Board President - Ann Marie Whitney (July 2023 - present)
Ann Marie has been a supporter of SBFC since 2016 when she co-founded MBMS Families Connected in her role as a MBMS PTA co-president. A mother of three, she has also served as the PTA president at Robinson Elementary and Mira Costa High School, as well as on the board of the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation for 13 years.
Prior to donating her time and expertise in the non-profit and education sectors, Ann Marie worked as a CPA for Deloitte and Touche, and later as the chief accounting officer for a public real estate investment trust. She received her degree in business management from Boston College
Ann Marie’s outstanding reputation in the community paired with her proven leadership skills and strong financial background make her well-suited to head up the SBFC board, and her dedication to youth social-emotional wellness and mental health will help ensure SBFC’s impact in the years ahead.
Treasurer - Kim Digilio, MBA (August 2023 - present)
Kim has contributed to SBFC as a mindfulness instructor for youth, and as a blogger and speaker at parent education events. Her core belief is that empathy and vulnerability are keys to cultivating understanding and to generating meaningful conversation with kids about mental health, wellness, substance use and abuse.
She graduated from Princeton University with a degree from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and earned her Masters of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. She is currently the Interim COO at Lawson Fenning, ensuring that the daily operational, logistical, managerial, and service needs of their employees and clients are met.
As a former Board Member for Sand & Surf Soccer Club, and as the former President of the Mira Costa High School Boys Beach and Indoor Volleyball programs, Kim has firsthand experience managing budgets and applying oversight to the spending and donation processes. As an SBFC Board Member, Kim intends to dedicate herself to listening hard and sharing perspectives to elevate the goals of SBFC and the families, teens, and communities it serves.
Secretary (September 2023 - present)
Jill Millstein is a South Bay resident, mother of two and entrepreneur with a passion for promoting awareness and access to social and emotional health in our community. She is a longtime volunteer for Beach Cities Health District, holding posts as Garden Docent, Nutrition Docent, and in conjunction with SBFC as a representative of the Families Connected Parent Advisory.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Merchandising Management at Michigan State University, Jill began her career as a Buyer at Macys. After several years she transitioned her expertise in sales analysis, product placement and program execution into the arena of sales with Account Executive positions for wholesale manufacturing companies. She currently works in Promotional Products Sales for Posh Promotional Marketing, here in Redondo Beach.
Jill’s background in sales and account management with an emphasis on building and executing client programs while analyzing metrics to insure profitable and measurable outcomes makes her a great fit for SBFC Board.
VP of Operations - Charlotte Gesten, esq. (2016 - present)
Charlotte is one of the four original co-founders of the SBFC non-profit and is personally responsible for creating SBFC’s 501(c)3 application and managing its approval. She has produced SBFC’s annual reports and related graphics since 2018, and is responsible for managing all aspects of fundraising and donor communications, including implementing an advanced software program that has dramatically improved SBFC’s donations and database management. SBFC could not possibly be what it is today without her expertise, talent and tireless efforts to bring SBFC to the next level.
Charlotte received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and her law degree from Boston University School of Law. She practiced law for 15 years, beginning her career at O’Melveny and Myers, LLP. For the past 15 years she has focused on her numerous volunteer commitments and her freelance graphic and web design business.
The level of commitment Charlotte has to helping others is unparalleled and has driven the 100s of hours she has dedicated to the fulfillment of SBFC’s mission. She is particularly inspired to help the underserved and those struggling with mental health issues, and she does so while working hard to avoid recognition, instead opting to lift up all of those around her.
SBFC Community Education - Kelly Hendrickson, R.N. (2018 - present)
Kelly is a nurse educator with over 17 years of experience in child development who has both served on the SBFC board and filled a role as its community educator. Her extensive research in the area of brain development paired with her experience as a mother of three boys provides a road map that aids in navigating the preteen and teens years during these unprecedented times and beyond. She has spoken at numerous community events and helped connect parents with SBFC’s resources, as well as her insight into positive parenting practices.
Kelly received both her undergraduate and nursing degrees from the University of Southern California. Since 1996, she has been a nurse educator at Good Samaritan Hospital and is a highly respected parent educator and coach in the South Bay.
Kelly’s longterm commitment to SBFC has allowed the organization to reach parents at schools throughout the South Bay, both English and Spanish speakers. Her calm, non-judgmental and approachable style has helped fulfill SBFC’s mission of meeting parents where they are and providing them with the tools they need to support their children’s mental health and wellness.
SBFC Outgoing Treasurer - Carla Ramirez (2019 - present)
Carla has served as SBFC treasurer since 2018, bringing invaluable expertise to the organization. She personally brought SBFC up to speed by automating its systems and creating transparent financials through Quick Books and by hiring and training SBFC’s book keeper in 2022.
Carla is the CEO of Carla Ramirez Insurance Agency, which she began in 2005, shortly after graduating from Claremont Mckenna College with a Bachelors of Arts in Economics.
Her leadership and oversight substantially improved SBFC’s financial viability and operating efficiency. Under Carla’s guidance, SBFC expanded it’s content and accessibility to Spanish speaking families. Her impact on the organization is long-lasting.