Gordon Bowley – President

Once in awhile, an Eagle comes along and you are fortunate if you get a chance to meet him or her.  You are blessed if you can call him a friend. One such Eagle and friend is Costa Mesa resident and business leader Gordon Bowley. Gordon has given his time, talent and treasures to many area organizations, including the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Hoag Hospital Foundation, 552 Club, YMCA, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Rotary International and Costa Mesa United, to name a few. Gordon has served on many boards of directors, has given his time to raise funds, and has been an auctioneer for a large number of charities in Orange County.

Mike Johnson – Treasurer

Mike graduated Cum Laude from San Diego State University with a Bachelors in Accounting.  He went on to receive a Masters from Golden Gate University. Since 1989, Mike has owned and operated his own tax preparation and consulting business specializing in real estate and small businesses. In his spare time, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and family, traveling as well as participating in any outdoor activity.

Ron Amburgey – Vice President

Ron Amburgey was born and raised in Costa Mesa. He graduated from Costa Mesa High School in 1972 and earned his AA degree in Business from OCC. Ron has been in the concrete construction business since 1975. He has been married to Kathryn since 1978 and they have three sons, Charlie, Doug, and Joe, and one grandson Wesley.

Ron’s hobbies include fishing and hunting. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Youth Employment Service (YES) for approximately 30 years, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Costa Mesa United since 2010. Ron has also been a part of various booster clubs and youth sports organizations over the years.

Brett Eckles

Brett Eckles, along with his wife Kelly, live in Costa Mesa with their four children.  Brett attended Corona del Mar High School and graduated with a BS in Marketing from Southern Methodist University. He is owner of a commercial subcontracting company focused on structural steel metal decking.

Brett has served as Chairman of the City of Costa Mesa Parks and Recreation Commission.  He is currently the President of the American Subcontractors Association of California.  With four kids who have played youth sports in Costa Mesa, Brett has volunteered in various sports organizations – former President of AYSO Region 97 and Newport Harbor High School Boys Lacrosse Booster Club.  He has coached soccer for over 12 years as well as a referee.

Laura Yourex

Laura Yourex moved, with her husband Will to Costa Mesa in 1989. Together they raised 3 children; all attended NMUSD schools. Their two oldest boys, Lyle & Bryan attended Costa Mesa High School, where they were both active in sports. Their youngest, a daughter Jessica, attended Estancia High School and was a 4 year cheerleader.

Laura has been active as a volunteer in the school district since 1992. Laura was appointed to serve on several advisory committees within the District and also served as PTA president, and Ways & Means Chair at Sonora Elementary, where she was awarded the Honorary Service award.

Laura has also been an active volunteer in youth sports organizations: Little League, AYSO, and both CMHS and EHS sports.

Lou Desandro

Lou Desandro has been a resident of Costa Mesa since 1983. He is married to Colleen and has four sons: Mike, Jeff, Chris, and Kevin. Lou holds the following degrees: BS from Holy Cross College; MA from Chapman University, and MPH from UCLA. He worked in Hospital & Health Care Management for 30 years, including USAF & Univ. of Calif. He is currently in management in a small aerospace manufacturing company. Lou has 25 years of involvement in youth and high school athletics as a coach and administrator:

  • Costa Mesa Pony Baseball – Coach, President and Founder
  • AYSO – Coach
  • Costa Mesa Little League – Coach, Vice President
  • Pop Warner Youth Football – Coach, President
  • Estancia HS Football Boosters – Vice President
  • Costa Mesa HS Baseball Boosters – President
  • Costa Mesa Youth Sports Council – Member

Jennifer Knapp

Jennifer Knapp has lived in Costa Mesa for 47 years. She attended Adams Elementary, TeWinkle Middle School, Estancia High School, and OCC, and graduated with a BS in Marketing from Cal State Long Beach. She is the General Manager of Magnetic Attractions, a manufacturer of promotional magnets and direct mail advertising products in Irvine, CA. She and her husband Bob have been married for 27 years.

Jennifer has two sons: Ryan, a graduate of UC Irvine and former collegiate golfer who now works in the banking industry and Jake, who attended UCLA and is now pursuing a career in professional golf. Both her children have attended their local public schools and have been active in numerous community and school sports  including soccer, baseball, basketball and golf.

Jennifer has been volunteering in the schools and community for over 19 years, serving on numerous PTA boards and Site Council committees. She has served on the board of the Estancia and TeWinkle Schools Foundation for over ten years and currently serves as President.

Tim Sesler

Tim Sesler was born and raised in Manhattan (i.e., “The Little Apple), KS, where he received a degree in Business from Kansas State University (not to be confused with those University of Kansas Jayhawks to the east) before moving west to attend law school at UCLA. Wanting to be conflicted in his local allegiances, a decade later, he received an MBA from USC’s Marshall School of Business. Currently, he works as corporate counsel for the Automobile Club of Southern California with expertise in privacy, data security, marketing and insurance compliance issues. The Auto Club has been around for more than a hundred years and Tim’s future retirement is depending on them being around for many more.

Tim served four years as a Planning Commissioner and during that time learned much about local politics and had the pleasure of hearing from many passionate residents. He also served four years on the City’s Pension Oversight Committee and during that time had the pleasure of not hearing from residents.

Tim has served as a board member for Dignitas Project and as a Vestry member for his church, St. Johns. He also passionately supports his youngest daughters’ school, Christ Lutheran. Tim and his wife have lived in northern Costa Mesa for fifteen years. He most enjoys spending time with his family and making Sunday dinner for their large family.

Jack Morales

“Coach Jack” as he is widely known in and around the Costa Mesa Baseball Community, has been serving the local youth since 2003. Jack and his wife Debbie graduated two daughters and a son from Calvary Chapel High School. It was in 2003 during his son Daniel’s first year in tee­ball at Costa Mesa American Little League that Jack found a love and passion for coaching. He served on various board positions at CMALL while coaching, and ended his tenure as Vice President in 2009 and 2010. From there he moved on to coach his son’s Pony team in 2011.

Since 2012 Jack has served our community as President of Costa Mesa Pony Baseball where kids ages 13 thru 18 can further develop their baseball skills. In his spare time, Jack works as Vice President of Community Development Construction for Rancho Mission Viejo in South Orange County. On any given day of the week, Jack can be found at Tewinkle Athletic Complex where he continues to grow and improve the youth baseball experience in our community.

Rob Dickson

Summary Of Professional and Community Service Experience

  • 2011-­2017 City of Costa Mesa Planning Commission
  • Planning Commissioner (2011­-2013), Vice Chair (2013­-2015), Chair (2015­-2017)
  • 2009–Present City of Costa Mesa Redevelopment and Residential Rehabilitation (3R) Committee
  • Served on the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re­Housing Program and Community Development Block Grant subcommittees.

2000 – Present Latham & Watkins LLP, Costa Mesa, California Environment, Land & Resources Senior Paralegal

Assist attorneys with virtually all aspects of the Environment, Land & Resources practice area. Preparation and review of a wide variety of regulatory, planning, and compliance documents and reports including, but not limited to, General Plans, Zoning Ordinances, Specific Plans, Environmental Impact Reports, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans, Water Quality Management Plans, and submittals to state and federal regulatory agencies. Extensive experience in California Environmental Quality Act matters, California Energy Commission proceedings, Superfund and CERCLA matters, Clean Water Act compliance, Clean Air Act compliance and the full spectrum of the California environmental statutory and regulatory scheme.

Perform extensive research and analysis. Conduct corporate, regulatory and environmental due diligence. Interact, cooperate, coordinate and deal with local, state and federal agencies, including project ­specific support and cooperation, preparation and execution of Freedom of Information Act and California Public Records Act requests. Assist attorneys in litigation, both at the state and federal level, with all aspects of trial preparation and prosecution. Member of the Pro Bono Committee. Assist clients in obtaining restraining orders and other relief in family law cases as part of Latham’s partnership with domestic violence shelters.

Participate in legal clinics for the homeless as part of Latham’s partnership with community service providers.

1993-2000 Latham & Watkins LLP, Costa Mesa, California Library Assistant

Responsible for helping maintain a full­ service law library. Responsibilities include comprehensive legal research including environmental and regulatory issues, asset searches, locating witnesses, litigation research, company research, and intellectual property research. Analysis of trends in legal research and material acquisition. Interlibrary loans, extensive database and internet research. Monitor multiple media sources for client related news.  Prepare memoranda to attorneys on various issues.

1994 Bank One, Texas, N.A., Dallas, Texas Legal Notices Specialist II

Processing and complying with Internal Revenue Service Levies, State Comptroller Freezes, Grand Jury and other Subpoenas. Worked closely with local, state, and federal agencies seeking compliance with legal matters relating to customer accounts. Extensive organizational, customer relations and problem solving experience. Provided detailed reports on each levy, freeze, subpoena, and contact with government agencies. 1989­1996B & B Group, Inc./B & B Sales, Westminster, California

Wholesale & Retail Sales Associate

Wholesale and retail sales of police and sporting equipment. Top Salesman for five years. Provided and acquired extensive customer relations, marketing, bookkeeping, inventory and regulatory compliance experience.

1986­-1991 United States Marine Corps Reserve, U.S.A. Stinger Missile Gunner ­ M.O.S. 7212/Air Defense Artillery Honorable Discharge.

Education

University of California at Irvine Paralegal Certificate Program, completed in May 2002.

Brett Woods

Brett Woods grew up in Southern California.  He attended Foothill High School and Graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University.  He lived in Huntington Beach for ten years, until he moved to Costa Mesa in 2001.  Brett worked as a Mortgage Technology consultant, an Account Executive for an IBM Retail Technology company, and a Sales Representative for a Microsoft Retail Technology Company.

Brett served on the AYSO Region 97 Board of Directors for ten years, primarily assuming roles that integrate with the City of Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and the Newport Mesa Unified School District.  He has also served as a coach, referee, and member of the Disciplinary Committee.  Brett developed a passion for sailing in the 1990’s and was an active member of the local multihull sailing community.  He served as the Commodore of Hobie Fleet 3 in 1994 and 1995.  Other sailing certifications and awards are, 1995 United States Hobie 17 Champion and US Sailing Certified Instructor.

Brett is married with two children and attends Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church.  As a family they enjoy “offroading”, camping, fishing and other outdoor activities.

Frank Albers

Frank Albers moved to Costa Mesa in 1990. He has been coaching since 1986. Frank has three children: a daughter, Lauren, who graduated from Estancia High School in 2006 and San Francisco State in 2011; a son, Andrew, who graduated from Costa Mesa High School in 2011 and is currently in his junior year playing football at the University of Utah; and a daughter, Tori, who is a freshman at Costa Mesa High School.

Frank is currently working and coaching football at Costa Mesa High School. Most of his free time is spent coaching or helping with organizations like Costa Mesa United.

Jose De La Jara

Jose De La Jara is a long term resident of Costa Mesa. He attended Estancia High School (91) and is a graduate of CSU Long Beach with a Major in International Studies. Jose is married to Heather and they are raising 3 children that attend Newport Mesa schools.

Professionally, Jose has been an entrepreneur since 1997 when he started his first company in import/export and distribution of sports equipment. These days, Jose is the Director of Costa Mesa Aquatics Club (CMAC), a nonprofit aquatics club based in Costa Mesa serving over 400 families in the Newport Mesa area. He also serves as the President of the Orange Coast Aquatic Conference (OCAC), a group of companies specializing in a variety of youth aquatics programs such as children’s swim lessons, professional swim team management systems, and  lifeguarding services.  Jose has also been an active seasonal lifeguard for the City of Newport Beach since the early 1990’s. His favorite days are “big south swell” days when he can be found making rescues in big waves.

Jose has also served on the board of directors for a variety of nonprofit organizations such as The Association of Newport Beach Ocean Lifeguards (ANBOL), Newport Beach Ocean Lifeguard Association. (NBOLA), Huntington State Beach Junior Lifeguard Association (HSBJLA), Costa Mesa High School Foundation, Newport Mesa Athletic Foundation, and Costa Mesa United.

On his time off, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family. His hobbies include surfing, body surfing, boogie boarding, bike riding, sailing, open water fishing, skiing and snowboarding.