PHP Staff Directory
| Name | Title |
| Alexandra Cramer | Receptionist/Admin. Assistant |
| Carol A. Gallegos | The Kids on the Block Coordinator |
| Claudia Harty | Bilingual Community and Family Services Specialist |
| Debbie Battersby | Parent Liaison |
| Debbie Drennan | AT Specialist |
| Denny de Harne | Early Intervention Specialist |
| Diana Salim | Bilingual Education Resource Specialist |
| Dorothy Colbert | Administrative Assistant |
| Esmerelda Garcia | Circles® Specialist |
| Fax Downstairs | 408 -727-0182 |
| Fax Santa Teresa | 408-972-6745 |
| Fax Upstairs | 408-727-2928 |
| Henry Nguyen | Bilingual Community and Family Services Specialist |
| Jan Tuber | AT Specialist |
| Jane Floethe-Ford | Director of Education |
| Janet Nunez | Director, iTECH Center |
| Jocelyn Penner | Education Resource Specialist |
| John D. Logan | Database Specialist |
| Judy Bower | Librarian |
| Kathy Weitsman | Parent Liaison |
| Leslie McNeil | Education Resource Specialist |
| Leslie Vasquez | Director, Health Related Services |
| Loni Allen | Education Resource Specialist |
| Marcela Jibaja | Bilingual Education Resource Specialist (On Maternity Leave) |
| Maria Avina | Bilingual Education Resource Specialist |
| Mary Ellen Peterson | Executive Director |
| Melissa King | Program Coordinator |
| Mouna Raad | Bilingual Education Resource Specialist |
| Nancy O'Rourke | Associate Development Director |
| Netta Anderson | Mentor Parent Specialist |
| Nick Tanabe | Administrative Assistant |
| Pam Kensinger | Chief Development Officer |
| Paul Schutz | Chief Financial Officer |
| PHP Toll Free Line | 866-747-4040 |
| Qing Chen | IT |
| Rosa Solorzano | Bilingual Education Resource Specialist |
| Tammy Thompson-Cooke | Speech Pathologist/AAC Specialist |
| Tonia Shaw | Circles® Specialist |
| Trudy Marsh Holmes | Director, Community and Family Services |
| TTY Line | 408-748-8339 |
| Virginia Hildebrand | Bookkeeper |
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| Alexandra Cramer Receptionist/Admin. Assistant alexandra@php.com |
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| Carol A. Gallegos The Kids on the Block Coordinator carol@php.com |
Carol started with PHP as a volunteer and then took the position of The Kids on the Block Coordinator. She works with a wonderful group of volunteers to take an educational puppet show about disability awareness, medical/educational differences or social concerns to school age children. She also is the facilitator for the Asperger's Syndrome Support Group and volunteers many hours to the events of Parents Helping Parents. |
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| Claudia Harty Bilingual Community and Family Services Specialist claudiah@php.com |
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| Debbie Battersby Parent Liaison deb@php.com |
Emigrated from Quebec, Canada in 1963. Graduated from San Jose State with business degree in 1976. Worked in bank management and aerospace, prior to birth of child. Only child, Charlie born with diagnosis of Severe Congenital Hydrocephalus in 1990. Husband, Leslie, a civil engineer, works as a Senior Project Manager in the construction industry. His work took our family to homes in Bakersfield and Tracy, during Charlie's toddler years. When son could not learn to walk, placed him in local group home. Debbie then returned to work in banking and other business fields, but soon discovered her true interest now lay in mentoring other families with special needs children. Debbie began her Parent Liaison career with PHP in February, 2000. She soon found herself drawing upon her business acumen, as well as her ten years' experience as "Charlie's Mom", to gain acceptance as part of the network of medical professionals at four PHP hospital satellite FRCs. Debbie continues to enjoy her work as a PL at PHP's sole remaining satellite, at Kaiser Santa Teresa. She also volunteers as a Mentor Parent for PHP and the Hydrocephalus Association, as well as singing with San Jose Symphonic Choir. |
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| Debbie Drennan AT Specialist debbied@php.com |
Debbie Drennan is one of the assistive technology specialists in the iTech Center, with ten years experience in the field. She received her certificate in Assistive Technology from Cal State Northridge. She also has a Masters in Social Work, which she received from San Jose State University, and has previously worked as a medical social worker. Primarily, however, Debbie is a parent of two, both with different special needs. She has a son with CP, and a son with ADHD and Dyspraxia. It was because of her sons unique needs, that she became interested in, and passionate about, assistive technology and the potential it has for many people. |
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| Denny de Harne Early Intervention Specialist denny@php.com |
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| Diana Salem Bilingual Education Resource Specialist dianas@php.com |
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| Dorothy Colbert Administrative Assistant dorothy@php.com |
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| Esmerelda Garcia Circles® Specialist esmereldag@php.com |
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| Henry Nguyen Bilingual Community and Family Services Specialist henryn@php.com |
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| Jan Tuber Circles® Specialist jan@php.com |
Jan Tuber, the newest member of PHP’s iTECH Center, is an Assistive Technology Specialist (Learning Disabilities). She is married and the mother of two teenagers, both of whom have learning differences. Jan has a B.S. degree in Human Development from the University of California, Davis and an M.A. in Counseling from Gallaudet University. She has extensive experience working with special populations, has taught PHP’s “Circles,” and knows American Sign Language. Jan has been with PHP since 2005. |
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| Jane Floethe-Ford Director of Education jane@php.com |
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| Janet Nunez Director, iTECH Center janet@php.com |
Assistive Technology Specialist and Director of the iTECH Center at Parents Helping Parents, Janet is responsible for leading the iTECH team to attain its mission – helping people of all abilities, ages and without regard to financial means, find the technologies that will allow them to fulfill their potential. She holds a B.A. degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a paralegal certificate from West Valley College. She received her Assistive Technology certification from the Research Institute of Assistive Technology and Training in 2000, and prior to her position as Director worked for 3 years as an assistive technology information and referral specialist for the State of California. Janet is fluent in Spanish and has spent many years working extensively with the special needs population, including managing a special needs soccer team and working hands-on with students in the school setting. Her areas of interest include special education law as it relates to assistive technology, and technology related to learning disabilities and autism. Her son, Daniel, who is 14 and has autism, is the driving force behind her mission to educate the public about the potential of assistive technology. In her spare time, Janet enjoys playing flute in the Saratoga Community Band. |
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| Jocelyn Penner Education Resource Specialist jocelyn@php.com |
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| John D. Logan Database Specialist john@php.com |
John has four children with hidden disabilities. He has a B.A. in Psychology, with extensive classes in child development. He has been employed at Parents Helping Parents since July 1995; he worked in Family Resources for 5 Years then transferred to Information Technology. He has taught classes on ADD and Stress regularly at Santa Clara Adult Education for the last 5 years. He often presents classes at most of the local colleges, about Understanding LD/ADHD. In 2001 he was awarded the Silver Bowl Award from the San Jose Junior League for his volunteer work with special needs adolescents. He is currently working on a 5 year research study for the University of San Diego, to evaluate the effacacy of Mentoring on Aspergers Adolescents through the "TransAccess" agency, in San Jose. |
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| Judy Bower Librarian judy.bower@php.com |
Judy Bower, a parent of a teenage son with language and learning disabilities, first heard of PHP over 15 years ago. She was so impressed with their array of services that she became a volunteer. She has worked for over 10 years as the PHP and RiSE Librarian, and maintains the Resource Directory. Judy has a BA from University of Massachusetts-Amherst in Communications Studies, and a Certificate in Marketing Communications from San Jose State University. |
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| Kathy Weitsman Parent Liaison kathy@php.com |
Kathy is a Parent Liaison currently working at the PHP Satellite office at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Santa Teresa. At Kaiser, one of her responsibilities is to work with their ADHD Taskforce to help Kaiser provide services to their patients and parents diagnosed with ADHD. She was a member of the Community Adivisory Committee (CAC) for Selpa III for five years. She has two sons. Christopher, age 22, who has developmental delays, and AJ, age 20. |
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| Leslie McNeil Education Resource Specialist leslie@php.com |
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| Leslie Vasquez Director, Health Related Services leslieV@php.com |
Leslie Vasquez has been involved with Parents Helping Parents for 16 years. As a volunteer, Leslie served as a Mentor Parent and started and facilitated a support group for families of children with cleft lip and palate. She also served on PHP’s Board of Directors for three years. Leslie is currently employed as Health Related Services and Volunteer Coordinator. She oversees the Hospital Satellite program, coordinates the Sibshop program and workshops, and serves as PHP's Volunteer Coordinator. Leslie received her bachelor degree in Pyschology and Communication Studies from UCSB and her master degree in Counseling from Santa Clara University. Prior to coming to PHP, she worked in the field of Human Resources. Leslie is the mother of two daughters, a 16 year old with special health care needs and a 13 year old. She grew up with two brothers, one with multiple disabilities. |
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| Loni Allen Education Resource Specialist loni@php.com |
Loni first received support for her son from PHP through referral by a thoughtful parent. A few years later, her daughter was diagnosed with a serious and life threatening disease. She turned to PHP and the Touchstone support group. Loni works in the Education Department and has a passion to share information that enhances a parent’s ability to participate in the IEP process in a positive and collaborative way. She also loves using internet technology to share information about special education rights, advocacy and 504. |
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| Marcela Jibaja Bilingual Education Resource Specialist marcelaj@php.com |
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| Maria Avina Bilingual Education Resource Specialist maria@php.com |
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| Mary Ellen Peterson Executive Director info@php.com |
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| Melissa King Program Coordinator melissak@php.com |
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| Mouna Raad Bilingual Education Resource Specialist mouna@php.com |
Mouna Raad is an Education Specialist at PHP, where she started in March 2002 as a Medical Home Project Coordinator. After graduating from the American University of Beirut with an MS in Biology, she worked as a language teacher, a biology instructor and in the medical device industry in Research and Development and International Regulatory. She brings with her a fluency in four languages and many years of parenting experience. |
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| Nancy O'Rourke Associate Development Director nancyo@php.com |
Nancy O’Rourke is part of the Development Department team securing funding and resources for PHP. Since 1993 she has been involved in not-for-profit management as a development officer, deputy director and executive director. Nancy has a BS in Textiles and Business Management from the University of California, Davis. Nancy and her family have benefitted from PHP’s many services. She first contacted PHP in 1988 as the parent of a newborn daughter with Down Syndrome. She still uses the information she learned at an IEP training provided by PHP back in 1990. Currently she and her husband participate in the Parents of Adult Children with Developmental Disabilities (PACDD) support group. |
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| Netta Anderson Mentor Parent Specialist nettaa@php.com |
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| Nick Tanabe Administrative Assistant nickt@php.com |
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| Pam Kensinger Chief Development Officer pamk@php.com |
For over 20 years, Pamela Kensinger has made her life’s work in Resource Development a blend of service and commitment to the world of Public Benefit Corporations. As a professional fundraising, marketing and communications specialist, Pamela has worked as staff for organizations such as Hospice of the Valley, YWCA in Santa Clara County, LASPCA, and Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County. Before joining PHP she was an independent contractor and president of Venus Enterprises & Associates where she provided guidance and hands-on support to dozens of agencies from children’s services and arts to education and healthcare. At the wee age of 4 years, Pam began her life-long passion for music as a vocal musician and musical theater performer. Until the birth of her two special needs children, she sang in many church choirs, concert groups, bands and did studio work. Now her musical passion is focused in the healing arts and is studying to become a Certified Music Practitioner to do bedside music for the critically and/or terminally ill. Within each relationship, Kensinger makes every attempt to bring balance and positive interaction in a holistic manner. When asked about her work/personal style she states, “I try to operate from a concept of structured flexibility!” |
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| Paul Schutz Chief Financial Officer pschutz@php.com |
Paul Schutz has been PHP’s Chief Financial Officer since August 1996. Paul received his masters Degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from Santa Clara University in 1979, was licensed (MFT) in 1981, and qualified as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives in 1990. Since 1979, Paul has been providing not-for-profit management for a variety of South Bay Area organizations as an Executive Director, Development Director, Director of Marketing and Business Development, Chief Operations Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. Paul has been a Bay Area resident since 1960 and currently lives in Los Gatos. |
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| Qing Chen IT qchen@php.com |
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| Rosa Solorzano Bilingual Education Resource Specialist rosa@php.com |
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| Tammy Thompson-Cooke Speech Pathologist/AAC Specialist tammy@php.com |
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| Tonia Shaw
Circles® Specialist |
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| Trudy Marsh Holmes Director, Community and Family Services trudy@php.com |
Trudy has 18 years of experience working with families that have children with special needs. As the Director of Community, Family and Health Care Services at Parents Helping Parents (PHP), Trudy designs and implements programs and services for children of all ages with special needs and their families. She also volunteers as the co-facilitator of PHP's Parents of Adult Children with Developmental Disabilities Support and Information Group. Trudy participates on numerous local and national disability-related advisory committees. Trudy earned her her Early Childhood Intervention Certificate from Santa Clara University in 1994. Prior to joining PHP, Trudy had a 15-year history in the healthcare. Trudy founded and ran PHP's Seizure Support Network for 9 years, producing several national conferences. |
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| Virginia Hildebrand Bookkeeper 408-727-5775 x141 |
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