Marita joined the Women’s Fund and its Research Committee in 2019. After moving to California to pursue her Master’s Degree in Human Development, Marita’s initial career pursuits were in the non-profit world. She worked directly with children and families developing and managing programs that included teaching independent living skills to developmentally disabled individuals and providing play therapy for children with chronic illnesses. Marita continued working within the health care industry, focusing on the delivery method of health care. She held various senior management positions with both insurers and providers, helping to develop the coordinated managed health care delivery model that emerged in California during the late 1980’s. For the last 15 years of her career, Marita transferred her skill set to the public sector, working for Alameda County’s Community Development Agency, redeveloping blighted communities through building projects that included community centers, libraries, commercial street beautification and affordable housing. Having retired to Santa Barbara, Marita is looking forward to the opportunity to work within the Women’s Fund learning about and researching the various non-profit organizations that benefit women, children and families in Santa Barbara and its surrounding communities.