Eden I&R Board Members

Eden I&R Board of Directors Officers, from left to right, Chris Low (former Board President), Ed Reuling (Finance Officer), Stephanie Cartwright (Vice President), Annamaria Swardenski (Secretary), and Robert Macias (current President). Not pictured, and current Board members are: Michael Dias (General Counsel, pro bono), and Ilene Weinreb, former Hayward Mayor and community activist.

Bios of Board Members of Eden I&R, Inc

Robert Macias, President

Mr. Macais is a human resources specialist and started his career at the City of Hayward in 1985 in the position of Personnel Technician. He advanced in the department from technician to Senior Human Resources Analyst/Affirmative Action Specialist and finally retired as Human Resources Director in November 2005. Prior to the City of Hayward Robert worked as a Personnel Analyst for the City & County of San Francisco (1982-1985). Currently, Robert is on the Advisory Board of the Hispanic Community Affairs Council of Alameda County (1990-present). Recently, he completed over 20 years of service in the appointed position of Personnel Commissioner at the Castro Valley Unified School District. Robert has also been a member of professional organizations including International Personnel Management Association-Northern California, California School Personnel Commissioner Association and the California Public Employers Labor Relations Association.

Mr. Macaias had served as the Secretary to the Board of Directors of EIR for many years and has recently been elected as Board President. Robert has been on the Board of Directors since 1996.

Stephanie Cartwright, Vice President

Ms. Cartwright has an MA from the University of California, Berkeley. Her career began with teaching in the French Department at UC Berkeley. She is founder and owner of Cartwright Associates, providing accounting and bookkeeping services to small businesses since 1981. Ms. Cartwright is involved in various community organizations and her background and interests make her a valuable Director who thinks creatively about human services and the stated mission of Eden I&R. She is the VP of the Board of Directors and has been a member of the Board of Eden I&R (EIR) since 1979.

Edwin Reuling, Finance Officer

Mr. Reuling’s career encompasses 38 years in University Administration, with 10 years at Michigan State University and 28 years at California State University, Hayward as a Student Affairs Administrator. He is experienced in teaching numerous classes in Leadership Development, Higher Education Administration, AIDS Education, and Management of Disruptive Students. During this time, he earned a PhD in Higher Education Administration and MA in Counseling and Guidance. His primary expertise is student judicial affairs and alternate dispute resolution. Ed is active in the community with seventeen years as an elected public school board trustee and chairing many local educational efforts dealing with student development. Mr. Reuling co-founded EIR, and has continuously served on its Board of Directors from 1975 to the present. Jointly, with wife Pam, he successfully initiated the Mark S. Reuling Memorial Endowment at Cal Poly SLO designed to educate students regarding depression and bi-polar related diseases.

Annamaria Swardenski, Secretary

Ms. Swardenski is a consultant specializing in preparedness planning and CBO relationship building with local government. She has led planning projects focused on spontaneous volunteer coordination for local government, disaster shelter planning for access and functional needs populations, pandemic influenza preparedness for community-based organizations, as well as donations management planning partnerships at the local operational area level. She holds a BS in Sociology from Santa Clara University with emphasis in Gerontology and Psychology.

Most recently, Anna has been engaged in projects for a group of San Francisco Bay Area Food Banks, California Volunteers, three of the Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiative’s Regional Catastrophic Planning Grant Program (UASI RCPGP) projects, Santa Clara County’s Emergency Managers Association, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, United Way of Silicon Valley and American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter. Ms. Swardenski has served on the Board of Directors for Eden I&R since 1999, and was recently appointed Board Secretary.

Michael G. Dias, General Counsel, Pro bono

Mr. Dias, Esq., was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar and State Bar of California, and has practiced law since 1979. His primary area of practice involves representing children and parents in Court concerning issues of abuse or neglect. Mr. Dias is involved within the local community on issues of job training, education and outreach for child abuse prevention and pro-bono legal services for indigent individuals. He has extensive prior service on commissions and nonprofit boards concerning legal reform for injured workers compensation and medical treatment; immigration; and post conviction legal services for incarcerated adults. Mr. Dias is an active member of his church community, and he has been a member of the Board of EIR for over 20 years.

Christopher Low

Mr. Low has a BA in Political Science specializing in Public Affairs and Administration, from California State University, Hayward. He currently serves as Senior Management Analyst for the City of Alameda. With over 20 years experience in all areas human resources management, Mr. Low’s experience encompasses a full range of human resources specialties including: risk management, injury prevention, safety programs, unemployment insurance benefit program management, workers compensation programs, and demonstrated leadership ability and skill in managing teams and diverse groups of people. A graduate of the City of San Leandro’s leadership training program, “Beyond Bravery: The Courage to Lead”, Mr. Low has an established reputation in the Alameda County community for integrity, credibility and hard work. He has served as President of the Board of Directors for several years and has been a member of the Board of EIR since 1996.

Ilene Weinreb

Ms. Weinreb has an MA from the University of Chicago and pursued graduate studies in City & Regional Planning from UC Berkeley. Ilene is an enthusiastic and talented volunteer; a mother of three; and a public servant with an impressive 30 year track record serving on a variety of local and State-wide nonprofit boards, coalitions and advisory groups. Ms. Weinreb served as Mayor of Hayward for seven years. She has provided leadership for a number of regional housing, mental health, criminal justice, and shelter related human service projects. Through this experience, she is highly skilled in managing grants and contracts, budgeting, coalition building and designing education and leadership programs for the public. Ms. Weinreb has served on the Board of Directors for Eden I&R since 1980.

Updated 11/17/11

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