Our Board of Directors
CARIN CASE was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii where she attended the prestigious Punahou School, a private, independent college preparatory academy. Carin obtained her BS degree in Elementary Education from Jacksonville University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. After settling in California, Carin entered the Master’s Program at St. Mary’s College, Moraga, where she studied in the field of Reading Leadership. She has many years of experience teaching in private schools and has been credited with developing curriculum for early learning and primary grades. Carin and her husband have lived in Healdsburg for nine years and have a young son.
TOM FRAZER has been responsible for the operation of Dauenhauer Properties, LP, a private real estate investment partnership since his graduation from Stanford University in 1987 (B.A. Economics). Tom also owns and manages Dauenhauer Mfg. Inc., a specializedfarm equipment business based in Washington State. Dauenhauer Mfg. has erected stationary hop harvesters and equipment in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and in several European countries. Tom is a second generation Sonoma County resident whose daughter, McKenna was a member of THS's first 8th grade class.
PAUL FORGUE, a native of Oklahoma, has lived in Sonoma County for almost ten years. He has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Dallas and received his Master of Business Administration from Rice University in Houston, Texas. He advises companies through turnaround situations and financial restructurings and is currently a Senior Director with the international advisory firm of Alvarez & Marshall LLC. Both of Paul's parents were teachers providing him with a life long love of learning and special appreciation for the commitment and sacrifices of educators. Paul's wife Laura is a Sonoma County native as are his two young daughters Kate and Abigael, a first grader at THS.
PHIL HURST grew up on a 1000-acre ranch on the eastern hills of Napa Valley where his family raised cattle, horses and sheep. At the University of California at Davis he studied Fermentation Science, earning a BS degree in 1985, the same year he joined Paul Dolan and the winemaking team at Fetzer Vineyards. After 12 years at Fetzer, Phil joined Golden State Vintners (GVS), serving as Vice President of International Sales. While at GSV, Phil met the people who became his partners in Winery Exchange, a venture-backed company founded in 1999 to source, create and develop private labels and national brands of fine beer, wine and spirits. In 2007 sales reached $50 million. Phil is co-founder and was Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing. In 2007 Phil and his wife Sylvia joined Paul and Heath Dolan in the purchase of a 24-acre property in the heart of Dry Creek Valley to build a small wine estate where they can practice the highest level of earth-friendly farming and make the finest wine. Phil and his wife Sylvia live in Dry Creek Valley, Healdsburg, with their two sons.
MELISSA IMHAUS is a THS parent and owns a boutique Investment Advisory Firm that she founded after leaving her position as VP and Financial Advisor at Charles Schwab & Co. Originally from Marin County, Melissa attended private schools throughout her education. She received her undergraduate degree in Finance Investment Analysis from USC's Dean School of Business and post graduate certifications from Dominican and the College of Financial Planning. Melissa has served on various boards, most recently the Windsor Unified School District's Bond Oversight Committee. Her children will be in second and third grades in the fall of 2010. She and her family moved to Sonoma County in 2003 and they currently live in Windsor.
BETTINA KOCHINKE was born in Germany and moved to California in 1987. She has a Master’s Degree in optics from the Optical College in Frankfurt Germany. She was responsible for establishing the U.S. distribution for an Austrian eyeglass designer. Her responsibilities ranged from U.S. director of sales and marketing to the management of their international exhibitions. After the 1997 merger with a larger competitor, she became the CEO of Uniopt USA. She retired from that position in 2006. Bettina and her family travel extensively, and she and her partner are actively running a family foundation with a focus on children and education. The foundation supports charitable causes in Sonoma County and abroad. Bettina lives with her partner in the Windsor area. Her two children were part of the 2008 inaugural graduating class at THS. Bettina also has a stepson who currently attends THS.
DEBRA MATHY is owner of Dutcher Crossing Winery in Dry Creek Valley. An educator by training, Debra has always loved wine. In addition to completing wine and viticulture courses at U. C. Davis, Debra Mathy graduated with a B.A. in Education from the University of Arizona and a Masters degree in Nutrition from Colorado State University. She is also an athlete, owning a unicycle, eight bicycles and the magnificent 1900s high wheeler. A bicycle is her first choice of transportation, and she often bikes the vineyards. Her golden lab, Dutchess, is her tail-wagging sidekick, winery dog and official greeter.
SANDI PASSALACQUA brings more than 40 years of experience in education to The Healdsburg School. Spanning her career, Ms. Passalacqua has been a teacher in public, private and parochial educational institutions. In addition to teaching, Ms. Passalacqua has held numerous positions within education, some of which include tutor, consultant, and principal. She worked in Special Education, and designed and implemented ESL and Title I programs, as well as foreign language curriculums. She has traveled extensively and sought to create unique travel opportunities for her own students. She holds a Masters of Education, and is an accomplished painter and pianist. She is married to Tom Passalacqua and has three children and six grandchildren.
DENNIS STEAD was born and raised in the Catskill Mountains of New York. After serving in the Marine Corps for four years, he returned to New York where he owned and operated four businesses prior to his 28th birthday. He then joined a multibillion dollar retail company where he started as store manager and ultimately became the Merchandise Vice President of 1,200 stores. After many years in the corporate world, Dennis decided to use his inherit engineering abilities and began his own Contract Manufacturing Company. Some of the companies he did business with were IBM, Data General, Mack Truck and Carrier Corporation. After twenty-two years, Dennis sold his business and moved to Healdsburg with his wife Barbara, to be closer to his children and grandchildren. Along with a love of business, Dennis also has a strong sense of community which is why he founded a Little League team in the small town he grew up in, served twenty-five years as a volunteer in his local fire department and rescue squad, was a board member for his church, was a Scout Master for five years, and sat on the board of his local Parks and Recreation Commission for seven years. Dennis spends time these days growing Syrah grapes, traveling and he is an active member of the Healdsburg Kiwanis Club.
KAREN TYNAN was born and raised in the south and came to Healdsburg thirteen years ago. She is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Class of 1987. She sailed in the merchant marine for Chevron Shipping Company for nine years, achieving professional success and sailing as a Chief Officer aboard U.S. flagged tankers. She left the merchant marine to pursue family life in Sonoma County. She is a cum laude graduate of Empire College School of Law and practices in the area of occupational safety and health law and advising employers. She has been a parent organization president, school board member, has chaired fundraising events in Healdsburg, and has enjoyed partnering and working with Sandi Passalacqua for the last five years. Karen and her husband Dan have three children.
JANE WEIL grew up in the Chicago area and moved to California in 1981. After receiving her BA from the University of Michigan she began a pottery business in which she taught, marketed and exhibited her work in juried shows, galleries, museums and the White House. Jane received her MSW from the University of California Berkeley in 1985 and became the Mental Health Services Coordinator at the medical clinic in Gualala, CA. She was the counselor for the Point Arena High School's dropout prevention program and later served on the district's school board. Jane is a trained mediator who currently works primarily with at-risk adolescents using restorative processes through several community-based mediation services. She serves on the Board of Directors of Recourse Mediation Services. Additionally, she has worked on various school committees, fundraisers and Boards, as well as providing parent classroom and team support. Jane and her husband, Tom Bertolli, have three young adult children and first hand experience with many Sonoma County Schools.
