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New Members Named, Executive Committee Announced for University Philanthropic Board

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Bill Cheney, president and CEO of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Mark E. Costa, executive director of Kaiser Permanente Orange County, and Ingrid Otero-Smart, president/CEO of Casanova Pendrill, have been named to Cal State Fullerton’s Philanthropic Foundation Board of Governors.

They joined the nonprofit auxiliary organization that is responsible for the investment and management of philanthropic gifts designated for the University.

Cheney, with more than 25 years within the credit union movement, heads up the largest credit union for school employees and the fifth largest in the United States by asset size, with more than 645,000 members and $11 billion in assets. Prior to joining SchoolsFirst FCU, he was president and CEO of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), the nation’s largest advocacy group for credit unions.

Costa serves as the chief executive for the Kaiser Permanente Health Plan and Hospital Operations in Orange County, responsible for the care delivery of more than 500,000 members supported by 6,973 staff and 758 Permanente physicians that he leads in partnership with the Orange County Southern California Permanente Medical Group. The 35-year healthcare veteran previously served as executive director of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan & Hospitals in Los Angeles.

Otero-Smart has served as president and CEO of Casanova Pendrill, McCann Worldgroup’s U.S. Hispanic agency, since 2008. With more than 25 years experience, she leads the agency’s operations in Costa Mesa, Detroit and New York. She began her career with McCann in Puerto Rico and has served with Mendoza Dillon & Asociados and Anita Santiago Advertising. She also sits in the advisory board for CSUF School of Communications.

Heading up the CSFPF board this year is Jeffrey S. Van Harte ’80 (B.A. business administration-finance), chairman of Jackson Square Partners, who was elected during the organization’s May meeting.

Joining Van Harte on the foundation’s 2015-16 executive committee are:

  • Kerri Ruppert Schiller ’82 (B.A. business administration-accounting), senior vice president and chief financial officer, Children’s Hospital of Orange County; vice chair. Schiller also serves as vice chair of the Audit Committee.
  • Doug Simao, advisory services, Ernst & Young LLP; immediate vice chair
  • David Doran ’75 (B.A. business administration-accounting), managing partner, White Nelson Diehl Evans LLP; vice chair, Finance and Investment Committee
  • Marilyn C. Brewer, California State Assembly, retired; member at large

The May board meeting was the last one for Jose Lara, executive vice president of member services and operations for SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union. Lara has served on the CSFPF Board of Governors for three terms, serving on the executive committee as secretary. He also served on the Finance and Investment and Resource Development committees. President Mildred García honored Lara by conferring the title of Governor Emeritus in recognition of his participation, leadership and involvement to advance the mission of the foundation and the University.