manufacturing.
Mike is Bank of Sierra's Market President for Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. A VC Foundation board member since 2018, he says it is humbling to be part of a group of community members whose common goal is to provide financial support to VC college students so they can be successful in their future professions. Mike is also on the Boys & Girls Club of Oxnard & Port Hueneme board. He enjoys supporting the youth of all ages in ways that provide growth opportunities, especially for those who are less fortunate.
Rob Van Nieuwburg
Immediate Past Board Chair
Rob Van Nieuwburg,
Immediate Past Board Chair
Rob van Nieuwburg was chair of the VC Foundation board of directors for five years, finishing his tenure in 2021. He skillfully maneuvered through the challenges that go with board decisions and outside forces such as the pandemic. His connection with the college began around 1986. At the time, he was the Parts and Service Director for Ventura Toyota (he's now its Business Relations Director). He saw the need for a vocational auto program at the college level and was instrumental in bringing a state-of-the-art program to Ventura College. Since then, after graduating from the program, over 300 students have launched their automotive careers through Ventura Toyota alone -not to mention the many other auto dealerships. With vehicles increasingly more technically complicated, the auto program, he believes, is more important than ever.
Rob joined the board in 2004 and has been involved ever since. He sees community college as a means to transition into adulthood, giving students the time and opportunity to find themselves and discover their career path.
Dr. Kim Hoffmans, R.N.
Ventura College President
Dr. Kim Hoffmans, R.N.,
Ventura College President
Dr. Kim Hoffmans, R.N. is president of Ventura College and a Ventura College Foundation board member. As president of Ventura College, she is responsible for the leadership of approximately 500 faculty (full and part-time), classified professionals and administrators in support of about 12,000 Ventura College students.
Dr. Hoffmans sees community colleges as one of the greatest tools for increasing social and economic mobility and ensuring that everyone in our community has access to the life-changing experiences and opportunities provided by higher education. It's her unwavering commitment to her students that helps close opportunity gaps and encourages academic success despite the odds.
Before her appointment as president at Ventura College, Dr. Hoffmans spent 25 years within the Ventura County Community College District and served in a variety of roles including as the dean at Moorpark College, and nursing department chair and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Ventura College.
Dr. Hoffmans holds her B.S. in Nursing from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.S. in Nursing from the Texas Woman’s University and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration from California Lutheran University.
Jessica Flores Esquibel
Ventura College ASVC President
Robert Beilin Ph.D.
Dr. Robert Beilin
Dr. Robert “Bob” Beilin returned to the board in 2021. A licensed marital family therapist in Ventura County, Bob was previously a board member for five years. He decided that he wanted to serve again because of his commitment to making higher education accessible to students who otherwise could not attend college, especially members of underserved populations. He sees the VC Foundation board as an agency of providing funding for underserved students, and for leading the way in providing diversity to the college and its organizations. In 2006, Bob established the Rebecca Singer-Beilin Memorial Scholarship, named after his daughter, who had wanted to become a nurse but died before she could do so. Each year, the scholarship helps students pursue their dreams of a career in nursing. He established a Phoenix scholarship in memory of his mother, who was never able to finish school because she didn’t have the financial help she needed to attend college while working full time to provide for her family.
In addition to his private practice and clinical supervision, Bob frequently provides expert testimony in family law and forensic mental health court cases.
Cathy Bojorquez
Debe Bylo
Debe Bylo
For VC Foundation board member Debe Bylo, Ventura College has been a family affair. Debe took classes at the college to satisfy her teaching credential requirements. Her daughters were lifeguards and swim instructors at Ventura College during the summer months and her husband served as the volunteer bookbinder for the library (he also took art classes). Debe was a middle school teacher for the Ventura Unified School District for 23 years before retiring so she knows the power of education. As a board member, she supports and champions the VC Promise, the VC Foundation’s textbook lending library and other programs that make education financially feasible for students.
Debe says she loves community colleges because they create a bridge to four-year universities, offer career education programs, and opportunities for those wanting to re-enter the job market or brush up on their skills.
Debe received her Bachelor’s Degree in art history from the University of California, Riverside and her Master’s Degree from Azusa Pacific. A Ventura resident since 1976, she is a VC Foundation donor and member of the President's Circle.
Boomer Butler, C.P.A.
Amy Cherot
Amy Cherot
Amy Cherot is a Ventura College graduate. She credits the support and caring of the college faculty and staff for being instrumental in helping her decide on the area of study she would pursue. After receiving her BA in Math and a Masters in Computer Science from UC Santa Barbara, Amy returned to Ventura College to take programming and other classes to further enhance her job skills and overall general education. Now retired, her career included time at the Defense Department, tech start-ups, and Amgen.
Amy heard of the excellent work of the VC Foundation board and joined after being encouraged by friends. She is most proud of how the VC Foundation builds multiple financial pathways to success for students in their education, career, and life.
Much of Amy's volunteer work has supported education across the age spectrum and in the local community. Besides being on the VC Foundation board, she is a member of the Carnegie Art Cornerstones, which fosters arts education in the county. She previously volunteered to help raise funds for the Foster Library expansion and produced and ran small concerts in Ventura for nonprofits featuring local acoustic musicians, singers, and storytellers.
Kenneth Collin
Kenneth Collin
Kenneth Collin, a VC Foundation board member since 2014, became interested in Ventura College when his grandson began taking classes there. Ken was impressed by the high level of instruction.
Ken believes education is essential in obtaining a decent job especially as the complexity of industry continues to expand. He sees the VC Foundation providing the critical funding for those who have the ability but not the financial means to see their college and career dreams come true.
Ken graduated from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and as a 2nd Lieutenant from the Army ROTC program. Ken has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Once discharged from the Army, he was employed at several aerospace companies until he purchased Westaironics, Inc., a manufacturers representative company in Los Angeles. He later founded CMP Display Systems, a manufacturing company that designs and fabricates display panels for the aircraft industry. He is now retired and volunteers at several nonprofit organizations.
Mark Dufresne
Mark Dufresne
Mark Dufresne grew up across the street from Ventura College. He and his eight siblings all attended VC. An excellent athlete, Mark was a standout tight end for Pirates football during his two years at Ventura College. He earned a full football scholarship to the University of Nebraska, playing for the legendary coach Tom Osborne in the Big 8 Conference. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1978 after his time at Nebraska but did not make the final roster. Mark was inducted into the VC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.
For Mark, learning from experienced and professional teachers and coaches at Ventura College always stuck with him. “For my siblings and I, it was up to us to figure out how to get through college,” says Mark. “Ventura College was the answer.”
Mark is a banker at Wells Fargo and has spent most of his career in Ventura County and working with nonprofits. As a board member, he adds his organizational and business skills to the position. His focus is on helping get the word out to student athletes about the financial assistance offered by the foundation.
Anne Paul King
Liz Kraus
Liz Kraus
Liz Kraus is an adjunct professor of English, Emirita at Ventura College. After a 20-year career, she recently retired from her teaching position and published a humorous, non-fiction travel book, “3 Sisters, 3 Weeks, 3 Countries (Still Talking). Liz began her studies at Ventura College when she was 42 and used scholarships to fund further schooling at Cal State Northridge. The gift of scholarship then came full circle for Liz as she and her husband created the Liz and Dave Kraus Scholarship for returning students who focus on humanities studies.
Making sure VC students do not go hungry is a top priority for Liz. While teaching, she saw students who were unable to afford food so she created Liz’s Tab with L&T Catering to feed hungry students on campus. Her goal as a board member is to spread the word about the foundation’s financial and assistance -programs in ways that reach the student community.
Liz sees Ventura College as an important hub. She says, “Community colleges are all-inclusive. It doesn’t matter your age, your education level or goals, community college is for you. It’s an economical way to discover who you are and what you want to do with your life.”
Matt Lavere, ESQ.
Matt LeVere
Matt LaVere grew up near Ventura College and took classes there in high school and college. A VC Foundation board member for over six years, he is passionate about ensuring that all youth in our community have access to affordable, high-quality education and addressing other challenges students face, such as housing, transportation, and food insecurity.
Matt was elected to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors in 2020. Before that, he served on the Ventura City Council from 2016 to 2020 and was Ventura's Mayor from 2018-2020. He earned his BA with honors in 2000 from Pepperdine University and his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. Professionally, Matt has worked as a lawyer specializing in business law and agriculture since 2006.
Matt has also served on the Board of Directors for Project Understanding, the Downtown Ventura Rotary Club. He's active in other local charities that benefit youth.
Jill Muaraoka Lim, D.V.M.
Dr. Jill Muraoka Lim
Dr. Jill Muraoka Lim is a veterinarian who earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Managerial Economics from UC Davis. She is a co-founder of Ohana Pet Hospital, a veterinary hospital with locations in Ventura and Santa Paula. Dr. Jill joined Ventura College’s faculty in 2020 to assist in launching an Associate’s degree program in Veterinary Technology. This program, offered at Ventura College’s East Campus and Ohana Pet Hospital in Santa Paula, enables students to work with a variety of domestic animal species in a variety of veterinary clinical settings.
“I’ve had the pleasure of seeing firsthand the joy in a student who is actively applying knowledge gained through the Vet Tech program in the workplace,” says Dr. Jill. “Students acquire a deeper understanding of the tasks required for the job. And because of the foundation’s financial support and resources, students will have little to minimal educational debt upon graduation.”
As a board member, Dr. Jill is helping to build connections and strengthen support for Ventura College with local businesses. She sees the Vet Tech program as one example of how local business partnership with Ventura College provides students with quality career education options that will lead to in-demand local jobs.
Ed Summers
Ed Summers
Ed Summers comes to the board with 30 years of experience in banking and community involvement. He served as a board member for such business organizations as the Ventura County Economic Development Association (VCEDA) and the Economic Development Collaborative- Ventura County (EDC-VC) and was a city council member for the City of Ventura. His focus on the board is to spearhead stronger relationships between industry and the college. With studies showing strong demand for a workforce with advanced technical education experience, Ed sees community colleges playing a vital role in offering the technical training that will prepare our future workforce.
Throughout his career, Ed has developed a strong reputation for bridging the gap in communication between different facets of stakeholders, building consensuses and collaboration. He has a strong reputation and excellent working relationship with business leaders, elected officials and administrative staff at the city, county, state and federal levels.
Eleanor Tillquist
Harald Wulff
Harald Wulff
Harald Wulff grew up in Duesseldorf, Germany. He studied chemistry in Heidelberg, obtaining his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry. Harald soon immigrated to the U.S. and joined Shell Development Company in Emeryville, California. That followed with positions at BASF and then Henkel Corporation, where he became president and CEO. He was appointed to the board of Henkel KGaA. He later became chairman and CEO of Cognis, a worldwide supplier of specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients. He moved to Ventura in 2001 and retired in 2005.
Harald's family (including children and grandchildren) live in Ventura County. Always community-minded, he has been a member of the Ventura Rotary Club for almost 20 years.
Harald joined the Ventura College Foundation in 2019. Says Harald, "VCF does an incredible job providing financial support to students. This support enables students to focus on their education to secure quality jobs today and in the future. I'm proud to be part of this highly motivated and engaged board. I see VCF's efforts making an ever-growing impact on our community."
Board Emeriti:
David Bianco†
Ruth Hemming, ED.D
David Pugh†
Donna Santo, ESQ.
Richard Taylor, ESQ.
Lucia Tebbe†
George Tillquist†
Hon. Colleen Toy White†
John Woolley, ED.D
Helen Yunker†
† Deceased