Christine Wood, DMin, Founder and Board PresidentDMin of Transformational Leadership for the Global City. She is the Founder of the EPIC Leadership Center and has taught graduate-level leadership studies for three universities, on five continents, and in developing countries. While working with leadership theories and practices during her doctoral studies in transformational leadership, Dr. Christine Wood became convinced that the most effective form of leadership in the world today is “everyday leadership”. Everyday leadership engages ordinary citizens – regardless of age, education or ethnicity –to fill the gaps of need they see in their everyday world. This kind of leadership empowers people to transform their neighborhood. She identified the vulnerable neighborhoods in her own town of Ventura, CA, then spent time specifically studying the neighborhood of Cabrillo Village and Westview, two of Ventura’s highest risk areas. After observing the areas and talking with educational and community leaders, she designed transformational initiatives to teach character and everyday leadership to vulnerable children, youth and their parents through art workshops, activities they love like biking and skateboarding. This opened the door to creatively facing other challenges, not the least of which are social and moral problems of at-risk neighborhoods. Member of Community Presbyterian Church. read more... read less

Dr. of Transformational Leadership and 30-year veteran teacher of all age levels. She served as a longtime board and leadership team member of Richards Institute of Education and Research and was on the teaching staff for California Reading and Literature Project. Joann is an extremely gifted educator and has taught grade levels first through graduate level, most recently at the University School at Cal State Channel Islands. Further, she has trained teachers in developing countries how to integrate character development and interactive teaching methods into daily practice. Her teaching specialties include teaching with music, movement and interactive hands-on strategies. Joann has been a long-time volunteer/mentor for EPIC’s youth. She assists the Program Director in weekly session with kids and conducts summer camps in Cabrillo Village and Westview Village. As a teaching leader in the California Reading and Literature Project, she has frequently presented workshops at their statewide conferences, as well as Gifted and Talented Education trainings. Currently, Joann serves on Literacy and Leadership teams for Education through Music. Joann holds a BA from UC Davis and MA in Teaching from Stanford University and a Doctor of Transformational Leadership from Bakke Graduate University. Joann is a current member of the Ojai Women’s Fund and the Ojai Music Festival Committee. read more... read more... read less

Dr. Gina Gonzalez, DDS has been interested in dental care most of her life. Shestarted working as a dental assistant in high school. After graduating, shepursued her career at the University of Southern California from which sheearned a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene in 1982. She was involved increating new standards for dental hygiene in Spain where she developed a dentalhygiene school.Dr. Gina Gonzalez earned her doctorate in dental surgery from the USC School ofDentistry in 1991. As a lifelong learner, Dr Gina Gonzalez continues to studypreventive esthetic dentistry at renowned educational institutions all over theUnited States. Her certifications include CEREC technology and Invisalign. Inaddition to providing superb dental services to patients in her office, shededicates her knowledge and skill to many philanthropic projects in thecommunity and worldwide. Annually, she is involved in a dental mission toGuatemala in which she provides dental care to people who would go withoutotherwise. She also regularly serves the elderly in southern California through theOral Eldercare Program. Dr. Dina Gonzales is part of the USC School of DentistryBoard of Directors and is a member of the American Dental Association and theCalifornia Dental Association.She is a welcomed addition the EPIC Board of Directors.In her leisure time, she enjoys Salsa dancing, participating in the art of Krav Magaand entertaining her two wonderful daughters. She also is a member of theSoroptimist Club, a global volunteer organization that provides women and girlswith access to the education and training they need to achieve economicempowerment. read more... read less