Steve Tate
President
I had the good fortune of having two careers, both fun, rewarding and successful. In my 38-year career with IBM, I worked primarily in marketing roles after starting out in sales. IBM moved me to Morgan Hill in 1977 where I spent 25 years commuting to the San Jose plantsite serving in marketing and management positions supporting storage and software products.
In my second career, I spent 27 years with the City of Morgan Hill: seven years on the Planning Commission, eight years on the City Council, and twelve years as Mayor. I retired at the end of my sixth two-year term in December 2018.
I never set out to be a political leader, my love of Morgan Hill and passion for balanced growth inspired my civic involvement as I got involved in this wonderful community. I played a key role in extending our Redevelopment Agency and implementing projects that will benefit Morgan Hill for years to come. Over many years of tight budgeting, we kept Morgan Hill solvent and financially sound. In spite of ongoing growth, we have kept a small-town feel with friendly residents and many local gala events and gatherings.
I am committed to young people. I advise two of our Rotary Interact Clubs at local high schools, support Morgan Hill’s Youth Action Council and the El Toro Boys and Girls Club, The YMCA recognized my service with the Project Cornerstone Lifetime Asset Champion Award in 2017.
I am a member of Rotary Club of Morgan Hill and a past Board President; a Board member of Boys and Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley and I served as Board President of Leadership Morgan Hill in 2004-05. I am now back on the Leadership Board for a second round after receiving their Leadership Excellence Award in 2019. I am also a past Board President of the Santa Clara County Library Joint Powers Authority, the Cities Association of Santa Clara County, and the Peninsula Division of the League of California Cities. The Morgan Hill Community Foundation honored me as an Outstanding Philanthropist and Volunteer in 2018. The Morgan Hill Police Officers gave me their Public Safety award in 2019. I am also on the Board of the Compassion Center providing services to the homeless at a center located in Gilroy but serving all South County.
Jennifer, my wife of 50+ years and I have two adult children and two grandchildren. Daughter Stacy and her kids live in Gilroy while son Greg lives in San Francisco, so we are close and enjoy spending time together. Jennifer and I spend March in Arizona, enjoying Giants Spring Training games. We also enjoy traveling and try to make a trip to a new destination every year. We both read a lot, enjoy watching Giants baseball as well as 49ers and Cal football.
Sandra McNeal
Treasurer
Sandra McNeal is a resident of Morgan Hill for 31 years, having moved from San Jose to enjoy reverse commute while working in Human Resources at IBM. She was a graduate of Leadership Morgan Hill Class of 2015.
Sandra’s professional experience is in Human Resources and Executive Coaching. Her role before retiring from Abbott Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company, was Director Human Resources. She is the founder and President of Ivey League Consulting. Her expertise is around leadership and career developing coaching as well as working with small to medium size companies around employment law.
Sandra has worked with a number of companies, leaders and professionals, …moving them forward and watching them reap the benefits of her coaching. For example, receiving recognition in their current position or helping them move towards a positive direction in their professional life dreams.
Sandra recharges by traveling the world, attending sporting events, and listening to jazz.
For community and volunteer efforts local and outside of Morgan Hill:
Community Service: Currently serves on the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Education Committee. Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce 2018 Volunteer of the Year. Served 2 years on the City of Morgan Hill Personnel Commission, with the second year as vice chairperson.
California Diversity Council: Served as Project Director in publishing “The Most Influential Women in California Magazine” in 2009. A member from 2005-2013.
Black Recruiters Network:Served as the board of directors in providing leadership development and network events in Silicon Valley. Has partnered with BRN since it’s conception.
Emmanuel Baptist Church: Served as Human Resources Director in building an infrastructure that included employee handbook, policy and procedures, benefits, annual reviews, recruitment and personnel records.
Daniel J. Sanidad
Secretary
Daniel is a former resident of Morgan Hill bringing twenty years of hand's on leadership training with him. His wife and three daughters relocated to Morgan Hill so that they may continue to directly support and nurture the foundational values of family and community. Daniel has extensive experience with both personal and business development. His fitness coaching practice has serviced a diversity of generational variances including top level executives in the Silicon Valley. More recently he has ventured into brand development and business positioning utilizing the same successful coaching strategies accrued over two decades. Daniel continues to educate a system of efficiency including for several start-ups, local businesses and non-profit organizations to help maximize their ongoing relevance both in the market and longevity in their community.
Daniel graduated from Leadership Morgan Hill in 2018 and is also Director of Community Relations on the Morgan Hill Art School Board.
Lori Allen
Director
Lori was raised in Tennessee and became a resident of Morgan Hill in October 2016. By January 2017 she was already immersed into the Morgan Hill Community as a member of the Leadership Morgan Hill Class of 2017.
Lori is the Director of Programs and Communications for the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce. She loves building professional and personal relationships in her position and strives every day to be a positive and contributing influence in the Morgan Hill Community.
Jason Amezcua
Director
Jason was raised in Southern California and moved to Morgan Hill in 2017 with his wife Jessica. Jason has a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from Saint Louis University and has been fortunate to have a career focused on service to others. His 20-year professional career includes working in the field of Student Affairs at several colleges and universities including San Diego State, San Jose State, the University of Kansas and his alma mater, Saint Louis University. Beyond that, he has also served at several non-profit organizations and as a Whistleblower Investigator for the County of Santa Clara, where he helps address systemic issues of fraud, waste, and abuse.
Educating and improving the lives of others is a passion that that Jason has had his entire life. He is a strong advocate for equity and social justice and believes that Black Lives Matter. There is no better place to do this than in northern California, Silicon Valley and Morgan Hill. He is a graduate from the Leadership Morgan Hill Class of 2020 and hopes to further assist in engaging others to be leaders in our community. Because he is such a huge fan of Morgan Hill, he was very motivated to be a part of an organization, based in the city, which promotes civic engagement through leadership development.
Christine Bourne
director
Christy was born and raised in the Monterey Bay area. She received her J.D. at Santa Clara University School of Law and her undergraduate degree in psychology and cultural anthropology at University of California, Davis.
Christy represents clients with business, real property, and trust and estate needs. She advocates for her clients in all phases of litigation, including case investigation and strategy, pleadings, discovery, motion practice, early resolution and trial. She has experience litigating and resolving disputes in both California state and federal court.
Christy lives in Palo Alto with her husband and their Italian truffle dog, Archie. When not practicing law, Christy enjoys working out, hiking, and generally being active.
Andrew Chafer
director
Andrew was raised in the East Bay and moved to South County in 2006. Although he’s never had a Morgan Hill address, his children are students of MHUSD schools and his connections to this community are why he feels most at home here. Andrew is a graduate of the Leadership Class of 2019 and served as a Project Manager for the installation of the decorative bicycle racks installed around our Downtown.
Currently working as a Supervising Land Surveyor for Valley Water, Andrew is deeply involved in many projects around Morgan Hill, including the Anderson Dam retrofit and Upper Llagas Creek. Before joining the District, Andrew studied Civil Engineering at San Jose State University, worked for several local firms and managed survey projects throughout the City. He spends his free time staying active with his children and mountain biking or snowboarding at every opportunity.
Chris Foster
Director
Chris is a lifelong resident of Morgan Hill and the father of three. Growing up here, he is the product of the Morgan Hill Unified School District, attending San Martin Elementary, Burnett Elementary, Martin Murphy Middle School and graduated from Live Oak High School. Chris went on to attend San Jose State University, which he graduated from with a B.A. Degree in Art (Photography).
Over the years, Chris has worked as a recruiter, Human Resource Manager, and Network Engineer. He currently divides his professional life between being the Director of Operations for the Law Firm of Rusconi, Foster & Thomas, and his own businesses as an IT consultant and professional photographer.
Chris is active in the community as a member of the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill, where he met his wife, Laurie. He went through Leadership Morgan Hill (Class of 2013), and offers his photography skills to South Valley Community Theater when called upon. If he is not working on a project, then he is spending time with his wife, kids, brewing beer, or chasing clouds to photograph...unless those clouds are dumping snow; in which case, he is on the slopes skiing.
Darcy Foster
Director
Darcy moved to Morgan Hill in 1977. She graduated from the University of Michigan where she studied foreign language, history and government. She obtained her teaching credentials from both the University of Michigan and the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Darcy held positions in private industry and with the city of San Jose in finance, operations, IT and marketing. She returned to teaching in 2002 and taught for 17 years as a secondary education teacher with a focus in language, history and government. In addition to teaching, she managed the associated student body organization for Live Oak High School for 6 years and coached the cheerleading programs at Britton Middle School and Live Oak for 9 years.
Darcy loves Morgan Hill and has volunteered for many projects in the city, including the 1st Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras and the implementation of the CERT Program. She believes one of our greatest strengths is our community’s commitment to engage our residents in this close-knit town.
Darcy spends her free time gardening at home, volunteering for AAUW and Leadership, Morgan Hill and is a trustee for the MH United Methodist Church. She is a graduate of the Leadership Morgan Hill, class of 2020…the best class ever!
Tim Hansen
Director
Tim grew up in Chicago and transplanted to the Bay Area after college. He has been a Morgan Hill resident since 2000 and loves its uniqueness and vitality. Tim’s enthusiasm for Morgan Hill was incited by his experience in the Leadership Morgan Hill Class of 2017. He is also a volunteer with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which helps local residents in need.
Professionally, Tim is a program management executive and has spent most of his career in wireless telecom with Aviat Networks, joining it as a startup. He has led multiple product development teams in rolling out microwave radio platforms and had led several merger integrations. Tim is passionate about helping project teams achieve their goal through resilient communication and by overcoming tough obstacles.
Tim is married and is the father of three daughters. He graduated with a BSEE from the University of Illinois and an MBA from UCLA Anderson. In his free time, he’s trying to learn the banjo. He is also an avid sports fan.
Amy Martinez
DIRECTOR
Amy moved to Morgan Hill with her family 20 years ago. She graduated with a BS in Hospitality Recreation and Tourism Management with a focus in Event Planning. She has worked in the private and corporate Event Management space for over 15 years and just recently moved into Real Estate and absolutely loves the new change.
She was one of the 23 graduates of the 2022 class of Leadership Morgan Hill. Amy blossomed through the program personally and professionally. She believes to her core that this program is something that everyone in Morgan Hill should do and is looking forward to sit on the board and further the Leadership Morgan Hill mission to inspire, connect and serve.
When she is not working you can find her hanging out with the cutest goldendoodle named Finley, early morning workouts at Orangetheory and afternoons at Morgan Hill Yoga Collective. She also enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephew or traveling with or to visit friends. She is committed to her community and has been an active member of the Junior League of San Jose for over 7 years and recently joined the AAUW chapter in Morgan Hill.
Cinda L. Meister
Directer
Raised in rural Michigan on a farm and Graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Social Work and Psychology before coming to California via Colorado.
After working in the resort restaurant business in Colorado for many years, Cinda and her husband, Brad, whose family lived in Morgan Hill in the early 1900s, moved to here to open a restaurant called Mushrooms Grille & Bar. They soon fell in love with the Community and have been actively involved ever since! After leaving the restaurant business they opened BookSmart, a gift shop, the Good Life Café and a toy store all in Morgan Hill. BookSmart, operating for over 22 years, moved last year to its new home. Cinda has been a Morgan Hillian for over 25 years and is involved in many ways in the community. Over the years Cinda has been involved with many diverse organizations in MH including the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, The Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, the Historical Society, the Freedom Fest, Charter School of Morgan Hill and more.
Because of her passion for the MH community, Cinda has helped create a new non-profit organization called BookSmart Community Advantage, whose mission is to foster literacy and community through reading, writing, art and educational programs. Cinda is a 2016 graduate of Leadership Morgan Hill and is looking forward to her continued involvement with the program and the community.
Michael Ozuna
Director
I grew up in San Jose, I went to SJSU, I have an MBA, I currently live in Gilroy with my wife and three Children. I am very active person, I love all outdoor activities like bike riding, motorcycles, horseback riding, and hiking.
I am third generation owner to Ozuna Food Corp. in Morgan Hill. Ozuna Food Corp has been around for 60 years, and was one of the pioneers in Tortillas and Tortilla chip manufacturing in Northern California.
Jeffrey S. Prickett
Director
Jeff Prickett was born and raised in Iowa and Illinois. He moved to Morgan Hill from South Africa in 2013.
Jeff currently serves as the Global Director for Stanford Seed - a Stanford Graduate School of Business-led initiative that partners with entrepreneurs in emerging markets to build enterprises that transform lives. In his current role, he manages teams in West Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, and South Asia. Before joining Stanford Seed, Jeff served as Director of Management & Operations for United States Peace Corps in Pretoria, South Africa, and N'Djamena, Chad. He obtained a Master’s in Public Policy from Walden University, an MA in Education from Teachers College – Columbia University, and a BS in Accountancy from the University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign. Jeff is married with 5 sons, and 2 grandsons.
Jeff graduated from Leadership Morgan Hill in 2016, and currently leads a group of volunteers (#cleanMH) working to reduce littering and dumping in Morgan Hill.
Sheila Murphy
program facilitator
Sheila Murphy brings a wealth of experience and background to the position from Teaching and Leadership, to Business/Management experience and Technology. Sheila has those important Personal Attributes of being collaborative, innovative, patient, empathetic, well organized and data-driven. These are so important to oversee the class as they go through their 13 week / 60+ hours of training and project experience. Murphy previously served as a Principal, Executive Director for Human Relations and as an Instructional Coach for the Milpitas and San Jose School Districts. She holds a EdD in Educational Leadership and a Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision and is also a Certified Life Coach. She has done research on various cultural issues throughout her career and her extensive teaching experience is a major asset for the Leadership program and its students.
Sheila says she is very excited to be a part of the Leadership Morgan Hill Program and looks forward to continuing her involvement with her students in the Morgan Hill Community. She has stepped right in and started with the new class of 21 members for the 2020 year.
Kinnaly Vongsa
program administdrator
Kinnaly Vongsa was born in the Central Valley and raised in San Jose. She graduated from UC Merced with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She recently became a resident of Morgan Hill last year. She is excited to bring her knowledge in leadership and passion for community service to the program and is looking forward to learning more about the town. Some of the many organizations she has volunteered at were Rotary, Kiwanis, and Project Homeless Connect.