There are many ways to get involved with The Solace Tree by volunteering your time and talents.
Board of Directors
The board supports the established policies of The Solace Tree, and serves as a fiduciary partner to further the mission. The Solace Tree is governed by the elected board of directors and led by an elected executive committee.
Board of Directors
David Wertzberger, CHAIRMAN
CEO, Sierra Professional Insurance
dwertzberger@sierraprofessional.com
Dave Wertzberger has over 30 year’s sales, product marketing and CEO start-up experience in the hi-tech field in Silicon Valley. In 2001, he joined Mike Menath Insurance in Reno focusing on commercial insurance sales. In 2004, he founded Sierra Professional Insurance with Mike Menath to focus on commercial insurance services for Assisted Living facilities in NV, Utah, CA and Idaho. Dave has also served on the Board of Directors for Loras College in Dubuque, IA and Mitty High School in Cupertino, CA. He is a Graduate of the University of Iowa with a BBA in Marketing with post graduate studies in management systems at the University of Minnesota.
Mark Wimbush, TREASURER
Chief Financial Officer, Ebarra International
mwimbush@ebaraintl.com
Mark Wimbush is Chief Financial Officer of EBARA INTERNATIONAL Sparks, Nevada a manufacturing company with HQ for international operations in Sparks. Mark has over 25 years of financial management and operations experience at the corporate controller, VP or CFO level. He has in-depth experience in managing and best practices for budgeting, profitability analysis, tax matters, and financial operations. In addition, he supports his wife’s business, Right At Home which is an in-home care and assistance agency, providing personal services to seniors and disabled persons.
Mark is also an officer/founder of the St. Rose of Lima Knights of Columbus and chairs the Knights Golf Tournament that has contributed over $3,500 to The Solace Tree.
Jim Holmes, Board Member
Mr. Holmes has been involved in Lifeline Biotechnologies, Inc. since 1994. Since that time he has assisted in providing financing of over $10 million for the Company. These funds have been primarily utilized for the development and patient testing of the First Warning System™. He was acting as CFO until mid 2000. In 2001, Dr. Reeves, then CEO of Lifeline experienced a significant health challenge. During the ensuing years his day-to-day involvement became less and less until his doctor advised that he retire. At that time Mr. Holmes became acting CEO. The focus at that time was to complete the Argentina patient study. Shortly thereafter, the Lifeline headquarters was moved from Florida to Nevada. Here, the focus became the completion of revisions in the interpretive technology (software) as it related to patient testing. The goal is preparation and submission to the FDA for 510(k) marketing clearance.
Mr. Holmes’ background includes financing and managing of numerous companies, public and private, in a variety of industries. He is a CPA, formerly with PricewaterhouseCoopers. His education includes a BS in Business, MBA Studies, emphasis in accounting and the Advanced Management College, Stanford University.
Emilio Parga, M.A., Founder/Executive Director
The Solace Tree for Grieving Children, Teens and Families
775.250.0601, emilio@solacetree.org
In 2002, Emilio Parga discovered that he had cancer. At the time, he was also assisting students who had lost parents to suicide, accidental death and cancer. In his attempt to provide these children with emotional support, he realized that many kids and teenagers in Northern Nevada had lost a parent, sibling or caregiver throughout the year, and that there were no grief support programs for them. That’s when Emilio created the Solace Tree in 2004.
The mission of the Solace Tree is that all children, teens and their family members have the freedom to express their feelings associated with death in a safe and loving environment. The peer support programs and educational opportunities at the Solace Tree help children, teens and their family members to freely express their feelings associated with death in a safe and loving environment. The programs also help them learn to cope and adjust to the changes in their lives.
Advisory Board of Directors
Member List
Chris Askin, CFWNV
Ryan & Kristie Sheltra, Bonanza Casino
Karen Wertzberger
Dave Santina, KNPB-TV
Richard & Pat Flocchini, Sierra Meats