Board of Directors
Jim Kempton, President
Jim Kempton has been the Editor and Publisher of Surfer Magazine, Marketing Director for TransWorld Publishing, Vice President of Content for Hard Cloud Boardsports internet portal, and Director of the Quiksilver Crossing. He was the President of the San Clemente Historical Society and wrote and edited a book on the history of surfing at San Onofre. After receiving a BA at California Western University, he earned an MBA in International Business from USIU. He currently serves as the Manager of the Surfrider Foundation Advisory Board, and is employed by Billabong USA as Director of Media. He recently wrote Surfing the Manual, a book on the history of surfing told through the performance techniques of the world’s best surfers. He also serves on the board of directors for Surfing America, the National Governing Body of the sport. Jim is currently the President of the California Surf Museum which recently opened a brand new museum facility in Oceanside. A life-long surfer he lives with his wife and 3 children in San Clemente with a view of the line-up where he has been a regular since 1975.
Robert Mignogna, Past-President
Bob Mignogna had a 30-year career with Surfing Magazine, primarily as Publisher. Bob also served as VP Operations for Primedia’s Action Sports Group, which included Surfer, Skateboarder, Snowboarder, Bike and Powder magazines. In 1989, he was instrumental in launching SIMA, the Surf Industry Manufacturer’s Association, and continues to serve as Senior Advisor to the Board. Mignogna has also served on the Advisory Board for Surfrider Foundation, Eastern Surfing Association (ESA), National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) and Surfing America. In 2008, Bob was inducted into the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame and also received Eastern Surf Magazine’s “Lifetime Achievement Award.” Recently, he published three coffee table books, “Jeffreys Bay,” “The Pipeline,” and “Goin’ Big” (The Gotcha Story). Mignogna graduated from Fordham University with a BA Finance degree in 1970 and did Post Graduate studies at St. John’s University in New York City. He has been a regular surfer in the Trestles lineups since 1975.
Dan Lineback, Treasurer
Dan Lineback currently is a Senior Engineer for a VAR in Orange County focused on Data Center Solutions for the education, government and public sectors. Dan was raised in Capo Beach and started surfing Trestles in the late 60’s with a good friend whose father was a Marine Corp Major. “We were able to drive right up to the surf breaks without any hassles prior to the state park operating the lease”. He also started lifeguarding on the San Onofre and San Clemente beaches in 1978 as California State Lifeguard and worked as a weekend seasonal lifeguard up until 2006. During his career as a resident, employee and avid surfer of San Diego County and Orange County beaches he has seen the impacts on the environment of poorly planned infrastructure projects. Lineback graduated with a BA in Economics from the University of San Diego. He has lived for several winter surf seasons in the early 80’s on the North Shore and surfed many remote Mexico surf spots in the 70’s and 80’s. Preserving Trestles and San Onofre for future generations to enjoy is a goal that is in my blood and soul. As a frequent surfer of Trestles, The Trails, Cottons and State Park breaks; my alignment with the foundation will help to keep these beaches accessible through its core mission statement.
Barry Berg, Director
Barry Berg is a creative and manufacturing publishing consultant with life-long ties to the San Clemente area. His grandfather, George Russell, emigrated from France to the United States at the age of sixteen. In 1934 George discovered San Clemente, the beautiful beach town similar to his roots in France. The Russell’s are considered one of San Clemente’s pioneer families. Barry’s Uncle Cliff Russell was one of San Clemente’s first lifeguards. Barry’s father Max Berg, was San Clemente’s City Clerk for 35-years, first Citizen of the Year and historic Plaza Park is named in his honor.
Barry has always appreciated growing up in San Clemente, experiencing early on the same idyllic Spanish village his mother did with its rolling foothills and scenic beaches. The local coastline has played a major role in his life, from learning to surf as a young boy at San Onofre, to his thirty-year career in the surf media.
Barry earned his art degree at UCI and his works have been exhibited worldwide. This knowledge and creativity led to his career in the surf media of which 24 years were spent at Surfing Magazine. It has been through these very meaningful experiences that Barry has gained the deepest respect for the riches of our local environment.
Paul K. Strauch, Jr., Director
Paul was born and raised in Hawaii and began surfing at 4 in Waikiki. Following Punahou High School and the University of Hawaii majoring in business management, he spent 20 years as a 3rd-generation real estate broker in Hawaii, and a former member of the Waikiki Surf Club, Outrigger Canoe Club, Liliuokalani Trust Child Welfare Department advisory board, Governor’s Advisory Committee to Waikiki Beach Improvement, and Honolulu Mayor’s Water Safety Committee. Past president of the Hawaii Amateur Surfing Association, he is a founding member of the Duke Kahanamoku Surf Club, and often traveled with Duke. His event titles include the ’63 & ‘68 Peruvian International Championships, Hawaii State Surfing Champion, ‘65 & ‘66, ‘59 Makaha International Junior Men’s Champion & ’69 Senior Men’s Champion, ‘82 Hawaii Modern Longboard Men’s Champion, and ‘84 Hawaii Nose-riding Men’s Champion. He is the only person to have a surfing maneuver, the Paul Strauch Cheater Five, named after him. Recently retired president and honorary member of the Hawaiian Surf Club of San Onofre, Paul currently serves as board member of the Surfing Heritage Foundation and vice president, Sign Biz, Inc. in Dana Point, CA.
Steve Netherby, Director
Steve Netherby has run, hiked, mountain biked, and camped the trails, beaches, and campgrounds of San Onofre for the past 36 years. For two decades, he served as camping editor of Field & Stream. Called “the nation’s foremost camping authority,” he traveled the world writing about camping—from family and RV camping to all forms of wilderness living and travel. He served on the board of directors of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and produced The Experts Book of Freshwater Fishing for Simon & Schuster. He is a contributor to several books, including Wildlife Country—How to Enjoy It, by National Wildlife Federation, and How to Survive on Land and Sea, by Naval Institute Press. He wrote early exposés of the environmental threat to fresh- and saltwaters posed by phosphate pollution, acid rain, and mercury contamination. He’s a graduate of military mountain and jungle survival courses as well as National Outdoor Leadership School, Rainier Mountaineering Incorporated, American Avalanche Institute, and Fenwick Flyfishing School. Prior to joining Field & Stream, Steve was a Navy combat pilot in Vietnam and an award-winning Colorado newspaper editor-in-chief. He’s an avid backpacker, hiker, mountain biker, sea kayaker, and body surfer.
Rebecca Robles, Director
Bio coming soon.
Steve Long, Senior Advisor
During the final four years of Steve’s career with California State Parks, he served as Park Superintendent, responsible for all aspects of park operations at Doheny, San Clemente and San Onofre State Beaches. In that capacity, Steve began identifying key stakeholder groups and individuals who held these parks dear, and who might eventually be united through the concept of a “Co-Operating Association”, which is a Non-Profit Organization that exists to serve specific State Park Units in the delivery of education and interpretation outreach. California State Parks is the second largest public agency providing educational services to the community, behind the public school system.
Steve serves as a non-voting advisor to the executive board, attending all board meetings. He maintains a Volunteer status with California State Parks, assisting the State Parks Co-Operating Association Liaison (Park Superintendent Rich Haydon), in Board Member, Staff and Volunteer Orientation, including detailed San Onofre and San Clemente State Beach tours.
Dave Gerhard, Educational Advisor
Dave Gerhard is a native Southern Californian who spent most of his youth growing up in South Orange County.He earned his Bachelors Degree at the University of Oregon, his Masters Degree at California State University, Fullerton, and his administrative services credential at the University of California, Irvine.
Mr. Gerhard has been a teacher and administrator in the Capistrano Unified School District for 28 years. He was a special education teacher in the Huntington Beach City School District for six years prior to moving to CUSD. For the past ten years, Mr. Gerhard has been the principal at Concordia Elementary School, which is located on the bluffs adjacent to San Clemente State Park.
Mr. Gerhard resides in Dana Point with his wife, who is also a principal in CUSD. When he is not at school, Mr. Gerhard can usually be found navigating the local waters aboard his sailboat, Recess.
Susan Goggins, Interim Executive Director/Project Manager
Susan Goggins, a 19-year resident of South San Clemente has been a long time volunteer and activist in the community. Having worked in construction management for nearly 10 years, Susan switched careers after having her children, and has been working as an educator since 1999. In addition, Susan has served in numerous board positions with PTA, worked with the City of San Clemente Beaches Parks and Recreation Department on the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Board, and volunteers regularly at various community events.
Susan and her husband, Marty, have lived in the Trestles Community for 15 years. They have two daughters, Marie and Julie. Susan enjoys spending time with her family at the beach, and supporting their children in school and sports.
Rich Haydon, CAL (Cooperating Association Liasion)
Rich Haydon is the Park Superintendent for Doheny, San Clemente and San Onofre State Beaches, and acts as the Cooperating Association Liaison between the San Onofre Foundation and California State Parks. Mr. Haydon began his career with State Parks as a seasonal lifeguard in 1985, and worked at Doheny, San Clemente and San Onofre for ten years, while attending the University of California – Irvine where he received a BA in Psychology. A graduate of State Parks’ Basic Visitor Services Training group 12, he was assigned to the Orange Coast District – North Sector (Huntington and Bolsa Chica State Beaches) as a State Park Peace Officer Lifeguard.
While assigned to the North Sector, he worked for 13 years as a Lifeguard, Lifeguard Supervisor in charge of Law Enforcement and Night Shift operations, and served two years as the North Sector Lifeguard Chief before accepting a promotional transfer to San Clemente as the District Services Manager and acting South Sector Superintendent, which he again promoted to in July 2008.
Mr. Haydon is married with two children, and enjoys SCUBA diving, wood working, and coaching Little League baseball.