San Fernando Valley Regional Chapter Board of Directors Rita Van Dyke, MBA & SPHR - President and Acting Treasurer Rita Van Dyke works as a Human Resources professional in the banking industry. She received her M.B.A. from California State Northridge and her S.P.H.R. from the Human Resources Certification Institute. Throughout the course of her career, Rita has worked in analytics, project management and administration. She also has extensive volunteer experience—serving as a victim-advocate for both rape crisis and domestic violence programs. Prior to becoming President, Rita served as the Vice President and acting Treasurer of the SFVAPDA. She currently resides in the San Fernando Valley with her daughter. Emily Janes - Secretary Emily Janes has been working in various capacities of the nonprofit world for twelve years. She is currently the Training Facilitator for Haven Hills Inc, an organization that serves victims of domestic violence. In addition to service as moderator and facilitator at board meetings, Emily produces the SFVAPDA Newsetter and has served as photographer at a number of events, including the Parkinson's Beach Brigade. Jessica Chadbourn - Public Relations Jessica Chadbourn became an advocate and fundraiser for Parkinson’s disease research, awareness, and wellness after watching her brother-in-law and uncle struggle with the symptoms of the disease. As a member of SFVAPDA, Jessica helped raise over $5,000 at the Pancakes for Parkinson’s event in 2008. In 2009, she helped raise over $13,000 for Team Parkinson by riding in the LA Marathon on a tandem bike. Her mission for 2010 is to climb Mt. Washington as part of the “Ten Mountains, Ten Years” project to raise funds for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s research. Jessica works as a freelance writer in Westlake Village where she lives with her husband and son. Dalia Hayon - Treasurer Dalia has been an Independent Financial Advisor for the past 10 years. She began her career in teaching and then started and owned a chain of 14 retail stores. As the Chief Financial Officer, she employed 120 people and single-handedly managed the financing, insurance, budgeting, buying and investments. Dalia is a traveling senior bookkeeper for a major-nationwide auction company; she also handles the bookkeeping of several law firms in Los Angeles and set up the accounting system for the Santa Monica Bar Association. After recently losing 2 very close friends to Parkinsons, Dalia decided to volunteer her time to this worthy organization. She lives in West Hills with her husband of 46 years, has 2 married children and 4 grandchildren. Honorary Board Members Stanley Dashew Stanley is an inventor, philanthropist, sailor, accomplished photographer and shares the same disabling disease as many of us do... Parkinson's Disease. His recent endeavors have been dedicated to bringing to market a special rehabilitative device known as the Dashway. This devise is used to help PD people as well as other people with other types of disabilities. His motivation and determination has been an inspiration to all of us. Charles Blount Charles is our resident exercise physiologist. Charles has been very generous with his time attending YOPD support groups and assisting our chapter in fulfilling its dream of offering a very real service to our PD community. He has given us not only hope, but faith that our efforts really are needed and that we can't lose site of this. Charles is also an inventor as he not only created the Dashaway with Stan and helped Stan (our fellow PD family member) get back on his feet but also has created a portable Pilates system called the PilatesStick. Jennifer Parkinson, RN Jennifer was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2005 at the age of 32. Originally a Kentucky native, she is a wife and mother of two young children. She has served as co-facilitator for a young onset parkinson's disease support group in Northridge, CA. She devotes her spare time to fundraising and providing education and support to the young onset community.