Theresa Huerta. Courtesy photo.
CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is pleased to announce the election of a new board president, Theresa Huerta, and three newest members to its Board of Trustees: Dawn Howards, Chris Jacobs and Diana Rigby.
Theresa Huerta is a seasoned, influential communications strategist with more than 20 years of experience spanning all communication disciplines and various industries including consumer and lifestyle brands, and aerospace defense. Huerta is currently employed by The Raytheon Company, one of the nation’s largest defense contractors, where she interfaces with company leadership to ensure strong employee understanding and engagement of business strategy.
Prior to joining Raytheon, Huerta held management positions at The Coca-Cola Company, Sebastian International, a division of Proctor & Gamble, and The West Hollywood Convention and Visitors Bureau. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Pepperdine University. Huerta is also a graduate of Raytheon’s Diverse Leadership Development Program through UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and completed Boston College Carroll School of Management’s Corporate Community Involvement Program. Huerta also serves on her children’s school PTA Board and First 5’s Communications Committee.
“I am a mother, sister and daughter and know first-hand the power of believing and encouraging little girls at a young age,” said Huerta. “Taking an interest in the lives of young children can literally change their lives and that’s what Girls Inc. Carpinteria does on a daily basis. So yes, count me in 100%!”
Dawn Howard is a director for human resources at NuSil Technology and Avantor Inc., a leading global provider of products, services and solutions for professionals in the life sciences and advanced technology industries. Howard joined NuSil over two decades ago as an engineer seeking a company with an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to bettering the lives of others.
Howard earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and management from North Dakota State University, and an MBA from Pepperdine University. She holds certifications in Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt/Advanced), First Responder for Hazardous Materials, and IERT (Industrial Emergency Response Team). Howard previously served as a board member for Santa Barbara County CAER (Community Awareness and Emergency Response) organization.
Chris Jacobs is an attorney with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where his practice revolves around complex real estate transactions, real estate finance, title insurance, development/construction and land use matters. Jacobs’ work includes representing clients in the purchase or sale of residential, development, commercial and industrial properties; representing clients before governmental agencies in development, construction, land use and environmental matters on the Southern and Central Coast of California. He has particular experience advising clients on coastal development and land use permitting, including flood zone and beachfront development, seawalls and related coastal protection regulations. He has served as special assistant and deputy counsel to various public agencies on the Central Coast of California.
Jacobs holds a J.D. from Loyola Marymount University and a B.A. from the University of California, Davis. He currently serves on the board of the James S. Bower Foundation, the Surf Happens Foundation and the Roosevelt School Site Council and has previously served on the boards of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara, La Casa de Maria, the Santa Barbara County Bar Association, and the Vestry of All Saints by the Sea Episcopal Church.
Diana Rigby is the current Carpinteria Unified School District (CUSD) Superintendent and a former Carpinteria resident with an extensive career in education administration in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Concord, Massachusetts. She began her career as a speech/language specialist and special education teacher in Hueneme School District and an administrator in Ventura County Schools. She worked as the director of student services and assistant superintendent in Santa Barbara School Districts and has also taught special education courses at Westmont College. In 2003, Rigby relocated to the East Coast where she led the Concord Public Schools and Concord-Carlisle Regional School District before returning to Carpinteria this past year.
Rigby attended Northwestern University and the University of Massachusetts where she received a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. She completed graduate work for a master’s degree in speech and hearing sciences at UC Santa Barbara, and additional coursework in special education and school administration at California Lutheran University.
For a complete list of all of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s Board of Trustees and to learn more about Girls Inc., please visit www.girlsinc-carp.org
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is a member of Girls Incorporated®, a nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. With local roots dating to 1864 and national status since 1945, Girls Inc. has responded to the changing needs of girls through research-based programs and public education efforts that empower girls to understand, value, and assert their rights. We provide programs for girls 6 to 18 years old that focus on science, math, and technology; health and sexuality; economic and financial literacy; sports skills; leadership and advocacy; and media literacy. To learn more, become a volunteer or offer support, please visit www.girlsinc-carp.org/.