Monterey County, California — The Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) is pleased to announce the addition of Tama Bistrian, Scott Brubaker and Monica Lal to its Board of Directors. “We are excited to add Tama, Scott and Monica to the board. Their talent and perspective will expand the impact of the CFMC to help strengthen our communities,” said Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, CFMC Board Chair.
Tama Bistrian is an accomplished business professional with more than 30 years of financial accounting experience across multiple industries. She is currently the Chief Accounting Officer at Taylor Fresh Foods. Prior to Taylor, Tama spent seven years as the Director of Accounting at the nonprofit Monterey Bay Aquarium, eight years as the Controller of homebuilder Monterey Development Group and four years in various financial roles for San Diego homebuilder The Corky McMillin Companies. Tama has a strong GAAP accounting background from her tenure as an auditor at KPMG in Los Angeles and San Diego, California.
Tama serves on the boards of the Monterey County Food Bank and Digital Nest and is the current board chair for the Central Coast YMCA. She also served on the Center for Produce Safety audit committee and participated in several Hartnell College committees.
Scott Brubaker has been serving clients as a wealth advisor and financial planner for 13 years on the Central Coast. Prior to joining CLA Wealth Advisors as a Principal Scott had been managing a local RIA practice out of Carmel, CA. Before moving to the central coast, Scott worked as a Corporate Governance Underwriter for nine years performing fundamental analysis on Fortune 500 companies.
He currently serves as Board member and Executive Committee member for the Hartnell College Foundation, Chair of the Investment Committee for the Hartnell College Foundation and Treasurer for the Monterey Bay Shields Fleet. Scott is a former board member and past Commodore of the Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club.
A Monterey Peninsula native, Monica Lal was raised in Monterey and attended local schools. Following a degree in history from Reed College, Monica pursued a 25-year career as a professional chef, in hotels and free-standing restaurants working both nationally and internationally. She spent 10 years as an estate manager. With parents from the Fiji Islands, and Mexico, respectively, she grew up amongst religious and cultural diversity.
Seeking to be involved further in the community, Monica joined the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce in 2019 where she is President/CEO. She is honored to serve on a number of community boards and advisory councils, including the Bojuka Ryu Parent-Student Association in Marina, Loaves and Fishes at San Carlos Cathedral and is an active member of the Rotary Club of Monterey and the Dames d ’Escoffier.
2026 Community Foundation for Monterey County Board of Directors:
- Elsa Mendoza Jimenez (Chair), Director of Health Services, Monterey County Health Department
- Kathleen Lee (Vice Chair), Executive Director, Pebble Beach Company Foundation
- Mary Claypool (Treasurer), Owner, Claypool Consulting
- Deneen Guss (Secretary), Monterey County Superintendent of Schools
- Tama Bistrian, Chief Accounting Officer, Taylor Fresh Foods, Inc.
- Scott Brubaker, Principal, CLA Wealth Advisors
- Dr. Rolando Cabrera, Medical Director, La Gloria Medical Clinic
- Robert Cullen, Owner, Robert Cullen Financial Services Agency
- Romero Jalomo, Retired Vice President for Student Affairs, Hartnell College
- Monica Lal, President/CEO, Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
- Adriana Melgoza, Executive Director of Watsonville Law Center
- René Mendez, City Manager, City of Salinas
- Larry Oda, Former JACL National President
- Julie Roth, Advisor, Integris Wealth Management
- John Tilley, Senior Vice President, Pinnacle Bank
- Jennifer L. Walker, Attorney and Shareholder, Leach & Walker, A Professional Corporation
- Tyller Williamson, Mayor of Monterey
Also named to the 2026 Board was Charles “Chuck” Des Roches, Attorney & Shareholder at Noland, Hamerly, Etienne & Hoss, who passed away in February 2026. A Monterey County resident since 1975, Chuck dedicated decades of service to local nonprofits and civic organizations, including Legal Services for Seniors, the Monterey County Bar Association, Monterey County Bar Foundation, The Carmel Foundation and Salinas Rotary Club. A trusted leader and generous volunteer, he will be greatly missed.
About the Community Foundation for Monterey County
The mission of the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) is “to inspire philanthropy and be a catalyst for strengthening communities throughout Monterey County.” Thanks to generous individuals, families and businesses who have partnered with the Foundation to create charitable funds, the CFMC has granted more than $430 million to nonprofits working towards healthy, safe, vibrant communities since 1984. For more information, call 831.375.9712 or visit cfmco.org.
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