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Rita Brandin<\/h2>\nSenior Vice President and Development Director, Newland Real Estate Group<\/em><\/h3>\nWith more than 38 years in real estate and development, Brandin has contributed to and managed large projects across the U.S., including overseeing a $450 million redevelopment of the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas, as well as a 63-acre, urban mixed-use community called Symphony Park in downtown Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
Newland hired Brandin in 2006 and later brought her to its headquarters in San Diego, where she is currently overseeing the Newland Sierra project on the northern border of San Marcos, from entitlements through construction, as Development Director.<\/p>\n
She previously served on the University Advisory Council at Cal State San Marcos, and was only the second woman to chair the Building Industry Association of San Diego.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I\u2019ve become more involved at Palomar over the last few years, I\u2019ve been very impressed with the work the Foundation does to support students,\u201d Brandin said. \u201cI was the first person and the only person from my family to go to college, and I wouldn\u2019t have been able to without the resources and scholarships available through organizations like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Aaron Byzak<\/h2>\nChief External Affairs Officer, Tri-City Medical Center<\/em><\/h3>\nByzak is a Palomar College graduate who attended the Emergency Medical Education program in the late 1990s and went on to spend seven years working on ambulances. His ties to the college run even deeper, however, with an aunt who graduated from the Nursing program at Palomar and an uncle who launched an illustrious career in theater and production here.<\/p>\n
Today, Byzak is responsible for marketing, communications, government affairs, community engagement and special events for Tri-City Medical Center, whose Auxiliary has given 261 scholarships valued at $226,500 to Palomar nursing students since 1986.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel strongly that community colleges are a pathway for people from difficult backgrounds to achieve their goals,\u201d said Byzak. \u201cThese organizations are investing in the next generation of people who want to do amazing things.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.palomar.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2020\/02\/Cobian-150x150.jpg\")
Margo Cobian<\/h2>\nSenior Account Representative Public Relations, EDCO<\/em><\/h3>\nCobian started out as a receptionist at EDCO in the early 1990s, answering customer service calls at the company\u2019s San Marcos office. Jeff Ritchie, a Palomar alumnus and former Comet Award recipient, was her direct supervisor, and she was working full-time as a single parent.<\/p>\n
In her annual review with Ritchie, he asked her, \u201cWhat are you going to be doing in five years? Why don\u2019t you think about going to school?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWithin two weeks,\u201d Cobian recalled, \u201cI was at Palomar College.\u201d<\/p>\n
She spent the next eight years at Palomar and Cal State San Marcos, where she earned concurrent bachelor degrees and graduated with honors. In addition to her new position with the Palomar College Foundation, Cobian serves on the boards of the Boys & Girls Club of Vista, the Vista Chamber of Commerce and the Moonlight Cultural Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHigher education has given me the opportunity to grow in my career, and it\u2019s given me confidence\u2014I went to school, I did it. And I want students to know they can do it, too,\u201d Cobian said. \u201cIt\u2019s possible. You have obstacles? Let\u2019s figure out what we can do. The Foundation\u2019s help goes a long way. I\u2019ve been there, so I understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.palomar.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2020\/02\/Will-Rivera-150x150.jpg\")
Will Rivera<\/h2>\nSan Marcos Branch Manager, Cal Coast Credit Union<\/em><\/h3>\nRivera manages a Cal Coast branch less than a mile from Palomar College, and sees students coming and going all day long. As branch manager, he said, he has attended Honors Night\u2014 the annual event around the time of commencement at which Palomar students receive their scholarships from the Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I heard from the students who spoke about what a difference the Foundation made through these scholarships, that inspired me,\u201d Rivera recalled. \u201cI said, \u2018I want to be a part of this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
He serves as President of the San Marcos Rotary Club, as well as on the boards for Mental Health Systems and Affordable Housing Advocates in San Diego, and has led financial literacy workshops at local high schools and college campuses.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur students are our future leaders,\u201d said Rivera. \u201cWhatever we can do to support them in achieving their goals just makes us a stronger community.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.palomar.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2020\/02\/Stephanie-Taylor-150x150.jpg\")
Stephanee Taylor<\/h2>\nVice President and Commercial Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo<\/em><\/h3>\nA San Diego native, Taylor has spent most of her career at Wells Fargo working with small businesses in North County, and now splits her time between the company\u2019s offices downtown and in Escondido.<\/p>\n
Taylor also serves on the executive board of Center Stage Productions, a nonprofit youth theater company in Escondido, many of whose participants end up attending Palomar later in life, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very passionate about higher education and providing opportunities to anyone who has the desire to pursue their goals,\u201d said Taylor. \u201cThe Palomar College Foundation does a great job of opening doors for those who have no other way to experience higher education.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Aaron Byzak<\/h2>\nChief External Affairs Officer, Tri-City Medical Center<\/em><\/h3>\nByzak is a Palomar College graduate who attended the Emergency Medical Education program in the late 1990s and went on to spend seven years working on ambulances. His ties to the college run even deeper, however, with an aunt who graduated from the Nursing program at Palomar and an uncle who launched an illustrious career in theater and production here.<\/p>\n
Today, Byzak is responsible for marketing, communications, government affairs, community engagement and special events for Tri-City Medical Center, whose Auxiliary has given 261 scholarships valued at $226,500 to Palomar nursing students since 1986.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel strongly that community colleges are a pathway for people from difficult backgrounds to achieve their goals,\u201d said Byzak. \u201cThese organizations are investing in the next generation of people who want to do amazing things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margo Cobian<\/h2>\nSenior Account Representative Public Relations, EDCO<\/em><\/h3>\nCobian started out as a receptionist at EDCO in the early 1990s, answering customer service calls at the company\u2019s San Marcos office. Jeff Ritchie, a Palomar alumnus and former Comet Award recipient, was her direct supervisor, and she was working full-time as a single parent.<\/p>\n
In her annual review with Ritchie, he asked her, \u201cWhat are you going to be doing in five years? Why don\u2019t you think about going to school?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWithin two weeks,\u201d Cobian recalled, \u201cI was at Palomar College.\u201d<\/p>\n
She spent the next eight years at Palomar and Cal State San Marcos, where she earned concurrent bachelor degrees and graduated with honors. In addition to her new position with the Palomar College Foundation, Cobian serves on the boards of the Boys & Girls Club of Vista, the Vista Chamber of Commerce and the Moonlight Cultural Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHigher education has given me the opportunity to grow in my career, and it\u2019s given me confidence\u2014I went to school, I did it. And I want students to know they can do it, too,\u201d Cobian said. \u201cIt\u2019s possible. You have obstacles? Let\u2019s figure out what we can do. The Foundation\u2019s help goes a long way. I\u2019ve been there, so I understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Will Rivera<\/h2>\nSan Marcos Branch Manager, Cal Coast Credit Union<\/em><\/h3>\nRivera manages a Cal Coast branch less than a mile from Palomar College, and sees students coming and going all day long. As branch manager, he said, he has attended Honors Night\u2014 the annual event around the time of commencement at which Palomar students receive their scholarships from the Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I heard from the students who spoke about what a difference the Foundation made through these scholarships, that inspired me,\u201d Rivera recalled. \u201cI said, \u2018I want to be a part of this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
He serves as President of the San Marcos Rotary Club, as well as on the boards for Mental Health Systems and Affordable Housing Advocates in San Diego, and has led financial literacy workshops at local high schools and college campuses.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur students are our future leaders,\u201d said Rivera. \u201cWhatever we can do to support them in achieving their goals just makes us a stronger community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stephanee Taylor<\/h2>\nVice President and Commercial Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo<\/em><\/h3>\nA San Diego native, Taylor has spent most of her career at Wells Fargo working with small businesses in North County, and now splits her time between the company\u2019s offices downtown and in Escondido.<\/p>\n
Taylor also serves on the executive board of Center Stage Productions, a nonprofit youth theater company in Escondido, many of whose participants end up attending Palomar later in life, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very passionate about higher education and providing opportunities to anyone who has the desire to pursue their goals,\u201d said Taylor. \u201cThe Palomar College Foundation does a great job of opening doors for those who have no other way to experience higher education.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Margo Cobian<\/h2>\nSenior Account Representative Public Relations, EDCO<\/em><\/h3>\nCobian started out as a receptionist at EDCO in the early 1990s, answering customer service calls at the company\u2019s San Marcos office. Jeff Ritchie, a Palomar alumnus and former Comet Award recipient, was her direct supervisor, and she was working full-time as a single parent.<\/p>\n
In her annual review with Ritchie, he asked her, \u201cWhat are you going to be doing in five years? Why don\u2019t you think about going to school?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWithin two weeks,\u201d Cobian recalled, \u201cI was at Palomar College.\u201d<\/p>\n
She spent the next eight years at Palomar and Cal State San Marcos, where she earned concurrent bachelor degrees and graduated with honors. In addition to her new position with the Palomar College Foundation, Cobian serves on the boards of the Boys & Girls Club of Vista, the Vista Chamber of Commerce and the Moonlight Cultural Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHigher education has given me the opportunity to grow in my career, and it\u2019s given me confidence\u2014I went to school, I did it. And I want students to know they can do it, too,\u201d Cobian said. \u201cIt\u2019s possible. You have obstacles? Let\u2019s figure out what we can do. The Foundation\u2019s help goes a long way. I\u2019ve been there, so I understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Will Rivera<\/h2>\nSan Marcos Branch Manager, Cal Coast Credit Union<\/em><\/h3>\nRivera manages a Cal Coast branch less than a mile from Palomar College, and sees students coming and going all day long. As branch manager, he said, he has attended Honors Night\u2014 the annual event around the time of commencement at which Palomar students receive their scholarships from the Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I heard from the students who spoke about what a difference the Foundation made through these scholarships, that inspired me,\u201d Rivera recalled. \u201cI said, \u2018I want to be a part of this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
He serves as President of the San Marcos Rotary Club, as well as on the boards for Mental Health Systems and Affordable Housing Advocates in San Diego, and has led financial literacy workshops at local high schools and college campuses.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur students are our future leaders,\u201d said Rivera. \u201cWhatever we can do to support them in achieving their goals just makes us a stronger community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stephanee Taylor<\/h2>\nVice President and Commercial Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo<\/em><\/h3>\nA San Diego native, Taylor has spent most of her career at Wells Fargo working with small businesses in North County, and now splits her time between the company\u2019s offices downtown and in Escondido.<\/p>\n
Taylor also serves on the executive board of Center Stage Productions, a nonprofit youth theater company in Escondido, many of whose participants end up attending Palomar later in life, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very passionate about higher education and providing opportunities to anyone who has the desire to pursue their goals,\u201d said Taylor. \u201cThe Palomar College Foundation does a great job of opening doors for those who have no other way to experience higher education.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Will Rivera<\/h2>\nSan Marcos Branch Manager, Cal Coast Credit Union<\/em><\/h3>\nRivera manages a Cal Coast branch less than a mile from Palomar College, and sees students coming and going all day long. As branch manager, he said, he has attended Honors Night\u2014 the annual event around the time of commencement at which Palomar students receive their scholarships from the Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I heard from the students who spoke about what a difference the Foundation made through these scholarships, that inspired me,\u201d Rivera recalled. \u201cI said, \u2018I want to be a part of this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
He serves as President of the San Marcos Rotary Club, as well as on the boards for Mental Health Systems and Affordable Housing Advocates in San Diego, and has led financial literacy workshops at local high schools and college campuses.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur students are our future leaders,\u201d said Rivera. \u201cWhatever we can do to support them in achieving their goals just makes us a stronger community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stephanee Taylor<\/h2>\nVice President and Commercial Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo<\/em><\/h3>\nA San Diego native, Taylor has spent most of her career at Wells Fargo working with small businesses in North County, and now splits her time between the company\u2019s offices downtown and in Escondido.<\/p>\n
Taylor also serves on the executive board of Center Stage Productions, a nonprofit youth theater company in Escondido, many of whose participants end up attending Palomar later in life, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very passionate about higher education and providing opportunities to anyone who has the desire to pursue their goals,\u201d said Taylor. \u201cThe Palomar College Foundation does a great job of opening doors for those who have no other way to experience higher education.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Stephanee Taylor<\/h2>\n