Village Bios
Village Staff 2024
Tami Newcomb (she/her)
Executive Director (2024-)
A collaborative leader, Tami brings over three decades of marketing, branding, and communications knowledge and insight with an emphasis on real estate development. Her role as Vice President of the Roxburgh Agency, perfectly aligns with her heart ministry to actively serve and support older adults. A proud resident of San Luis Obispo, Tami lives with the love of her life, Grace, her ragdoll cat. She is also a stepmom to 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren who all reside in the Bay Area. Tami is active in the community and served as SLO Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Chair, Ambassador, Economic Development Committee, the current class of Leadership SLO, and President of her Homeowners Association. She is the author/publisher of “Color Your Way to Calm” a coloring book series from Grownups. In her spare time, she’s an avid walker, reader, and loves to cook and entertain.
Executive Director (2024-)
A collaborative leader, Tami brings over three decades of marketing, branding, and communications knowledge and insight with an emphasis on real estate development. Her role as Vice President of the Roxburgh Agency, perfectly aligns with her heart ministry to actively serve and support older adults. A proud resident of San Luis Obispo, Tami lives with the love of her life, Grace, her ragdoll cat. She is also a stepmom to 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren who all reside in the Bay Area. Tami is active in the community and served as SLO Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Chair, Ambassador, Economic Development Committee, the current class of Leadership SLO, and President of her Homeowners Association. She is the author/publisher of “Color Your Way to Calm” a coloring book series from Grownups. In her spare time, she’s an avid walker, reader, and loves to cook and entertain.
Corene Canaan (she/her)
Operations Manager (2021-)
Corene (she/her) was born and raised on the Central Coast and loves the SLO lifestyle like going to the local farmers' markets and walking the beautiful trails with her dog. She maintains the day-to-day behind-the-scenes of SLO Village. Outside of her role as operations manager, Corene is pursuing her Master’s Degree in Public Health through CSU Northridge and is a patient advocate for rare diseases. In addition to work and school, she loves baking sweets and is an aspiring writer.
Village Board of Directors 2024
Dave Kuykendall (he/him)
Board President (2016-2020; 2021-), Retired Hewlett Packard Business Planner
Before retirement from Hewlett Packard, Dave served as a hardware designer, program manager, and business planner. Locally, Dave has served as an Elder for First Presbyterian Church, as Moderator of the United Church of Christ (Congregational), and as an active volunteer. For the last six years, he has been actively working to establish and expand SLO Village. He served as Vice President of the Board from January 2020 to November 2021. Dave also served on the Village Movement California Board. (Founding) Board Member, Volunteer, Social Member since 2016.
Board President (2016-2020; 2021-), Retired Hewlett Packard Business Planner
Before retirement from Hewlett Packard, Dave served as a hardware designer, program manager, and business planner. Locally, Dave has served as an Elder for First Presbyterian Church, as Moderator of the United Church of Christ (Congregational), and as an active volunteer. For the last six years, he has been actively working to establish and expand SLO Village. He served as Vice President of the Board from January 2020 to November 2021. Dave also served on the Village Movement California Board. (Founding) Board Member, Volunteer, Social Member since 2016.
Meg Kuykendall (she/her),
Board Treasurer (2016-2018; 2022-), Retired Hewlett-Packard, Marketing and IT
During Meg’s 22-year career with Hewlett-Packard, she was a software developer/manager in Corporate IT and a marketing program manager with global software partners. In retirement, Meg has volunteered with older adults in the Bay Area; served on the SLO PFLAG Board, and volunteered for homeless and low-income outreach. She is currently serving her 2nd term on the United Church of Christ San Luis Obispo Board. Meg has 2 adult sons, a 6-year-old grandson who lives locally, and has lived in SLO for 17 years. (Founding) Board Member, Volunteer, Social Member since 2016.
Board Treasurer (2016-2018; 2022-), Retired Hewlett-Packard, Marketing and IT
During Meg’s 22-year career with Hewlett-Packard, she was a software developer/manager in Corporate IT and a marketing program manager with global software partners. In retirement, Meg has volunteered with older adults in the Bay Area; served on the SLO PFLAG Board, and volunteered for homeless and low-income outreach. She is currently serving her 2nd term on the United Church of Christ San Luis Obispo Board. Meg has 2 adult sons, a 6-year-old grandson who lives locally, and has lived in SLO for 17 years. (Founding) Board Member, Volunteer, Social Member since 2016.
Sally Kruger (she/her)
Board Secretary (2017-), Retired Medical Researcher, Owner, Bed & Breakfast
Sally spent most of her adult life doing medical research in immunology at Harbor UCLA. During the last 15 years, she ran a clinical trial unit that performed drug trials for HIV/AIDS patients. She retired in 2000, moved to SLO and opened a bed and breakfast, meeting interesting people and drinking good wine. Since closing the B&B in 2013, she has been an active volunteer and is a founding member of SLO Village. She loves to walk, read, and go out to dinner. (Founding) Board Member, Volunteer, Social Member since 2016.
Board Secretary (2017-), Retired Medical Researcher, Owner, Bed & Breakfast
Sally spent most of her adult life doing medical research in immunology at Harbor UCLA. During the last 15 years, she ran a clinical trial unit that performed drug trials for HIV/AIDS patients. She retired in 2000, moved to SLO and opened a bed and breakfast, meeting interesting people and drinking good wine. Since closing the B&B in 2013, she has been an active volunteer and is a founding member of SLO Village. She loves to walk, read, and go out to dinner. (Founding) Board Member, Volunteer, Social Member since 2016.
Bette Kulp (she/her),
Member (2023-), Community Advocate and Volunteer
Bette Kulp came to SLO in 1988 when she and her husband retired. She immediately became involved in AAUW as well as volunteering – delivering meals, providing information to arrivals at the train station, serving on the Grand Jury, working as aide to Supervisor Evelyn Delaney, helping young readers at Hawthorne School develop and improve their reading skills. Her interests include support for the preservation of our pristine lands, women’s rights, birdwatching, and bridge. She is passionate about the SLO Repertory Theatre’s building plans and is anxious for construction to begin. Board Member since 2023, Full Member since 2021.
Member (2023-), Community Advocate and Volunteer
Bette Kulp came to SLO in 1988 when she and her husband retired. She immediately became involved in AAUW as well as volunteering – delivering meals, providing information to arrivals at the train station, serving on the Grand Jury, working as aide to Supervisor Evelyn Delaney, helping young readers at Hawthorne School develop and improve their reading skills. Her interests include support for the preservation of our pristine lands, women’s rights, birdwatching, and bridge. She is passionate about the SLO Repertory Theatre’s building plans and is anxious for construction to begin. Board Member since 2023, Full Member since 2021.
Nicki Edwards (she/her)
Member (2023-) Retired Director of Nursing
Nicki has lived in SLO for over 20 years, after being transferred here by Tenet Health in 2001 to work as the Chief Nursing Officer at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. She has been involved with several SLO not-for-profits including the Community Foundation, Cuesta College Nursing Community Advisory Board, Vocal Arts Ensemble Board, SLO Master Chorale, SLO Workforce Development Board, and Canzona Women's Ensemble. She grew up in Southern California, and received her BA from Pomona College, BSN and MSN from Cal State Long Beach, and a PhD in nursing from UC San Francisco. She has 2 daughters, 5 grandchildren and enjoys spending time with them. Board Member since 2023, Volunteer since 2017.
Member (2023-) Retired Director of Nursing
Nicki has lived in SLO for over 20 years, after being transferred here by Tenet Health in 2001 to work as the Chief Nursing Officer at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. She has been involved with several SLO not-for-profits including the Community Foundation, Cuesta College Nursing Community Advisory Board, Vocal Arts Ensemble Board, SLO Master Chorale, SLO Workforce Development Board, and Canzona Women's Ensemble. She grew up in Southern California, and received her BA from Pomona College, BSN and MSN from Cal State Long Beach, and a PhD in nursing from UC San Francisco. She has 2 daughters, 5 grandchildren and enjoys spending time with them. Board Member since 2023, Volunteer since 2017.
John Ashbough (he/him)
Advisory Board Member, Community Access
John retired from teaching US and California history at Hancock College in 2021, following a career that included 20 years in this century as a member of academia (Hancock College and Cal Poly) and over 20 years in the 20th century as a planning consultant for local governments throughout the Central Coast. His experience in local government also includes two campaigns as the Democratic candidate for State Assembly in the early 1990s and over a decade serving the City of San Luis Obispo on the Planning Commission (4 years), City Council (8 years), and currently on the Cultural Heritage Committee. He's also involved in non-profit work primarily as a volunteer Board member with Transitions Mental Health Association, CAPSLO, History Center, Old Mission Docents Association, and SLO Morning Kiwanis Club. Volunteer since 2023.
Advisory Board Member, Community Access
John retired from teaching US and California history at Hancock College in 2021, following a career that included 20 years in this century as a member of academia (Hancock College and Cal Poly) and over 20 years in the 20th century as a planning consultant for local governments throughout the Central Coast. His experience in local government also includes two campaigns as the Democratic candidate for State Assembly in the early 1990s and over a decade serving the City of San Luis Obispo on the Planning Commission (4 years), City Council (8 years), and currently on the Cultural Heritage Committee. He's also involved in non-profit work primarily as a volunteer Board member with Transitions Mental Health Association, CAPSLO, History Center, Old Mission Docents Association, and SLO Morning Kiwanis Club. Volunteer since 2023.
Maggie Cox (she/her)
Advisory Board Member, Public Relations
Maggie's 40+ year career produced many different work assignments, but with a common focus: communications. Working at television stations in San Francisco, Sacramento and Salinas post-college helped Maggie refine her communications skills, and a five-year post with the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce enabled her to get to know the people and businesses of the county. A Bay Area native and graduate of UC Davis, Maggie has always been happiest when engaging with people. She has served on many local boards, including United Way of SLO County, the Central Coast Economic Forecast, the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center Community Board, and was a founding board member of the SLO Children’s Museum. She has been honored as Citizen of the Year by the SLO Chamber of Commerce, a Cuesta College Woman of Distinction, and as a Pacific Coast Business Times Woman-Owned Business honoree.
Advisory Board Member, Public Relations
Maggie's 40+ year career produced many different work assignments, but with a common focus: communications. Working at television stations in San Francisco, Sacramento and Salinas post-college helped Maggie refine her communications skills, and a five-year post with the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce enabled her to get to know the people and businesses of the county. A Bay Area native and graduate of UC Davis, Maggie has always been happiest when engaging with people. She has served on many local boards, including United Way of SLO County, the Central Coast Economic Forecast, the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center Community Board, and was a founding board member of the SLO Children’s Museum. She has been honored as Citizen of the Year by the SLO Chamber of Commerce, a Cuesta College Woman of Distinction, and as a Pacific Coast Business Times Woman-Owned Business honoree.