(Oct. 14, 2025) SAN DIEGO — Voices for Children (VFC) is the only local nonprofit organization certified by the San Diego and Riverside Counties courts to recruit and train Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers who speak up for the needs and well-being of children in foster care. The organization is pleased to announce the appointment of five new members to its Board of Directors:
- Rob Borthwick
- Holly Parrish Brown
- Jamie Oberto
- Shannon M. Stein, Esq.
- Alex Zikakis
Each brings exceptional experience and a strong commitment to VFC’s mission of advocating for children in foster care.
Rob Borthwick is a longtime advocate for children in foster care, having served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) with Voices for Children for thirteen years. His deep commitment to Voices’ mission has shaped his broader dedication to supporting vulnerable youth. Borthwick is the chief risk officer at Sempra, where he oversees compliance, risk management, cybersecurity, and sustainability. A former federal prosecutor and Senate staffer, he brings a strong legal background to his advocacy. He is the former board chair of Serving Seniors and has been engaged in at-risk youth initiatives in Los Angeles.
Holly Parrish Brown has more than two decades of leadership across finance, digital media, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit governance. She has held senior roles at J.P. Morgan, Yahoo!, and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and co-founded and sold a digital curated marketplace for mothers. Brown served as a trustee at The Peck School and has a personal commitment to addressing hunger, having volunteered with organizations such as the San Diego Food Bank and ProduceGood. She holds an MBA from The Wharton School and a BA in Economics from Vanderbilt University.
Shannon M. Stein, Esq. is a partner at Goodwin Brown Gross & Lovelace LLP, focusing on probate and trust administration, conservatorships, and estate planning. A San Diego native, Stein has chaired the Estate Planning, Trust and Probate section of the San Diego County Bar Association and served as President of the San Diego County Bar Foundation. She holds a BA from UC Davis and a JD from California Western School of Law, and has been named a Super Lawyer since 2023.
Jamie Oberto is a seasoned sales and marketing executive with over a decade of experience in the startup medical industry, specializing in cardiovascular and oncology products. She holds a B.S. in Finance and Marketing from Boston College and an MBA in Marketing from UC San Diego. A dedicated mother of two and active community volunteer, Jamie supports the Community Resource Center and St. John School in Encinitas, bringing leadership, compassion, and strategic insight to every role she takes on.
Alex Zikakis is the president and founder of Capstone Advisors, a real estate investment, development, and advisory firm. Under his leadership, Capstone has invested nearly $3 billion in residential development ventures and acquired over five million square feet of commercial property. Zikakis holds an MBA from Cornell University and a BA in finance from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He has served on advisory boards at Cornell University, the University of Colorado, and currently serves on the University of San Diego advisory board.
“Our Board of Directors is essential to guiding Voices for Children’s vision and ensuring the long-term success of our programs,” said Voices for Children’s President & CEO, Jessica Muñoz, Esq., MFS. “We are proud to welcome Rob, Holly, Jamie, Shannon, and Alex to our Board. Their talents, insights, and community dedication will help amplify our impact for youth in foster care in San Diego and Riverside Counties.”
