NOMA Board of Directors
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Board of Directors 2023-24
Bruce Leddy, Chair Nancy Coleman, Vice Chair Victor Fresco, Treasurer Secretary - open Danilo Bach Cindy Bendat Phillis Dudick Sue Edwards Doris Sosin - Founding Member Mary Jo Stenger - Emeritus |
Jeff Gordon Ann Greenspun Todd James Evelyn Lauchenauer Elizabeth Lerer Frank Prewoznik Sonya Fox Sultan |
Board members serve a two-year term.
Directors' Bios
Danilo Bach
I've been a resident of the city for more than 45 years, the first ten as a renter and homeowner in Ocean Park, where I was involved with preservation and local zoning issues and with my wife and friends helped save and rehab the Irving Gill-designed Horatio West Court apartments, the first Santa Monica landmark to be listed on the National Register. I've since been a resident of north of Montana for over 30 years, made my living as a screenwriter, have a wife who, if anything, is more passionate about the singularity of our city than I, and two sons who are products of Santa Monica's extraordinary public school system.
Cindy Bendat
I have lived in the North of Montana neighborhood since 1990. I served on the Board of Directors of the Santa Monica Pier for more than 8 years. I am on the Advisory Board of Airport2Park and have been involved in many local issues: saving the palm trees on Georgina and Marguerita; protecting the San Vicente Courtyard apartments in a historic district; saving the anti-war Chain Reaction sculpture by Paul Conrad; working with residents, clergy and union members to unionize SM hotels; and mobilizing residents to vote for measure LC.
I am concerned with local issues including overdevelopment, traffic congestion, sustainability, promoting the arts, celebrating our diversity, and helping those of us most in need.
I was a lawyer for more than 30 years and I am a photographer.
Nancy Coleman
I returned to Santa Monica after a 40 year period in Washington, DC in mid-2011 and joined NOMA shortly thereafter. I graduated from Roosevelt, Lincoln, and Santa Monica High School and continued to visit the area during the intervening years. Most recently I have served as Chair of NOMA, a member of the Santa Monica Social Services Commission and served two terms on the Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury.
My NOMA work has concerned the maintenance of R 1 neighborhoods, the incursion of residential neighborhoods of commercial entities, the lack of parks in NOMA and the state legislation that impacts our residential neighborhoods.
I have spent my professional life looking at better ways for citizens to influence public policy whether at the national or local levels. I hope to be able to use my skills to work with NOMA to influence the Santa Monica City Council and other Commission's such as the Planning Commission.
Phillis Dudick
Brings experience of a long career in public service focused on quality-of-life issues for senior citizens, building bridges in diverse communities, volunteerism and special event, community and cultural arts program development to the Board. Has coordinated NOMA's Make Music Day site in Palisades Park for 6 years.
An active and founding member of the Annenberg Community Beach House Docent Council since 2011 and member of the Santa Monica Conservancy Program Committee with a keen interest in Santa Monica history and preservation.
Played a major role on the Historic San Vicente Coalition Steering Committee advocating for the creation of the San Vicente Courtyard Apartment Historic District. As a board member of the Annie M. Edlen Foundation, is part of the creative team for Arts as Healing.
"North of Montana has been home to me for over 25 years. I am deeply invested in neighborhood resident issues and concerns."
Sue Edwards
I grew up in Brentwood a couple of blocks from the Santa Monica border and since childhood have watched our city develop. I’ve lived in my north of Montana home for almost 50 years and care deeply about Santa Monica. My son attended our city’s schools, is now a teacher at McKinley Elementary, and my grandson is a second grader at McKinley.
I am a 48-year veteran teacher of instrumental music in Los Angeles Unified Schools and maintain a strong commitment to arts education. I’ve served as a member of the Santa Monica District Advisory Committee for the Arts, and the Committee To Restore Barnum Hall. While my son attended Samohi I was a member of the Orchestra Parent Committee and a chaperone and equipment manager for the orchestra’s trips to the International Youth Music Festival in Valencia, Spain in 1994 and 1996. As a local musician, I was a member of the Santa Monica Chamber Orchestra from 1981-1990 and also served as the conductor’s primary consultant in creating standards-based children’s’ concerts. In addition to musical activities, I’m a charter member of the Santa Monica Conservancy and Santa Monicans For Renters' Rights. I’m also a Santa Monica CERT-trained volunteer and have participated in neighborhood mapping workshops and other CERT activities.
I am particularly concerned about climate crisis and sustainability issues and hope to work with others in NOMA to raise awareness about these problems in our neighborhood and city.
Victor Fresco
I have been a member of NOMA since the organization began and am currently serving as its treasurer. I think it’s vital that our neighborhood has an organization that informs residents about Issues and events important to our area. Additionally, I am alarmed at the amount of new development coming to Santa Monica and the effect it will have on north of Montana residents, in terms of increasing traffic and reducing our quality of life. I would like to see NOMA focus more on development issues.
Jeff Gordon
I have lived in Santa Monica since 1988. I am a retired attorney (inactive status.) Over the years, as part of my litigation practice, I have worked on protecting women’s and first amendment rights and to help ensure gender equality for girls in LA park's programs and numerous other pro bono projects. I have received recognition from the State Bar and the ACLU's Pro Bono Advocacy Award for my work.
I am concerned about traffic gridlock in our city caused by overdevelopment and preserving the character of our wonderful NOMA neighborhood and city as a whole. I am a member of our Home Owners Association Board and have been involved with neighborhood issues as part of this responsibility.
Ann Greenspun
I have lived in Santa Monica for 45 years. Our three daughters received a first-class education from our public schools where I served as PTA president, school nurse and board member of the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation. I also served as a Bayside District City Commissioner and President of the SM Chamber of Commerce and I have been a long time Rotarian and former Chair of the SM Red Cross. I love our City and want to help preserve those qualities that make it special.
Recently, certain state policies and recently enacted laws threaten our neighborhoods as they disregard cities’ local control and expertise. I am proud to participate in NOMA and other organizations that face similar urban issues.
Working together to preserve the very essence of Santa Monica is vital!
Todd James
I currently serve on the NOMA board and am a two decade Santa Monica resident who has restored four homes in NOMA. I am saddened and concerned by outside interests' increasing stranglehold on our city which has led to excessive and unsightly development, clogged streets and dilution of our lovely city's character. I would like to continue the process of helping a revitalized NOMA represent our neighborhood's interests and priorities and hopefully reverse some of these unfortunate trends.
Evelyn Lauchenauer
A lifelong resident of Santa Monica, graduate of Samohi and Santa Monica College before studying at UCLA and graduating from CSUN, I have seen the city grow from a quiet retirement town to a large city and experienced first hand how those changes affected residents of the area. I strongly believe that increasing awareness of NOMA to residents is key to building a strong and effective voice for the community. My focus is on building resident participation during this time of tremendous city growth.
As a Realtor, I know the neighborhood well and am in touch with residents and merchants in my daily business. I am often reminded of our quality of life and hear concerns about changes to the city and how those changes impact our daily living. As we grow I want to assure that the needs of the residents are placed first and foremost in any community planning.
As an active NOMA board member, I have coordinated NOMA’s participation in the Santa Monica 4th of July Parade for the past 10 years. I volunteer on the Experience Management Committee for the City of Santa Monica and help build homes with Habitat for Humanity. In my free time, I enjoy taking long walks around the neighborhood with my long-haired English Dachshund mix.
Bruce Leddy
My family and I have lived in NOMA since 2000, having moved here from New York City to pursue my work as a writer/director. I feel lucky to live in Santa Monica, and in particular NOMA, and have sought out opportunities to help preserve and improve both the City and the neighborhood in which we are so fortunate to live. In addition to serving on the Board of NOMA, I am also the Chair of Santa Monica’s Human Services Commission, have been a member of the Human Services Grant Review Board, and have participated in the annual homeless count since 2014. Issues of particular interest to me are: combating over-development, which threatens to irrevocably alter our city and quality of life; preserving historic homes; and finding compassionate solutions to the complex homelessness crisis which affects us all. NOMA’s commitment to providing information to residents about important matters that affect residents, its involvement in arts and cultural events like Make Music Day, as well as its monthly forum for healthy discussions with community leaders, are invaluable for creating a better community. I look forward to continuing to support that mission.
Elizabeth Lerer
Santa Monica resident since the 1980’s. NOMA resident since 1994. Participated in the creation of the San Vicente Courtyard Apartments Historic District. Worked in and continue to study design and art. Getty Villa volunteer. Interested in helping to protect trees and places from reckless development.
As a member of NOMA I have worked on the Make Music Concerts and the National Night Out events. I worked to assure the adoption of the San Vicente Courtyard Historic District.
Frank Prewoznik
Born and raised in Santa Monica, I attended Roosevelt Elementary and graduated from Samohi in 1989. For nearly 30 years, I advised candidates for public office and elected office holders on substantive legislative and regulatory matters, predominantly in and around our state Capitol in Sacramento, including in the Office of the Governor and in various roles with legislative committees and legislators’ offices in both houses of the California Legislature. Prior to returning to Santa Monica, I worked for a public water agency, contributing to the agency’s efforts to shape regional, state, and federal legislation and regulation.
Sonya Fox Sultan
In 1990 my husband Bruce and I were fortunate to move to Santa Monica and purchase our first home North of Montana. Three years later, we founded the two-attorney Santa Monica law firm of Sultan & Sultan, Attorneys at Law, which remains devoted to the practice of trusts, estates, probate and conservatorship law. We have three adult children; one daughter and two sons.
I consider myself a social justice activist. I serve on the Steering and Executive Committees of Santa Monicans for Renters Rights (SMRR) and the Steering Committee of Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS). I am active in two local Synagogues as well as a number of other worthwhile organizations.
I believe that one of my key strengths is the ability to communicate with and bridge gaps between people of widely divergent backgrounds and interests. I love Santa Monica and I am dedicated to protecting and enhancing the quality of life in NOMA and all of our neighborhoods.