UCPIE Board of Trustees

Chairman
Kathy Webb

Kathy Webb serves as Chair of the Board of Directors, bringing more than five decades of experience in human services and nonprofit leadership to her role. A lifelong advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities, Kathy retired in 2020 after 20 years as Executive Director of United Cerebral Palsy/WORK, Inc., where she led a multi-county organization serving more than 600 children and adults across Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties.

During her tenure as Executive Director, Kathy championed innovative, community-based services designed to ensure individuals with disabilities could live, work, and thrive as independently as possible. She oversaw comprehensive operations including adult residential programs, supported living services, children’s services, vocational training and employment programs, and multiple mission-driven enterprises staffed by people with disabilities.

Under her leadership, groundbreaking employment partnerships were established from Hearst Castle to the Santa Barbara waterfront. She received recognition from numerous state and local agencies for expanding meaningful employment opportunities, including honors related to the development of the Camp Bob Café — a full-scale restaurant and training venue — as well as additional restaurants, thrift stores, and art galleries operated by individuals with disabilities.

A licensed residential administrator with extensive experience in human resources and organizational development, Kathy continues to support the nonprofit sector through consulting focused on strategic planning, governance, program development, and strengthening families’ ability to navigate California’s service systems.

As Board Chair, Kathy remains deeply committed to advancing UCPIE’s mission and ensuring individuals with disabilities have every opportunity to be fully included, valued, and empowered within their communities.

Vice Chairman
Bill Senso

Bill has been involved with UCPIE for the past 10 years and has long been a dedicated supporter of its mission. He currently serves as Executive Director/President of the Thousand Palms Chamber of Commerce and the Vice Chair of the Thousand Palms Community Council where he focuses on strengthening community engagement and local advocacy.

Before stepping into community leadership, Bill worked as a Special Education teacher. In December 2006, he experienced a major stroke that changed his life. Through determination and hard work, he relearned how to walk and taught himself to write with his left hand. That experience continues to shape his commitment to service and perseverance.

Bill has been married to his wife, Liz, for 30 years and considers her his rock. They have three sons, Nick, Daniel, and Jordan, and two grandsons, Noah and Kayden. Their family also includes four dogs: Abby, Izzi-Bella, Jay-J, and Bear.

Secretary
Beth Aune

Beth’s commitment to individuals with special needs began in childhood, when she was naturally drawn to those who felt overlooked or left out. In high school, she worked at a state residential institution for individuals with severe disabilities, an experience that shaped her professional path. Although she initially pursued accounting, she returned to school in her 30s while raising two young children and earned her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Loma Linda University in 1998

Over the next 25 years, Beth founded and led Desert Occupational Therapy for Kids, building a respected pediatric practice serving children from birth through young adulthood in clinical, school, and home settings. She supervised a team of therapists, partnered with multiple school districts, developed early intervention programs, and trained educators and caregivers throughout the region. She has also served as a national presenter and university lecturer, sharing practical strategies to support inclusion and student success.

Now recently retired from full-time practice, Beth continues to serve as a consultant to Desert Occupational Therapy for Kids, providing guidance in program development and professional training. Her career reflects a lifelong dedication to advocacy, inclusion, and improving outcomes for children and families.

Treasurer
Eric Broomfield

Eric serves as Treasurer of the UCPIE Board of Trustees and has been a dedicated member of the board since 2008. He joined UCPIE after recognizing the significant unmet needs facing individuals with disabilities and their families, and he remains deeply committed to advancing the organization’s mission.

With a professional background in banking, Eric brings strong financial expertise and thoughtful stewardship to the board. As a long-time resident of the Coachella Valley, he is closely connected to the community and passionate about supporting services that empower individuals with disabilities to live full and meaningful lives.

Eric lives on a ranch in Thousand Palms with his wife, children, and a lively assortment of animals, reflecting his deep appreciation for family, community, and a hands-on way of life.

Trustees

Tamica L. Foots-Rachal

Since retiring from public service in 2023, Tamica Foots-Rachal has continued her commitment to community safety as an Education and Training Consultant with Building Resilient Communities. She partners with community-based and faith-based organizations across the Inland Empire to strengthen disaster preparedness, resilience, and response capacity. With 28 years of experience spanning public service, disability advocacy, and emergency management, Tamica is dedicated to ensuring that historically underserved communities have the tools and knowledge to stay safe before, during, and after emergencies.

Her career includes service as a Deputy Probation Officer, Workers’ Compensation Fraud Investigator, and State Licensing Investigator with Alcoholic Beverage Control. She advanced equity and accessibility through leadership roles with the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and later supported inclusive emergency planning as Program Manager for the Southern Region with the California Department of Social Services’ Disaster Services Branch. She also led statewide training and advocacy initiatives as Director of Family Voices of California.

A certified Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator and POST Level II Instructor specializing in Learning Domain 37, Tamica trains peace officers to effectively respond to individuals with mental illness and developmental or physical disabilities. She is also an experienced trainer in disability rights, domestic violence, and human trafficking.

Her work in inclusive emergency preparedness has earned statewide recognition, including the California Emergency Services Association Gold Award. Today, she continues to advance resilience across the Inland Empire through outreach, workshops, and hands-on training.

Hon. Harold W. Hopp

Judge Hopp practiced civil litigation for 19 years, 17 years of which were in the Coachella Valley, before becoming a Riverside County Superior Court judge in June 2005. He is a graduate of Pacific Union College in Angwin, California, and the Gould School of Law at USC. He currently hears complex civil cases, including class actions, construction defect matters, CEQA cases and complicated business disputes, in Department 1 in Riverside. Most of his career as a lawyer he worked at Quinn Emanuel, Urquhart & Sullivan. His cases were primarily business, real estate, employment, and intellectual property matters. He served as the presiding judge of the Riverside County Superior Court from January 2015 to December 2016 and was a member of the Judicial Council of California from September 2017 to September 2023. Prior to serving on the Judicial Council, he was a member of the Council’s advisory committees on Civil Jury Instructions and on Civil and Small Claims for several years. Judge Hopp was born in Maryland but lived much of his early life in Yucaipa. He now lives in Calimesa with his wife, Kathy, and their two dogs.

Erick Rocha

Erick serves on the Board of Directors for United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire (UCPIE), where he brings both lived experience and professional expertise to advance UCPIE’s mission. As a lifelong paraplegic, he is a committed advocate for accessibility, representation, and meaningful inclusion for people with disabilities.

Erick is a communications and development professional with experience in digital strategy, media engagement, and fundraising. He has coached community members for media appearances, led public-facing messaging efforts, and supported campaigns that increased audience engagement and generated significant funding for disability-focused initiatives. His work centers on making communications more inclusive and ensuring that disabled voices are heard, respected, and positioned to influence policy and culture.

Living in California’s Coachella Valley, Erick is a proud Hispanic and deeply rooted in the communities he serves. He holds a BA in English Literature from California State University, San Bernardino, and is pursuing a Master of Communication Management at the University of Southern California. Through his board service, he aims to strengthen community engagement and help expand opportunities for people with disabilities across the Inland Empire.

Erik Schnaser, M.D.

Dr. Schnaser is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in lower extremity joint reconstruction and replacement surgery. He is the founder and Fellowship Director of Eisenhower Health’s Adult Reconstruction Fellowship, the first surgical training program at Eisenhower.

Dr. Schnaser previously served as Chief of Orthopedics at Eisenhower and completed two terms as Chief of Surgery from 2021 to 2025. He currently serves as Director of the Eisenhower Desert Orthopedic Surgery Joint Replacement Center, where he led efforts to earn Joint Commission Advanced Certification for Hip and Knee Replacement as well as accreditation for Hip Fracture Surgery.

Although his primary focus is adult reconstruction, Dr. Schnaser’s training included time at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, where he cared for children with neuromuscular conditions. In his current practice, he frequently treats adults whose joint issues stem from childhood conditions, giving him a deep appreciation for the long-term challenges these patients face.

Uranela Zhupa

Dr. Zhupa is a General Dentist practicing in Palm Desert, CA. Born and raised in Albania, she graduated from the University of Medicine of Tirana, Faculty of Dentistry, where she also specialized in Pediatric Dentistry. She practiced as a Pediatric Dentist for more than twelve years in both private practice and public dental health.

In 2016, she moved to the United States with her husband and their two sons. She went on to earn her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Southern California in 2022. Since then, she has been living and practicing in the Coachella Valley.

Dr. Zhupa joined the UCPIE Board in 2024 with the goal of giving back to the community that welcomed her and her family. She is committed to supporting UCPIE’s mission and contributing to our work in meaningful ways.

Becci Iamele

Constance Arvis

Advisory Council

Ed Atwood

Randall James

Gary Lortz

Heather Price

Lori Enroth

Bradley James

Jill Alperstein

Micki James

Dan McGrath

Jerry Alcorn

Bob Byfield (In memoriam)