Candidate for
Director; Cambria Community Services District

My parents were Italian immigrants with less than a grammar school education. At age 17 my father arrived in Bakersfield, California; and, my mother arrived there later at age 21. Italian was spoken in our home.
I graduated from Garces High School in Bakersfield. After receiving a scholarship from the Kern County Business Women's Association, I attended and graduated from Bakersfield Junior College.
I furthered my education by receiving a Secondary Teaching Credential in Business Education from San Jose State University where I earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business with a minor in Psychology.
Wanting to explore the business world, I moved to San Francisco where I was fortunate enough to be the personal and executive secretary to Joseph Koret for ten years. He was the founder and President of Koret of California, Inc., a giant in the fashion industry. He taught me that mankind was contagious and to help them achieve their very best. He always had an "open door" policy for approachability. He didn't want just "yes" men around him but those with stimulated creative minds.
He and his wife founded the Koret Foundation in 1966 and thanks to their generosity the University of San Francisco enjoys the Koret Recreation Center as well as the Koret Law Center. Also their assistance to Israel was abundant. How they treated their fellow human beings and how they contributed to society is a lesson I cherish and admire. I learned sound business methods, taking down in shorthand Mr. Koret's memos to various executives in the Corporation and attending meetings within the organization.
In 1970, after Vern graduated from UC Hastings Law School, we moved to Bakersfield where Vern was able to become a Deputy District of Kern County and I was able to assist with my mother who had lost my father and my sister. A year later Vern and I became parents to our son, who, thankfully, is now a practicing Doctor of Internal Medicine.
During the 70's and 80's although I didn't work outside the home because I was busy being a "soccer mom" and chauffeur for elementary and high school activities. I also did volunteer work through my church for nine years as a bible class teacher and I was Charitable Chairman of the Women's Guild, bringing food and solace to those who had lost a loved one. Mama and I would visit several rest homes and often they would be personal friends as patients who touched us deeply.
We had to move to Cambria in 1989. This was the culmination of many years of suffering from an allergic reaction to the pollutants in the air in Bakersfield.
In 1991, I began working in as a Hostess for Rigdon Hall Restaurant, which was a pleasure getting to know and befriend so many Cambrians. Several years later, the restaurant became an Inn and I worked the front desk where I met and assisted travelers from around the world. I would be there for the guests questions about Cambria. They were enthusiastic its highlights; and, I was an advocate for Cambria. I've spent 12 years working in Cambria and my last job was working in sales with Oliver Twist.
The late 80's and the 90's were also devoted to my ailing mother who lived with us and whom we took care of until her death in 2001. I've survived depression and two cancer surgeries. I'm alive and wanting to serve this community by making it a better place to live.