Ricardo Bandini Johnson has been elected as Chairman of the Santa Monica History Museum's Board of Directors. His family has lived in California since 1810. His great-aunt, Arcadia Bandini de Baker, was the wife of Colonel Robert S. Baker, co-founder of Santa Monica. Johnson is the President of the Bandini Foundation, a non-profit organization that runs the Heroes Golf Course and Japanese Gardens at the West Los Angeles Greater VA Healthcare Center for the past three years with 90 percent of their employees being veterans.
Ricardo's aunt Arcadia and Senator John P. Jones, co-founder of Santa Monica, donated the entire VA property for disabled veterans. Johnson has been associated with the museum from its beginnings stated President, Louise Gabriel. "He is the curator of the museum's John P. Jones and Bandini Collections with over 50,00 photographs and records which he helped catalogued from 2004 to 2009," she said. "Three other professionals have also been added to the board."
Jeffrey H. Haskett is a partner in Cohen & Bender Accountancy Corporation. He attended UCLA and University of Redlands where he graduated with honors in 1977. He is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and California Society of Certified Public Accountants. Haskett is active in the local community, volunteering in youth sports programs and assisting local charities.
Dr. Michelle Christie, Ed. D. is the Founder and Executive Director of No Limits For Deaf Children. She earned a master degree in education, with distinguished honors from USC-John Tracy Clinic Program. She has been featured on OPRAH, The Learning Channel, NBC, CNN, PBS and numerous local news stations throughout the nation.
Annette Doss is an Arts and Information professional with extensive experience in museum, archives and libraries. She began her career at the Santa Monica Museum of Art before working at the Getty Research Institute. Most recently, she worked as a consultant at the Broad Art Foundation. Currently, she is the head cataloger at UCLA Film and Television Archive. Her education and museum experience have fueled her passion to preserve cultural history. She is an active member of the Society of California Archivist.
These new board members have joined current board members, Rob Schwenker, Vice Chair, Santa Monica Daily Press; Susan Gabriel-Potter, Secretary, Bob Gabriel Co. Insurance; Judi Barker, Barker-Hangar; Becky Upchurch, Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club; Terri Decker, Chase Bank; Kristina Andresen, Andresen Associate, AIA; Larry Balmagia, Television Writer, Producer, Teacher; Misti Kerns, Santa Monica Convention Business Bureau; Richard Lawrence, National Bank of California; James Parr, jr., Certified Public Accountant; Mary Ann Powell, Pacific Park, Santa Monica Pier; Kathleen Rawson, Downtown Santa Monica and Laurel Rosen, Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce.
