Alison McClure, Dream It Be It Program Co-Chair
Alison McClure is a seasoned Financial Advisor with over 25 years of experience, passionate about prioritizing her clients’ financial well-being. In 2019, she founded Ohana Wealth Management to empower individuals, especially women, through personalized financial strategies. Alison is also a co-author of the best-selling book “Shattering the Silence,” which focuses on raising awareness about domestic violence. Beyond her professional life, she is a devoted mother who deeply values family connections. Alison finds joy in travel, particularly her annual trips to Hawaii, and in the performing arts. Her life is a testament to her unwavering dedication to service, community, and family, inspiring those around her to pursue excellence and fulfillment.
Financial Advisor offering Securities through Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, a registered investment adviser. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other name entity. 2901 Park Ave. Ste. B1 Soquel, CA. 95073 (831) 216-5519
The charitable entities and/or fundraising opportunities described herein are not endorsed by, or affiliated with Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, or its affiliates. Our philanthropic interests are personal to us and are not reviewed, sponsored, or approved by Cetera Wealth Services.
Carol DeLauder, Event Planner, President 1990-1991, 1999-2000, 2007-2008
Long-time member Carol DeLauder has served the Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea club in multiple ways including being president numerous times and currently serving as the Club’s Parliamentarian.
A graduate of San Jose State University, she worked in retail, banking, Oakland City government and eventually in real estate during her career. She has two daughters and five grandchildren, plays golf, and is a member of the American Association of University Women serving on the End Human Trafficking Committee.
Danielle Grenier, Delegate for Sierra Pacific Region
(Bio forthcoming — stay tuned)
Denise Gurer, Current President 2025-present
Denise is a retired research computer scientist and science teacher. Her background is physics (M.S. from Lehigh University) and computer science (Ph.D. also from Lehigh). Her early career focused on the application of artificial intelligence to education. At that time she was also Chair of the Association of Computing Machinery Committee on Women in Computing (1996-2004) which strives to increase the numbers of women in computing and make the education and professional environment more user-friendly to women. The birth of her daughter in 2000 opened a new world for her and she moved her volunteer efforts towards Girl Scouts and as the Science Fair Coordinator at her daughter’s local elementary and middle schools. She also shifted gears in her career and became a science teacher. She taught physics, chemistry, biology and computer science for all levels K-12 and taught an introductory physics course at the local community college. Now that her daughter is an adult, she has shifted gears again towards volunteer work in Soroptimists, the League of Women Voters, and the Pajaro Valley Quilting Association. In her free time she loves to cook, read, sew artistic quilts and clothing, and spend time with her family which includes her musically talented daughter, husband, and fluffy ragdoll kitty.
Jackee Bindzi, Treasurer
(Bio forthcoming — stay tuned)
Jennifer Mitchell, Grant Writer
(Bio forthcoming — stay tuned)
Kate McGuire, Press Relations, Assistant Treasurer, President 2023-2025
Kate is a retired journalist, who spent more than 35 years working in newspapers, magazines, radio, television, public relations and as a State of California public information officer for three state agencies. Over the course of her varied career, she received numerous writing awards and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting in 1979.
Kate currently is the Capitola Soroptimist Club’s secretary, chairs the Public Awareness Committee and is a member of the fund-raising committee. In the past, she served four years as the Soroptimist Sierra Pacific Region Public Awareness chair, and is a past delegate to the Region Conference.
Joan Riley
Joan Riley, a retired Special Education Resource Specialist-grades Kindergarten through 6th. While she volunteers with her Soroptimist club, she hopes to go back to working as a substitute education specialist.
She lives in Aptos with her partner, Tom, his 3 birds and their lab Harmony. While she grew up in Oakland, she and her family—who by the way—won a competition on the TV show Family Feud, summered in Boulder Creek, which gave her the desire to move full-time to the Central Coast. She says, she feels blessed to have done so.
Katie Ritchey, President 2015-2017
Katie is the Club’s youngest member, but she has been a Soroptimist for many years and has served as president two years, parliamentarian for two more years, and formerly served as regional pillar for the Dream It, Be It program. Interestingly, she joined Soroptimist after winning the Violet Richardson Award for community service as a high school student.
She was further inspired to join Soroptimists because she knows women who have suffered due to abuse, sexual assault, eating disorders, etc. “Being a member of Soroptimists is my way of working to change the world so that women no longer have to experience these obstacles,” she said.
She is a supervisor at the UC Santa Cruz library, and likes to hike with her dog, work in her garden, and do projects around the house in her spare time. Her favorite quote is: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain” ~Vivian Greene
Koh Stubbe, Public Awareness Pillar
(Bio forthcoming — stay tuned)
Laura Knapp, President 2020-2021
Laura Knapp, the Club’s president for years 2020-21, recently retired after a 35-year career conducting clinical research, primarily in the cardiovascular area in the U.S. and around the world for large and small companies. The last 10 years of her career, she was founder of a consulting company working with medical device manufacturing clients in the U.S., Canada and Japan who were seeking Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approval of their products.
She and her husband, Dave, belong to a gourmet dinner club, she belongs to the Santa Cruz Garden Club, and enjoys hiking, sewing and painting (complete beginner!).
Lillian Miranda
After a 40-year career as a lawyer and judge in Massachusetts, Lillian moved to Santa Cruz six years ago. She got to work immediately and in addition to being a member of our Capitola Soroptimist club, she is a volunteer mediator with the Conflict Resolution Center and the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum.
She is an avid gardener, practices yoga and plays tennis for relaxation and exercise.
Nancy Lawson Beech, Delegate for Sierra Pacific Region
(Bio forthcoming — stay tuned)
Norma Koch, President 1990-1991, 2011-2012
(Bio forthcoming — stay tuned)
Rose Odland, Secretary, Co-Chair Dream It, Be It Program
(Bio forthcoming — stay tuned)
Therese Malachowski, Vice President, Chair Live Your Dream Program, Programs Pillar
(Bio forthcoming — stay tuned)
Victoria Major, Fundraising Pillar, Event Planner
(Bio forthcoming — stay tuned)
Gwyn Larson, President 2009-2011, 2019-2020
In Memoriam
Gwyn Larson, a beloved and long-time member of our club, passed away on February 13, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 72.
During her many years in the Club, she served several terms as President, Vice President, Secretary and Public Awareness Pillar, always with style, grace, compassion and kindness. She was always supportive of her fellow Soroptimist members and provided remarkable calm and rational leadership during several stressful times the Club experienced.
She was “a beam of light that showed immeasurable compassion, love and kindness that will continue to inspire all who were lucky enough to know her,” her family said. Her fellow Soroptimists agree.