John Harris
Chair

John W. Harris (“Harris”), a native to Los Angeles, attended the University of California at Los Angeles both as an undergraduate and law student, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Upon graduation, he accepted an appointment with the Chief Counsel of the IRS, where he prosecuted tax crimes and was named to the government’s “”Strike Force” against organized crime. He later entered private practice where early on he represented prestigious local companies such as Golden State Mutual Insurance, Family Savings and Drummond Distributing Company. Harris’ book of clients expanded to include the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the City and County of Los Angeles, Coca-Cola, Lockheed-Martin, LAUSD, Metro and the Metropolitan Water District. Harris has attained great success through his entrepreneurial endeavors as a local businessman. In 1999, he acquired SMS Transportation Services, Inc. (“SMS”), which provides transportation services to SCLARC. SMS is one of California’s largest transportation companies that provide “special needs” transportation. He proudly serves on the SCLARC Vendor Advisory Committee where he is spearheading the effort to save the “Lanterman Act”. Throughout the years, Harris’ philanthropic endeavors have included the Boy Scouts of America, the Martin Luther King Hospital Foundation and the 100 Black Men organizations. Also, he has sponsored critical state legislation aimed at improving the quality of life for these underserved communities.

Tim Lawson
Vice Chair

With a Bachelors Degree in Sociology and over 15 years of experience providing services for individuals with Developmental Disabilities, Lawson understands and commits to bringing leadership and organizational skills to help an institution strive for success. Lawson has the ability to build teams and implement strategic plans that help businesses, staff and clients succeed. He developed these skills throughout his 15 years working with people with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses; as well as while working in the US Navy for over 13 years as a Logistics Specialist, primarily responsible for fiscal management and planning. As the program director for PALS Behavior Day Program since 2005, he has helped PALS develop relationships with small businesses within the SCLARC community. These connections allow PALS clients to learn vocational skills, despite their behavioral challenges. Lawson is a certified instructor in First Aid & CPR and Crisis Prevention. Lawson is currently completing graduate work at California State University, Dominguez Hills in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peace-building. His understanding of developmental disabilities started from a very early age as his mother is an epileptic, due to her contracting spinal meningitis at 6 months. This provided Lawson with understanding needed to help support individuals with special needs.

Lara Okunubi
Treasurer

Lara Okunubi, is a proud mother of four, a Nigerian naturalized citizen of the U.S., has resided in Los Angeles since 1984. She is a graduate of Business Administration from ABU, Zaria(1982) and MBA, Business Administration, London(1984), Licensed U.S. Customs Broker(1998), Licensed Real Estate Agent(2004) and other professional licenses and certification in social services. She and her late husband, Bayo Okunubi, immigrated to the U.S. in 1984 with $500 and a suitcase; twenty years later their business employs fifty people. Booker T. Washington once said “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” It is with the same spirit and determination that Ms. Okunubi leads Ideal Program Services and the mission for which it stands – Listening, Caring and Sustaining. Ideal’s overarching goal is to help achieve sustainable development outlined in the Lanterman Act, by educating our staff, equipping them with skills and tools to provide activities and training to enhance the lives of those we support. While SCLARC may be at a critical crossroads, our services continue to reflect excellence in caring and sustaining the lives of those we serve and love.

Veronica Solano
Secretary

Ms. Solano came the Jeffrey Foundation with a background in psychology, finance and human resources. Over the past 10 years, she has worked in various capacities at the Foundation such as Intake Coordinator, Family Services Coordinator, Fiscal Manager and Client Services Director. Ms. Solano’s diverse career experiences have allowed her to work closely with volunteers, members of the board of directors, elected officials, finance experts, government managers, community leaders and hundreds of children and families. She was a critical element of the team which facilitated the opening of the Foundation’s state-ofthe-art Special Child and Family Resource Center. This center completes the full-continuum of family services provided by the Jeffrey Foundation. She is currently the senior director in the Foundation’s management team and uses her knowledge of contracts, finance, human resources and child development to help improve the quality of life of special needs children and their families. Ms. Solano is proud to work with families who face challenges associated with disabilities and values the opportunity to make a positive impact in the Los Angeles community.

Stephanie Taylor-Dinwiddie
Parliamentarian

Dr. Stephanie Taylor-Dinwiddie is a graduate of the University of Southern California. She holds a Ph.D. in Education, with a specialization in Literacy Acquisition and Development. Dr. Taylor-Dinwiddie worked as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Southern California for over ten years. As part of her appointment, she directed an initiative at a downtown clinic that reached beyond typical
models of the provision of medical care by focusing on child development, literacy education for child and parent, family mental health, domestic violence prevention and parenting skills. Dr. Taylor-Dinwiddie’s current work is focused on the healthy growth and development of young children. She established her first child development center, Spirit Child Development Center, over six years ago, with typically developing preschool aged children and expanded into early intervention program services, with Spirit Infant Center & Early Intervention Program, shortly thereafter. She served as Vice-President of the Southern California (West) Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for nine years, and has held seats on various local and national Boards of Directors over the years, including the Hollywood Branch of the Screen Actor’s Guild, Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles and the Parent-Child Home Program. Dr. Taylor-Dinwiddie’s husband, Malcolm Dinwiddie is her business partner and a realtor in Los Angeles. They have two school aged sons, Spencer and Taylor.

Davina Douthard
Chair 2008-2011
Member

Davina Douthard’s commitment to people with developmental disabilities began as a child. Having a brother with a disability fueled her drive to advocate for those who may not be able to do so for themselves. This passion still burns today.

With an education in Organizational Leadership and Public Relations as well as more than a decade of management experience, Davina Douthard understands what it takes to guide an institution to success. Her ability to effectively build teams and strengthen resources to achieve favorable outcomes, guides her actions. Her ability to develop and implement strategic action plans helped to move many initiatives to victory. It is this expertise that helped her direct a struggling supported employment agency to become one of the top programs in the region for the last eight (8) years. She will bring this same direction to the SCLARC VAC that will lead the committee to success.

In 1991, Douthard developed a program called Polishing The Professional. Through the course, clients learn how to maintain, retain and excel in the working world. The 20 hour curriculum focuses on developing soft skills including; dressing for success, work ethics, networking, effective communications, financial and benefits planning, and employee rights. Since inception, Polishing The Professional has aided athletes, individuals with disabilities, displaced workers and executives develop their image and skills needed to improve their professional standing. As a regional center vendor, she helps people with disabilities polish their tools to find work and in turn, improve their quality of life.

Kenneth A. Richard
Vice Chair 2008-2011

Mr. Richard brings more than 14 years business management and 9 years of dedication to working with individuals with disabilities. In 1999, Richard founded Solid Foundation Weight Management Program which was one of the first programs established that addressed weight loss, health and nutritional issues for adults with developmental disabilities. Today, Solid Foundation provides Day Program Services and Independent Living Skills to clients throughout the Los Angeles area and has assisted many clients in meeting their weight loss goals. Mr. Richard has expanded his endeavors to include Avalon Transportation Services, Serenity Group Home (Level 3 Residential Facility), and Peak Performance, a substance abuse treatment program. Mr. Richard was also instrumental in assisting his brother develop Giant Steps Community Integration and Independent Living Skills Program.

Mr. Richard has several years experience managing fiscal operations for his business entities. He has networked with influential business leaders and does not hesitate to bring issues and concerns to legislative representatives. His understanding and concrete resolve to managing and guiding the fiscal operations will help lead SCLARC’s Vendor Advisory Committee goals to develop and manage funding streams to spearhead important initiatives.

Illona Hendricks
Member

Illona Hendrick is the owner/operator of the Hendrick Home, who has served the Residential Care Community for over 25 years. She was in the first graduating class of the Residential
Service Specialist training course held at Compton Community College. Mrs. Hendrick has been an
active member of the residential care community for many years she facilitates, at her facility, annually the Direct Support Professional course designed to train Providers and their staff. She is also a member of the Society of California Care Home Operators (S.O.C.C.O), an association dedicated to advocating on the behalf of Care Providers and their Residence. As an active member of S.O.C.C.O over the years she has participated with the organization and has held various board positions. She has served as Chair of the Regional Center Committee, member of the Community Care Licensing Committee and the Social Committee. Currently she is the Vice President of S.O.C.C.O Los Angeles Chapter. Mrs. Hendrick is also extremely active in her Church Community she worships at Peace Apostolic Church in Carson, California where she participates on the Deacon and Minister’s Wives Auxiliary. One of the pleasures in life for her is spending as much time as possible with her two grandchildren Dylan and David.

Carol Bennett
Member

Carol Bennett was born in Port Huron, Michigan. She moved to California to further her education. She is a mother of twin daughters and a grandmother of two. In 1985 she was involved in a car accident that left her with a broken neck. Becoming disabled and over coming her disability showed her how important it was for her to help and serve other people with disabilities. In 1987 she opened a home for medical fragile children, a Pilot Program for Children Hospital and Department of Children Services and she also adopted 5 medical fragile
children. She served as Vice President of the Medical Fragile Association, and served on the Board of Bennijan Bannker, (L. A. Unified School) for the Disabled. In 1994 she opened Sunrise Adult Residential Care. A member of Socco, (Society of Ca. Care Home Operators) serving on the Regional Center Committee.In 1997 opened Carol’s Child Care Center, a center that is equipped to care forchildren with disabilities. She continues to enjoy working and serving people with disabilities

Dan Merrell
Member

As the General Manager of Maxim Healthcare, Dan Merrell is responsible for hiring staff, marketing
services, setting up policies and procedures, managing the internal and external staff’s performances, and complying with all DDS, Regional Center, and company policies and procedures. Dan Merrell began his tenure with Maxim Healthcare Services in May of 2003, as a Healthcare Recruiter. In this role, he performed recruiting, screening, hiring, and managing provider’s schedules. In 2004 and 2005, he managed the agency’s annual influenza immunization program. Through his leadership, Maxim quickly became one of the preferred
respite providers throughout Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley. As a result, he won his company’s outstanding performance award in 2006, 2007, and 2008. His current goals with Maxim are to implement important policies and procedures in Gardena that generated success in customer service and accuracy in billing and payroll in their Pasadena branch. Dan Merrell believes his six and a half years of experience working with the regional centers and running successful respite program, will allow him to be a resource to other respite providers and the Vendor Advisory Committee. Dan Merrell graduated in 2002 from of Long Beach State University with a degree in Business Administration.

Margarita B. Sanchez
Member

Margarita B. Sanchez is originally form Lima, Peru where she obtained a BA in Psychology and BA in Business Administration. Margarita is the Co-Owner/Director of Independent Hands Group Inc where
she manages the multiple programs such as ILS, SLS, Adaptive Skills program, Adult Day program and
Transportation. Previously, she also provided leadership to our Social Recreation program that included an After School program that was closed because of the state regulations. Margarita has been working in this field for 12 years. When Margarita started working as an ILS Instructor her friendly, caring, energetic personality soon was noted and quickly moved through the ranks until she became a Supervisor. On 2005, Margarita Co-founded a Company that carries her vision of providing quality care to those they serve. Margarita became a member of the VAC on September 2011, which she plans to display the same quality of work she is known for.