Monica Farias, Board Chairwoman - email

Monica Farias is the Founder and President CEO of the Greater West Covina Business Association, serving as an advocate for the business community. The Association was founded in 2009 and still moving strong servicing the city of West Covina and neighboring cities. Monica has a history of working in the government administration industry. She is skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Marketing, Advertising, Sales, and Business Development. She has earned a certificate in Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services from University of Southern California. Monica is a proud honorary member of the West Covina Kiwanis and is a respected member in the community of West Covina. Monica is married to David Farias and has a blended family of six adult children. She has four grandchildren that currently attend SJCA - Aleena, Jasmine, Elijah and Ethan. She is fluent in Spanish, and in her free time enjoys reading and cooking.

Nicole Valdovinos, Board Vice-Chairwoman - email

Nicole Valdovinos is a West Covina resident and is the Executive Editor of Inside Weddings magazine, where she combines her extensive editorial and writing experience with a vast expertise of wedding trends and traditions. Nicole’s knowledge has also been tapped for numerous print publications, as well as McClatchy-Tribune News Services, which syndicated her wedding-planning articles. Nicole received her bachelor’s degree from Whittier College, a master’s degree from Mount St. Mary’s College, and a second master’s degree from the University of Southern California. In addition to working full-time, she is a dedicated room parent, PTO chairperson, and an all-around enthusiastic community leader on campus. If Nicole isn’t decorating a classroom door, setting up snacks for teachers in the workroom, or planning the next milestone SJCA celebration, she is on a baseball field with her husband watching their son Alijah or at the dance studio with daughters Danica and Samantha.

Jeff Coronado, Board Secretary - email 

Jeff Coronado is a Structural Engineer licensed in the States of California and Nevada. He is the founding Principal of Jeff Coronado Structural Engineering Consultants and has run the firm since 1995. Jeff has served on a number of committees for the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California, has Chaired the Earthquake Damage Assessment Subcommittee of the Existing Buildings Committee and currently sits on the Building Code Committee. He has assisted the State Board of California with the preparation, grading, and standard setting of the structural engineering licensing examination. He has presented seminars on Deterministic and Probabilistic Seismic Loss Estimation Studies and Post Earthquake Evaluations. He has authored and peer-reviewed articles that have appeared in the Structural Engineers Association of California Proceedings and Applied Technology Council Technical Series. Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California. He completed one year of graduate studies in the Structural Engineering and Structural Mechanics Program at the University of California, Berkeley, and later earned his P.E. and S.E. designations. Educated in both the United States and Costa Rica, Jeff is fluent in Spanish. Jeff lives in West Covina with his wife, Annette, and their two children, ages 17 and 24. 

David Wallach, Board Member - email 

David Wallach is President and CEO of AES-Asbestos, Environment, & Safety in West Covina.  He has lived in Hacienda Heights, California, for over 30 years. An avid community volunteer and advocate for education, David is an active member of the Kiwanis Club of West Covina, twice named Kiwanian of the Year in 2000 and 2003. He has also served on the committees for the Kiwanis Rose Float for Pasadena, as well as internationally. David is also active with the PTA, serving the Hacienda La Puente PTA Council as Advisor to the President. Growing up in New Jersey, David earned the Eagle Scout award from Boy Scouts of America and continues to volunteer with the organization. A member of the National Eagle Scout Association, he is a current assistant scoutmaster and has also served on multiple committees. He has been recognized for the James E West Fellowship and the Baden Powell Award. David has been married for 38 years to his wife Christine and has two children, Kristy and Billy. Kristy is a Kindergarten teacher at Wedgeworth Elementary School and Billy is a Trauma nurse and a Medical Administrator at UCI Medical Center.  As well-respected members of their community, David’s family has also been awarded the Kiwanis Family of the Year in both 2002 and 2004.

Tony Song, Board Member - email 

Tony Song, a 20-year proud resident of West Covina, is the CEO and founder of Diabetes Care Partners, specializing in online patient diabetes wellness and prevention programs, and an advocate for all people living with diabetes. As a pioneer in the diabetes industry, he speaks nationally on the topic of patient-empowered wellness, online telehealth programs, and innovative systems of population health management for organizations such as the CDC, the National Association of Chronic Care Directors, and The Los Angeles Public Health Department for which he serves as the Co-chair for the LA County Public Health Diabetes Coalition. As a community leader, he serves on boards of directors for various local healthcare, education, service organizations, and philanthropic foundations. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and is currently pursuing his MBA in Healthcare at the University of Northern Arizona W.A. Frank College of Business. A dedicated family man to his wife and two children, Tony underscores the significance of a strong educational foundation in nurturing continuous learning and fostering growth.

Matt Smith, Board Member - email

Matthew Smith has more than 30 years of professional experience in the educational field. He has educational experience as a coach, teacher assistant, 7th grade homeroom instructor, high school math instructor, adult school English teacher, assistant principal, director of adult education, and interim assistant superintendent of Human Resources. His responsibilities have been to oversee a $5.7 million dollar categorical program, evaluate a staff of 140, develop school plans, and monitor student achievement. Matthew retired from his position as a Program Administrator for a local school district. He is a Kirk McKeever and George C. Mann adult education winner and has won two CDE Promising Practices awards. He is married with two children who attended San Jose Charter Academy.