Board of Directors

Carolyn Herzog
Chair

Corvus Wealth Advisors

Residence: San Luis Obispo
Served since: 2022

Carolyn Herzog is the Chief Investment Officer and Wealth Advisor at Corvus Wealth Advisors. Her areas of expertise include investment management and financial planning.

"I serve on the Foundation Board to raise awareness of the vital role philanthropy plays in enhancing local healthcare. I believe that French Hospital excels at effectively using these gifts to expand facilities and introduce cutting-edge medical technologies while remaining steadfast in their commitment to patient safety and a culture of kindness and respect.”

Brooks Wise
Secretary/Treasurer

Pacific Premier Bank

Residence: Nipomo
Served since: November 2021

Brooks Wise is the EVP/Regional President for Pacific Premier Bank. His areas of expertise include finance, fundraising, and planned giving.

“Serving on the French Hospital Medical Center Foundation Board is one way I support the community my family and I have enjoyed for many years. Together, we can ensure French Hospital has the resources to continue its high-caliber care for the people in our region.”

Sue Andersen
President and CEO
French Hospital Medical Center

Tessa Espinoza
Chief Philanthropy Officer
French Hospital Foundation

Matt Richardson
Chief Financial Officer
French Hospital Medical Center

Boyd Carano

Retired Attorney, Vinson & Elkins, LLP

Residence: Cayucos
Served since: 2025

Boyd Carano is a retired partner of Vinson & Elkins, LLP. He offers over 35 years of experience as a cross-border transactional lawyer, representing multinational corporations, investment funds, and national energy companies in a variety of deals in Latin America and Asia. Boyd brings a host of business skills to the Board: strategic planning, analytics, critical thinking, project management, leadership, and more.

"The demonstrated excellence of care at French Hospital is the result of years of consistent effort and dedication by medical professionals, volunteers, and donors in our community. It’s intensely gratifying to be a part of the team committed to preserving and advancing that tradition.”

Michaela Cotton

Andre, Morris & Buttery

Residence: San Luis Obispo
Served since: 2024

Michaela Cotton is an attorney with Andre, Morris & Buttery law firm specializing in employment law and civil litigation. She previously specialized in the healthcare industry.

“I serve on the French Hospital Foundation Board because I think it’s important that we have the best health care possible here on the Central Coast.”

Dan Culhane, MD

Retired, Emergency Medicine

Residence: San Luis Obispo
Served since: 2019

Dr. Dan Culhane served in various leadership roles in the medical field: Emergency Medicine, Past Chief of Staff and Med Exec member, and Vice President of Large Physician Practice Management Firm. His expertise includes emergency medicine, medical group management, quality management, multispeciality medical development, emergency psychiatry development, patient and customer service, medical recruiting, advanced practitioner integration, medical education development, and planning.

"It has been my privilege to serve our community at French Hospital for almost 30 years. Working with the Foundation allows me to do what I can to help French Hospital continue to provide outstanding care to our community."

Sandy Dunn

Community Volunteer

Residence: Avila Beach
Served since: 2021

Before Sandy Dunn retired and became a community volunteer, she led a capital campaign that incorporated fundraising, marketing, public relations, and government affairs. Her areas of expertise include public relations, event planning, fundraising, and human relations.

“Having personally faced medical issues and knowing others who have, I recognize that great medical care is a major contributing pillar of community life. We live in a beautiful area with a hospital that has a great vision for the future—providing patients with a greater state-of-the-art level of care. It is a privilege for me to be a part of that endeavor. It is an investment in a community I cherish.”

Cathy Johnson

Medical Practice Manager

Residence: Arroyo Grande
Served since: 2023

Cathy Johnson has served for over 15 years in the healthcare industry as the medical practice manager for George E. Johnson Jr. MD. She worked for 25 years in business as a product manager and national sales manager with areas of expertise in sales planning and execution, advertising, vendor relations, and event planning.

“Working in the healthcare industry as manager of a medical practice that advocates for women’s preventative health measures and early detection of disease, I am excited for the opportunity to serve on the French Hospital Foundation Board to further these goals and to ensure the highest quality of health care in our community.”

Aaron Kromhout, MD

Chief of Medical Staff,
French Hospital Medical Center

Residence: San Luis Obispo
Served since: 2024

Dr. Aaron Kromhout provides obstetric and gynecologic services as a member of the Women’s Health team at Community Health Centers of the Central Coast (CHC) in San Luis Obispo.

Lorlie Leetham

Retired, Cal Poly Corporation

Residence: Atascadero
Served since: 2024

Lorlie Leetham is the former CEO of Cal Poly Partners. A retired CPA, her areas of expertise include nonprofit finance, accounting, auditing, board administration, operation, and policy.

“French Hospital Medical Center performs a critical function in San Luis Obispo County. As a member of its Foundation Board, I am grateful for the opportunity to support the important work of the hospital, its staff, and the community—invaluable partners in providing funding and resources to support the life-saving programs and services we need in our area.”

Russ Levanway

REACH Central Coast

Residence: San Luis Obispo
Served since: 2024

Russ Levanway is the Executive Vice President of REACH, a Regional Economic Action Coalition uniting public, private, and civic leaders across the Central Coast. His areas of expertise include finance, technology, HIPAA, economic development, and community relations.

Beya Makekau, EdD

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Residence: Paso Robles
Served since: 2025

Dr. Beya Makekau currently serves as the Associate Vice President for DEI Strategic Planning and Networks at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, health inequities in historically marginalized communities, LGBTQ+ inclusion, educational equity, organizational change models, inclusive leadership, workforce development and inclusive social mobility strategies.

“I serve on the French Hospital Foundation Board because I believe that every community member deserves to receive compassionate, culturally competent, and quality care. French Hospital and all of its staff not only exhibit this in value, but they live it out every day in practice.”

D.D. Oberhelman

PepsiCo Foods

Residence: Pismo Beach
Served since: 2024

D.D. Oberhelman is an experienced executive working in the consumer packaged goods industry. She brings a wealth of knowledge to her work with the Foundation, particularly in the areas of leadership, cross-functional collaborations, and change management.

"I chose to serve on the Foundation Board to learn, connect, and give back. This role allows me to gain a deeper appreciation for French Hospital's incredible impact on our community while collaborating with inspiring individuals to drive meaningful progress for the future."

Stephanie Ronca Matthews

Compass Real Estate

Residence: San Luis Obispo
Served since: 2020

Stephanie Ronca Matthews has worked as a Realtor for 10 years and serves as the Chair for the Foundation’s event committee. Her other areas of expertise include public relations, marketing, and hospitality.

Chris Russo

Retired, Amazon

Residence: San Luis Obispo
Served since: 2024

Chris Russo spent the last 40 years leading organizations in software development including Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, Staples, and Starwood Hotels. His areas of expertise include finance, machine learning, supply chain management, leadership, and community relations.

“Retirement brought me the opportunity to give back to the community. Improving the health care options for the county was the most obvious choice for me.”

Ty Safreno

Trust Automation

Residence: Atascadero
Served since: 2024

Ty Safreno is the CEO and Co-Founder of Trust Automation in San Luis Obispo. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Board, ranging from business operations to systems design, as well as his self-described “unquenchable curiosity.”

“One of our family's beliefs is to leave a place better than when you arrived. Serving on community boards, which focus on long-term improvement to our community, is one of the ways we practice this belief. Investing Time, Talent, and Treasure into our hospitals and staff is one way to improve our community and leave a place better than when we arrived.”

Debbie Wacker

President, French Hospital Volunteer Guild

Residence: San Luis Obispo
Served since: 2024

Debbie Wacker is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and one of French Hospital’s longest-serving volunteers, devoting over 30 years to assisting hospital patients, staff, and visitors. Her expertise includes accounting, tax planning, business, and leadership.

Christine Williams

Retired, Health Care Sales & Marketing

Residence: Pismo Beach
Served since: 2019

Christine Williams is a retired professional in health sales and a former vice president of marketing. Her areas of expertise include fundraising, sales strategy and execution, relationship management, and leadership.

Kristen Yetter
Past Chair

Promega Biosciences

Residence: San Luis Obispo
Served since: 2018

Kris Yetter is an operations and finance executive who currently serves as the General Manager and President of Promega Biosciences, LLC. Her areas of expertise include operations, leadership, management, process improvement, corporate responsibility, and sustainability.