Jim Ratzer, Chair
Jim Ratzer is a family law attorney who has been practicing law for seventeen years. His offices are located in Carlsbad, California. Jim also volunteers his time to the City of Solana Beach, California, as a member of the Solana Beach View Assessment Committee. Jim lives in Solana Beach with his wife Martha and children Lauren, Laine, Mark and Claire.

Jennifer Andrews, Vice-Chair
Jennifer Andrews is the director of communications for Waste Management, the largest provider of comprehensive waste management and environmental services in North America. Previously, Jennifer was a public relations manager at Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego. Jennifer has more than fifteen years’ experience in public relations, media relations, and marketing communications. Prior to Sempra Energy, Jennifer worked for two San Diego-based public relations agencies including Stoorza, Ziegaus & Metzger, the largest independent agency in California during its time. Jennifer also worked in public relations for a publishing company and the Department of Commerce Southwest Fisheries Science Center. Jennifer graduated from New York University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

Craig Yates, Treasurer
Craig Yates is the Chief Financial Officer for CDC Small Business Finance, a not for profit entity whose mission is to champion the growth of diverse small companies in our communities through advocacy and lending services. Headquartered just down the street from ARTS also within the Liberty Station NTC redevelopment project, CDC is the nation's largest lender of SBA 504 real estate-based loans to small businesses, with over $1.5 billion funded. Craig recently joined CDC in 2006 following nearly nine years with Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino, where as Executive Director of Finance, he oversaw seven departments comprising over 300 employees. During his tenure, Barona won numerous awards including best large employer in San Diego County, Better Business Bureau Torch Award for business ethics, and numerous trade and customer survey awards. Barona was also voted by the primary gaming trade association as the #1 technology casino in the nation due in large part to its invention of the now ubiquitous "Ticket In Ticket Out" (TITO) slot payment system that has, in a few short years, virtually replaced coin machines nationwide. Mr.Yates was instrumental in the development of TITO and is a co-writer of one of the filed patents. Craig recently joined the Board of ARTS, however, he was first involved with ARTS starting in 2003, where he was able to experience firsthand the tremendous value provided to his own young children when his 36 yr. old wife faced a formidable battle with sinus cancer.

Judy Eby, PhD
Judy Eby has been a teacher in Head Start, elementary school, programs for gifted and talented and university teacher education programs. She was the Program Director of Rolling Readers USA, a children's charity started in San Diego in the 1990's. She serves on the board of the Friends of the Point Loma Library and Peninsula Singers, a community chorus she founded in 2003. Judy is the author of three teacher education textbooks in their fifth editions, the Gifted Behavior Index, a novel, a screenplay and a stage play. At present she is writing a book entitled The Opposite of Cancer, which will include a chapter on ARTS.

Jill Hammons
Jill Hammons is Director of Special Events at UCSD's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, where she has worked for almost 26 years. She has done events for heads of state, royalty, and world leaders as well as celebrities, top scientists and noteworthy researchers. Jill is very community-service oriented, having served on the boards of Executive Women International, International Special Event Society and Passionfish. She has received three special awards for her service:The Gina Cesena Gold Key Award, given by the Hotel-Motel Association; Event Solution Magazine's Spotlight Awardfor Samaritan Service; and the SD Business Journal's "Women Who Mean Business" Social Service Award. Jill's "thing" is kids as evidenced by her wonderful 12-year volunteer relationship with Paul Newman's famous camp, The Hole in the Wall Gang. As one of the founding members of ARTS, she has been on board since 2002,and really believes in the organization's vision and mission:giving children and their families facing adversity A Reason to Survive!

Michelle Hand
For the past three years, Michelle Hand has been apart of new business development for Cox Business. She has more than seven years experience in new business development;including marketing, public and community relations. Michelle is very active in the community and currently sits on the Ambassador Committee for the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce and is involved with other non-profit organizations benefiting finding a cure for cancer. From time to time, she volunteers for Sharp Memorial Hospital as a reference for patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment for breast cancer. Michelle received her Bachelors of Arts in Sociology with an emphasis on Marketing, and a minor in Communications at the University of California, Davis. She is eager and excited to be apart of the ARTS Board.

Judy McNamee
Judy McNamee is an interior decorator and owner of ACME Design specializing in residential work. During her 15+ years experience in marketing and advertising, on the corporate side of national and regional retail chains, she partnered with some of the most successful advertising agencies in the country. Judy's background also includes eight years in large-format commercial photography-shooting, assisting, producing and styling for award winning photographers. Judy began working with ARTS' kids in 2006 and joined the board as Marketing Chair in early 2007.

Paul Schroeder
Paul Schroeder is an architect and a principal with Architects | Delawie Wilkes Rodrigues Barker, which is 75-person award winning architectural and planning firm located in the Little Italy District in Downtown San Diego. Paul focuses mainly on educational clients including San Diego State University, National University, Mesa Community College and the University of San Diego. Besides his professional career activities, Paul enjoys actively participating in public service and has been on the Board of Directors for ARTS since 2003. Paul is also Vice President for the local American Institute of Architects chapter and chairs his Church's Capital Campaign Committee. Previous nonprofit involvement included serving on the Board of Directors for The Wellness Community San Diego and the Boys and Girls Club in Lewiston, Idaho.

Erin Spiewak
Erin Spiewak currently works for WebMD Health Foundation and the Rose Foundation.She is a dedicated volunteer of ARTS; recently founding and chairing the ARTS Board of Directors for Young Professionals. Erin has over 10 years of experience working & consulting with local non profit groups in San Diego including The Monarch School and San Diego Youth and Community Services. She is currently working on completing her Masters in Business Administration.

Jacquie Heil
Jacquie Heil is an artist and owns a residential interior design firm, Inner Dwelling Designs, in Del Mar where she lives with her husband and two children. She has been practicing sustainable design for eight years. Prior to that, Jacquie was a financial manager at Qualcomm, Inc. providing strategic planning, budgeting and reporting for seven years. Working in both in Silicon Valley and San Diego high tech, she has over fourteen years experience in corporate finance for companies such as I.B.M., United Technologies, and S.A.I.C. Her life inspiration comes from love of travel, art, music, entertaining, yoga, running, and especially time with her family. Jacquie is an active community member, supporting the arts, education, and preservation. As a member of ArtCorps, a non-profit art program, she taught art in public elementary schools, when funding was drastically reduced. “Art and music are essential elements in children’s lives. They feed our souls.”

Laurie Simoneau, Secretary
Laurie Simoneau is the Product Manager for the Gateway Manager Product Line for Northrop Grumman Joint Network Systems under the Network Communications Division. Her product is a tactical router that provides powerful communication ability; enabling flexible tactical data communication among participating units ranging from local operations to a global span. Prior to Northrop Grumman, Laurie served six years in the United States Marine Corps as an Air Traffic Control Officer with two tours to Iraq. Community service has been an integral part of her life beginning with volunteer activities throughout high school, college, and in the Marines. Laurie believes in the power of children and giving them every opportunity to succeed, which aligns perfectly with the ARTS mission statement.