ACE Board of Directors

 

IN MEMORIAM

 

Tony Skinner (ACE Board President and School Founder 2010-2020) aged 66

Tony Skinner was a lifelong resident of Ventura County. He served as the Business Representative for the Tri-County Building and Construction Trades Council, a position held since 2005. He was the President of the IBEW Local 952 and was a trustee on the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee since 2002. In addition, Mr. Skinner also sat on the Workforce Investment Board of Ventura County. He was the ACE Board President for 10 years and he made ACE Charter High School possible, an achievement of his above all others since the time he began working on it in 2005. We all owe him our thanks.

 

Current ACE Charter High School Board

 

Gary Cushing - ACE Board President - Community Rep, Camarillo Chamber of Commerce

Gary started Cushing Public Affairs in 2012 after working with Rincon Strategies to focus on representing businesses to government. Gary has a degree in Political Science from California State University, Channel Islands and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration from Cal Lutheran University. Gary has been an active member in the community involved in the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce, Ventura County Tax Payers Association, Boys and Girls Club advisory board, Camarillo Hospice advisory board, Camarillo Health Care District advisory board, Chamber Alliance of Ventura and Santa Barbara County.

 

David Carlson - ACE Board Vice President - Interim Director of Planning, Design & Construction at CSUCI

David Carlson is an Architect and Certified Access Specialist. Like Mr. Skinner, he brings an industry perspective to the Board of Directors. He currently works for California State University Channel Islands. In addition to the ACE Board, he also serves on the Board of the Camarillo Ranch Foundation as President as well as the Community Relations Committee Chair.

 

Marlo Hartsuyker - ACE Board Secretary - Director of Charter School Support and Oversight

In her current position as the Director of Charter School and Support and Oversight for the Ventura County Office of Education, Ms. Hartsuyker directly oversees the five VCOE sponsored charter schools and provides support to the other Ventura County charter schools and their sponsoring districts. She is also a resource for Ventura County families with questions about their educational options. Before coming to the VCOE, Ms. Hartsuyker was the Lead Petitioner and Founder of the MATES Charter in Thousand Oaks. As the Founding Board President, Ms. Hartsuyker was actively engaged in all aspects of the school’s governance and operation.  In addition, Ms. Hartsuyker’s background as a practicing attorney provides valuable insight and familiarity with the laws and regulations that apply to charter schools. Ms. Hartsuyker earned her BA in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine followed by a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego.

 

Mike Vollmert - ACE Board Chief Financial Officer - Retired from Rio School District

Dr. Vollmert is a retired educator with over 30 years of educational experience as both a high school science teacher and administrator.  After 12 years of teaching Oceanography, Biology, and Earth Science at Hueneme High School, he worked as a site administrator in the Oxnard Union High School District, as a Director of Research and Evaluation and Director of Technology for Conejo Valley Unified School District, and as a Director of Technology for Rio School district.  Currently, in addition to serving on the Board for ACE Charter, he consults with school districts in California on technology and pedagogy and chairs the Affiliate Committee for CUE. He's a CETPA Certified CTO, has a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from UC Santa Barbara, an MBA from California Lutheran University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UCLA.  He's also a Sifu (master teacher) and 3rd Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate.

 

Richard Niday - Member - Industry Rep, Sheet Metal Workers Local 104

Richard Niday was originally born in Santa Barbara and has been a Ventura County resident for the last 11 years.  Rich currently serves as the Assistant Business Manager for Sheet Metal Workers Local 104 District-3 and is a trustee for the Tri-Counties Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee.  He is the Co-chair for Local 104’s Labor Management Cooperative Committee and 401(A) Plan. He has been an ACE Board Member since 2016.

 

Oscar Cobian - Member - Vice President of Student Development at Oxnard Community College

Dr. Oscar Cobian has been a member of the ACE Charter High School Board since 2019. He recently was the recipient of the 2020 Educator of the Year award from the Ventura County Leadership Academy. Dr. Oscar Cobian was appointed Vice President of Student Development at Oxnard College in June of 2015. He currently oversees the programs and areas that focus on student services, student success, student engagement and the student experience on campus. These areas include Assessment, Admissions and Records, Counseling, Student Health Center, Student Discipline, Title IX Compliance, Educational Assistance Center/Disabled Student Programs & Services, EOP&S Program, Outreach and Recruitment, Veteran's Resource Center, CalWorks, Student Clubs, and Financial Aid. Dr. Cobian also oversees the Student Success and Support Program (SSSP) at the college. He has over 15 years of experience working in higher education in the area of student services, including eight years as a community college administrator in the Los Angeles Community College District where he served as Dean of Student Services and Vice President of Student Services. His areas of expertise include student success and matriculation, student engagement, program development and coordination, management of federally funded TRIO programs, outreach, and all forms of Counseling Services. Dr. Cobian holds a master's degree in Counseling and Guidance from California Lutheran University and Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Southern California. Dr. Cobian started his career in community colleges as a part-time counselor at Oxnard College in 2001-2003. He grew up in the community surrounding Oxnard College and is the first in his family to receive a college degree.

 

Monica Phillippe - Member - Director of Career Education at the Oxnard Union High School District

BIO COMING SOON

 

Josh Medrano - Member - Industry Rep, Executive Secretary and Treasurer of Tri-Counties Building Trades & Construction Council

Joshua Medrano is a life long resident of Ventura County. He is currently the Executive Secretary and Treasurer of the Tri-Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. He is also a 5th year Instructor with the Ventura County Electrical Apprenticeship Program of which he graduated from in 2006. As a 20-year member of the IBEW LU 952 of Ventura, he utilized the skills he acquired in his apprenticeship to climb the ladder throughout the electrical industry. From hard-hat to shirt and tie, Joshua’s latest journey led him to become the Director of Customer Development for Oilfield Electric and Motor. He has served as a Board Member and Coach for the non-profit Christian based sports and mentoring organization, Young Athletes for Christ (YAC). His passion for mentoring is evident in his countless volunteer hours as a youth football coach throughout Ventura County spanning over two decades and can still be seen today as an Assistant Football Coach of the Camarillo High School Freshman Team. No matter how many accolades he receives throughout his career, he considers his greatest achievement as being the father to his children.