Board of Directors

 Board President Susan Azevedo is a longtime community activist. In addition to her role on the CASA Board, Susan is also Vice President of the Modesto Convention and Visitors Bureau. Appointed by former Governor Gray Davis, she recently served as a Director on the Stanislaus County Fair Board. Susan was also appointed by Governor Gray Davis to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. Locally, Susan has served as a member of the Modesto City Public Safety Ad Hoc Committee, evaluating the needs of both the Modesto Police and Fire Departments. As a past President of the Stanislaus County Commission for Women; a former Director of Haven Women's Center and Shelter, Planned Parenthood and CARAL, Susan is deeply committed to creating positive and lasting change in our community and has recently been appointed by the Modesto City School Board to the Superintendent Hiring Advisory Committee.

Susan was awarded the 'Women Helping Women Award' by Soroptimist International of Modesto and was named one of the Outstanding Women of Stanislaus County by the Commission for Women. An award winning artist, Susan and her husband Art, a labor lawyer, maintain an active role in both local and statewide politics.

  Board Vice-President Susan Coelho Mattos is the President and Publisher of Mattos Newspapers, Inc., a company that publishes three weekly newspapers that provide local community news for the West Side of Stanislaus County. In addition, the company offers commercial printing services and produces and prints other weekly, bi-monthly, monthly and quarterly publications from Northern California.

 

Susan has continuously volunteered in her community by serving as a board member for the Newman Chamber of Commerce, economic development committee and many clubs and organizations. Through her community efforts, Susan lead a successful campaign to raise funds for a new health care facility and served as chairman for a school bond that raised funds for new school construction. She is a charter board member and treasurer for the local community scholarship organization. Susan is passionate about improving the lives of children throughout Stanislaus County, particularly those in foster care.

 

Board Treasurer Art Weisberg has a long history of devotion to the needs of our community. As a past President of the Police Athletics League (PAL) and the Stanislaus County Assistance Program (SCAP), he has led by not only example – but also in practice. Art was a member of the Central Valley West Ballet Company and has an extensive background serving the diverse needs of the marginalized children in Stanislaus County.  With a black belt in Moo Duk Kwon (a form of Tae Kwon Do), Art worked with adolescent youth teaching them the sport along with the discipline required to perform at the highest level. A graduate of Sacramento State (BA and MA in Psychology), Art is committed to helping us provide the best advocacy services available for our dependent youth.

  Board Secretary Dr. Lenita Williamson, MD is a graduate of Stanford University and was certified by the ABOS Orthopedic Sports Medicine in 2007 and the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in 1997 and again in 2006.

 

She is a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Association, the J. Robert Gladden Society and is a member of the California State Orthopaedic Society and State Medical Society. Lenita is recognized as a  Diplomate on the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Davis in the Department of Family Medicine.

 

Lenita's private practice focuses on sports medicine, injury prevention, and (primarily) shoulder and knee surgery. Lenita is an enthusiastic advocate for children in care and is committed to making a difference in the lives of the children CASA serves.

 

  This space is reserved for the bio of Tom Aja, one of the newest additions to our Board. Tom's bio will posted soon!   

 

 

  Andrea Bettencourt is a graduate of California State University, Fresno with a degree in Accounting. Andrea has more than twenty years of experience providing business advisory services and business and personal tax planning to help her clients achieve their goals.

 

While away from the office Andrea enjoys raising her two daughters with her husband Jeff, running her local PTA, being active in Girl Scouts and (when time allows) substitute teaching.

 

 This space is reserved for the bio of Bob Dunbar, one of the newest additions to our Board. Bob's bio will posted soon!   

  From 1977 through 2009, Bob Endsley has owned Coldwell Banker Endsley & Associates, located in Turlock, one of the region’s leading real estate companies. In helping meet clients’ real estate needs, Bob has been able to create lasting partnerships with people in the region. Over the last few decades, Bob has personally financed the education of at least three individuals, as well as donating thousands of dollars to educational grants and scholarships, and much more to various charitable organizations. He’s also earned countless civic awards as a community leader and volunteer. Bob's passion and commitment to those youth in care is unsurpassed and he is proud to be a member of our CASA Board of Directors.   

 

  Robert Farrace is a graduate of UCLA (Biology and Linguistics), Whittier Law School (JD) and has been an attorney for more than sixteen years. He is past President of Modesto Team Baseball (where he was also an active coach), the Modesto East Rotary Club and has served on the Board of Directors for the United Rotary Clubs of Modesto. In addition, Robert was recently nominated to serve on both the California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) state Board of Directors and the Stanislaus County Bar Association Board of Directors. Robert serves as an Administrative Hearing officer for the City of Modesto and has served as Judge Pro Tem in both Stanislaus and Los Angeles counties. An avid seaman and baseball fan (Go Giants!), Robert is the proud father of one terrific son and resides in Modesto.

  

  Chief  Darin Gharat was born and raised in Modesto and graduated from Modesto High School and received his Associate of Arts Degree from Modesto Junior College in Administration of Justice. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management from St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA. He began his law enforcement career as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Dept in 1989. During that time he worked in many areas of the department including the detention facilities, courthouse, coroner's office, and patrol. In 1996, after completing the basic academy through Modesto Junior College, he began his full-time career in law enforcement with the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Dept.

 

Since that time, he has worked patrol, bailiff, POST certified training coordinator, and as an Internal Affairs investigator. Sheriff Les Weidman promoted him in 2003 to the rank of Sergeant. As a Sergeant, he worked as a patrol field supervisor and as the facility supervisor at the coroner's office. In 2005 Sheriff Weidman again promoted him to the rank of Lieutenant. As a Lieutenant, he worked as an area commander, unit commander of the Air Support Unit, and oversaw the Juvenile Services Unit, and as a Patrol Watch Commander. He was appointed as the Chief of Police Services by the City of Waterford in November of 2007 and the City of Hughson in 2010.

 

In addition to his professional career, Chief Gharat has been the past president of the Stanislaus County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, has served as an elected trustee on the Stanislaus County Employee Retirement Association, serves on the Board of Directors of the Stanislaus Police Activities League, is an appointed member of the Stanislaus County Juvenile Justice Commission, and has been honored to serve since 2008 as a board member of CASA of Stanislaus County. Chief Gharat resides in Modesto with his wife, Stacy Gharat, a Stanislaus County Probation Officer.

 

  Randy Hayashi, DDS is a dentist with a bachelor's degree in biology from the College of the Pacific in Stockton and a doctorate in dentistry from Pacific's Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco.

 

Randy is a founding supporter of the Gallo Center for the Arts and the State Theatre in Modesto. He has been extremely involved with UOP and other local organizations for many years. He served on the Pacific Presidential Search Committee last year, is a past president of the Pacific Alumni Association, served on Pacific's National Commission in 2000, was co-chair of the Alumni Center Campaign Committee in 2004, was a Pacific Fund panel member in 2005 and currently serves as Chair of the Alumni House Committee. He has also been a member of Pacific Tiger's Athletics Association for many years.

 

Outside of Pacific, he has been an active member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, the Stanislaus Dental Society where he has served as President, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

 

Randy is our longest tenured member serving in a variety of capacities over his time on the Board. An active and committed Board member, Randy is enthusiastic about CASA's mission and goals and is always looking for creative solutions to address the issues our dependent children face. 

 

 Garrad Marsh is a lifelong resident of Modesto. He was elected to the Modesto City Council in 2003, re-elected in 2007 and was appointed Vice Mayor for the 2008 year. Currently the Mayor of Modesto, Garrad and his wife Dallas own and operate the McHenry Bowl. He and Dallas are also the proud parents of four children and have five grandchildren.

 

As a Modesto City Councilmember, Garrad was Vice Chair of the Economic Development Committee and a member of the Finance Committee. The Marsh family donates countless hours of time and resources to many endeavors attempting to enrich the lives of those less fortunate in our community. Garrad and his family are committed to serving all youth, especially those in foster care. 

 

  Nana Redell has been a resident of Stanislaus County since 1961. She was employed by the Sylvan School District as a teacher and retired in 1998. She is the mother of two adult children.

 

She was a member of the Stanislaus Community Assistance Program board from 2006-2008. She was a member and volunteer of the Modesto Garden Club and did volunteer work at the Senior Center of Modesto in conjunction with the Garden Club. She has also worked and volunteered in national politics at the local level, contacting and registering voters.

 

On a more personal side Nana enjoys knitting, gardening and cooking. She has also participated in many walk/runs which donate to charity including a 60 mile three day walk. As a teacher, Nana has worked with children for many years and is aware of issues related to children in our community.

 

She became acquainted with CASA in 1999 and has deep regard for the services it provides for children. She is very excited to be a member of the CASA board and to be able to continue her passion to further the welfare of children.

 

Lindsey Robbins is an attorney and a certified Family Law specialist, as certified by the California State Bar of Board of Legal Specialization. She is the President of the Family Law Section of the Stanislaus County Bar Association and practices primarily family law and estate planning.

 

A graduate of the University of Wyoming, Lindsey has been committed to serving foster youth as an attorney and as a volunteer since her days in college. Lindsey is a committed advocate for those less fortunate and has done extensive 'pro-bono' work for California Rural Legal Assistance, primarily in the areas of elder abuse or elder property issues.

 

Lindsey has volunteered for the Women's Haven of Stanislaus County, Stanislaus County Adult Protective Services, the American Cancer Society, and as mentioned above, the California Rural Legal Assistance program.

 

Lindsey is a committed Board member for CASA and our mission. "I am very honored to be part of CASA. From my internship experience in law school, I recognize the importance of a consistent adult advocate for children in the juvenile court system. I hope to bring a young professional's opinion and involvement to our CASA program. CASA isn't just the best at what we do, we are the only ones who do what we do."