Paul Palmer President/Chief Executive Officer PaulP@SDBigs.org (858) 536-4900 x203

Paul became President/CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County in September 2002, following a career in radio management spanning 37 years, 24 of which were here in San Diego, as General Manager of KFMB AM FM Radio. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Palmer served on many non-profit boards in San Diego prior to taking the reins of Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County. Paul’s major goal was to rebuild the infrastructure of the agency to dramatically increase the number of children being served by positive role models. His major achievements include launching several programs to better serve children, including Operation Bigs for children of military parents who are deployed, Hermandad to attract Hispanic volunteers and children, and Sports Bigs to encourage a healthy lifestyle for youth and attract more male volunteers.  Additionally, Palmer has helped institute mentoring programs at San Diego schools in programs known as Bigs in Schools and High School Bigs.  Under Palmer's leadership, the agency has experienced an average of 30% growth in both revenue and number of children served, each year for the past six years. 

Deborah Condon Vice President of Operations DeborahC@SDBigs.org (858) 536-4900 x222

Deborah joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County in May, 2008 to serve as Vice President of Operations for the organization.  Deborah has more than 20 years of non-profit experience; serving as chief executive or executive management in agencies that provided service to children, impoverished or isolated individuals and families, people struggling with mental health issues and shelter animals. Ms. Condon also spent 5 years as COO and Director of Business Development for a multi-million dollar health promotion, disease prevention division of HealthPartners, a Minnesota-based health plan and hospital system.

 

Deborah moved to San Diego in 2006 from Minnesota, where she spent most of her career and earned a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration.

Cheryl Navalesi Vice President of Development CherylN@SDBigs.org (858) 536-4900 x230

Cheryl joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County in 2006, bringing with her 14 years of experience in the non-profit field of development. Prior to joining Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County, Cheryl worked at the American Cancer Society, and most recently at San Diego Hospice as the Director of Philanthropy. As Vice President of Development, Cheryl’s focus is to engage community members to help us grow the Community-based and School-based Mentoring Programs and reach our goal of serving 4,000 children by 2012.  

Amy Benson Program Director AmyB@SDBigs.org (858) 536-4900 x209

Amy is originally from the Kansas City area.  She graduated with a BS in Psychology and a MS in Youth and Adolescence Counseling from Kansas State University.  For her Master’s field study in 1999, Amy interned for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Manhattan, Kansas, and did research on the effects of youth mentoring programs.

She returned to Kansas City, and worked in a non-profit organization serving youth with developmental disabilities for a couple of years, before returning to the BBBS family in 2001.  Amy was a Senior Case Manager at BBBS of Greater Kansas City until 2003.  At this time she moved to San Diego, where she has been a Case Manager, Case Management Team Leader, and now Program Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County.  As the Program Director, Amy oversees the six 1:1 mentoring programs at BBBS of SDC.  Amy has seen the programs grow from serving just over 200 children in 2003, to over 1600 children last year.  She hopes one day, each and every child in need of a mentor is matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister.

Tina Rose Marketing Director TinaR@SDBigs.org (858) 536-4900 x206

A San Diego native, Tina was raised in a military family. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Southern California College and was a Scholarship Athlete in Volleyball. She came to Big Brothers Big Sisters with eight years experience working with a non-profit children’s organization in Southern California, in the field of Foster and Adoption. Tina independently opened a Foster and Adoption branch office in San Diego, and then conducted all facets of the marketing and recruitment as the office grew.  After taking 6 months off to travel the world with her husband, she began her career with Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County in March 2004.  Tina started working in the Program Department interviewing and making matches.  In 2005, she became the Marketing Director and continues to use her experience working directly with the volunteers and children to share about the need for more caring mentors in San Diego.  Tina is passionate about seeing every child matched who needs and wants a mentor.

Doug Kurtz Development Director DougK@SDBigs.org (858) 536-4900 x202

As Development Director, Doug is responsible for identifying supporters of the agency and ensuring donors receive high quality service. Doug helps obtain financial support through relationships with individuals and companies as well as by grant writing and directing fundraising events. Doug has been Development Director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County since 2004 and has ten years of fundraising experience. He graduated from the University of California at San Diego with a BA in Communications.

Gina Theresa Cordato Human Resources Director GinaC@SDBigs.org (858) 536-4900 x201

Gina, a San Diego native graduated with a BA in Psychology and an MS in Organizational Leadership from National University. Gina began her career in direct social services working with adolescents in a group home while concurrently working for the County of San Diego at a County Mental Health clinic as a Volunteer Coordinator for the Roadmap to Recovery Peer Education program. She then moved on to work with High School students with and without intellectual disabilities. In 2005 while attending National University Gina took her career in a different direction moving from direct service to management/administration and began working for BBBS of SDC as the Executive Assistant & Office Manager, then HR Manager and now HR Director. In 2007 Gina received her Graduate Certificate in Human Resources from Chapman University. Gina is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management both locally and nationally and hopes to become more active within the Human Resources field. Gina is grateful to be a part of such an amazing child serving organization and looks forward to helping the agency grow.