About Us

Sonja was elected to the board in December 2018. She serves as the resident board member and is currently chair of the health & wellness committee and a member of the marketing & community outreach committee and the health & wellness committee, and has served as president of Casa’s resident council. She is an active member of the Rancho Bernardo Planning Board, Rancho Bernardo Rotary, and the Poway Symphony Board. Prior to retiring in San Diego, Sonja served the Connecticut State Legislature’s House of Representatives for 12 years.

Megan Tanner is a seasoned marketing professional with over 6 years of experience in the industry. Born and raised in Poway, California, Megan is deeply committed to giving back to the community that shaped her formative years.

Currently, Megan is serving as Director of Client Services at a profitable startup, Ignite Media Group, where she oversees the account management team and sits on the leadership team where she provides guidance on business decisions and strategy. Her expertise in marketing has helped her team succeed in a highly competitive market and she continues to drive growth through innovative and effective marketing campaigns.

When Megan isn’t busy at work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, traveling, or cheering on the San Diego Padres.

Excited to give back to the community she was born and raised in, Megan is thrilled to serve on the board of directors for an organization that aligns with her values and priorities. With a fresh perspective and a wealth of experience, Megan is eager to contribute to the board’s efforts to make a difference and drive positive change.

Carol was born & raised in Alhambra, California. She is a So Cal woman through and through - 3 generations! She attended Mt. San Antonio Jr. College, Cal State University at Long Beach, many a night school & summer classes. She received her Master's degree from Chapman University. After Jr. College, she worked for the City of Monterey Park and then the City of Montebello. Carol later attended the L.A. Police Academy after which she worked in the detective division of the Montebello Police Department where some of her work involved counseling youngsters. After graduating from Cal State at Long Beach, she settled in Newport Beach and for 40 years lived on Balboa Peninsula Point. For 31 of those years she taught at Newport Elementary School right on the beach on Balboa Peninsula. Carol eventually lived just above Laguna Beach in what became Laguna Niguel. She bred and raised dressage & evening horses for many years. From raw land, she developed a 23-acre ranch at 3,200’ (Twin Oaks) in the southern part of Sierra foothills. This was her get away for 18 years. It was a difficult-but-wise decision to move to Casa in 2014. Carol settled into a carefree life of exploring the trails and wildlife in the open lands around Casa. She enjoys growing many veggies & even cotton in Casa’s garden. Carol facilitated the development of our current vegetable garden, served on the Casa Foundation and Scholarship Committee for many years and lately also on the Building Committee.

Resident Garry Butterfield, who serves as the Chair of the Foundation Advisory Committee, joined the Foundation Board of Directors in January of 2020. He currently co-chairs the Covenant Group at Casa and has also served on the Finance, Activities, and Historical committees. Before retirement Garry served as the General Manager of the Sweetwater Authority in Chula Vista from 1978 – 1992. In the larger community, Garry has served as the Chairman of the San Diego Regional Quality Control Board, the Vice-Chair of the San Diego Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Vice-Chair of the San Diego County Public Works Agency Advisory Board.

As the Director of Philanthropy, Jim provides fundraising for the Casa Foundation. He is a Certified Financial Planner(CFP) and has been working in the financial and charitable fields for over 30 years. Prior to the Casa Foundation, he was with the USS Midway Museum, The Heritage Museum of Orange County, and Scholars Hope Foundation in development and consultative roles.