Meet the Team

Mark moved to Encinitas in 1983 from Northern California to start a job with a software start-up company called Data Trek.  After gaining years of experience in the software industry, Mark took the position as Business Development Manager for Microsoft.  The daily grind can only keep an artist satisfied for so long. Mark resigned and nine months later, the Surfing Madonna mosaic was born. His determination to help clean up our local coastline began when a good friend became sick due to toxins in the ocean.  As an artist and retiree, he sees no better way than to spend his time using art as a way to spread the message of “Save the Ocean”.  Mark is a graduate of UC-Davis and is a co-founder of the organization.

Mike Redman

President
Aquatics Director
Board Member
(Former Vice President)

As a life long north county resident, my love of the ocean started long ago, so I am really excited to be President of Surfing Madonna Oceans Project!

One of my favorite activities with SMOP is helping out with our summer surf camp for special needs kiddos. I recently retired from a great career working with special needs students and now I can continue to give back to the community.

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I've always had a love of the arts. I'm the guitarist in the Bucket Ruckus band, you might of heard us play around town for the past many years! I also enjoy film making, painting and wood working projects. This past year I made the Little Free Library at Surfing Madonna park. Stop by and check out the books! 

Meanwhile, as the Aquatics Advisor for Surfing Madonna Oceans Project, I can tell you there are some amazing things right out there in our local Ocean, so I encourage all of you to get on out there and have a look around!

Patti McDaniel Walsh

Secretary
Board Member

Patti is a long time volunteer with Surfing Madonna and has been a great asset to the organization. From being in the ocean helping our special needs surfers to staffing our booth at fundraisers, and everything in between! We are excited to welcome Patti to our Board of Directors!

Scot Cheatham

Treasurer

 Retired Chief Financial Officer

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President and CEO

SAASKJ Company

President and CEO

EOS International

Aug 1982 - Nov 2013 · 31 yrs 4 mos

Cathy Carey

Board Member

(Former President,

Executive Director,

and Secretary)

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Cathy Carey is originally from Alexandria, VA, where she attended the Corcoran School of Art, in Washington, D.C. and received a BFA in Painting from Virginia Commonwealth University. In 1987 she came to Encinitas to be the Art Director at the Coast Dispatch newspaper group and in a funny twist went on to have a gallery in that building years later. She operated a graphic design business for 25 years as well as being a professional artist. Her paintings are represented by six galleries across the country, in Santa Fe and Taos NM, Scottsdale and Tucson AZ, Richmond, VA and La Jolla CA. She has a local studio gallery in Cardiff, CA.

“My passion is to help other artists. Through Surfing Madonna I hope to help career artists find recognition through financial awards, promoting local arts through art shows and media recognition. Surfing Madonna is also devoted to promoting young artists and art patrons by bringing all forms of art to a wider audience and cultivating appreciation for the amazing creative community we live in.”

Danny Salzhandler

Art Director
Board Member

Danny is a transplanted Texan who has called Cardiff by-the-Sea his home since 1994. After serving in Vietnam, Danny moved from Houston to Dallas and in 1978 started his own company designing and installing conveyor systems. Once he and his wife moved to California he devoted full time to his passion for metal sculpting and welding, creating Biosculptures. Danny is on the board of the Encinitas Art, Culture and Ecology Alliance. He is also the President of the 101 Artists’ Colony, and helped make the Arts Alive public art exhibit one of the largest art events in Encinitas. He founded Full Moon Poets in 2000, producing annual poetry slams at the La Paloma Theater and the fun zone at Safe Trick or Treat in downtown Encinitas. He has received numerous art and civic awards, including “Citizen of the Year” bestowed by the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce in 2010. Danny has worked in zoos as an employee and a volunteer, as well as for cultural and civic organizations in Encinitas. He is proud to serve on the Surfing Madonna Oceans Project board and appreciates the opportunity to help preserve and share our beautiful coastline and marine life.

Cheryl Ehlers

Board Member

Cheryl was born in northern California and raised in Europe for most of her formative years, she moved back to California and now resides in Carlsbad, CA. Always interested in the power of creativity, she is both an award winning and published artist who works in a variety of genres in fine art painting, graphic and textile design, using a variety of mediums to express herself.

"I am fundamentally interested in creating works that call for the participation of the audience to the same extent as my involvement in it. The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery of the story, and evoke basic human emotions."  

One of her passions is representing essential environmental elements of global conservation through art.  Her outreach spans as far as Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, and into Europe. She is a known presence in North County, San Diego, and an art advocate who is endlessly championing for emerging and professional artists alike to succeed, grow and thrive in the arts.

​In line with her endeavors, Ehlers is the founder of numerous art ventures supporting artists in local communities with awareness, opportunity, and education for youth.  She believes you should always a line yourself with something of importance that is much bigger than yourself, so you are able to give the best of who you are back into your community.
 
Ehlers formed The Stardust Arts, for underserved youth in 2009 and continues to nurture youth. ​ The Stardust Arts is recognized by the California State Assembly and the San Diego Board of Supervisors for it's contributions to youth in the communities of North San Diego County. Ehlers believes, that art can have a tremendous impact, and advises students and adults, “don't be afraid to explore yourself, or be concerned what others might think, just be confident in your beliefs”.

Danny Davis

Board Member

  Contact Danny, CA DRE #01349327:
danny@sandiegobrokerage.com
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Elaine Brown-Howard

Board Member

Elaine is comes to the Surfing Madonna Team as a USPS letter carrier since 1994.  She has been working seasonally for H&R Block as a tax preparer since 2007. 

"I love working with numbers and putting them together like puzzle pieces.  I am excited about Surfing Madonna and what is in store for the future."

Max Wittenberg

Board Member
Surf Camp Committee

Max has a background in accounting from his experience at Wittenberg Financial. He has long time experience surfing with special needs veterans and special needs kids. His enthusiasm and love of the ocean make him a favorite of all the surf camp kids!