LWVC Board
President - Jennifer Waggoner, LWV San Francisco
Jenny joined the LWVCEF board in 2007 as Communications Director. She serves on the Audit Committee and contributes to many others. She first joined the League in San Francisco in 2001 and has served in many roles, including President, Vice President, and Budget Chair. She strongly believes in the League’s core values, is grateful for the opportunities the League offers, and feels the greatest value for her has been the mentors she has found and their encouragement to mentor others through the League.
When Jenny moved to San Francisco she struggled to find unbiased political analysis and, for the first time in her life, considered not voting because she felt so unprepared. "I was horrified: I was in one of the most famously politically active cities in the country, and yet I couldn’t find basic voter information?" Read how the League of Women Voters gave her a place to find that information and environment.
Jennifer has worked for many years as a consultant, typically in operations, finance and communications for nonprofits and small businesses. She holds a degree in Government from Claremont McKenna College and a Diploma in Public Policy from the University of Edinburgh. She enjoys the flexibility and variety of her work, allowing her to dedicate significant time to the League and to be able to travel. She lives in central San Francisco with her domestic partner, David LaMacchia.
She can be reached by emailing jwaggoner@lwvc.org.
First Vice President - Sharon Holdt, LWV Capistrano Bay
Sharon grew up in a small farming community in Illinois but has been a Californian for 35 years. She and her husband Terry have lived in San Juan Capistrano for 30 years. She has one son, two daughters and two grandchildren. She has been a member of the League for 30 years.
Sharon is a member of the Capistrano Bay League of Women Voters. She has served as President, Program Chair and Voter Editor. Sharon is serving her second term as President of the League of Women Voters of Orange County (ILO). She is also temporary Smart Voter Coordinator for the County of Orange Smart Voter team.
She retired in 1995 from the Victim Witness Program which is part of the Community Services Program in Orange County. She worked closely with victims of crime to help them navigate the court system. She held the position of Restitution Specialist, Victim Specialist and Supervisor of the South County Victim Witness Program. Sharon worked closely with the District Attorney’s office in helping to coordinate witnesses and to collect restitution for victims of misdemeanors. Sharon also helped victims to obtain funding for medical bills from the State Board of Control.
She also served on the Foundation Board for Mission Hospital. This board has been instrumental in helping the hospital to raise funds to meet the medical needs of the rapidly growing south Orange County community.
Sharon looks forward to joining the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of California as she sees a need more than ever for a vibrant and forward looking organization such as the League to be a part of the solution to the problems facing our great State of California.
She can be reached by emailing sholdt@lwvc.org.
Second Vice President - Kathy Armstrong, LWV South San Mateo County
Kathy Armstrong is a member of the League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County, and has been involved in voter service with the League since 2004, currently serving as her League’s Voter Service Director and Speakers Bureau Coordinator. She has been active in strategic planning work with the SmartVoter.org team and in various initiatives with the state level Voter Service team, including facilitating the Voter Information Working Group in 2009 and building the League’s SpeakerSource Google Group in 2010.
Kathy currently works as a management consultant, having left the corporate world in 2007 to apply her skills in the areas of civic engagement and non-profit organizational effectiveness. Her work includes leading a Common Cause and Citizen Schools collaboration to develop and deliver civic education on redistricting, facilitating community dialogue on housing with San Mateo County Threshold 2008, and currently working with the non-partisan non-profit California Forward on a comprehensive statewide engagement plan focused on modernizing the tools of governance. Previously, Kathy spent over fifteen years in the private sector, including serving as Director of Customer Experience Research and Vice President for Process Improvement at Hewlett-Packard.
Originally a New Englander, Kathy followed the “California Dream” after graduating from college, and has been an enthusiastic California resident for over 25 years. In addition to her League work, she is a volunteer with Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic and sings with the Stanford Memorial Church choir.
Kathy holds a masters degree in computer science and engineering from the University of Washington and a bachelors degree in psychology and human relations from Connecticut College. Known as an energetic systems thinker, Kathy brings objectivity, structure, and enthusiasm to her work with teams, and is very excited about collaborating with local Leagues throughout the state, as well as the Board and League staff, to further the League’s mission of encouraging all Californians to be informed and participate actively in the democratic process.
She can be reached by emailing karmstrong@lwvc.org.
Secretary - Caroline deLlamas, LWV East San Gabriel Valley
Caroline has been a League Member since 1968 and has held most portfolios at the local League level, including that of President, and currently serves on the board of the East San Gabriel Valley League.
At the state level, she has served as the Secretary since July 2009, and is a member of the Executive, Personnel, and Nominating Committees. Caroline also serves as the Southern Coordinator for the LWVC Management Training Advisor Program (MTAs) and is the Management Training Advisor for two local Leagues. During 2008-2009, she was one of the state coordinators for the LWVUS Membership Recruitment Initiative Program (MRI, or as we call it in California, MGIK!) responsible for five Local League participants.
A retired Professional City Clerk/Treasurer, she has a consulting business to provide Interim Municipal Clerk Services to California cities. She is a past president of the City Clerks Association of California and holds membership in various professional organizations, including the National Association of Parliamentarians and Soroptimist International.
Caroline resides in Covina with her husband Lloyd deLlamas. They have two adult daughters.
She can be reached by emailing secretary@lwvc.org.
Treasurer - Tom Carson, LWV Glendale/Burbank
A native Angeleno, Tom has lived in Burbank over thirty-five years. He is married to Chris Carson, a dedicated League leader of many years standing. They have two sons.
Tom has been a member of LWV Glendale/Burbank for over twenty years. Long its Budget Chair, he is now its Treasurer and Webmaster. He is particularly active in voter service, chairing or co-chairing several local studies and participation in the LWVUS immigration study. He is also Budget Chair for LWV Los Angeles County, an Inter-League Organization (serving the region, engaging multiple local Leagues).
For the LWVC, Tom was Budget Chair 2006-2009, as well as providing financial management advice over the years. For some years, he has written Pros & Cons and In Depths. Recently he has assisted many local Leagues get current with their governmental filings.
For the LWVUS, Tom served on the Net Neutrality Task Force in 2006-2007. Currently he is a member of its Clearinghouse Ad Hoc Committee, which is exploring the feasibility of establishing a national website to assist local Leagues to better share their knowledge and experiences.
Tom received a BA in History from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles; a MA in History from the University of California, Irvine; and a MBA from the University of Southern California.
Tom rose to partner in an international accounting firm, specializing in tax matters, then became chief financial officer of several large entertainment companies. Later, he was a co-owner and manager of several small businesses in northern California. Tom throughout his career has focused heavily on improving management infrastructure and systems.
Tom currently serves as treasurer of the Friends of the Burbank Public Library, among other community activities.
Tom hopes to use his management and leadership experience to help improve the LWVC infrastructure, to enhance its work in the community and better support local Leagues.
He can be reached by emailing treasurer@lwvc.org.
Director - Barbara Barker, LWV Torrance
Barbara Barker joined the Torrance Area League for the Health Study in 1991. She has served on the Board as Public Relations Director, Health Director, Newsletter Editor, Webmaster, and as co-president in 2002-2003, 2005-2007 and as President 2007-2008. She has been a member of the LWVC Health Care Committee for the past four years and is also a member of the Health Care 4US nationwide group. Barbara has been involved in many aspects of her local league including fundraising, pros and cons, candidate forums and the League’s participation in community events.
For Barbara, the League’s non-partisanship and careful study process is the reason she admires our organization. She had enjoyed the challenges offered by the League, the leadership qualities that it develops and the wonderful mentors she has met along the way.
Barbara was initially interested in joining the League because of her interest in one specific area: "an acquaintance I had made through work told me about the League of Women Voters and a health study they were beginning, asking me to join and take part". Read how her involvement developed from there to the role she plays today.
Retired from an interesting administrative job with the City of Torrance’s Community Services Department, Barbara served as office manager, clerical staff coordinator, software advisor, speechwriter, protocol specialist, event planner and human relations specialist. She holds a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Cal State University Dominguez Hills. In her first year of retirement, she refurbished a small cabin in Big Bear and she is currently working on remodeling plans for a larger home in the same area. Recently widowed, she lives in Lomita, and works part-time as a travel guide for the Torrance Travelers.
She can be reached by emailing bbarker@lwvc.org.
Director - Lianne Campodonico, LWV Piedmont
Lianne was first recruited by the Piedmont League to be Program Vice President. She joined the League eight years ago, shortly after being nominated. She has been on her local League’s board almost every year since, including a two-year term as President. Lianne is married and has four children. She and her husband, Richard, live in Piedmont.
Her work experience includes having been an assistant editor for a public administration journal, a part-time lecturer for Cal State East Bay’s Department of Public Education, and a lecturer one summer at the Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok, Thailand.
She currently works part-time for the Ann Martin Center, a nonprofit serving at-risk children in need of psychotherapy, educational therapy, and diagnostic assessment.
Aside from the League, she has been a volunteer with First Place for Youth, a program for former foster youth. She served on their Board of Directors for six years.
She and her husband are in the midst of establishing an organic olive orchard in Lake County, where she is a member of the Farm Bureau and the local California Women for Agriculture chapter. Lianne is also an avid hiker and tries to accomplish at least one race-walking half marathon a year
She can be reached by emailing lcampodonico@lwvc.org.
Director - Helen Hutchison, LWV Oakland
Helen Hutchison has been President of the LWV Oakland since 2005. She has served in a variety of portfolios on the Oakland Board including VOTER editor and Vice President for Action. She has been a League member since 1969. She and her family have moved around the country, providing many opportunities to join Leagues in different cities: Claremont, California; Newton, Massachusetts; Los Angeles; Claremont (again); Clackamas County, Oregon; DeKalb County, Georgia; and Oakland. She served on the Boards of the Claremont, Clackamas County and Oakland Leagues in a variety of portfolios. Each League has provided new areas to learn about and get active in.
Helen has been an active member of the League of Women Voters wherever she has lived in the country, "My husband and I have moved around the country frequently during our life together. I have found that the League is my way to find connections in the community." She remarks on how the League has helped her meet new people and settle into new communities here.
Professionally Helen is a retired computer systems analyst. She is an active member of Montclair Presbyterian Church in Oakland, where she chairs the Building Renovation Committee.
She can be reached by emailing hhutchison@lwvc.org.
Director - Syeda Reshma Inamdar, LWV Fremont, Newark, Union City
Syeda Reshma has lived in many places in the world but still loves the SF Bay Area the most and calls it home, for now. She has one daughter who is grown, graduated from college and recently married. Syeda is the proud aunt of a brand new nephew thanks to her sister.
Syeda has been a member of the League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark and Union City for 15+ years. She first served as Public Relations Director and enjoyed it immensely. She got to serve as LWVFNUC’s President during their 50th anniversary celebration! She currently serves as the Chair of the Alameda County Council of the seven County leagues. In the past, Syeda has served on the Audit Committee and Nominating Committee for LWVC.
Syeda is a Certified Public Accountant but primarily works in property and business management. She is active in several organizations and local boards and committees. She co-founded a domestic violence prevention organization and continues to be actively engaged in efforts to eradicate domestic violence.
Syeda is looking forward to working with a wonderful group of dedicated civic activists to help carry on the vision and mission of the League of Women Voters of California.
She can be reached by emailing sinamdar@lwvc.org.
Director - Suzanne Stassevitch, LWV San Francisco
Born in New York City and raised in St. Louis, Suzanne moved to San Francisco in 1976 to pursue her lifelong passion for the performing arts after earning a B.A. in Theater Arts at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and graduate work at the University of Oregon and SFSU (M.A. 1978).
As a member of IATSE, Theatrical Wardrobe Union Local 784, Suzanne built a career in the Costume and Wardrobe Departments in Bay Area Broadway Theatres, Ballet Companies, and San Francisco Opera. As a member of a Local 784 her activities included working as a Union Steward, contract negotiations, Health and Welfare Administrator Local 784 1982-1992, developing an apprentice program and sitting on the Apprentice Board, 1985-1993. Suzanne worked for 15 years at San Francisco Opera as a Wardrobe Department Head and a traveling Costume Supervisor. During this time she was an active volunteer at her son’s school and had the privilege of working as a volunteer at the Textile Conservation Labs at the Fine Arts Museum San Francisco.
In 2001 Suzanne decided to redirect her activities toward community interests and to study and develop her own work in textiles arts.
Community interests have included training as an Adult Literacy tutor in 2000 and working with for Project Read, an Adult Literacy Project in San Francisco, following her mother’s path into the LWV and taking a lead in the LWVSF Speaker’s Bureau, represent the League on the City Ballot Simplification Committee and working on small community theatrical events. As vice president of voter service programs for LWVSF since 2004, Suzanne and her team expanded content and programs available on the League’s Web site, increased the distribution of Pro Con materials city-wide in three languages, and coordinated a vote-by-mail promotion in San Francisco.
She can be reached by emailing sstassevitch@lwvc.org.
Director - Ellen Wheeler, LWV Los Altos-Mountain View Area
Ellen Wheeler is a member of the LWV Los Altos-Mountain View Area, where she serves on the board as Membership Director. She is also a member of the Budget, Bylaws, and Nominating Committees.
She has a keen interest in education and has been a member of the Mountain View Whisman School District Board of Trustees since 2002. Her background and background in education have been put to good use in her work as a member of the LWVC/EF Education (Pre-K-12) Committee and as chair of the Education Committee for the LWV Santa Clara County.
Ellen has commented that, "Women often take long, winding roads to get where they are." Read about her journey and how the League has played a part.
Ellen is an attorney and mediator whose areas of professional expertise includes family law and estate planning.
She can be reached by emailing ewheeler@lwvc.org.
Director - Diane Williams, LWV Kern County
Diane was born and raised in the city of Orange in Orange County California. She relocated to Bakersfield 16 years ago with her husband and son who is now attending college.
Diane served as President of the Kern County League of Women Voters since 2005 and also served as VP Program and Co-Newsletter Editor. Diane was proud to accept an award at the 2008 convention on behalf of the Kern County Board for all their work and participation in the National Membership Recruitment Initiative. She was thrilled to be a panel member at the Leadership Council Membership Workshop in 2010 to share membership recruitment tips and strategies.
Diane started her career at State Farm 22 years ago. She is currently a Personal Lines Underwriter serving agents across California. She spent eight years as a consultant, technical, and personal training specialist. This year, Diane completed a Major Insurance Designation- Chapter Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and attended an all expense paid conferment trip in Florida with her husband. She completed her BS Degree at Bakersfield State University, transferring from Fullerton State University.
Diane enjoys being involved in the community. She is an active board member of the Kern Transportation Foundation, International Women’s Day, Bakersfield Women Business Conference, Kern Literacy Board, and CPCU Society.
Diane looks forward to joining the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of California and is ready to hit the ground running to build and sustain membership for the next 90 years!
She can be reached by emailing dwilliams@lwvc.org.