Foundation Board
Board Membership
CHAIRMAN
William H. Swanson earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Cal Poly in 1972, graduating magna cum laude and selected Outstanding Industrial Engineering Graduate. Bill was also recognized as the Honored Alumnus from Cal Poly School of Engineering in 1991 and received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the American Association of Community Colleges in 2013. He has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Pepperdine University and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from California Polytechnic State University. His graduate work was performed in business administration at Golden Gate University. Additionally, he was awarded the Semper Fidelis Award from the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, and Aviation Week and Space Technology’s Laurel Award for his “significant contributions” to the aeronautics and propulsion field. Bill was also named the “California Manufacturer of the Year” by the California Manufacturing and Technology Association and is a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (United Kingdom).
In 2019, Bill was recognized with the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the highest honorary award the Secretary of the Navy can confer on a Department of the Navy civilian employee. Bill has also received the Navy League Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Award, the NDIA James Forrestal Industry Leadership Award, the John W. Dixon Award from AUSA, a Diversity Best Practices CEO Diversity Leadership Award, the Institute of Industrial Engineers’ Captains of Industry Award, the Six Sigma Premier Leader Award from the International Society of Six Sigma Professionals, a Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship, and the Kennedy Greenway Vision Award.
After a 42-plus year career with Raytheon Company, Bill retired in September 2014. Under his tenure as chairman and CEO (2004-2014), Raytheon’s sales grew 26 percent, its stock price and dividend each increased three-fold and company debt was virtually eliminated. He also strengthened Raytheon’s culture with a focus on core company values, ethics, diversity and the customer, while transforming the company’s community engagement by championing corporate responsibility, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and armed services support.
In addition to his service to the Cal Poly Foundation, he serves on the Board of Directors of Hagerty Inc. as Lead Director, L3Harris, and is chairman emeritus of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership and vice chairperson emeritus of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation Board of Directors. He was a member of the Department of Defense’s Defense Business Board, the NextEra Energy, Inc. Board of Directors where he served 12 years, including 7 as chair of its audit committee, and honorary chair of MATHCOUNTS®. He is chairman emeritus of the Aerospace Industries Association and is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is a former member of the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation Board of Advisors and the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee.
VICE CHAIRMAN
Charles L. Harrington earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from Cal Poly in 1981. He received an MBA from The UCLA Anderson School of Management and attended the Duke University Fuqua School Advanced Management Program. Chuck served as Chairman, CEO, and President of Parsons Corporation, a digitally-enabled solutions provider focused on creating the future of the defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure markets until his retirement in 2022.
In addition to the Cal Poly Foundation, Chuck chaired the Cal Poly President’s Cabinet for several years and is a founding member of the Loyal Order of Propeller Heads in the College of Engineering and the Learn by Doing Fund in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences. He previously served on the Board of Visitors at the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University and the Board of Advisors at the Anderson School of Management at UCLA, as well as the boards of the California Science Center, Los Angeles Sports Council, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, and the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Chuck currently serves as Chair of the non-profit Institute of Digital Engineering USA and on the board of directors of Constellation Energy, JBT Corporation, Korn Ferry International, and the JG Boswell Company. Chuck is a Senior Advisor at the Boston Consulting Group.
His wife, Diane, received her Cal Poly bachelor’s degree in ornamental horticulture in 1981 and her master’s degree in agricultural education in 1982.
SECRETARY
John A. Ronca, Jr., earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration at Cal Poly in 1975. He attended Pepperdine University School of Law graduating with a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1978. In 1979, Mr. Ronca graduated from Denver University School of Law, earning a master’s degree in the Laws of Taxation. Mr. Ronca began his law practice in San Luis Obispo in 1979 and has been certified by the California State Bar as a Specialist in Probate, Estate Planning and Trust law since 1991. Mr. Ronca is currently Chair of the Cal Poly Athletic Director’s Council, Chair of the Mission College Preparatory High School Board of Regents, President of the Northern California Golf Association, Chair of the Straight Down Fall Classic Golf Tournament, and served as Chair of the French Hospital Community Board for 2007-2009.
BOARD MEMBERS
Michael Abbott's educational journey began with a B.S. in Biochemistry from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, complemented by coursework toward a Ph.D. at the University of Washington.
In May 2023, Abbott assumed the role of Executive Vice President of Software at General Motors. Prior to this, Abbott joined Apple in 2018 as the Vice President of Engineering at Apple Cloud Services. In his role, he oversaw work on Apple Cloud Services like iCloud+, Mail, FindMy, FaceTime, and more.
Before Apple, Abbott served as a Visiting Scholar at Stanford's Artificial Intelligence Lab (SAIL), focusing on computer vision research and product development. He subsequently became a General Partner with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), concentrating on investments in the digital sector, aiding entrepreneurs in social, mobile, and cloud computing to scale teams and ventures. Abbott's career journey also included roles at Twitter, where he was the inaugural Vice President of Engineering, and at Palm, where he assumed the position of Executive Vice President of Software and Services. Additionally, he managed Microsoft Azure as the General Manager. His career commenced with entrepreneurship, during which he initiated several venture-backed startups, including Composite Software.
In addition to his service on the Cal Poly Foundation Board of Directors, Abbott actively contributes as a board member at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. He also imparts knowledge as an Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford's Department of Computer Science and has occupied various board positions in companies he has both invested in and founded.
Lisa Anderson earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1984. She is currently Managing Director at Brookfield Asset Management in New York City, where she is responsible for developing insurance solutions for the global insurance industry. Prior to joining Brookfield in 2017, she was head of Structured Credit Business Development at Morgan Stanley and Barclays investment banking decisions where she was credited with the development of the multi-trillion-dollar family of tradeable credit indices called CDX. Lisa is a member of the board of KiDS of NYU Langone Hospital as well as serving on the Parent Advisory Committe at Cal Poly, where her daughter is pursuing a degree in Sustainable Solutions in Civil Engineering.
Michael J. Applegate earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Cal Poly in 1980. An active entrepreneur with several business interests, he is principally engaged as President of TimeValue Software, a market leading provider of specialized loan amortization and tax-related software solutions used by accountants, attorneys and other financial professionals in the US and internationally. Prior to founding TimeValue Software in 1985, Mr. Applegate was a CPA with Price Waterhouse. A wrestler in high school and college, Mr. Applegate is a strong supporter and advocate for student athletic programs and activities in support of USA Wrestling. He serves on the Cal Poly Athletic Director's Council.
Philip S. Bailey, Jr. joined Cal Poly’s faculty in 1969 after earning BS and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from the University of Texas (Austin) and Purdue University respectively. He became College of Science and Mathematics associate dean in 1973, dean in 1983 and was Interim Vice-President for Academic Affairs in 1989-90 and Interim Provost for three months in spring and summer of 2015. Dr. Bailey served as dean for 34 years. He taught almost every term during his 48 years at Cal Poly before retirement in 2017. Upon retirement, he became director of the William and Linda Frost Fund, an endowment developed with the largest donation in the history of the California State University he secured for Cal Poly’s Bailey College of Science and Mathematics to support undergraduate research and academic program excellence.
Dr. Bailey assumed major leadership roles in several facilities projects at Cal Poly including Faculty Offices East, the Baker Center for Science and Mathematics, acquisition of the Cal Poly Pier to support the Center for Coastal Marine Sciences and the William and Linda Frost Center for Research and Innovation. He has also been an advocate for student success and is the developer of the “Study 25-35 Hours/Week” program.
As an assistant professor, Dr. Bailey was recognized by the Associated Students Incorporated with the Advisor of the Year award. The Disability Resource Center recognized him for outstanding support. In 2010 Dr. Bailey received the Provost’s Leadership Award for Partnership in Philanthropy. In April 2012 at the ninth annual African Goodwill Awards in Los Angeles, Dr. Bailey received an Ambassador of Goodwill Award for his support of African American students and underrepresented students in general at Cal Poly. In May 2012, he was awarded the Faculty Excellence in Advising Award from the California State Students’ Association (representing the California State University) for supporting student success and showing compassion for underrepresented students. He received Cal Poly’s Sandra Gardebring Ogren Leadership Award in November 2013. In March of 2015, Dr. Bailey was honored with a joint resolution from the California Legislature for his long career and many achievements at Cal Poly. During his final year as dean, he was recognized by various groups including RISE (undocumented student club), Lifetime Achievement Award from University Housing, Insight into Diversity magazine’s Giving Back Award, Cal Poly President’s Diversity Award for Lifetime Achievement and the rarely awarded Cal Poly President’s Medal of Excellence.
Phil and his late wife Tina (professor emeritus, Cal Poly Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry were co-authors of a number of books including six editions of Organic Chemistry, A Brief Survey of Concepts and Applications (Prentice Hall 6th Edition; English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean). The Baileys have performed Chemistry Magic Shows for over 125,000 people and have published 30,000 copies of a professional DVD of the presentation. They raised four adopted mixed-race children and after their children became adults, the Baileys invited students (multicultural/multiracial/ first generation/low income) to live with them at no cost to assist financially and otherwise in completing their college degrees. In addition, the Baileys have similarly assisted and mentored many other students attending Cal Poly. At the spring 2010 Black Commencement Ceremony, the Black Faculty and Staff Association recognized the Baileys for their support of African American students and students of color in general.
In May 2023, the California State University Board of Trustees approved the re-naming off Cal Poly’s College of Science and Mathematics to the Philip and Christina Bailey College of Science and Mathematics.
Paul R. Bonderson, Jr. earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Cal Poly in 1975 and was later recognized by Cal Poly with an Honorary Doctor of Science degree. Paul retired from Brocade Communications Networks, where he was cofounder of the company, VP of Engineering and CTO. His career in the computer industry spans 30 plus years and includes engineering positions at Intel and Sun Microsystems with technical experience in hardware and software engineering, engineering management, and product development.
Paul is currently president of Lone Oak Ventures, which has holdings in venture capital funds, private equity investments, and real estate. Paul is a Past President and Chairman of the Board for Ducks Unlimited and is on the Board of Trusties for the Wetlands America Trust.
Richard J. Bradshaw earned his bachelor's degree in applied mathematics from Cal Poly in 1970, and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1972. Previously, he was Operating Partner of Venrock, a venture capital firm, and from 1997-2008 served as Executive Director of Cooley, LLP, and international law firm headquartered in Palo Alto. In 1998 he was selected as the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics honored alumnus.
Hilary DeCesare is an award-winning entrepreneur and most recently the co-founder of ReLaunch Life. Experienced in all aspects of launching and growing a business, Ms. DeCesare is a well-known digital media expert, Executive Coach, speaker and is a frequent contributor to major news outlets including ABC, CBS, Fox, and Huffington Post. Ms. DeCesare has been recognized with multiple consumer and technology awards. She was selected as AlwaysOn's “Top 25 Women in Tech to Watch“ in 2010, 2011, 2012, was honored with the prestigious 2010 DEMOgod Award and won the 2012 Golden Bridge Women Founder of the Year Award. Ms. DeCesare also co-founded White Space Ink, an executive management consulting firm specializing in Silicon Valley technology start-ups. She is a renowned coach for entrepreneurs and a regular speaker at entrepreneurial events. She is known as a 'Master of Matches' in both business and personal pursuits. Ms. DeCesare’s career began at Xerox. Following Xerox, she spent 10 years at Oracle Corporation garnering more than 100 worldwide managerial and sales awards including the prestigious Global Top Account Manager award. Currently she sits on the boards of the MaxCure Foundation and Bridge DA Gap, advocating for children’s health and education. She is relentless about her philanthropic work as seen on ABC's Secret Millionaire.
Cheri De Jong earned her bachelor's degree in agricultural business from Cal Poly in 1988. She obtained a master’s degree in business administration from Tarleton State University in 1994, and a PhD in organizational behavior and leadership from the University of Arizona in 2024. Along with her husband, Donald (Cal Poly Agricultural Business/Management, ‘88), she is the founder and owner of AgriVision Farm Management, a Texas-based farm management and consultant company that oversees management for 27 of their family-owned and operated agricultural businesses, including, Northside Farms, Jersey Gold, and Natural Prairie Dairy Farms – one of the largest family-operated organic dairy farms in the United States.
Cheri has been involved in the fraternity and sorority community as the immediate past chairman of the board of directors for the National Panhellenic Conference, which is the premier advocacy and support organization for the advancement of the sorority experience consisting of 26 inter/national women’s sororities. She has also served in many leadership roles in her own sorority, Sigma Kappa, over the years, including as national president. She also serves as vice chairman on the board of directors for the Farm Foundation, a non-profit foundation that serves as an accelerator for practical solutions for agriculture around the globe.
In 2016, the De Jongs founded The De Jong Foundation to empower people in agriculture by investing in research, education, and programs that inspire innovative practices. The same year, the De Jongs were given the Outstanding Philanthropist Award by the North American Interfraternity Council. In 2021, they were awarded the Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year award by the Foundation for Fraternal Excellence.
Cheri and her husband reside in Dallas, Texas. They have three adult children: Ashley, Allison, and Alexandra.
Scott Gaudineer earned his Bachelor of Sciences degree in architecture from Cal Poly in 1979, and his Bachelor of Architecture Degree in 1980. While a student, he was a founding member of the Daedalus chapter of Alpha Rho Chi (the national architecture fraternity), was elected to the Student Senate, co-chaired the CAED Student Council, was a member of the National Honor Society, and a Julia Morgan Phoebe Hearst scholarship recipient.
As president/CEO of Flewelling & Moody Architects, he has overseen the design and facilitation of numerous K-12, higher education, athletic/community and multi-family facilities throughout the State. Scott is passionate about supporting the profession he loves, whether through the role of architect advocate or mentoring and supporting students, emerging professionals and citizen architects. He is active in American Institute of Architects at the local, state, as the State President in 2023, and national levels. He has received the Presidential Citation from the AIA California Council in 2013. Scott has been a member of the CAED College’s Dean’s Leadership Council since 2002 and served as it chair from 2011-15. In 2015 he was recognized by the University as the Honored Alum from CAED. He and his wife, Leslie Gaudineer (Social Sciences, 1980), are longtime supporters of the University.
Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore is provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs at Cal Poly, where she is responsible for the formulation of academic policies and priorities and oversees the Academic Affairs division, which includes the university’s six colleges, the Kennedy Library, Graduate Education, Extended, Professional and Continuing Education, Academic Innovation and Programs, and Student Success. In addition, she shares oversight of the divisions of Research and Strategic Enrollment Management.
Prior to joining Cal Poly in August 2020, Dr. Jackson-Elmoore served as dean of the Honors College at Michigan State University and a professor with affiliations in the School of Social Work and the Global Urban Studies Program. She also co-chaired a university level Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee and was a presidential appointee to MSU's Strategic Planning Committee. Before becoming dean, Dr. Jackson-Elmoore served as Acting Assistant Dean of the Urban Affairs Programs, Director of the Urban Studies Graduate Program in the College of Social Science, and Co-Director of the Program in Urban Politics and Policy at Michigan State University. She earned doctorate and master's degrees in public administration, with a public policy emphasis, from the University of Southern California and a bachelor's in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware. She also earned certification from the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Her work has been published in Policy Studies Review, Policy Studies, Review of Policy Research, Urban Affairs Review, Cities, Health Education Research, American Journal of Health Education, Social Work, Public Productivity and Management Review, Korean Review of Public Administration and Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE). She has also published several book chapters and is a co-author of Reinventing Civil Society: The Emerging Role of Faith-Based Organizations (M.E. Sharp) and a co-editor of Reclaiming Brownfields: A Comparative Analysis of Adaptive Reuse of Contaminated Properties (Ashgate Publishing, LTD), Nonprofits in Urban America (Quorum Books) and a journal symposium for Policy Studies Review. She also served as Senior Associate Editor of the Journal of Urban Affairs. Dr. Jackson-Elmoore earned doctorate and master's degrees in Public Administration, with a public policy emphasis, from the University of Southern California and a bachelor's in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware. She also earned certification from the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Richard C. Jacobsen Jr. earned his bachelor's degree in business administration at Cal Poly in 1985. He received an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in 1989. Rich is a managing director at Greenhill & Co., an affiliate of Mizuho, where he is co-head of healthcare investment banking and head of the healthcare services mergers and acquisitions advisory practice. He is also involved with Rocky Hill, Inc., a diversified farming company owned by his family. Rich is a member of the board of directors of Sunkist Growers, Inc., Fruit Growers Supply Company and the California Citrus Growers Association.
Dr. Jennifer Jipson serves as the Faculty Director to the Cal Poly Foundation Board. She joined the Cal Poly faculty in 2005 and currently holds the position of Professor of Psychology and Child Development. She received a B.S. in Psychology and Government from Smith College, a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from UC-Santa Cruz, and completed postdoctoral research training at the University of Michigan. She recently concluded a 3-year term as Chair of the Department of Psychology and Child Development at Cal Poly. In her research, Dr. Jipson investigates how young children develop interests, understandings and identities related to science, health and technology. She publishes regularly in scholarly journals and co-edited the book Relating Research and Practice: Cognitive Development in Museum Settings. She has an established track record of effectively obtaining extramural funding to support her work. Some notable recent awards include funding from the NSF National Robotics Initiative to collaborate on a multidisciplinary project titled “Food Is Fundamental: The Profound Ethical and Social Impacts of Robot Kitchens,” and funding from the NSF Advancing Informal Stem Education Initiative to support the research-to-practice project "My Sky Tonight: Early Childhood Pathways to Astronomy.” Dr. Jipson teaches a variety of courses including Children, Adolescents and Technology and Children’s Learning in Out-of-School Time. She received the Richard K. Simon Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching at Cal Poly. Dr. Jipson is committed to translating academic research in child development to those creating experiences and products for children and families. She is a member of the Educational Advisory Board for The Goddard Schools and offers exhibit and programming support to children’s museums and science centers. Additionally, she has served as a Content and Curriculum Advisory Board Member for Nickelodeon Jr., a PlayLab Advisor for Fisher Price, and a consultant for Inherquests (financial literacy program for girls) and Wee Gallery (an infant and toddler toy company)
Tammy Kiely - bio pending
Abegail Lara serves as the Student Director of the Cal Poly Foundation. Currently majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, Abegail plans to continue her Cal Poly education in the graduate program within the Orfalea College of Business. Abegail has experience with Capital Market Accounting Advisory work and plans to become a licensed CPA following graduation. Serving as the president of the Latinx Business Student Association, she is passionate about leveraging clubs to connect talented Cal Poly students with industry partners.
Jerry Lohr has played a leading role in developing Cal Poly’s Wine & Viticulture Innovations Center where students learn the foundations of viticulture, winemaking and wine business using the university’s 14-acre teaching vineyard and pilot winery, and stewardship over the Cal Poly Wines brand. In 2008, the founder of J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines was honored as Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance’s Wine Industry Person of the Year. The California Association of Winegrape Growers presented him with a lifetime achievement award in January 2011 for many contributions in the Golden State’s wine industry. Lohr graduated from South Dakota State University in 1958, earned a master’s from Stanford the following year, and completed all coursework, university and department orals for a doctorate in civil engineering in 1961.
Jim Marderosian is the founder and president of Bee Sweet Citrus, Inc., where he is responsible for the overall operation of the company, overseeing administration, marketing, production, farm management and grower relations. Marderosian first opened Bee Sweet Citrus in 1987, and has since helped it become one of California’s leading growers, packers and shippers of premier citrus. Bee Sweet works with a volume of approximately 10 million cartons of citrus annually, and has an international footprint. Marderosian and Bee Sweet Citrus are known for being good corporate citizens. Marderosian has served on the college’s Dean’s Advisory Council since 2016. Mr. Marderosian and his wife Michelle reside in Fresno, CA and have four adult children. Their three sons are Cal Poly alumni.
Ryan A. Martinez earned a bachelor's degree in business and minor in economics graduating cum laude from Cal Poly in 1997. He is a Principal Advisor at Alliance Bernstein where he works closely with business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate executives as their outsourced family office and financial confidant. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ and has completed the advanced financial planning program at Boston University. Ryan speaks nationally on succession planning topics to organizations including YPO, UCLA and the University of Hawaii Family Business Centers, and at industry trade shows. Prior to his career as a financial advisor, Ryan successfully led a business unit for a Fortune 100 Best Company to Work For. He was twice recognized as global consultant of the year. He serves as an advisor to the UCLA Steinbeck Family Business Center and was the past president of the Los Angeles Estate Planning Council and Latino Dealmakers. Ryan received the Cal Poly Honored Alumni award in 2021. He resides between San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles with his family. They enjoy adventure travel and outdoor activities.
Laura M. Pickering received her bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Cal Poly in 1984. She is CEO and co-founder of Sizijee, Inc. Previously, Pickering was Vice President in the Office of the CEO at NetApp, where she was a key advisor to and member of NetApp's executive team. She is a co-founder and managing partner at Innovation Quest, a non-profit, philanthropic corporation founded by successful Cal Poly graduates and business leaders. Pickering also gives generously of her time to Cal Poly on two committees of the College of Engineering’s Dean’s Advisory Council and on the Women in Engineering Industry Advisory Board.
Kenric B. Stone earned his Cal Poly bachelor of science degree in architecture in 1979 and his bachelor of architecture degree in 1980. He is a Vice President with The Austin Company, an international architecture, engineering and construction services firm, where he oversees key client projects nationally and also serves as Chairman of Austin’s business operations in Mexico. The Austin Company is a part of Kajima USA, a whollyowned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Kajima Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 construction organization. In 2005, Stone was named the College of Architecture and Environmental Design Honored Alumnus. Stone has been involved with the Cal Poly Alumni Association for more than twenty years, serving twice as President. He also recently served as the President of the California State University Alumni Council representing the over 2.8 million alumni of the CSU’s 23 campuses. In 2011, the Cal Poly Alumni Association awarded Stone its Distinguished Service Award for his service to Cal Poly and to the California State University.
Chris Trapani earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Cal Poly in 1990. He serves as CEO of Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno which he founded with fellow Cal Poly alum, Ryan Iwanaga (English/1991). Christie’s Sereno has donated over $6 Million and growing to over 500 charities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area over the past 10 years through its 1% for Good Charitable Foundation. The firm has been recognized as one of the top 20 Corporate Donors by the Silicon Valley Business Journal and ranked among the top 2 best places to work in the Bay Area for 14 years in a row. In 2022, Chris received the RISMedia National Leadership Award for outstanding leadership and philanthropic achievements over the past 20 years. In 2024 Chris was inducted into RISMedia’s Real Estate Hall of Fame. He was a CLA Honored Alumnus for 2017, has served as co-chair of Cal Poly’s President’s Council of Advisors and on the CLA Dean’s Advisory Council. His wife, Kirsten (Nutritional Science/1991), and their two oldest children (Gabriella: Business/2018 and Anthony: Business/2020) are also Cal Poly alumni. Their youngest child, Rocco, is presently attending Cal Poly. Chris enjoys practicing yoga, golfing with his wife and children, surfing, playing guitar and singing.
Stan Van Vleck, Stan Van Vleck is a fifth generation cattle rancher and is President of Van Vleck Ranch with operations in the States of Texas and California in the counties of Amador, El Dorado and is headquartered in Sacramento County. Stan was raised on his family’s ranching and farming operations in the Sacramento region. Stan has a BS in Agriculture Business from Cal Poly SLO, where he received the award as the outstanding graduate from the College of Agriculture. Stan was very involved in the Student Body where he served as President, Vice President and Chairman of their Board of Directors. He is the only person in the University’s history elected to all three offices. Stan has a Juris Doctorate from UOP’s McGeorge School of Law where he attended as a full-time student while he worked full-time at regional law firm specializing in agriculture. Stan also has worked as a legislative policy staff member specializing in agriculture in the California Legislature, US Senate and for California Governor Wilson. Stan currently holds multiple careers ventures. He is an attorney and Partner at one of the largest law firms in Northern California, Downey Brand LLP, and served as it first Chairman from 2014 through 2016. Stan represents clients throughout the state on complex issues involving the environment, government and agriculture. Stan has been awarded as one of the top attorneys in the Sacramento region both in the Business Journal and Sacramento Magazine. Stan also has a lobbying firm, Cal Connected, where he represents some of the world’s largest companies, including Siemens. Siemens recently awarded him as their top lobbyist in the United States. Stan is also President and owner of Van Vleck Ranch, which is one of the oldest businesses in the Sacramento region. Stan bought out 7 family members in the mid 2000s and has increased operations by almost 10 fold and their beef is now recognized by top chefs as some of the best in America. Their beef is served in top restaurants in the world such as the French Laundry and Michael Mina’s. Stan also created a new division within the company, Van Vleck Properties, which owns and operates investment grade commercial real estate in Texas. Stan has been involved in multiple leadership positions in the Sacramento community including Vice Chair of the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, chairing the effort to build Golden 1 arena and served as legal counsel to Mayor Johnson to help keep the Kings in Sacramento when the Maloofs put the franchise up for sale. Stan also serves on the California Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Chairs its Water Committee. Most importantly to Stan, he is father to Christian age 20 (Cal Poly Business 2022) and Tori 17 and husband to Nicole Montna Van Vleck, who runs Montna Farms, a vertically integrated rice company.
Ex officio members:
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT & Foundation CEO
Jeffrey D. Armstrong began his tenure as Cal Poly's ninth permanent president on February 1, 2011. Before joining Cal Poly, he served as dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and professor of Animal Science at Michigan State University, beginning in 2001. Armstrong was head of the Department of Animal Sciences at Purdue University from 1997 to 2001 and served in various positions at North Carolina State University from 1986 through 1997. Armstrong attended Murray State University in Kentucky, where he earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture in 1981. He earned both a master's (1984) and doctorate (1986) in physiology and endocrinology from North Carolina State University.
TREASURER
Marc Benadiba serves as Treasurer and Ex Officio Director to the Cal Poly Foundation Board, joining in 2017. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cal Poly. Marc is a member of Cal Poly’s staff, serving as the University Controller. As part of the Administration and Finance team he is responsible for managing the Student Financial Services Office, University Accounting and Reporting, and Payroll Services. Prior to joining Cal Poly, Marc spent 10 years in controller positions in private and publicly held tech companies and three years in public accounting focusing on tax and audit services. Marc is a Certified Public Accountant, speaks Spanish fluently, and is married with four children.
