2013-14 Board of Directors

2013-14 Executive
Board of Directors
 
President-CEO: Terry Rifkin
Treasurer: Hank Snyder
Secretary: Doug Chotkevys
Chairman: Pete Hammer
 

Bios from the Board of Directors of the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group:

Terry A. Rifkin, President-CEO:

Terry has a private practice in Laguna Niguel as a licensed Psychotherapist since 1981.  She has a special recognition in her field by holding a Diploma in Clinical Social Work.  Terry is also a member of “Who’s Who of American Professional and Business Women”.  She is a published author and has served as a Clinical Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California.   Terry is a Charter member, Past President and Director of the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club and a sustaining Paul Harris Fellow.  In 2008, Terry was selected to be the Rotary District Business Rotarian of the Year.  She served as Director of Support and Outreach for the Dana Point 5^th Marine Regiment Support Group 2008-2012. Terry was recognized in her community with the “Heart and Soul Award” for August of 2011.  This award recognizes Orange County citizens for their passion for life and their dedication for making a difference.  In March of 2012, Terry was honored by Assemblywoman Diane Harkey as the 73^rd Assembly District Woman of the Year.  This honor was given for Terry’s tireless community service and her devoted efforts with our military troops and their families.

Pete Hammer, Chairman:

Mr. Hammer was a founding Father of the Non-Profit Corporation of the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group.  He served as President and CEO for five years and in late December 2012 was elected as Chairman of the Board.  He holds a BS in Finance from Indiana Univ. College.  Notably, Mr. Hammer was the IU swim team Captain, Big Ten-NCAA Champion and 1964 Olympic Team Alternate.  He had a distinguished Military career and was a Marine Captain, an F-4 Phantom Radar Intercept Operator, and flew close air support missions in Vietnam.  In his business career, Mr. Hammer was an Account Executive with Merrill Lynch, a junior officer within Pacific Life’s Investment Division, a Vice President at PIMCO and Managing Director of PM Realty Advisors. His honors include his selection by the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary as a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow and Honorary Member.  He was also selected as the Dana Point Chamber's 2011 Citizen of the Year, and most recently, in November of 2012, the Soldiers of The Sea, Band of Brothers Beer Stein Award recipient for distinguished service to our Marines, Sailors and their Families.

MSgt Hank Snyder USMC-Ret,-Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

Hank Snyder after 28 years of service retired from our Marine Corps in 1982. He is the President & CEO of Safe Tax and Business Accounting Services and has an extensive background in tax-business consulting, software development , and sits on five different Boards of Directors. He is a Member & Director of the Exchange Club Of San Clemente, a past President and is currently their Treasurer.

Doug Chotkevys, Secretary 

Since coming to the City of Dana Point over 10 years ago as its City Manager, Mr. Chotkevys has worked with the Dana Point City Council to develop one of the finest City government teams in the entire State.  He is the President-elect for the Orange County City Manager’s Department and is a former trustee for the Magnolia School District in Anaheim.  A former Rotarian in Whittier and Dana Point, Mr. Chotkevys remains active in his community as a Board Member of the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group serving the Marines, Sailors and the families of the 5^th MAR at Camp Pendleton.

Brian Coty, Director:

Brian Coty moved from Raytheon’s Missile Division to the Airframe Structural Test Group of McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach California. Brian transferred to the MD-11 Wing Design Group as an Airframe Design Engineer. He finished out his career at McDonnell Douglas/Boeing by working on the C-17 Transport Aircraft for over 7 years as a Airframe Design Engineer, Lead Engineer and Project Manager. Brian is a Realtor with Re/Max Signature Services located in Dana Point. 

Director Brian Coty has donated 100s of hours of his time and resources serving tirelessly as the DP 5th MAR Support Organization’s point person with Rock Of Ages & our Marines to design, build, transport and place the 5th Marines Operation Enduring Freedom Monument at Camp Pendleton.

Nancy Jenkins, Director:

Nancy was previously K-12 Administrator and the Director of Professional Development for five school districts prior to her retirement. She has earned both a Bachelor Of Arts and Masters Of Administration Degrees from Ohio Wesleyan and Pepperdine University respectively. She currently sits on the Board of the Dana Point Historical Society, Daughters Of Norway and Capistrano Valley Symphony.

Brud LeTourneau, Director:

Prior to retiring in 2010, Mr. LeTourneau's career in the soft drink industry spanned multiple functions from operations, sales to marketing. He has also been contracted as an independent consultant for both the Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola companies. He has served on several national advisory committees for the Pepsi-Cola and the Seven-Up companies. Brud considers it an honor and privilege to be able to volunteer and offer his time and resources to serve the 5th Marine Regiment to support the men and women who put themselves on the front line to protect our country and liberties we enjoy.  We also need to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting us.

Jerry Neely, Director:

First and foremost I am a proud Father of a US Marine. I have been a General Engineering Contractor for the last 27 years. Currently CEO of TopLine Construction Inc based out of Orange County. Currently specializing in Water Features and Memorial Structures. Projects include Vietnam War Memorial in Westminster, Veterans Memorial at Saddleback College, Veterans Memorial at Murrieta City Hall, La Plaza Park Fountain in Dana Point and our own 5th Marine Memorial Park at Camp Pendleton to name a few. I am also an Emergency Response Contractor for some of the beach front cities like Laguna Beach, San Clemente, Dana Point and all the State Beaches and Campgrounds. I am currently the Director of Capital Improvements for The Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group.

Patti Short, Director:

Alan Wickstrom, Director:

Alan is President / CEO of BuildingOnline, a leading web design and Internet marketing agency that he founded in 1995. Alan has been a member of NAHB and the Dana Point Chamber since 1996. He is also an active Paul Harris Fellow at the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club, board advisor to Dana Point Coastal Arts, Board Member of the Capistrano Valley Symphony, Board Member of the the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce and past President of the SOCSA Foundation. In Dec 2009, Alan was selected as the 2009 Dana Point Citizen of the Year. Alan is currently the PR and Web Site Chair for the Dana Point 5th  Marine Regiment Support Group.

1stSgt Jeffery L. Williams-USMC (Ret), Director:

Jeff Williams retired after 22 years of active duty service in the Marine Corps from our Fighting Fifth, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines at the distinguished rank of First Sergeant. As he rose through the ranks he saw duty as the Detachment Commander for the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel and at the Marine Corps Air Station in Kanoehe, Hawaii. Upon his retirement in 2000 he bought O’Shea Brewing Company when it was going out of business. Since that time he has built the company in to one of the largest beer and beer making suppliers in Orange County.