Board of Directors

Board President

Len is the Board President for Animal Samaritans. He is a graduate of the Kodaikanal International School in Tamil Nadu, India, received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Baylor University and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Ohio State University.

Len spent his career as a City Planner for the City of Los Angeles. He has participated and served on boards for non-profit housing, social services, and community organizations.

Vice President

Mark is a native of the Northeast and has an undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont and an MBA from The Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University.

His prior experience is wide and includes both senior management and financial positions in the publishing, extreme sports, and HOA Management Industries. Mark is currently the President and CEO of Associa Desert Resort Management, the largest HOA management company in the Coachella Valley, and a Regional Vice President at Associa, Desert Resort Management’s parent company. Mark is an active volunteer and currently serves in Board Director roles for Animal Samaritans, The Coachella Valley Disaster Preparedness Network, The Coachella Valley Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, and Associa Cares, a national charity supported by funding from Associa employees providing disaster relief assistance nationwide.

Mark lives in Palm Desert with his wife Jamie and his three children, Jack, Sophia, and Alex.

Treasurer

John was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of California, Berkeley in 1974 and a Juris Doctorate from the University of West Los Angeles School of Law in 1980. John worked for the IRS for 36 years, serving in many roles including supervising a nationwide team of attorneys responsible for tax controversy matters in connection with estates, gifts, and generation-skipping transfers. After John retired from the IRS, he practiced law in California and specialized in probate, tax controversy, and estate planning. John also taught at UCLA Extension for over 25 years and was an adjunct professor at the University of West Los Angeles School of Law.

John lives in Rancho Mirage with his husband Tom and their two awesome dogs: Kobe, a 17-year-old Shiba Inu they rescued 15 years ago and Barney, a 5-year-old gray Standard Poodle they are fostering through Guide Dogs of the Desert.

Secretary

Originally from Chicago, Fera has been practicing law in California for over 30 years and is also licensed to practice law in Illinois and Nevada, working first as a trial attorney for the Internal Revenue Service, and then as Vice President, Music Legal first for Paramount Pictures and then for the Walt Disney Studios. She also has a master’s degree in psychology and is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Fera has also had extensive experience in animal sheltering and animal rescue. After retiring from Disney, Fera started volunteering at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and soon became the Recovery Room Administrator for the Palm Springs Animal Shelter Veterinary Clinic. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Wings of Rescue, a prior board member of Untied Hope for Animals and is also a docent in the Wildlife Hospital at The Living Desert.

Founding Board Member

Barbara is a founding Board Member for Animal Samaritans. She grew up in South Pasadena, California, and lives in Palm Desert. She attended college at the University of Alabama, University of California Los Angeles, and California State University, Los Angeles. She received her Master’s Degree at Azusa Pacific. Barbara was also a teacher in Indio and Palm Desert.

Barbara is one of the founding members of Animal Samaritans and started its Humane Education Program and Animal Companion Therapy Program. Barbara has 2 children, 5 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Barbara resides in Palm Desert with her rescue dog and cat.

Board Member

Sandy graduated from the University of Hawaii, Chabot College in California and California State University, Hayward. She was born in Encino and moved to Palm Springs where her family members were prominent hotel owners. She was a managing broker in Northern California before returning home to the desert. Sandy has worked as a real estate broker since 1980 and was appointed Managing Broker for Bennion Deville Home and has been the proud recipient of the Realtor of the Year Award.

Sandy has two passions: real estate, and working for the rescue, health, and safety of helpless animals. She has been a member of Animal Samaritans for over 20 years. Sandy resides in Cathedral City with her spouse Ted and their rescue cats.

Board Member

Marcia was born and lived most of her life in Southern California. After graduating from Stanford University, she returned to Los Angeles and became a leader in historic preservation and architectural history of the area. She served for 9 years as commissioner on a state commission developing a 42-acre historic site in the heart of the city. She served on numerous boards including founding member of Guide Dogs of America Foundation.

In 1989 she and her husband, Judge Vincent N. Erickson, moved to Palm Desert. Locally, she served on the board of Guide Dogs of the Desert, published a book, “Wit and Wisdom of the Coachella Valley” and founded a popular destination management company, Desert Discovery. She lives with her black lab Holly in Palm Desert and likes to play golf and travel to the slopes of Mt. Hood with Holly in the summer.

Board Member

Patrick Evans is the News Channel 3’s morning and noon meteorologist, host of Eye on the Desert, and hosts afternoon drive on CV 104.3 FM from 2 pm – 6 pm. In August 2002, Patrick moved to the Palm Springs area for the new Coachella Valley CBS affiliate, where he’s been the Chief Meteorologist for 14 years and has been with the station since it went on the air. Patrick also provides weather forecasts for CV 104.3’s sister station, “The Valley” 106.5 FM.

Patrick and his wife Andrea, along with her children Karina and Vesta, love to travel and take care of their rescue dachshunds Guinness and Ryan. Patrick has served on the Board of the Family YMCA of the Desert, Pathfinder Ranch, the Desert Symphony, and Loma Linda Children’s Hospital Foundation. In April of 2014, Patrick was the 366th recipient of a Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars because of his work with philanthropic organizations throughout the Valley.

A longtime devotee of Frank Sinatra, on occasion Patrick can be spotted at various spots around the Valley, crooning a few tunes with local musicians. Each afternoon at 4 pm, Patrick features “Frank at 4” on CV 104.3, a daily dose of the Chairman of the Board, along with a little history about the man and his music. Another passion is food: Patrick started an Italian Sausage company named Fulvio’s Foods, in honor of his late father, Fulvio Antonio Iachetta, which is served in dozens of restaurants throughout the Valley.

Board Member

Bert has 45 years of sales experience, 34 years in real estate sales and brokerage, 10 years of aircraft sales in three states and has owned and operated an insurance brokerage in five western states managing fifty plus employees. In addition to being a land use consultant and wetland conservation banking experience, Bert is an accomplished developer in self-storage facilities, shopping center rehab, multi-story office building rehab, industrial parks and subdivisions.

Board Member

Clark Hallren is a former investment banker who has spent over 30 years financing and advising those operating in or investing in the entertainment industry. While still involved in that business, Clark moved to his home in the desert in 2011 and focuses on his philanthropic goals while “helping nice people buy and sell real estate.” Clark has previously served on the boards of and related financial roles with both Guide Dogs of the Desert and the FIND Food Bank.

Board Member

Lanny was born in Ohio and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, where he graduated Cum Laude from Ohio State Medical school. After finishing his training, he was a captain in the Air Force, spending most of his time in Italy.

After moving to California, he was one of the founders of Mullikin Medical Centers, which became the largest private practice corporation in the country. During that time, he was Chief of the family practice section and Chief of Staff of Pioneer Hospital in Artesia.

Lanny was a board member of Desert Aids Project for 10 years before joining Animal Samaritans. Lanny resides in Palm Springs with his spouse Mark Miller, and their three rescue dogs.

Description text goes hereAurora is a native of Chicago and is a 30-year resident of the Coachella Valley. She holds a master's degree in public administration from local CSUSB and served as an elected Trustee of College of the Desert for 10 years. She worked in local government for over 20 years managing projects related to homelessness, air quality and animal services. She has served as Board Chair of the Joslyn Senior Center and also of The John F. Kennedy Foundation. She is currently the vice chair of The RAP Foundation and the proud mom of daughter, Ashley and is a resident of Palm Desert.