By Robert O. Jester
Finance Advisory Committee Chair
As published in The View, December 2022:
Question of the month: Who are the members of the Finance Advisory Committee and what are their qualifications?
I want to begin this last article for 2022 by thanking most sincerely the dedication and work ethic of all the members of this Committee. We are a very busy committee that demands a lot of volunteer time with the goal of keeping this community financially sound in this difficult financial atmosphere with viruses, wars, and inflation.
The Charter requires that this committee be composed of resident homeowners with verifiable professional backgrounds in finance, accounting, law, investments, or relevant business management.
These are the professionals who have stepped forward to assist and guide the Board with in-depth reviews and recommendations on all assigned topics:
- Larry Anderson (Vice-Chair Financial Analysis) with an accounting degree and several years of experience with Big 8 accounting firms, he moved on to be the Chief Financial Officer of several hospitals and later became a Chief Executive Officer in the healthcare industry. He did all this while volunteering to serve in numerous financial and consulting positions with charities and non-profits.
- Mike Whelan (Vice-Chair Investments) joined our committee with over 40 years of experience in financial services which included sales, trust management, banking, and asset management. He was employed by two life insurance companies, seven banks (to include Comerica and the Merrill division of Bank of America) and two money management firms. He prides himself on being familiar with virtually every operation and practice within the financial services world.
- Zerryl Becker (Vice-Chair FAC Sub-Committee) is a recently retired Dean of Applied Sciences and Business at College of the Desert. She was responsible for numerous programs at the college to include the culinary program, the golf Turfgrass program, the air conditioning program, the construction management programs and accounting programs. She has an MBA in Management Information Systems and in her career has had extensive experience in construction and technology management while analyzing and procuring technology equipment, managing large budgets, and developing software programs for private industry and education.
- Todd Murphy (Vice-Chair Budgets) has a Business Management degree and a master degree in Environmental Education. He served as a Councilman and the Mayor of Yorba Linda California and President of the Big Bear Municipal Water District. In the 14 years before coming to our community, he held various executive positions with the Orange County Transportation Authority and started the first freeway Callbox program in California. He finished his service during the Orange County bankruptcy when he and his management staff successfully reduced the transportation budget by 10 million dollars without sacrificing service hours or the quality of service.
- Jerry Cavoretto (Vice-Chair Insurance) has over 40 years of Property Management and Association Supervision. His vast experience includes club management, project management, budget management, personnel supervision, facility management, contract development and executive administration. Jerry was the owner and operator of Premier Management and Consulting and only recently retired from years of Association Management in our valley. He even served in the past as the SCSH Treasurer for 5 years. He has earned accreditations as Certified Community Association Manager, Certified Manager of Community Associations and Association Management Specialist.
- Ed Levine (Vice-Chair Tax & Audit) has been a New York State registered Certified Public Accountant since 1967. He has served in the past with an accounting firm and with the Internal Revenue Service before starting his own accounting partnership and, in addition, for the last 35 years he co-owned and served as CEO of a school for special education in New York which was state funded and had 300 students with a staff off 175 while still practicing tax accounting. He serves this committee with his vast tax and audit experience.
- Larry Crestol (Vice-Chair Accounting Compliance) became a Certified Public Accountant in New York and after working with an International CPA firm moved his family to California. He worked with firms in Los Angeles and then started his own accounting firm and retired after 40 years in the practice. After the loss of his wife and a mourning period, he volunteered to join the FAC and share his accounting skills and experience to benefit our community.
- Bob Jester (Chairperson) was a practicing attorney for 44 years in Missouri. He and his partner formed a law firm in 1982, which still exists today. His practice began with civil litigation and over the years he developed a corporate and business litigation expertise that won for him the recognition of his legal peers by being selected as a “Super Lawyer” for an extended period of years. He has extensive experience in drafting contracts, overseeing contract compliance, and litigating contract issues.
We are still looking for another member with an accounting and business background, CFO experience or a CPA. Please consider applying to join our committee.
Contact the author at finance@scshca.com.