Meet Our Board

Dr. Edward J. Becker, Chief Financial Officer of Olive Crest

Dr. Edward J. Becker is the Chief Financial Officer for Olive Crest, a not-for-profit organization which has been providing services for children and their families in Southern California for over 30 years. This position supervises all accounting, management information systems, and business related functions.

Dr. Becker has worked in the not-for-profit social services area for over twenty-three years, providing a business perspective which enables the organization to provide services more efficiently while minimizing administrative and overhead expense. His prior experience includes oversight of operations that provided services in California, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Minnesota, Arizona, and South Carolina. Dr. Becker served in the U.S. Army for twenty years. His duty assignments were world-wide and his last assignment was as a Personnel Officer at the United States Military, West Point, New York.

He holds a BS in business administration from Columbia College, an MBA from National University, and a DBA from California Pacific University.
 

Mr. Gordon J. Lee, President & CEO of Princeton Credit

Gordon J. Lee is President & CEO of Princeton Credit, a provider of financing and financial advisory services for the corporate client. For more than 25 years, he has been actively engaged in counseling and representing a wide range of public and private corporate and individual clients, including financial institutions, healthcare organizations, real estate companies, and a diverse array of industries including manufacturing companies, technology-based clients, energy and non-profits. Prior to founding Princeton Credit, Mr. Lee managed the portfolio and business development at four commercial offices of First Interstate Bank.

Mr. Lee serves on the boards of the UCLA Medical School, UCLA Hospital System Finance Committee, Venice Family Clinic, and The Westside Children's Center. He is the Vice Chair of the Financial Oversight Committee for the Santa Monica Malibu School District, as well as Chair of the Bond Subcommittee.

Mr. Lee, a native of San Francisco, holds a BS in finance from the University of Southern California.

Mr. Justin McCarthy, Assistant City Manager - Redevelopment, City of Palm Desert

Justin McCarthy has served four southern California cities in various capacities over a twenty-three year career. Justin's expertise is in the areas of redevelopment, economic development, affordable housing, community development and public finance. His experience includes the implementation of millions of square feet of public-private projects across all real estate product types with a total development value exceeding $1 billion.

He currently manages one of California's larger redevelopment agencies which is engaged in the development and rehabilitation of approximately 400 affordable housing units, hotel resort development, retail district revitalization, public facilities & infrastructure construction and the operation of a housing authority with over 900 affordable apartments for low income seniors and families.

Mr. McCarthy has a BA in political science and an MPA from California State University, Long Beach.

Ms. Deborah Moreno, Deputy Finance Director, City of Anaheim, CA

Deborah Moreno is the Deputy Finance Director for the City of Anaheim, California, where she plans and coordinates activities for the Accounting Division of the city’s finance department. She administers the department’s annual budget of approximately $5 million as well as the citywide budget of more than $1.3 billion. Previously, she served the City of La Palma as Director of Finance.

Ms. Moreno has significant expertise in improving municipal finance processes, especially in successful implementation of innovative technology solutions. She also serves CSU-Fullerton as a guest lecturer on financial management for the school’s public sector leadership program.

Ms. Moreno has a BS in administration-accounting from California State University, San Bernardino.

Ms. Faye K. Watanabe, Administrative Manager of Public Finance (Retired) - County of Orange

Faye K. Watanabe recently retired as the Administrative Manager of the County of Orange, County Executive Office, Public Finance which issues and administers long term debt issued by the County and affiliated issuers. Ms. Watanabe has worked with the County of Orange in various management capacities within public finance, housing and community development and redevelopment for over 25 years.

She holds a BA in sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.