Board of Directors

President

Steve Emerson

Steve was born in Oklahoma, grew up in the Chicago area, and attended schools in Durango, Colorado, and Santa Barbara, California. Steve earned a degree in business economics. He spent almost 20 years in the advertising and broadcast industries in Southern California before moving to the Monterey area in 1996. Here, he met his wife, Dorothy, and his two stepsons, Max and Daniel.

Steve opened First Pacific Financial Services in Monterey (now in Marina) in 2004 after working with both Morgan Stanley and Charles Schwab. Today, he specializes in fee-based asset management and retirement services for individuals, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Steve is an Investment Adviser Representative of the Commonwealth Financial Network.

Steve is a founding benefactor and president of The Marina Foundation, serves as president of the National Steinbeck Center, a board member and treasurer of the United Way for Monterey County, and chairman of the United Way Finance Committee. He has served as president of the Marina Chamber of Commerce three times, served on the Marina Economic Development Commission (2006-2020), the Board of Directors of the Marina Police Activities League (PAL) (2018-2021), and was a co-creator and chairman of the Marina International Festival of the Winds.

Steve and his wife, Dorothy, co-chaired the effort to pass a local bond measure for the Marina Larger Library and served on its board of directors. Steve and Dorothy were named Marina’s Citizens of the Year in 2002 and were recognized for their contributions to the Library on National Philanthropy Day in 2004.

Vice President

Linda Wight

Linda Wight is originally from Baltimore, Maryland, a graduate of Towson University in Baltimore, with a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, History, and a minor in Education. She graduated with a master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Development from Chapman College in Orange, CA. Linda moved to the Monterey Peninsula in 1988 and has been a Marina resident since 1994.

Linda has spent most of her career working with institutions of higher education in the field of Human Resources. She joined California State University Monterey Bay’s (CSUMB) Office of Planning and Development in 1994, as part of the team dedicated to creating one of the first base conversion projects for the former Ft. Ord. She retired in October 2011 as the Associate Vice President of Human Resources at CSUMB.

Currently, Linda volunteers as a Board member and Vice President for The Marina Foundation and as the President of the Northwest Regional Board of Canine Companions for Independence. She has been a member of Marina Rotary and served as a founding board member for Papillon, Center for Loss and Transition, a 501(c)3 providing bereavement services free of charge to local adults, children, and teenagers.

Linda and her husband, Randy, enjoy traveling to visit their three grandchildren, theatre, and wine tasting, as well as making sure that Randy’s service dog, Neo, is exercised on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula on a regular basis.

Secretary

Nancy Fortman

Nancy was born in Chicago and raised in Morton Grove, Illinois. She came to CA in 1976 completing her MS Ed with an internship in Outdoor Education at Big Basin State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains. She went on to receive a Certificate in Computer Education from UC Berkeley. She spent 43 years as an educator, teaching math science and technology to middle schoolers in independent schools in Carmel, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Atherton. In 1989 she bought a home in Marina. Since retiring, Nancy has served on the Friends of Marina Library board and volunteers at the Friend’s Community Bookstore. She is very active in volunteer work at her church, serving on the Finance Council, St. Vincent de Paul Foodbank and Eucharistic Minister.  She has been an associate with the Adrian Dominican Sisters since 1991. Marshaling at golf tournaments in Pebble Beach, for over 20 years is a favorite pastime. Nancy is currently serving as Secretary for The Marina Foundation.

Treasurer

Leinette Limtiaco

Leinette Limtiaco is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Central Coast Federal Credit Union. Leinette has close to 38 years of experience in the credit union industry and started with the then Fort Ord Federal Credit Union in 1985.  Leinette joined the Credit Union when its original field of membership was service to the military community.  Once the base closed in 1993 and with a merger with the then Salinas 1st Credit Union, charter changed to community and a new name surfaced.  Leinette began serving as President/CEO in February of 2005, after serving as Accounting Manager since 1996 and training with former President/CEO for a few years leading up to his retirement.  

Leinette spent most of her working career also as a full-time student. Leinette serves or has served on several boards within the community and currently serving on:  Foundation for Monterey County Free Libraries (FMCFL); CSUMB Business Advisory Board; Central Coast Center for Independent Living (CCCIL); Goodwill of the Central Coast; just joined the board of the Marina Foundation; and as a former board member for the United Way of Monterey County (UWMC) continues to serve on their Finance Committee. Central Coast FCU welcomes all its staff to participant in a non-profit that is meaningful to them and a passion; the Credit Union has also been long-time supporters of our local chambers and many more organizations throughout the county. Our Community Involvement Committee is dedicated to community outreach and volunteerism amongst the staff as well as an additional section of the committee dedicated to staff – The FUN Committee!

Leinette spent most of her years traveling from base to base as her father spent over 28 years serving in the US Army; an experience she and all her siblings cherish to this day! Her father’s last duty station was Fort Ord in 1982 and the family has settled into the community since then. As she has spent the last 38 years at the credit union, Leinette’s family has been the source of support and encouragement each day. Whenever community events were on the calendar, the family would be part of the volunteering with her partner of over 34 years, Richard and their children Kayla and Patrick. Everyone stays active in volunteering and giving back to their community that has given so much to the family! Leinette added a new addition to the family in 2018, her guide dog Cinta – new addition to work and home!  Leinette with both family and work has always been involved in the community and continues to volunteer as much as possible.  She enjoys running, biking, hiking, and anything outdoors, but most of all spending valuable time with her family.  

Central Coast Federal Credit Union gave her the opportunity for a career and took a chance on her. With the volunteer Board of Directors and the staff of CCFCU, it is a team effort that she is proud, honored and humbled to have been so blessed with these great colleagues and friends!

Board Member

Mary Estrada

Mary Estrada was raised in a small farm community in southwestern Nebraska. Upon High School graduation she joined the Navy.  Her duty stations were NATTC, Orlando; NTC, Lakehurst N.J.; NAS Guantanamo Bay and Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC), Monterey, CA. Her specialty field was Meteorology (observation (surface and upper air) and forecasting) as well as Information Technology (IT).  After leaving the Navy, she attended Monterey Peninsula College receiving an IT Degree while working as a computer programmer with a local defense contractor.  Mary joined federal service in 1983 as an IT Specialist at FNMOC where she managed Department of Defense aeronautical databases and their related software components. During her 30-year career, she managed personnel at Team, Division and Department levels having responsibility for the support of various services providing operational support for DoD and Governmental organizations. Mary retired in 2010 as Deputy Operations Officer.

During her career she was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Riders and Legion serving in various positions at the Post, District, Area and Department level and continues to serve at the district level.  She focused on educational programs and chaplain services for area veterans. After retirement she continued her service to area veterans on the following county organizations:  United Veterans Council of Monterey County (UVC); Military & Veterans Affairs Advisory Commission (M&VAAC); Veterans Issues Advisory Committee (VIAC).

Mary joined The Marina Foundation in 2014 and currently serves as the Veterans Committee Chair.  She represents the foundation on the UVC keeping abreast of activities that are important to Marina veterans.

Board Member

Carl Faria

Carl was born in Azores, Portugal in 1951, and immigrated with his family to U.S. in 1959. He attended schools in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties and graduated high school in Watsonville 1970.

Carl worked in the grocery industry until entering seminary college in 1982. He received a master’s degree in 1984 in religious studies, and his M.Div. degree in religious studies in 1988. Carl worked in local churches as well as hospital chaplaincy from 1988 to 2003, and as an Archivist for church until his retirement in 2021.

Carl currently serves on five nonprofit boards:  The Marina Foundation, Marina Rotary Club Foundation, H.E.R.O.E.S. of Monterey County, Knights of the Rose and Honorable Order of St. Michael the Archangel.

He has served 23 years as police and fire chaplain for Monterey County.

Board Member

Mike Mast

Mike Mast grew up as an Army Brat and moved to Marina and the Monterey Peninsula permanently in 1970. After graduating from San Jose State University in 1975 he went to work as a State Farm Agent in Marina. Mike has been providing outstanding insurance services to the Monterey Peninsula area since 1975, offering Car insurance, Homeowners insurance, Renters insurance, Condominium Unit Owner insurance, Commercial insurance, Small Business insurance and Life insurance products.

Mike lives in Monterey with his wife Tammy. They have two children. His current volunteerism includes Marina High School Softball Head Coach; Marina Rotary Club Charter Member 1979; The Marina Foundation, Director; and CSUMB and MPC Athletics Supporter.

Board Member

Jeanne Nakagawa

Jeanne was born and raised in Lincoln, California, and graduated from Sierra College. Jeanne married Gordon, a Naval Aviator that served in the Navy for 32 years.  His last assignment was at the Naval Postgraduate School.

She and her late husband were charter members of The Marina Foundation. As a founding benefactor of The Marina Foundation, Jeanne has served as a volunteer Board member since its inception in 2009. Jeanne also serves on other Boards and assists with community programs, including Marina Youth Arts, Marina In Motion, the American Legion Auxiliary Monterey Cypress Unit 694, the Military Officers Association, the Naval Postgraduate School Wives Club the Japanese American Citizens League, and until recently the Breakfast Program at the Marina Teen Center, which was discontinued due to the COVID19. Jeanne is also an Honorary Member of Marina Rotary and has earned some noteworthy honors including the Marina Chamber of Commerce 2006 Marina Woman of the Year, the 2013 United Way Community Service Award, and the 2014 American Legion Auxiliary Unit Member of the Year. Jeanne is the widow of Captain Gordon Ross Nakagawa, USN (ret) a career naval officer, the mother of Greg, living in Puerto Rico, Kathy, living in Los Angeles and a professor at USC, Steve, living in Florida, and grandmother to Ryan, Graham, and Tait. Jeanne has lived in Marina, CA since 1990. The gym at Marina High School was dedicated in their name.

Board Member

Cody Kievlan

Cody graduated from Marina High School in 2011 and received the Don Livermore Scholarship for Marina High School the second year of its inception. Cody graduated from California State University, Monterey Bay in 2014 Cum Laude, with a BS, Business Administration, Accounting. He has worked for Driscoll’s in Watsonville and Redding, California as a Financial Analyst for Nursery Operations, and Dole Fresh Vegetables in Salinas, California as a Senior Financial Analyst managing operation reporting. Cody is currently employed by Armanino, LLP in Austin, Texas where he began as a Senior Consultant for Dynamics 365, and is currently Manager, Consulting, implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations for Mid to Large companies. Cody joined The Marina Foundation in April of 2013 as a Director.