Board of Trustees

Katrina Maestri spent 15 years in an international corporate career with General Motors and has a wide range of Marketing, Strategy, and New Business Development experience. While at GM, she specialized in working with start-up operations, including entering new geographic markets as well as launching new technology ventures. Since leaving the corporate world, Katrina has enjoyed applying her experience to non-profits in both the U.S. and abroad. Katrina and her family moved to the U.S. in 2010 so that her daughter could receive the specialized support she needs to thrive with her dyslexia. Katrina is passionate about fostering educational opportunities for students with learning differences and raising awareness regarding the high potential of this creative, dynamic population. She has served on the Chartwell Board since 2014 and is currently the Vice President.

Raynette (Rae) Boerema brings a depth of marketing, financial and strategic planning experience to the Chartwell Board after a 17-year career in banking, financial strategy and risk management. She earned a business degree from University of San Diego, financial planning certification from Texas A&M and continued studies for innovation and entrepreneurship through The Wharton School and Stanford University. Rae developed a deep connection to the language based learning differences community after her son was diagnosed with dyslexia and became a Chartwell student. After two years of service in the Chartwell library, Rae indicated that she "would like to offer a contribution of Board service towards…making Chartwell accessible to a greater number of children who have language-based learning differences.” She has served on the board since 2017.

Heidi Daunt wrote in her resumé that she would like to serve on the Chartwell Board of Trustees because she, herself, is Dyslexic as are her son and daughter (Alora is a Chartwell graduate). Heidi is passionate about her work as Branch Manager at TreeHouse Mortgage Group and has enjoyed a 30-year career in the Finance and Mortgage Industry. Heidi earned her degree in International Policy Studies with focus on the French and Spanish languages from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

Caroline Haskell is currently the Director of Health and Wellness Services at California State University, Monterey Bay. Caroline earned a M.S. in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work as well as a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley. She also possesses an Advanced Graduate certificate in Contemplative Clinical Practice from Smith College. Caroline has over 30 years’ experience providing program development and management, clinical/counseling services, psycho-educational workshops, and training programs in education, health care, and human/social services. Caroline’s extensive clinical experience will bring another dimension to the Chartwell Board.

Paul Hoffman was elected to the Chartwell Board of Trustees in 2018.  In 2013, Paul retired to Pebble Beach after a long career in software sales most recently as President of Worldwide Field Operations for Informatica, an Enterprise Cloud Data Management and Data Integration company.  Paul is an Active Lay Minister and member of the Finance Council at Carmel Mission Basilica.  He is a Provisional Knight with the Order of Malta and has volunteered on multiple pilgrimages to Lourdes in their work of feeding the homeless and caring for the elderly, sick, and imprisoned.  Paul also serves on the boards of the Monterey SPCA and Montage Health Foundation.

Lara Hruska founded Cedar Law which is based on a holistic approach to school law and informed by Ms. Hruska's unique background in education, social work, and the law. She is licensed to practice law in Washington and California. Lara received her JD from the University of Washington School of Law and also holds an MSW in Child and Family Welfare Policy from Columbia University, an MSEd in Special and General Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education, and a BA in Peace and Conflict Studies from U.C. Berkeley. She has experience teaching children from pre-kindergarten through middle school in California, New York, and Louisiana, where she served as the founding special education director for two post-Katrina charter schools in New Orleans.

Prior to forming Cedar Law in 2015, Ms. Hruska worked at a Seattle litigation firm representing traditional school districts around the State of Washington with day-to-day general counsel advice and provided representation in state and federal litigation and administrative proceedings. She served on the board of the Washington Council of School Attorneys from 2013-2014 and the board of the Washington Women Lawyers from 2014-2016. Lara received the 2016 UW School of Law Women Leaders Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Young Lawyer. 

Michael McMahan is a recently retired lawyer who practiced law in Monterey County for over thirty years. Mick may be new to the Board of Trustees but he's hardly new to Chartwell. As Nicki McMahan and Judy Lewis were co-founding the school, Mick was advising the first Boards of Trustees and often doing the books. When Chartwell began searching for a permanent home, Mick joined the Site Committee and was deeply involved in finding the location and planning and building the new campus. In addition to being married to one of the founders, Mick is the father of Michel, who attended the first two summer schools, and the grandfather of two other Chartwell alumni. Mick is an avid boater and enjoyed cruising with a number of members of the Chartwell family, including Chuck Jacobson and Douglas Atkins. Mick has been a Trustee since 2014.

Kate Mulligan is an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees. In five positions as Head of School and multiple administrative and teaching positions in a career devoted to education, she has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to education, teaching, learning, and children.

Most recently, Kate was the Head of School of Westside School in Seattle, WA. She holds a BA in English from Dartmouth College, and an Ed.M. in Teaching Curriculum and Learning Environments from Harvard University. She brings to Chartwell a strong record of research-based program and curriculum development, particularly regarding 21st Century Skills, student-centered and project-based learning, and arts integration.

A Carmel Valley native, Mollie O’Neal is in her second tenure as a member of the Chartwell board of directors. Mollie and her husband (renowned rock and roll photographer Tom Gundelfinger O’Neal) are past Chartwell parents (Dugan O’Neal). It was through her experience as a parent that Mollie first engaged with the School - organizing the annual Chartwell fundraiser The Pear for several years, volunteering on campus, and consulting on the school’s social media and marketing strategy.

Mollie holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of San Francisco (formerly Lone Mountain College) and attended Boston College and Emmanuel College garnering secondary teaching degrees in Theatre Arts and Creative Writing. 

Mollie brings decades of marketing and advertising experience (specifically digital and social media) and event management expertise to her advisory role at Chartwell. She recently joined the La Tierra Realty team as a sales associate, specializing in ranch properties and luxury estates in the Carmel and Carmel Valley regions.

Arthur Pasquinelli joined the Chartwell Board in July 1993 and he has also served as an interim Executive Director for the school. Art earned his MBA from Pepperdine University and currently operates a consulting firm, Pasquinelli Management Services. Married to Elizabeth, Art makes his home in Monterey.

Former West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise has spent his career advancing education opportunities for our nation’s students. He recently completed 14 years as president of the Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed), a Washington, DC–based national nonprofit that has become a national leader in advocating the policies and practices necessary for secondary school students to be ready for postsecondary education and careers.

Currently coordinating the Global Science of Learning Education Network (GSoLEN), Gov. Wise’s recent accomplishments include leading the development of Future Ready Schools®, a network of 3400 school districts committed to the effective use of digital learning to assist teachers and improve student learning outcomes. He recently launched a science of adolescent learning initiative to guide education policy and practice decisions. He works closely with school district, state, and national leaders for evidence-based systems-change that advances 21st century learning that meets each student’s needs. 

After serving twenty-four years as governor, member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and state legislator, Gov. Wise has become a prominent speaker and advisor on education issues and trends. He has advised the U.S. Department of Education, White House, and key state and federal policymakers. As governor and U.S. congressman, he focused on improving financial aid for college and early childhood development.

Gov. Wise authored Raising the Grade: How High School Reform Can Save Our Youth and Our Nation. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University, a Juris Doctor degree from Tulane University, and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Working from Washington, D.C. and California, Gov. He also chaired the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards for six years and constantly strives to improve education opportunities for America’s youth. 

With Gratitude to Chartwell's Past Board Members for their Service to the School. Ralph Bailey, Jonathan Beck, Laurie Benjamin, Sandra Bernstein, Betsy Bliss, Ingrid Brant, Peter Brooks, Tom Bryan, David Buchanan, Richard Campbell, Meg Conners, Virginia Cooper, Judy deRegt, Thomas deRegt*, Sue Dewar, Robert Egnew, J. Randolph Elliott, Hakan Erdnic, Katie Ewen, Scott Fosmark, Stewart Fuller, Shane Fuller, Richard Green, Catherine Hawley, Skip Harrison, Robert Hernandez, Lyn Higashi, Len Hughes, Mary Jane Gonzalez-Huss, Duffy Grant, Lori Johnson, Gregory Kraft, John Laughton, Mary Ann Leffel, Judy Lewis*, Thomas Mallett, Susan Matchum, Nicki McMahan*, Bruce Michels, Carrie Miles, F. Bradford Niebling, Virginia Northcote, Kathryn Olivas, Nathan Olivas, Dave Pfaff, Paula Robinson, Robert Sageman, Simon Salinas, Roy Schindelheim, Betsy Shea, Terri Silva, Sharon Smith, Sam Spring, Kay Sullivan, Michi Takigawa, Ellen Thorp, Jason Togneri, John Ward, Steven Whyte, Russ Wilks, Lynne White-Dixon, Nancy Zahm, Blanca Zarazua, Marsha Zelus*.

In Memoriam: Shreve Archer, Edward Bernstein, Jean Draper, Sue Dewar, J Randolph Elliott, James Flippen, Larry Frisone, Chuck Jacobson, Harvey Kilpatrick, Marjorie Love, Richard Myler, Robert Sageman, Jennefer Santee.

* Trustees Emeriti