MEET OUR OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Ron Harms and his wife Cheryl returned to his hometown of Groveland after almost 40 years of living and working throughout the country. They operate a small wine grape vineyard on their property outside of Groveland. Ron graduated from Sonora Union High School and completed his undergraduate degree at Purdue University and his MBA from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. After teaching high school, he entered the health care field and served as a hospital executive with acute care hospitals in Wisconsin and Michigan before moving into senior executive roles in the health care finance and delivery industry. His last position before retirement was President of United Healthcare’s management services organization.
Ron’s history of community service includes a five-year tenure as a school board member, campaign cabinet member for a Red Cross capital fund raising project, and Board member/co-president of a non-profit community education organization. A skilled communicator, Ron has achieved success in leading both non-profit and for-profit organizations. He has extensive experience in working with Boards of Directors to formulate and execute business strategies that fulfill stakeholder interests and/or maximize shareholder value. Ron’s strengths include strategic planning, negotiating, and effective management practices to achieve operational/financial results.
VICE-PRESIDENT
Al Brizard has deep roots in the California agriculture industry. He holds a degree in Agriculture from Fresno State College and worked in farm management for many years. He has served on many boards and committees, among them: the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau Water Committee, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, the Groveland Community Services District, and the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. He received a Distinguished Service Award from the California Farm Bureau Federation. He has been President of the Livingston Chamber of Commerce and served for many years on the Livingtston Union School District Board. Al has served on the SSSI board since 2008. He has a special interest in senior housing options. His hobby is sports cars.
TREASURER
Ron Michaelis has been a Groveland resident since 2002. He holds Engineering & Business Administration degrees from Kansas State University. Ron has managed a project engineering department of a major corporation and been responsible for all aspects of planning, development and implementation of continuous programs of cost reduction operating efficiencies improvement, including forecasting and construction of plant facilities for 25 nation wide plant locations. He is a Registered Professional Engineer and holds a General Contractors License in California.
Ron was a member of the Groveland Rotary for many years and has served on the SSSI board since 2006. He was instrumental in refurbishing The Little House and plans to continue serving the organization as it develops and implement programs and services that benefit active adults in the Greater Groveland Area.
SECRETARY
Sydney Avey and her husband Joel have lived in Groveland for ten years. Sydney is a U.C. Berkeley graduate who began her career in non profit PR and then moved to high-tech. She worked in the field of communications for Hewlett Packard Co for 20 years as a writer, editor, consultant and web content manager.
Sydney is active in choir and deacon ministries at the Groveland Evangelical Free Church. She writes monthly columns for local newspapers and belongs to the Sonora Writers Group. She became aware of the challenges that face seniors when she relocated her parents to Skyline assisted living. She is pleased to be working with the board to bring activities and services to Big Oak Flat/Groveland that will improve the quality of life for all adults.
