Board of Directors

Eliot Bertha, Chair

Eliot attended UCSB, and has served in ministry, and in the non-profit sector, ever since. She has experience in lay counseling and mentoring women and couples through her involvement in church. Currently, she is working with Intuit as an expert bookkeeper cleaning up small business books from around the USA and with Enduring Word as their finance and HR administrator. She enjoys walking on or biking to the beach with her husband, Bill, of 32 years. They have two married sons living in Santa Barbara with their new wives. She counts it a privilege to be a part of Hope Counseling Center’s work in the community by serving on the Board.

Shomari McLemore

Shomari moved to Santa Barbara in 2003 to pursue a degree in Kinesiology at Westmont College. He went on to earn his Masters in Organizational Management from Antioch University of Santa Barbara. He holds certifications as a HR professional with the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and a Plan Sponsor professional with the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA). He has over 15 years of non-profit personnel management experience with a focus serving local youth & families. He is an active member of Ocean Hills Covenant Church where he has served in Children’s and Emotionally Healthy Discipleship (EHD) ministries. Shomari has been married to his wife Jill since 2015 and has an energetic son named Jayden.

Jennifer Parsons

Jenny has been involved with Hope Counseling Center for many years, starting as an Marriage and Family Therapist in 1997. She became the Center's Director in 2004 and retired from practice in 2018. Her therapy background includes working as an MFT at Cottage Hospital and Westmont College, as well. She has been married 56 years and has three grown and married children and three grandchildren. As an active member of Christ the King Episcopal Church, she works with the vision of reconciliation. Currently she loves working with children. She is happy to be back with Hope as a board member where "we have this hope as an anchor for the soul." (Hebrews 6:19)

Lisa Winebrenner, Secretary

Lisa graduated from California State University, Long Beach and has spent her career working with various non-profits.   She has enjoyed her time at the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center with Sansum Clinic for 20 years helping the community engage with many partners to promote cancer prevention.  She also works with individual patients and instructors to manage the Wellness Classes.  She has been an active member of the Free Methodist Church for over 15 years. Lisa enjoys her life here in Santa Barbara with her husband Brent and her rescue dog Andie. ​

Josh Yager, Treasurer

Josh Yager is a recognized expert on the management and oversight of trust assets. He lectures and writes extensively on the policies, procedures, and practices for the prudent administration of trusts. Josh’s articles have been published in the California Trust and Estate Quarterly and California CPA. Josh has testified as an expert witness in California Courts on the following matters: trustee standard of care, trustee compensation, Prudent Investor Act compliance and trust damages calculations.