Carlos Abitia, Karen Bowker, and Jessica Tade have been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People. The three new directors will serve three-year terms.
Carlos Abitia earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Guadalajara. He served his internship working with impoverished communities in Mexico and operated his own Veterinary clinic in Mexico for four years. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
Since moving to the U.S., Carlos has worked in a professional capacity at the Santa Barbara Zoo, CARE Emergency Hospital, and La Cumbre Pet hospital. Most recently he has served two non-profit organizations. He was the Wellness Director at ASAP (Animal Shelter Assistance Program) for the past six years and he continues as the Co-founder of CARE (Community Awareness, Responsibility, Education) 4Paws. Carlos and his wife Isabelle Gullo, the other Co-Founder of CARE4Paws, live in Buellton.
Karen Bowker is currently the Branch Manager, A.V.P., for First Bank in Solvang. Previously she worked for 15 years at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust as a business banker. She has been actively involved in community service work. For the past 6 years, Karen has been a member of the Solvang Rotary Club and has been the Chair of the Club’s Community Services Committee. She also currently serves on the Board of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce and has been a member of the Santa Ynez Valley Youth Coalition Governing Board at People Helping People. Karen and her significant other, John Sanchez, live in Buellton. They have a combined 5 adult children and eight grandchildren.
Jessica Tade is a three-time graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she received a doctor of philosophy degree in Art History, specializing in Romanesque architecture and sculpture. Just recently she accepted the position of Executive Director for Casa del Herrero, a historic house museum and gardens located in Montecito.
Previously, Jessica held the position of Director of Marketing and Communications for the Santa Barbara City College Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing support for Santa Barbara City College and its students. She also has worked as the Director of Communications and Marketing for the Santa Barbara Foundation, a community foundation addressing needs across Santa Barbara County.
Jessica has made a long-term commitment to volunteerism. She is currently the 3rd District representative on the Human Services Commission of Santa Barbara County. She is a past Steering Committee member for the Business Giving Roundtable; a past Steering Committee member, Marketing Committee co-chair, and communications coach for Fast Pitch SB; and a past Steering Committee member for Partnership for Excellence, a yearly conference bringing together leaders from Santa Barbara County’s philanthropic sector. Jessica and her husband Tom Schultz have lived in Solvang for the past 3-1/2 years.
Founded in 1992, PHP is a non-profit charity serving the Santa Ynez Valley, Los Alamos Valley, and the Gaviota Coast. PHP’s mission is to “improve the lives of men, women, and children by addressing emergency and basic needs, furnishing comprehensive integrated family and individual support services, and acting as a catalyst for positive community change.”