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FOUNDATION OVERVIEW

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About the Foundation

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The Orange County Beach Cities Aikido Foundation (OCBCAF)  is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit educational organization dedicated to supporting all members of the Southern California communities.  The OCBCAF (EIN NUMBER 87-3873476) was founded to promote love and compassion in our local community with programs that provide wellness, leadership, and mentorship to empower the body, awaken the mind, and enlighten the spirit. In addition to providing valuable online resources as a part of our educational programs, the OCBCAF is also responsible for maintaining the certification program for participants in the martial art of Aikido. The OCBCAF also offers programs to assist underserved families, women and children, and provide access to learning Aikido through scholarships.

Board of Directors and Officers

David Takata

David Takata

President and Chairman of the Board

David Takata is the founder and CEO of Engage Capital. He has held board-level and executive management positions with operating companies, and has had international recognition for managing complex investments and transactions. In June 2007, Takata managed the acquisition of a professional lacrosse team for its current owners. He remains active with the team as its CFO and chairs the National Lacrosse League’s Nominating, Governance, & Compensation Committee.
Omar Martinez

Omar Martinez

Vice-President of the Board

Retired Police Lieutenant, Tactical Training Instructor

Omar Martinez advises and supports the training and educational development segments of the OCBAF non-profit organization.  

Omar recently retired as a Police Lieutenant from a major California law enforcement agency after 27 years.  During his time in law enforcement, he worked as a Patrol Watch Commander, Detective, and as a basic academy and an advanced training instructor.  Omar taught several learning domains at the police academy including tactical communication, verbal de-escalation, dispute resolution and conflict management. He also instructed new and veteran officers on police arrest and control tactics, the baton and self-defense techniques. 

Michael Chase

Michael Chase

Vice President

Michael Chase has been a Critical Care RN for the past 15 of his 18 yr nursing career and has held the position of Rapid Response Team Lead and Committed Chair at Hoag Hospital Newport Beach for the past 9 years. He is an expert and instructor in CPR and life support modalities.
He also has a wealth of experience in community outreach and event planning. He has been a leader and teacher in various faith communities over the past decades and has a passion for working with men’s groups.
Jax Kuluris

Jax Kuluris

Vice President

Jaclyn “Jax” Kuluris received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy from San Diego State University. She has a Pre-Physical Therapy Certification and an additional BS degree in Speech Language Pathology from Portland State University. She has garnered extensive work experience with the Neuro population from her positions at Casa Colina Hospital, Goodwill Fitness Center, and United Cerebral Palsy, and specializes in Functional Range Conditioning concepts (FRC) and Neuro Development Technique (NDT) for both adults and children. The knowledge she has gleaned from her post-op and hospital rehabilitation experience enables her to improve the mobility, strength, and balance of her clients at Highest Potential Training (a company which she founded), as well as aiding in their injury prevention and/or rehabilitation.

Anna Sarabian

Anna Sarabian

Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer

Ms. Anna V. Sarabian, Ph.D., is a Principal at Fieldman, Rolapp & Associates, Inc. and a registered municipal advisor. She is an expert in the area of public finance for state and local governments. Over nearly twenty years in public finance, Sarabian has been involved with assisting public agencies in California, Hawaii, Washington, D.C., and North Dakota with capital facilities funding plans, debt, reserve and budget policy development, the development of long range financial plans, and raising more than $10 billion to fund critical infrastructure projects. She serves as the co-president of the Women in Public Finance, Los Angeles chapter and is a member of the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers.

Board of Advisors

Jason Carter

Jason Carter

Jason Carter was accepted into the Japanese Ministry of Education’s (Mombusho) J.E.T. Program(me) and spent 3 years in Ibaraki Prefecture, just North of Tokyo. After leaving the J.E.T. Program(me), he worked for Tsukuba Science City’s Board of Educations (Tsukuba-shi Kyoiku Iinkai) as a teach-trainer, class room teacher, translator and interpreter. It was during his 5 years in Japan that he began his studies of Aikido, Kendo, Iaido and tea ceremony as well as his passion for collecting Japanese ceramics. 

Gentil Pennewaert Shihan

Gentil Pennewaert Shihan

Founder of Newport Beach Aikikai Shin Do Kan Dojo

Gentil Pennewaert Shihan, is a second generation student of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. He was the otomo to the late Seiichi Sugano Shihan for more than two decades, traveling the world with Sugano as his apprentice. He also served as an otomo to Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan and Tsuruzo Miyamoto Shihan. His teaching embodies the traditional spirit of Aikido with over 35 years of experience. Sensei’s credentials are recognized by the World Aikido Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan (which is directly related to the founder of Aikido) and the United States Aikido Federation Headquarters (USAF).
Willliam Buckner

Willliam Buckner

Partner, Buckner Robinson Mirkovich

William D. Buckner is the Managing Partner of the firm and director of the firm’s Real Estate and Corporate Practice Groups. Mr. Buckner’s practice focuses on commercial real estate development, leasing, finance, acquisitions and dispositions. With over 30 years of industry experience, he has represented hundreds of developers, landowners and investors in successfully closing a multitude of sophisticated real estate development projects, with particular emphasis on shopping centers, regional malls and power centers. Mr. Buckner is well known in the retail industry where his practice focuses on negotiating retail leases with the anchor tenants.his passion for collecting Japanese ceramics. 

David Brown, MD

David Brown, MD

Neurologist, Hoag Stroke Program Director

As program director of Hoag’s Stroke Program, Dr. Brown has developed a dedicated, multidisciplinary acute stroke response team that provides immediate care to stroke victims throughout the hospital. In addition, the stroke program offers support groups and community outreach to educate potential stroke patients about the warning signs of stroke. Dr. Brown is a neurohospitalist, a neurologist who specializes in the acute care of hospitalized patients, and focuses on providing continuous quality improvement of acute stroke treatment and ischemic stroke prevention.

Peter Kim, MD

Peter Kim, MD

Medical Director, Family Care Centers, Costa Mesa, CA

As a primary care physician: to provide high quality, ever-improving healthcare and education to my patients. As medical director: to improve quality of care delivery to patients, patient and provider/staff  satisfaction, and cost consciousness.

As a medical IT advisor: to improve the integration of technology into healthcare delivery, so that providers, patients, and organizations can do great things, faster and more efficiently than ever before. As a physician board representative: to match what providers and patients need most with what organizations can do best.

Charn Pennewaert

Charn Pennewaert

Founder of Media Stream

With over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience and marketing expertise, Charn is the CEO of Media Stream. She enjoys the arena of product development, managing organizations, and developing marketing strategies for her exclusive clients. As an aikidoka with over 20 years experience, she teaches the children’s program along with Gentil Pennewaert at the Newport Beach Aikikai dojo. She is passionate about passing on the important values in aikido to the next generation to develop awareness, coordination, respect, integrity, and loyalty, and resilience.

Kristin Brown

Kristin Brown

Pediatrician, Hoag Medical Group

 Dr. Brown provides her patients and their parents with guidance and education with the goal of achieving optimal health. She chose pediatrics as she thoroughly enjoys the clinical aspects of all stages – infant, toddler, child & adolescent – as well as the joy and fun each child brings. Practicing for over 15 years, Dr. Brown employs a comprehensive approach where she looks at the social, physical, and emotional health of the child to gain a full picture.Dr. Brown understands the importance of selecting a pediatrician and consistently works hard to deliver on her promise to provide exceptional care.

Support the OCBCAF

The OC Beach Cities Aikido Foundation supports a myriad of programs in the Southern California area, including youth summer camps, women’s empowerment, veteran’s mental health, corporate wellness, and leadership programs. Click on the button below to learn more about how you can support these valuable community programs in your area.
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(949) 553-0160 info@ocbcaf.com 2018 Quail Street Newport Beach CA 92660