Directors

OWEN GILLICK

Upon retiring after 23 years of service with the U.S. Marine Corps in 1975, Colonel Gillick and his wife settled in Twentynine Palms where he began working in various capacities with the predecessor organization of Copper Mountain College. In those years he also served as the Executive Director of Friends of Copper Mountain College, the fund raising arm of the organization. He was elected to the Desert Community College Board of Trustees in 1997; holding the position until Copper Mountain College formed its own district in 1999. In 2001 Owen returned to CMC as Executive Director of the Copper Mountain College Foundation - formerly the Friends of Copper Mountain College. During the 1980's he was active with the Morongo Basin United Way, serving as its president for a two year period. He was a founding member of both the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council and Action Council for 29 Palms and has also served as president of the Joshua Tree National Park Association. Owen joined BWF in 2002.

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JERRY MATTOS

Employed by the Williams Insurance Service, Inc. since 1965, Jerry became its owner and CEO in 1972. In addition to his normal course of business activities, he has developed several commercial properties in the Morongo Basin. A past president of the Twentynine Palms Camber of Commerce, Jerry has also served as commissioner for the County of San Bernardino on several boards and as a director of the Hi-Desert Medical Center Foundation. He has also served as president of the 29 Palms Kiwanis Club, the Christian Business Men, and has been Bishop's Warden at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church. Jerry has been a Foundation member since early 2001.

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ERIC MUELLER

Eric is the founder and president of Mueller-Turner Enterprises, inc., a custom furniture design and manufacturing company. His company has operated from the hi-desert area of southern California since 1980, and serves a high end, international clientele. Mr. Mueller is a founding member and present secretary of Yucca Valley's Old Town Merchant's Association and has served on the Gateway Visions Committee for the Town's west end development. He led the development process by purchasing the old Rexall drug store building in which he establishing the Water Canyon Coffee Company. That enterprise is recognized as the anchor business for the Old Town Arts and Antiques walking district. Eric has been a member of the Basin Wide Foundation since 1999.

ALEX MEYERHOFF

Alex serves as the Community Development Director for the City of Twentynine Palms. His areas of responsibility include managing the physical and economic development of the community. In this capacity, he manages the Land Use and Planning, Building and Safety, Code Enforcement, Engineering, and Business License divisions. He is also actively involved in Redevelopment and Economic Development, serving as Assistant Director of Redevelopment and Economic Development. He is responsible for business retention, expansion and recruitment for the City. He serves as staff liaison to the Planning Commission and Economic Development Task Force, and advises the City Council on development issues. He is a board member of the 29 Palms Rotary Club. Alex has worked as an environmental planner in both the private and public sectors. Alex previously served as board member for the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of the Indio Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee. A lifelong California resident, he was raised in the lower desert of the Coachella Valley. He is an active outdoorsman and enjoys hiking, camping and cycling and regularly competes at the amateur level in 5k races.

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JOHN S. SCHUSTER

John has served as Managing Partner of the Los Angeles, Irvine and Century City offices of Howrey Simon Arnold & White, LLP, a global law firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. Managed approximately 300 lawyers and support staff in a region with annual revenues of approximately $50 million. Served as lead trial counsel to corporations and individuals in civil trials throughout the United States. Specialized in complex cases involving intellectual property rights, antitrust, unfair competition, complex business transactions, and business torts. Also counseled clients on issues of antitrust compliance, licensing strategy, litigation avoidance and related matters. Appointed to the firm’s international Board of Advisors and held various leadership positions in the firm’s Antitrust Group and Global Litigation Group.