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Giving Back
"Ultimately, what matters is the good that we do." -Joseph Rebello, CEO Citizen Financial Group
Board and Staff
The strength of any organization comes from its people. A key factor in our ability to deliver high-quality, caring, and effective services to adults with disabilities is the staff working with them each and every day. We are proud of our staff members, and their dedication to our work. In addition to operating our programs, they participate in community-building activities such as our Friends events, are advocates with the public, and contributed recipes for the cookbook.
Let us know if you are interested in working at Employment & Community Options.
Leadership
Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Batterman, has a 25-year tenure with Employment & Community Options, aiding in all aspects of the organization’s development since its inception in 1985. Her two Masters degrees in Special Education and Business Administration from San Diego State University and her role as a past President of the California Rehabilitation Association has resulted in statewide recognition of her leadership skills. Nancy’s expertise in the area of vocational rehabilitation, special education and mental retardation drove the origination of various programs that built the foundation for Employment & Community Options’ success. Nancy demonstrates a selfless devotion to creating universal equality for all members of society.
Team Bios and Headshots
The mission of Employment & Community Options (E&CO) is to create and support opportunities for low income adults with developmental disabilities in making choices to live, work and enjoy life in their community with dignity and respect. Our goal is to enhance the quality of life of each individual we support, but we can’t fulfill this mission alone. It’s only through a close and continuing interaction with the community that we can be sure of having the necessary guidance and support to appropriately respond to the needs of our constituencies. The volunteer Board of Directors takes the lead in promoting the mission and services of E&CO, led by Chairman Frank Whelan.
Frank Whelan, CPA is the Assistant Controller at the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies (TPIMS), a 501(c)(3) biotech research center dedicated to conducting fundamental research to advance the understanding of human disease and the improvement of human health. At TPIMS, he heads up the Finance and Accounting Department for the company's California division. Prior to working at TPIMS, Whelan was a Senior Auditor with the CPA firm of Sonneberg & Company, specializing in nonprofit organization audits. He’s also worked in accounting for a property management company and understands accounting and financial reporting for large apartment complexes including property tax credits. Whelan earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, San Diego UCSD and an accounting certificate from UCSD Extension.
Michel Andersonis the owner of Michel Anderson & Associates as well as a Board member of The San Diego Foundation and CASAS. He’s also a member of the City of San Diego Real Estate Advisory Committee. Anderson holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA from the University of San Diego.
Steve Cassarino and his partner Lee N. Gerovitz are the Clever Cleaver Brothers, professional chefs who’ve turned their love for food and laughter into a unique career as media personalities, cookbook authors, magazine columnists, and “stand-up chefs.” Cassarino has been involved with E&CO special events starting with our golf tournament and he’s been master of ceremonies at several of our events. He and his wife, Janice, have two children, Riana, (who has a developmental disability) and Giovanni.
Ken Kisbert has been in commercial real estate for 19 years, and is currently working for Colliers International. Most of his business is office leasing and sales in Kearny Mesa and Mission Valley. Kisbert’s experience with E&CO relates primarily to helping locate or relocate many of our offices in the San Diego area. He’s been on the E&CO Leadership Council since its inception in 2003. Kisbert lives in Scripps Ranch with his wife, Michele, and two boys, Ian, 10 and Craig, 7. He’s also on the Board of Directors of the San Diego Advertising Golf Association, where he’s been a member since 2001 and served as president in 2004.
Karen Meckstroth is a trusts and estates attorney with offices in Silicon Valley and San Francisco. Karen’s practice includes working with parents who have children with developmental disabilities to create special needs trusts. She also works with clients to achieve their charitable goals through planned giving and private family foundations. Prior to becoming an attorney, Karen worked with the Vallejo City Unified School District, first as a teacher and later as a program manager coordinating state and federal compensatory education funds to serve at-risk students. For the past three years, Karen has worked with Employment & Community Options as a mentor through the Silicon Valley Planned Giving Council’s Incubator Project. As a mentor, she has helped the organization develop its planned giving program and build an endowment. Karen earned her B.A. and M.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Karen writes a legal blog, The Bay Area Wills, Trusts & Probate Report. She is the mother of eight-year-old twins.
Stephanie Murphy, a native San Diegan, has over 10 years of experience working in the non-profit sector. Since 2007, she’s worked at Consumer Credit Counseling Services as the Regional Director of Education, Development & Community Relations for Southern California. In addition to running a successful program that provides financial literacy, first-time homebuyer and bankruptcy classes to individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations, Murphy is also responsible for creating collaborative relationships throughout the community. She’s currently an instructor for UCSD Extension, teaching workforce development and financial literacy classes. Prior to joining Consumer Credit Counseling Services, she worked for National University, ACCESS Inc. and San Diego Career Opportunities Partners, providing workforce development services to over 300 local businesses. Murphy is a 2007 LEAD graduate and recipient of San Diego Workforce Partnership’s Workforce Development Professional of the Year in 2007. She graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in communicative disorders.
Andris Ramans spent 25 years as a senior executive working in the semiconductor manufacturing industry in Santa Clara County. He’s a graduate of UC Berkeley, and he and his wife, Betty, have four adult children: Ed, Mark, Andy and Eriks. Eriks has been receiving services from E&CO’s Independent Living Skills program for the past five years. Ramans and his wife have been members of the San Jose Leadership Council for the past two years.
Randy Yee is a commercial insurance professional. He started his practice by developing and marketing alternative risk solutions to service providers for individuals with developmental disabilities. Prior to establishing himself in the insurance industry, Yee spent over 15 years with Xerox Corporation in various management positions in sales, marketing and human resources. He recently held the position of Vice President, Business Development at a large insurance brokerage company. A graduate of San Diego State University,Yee earned his degree in business administration and currently resides in San Diego's north county with his wife and two daughters.
William Van Cleave is a Public Defender Investigator in San Jose. He received his master’s degree from San Jose State University and is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Van Cleave previously served on the Board of Directors of Children and Family Services, a program that provides low-income single parents with childcare. He enjoys being involved in the community and volunteers for 2nd Harvest Food Bank and the Marine Corps Toys for Tots programs. For the past three years, Van Cleave has volunteered with E&CO in Northern California and previously served on its San Jose Leadership Council. William is a member of the Friends of the Bay Area Committee and was instrumental in the Public Defender's Office employing two volunteer groups from Employment & Community Options. He lives in Morgan Hill with his wife, Sydnie.
Key Staff
Chief Executive Officer – Nancy Batterman
Nancy Batterman has been with E&CO for its entire 25-year history and she’s been Chief Executive Officer since 1992. She has her master in education with an emphasis in special education and a master of business administration, both from San Diego State University. Batterman is recognized throughout the state for her leadership in the area of vocational rehabilitation; she’s President of the California Rehabilitation Association, the state trade association for programs like E&CO.
Working for over 25 years to create opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities to grow through day programs, supported employment, mobility training, and independent-living services, Batterman has accrued knowledge and experience. As executive director of the Community Options Division of the Foundation for Educational Achievement, she demonstrated management and operations expertise that supports her educational foundation in special education/mental retardation. Also, she drove the origination of various programs in conjunction with other organizations such as Independent Living Services, San Diego Regional Center, San Andreas Regional Center, the Foundation College, and the State of California Employment Training Panel. Through such projects, Batterman gained and demonstrated substantial skills in coordinating the efforts of participating organizations and managing large projects.
Well known throughout California through her extensive work in several professional associations, Batterman gained valuable experience dealing with issues related to services for individuals with developmental disabilities in the state. Working with the Department of Developmental Services and the Department of Rehabilitation, she’s focused extensively in the areas of rates and consumer rights legislation.
Nancy can be reached at nbatman@communityoptions.org
Chief Operating Officer – Wendy M. Forkas
Wendy Forkas has been with E&CO since July 2009. She holds a master’s degree in behavioral analysis and therapy from the University of Pacific in Stockton and a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Pacific.
Forkas has over 11 years experience serving as an executive leader for non-profit entities. In her current role, she’s responsible for the day-to-day program operations of E&CO; she oversees execution of consumer programs including vocational services, integrated employment services, independent living services, and behavioral services as well as the safety program, quality assurance and program development. She’s performed similar operational responsibilities in her previous position as COO for another statewide non-profit organization. Forkas has also held the following positions throughout her 20 years working in the non-profit sector: Director of Operations, Director of Program Services, Assistant to the Regional Director, Area Manager, Behavioral Consultant, Behavioral Specialist, and Clinic Coordinator.
Wendy can be reached at wforkas@communityoptions.org
Chief Financial Officer – Richard Gutierrez
Richard Gutierrez joined E&CO in July of 2010. He earned a Bachelor degree in Engineering and a Master degree in Engineering Management from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Richard also went on to receive an MBA from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business. He is a proud graduate of the Latino Nonprofit Leadership Program hosted by the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
Mr. Gutierrez has over 15 years of diverse experience in Finance, Internal Audit, and Engineering. In Richard’s most recent positions he served as a CFO at two nonprofit organizations, serving as a Board member of the last company prior to joining their management team. In his current role, he’s responsible for the budgetary, administrative and fiscal operations of the organization.
Richard can be reached at rgutierrez@communityoptions.org