Occupational Therapy Association of Californa

Board of Directors & Committee Chairs

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Calendar of Events

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2024-2025 Officers/Board of Directors

If you would like to contact members of the OTAC Board of Directors, please send an email to the OTAC office and your email will be forwarded to the appropriate Board member. If you wish your message to be forwarded to a specific Board member, such as president, treasurer, etc., please include that in your message salutation.

Samia Rafeedie

President
Samia Rafeedie, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS

Heather Javaherian

Vice President
Heather Javaherian, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Lauren Lopez

Secretary
Lauren Lopez, OTD, OTR/L

Candace Chatman

Treasurer
Candace Chatman, OTD, OTR/L

Karen Polastri

Executive Director
Karen C. Polastri, IOM

2024-2025 Regional Directors/Board of Directors

Kersten Laughlin

Region 1 Director
Kersten Laughlin, OTD, OTR/L

Bianca Callier

Region 2 Director
Bianca Callier, OTD, OTR/L

Jhennylyn (Jhenny) Rivera,

Region 2 Director-Elect
Jhennylyn (Jhenny) Rivera, MOT, OTR/L

Cesar Arada

Region 3 Director
Cesar Arada, OTD, OTR/L

Veronica (Rhanee) Rodrigue

Region 4 Director
Veronica (Rhanee) Rodriguez, OTR/L, CSRS, CBIS

Nirali Maru

Region 5 Director
Nirali, Maru, OTR/L, CAS

2024-2025 Committee Chairs

Min Ji Song

Chair
Advocacy & Government Affairs

Min Ji Song, OTD, OTR/L

Kate Hayner

Chair
Bylaws and Policy & Procedures
Kate Hayner, EdD, OTR/L

Karen Park

Co-Chair
Communications

Karen Park, OTD, OTR/L, CLE

Sharareh (Sherry) Younesi

Co-Chair
Communications

Sharareh (Sherry) Younesi, COTA/L

Michelle Arakaki

Chair
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Occupational Justice

Michelle Arakaki, OTD, OTR/L

Jesus Diaz

Chair
Membership

Jesus Diaz, OTD, OTR/L

Gigi Smith

Co-Chair
Practice, Ethics, & Reimbursement

Jerilyn (Gigi) Smith, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Creig Smith

Co-Chair
Practice, Ethics, & Reimbursement

Creig Smith, OTD, OTR/L

Sherry Hite

Co-Chair
Professional Development & Leadership

Sherry Hite, MOT, OTR/L

Danny Pavlovich

Co-Chair
Professional Development & Leadership

Danny Pavlovich, OTD, OTR/L

Winifred Schultz-Krohn

Co-Chair
Subcomittee Committee for 2023 Conference

Winifred Schultz-Krohn, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA

Joseph Juse

Co-Chair
Subcomittee Committee for 2023 Conference

Joseph Juse, OTD, OTR/L

Jessica Padilla

Co-Chair
Student Leadership

Jessica Padilla, COTA/L

Rachelle Murphy

Co-Chair
Student Leadership
Rachelle Murphy, DHSc, OTR/L, DipACLM

Erin Schwier

Chair
Ad Hoc Committee for Awards
Erin Schwier, EdD,OTD, OTR/L

Jessica De Brun

Chair
Ad Hoc Committee for Nominations

Jessica De Brun, OTD, MOT, OTR/L

Chair
OTAC-PAC

Position Open