Recently, the MERCI Board elected officers for 2013-14. Elizabeth “Liz” Diaz was elected President and Keith Breslin Vice President. Michael Chu was re-elected Treasurer, and Linda Wilson was re-elected Secretary.

Board President Liz Diaz serves as a Program Manager within the Strategic Policy and Planning Division of the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department (HCIDLA). She is responsible for the procurement of human services programs funded by the Community Development Block Grant and Community Services Block Grant and assists with the development of the annual Consolidated Plan. Prior to her work at HCIDLA, Diaz served as Director of Policy and Planning for the City’s former Commission for Children, Youth and Their Families, and also served as a Policy Analyst for both Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Mayor James Hahn. She received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California, and lives in Monterey
Park with her husband and daughter, who is a MERCI consumer.

Vice President Keith Breskin has worked in various administrative positions in local government for more than 20 years. He was the Economic Development Director in Monterey Park for six years. He served the cities of Arcata, King City and Lawndale as City Manager. Most recently, he was the Interim City Administrator in Montebello, helping to lead the City’s efforts to correct serious fiscal and operational problems that had been identified by the State Controller. He has also served on the staff of a Los Angeles City Council member, been a redevelopment and real estate consultant to municipalities throughout California and managed the City of Santa Monica’s housing recovery program in response to the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Breskin earned his undergraduate degree in Economics from UCLA and an MBA from California State University, Los Angeles.

Treasurer Michael Chu is the President of DataSys Corporation, a business in which he began in 1997 to provide small businesses with world class technology services to compete at all levels in the business place. Prior to DataSys, Michael served as General Manager and Vice President of New Technologies, a systems integrator providing technology equipment and services to the public and private sector throughout Southern California. Born in Bangkok Thailand and a naturalized U.S. citizen, Chu’s childhood was spent in the Covina area, and he now resides in San Dimas. He attended South Hills High School and studied Physics at Cal Poly Pomona. Chu has two teenage children – Corbin and Corin. He enjoys all things technology, competing in USTA tennis leagues and tournaments, and relaxing during the occasional down time.

Secretary Linda Wilson received her BA degree in mathematics and Spanish at the

University of Minnesota, Morris. She went on to receive her Masters of Arts in Library Science from the University of Minnesota. After earning her Master’s, she worked as a
librarian at the University of California, Riverside and from there, worked in various librarian positions across the country. After 13 1/2 years of service as the Monterey Park City Librarian, she retired in 2009. She is a member of the American Library Association, Public Library Association and California Library Association, and is also involved in Monterey Park Rotary, Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce, Family Promise of San Gabriel Valley (FPSGV), and is President of the California Federation of Business and Professional Women.

The other members of the MERCI Board are Raymond “Shel” Hess, Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church; Christina Cisneros, Principal at Frank D. Lanterman High School, a special education center for students with moderate to severe disabilities, and Robert “Bob” Bruesch, retired educator and a member of the Garvey School Board.

The MERCI Board is currently involved in raising $500,000 in order to restart and complete construction on the classroom and administration buildings at 525 N. Chandler in Monterey Park. Planning for the construction of the new buildings started in 2006 with the award of $829,000 of federal HUD funds administered by the City of Monterey Park. John and Mary’s Place for six clients was completed in May. Construction has stopped on the new classroom and administration buildings because MERCI needs to raise an additional $500,000 to qualify for the loans to complete the buildings.

The next fundraiser will be Sunday, December 8, 2013 when MERCI’s hosts its 24th annual “Trees of Enchantment” fundraiser at Luminarias Restaurant, 3500 Ramona Blvd., Monterey Park. The champagne brunch starts at 11:00 A.M. Tickets are $60 each or $40 for children 5-12, if purchased in advance. Children under the age of 5 eat free. Tickets can be purchased online at http://merci.givezooks.com/events/2013-trees-of-enchantment. Tickets purchased at the door are $70 each or $50 for children 5-12.