LifeROOTS board of directors
As a non-profit agency, LifeROOTS is governed by a Board of Directors who provides guidance and oversight of the organization’s strategic initiatives, help to ensure that we meet our mission objectives, and develop fund-raising initiatives to ensure the future of the agency. We are proud to have a diverse and caring board to help in those efforts.
Officers
|
 Carol Guerra
LifeROOTS Board Chair
Ms. Guerra is the owner of All-Star Insurance. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico.
As Board Chair, Ms. Guerra chairs the Executive Committee. She also serves as a member of the Finance, Personnel and Board Development Committees
|
|
 Catherine Salazar
LifeROOTS Vice Chair
Ms. Salazar is an active supporter and advocate for developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. She is a foster parent for ARCA and has fostered 40 special needs children and adopted six children with special needs. Ms. Salazar was appointed by Governor Bill Richardson to the New Mexico Brain Injury Advisory Council.
In addition to being the Vice Chair, Ms. Salazar is a member of the Personnel and Finance Committees of LifeROOTS.
|
|
 Joan Schofield
LifeROOTS Secretary
Ms. Schofield is a case manager at Medview. Formerly, she served as the Area Director at the University of New Mexico Hospital. Ms. Schofield attended the University of New Mexico.
Ms. Schofield is a member of the Executive and Finance Committees.
|
|
 Cathy Rypma-Dixon
LifeROOTS Treasurer
Ms. Rypma-Dixon is owner of Solutions Accounting and Financial of Rio Rancho. She earned a degree in business administration from New Mexico State University.
Ms. Rypma-Dixon serves as the Chair of the Finance Committee.
|
|
LifeROOTS Members
|
 Brad Vaughn, Esq.
Mr. Vaughn has been engaged in the practice of law since 1985, and has practiced in Albuquerque since September, 1990, focusing in the areas of business, corporate, estate planning and probate law. He is a member of the State Bar of New Mexico. Mr. Vaughn graduated with highest honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 1982 with a B.B.A. in accounting as well as a B.A. in economics with high honors. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas at Austin in 1985.
|
|
|
 Leslie Strickler, DO, FAAP
Dr. Strickler is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital. She is also a member of the Children Abuse Response Team (CART). Dr. Strickler earned her doctor of osteopathic medicine from Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and her bachelor of science degree from Ursinus College.
|
|
 Linda Geizsler
Ms. Geiszler is the Human Resources Director at QinetiQ North America. She formerly held the position of Manager, Staffing & Organization Development at Lockheed Martin KAPL, and was the Human Resource Manager at GE Power Systems. Ms Geiszler received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wittenberg University.
She is past board chair and a member of the Executive, Finance and Personnel committees.
|
|
 Myron Andrew Saldyt
Mr. Saldyt is an architect with NCA Architects, P.A. He also servers on the New Mexico Board of Examiners for Architects.
He is a member of the Board Development Committee.
|
|
 Dr. John Chimarusti
John Chimarusti Ph.D, LMSW, a licensed social worker with more than 15 years of experience in the field and a leader in the area of working with families of children with special needs. Dr. Chimarusti serves as Outpatient Social Worker at Carrie Tingley Hospital, where he currently works with the outpatient specialty clinics and rehabilitation teams.Â
|
