Board of Directors
Kristie Bruce-Lane, Founder / CEO
Kristie has over 20 years of corporate experience in the Healthcare and Agricultural industries. Kristie is passionate about one of our most vulnerable populations - our children. She believes in a proactive, solutions-oriented approach. She serves her community and believes it is about the people, making an impact and getting meaningful results. Kristie currently serves on the Southern California Salvation Army Metropolitan Board, Healthcare Businesswoman's Association Member of Southern California, Continuum of Care member of the San Diego County Regional Task Force on the Homeless, San Diego Council on Literacy Board Member, President's Circle Board Member Palomar Health, and served as the former elected Director for Division 4 Olivenhain Municipal Water amongst other leadership positions in her community. Kristie earned two B.S. degrees in the field of Nutritional Science and Crop Science with a minor in Biotechnology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The impact of her life experiences shaped her passion to make a difference in the lives of children who are disadvantaged and exposed to events that have negatively impacted their lives.
Kristie’s recent awards of recognition include San Diego Journal Businesswoman of the Year Finalist in 2021, YWCA 2024 Tribute to Women & Industry TWIN Award, and the 2025 Salvation Army Women of Dedication Award for her work in addressing homelessness. Kristie is a proud mom, wife and businesswoman. She resides in the 4s Ranch area ofSan Diego, CA with her husband Todd and young son Luke.
Jessica Whittington-Rogers, Treasurer
Jessica is a multi-business owner and is the President of an organization that provides resources to underserved children in youth sports. She has a background in Logistics and Accounting. She understands that positively impacting our youth at an early age sets them on a path of success. She has a long history of serving her community volunteering, fundraising and sponsoring youth sports teams. Jessica has three amazing daughters and resides with her husband Derek.
Tina Huston, Secretary
Tina has over 30 years' experience helping clients achieve their retirement dreams. While her main focus is retirement planning, she also have extensive knowledge in tax, estate and investment planning. She is the President and co-owner of JM Financial Strategies located in Kearny Mesa. Tina graduated from University of California San Diego with a BA in Management Science (Economics) and holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix. In her spare time, she enjoys doing volunteer work and traveling. Tina has always done volunteer work with organizations that support children and is eager to learn more, in order to help children who are victims of domestic violence and trafficking. Tina was recognized as the CHAD 2008 Volunteer of the Year for the San Diego Chapter of the Autism Society of America. She has two grown daughters and lives with her husband, Jeff, in University City.
Tina G. Huston, MBA, EA, CFP®
Registered Representative
CA Insurance Lic. #0784235
thuston@jmfinancialstrategies.com
JM FINANCIAL STRATEGIES
4550 Kearny Villa Road, Suite 201
San Diego, CA 92123
P: 858-569-4010 F: 858-569-9950
Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC a Registered Investment Adviser.
Cyndi Wegerbauer, Public Relations Director
Cyndi has over 30 years of experience in developing strategies and leading omni-channel campaigns to strengthen brand and reputation of organizations in highly regulated markets including defense, aerospace, government, environmental and business. She has a deep passion to build strategic partnerships and is an effective leader to bring the right resources to bear in support of an organization’s mission. Cyndi is also a champion of those whose voices are not heard and joins the Thumbprint Project Foundation to help expand its reach and impact on the most vulnerable - homeless children who have been impacted by domestic violence. Recently retired from Northrop Grumman Corporation, Cyndi is the owner of CW Consulting, a marketing and public relations agency and a graduate of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. She has two daughters in college and resides with her husband in San Diego.
Judy Simeroth, Events Director
Judy has been advocating for children of domestic violence for over 30 years. She served as a Crisis Interventionist with the San Diego Police Department and has never stopped her volunteer efforts to assist families and their children. Currently she serves on the Rancho Bernardo Rady Children Hospital Auxiliary Board. Judy enjoys supporting the different Rady’s Children Hospital Auxiliary unit fundraisers and learning the ever-changing innovative lifesaving programs the Hospital provides.
Judy along with her husband, Jesse owns and operate rental properties in San Diego and Nevada. Jesse is a retired San Diego Police Department Detective who served in the Domestic Violence Unit. They have 2 grown children living their best lives in San Diego and Seattle, Washington.
ADVISORY members
Elisabeth Caetano, Clinical Director, Author and Licensed Psychotherapist
Elisabeth is a licensed Psychotherapist with the state of California and have over 20 years of experience helping people make changes in their lives using a goal oriented approach. She owns her own business - Navigating Changes located in San Diego,CA. Together, her clients work on concrete solutions- learning positive coping skills and stress management. Her areas of specialty include Empowering Women, Goal Setting/Achievement, Making Life Changes, Self-Esteem Issues, Authenticity, Personal Growth and Mindfulness. She has spent her career working with women of domestic violence, addiction, mental health and empowering women to live vibrant and fulfilled lives. She is passionate about helping others in her community. She is the author of "Down The Rabbit Hole and Back" that is available on FabEverAfter.com. and she is the recipient of the 2020 Author of Influence Award. Elisabeth is a impactful life coach and an authentic mother who lives with her family in San Diego, CA.
Dr. Rupali Chadha, Board Member Forensic Expert and General Psychiatric Physician
Dr. Chadha is a Board Certified Psychiatric Physician who diagnoses and treats mental illness. She was trained using the Perspectives of Psychiatry, a model formulated at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, to diagnose patients looking at their brain, personality, behaviors and life story. She is also Board Certified Psychiatric Physician in the specialty area of forensics. She serves the LA Superior Courts in identifying inmates who are incompetent to stand trial and has also served as a forensic expert in criminal trials.
Dr. Chadha treats various mental illnesses including mood disorders, anxiety disorders including OCD and PTSD, psychotic disorders, ADD/ADHD, eating disorders, substance related disorders, emotional disturbances secondary to chronic medical conditions, and sleep disorders.
Dr. Chadha believes in a holistic approach in the treatment of mental illness and looks at a patient's other medical illnesses as well. She provides nutritional counseling and tips for healthy weight management to decrease a patient's metabolic risks.
Lisa Blazer, Director healing Through literacy program
Engage. Empower. Elevate.
Welcome to Healing Through Literacy! We have partnered with Lisa Blazer, MAT & RLLSC to provide those children experiencing homelessness that are at-risk with the necessary tools and essential skill sets they need to have opportunity in life and be successful - reading and writing proficiency.
About Lisa
Lisa Blazer is a San Diego native who resides in Carmel Valley with her three sons and husband of twenty-five years. After announcing she wanted to be a teacher at the age of six, she spent her young adult life working with children in numerous capacities. Lisa went on to earn degrees in Psychology and Sociology from Pitzer College and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Tufts University.
In addition to teaching elementary school, Lisa has dedicated the past 30 years working with children, educators, and families with diverse backgrounds in a variety of roles. As her eldest left for college, she decided to return to school herself to pursue a Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential from San Diego State University.
Currently, Lisa is a private educator working with elementary-age students. As a literacy specialist, she works individually with each child to assess and create a plan to best support their needs. Her goal is to foster a trusting relationship with each student and build the confidence and enthusiasm necessary for them to develop as a reader and writer. She tailors activities and lessons to keep students motivated, engaged, and inspired using an array of research-based instructional strategies. Lisa focuses not only on her students’ academics, but also on their social and emotional development in order to provide children with the tools necessary to feel empowered and become resilient, successful, and compassionate life-long learners.
Lisa Blazer, MAT & RLLSC
(858) 945-6920