Board of Trustees

Michele was raised in Stockton, moving from Wisconsin at the age of 2.  She graduated from Franklin High School in 1985, then received her bachelor’s degree in business management with a concentration in accounting from DeVry University in 2012 while working at an accounting firm that she later purchased.  Michelle is the sole owner of Tholborn & Ostrowski, Tax and Consulting Services. She has served Stockton as a registered tax preparer and a member of the National Association of Accountants and Tax Preparers (NATP) since 2004. Michelle secured over $150,000 in grants for the Junior League of Stockton, has registered to become a foster parent in San Joaquin County, and hosts fundraisers for older foster children through Mary Graham Hall and Parents by Choice. When she’s not working you will find Michelle and her husband riding their Harleys or playing with their grandsons. 

Paula is the founder of Tuleburg Press and The Write Place, a book arts center in downtown Stockton. She graduated from the University of the Pacific and holds an MA in Writing and Consciousness from the New College of California. She teaches English at San Joaquin Delta College. For 10 years, Sheil reported for The Record before joining the Delta faculty. Her writing and community work earned her awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA), a STAR Award from the Stockton Arts Commission, and the Susan B. Anthony Award from the San Joaquin Commission on the Status of Women for her work in the creative arts.

Bob owns BG Strategies, where he advises and manages the campaigns of political candidates and action committees in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. In addition, he serves as the acting interim CEO of the San Joaquin Partnership, a public/private economic development marketing organization for the region. Bob was the Government Affairs Director for PAQ Inc, a family-owned grocery franchisee of the Food 4 Less grocery chain and Rancho San Miguel markets in California, and Times Supermarkets in Hawaii. In 2019, Bob was elected Chairman of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC). Previously, he served as vice-chair of the CHCC, and board president of the San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Tiffanie was born and raised in Stockton.  She has a master’s degree in counseling psychology and a diverse career background.  Tiffanie is the General Operations Manager at Panella Trucking.  Prior to her position as the General Operations Manager at Panella Trucking, she spent over 25 years in non-profit social services and higher education.  During that time, one of her commitments was to help those less fortunate avail themselves of the many resources in our community.  She and her staff developed the San Joaquin County resource directory known as Community Connections, which professionals have now used for over 25 years to assist individuals with the resources they so desperately need.  Tiffanie and her husband, Bob, also run Delta Speedway at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds.  She has two sons, Alex and Nicholas.

Rich Ibarra is one of the most respected journalists in the area, having spent spent 31 years as a reporter at KCRA-TV . He currently reports for Capital Public Radio (NPR) in Sacramento. During his lengthy career, Rich reported on countless major stories including the Laci Peterson murder case, the Loma Prieta Earthquake, major floods, forest fires, and other disasters. Rich was born in Stockton but raised in Sacramento. After graduating from Hiram Johnson, Rich joined the U.S. Navy for four years as a Communications Technician and served in Vietnam in 1968-69. Rich then attended Sacramento Community College and CSU Sacramento where he majored in History.

Robert is the former Executive Director of the San Joaquin County Bar Association, and a longtime public executive across the State of California. He has served as the Director of the Governor’s Regional Office in San Francisco, as a deputy city manager in San Diego, and as the Executive Director of the California Community Colleges Foundation. Robert brings a wealth of knowledge in nonprofit management to the Stocktonia project, and he serves as our in-house legal advisor. In addition to drafting our bylaws, Robert is steering the Stocktonia News Group’s HR plan and guiding fundraising efforts in the local legal and public management communities. 

Doug is a fifth-generation Stocktonian who has been serving his community for more than half a century. In 2021 he retired after 22 years as the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce CEO, and was selected as the Stocktonian of the Year in 2006. Doug also served on the California Youthful Offender Parole Board (1995-1999), the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors (1979-95) and was an officer for the Stockton Police Department for 12 years (1967-79).
Doug lives in Stockton with his wife, Joan. He has a son, Matthew, and three stepsons, Mark, Scott and David Rishwain.

Charles Johnson began residing in Stockton more than 30 years ago and has been an educator, mentor, and leader. He has earned several accolades, including the Martin Luther King Jr Man of the year award in 2015 for his work as President of Stockton Black Family Day, and has won over a dozen other awards, including Senate, Congressional and local recognition for his efforts.  Currently, Charles works with several organizations in management roles to assist with youth development, business development, and community leadership. Charles and his wife Katina Johnson, a local elementary school teacher, have three children – Avande and twins Naima and Amir.