KENT DAVY • CHAIR
Kent Davy was the editor of the North County Times until its sale in October 2012. He was born and raised in the Midwest, graduated from both undergraduate school and law school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After practicing law several years, he switched careers for journalism. He worked at newspapers in Missouri, New York, Illinois and Indiana before taking over the helm of the North County Times in 1996. In 2008, he was named the Suburban Newspaper Association Editor of the Year. He is a Carlsbad resident and continues to write and edit freelance columns and material from a favorite spot in his kitchen.
GERALD HAMPTON • PAST CHAIR
Gerald currently serves as the Chief Executive Administrator at LOL-Life of Liberty, Inc., an Adult Day Program. He is known in North San Diego County for his community involvement and volunteer work with several organizations such as the North San Diego County NAACP, the National Naval Officers Association-Camp Pendleton Miramar Chapter, the Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association (AFCEA) Camp Pendleton Chapter, the CSUSM President’s Council and President of the Montford Point Marine Association-Oceanside Chapter 44.
Gerald served in the United States Marine Corps in both the enlisted and officer ranks and retired after 22 years of distinguished service. During his tenure, he deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation “Desert Storm” and to Somalia for Operation “Restore Hope”.
After retirement, Gerald joined Nextel Communications working in several network operations managerial billets. Gerald later joined LA Fitness, International as their Corporate IT Support Manager, managing the IT support team and overseeing IT support operations for LA Fitness clubs across the U.S. and parts of Canada.
Gerald is also an entrepreneur offering technology, networking, social media and web development solutions and services to small businesses and non-profit organizations. Gerald possesses a BS degree in Information Systems Management and an MBA degree with a Technology Management specialty from the University of Phoenix (UOP).
Gerald and his lovely wife, Stacy reside in Oceanside, CA.
MARILYN HUERTA • DIRECTOR
Marilyn Huerta earned a bachelor's degree in Visual Arts and a master's degree in sociology practice at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) where she works full-time as the Public Affairs Communication Specialist II in the College of Education, Health & Human Services. Her first role at CSUSM was as the Art & Lectures Program Planner and then the Community & Outreach Liaison in Community Engagement where she also managed the CSUSM Art Gallery. She currently teaches an online art healing course for the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care and is very committed to her work.
In addition to her work at CSUSM and being an artist herself, Marilyn wears many hats and is also the Veterans Communication Specialist for The Veterans Art Project located in Vista, CA. She is very passionate about the power of the arts and uses it as a tool to help others to connect, to communicate and to cope.
AMY FORSYTHE • DIRECTOR
Amy Forsythe is an award-winning multimedia journalist and military combat veteran with more than 30 years of experience in storytelling, communications, and multimedia content creation.
Amy has been a partner and supporter of KOCT since the late ‘90s and been the community liaison to Camp Pendleton and the veteran community. She’s produced and hosted various KOCT programs such as Inside Oceanside, North County’s Endless Summer and KOCT Today.
Amy served as a U.S. Marine Combat Correspondent for nearly 18 years and now continues to serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Public Affairs Officer. She’s deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan five times covering combat operations and reconstruction efforts.
Her imagery and articles from overseas assignments have been published on Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, Newsweek Magazine, Soldier of Fortune Magazine, and many other news outlets.
She's deployed to many other countries and locations like Niger, Germany, Romania, Poland, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Palau, Guam and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In 2023, she published her first book titled Heroes Live Here as a tribute to honor those Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton who served and sacrificed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Amy is active in non-profit organizations that benefit veterans and their families and serves on the board of trustees for the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial in La Jolla, California, and is a board member for the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondent Association.
She was named as Success Magazine’s Top 50 Women of Influence in 2022 and was also inducted into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame in the ‘Historian’ category in 2022. She resides in Fallbrook, California, with her husband and rescue dog named Schatzie.
SHARON STRONG • DIRECTOR
Sharon Strong is a recently retired teacher at the Oceanside Unified School District where she spent 36 years focused on mentoring life-long learners in creating authentic performance, production and literacy skills through innovative instructional strategies. With 16 years at Oceanside High followed by 20 years at El Camino High, Sharon has gained a stellar reputation in motivating all students of diverse populations including at risk to special needs to make interactive dramatic activities, digital technology, critical thinking through written and performance exercises a key part in the students’ overall development. Her students have garnered hundreds of awards in theatre, speech and debate, and film and broadcast arenas. She is past recipient of the OUSD Teacher of the Year award, Director of the Year for the National Youth Theatre Awards, and an International Theatre Director to produce and perform “All Shook Up” at the Edinburgh Scotland Fringe Festival. Sharon received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Minor in Theatre and Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning/Curriculum Design from UC San Diego.
SARAH CATHERS • DIRECTOR
Sarah Cathers is a curatorial leader and collaborator building experience and engagement strategies between internal stakeholders, artists, cultural and community partners and audiences. She specializes in strategic initiatives and artist-centered programs and events throughout her 27 year career in the arts.
Sarah currently works at the Oceanside Museum of Art as their Director of Programs and Operations, leading their Programs, Education, Community Engagement, Visitor Services, Volunteer & Intern and Venue Rentals teams.
Prior to moving to Oceanside in 2021, she was the Director of Public Life at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, curating and producing intimate to large scale programs and events in collaboration with the city of San Francisco, community partners, cultural districts, artists and curators.
She was the Director of Operations for the San Francisco International Film festival, producing 8 years of the world renowned festival with more than 80,000 people in attendance.
Sarah began her career at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus Ohio, producing performances, music and film series and special events. Sarah received her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Ohio State University, studying Sculpture and New Media, with a focus on film and performance.
Over the years, she has been an internationally touring musician, and has volunteered on multiple film and theater crews producing short films, live performances, festivals and art auctions.
She is a proud new homeowner in Oceanside and is happily nesting and gardening with her partner.
DANA ALBERT • DIRECTOR
Dana has been a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Carlsbad since 2014. As a risk manager he helps business owners and retirees make wise financial decisions. He focuses on capital preservation and tax efficient income strategies for seniors, particularly in Oceanside and Carlsbad.
I grew up in Oceanside (El Camino C/O ’94) and currently live in the Fire Mountain area with my wife and 3 daughters. My previous career of 20 years includes various roles in the golf industry. My educational background includes Golf Management from College of the Desert (’96), Business Administration from Cal State San Marcos (’02), and MBA w/specialization in Marketing at National University in San Diego (’12). I enjoy supporting our 23 year year old daughter’s garage band while she is finishing up he bachelors at CSUSM. Our 14-year old twins are gearing up for Oceanside High School in the fall. I am an avid golfer and enjoy competing in amateur tournaments. I love coordinating charity golf tournaments such as: Knights of Columbus, San Marcos Rotary Club, San Elijo Hills Foundation and Goat For Joe. I volunteer for Junior Achievement, the North County Junior Golf Association, and Pro Kids The First Tee and many others. My favorite family activity is hanging out at the beach with all my girls and body boarding in Carlsbad or Oceanside.
JORIN HOLLENBEAK • DIRECTOR
Jorin Hollenbeak enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 17, starting a diverse military career as a culinary specialist, combat marksmanship coach, martial arts instructor, small unmanned aerial systems operator, and combat engineer. Jorin deployed to multiple countries throughout his tenure in the Marine Corps, supporting a SPMAGTF and Joint Task Force Bravo. He briefly left the military to become a high school teacher, educating 9-12th graders in social studies for two years. Jorin eventually decided to rejoin the military as an officer and he presently holds the role of Public Affairs and Communications Specialist at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
Jorin is now known in his local community through his volunteer work with the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, Oceanside Public Library, and “We are Family,” a program Jorin created to bring together local veterans and active-duty service members through community events. He also serves as a film producer and editor, creating content that has been published on Fox 5 News, ABC10, NBC7, Coast News Group, Military Times, and CBS8.