Members of AEDC elect the Arcata Economic Development Board of Directors annually. Board members are responsible for managing the corporation, setting goals and vision for the organization and monitoring the scope of programs and services offered by AEDC.

2010 Board of Directors

Board of Director Log-In

Susan Diehl McCarthy, President
Ms. Diehl McCarthy was elected secretary in January, 2007 and was President in 2004. She has been on the board since 2002 and is currently on the loan and executive committees. Ms. Diehl McCarthy is a senior vice president commercial lending at Reprop Financial in Eureka, and has twenty years experience working with regional and local borrowers, developers and governments.

Sheila Steinberg, Ph.D., Past President
Dr. Steinberg joined the Board in August of 2005. She is Professor of Sociology at Humboldt State University and Director of Community Research for the California Center for Rural Policy. Her research focuses on rural community and economic development. She currently serves on the loan and executive committees.

Michael Proulx, Treasurer 
Mr. Proulx has served in various capacities on the board over the years and served on the Board from 1980 to 1997 and from 2001 to present. Currently, he serves on the finance and loan committees. Mr. Proulx is employed by the California Department of Rehabilitation and Humboldt State University.

Larry Dugger, Secretary
Mr. Dugger was elected president in January 2007 and served on the Board from 1982 to 1997 and from 2001 to present. He currently serves on the finance committee. Mr. Dugger is the Operations Development & Planning Analyst for Simpson Timber Company in Arcata, CA

Janet DePace
Ms. DePace has served as vice-president and president and has been on the Board since 2000. She currently serves on the Loan Committee. Ms. DePace was co-founder of two local manufacturing companies, and currently owns MLC Enterprises in Eureka, CA. She is president of the Humboldt County Workforce Investment Board.

Stanley E. Elcock
Mr. Elcock has served on AEDC’s loan committee since 2006. A life-long resident of Humboldt County , he’s a Civil Engineer with over 25 years experience and is the owner of SEE Engineering. Mr. Elcock also serves as the Chairman of the City of Arcata ’s Transportation Safety Committee as well as the Vice-Chair of the Transaction User Tax Oversight Committee.

Carol Moorehead
Ms. Moorehead was elected to the board in January of 2007 and serves on the loan and executive committees. A 25-year resident of Eureka, Ms. Moorehead brings with her 17 years experience as a commercial banking manager. She also holds a California Real Estate Broker's License. Ms. Moorehead is the vice-president commercial banking relationship manager at Umpqua Bank.

Kathy Montagne
Ms. Montagne has served AEDC since 2004. She is currently the chair of the program committee. Ms. Montagne is the Executive Director of Northcoast Children's Services.

Becky Price-Hall 
Ms. Price-Hall was elected to the board as treasurer in January 2007. She currently serves on the finance, program and executive committees. Ms. Price-Hall is a grant administrator for the City of Trinidad.

Tina Susmilch
Ms. Susmilch has served on the Board since 2003 and is currently chair of the loan committee. Ms. Susmilch is a vice president commercial loan officer for Redwood Capital Bank in Eureka.

Jim Test
Before becoming Executive Director of the Humboldt Waste Management Authority in 2006, Mr. Test was co-owner and General Manager of Bug Press, Inc. from 1975 to 2003. He served as AEDC’s Executive Director from 2003 to 2006 and on the Arcata City Council from 1994 to 2002, including three years as Mayor. While on the Council, Jim served on the Board of Directors of the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission, the Humboldt County Association of Governments, and the Humboldt Waste Management Authority. Jim is a graduate of the California State University, Humboldt, and a Marine Corp veteran.

AEDC Staff

Ross Welch
Executive Director, since May 2008
Mr. Welch comes to AEDC with thirty years of lending experience in Humboldt, Del Norte and Mendocino Counties. For the past eight years, Ross has worked in Humboldt County, most recently for Redwood Capital Bank where he worked in commercial lending and as branch manager. Besides lending experience, Ross has also served on various community organizations such as the Crescent City JayCees and Rotary Clubs in Eureka, Fortuna and Fort Bragg. He is currently a member of the Arcata Rotary Club and the Arcata Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Keif Chavera
Office Manager, since August 2006
Ms. Chavera, the voice of AEDC for all incoming calls, is the office manager and the accounts payable/receivable bookkeeper. She has worked in the administrative field since her service in the United States Air Force as an Office Assistant. She also worked for the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Department of Justice, Attorney General's Office Registry of Charitable Trust Section. During her time in the military, she assisted the liasion between the Government of Japan and the Controller for Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.

Kelli Denney
Loan Manager, since September 1999
Ms. Denny is responsible for the review of all AEDC loan requests. She manages revolving loan funds that include SBA Microloans, USDA IRPs and three local revolving loan funds. Ms. Denney has produced $17 million in 504 loans for AEDC since 1999. Kelli has nearly 20 years of commercial banking experience.

Madelin Holtkamp
Business Development Representative, since May 2009
Ms. Holtkamp has spent 16 years working in the field of small business lending and consulting. She has built and sold several businesses in Northern California and has taught Small Business Development at Mendocino College. She participated in the founding and development of West Company, the Mendocino Small Business Development Center, assisting micro-entrepreneurs. Holtkamp has served as executive director of the Economic Development & Financing Corporation and as a member of the Mendocino County Board of education where she works to improve career and technical education for youth and adults.

Jayne Lovig
Associate Loan Officer, since January 2008
Ms. Lovig has twenty years experience in lending and auditing for banks, lenders and mortgage insurance companies. At AEDC, Jayne prepares SBA microloans, as well as those from USDA, the Headwaters Fund and the AEDC revolving loan funds. Her position allows more loans to be processed in a shorter time -- a real benefit for entrepreneurs seeking funding for their business.

Tony Rodrigues
Loan Servicing, since June 2004
Mr. Rodrigues is responsible for AEDC's loan servicing, collections and annual site visits. He also works closely with the City of Arcata on their Home Rehabilitation Program. Prior to working at AEDC, Mr. Rodrigues worked for Humboldt Bank (now Umpqua Bank)in the Collections Department, the Records Management Department, and as their Construction Dispersement Specialist.

Susan Seaman
Program Director, since March 2007
Ms. Seaman has been working in marketing, outreach and program management since 1991. At AEDC she runs and creates community programs such as the Prosperity IDA Scholarship, Child Care I.Q. and Spotlight on Success. She and her husband also own a small business in Fieldbrook.

Stephanie Witzel
Controller, since October 2007
Ms. Witzel has been a Certified Public Accountant for nearly 20 years, with the last 14 years as a self-employed CPA. In that time, she worked for a wide variety of organizations including non-profit, governmental, agricultural and business. Stephanie joined AEDC to lend her expertise to supporting the small business community of Humboldt County. Ms. Witzel also has a B.S. in Natural Resource Planning from Humboldt State University, Arcata.