Board Members

John R. Wright

Email: planningwright@sbcglobal.net

John Wright was Director of Planning and Development for the City of Clovis for three decades. His vision is largely responsible for the extensive regional and neighborhood park system in the City of Clovis, and his efforts to obtain grant funding and commitment from the city helped create the system of trails throughout the city and throughout the greater metropolitan area. John lives in Clovis with his wife, Carol, and spends a great deal of his time with his grandchildren since he retired from the City of Clovis in April 2008

Patti Lippert

Email: pattilippert@cusd.com

Patti Lippert has been sharing stories about Clovis and the Clovis Unified School District communities for more than 20 years. She is a communications specialist for Clovis Unified and is a past editor and reporter for The Clovis Independent and The Fresno Bee’s Neighbors newspapers. She co-authored “Images of America – Clovis,” a book celebrating Clovis’ Centennial Anniversary in 2012. She has been active in promoting and supporting local philanthropic work and was a member of the City of Clovis’ General Plan Advisory Committee. Patti earned her journalism degree from USC and lives in Clovis with her husband, Michael Fennacy, who is an architect. They have four sons who all are/will be Clovis Unified graduates and who have varying interests that include water polo, drama, art, robotics and science.

Karen J. Bak

Email: karenbak@csufresno.edu

Karen Bak is a resident of Clovis and was raised in the area. Karen was born in Munich, Germany and received a B.S. and M.S. in Food Science from California State University, Fresno.

Cathy Garner

Phone: 559-298-3276
Email: fresnowildlife@psnw.com

Cathy Garner is a lifelong resident of the Central Valley and is Office Manager in a doctor's office. Cathy's interest in wildlife care began when she volunteered as a docent at the Chaffee Zoo. In 1974 she founded the Fresno Wildlife Rehabilitation Service, Inc. and she is currently its Director. The Fresno Wildlife Rehabilitation Service has been leading the effort to build the Valley Nature Education Center, a state-of-the-art nature center in Clovis that will serve as a veterinary care and rehabilitation facility for wildlife, as well as place where people can learn about California native wildlife (for more information, see the description under the "Current Projects" tab above).

Kent Hamlin

Email: w.kent.hamlin@gmail.com

Kent Hamlin grew up in Fresno and attended Roosevelt High School, Stanford University and Hastings College of the Law. He practiced civil litigation for four years and prosecuted crimes as a deputy district attorney for seven years before he was elected to serve as a judge of the Fresno Superior Court in 1998. He retired from the bench in 2020 and now serves as a temporary assigned judge on a part-time basis, covering court calendars in Fresno County and elsewhere on occasion. Kent served on the Clovis City Council from 1994 to 1998. He has lived in Clovis since 1990 with his wife, Kathy, a former music teacher for Clovis Unified School District and former director of the Serve Clovis! volunteer campaign.

Ginny Hovsepian

Email: ginnyhovsepian@cusd.com

Ginny Hovsepian has served as a member of the Clovis Unified School District Board since 1991. A graduate of Clovis High School, Ginny earned a bachelor of science degree in research psychology at California State University, Fresno, and completed graduate work at CSUF and the University of Nevada. She is a fourth generation school board member and a lifelong resident of Clovis Unified.

Dwight Kroll

Email: dwightkroll1@gmail.com

Dwight Kroll worked for the Clovis Planning and Development Department for thirty-nine years and served as Director for the last twelve, retiring in 2020. Dwight’s specialty in urban design has contributed to the revitalization of Clovis’ Old Town area as well as the design and development of Loma Vista and Clovis’ newest urban village, Heritage Grove. Dwight and his staff recently received a national American Planning Association award for the development of Clovis’ Cottage Home program. Dwight sits on several community serving boards and is now a happy stepdad to a newly acquired family of seven.

Bob Van Wyk

Email: svwyk@aol.com

Bob Van Wyk is a resident of Clovis, born in Iowa. He and his wife, Sharon, moved to California in 1966. Bob is a proud alumnus of California State University, Fresno, with a degree in Public Administration. He worked for the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District for 41 years, retiring as its general manager in 2014.

Hugh W. Willoughby

Email:lawdoc73@sbcglobal.net

Hugh is a long-time resident of Clovis, born in Canada. He attended Clovis schools, graduating from Clovis High in 1966, from Fresno State in 1970 and UCLA Law School in 1973. He is a “semi-retired” solo practitioner lawyer with an office in Clovis. He has been involved in various community activities over the years, including serving on the Clovis Planning Commission for 12 years.

Carol Wright

Email: c-wright00@sbcglobal.net

Carol Wright is a resident of Clovis. She received a teaching credential from California State University, Fresno and taught in the Clovis Unified School District. She has served on the CenterStage Clovis Community Theatre board since its inception in 1991.

Matthew Hoffman
Baker, Manock & Jensen

The Woodworth Group