LCS Board of Directors

Welcome Message 
From the President of
The Lake Chapala Society

In this time of Covid, as an organization, we work towards a new normal way of life in our community and within our organization.

Our Board of Directors, our small staff, our many volunteers and activity leads have risen to the needs of this period of time to focus on what we can do better. On how we can better serve the bigger community and how we can continue our role as leaders here at Lakeside.

If you are new to Lakeside or have been here for years, we believe that the Lake Chapala Society can play a valuable role in your experience here. We work to get past the reputation of a newbie's organization. We have tremendous focus that is guided by our LCS 2.0 Long Range Plan for the Lake Chapala Society. A plan that was overwhelming approved by our membership at our 2020 Annual General Meeting.

A key part of LCS 2.0 relates to our role in collaboration and integration of the many factors who make up the Lakeside community. These include, our members, the greater ExPat community, the local Mexican community, and our dedicated volunteers who play a key role in all of our services. LCS also plays a vital leadership role with the many governmental and political entities that have impact on the quality of life Lakeside. When our government leaders want dialogue with the ExPat community, they come to us. Likewise, when the Expats need a voice at the table, we are the ones that facilitate that dialogue. We have a close working relationship with the US Consulate, the Canadian Consulate, the offices of the municipality and relations with State of Jalisco officials as well.

For those who are new to Lakeside or considering relocating here, we have decades of experience we can share with you to help your relocation and planning for your next chapter of life. If you have been here for a while, we invite you to make LCS part of your moving forward plan. We have introduced many online programs and will shortly be adding additional on campus programs that can enrich your life.

Come and make a difference. The Lake Chapala Society has something for you.

Steve Balfour
president@lakechapalasociety.com


Introducing Lake Chapala Society's 2020 Board of Directors

Click the photos below for each Director's biographical details
Howard has been active in the Lake Chapala community since he arrived here in 2004 from Denver, Colorado. Early in 2009 he completed a three year term as Chair of Democrats Abroad Mexico, an organization that helps American expatriates remain involved in their country's electoral process. In addition, Howard served as LCS president from 2009 to 2014 and worked on the rewriting and adoption of its current constitution. He has worked with the Lakeside Little Theater and Naked Stage as an actor, director, stage manager and a number of other support activities.

Prior to moving to Mexico, he was a small business owner in Denver and was involved in a number of community projects including FasTracks, Denver's Transit Expansion program and has been a long-time advocate. Howard has recently returned to Lakeside after spending a "sabbatical" year fulfilling a longtime dream of sailing America’s Great Loop.
With forty year career in Information Technology (IT), his skills include business requirements definition, systems design, general and project management. More specifically strategic, tactical and operational business and IT planning, business process analysis, report writing, presentations, IT requirements analysis and definition, project planning and control.

Education - BA, York University, Toronto, Computer Science.

Relevant work experience
Toronto Public Library – Project Manager – 2 years
Directed consultants, vendors and Library staff on projects to: replace an existing email system with cloud-based MSExchange for 2,400 staff manage the installation of a gigabit fiber optic network to each of 99 Library locations.

TELUS Mobility (Telecom) – Projects Manager, Business Architect – 10 years
Responsible for the definition of IT requirements for the division servicing business and government wireless clients.Defined tactical IT plans to support the division's strategic goals. Managed multiple projects in the $3 to 5 million range.

Ontario Provincial Government – 11 years
Office of the Premier and Cabinet Office.
Managed all IT services including systems development, call center and computer operations.Ministry of Government Services. Managed IT services provided to the Real Estate division (account management role).Acting director of the IT Branch.
Management Board Secretariat
Participated in the creation of government-wide policy for the management of IT in the Ontario Government.
Larry Barnhardt spent 40 years dedicated to making a difference in the lives of students through his work as an instructor, executive director, college president and university dean, all in the area of post-secondary technical education. He holds a doctorate in community college administration with minors in psychology and sociology. Since retiring in 2007, he and his wife Glorine split their time between Lakeside and a RV touring the great roads of United States and Canada. They have traveled extensively through 20 countries on five continents. Despite their travels, they have not missed a single birthday of their five grandchildren. His joys include spending time with family and friends; Tai Chi; fitness; mindfulness; writing, traveling and volunteering. In 2019, Larry chaired the LCS' Master Redevelopment Planning Taskforce that lead to the Comprehensive Long-Range Plan, known as LCS 2.0. He facilitated LCS' Board Retreat and work sessions to establish annual priorities and to begin to shift the organization to a more collaborative culture.
Stephen Balfour
President
Howard Feldstein
Vice President
Timothy Boardman
Treasurer
George Radford
Secretary
Larry Barnhardt
Director at Large
Christy Caldwell attended Ohio University with a degree in Speech and Theater.

Background:
1970-1980 - Lived ten years on a private resort island in St. Vincent & The Grenadines. (Palm Island Resort). Married the owner of the island's son (John Caldwell) in 1971. Owned a SCUBA shop and a boutique where I designed and made clothing. I started the first non profit day care center on a neighboring island and it is still operating today. Counseled local women on birth control and taught them to sew. Had both my sons there.
1980-1989 - Lived in North Central Florida town of Inverness (owned 2 businesses and had my own interior design studio). I also was a Florida certified Foster Parent (mainly teenagers) from 1987 to 1989. Lived in the Orlando Florida area and worked as an interior designer. Married a Jewish dentist and sang in the choir and also was the assistant cantor in the synagogue. Also acted and sang in community theater.
2009 - I went back to school to become a certified ESL (English as a Second Language teacher) I taught from 2009 to 2019.
2010-2011 - Lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina for 2 years.
2012- 2018 - Lived in both the east and west coasts of Florida. In 2012 I met and married an Argentine singer (cousin of Andrea Bocelli) and we formed Duo Romantico and performed "popera" and Broadway stage shows in Florida, New York, New Jersey and Europe.
2019 - Retired from teaching in April of 2019 and moved to Ajijic in May of 2019. I am a book editor and contributed my life story to an anthology of women's stories from around the world, A Mile In Our Shoes: Personal Stories of Women's Journeys.
Brian came to live in Mexico following a long business career in the United States. He was raised in Oregon and studied forestry at Oregon State University and later studied financial management at New York University. He worked many years for International Paper Company in the areas of marketing management, customer service, budgeting, IT systems applications, and product development. Following retirement he operated a small family business in Portland, Oregon. Prior to arriving in Mexico he helped manage a cattle ranch in Texarkana, Arkansas.

Education:
Oregon State University. B.S. Forest Products Management.
New York University. Graduate studies, finance and business administration.

Background:
International Paper Company. 33-year career in management & business administration.
Metal Supermarkets, Inc. A small business venture in steel and metal supply.
Turkey Creek Company. Ranching, farming, and timber management.

Skills:
Business experience; financial analysis; budgeting; customer service; market research; organizing; IT systems development; problem solving; individual contributor.

Personal:
Brian has been a lifelong bachelor and has family members living in Oregon and California in the U.S.A.
Antoinette Brahm
Director at Large
Christy Caldwell
Director at Large
Richard Chase
Director at Large
Brian Dalziel
Director at Large
Yolanda Martínez Llamas
Director at Large
Carole and her husband Bill have been living in the Lakeside for 8 years. Carole came from San Francisco Area and Bill from Austin, Texas.

Education:
  • Post Graduate Public Relations , DePaul University, Chicago, IL
  • Master of Arts with Distinction/Curriculum Administration, DePaul University, Chicago, IL
  • Bachelor of Arts, Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL
  • University of Illinois, Springfield, Illinois
  • Gulf Park College, Gulfport, Mississippi


Background:
  • Blue Boy, Lake Bluff, IL: 20 years in Sales & Administrative in a family business.
  • Woodland Academy of the Sacred Heart, Lake Forest, IL: Director of Development & Public Relations.
  • Tao Associates, Lake Forest, IL: Director of Organizational Development in Theater, Education and the Arts for fundraising.
  • Associated Press, New York City: Office Manager and Assistant Director of the Wire.
  • Gallerist-Chicago/New York/San Francisco: 17 years as an art administrator, curator and directed over 320 exhibitions with international artists.


Skills: Focusing on developing individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations with a strong base constituency tosupport and promote their mission thru the building of relevant databases, public relations and social networking.

Member of Organizations:
  • CASE (Council for Advancement & Support of Education) attending Conferences For Fundraising in Chicago and development & promotion of a Can DoComputer Program for the Arts at the conference.
  • Independent Schools Association: Participated in conferences in Boston and Kansas City.
  • Press Club of Chicago
  • Cathedral District of Chicago
  • Public Relations Society of New York City
  • Sausalito Women’s Club, Sausalito, CA
  • Rotary Club of Ajijic: Secretary 2011-2016
    President 2016-2017
    Treasurer 2017-2018
  • Lake Chapala Society: Secretary 2014-2018

 
Michael Searles
Director at Large
Elizabeth Villaseñor Ramírez
Director at Large
Carole Wolff
Immediate Past President
Steve Balfour
Acting Executive Director