Susan Artof
I’ve been a professor of Psychology at Santa Monica College; owned a publishing company, written lots of books, set up and managed the office of a financial services company with my husband Paul, and was Commodore of two other Yachting organizations.
Now after 50 years in the MDR yachting community, I am Commodore of Del Rey Yacht Club for 2026. It has been a great adventure, and I look forward to this year and being a judge in the Marina Del Rey Boat Parade.
Shari Gift
Shari Gift – Landscape designer by day, leaf collector by passion. Armed with a Humanities degree, an Art History background, and CCC pro credentials, Shari turns gardens into living museums—where every plant has a backstory and every pathway is a plot twist.
Shari is mother to Board member Heather Ross as well as 3 other children, 4 grandchildren and one great grandson. Shari is excited to participate as a judge this year and gets a chance to celebrate the joy of the season with her family.
Kristin Hynes
With over 27 years of dedicated service with Marriott International currently representing the Los Angeles Airport Marriott and Renaissance Los Angeles, Kristin has built a career defined by hospitality excellence and community engagement. Throughout nearly three decades, she has held leadership roles that emphasize not only guest satisfaction but also the importance of fostering strong ties between hotels and the communities they serve.
As a long-standing supporter and Ambassador of the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce, she has worked closely to strengthen partnerships, promote tourism, and create opportunities that benefit both residents and visitors.
Alex Parajon
District Governor Alex Parajon was born in Leon, Nicaragua. From an early age, he has consistently embodied the values of service, teamwork, commitment, action, and leadership-principles that have guided his personal, professional, and philanthropic endeavors.
In 2012, Alex joined Rotary, marking a significant turning point in his life. His involvement in Rotary underscored the importance of serving others, especially during their most vulnerable times. Beyond Rotary, Alex is a dedicated civic and philanthropic leader within the Glendale community. He actively participates in several nonprofit boards and city commissions focused on education, the environment, youth, and homelessness. Alex cherishes his family life with his wife, Judith A. Verduzco, a proud father to his stepson Johnathan and two senior dogs, Pinot and Geo.
In his leisure time, Alex enjoys traveling, bowling, playing softball, watching baseball and football, and spending quality time with family and friends. He continues to lead with purpose, guided by the belief that even small acts of service can create lasting change.
Quenton Richards
Quenton Richards is Vice President of the Del Rey Neighborhood Council and has served on the DRNC Board since 2023. Originally from Franklin, Ohio, Richards has lived in Los Angeles for ten years and counts his time in Del Rey as the best years thus far. Richards works full-time in the Defense Industrial Base in Program Security and lives in Del Rey with his wife Madeline. After serving a term as an Area Director, Quenton was elected to the Vice Presidency this past summer. As a first-time judge, Quenton looks forward to this year’s Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade!
Heather Rodale | Founder, Healing Through The Arts
Heather Rodale founded the not-for-profit Healing Through The Arts (HTTA.org) in 2008 with the mission “Where those who are healing find strength, hope, and inspiration through the arts”. The signature project is the Hope & Healing Juried Art Show where high school and college students create original art and donate it to inspire hope in hospitals and healing facilities. After 15 years, HTTA has distributed more than 1000 pieces of free art to 40 healing sites and counting. The website also features Music & Art Mini Meditations combining the student art with the music of well-known musicians, like Jim Brickman and Olivia Newton-John.
Bonnie Ross
Bonnie Ross has spent a lifetime in the Southern California boating community, with Marina del Rey at the center of her world. Deeply involved in the harbor for decades, she built her family here while raising two children who grew up surrounded by the marina’s tight-knit community. Recently becoming a great-grandmother has brought her tremendous joy, adding another generation to the family’s marina tradition. As the mother of the current President of the Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade, her legacy is woven into the event itself. Her role as a judge this year reflects a lifetime of love and dedication to Marina del Rey.
Stephanie Sampson
Stephanie is a Senior Business Operations and Development Specialist in the aviation sector for Parsons Corporation, a worldwide critical infrastructure consulting firm. In this role, Stephanie is responsible for fostering relationships with new and existing clients to create business development opportunities in addition to organizing and executing small business outreach events in various regions across the United States to facilitate potential partnering for project pursuits, creating content for communications and marketing efforts to amplify Parsons’ dynamic capabilities, supporting project pursuits by drafting content for proposals, and representing Parsons within chambers of commerce and industry organizations.
She currently serves as the Board Chair for the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Leadership Development Committee for the Southwest Chapter for the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). She earned her Master’s Degree in Sport Management and her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Cal State Long Beach while also competing as a Division I track and field athlete.