Staff
Bob Langseth
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Bob joined the professional staff at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Cruz in August 2011 as Area Director. In February 2013, he was promoted to Executive Director. Bob has over 25 years of Boys and Girls Club experience, including 15 years of Executive leadership with Clubs in Fallbrook, San Leandro and San Francisco. He has been instrumental in community-building and collaborations along the way, creating partnerships with a coalition of private schools in San Francisco and piloting a national program with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Bob also helped two organizations open branches and is excited about the Club’s opportunity to build a new full-service facility for the Live Oak area. Bob is a graduate of San Diego State University (Recreation Administration-Management) and began his Boys & Girls Club career working for the Chula Vista Boys & Girls Club while a student. He is a graduate of the Boys & Girls Club of America Management Program and recognized as an Executive Professional by the Academy National Advisory Council of BGCA. |
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Jennifer Sherry
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Jennifer is a true Santa Cruz local, having moved only as far away as Los Gatos in the late eighties to attend college. Jennifer majored in child development with a focus on school age and adolescence. She brings with her over twenty years of education and experience, including three years as a Tae kwon Do instructor and twelve years as the Director of an afterschool program in Live Oak. "I'm excited about being here at the Boys & Girls Club, both teaching and learning in an organization that is the best at what it does. I believe all children have a gift and I embrace the opportunity to help a child discover what their gift is and how to bring it to fruition." |
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Katee Freeman
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“I have been working at the Boys & Girls Club for several years now. When I was given the opportunity to work here, I had no idea that it would make such a difference in my life. My purpose here is to be someone the kids can depend on whether it’s helping them make the right decisions or helping them feel more comfortable with who they are. I know that everyone has their own special something to give to this world and I encourage the youth to let their special something shine. I think it’s great that kids have somewhere to go outside of their household where they feel appreciated and are remembered always. This gives them a sense of belonging which every kid needs no matter how young or old.” | |
Kara Kennedy
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Kara handles the administrative, bookkeeping, marketing, and HR responsibilities of the Club, as well as IT tasks such as networking, website development, and tech support. She also assists with grants and fundraising as needed. She has her bachelor's and master's degrees in English and enjoys copyediting and proofreading. |
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Bryon Windsor
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Bryon oversees our Sports and Fitness programs. Along with running our local basketball program, Bryon is looking forward to developing new programs that help the kids learn more about health and physical fitness, while understanding the need to develop their academics. |
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Colleen Connery
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Colleen received her BA in Fine Arts from Montserrat College of Art in Massachusetts. She is skilled in both art and music and trained in classical piano, guitar, and voice. She has taught piano and guitar lessons to youth for many years and shown her art in various establishments and galleries. She looks forward to bringing her love of the creative and fine arts to the youth of Santa Cruz. | |
Leah Levin
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Leah is a native Floridian and transplanted to Santa Cruz in December 2011. She received both her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Master's degree in Education from the University of Florida. For her Master's, she specialized in science and technology education with an emphasis on hands-on learning. She has over 10 years experience working with children and families from diverse backgrounds and prides herself on optimizing success through nurturing and stimulating children's abilities and appetites for learning. Before moving to Santa Cruz, she taught 7th grade life science in Gainesville, Florida and also taught elementary school. As Education Director, she provides one-on-one tutoring and homework help while also planning and providing fun, life-enhancing educational activities. She believes strongly in fostering critical thinking skills and is focused on developing youth into productive citizens, as well as increasing character development, opportunities, and sense of community. |
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Toby Gay Aquatics Director  |
Toby is the Club's lifeguard, swim and waterpolo coach, and Junior Lifeguard Instructor. He also teaches swimming lessons. He is currently attending Cabrillo College. | |
Lillian Bertz
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Lillian received her BA in Anthropology and Community Studies from UC Santa Cruz five years ago and after years of living as a global gypsy, she is excited to return to the beauty of the Central Coast. Lillian has served in various after-school programs and has taught photography and English to youth in Guatemala, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand and India. Her most recent work involved teaching a digital photography workshop to Tibetan refugees in Northern India. Traveling and teaching has opened her eyes up to the universal beauty of what we all share. She enjoys art, hiking, travel, and lifelong learning. She believes in the power of after-school programs and their ability to change lives. Lillian is excited to encourage Santa Cruz youth to fulfill their greatest potential. |
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Irma Torres
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Irma is the Club's upbeat front desk receptionist who is also bilingual in Spanish. She grew up in Sanger, California and first worked with elementary school children through the Teaching Fellows organization located in Sanger. She has also worked and lived out in breathtaking Yosemite where she enjoyed hiking, backpacking, and discovered a passion for climbing. She attended UC Davis for awhile before moving out to beautiful Santa Cruz and is now attending Cabrillo College pursuing a degree in engineering. |
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Marina Garcia
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Marina Garcia is an AmeriCorps VIP fellow and our new Volunteer Coordinator. She became interested in the AmeriCorps Volunteer Infrastructure Program because of her deep experience and commitment to volunteering and working for non-profit organizations. Marina recently graduated from CSU Monterey Bay where she became increasingly involved with the Service Learning Institute. Through her roles at different placements, she quickly began to recognize the immense impact and value volunteerism and community engagement can have at all levels of learning and leadership. Since graduating, she has pursued an interest in youth oriented non-profits and spent the last year working with Aspire Public Schools in Oakland, serving low-income students. Marina is enthusiastic about her new position as the Volunteer Coordinator here at the Club and sees it as the perfect opportunity to combine her commitment to volunteering and her passion for working with youth. |
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Program Specialists
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Ilan Heer, Music & Recording Studio |
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| Jenna Langseth, Gamesroom & Gym | ||
| Erica Mendoza, Technology Coordinator | ||
| Ken Dixon, Teen Room | ||
