empowering women, families, and youth-at-risk through improved literacy, increased positive media, and tools for living.
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Board of Directors
The volunteer Board of Directors is responsible for the overall governing and direction of the Be the Star You Are!® organization, including reviewing and establishing policies, evaluation of programs, suggestions for outreach, and fundraising. Board members offer their wisdom, sage counsel, moral and financial support, business partnerships, and strategic connections for the continued growth of the charity in its year round operations, activities, and service to others. Interested in being considered? Email us.
The current Board Members are:
The current Board Members are:
Besides Cynthia’s sincere calling as the Founder of Be the Star You Are!®, she has spent a lifetime inspiring, motivating, informing, and encouraging others to own their power and live a life of meaning. Before she was a New York Times best selling author with six books, Cynthia worked in films and television as an actor, writer, producer, casting director, set designer, and coach, enabling her to witness first hand the importance of instilling positive messages in people of all ages, especially the young. Today, besides producing and hosting the radio program, she earns a living performing in and coaching for writing, speaking, media, presentation, acting, gardening, and life challenges. Cynthia is a garden guru who says she “grows people”.
Known as the “Common Sense Guy”, Bud Bilanich is an author, speaker, and executive coach with a mission of helping others create successful lives and careers. The grandson of Polish immigrants, Bud became a member of the Be the Star You Are!® Board of Directors in 2009. With a PHD in Adult Education and Organizational Behavior from Harvard, he firmly believes in using common sense to achieve clarity of purpose and direction. For years he traveled 40-50 weeks per year teaching and speaking. Today, Mr. Bilanich lives in Colorado where he builds dreams via the internet.
A former Outstanding Teenager of Contra Costa County and contestant for Miss Teen California, Heather Brittany was a youth co-founder of Be the Star You Are!® charity when she headed up the Teen Angels. With a major in Communications, English, and Women’s Studies, she has volunteered since 1999 as a segment producer and co-host of the radio program. She is the creator of The Karmony Kollection™ for women-beautiful handmade clutches, canvases, and candles using recycled and vintage materials. Heather is dedicated to helping others help themselves and is a strong supporter of women’s issues. Heather joined the Board of Directors as an adult in 2009, bringing a youthful perspective and devout passion for the cause. She is employed as a Reproductive Health Assistant and works in San Diego, California.
As the co-founder of Touch Technologies, Inc., Dan is the inventor of record for a number of technology patents. He has been developing successful commercial software for enterprise use since 1974. Proficient in a number of programming languages, he has been programming since 1968. Dan’s mother was an author of children’s books, and since 2000, Dan’s advice, technological expertise, and support has been invaluable to Be the Star You Are!® Dan is devoted to helping others, and, when not flying around the country for projects, calls Sedona, Arizona home.
A fourth generation Californian, Dr. David Loveall was raised in the Napa Valley where both parents were public school teachers. He was a founding board member of Be the Star You Are!® charity and continues to serve on the board. He graduated from Sonoma State College with a degree in humanities and worked as Associate Curator of Exhibitions at the San Francisco Art Museum. After graduating from Western States Chiropractic College In Portland, Oregon, Dr. Loveall has been in private practice in Contra Costa County, California for over thirty years, specializing in soft tissue rehabilitation with an emphasis on the emotional and metaphysical etiologies of pain. He is an avid hiker and backpacker with significant interests in ecology, habitat restoration, and wilderness preservation.
COUNSEL to the Charity
COUNSEL to the Charity
An internet, new media, entertainment, and intellectual property attorney working in Los Angeles, Greg Akselrud has been an important advisor to Be the Star You Are!® charity since 2005. He is a founder and partner in the firm Stubbs, Alderton, and Markiles, LLP. Greg is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola Law School teaching Business Planning. An avid reader dedicated to increasing literacy, he is from a family that has always been involved in making a difference through charitable works. Email: gakselrud@stubbsalderton.com
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