Our Board of Directors
CARIN CASE was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii where she attended the prestigious Punahou School, a private, independent college preparatory academy. Carin obtained her BS degree in Elementary Education from Jacksonville University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. After settling in California, Carin entered the Master’s Program at St. Mary’s College, Moraga, where she studied in the field of Reading Leadership. She has many years of experience teaching in private schools and has been credited with developing curriculum for early learning and primary grades. Carin and her husband have lived in Healdsburg for nine years and have a young son.
TOM FRAZER has been responsible for the operation of Dauenhauer Properties, LP, a private real estate investment partnership since his graduation from Stanford University in 1987 (B.A. Economics). Tom also owns and manages Dauenhauer Mfg. Inc., a specializedfarm equipment business based in Washington State. Dauenhauer Mfg. has erected stationary hop harvesters and equipment in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and in several European countries. Tom is a second generation Sonoma County resident whose daughter, McKenna was a member of THS's first 8th grade class. His son Colin is a 6th grader at THS this year.
PHIL HURST grew up on a 1000-acre ranch on the eastern hills of Napa Valley where his family raised cattle, horses and sheep. At the University of California at Davis he studied Fermentation Science, earning a BS degree in 1985, the same year he joined Paul Dolan and the winemaking team at Fetzer Vineyards. After 12 years at Fetzer, Phil joined Golden State Vintners (GVS), serving as Vice President of International Sales. While at GSV, Phil met the people who became his partners in Winery Exchange, a venture-backed company founded in 1999 to source, create and develop private labels and national brands of fine beer, wine and spirits. In 2007 sales reached $50 million. Phil is co-founder and was Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing. In 2007 Phil and his wife Sylvia joined Paul and Heath Dolan in the purchase of a 24-acre property in the heart of Dry Creek Valley to build a small wine estate where they can practice the highest level of earth-friendly farming and make the finest wine. Phil and his wife Sylvia live in Dry Creek Valley, Healdsburg, with their two sons.
BETTINA KOCHINKE was born in Germany and moved to California in 1987. She has a Master’s Degree in optics from the Optical College in Frankfurt Germany. She was responsible for establishing the U.S. distribution for an Austrian eyeglass designer. Her responsibilities ranged from U.S. director of sales and marketing to the management of their international exhibitions. After the 1997 merger with a larger competitor, she became the CEO of Uniopt USA. She retired from that position in 2006. Bettina and her family travel extensively, and she and her partner are actively running a family foundation with a focus on children and education. The foundation supports charitable causes in Sonoma County and abroad. Bettina lives with her partner in the Windsor area. Her two children were part of the 2008 inaugural graduating class at THS. Bettina also has a stepson who currently attends THS.
BILL LOFTUS has been a resident of Sonoma County for over 50 years. In 1979, he graduated from the University of California with a B.A. in English. For the past 27 years he has worked in the wine industry, and today is a sales executive for Amorim Cork America. Mr. Loftus has coached youth soccer and baseball for several years, and is active in the Healdsburg Little League. A past school board member at St. John School in Healdsburg and Dads' Club president, Bill and his wife Kathy have two boys, age 7 and 10 years.
DEBRA MATHY is owner of Dutcher Crossing Winery in Dry Creek Valley. An educator by training, Debra has always loved wine. In addition to completing wine and viticulture courses at U. C. Davis, Debra Mathy graduated with a B.A. in Education from the University of Arizona and a Masters degree in Nutrition from Colorado State University. She is also an athlete, owning a unicycle, eight bicycles and the magnificent 1900s high wheeler. A bicycle is her first choice of transportation, and she often bikes the vineyards. Her golden lab, Dutchess, is her tail-wagging sidekick, winery dog and official greeter.
SANDI PASSALACQUA brings more than 40 years of experience in education to The Healdsburg School. Spanning her career, Ms. Passalacqua has been a teacher in public, private and parochial educational institutions. In addition to teaching, Ms. Passalacqua has held numerous positions within education, some of which include tutor, consultant, and principal. She worked in Special Education, and designed and implemented ESL and Title I programs, as well as foreign language curriculums. She has traveled extensively and sought to create unique travel opportunities for her own students. She holds a Masters of Education, and is an accomplished painter and pianist. She is married to Tom Passalacqua and has three children and six grandchildren.
KAREN TYNAN was born and raised in the south and came to Healdsburg thirteen years ago. She is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Class of 1987. She sailed in the merchant marine for Chevron Shipping Company for nine years, achieving professional success and sailing as a Chief Officer aboard U.S. flagged tankers. She left the merchant marine to pursue family life in Sonoma County. She is a cum laude graduate of Empire College School of Law and practices in the area of occupational safety and health law and advising employers. She has been a parent organization president, school board member, has chaired fundraising events in Healdsburg, and has enjoyed partnering and working with Sandi Passalacqua for the last five years. Karen and her husband Dan have three children.
JANE WEIL grew up in the Chicago area and moved to California in 1981. After receiving her BA from the University of Michigan she began a pottery business in which she taught, marketed and exhibited her work in juried shows, galleries, museums and the White House. Jane received her MSW from the University of California Berkeley in 1985 and became the Mental Health Services Coordinator at the medical clinic in Gualala, CA. She was the counselor for the Point Arena High School's dropout prevention program and later served on the district's school board. Jane is a trained mediator who currently works primarily with at-risk adolescents using restorative processes through several community-based mediation services. She serves on the Board of Directors of Recourse Mediation Services. Additionally, she has worked on various school committees, fundraisers and Boards, as well as providing parent classroom and team support. Jane and her husband, Tom Bertolli, have three young adult children and first hand experience with many Sonoma County Schools.
