Meet The Board
visit us
- 92-8924 Leilani Circle
Ocean View, Hawaii 96704 - (808) 939-7033
Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri & Sat: 9am - 12pm
Chris Garske
President & Event CoordinatorChris is from the S.F. Bay Area. After college and some time traveling, he joined the new and growing entertainment software industry in the early 80's. After years of vacationing in Hawaii, he moved to the Big Island full time in 2007. After some years in Kona and Waikoloa, he and his wife Elaine moved to Ocean View late in 2019. Interests include water sports, reading, games and golf.
Suzanne Reiter
Vice PresidentOriginally from MN, Suzanne moved to Ocean View from Texas, where she had a long career as a legal secretary. She's been an OVCA member since 2018 and has served a Secretary, Treasurer, VP and President. She has also volunteered at many various events at the community center. She attended two years at Tarrant County Junior College in Fort Worth, Texas. Suzanne has a daughter who lives near Hilo. She enjoys walking, reading, dancing, volunteering, movies, and visiting with her daughter.
Dave Anderson
Director & MaintenanceOriginally from Connecticut, Dave has a Bachelor’s degree from Chaminade University. He spent 22 years in the Navy submarine service, 13 years as a civilian contractor, and 9 years as a builder and remodeler. He moved to the Big Island in 2007 and, luckily for the OVCA, he now applies his skills managing facilities and maintenance for the OV Community Center. His volunteer efforts have included cooking for pancake breakfasts and several Thanksgiving dinners. Dave served as Director in 2016, President in 2018, Director in 2019, and VP in 2020. His hobbies include woodworking and fixing just about anything broken.
Liz Parsley
DirectorLiz is retired. An avid reader, especially of American and military history, she is also a quilter, gardener, and pet owner. She plays the ukulele, loves visiting the beach, and football. She takes an active interest in current events, and takes her civic responsibilities seriously.
Ron Buzzetti
DirectorRon is from Portland, Oregon. He's retired from a career as a corporate chef with NW Natural Gas Corp. He takes the lead on all things cooking related at the OV Center, especially our popular monthly pancake breakfast fundraisers.
Marilynn Rose
TreasurerMarilynn grew up in Washington, and attended high school and college in Portland, OR. She has been heavily involved in community service projects throughout her adult life, including serving as Mayor of Bridgeport WA. She loves all aspects of botany, and in 1991 she and her husband Rick started growing and selling organic peaches, apricots and nectarines, selling to customers throughout WA. They have 4 children and 9 grandchildren. In 2018 Marilynn and Rickmoved to OV and built a new home.
Jenny Sorensen
DirectorJenny was raised in Palmer, AK, and graduated from Palmer HS in 1984. She attended college in Portland, OR and Anchorage, AK, receiving a Master of Arts in Teaching in 1999. She taught English, art and music in Anchorage for 9 years and then taught all middle and high school subjects in a small Russian school in Homer, AK for 11 years, when she retired. Her background education/work history is in office skills, literature, writing, art, music, world history, religions, and computer programs. She met her husband Kent through a friend in 2007, and after marrying, became stepmom to two amazing kids (Ithaca is 30, and Parker is 29). Her hobbies are painting, drawing, reading, playing piano and ukulele, swimming, hiking and dabbling in the garden. She is an introvert at heart, with strong bursts of gregariousness, and REALLY enjoys her volunteer work at OVCA.
Claudia Bird
DirectorClaudia grew up in Oakland, California. She went off to college in Hawaii, where she was trained in early child development and teaching. As an adult, she has mostly lived in rural Northern CA and in Hawaii.. She's been a yoga instructor for many years, and moved to OV because she likes the healthy vibe. She leads yoga classes at the community center, and works with kids and the local schools. She has six grown children. She loves reading, art, music, gardening and animals.
Linda Frank
Director and Volunteer CoordinatorLinda grew up in Ohio, then moved to Seattle in 1979, where she became a surgical nurse and met her husband Steven. She has always been very active in community projects and service. She is a "fix it" person, and enjoys crafts and gardening. After retirement, she and Steven moved to OV in 2021. They have two sons, two grandsons, and one great grandson.