Founders and Board
MEET OUR FOUNDERS
Debra Máres, Esq.
Co- Founder/Executive Board Advisor
Debra Máres is a veteran prosecutor in Riverside County. Her assignments have included Juvenile Court, overseeing a team of juvenile court prosecutors and the Countywide School Attendance Review Board (SARB) Prosecutor, overseeing a team of SARB prosecutors and working with school districts, and organizations in the public and private sectors to implement innovative strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism, suspensions, dropout rates, juvenile truancy and delinquency. She also worked on the Youth Accountability Team (YAT) where she monitored over 100 youth in juvenile probation diversion programs.
Debra Máres, Esq.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PUBLISHING DIRECTOR & CO-CREATOR OF THE WRITE OF YOUR L!FE™
Debra Máres, Esq., WWW Co-Founder Executive Director, Publishing Director & Co-Creator of The Write of Your L!fe,™ is a veteran prosecutor in Riverside County. Her assignments have included Juvenile Court, overseeing a team of juvenile court prosecutors and the Countywide School Attendance Review Board (SARB) Prosecutor, overseeing a team of SARB prosecutors and working with school districts, and organizations in the public and private sectors to implement innovative strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism, suspensions, dropout rates, juvenile truancy and delinquency. She also worked on the Youth Accountability Team (YAT) where she monitored over 100 youth in juvenile probation diversion programs.
Debra previously handled prison Board of Parole Hearings of convicted murderers and over the years,she has prosecuted cases involving sexual assault and child abuse, domestic violence, political corruption, group home fraud, gang crimes and homicides. She has participated in Gang Intervention For Teens (GIFT), a law enforcement gang prevention program.
Debra has garnered numerous awards in Riverside County including Community Hero in 2012, Prosecutor of Year in 2006 and 2009 and the Bulldog: Stick it To Em award. Debra holds a bachelors degree in Political Science from UCLA, where she competed on the Speech & Debate Team.
In 2003, Debra graduated from Loyola Law School, where she was an editor on the Entertainment Law Review and competitor on the Scott Moot Court Honors Board National Team and the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) Moot Court Team where she was named top oralist in the country and placed second nationally. Debra has successfully completed writing and coaching workshops at UCLA Extension’s Writers Studio,Redbarn Coaching and Autobiography, Memoir & Fiction at Otis College of Art & Design. She was a past member of Orange County Fictionaires and past attorney mock trial coach for Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana. Debra sits on the steering committees of the Riverside Police Department (RPD) Youth Court and Jurupa Unified School District (JUSD) Student Court, and sits as the Board Secretary on the Board of Directors of California Association of Youth Courts (CAYC), Inlandia Institute, a nonprofit literary center in Inland Southern California and is the Vice President on the Board of Directors for Gateway College & Career Academy, an early college school for students struggling academically.
Debra teaches Art & Social Change, The Impact of Parental Incarceration on Children and Working With Children Who Challenge Teachers' Skills at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, decided at eleven years old she would become an attorney and voice for women, and is the legal thriller author of The Mamacita Murders</a and the children's book author of It's This Monkey's Business, which tackles domestic violence and divorce. Her mission is to build resilience in those affected by trauma.
Nikki Randolph
Account Manager and Public Relations Specialist
is a licensed Private Investigator and former Paralegal for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office since 2006. Inspired by her work in the gang and sexual assault units, Nikki set out to empower youth and improve public confidence in the justice system.Nikki collaborated with the Riverside County Office of Education, the probation department, law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney’s Office to implement youth intervention programs.
Nikki Randolph
ACCOUNT MANAGER AND PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST
Nikki Randolph, WWW Co-Founder, Account Manager and Public Relations Specialist, is a licensed Private Investigator and former Paralegal for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office since 2006. Inspired by her work in the gang and sexual assault units, Nikki set out to empower youth and improve public confidence in the justice system.
Nikki collaborated with the Riverside County Office of Education, the probation department, law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney’s Office to implement youth intervention programs. Nikki counseled over 2,500 at-risk youth in conjunction with probation and law enforcement, arranged and transported nearly 400 at-risk juveniles to tour local juvenile halls, jails and prisons in efforts to expose them to the life of an inmate, and presented to over a dozen schools, on topics including bullying, gangs, drugs, anger management, truancy and the law. Nikki developed, coordinated, and co-presented A Peek Into Law Enforcement: Stages of the Criminal Justice System.
Through her work in Riverside County, Nikki received Outstanding Support and Collaboration in Promoting a Safe and Secure Learning Environment 2009, Award of Appreciation from Banning Police Department 2010, and Community Hero Award 2012. Nikki received her Bachelor of Science degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Kacey Sutton, Esq.
Co-Creator of The Write of Your L!fe™, former WWW Vice President and Curriculum Director
She has been a Riverside County Deputy District Attorney since 2006. Kacey prosecutes sexual assault and child abuse cases. A passion to advocate for victims especially in the arenas of sexual assault and domestic violence led Kacey to become a prosecutor. Kacey works daily with at-risk youth through her role on multiple Youth Accountability Teams. Kacey provides school assemblies and parent presentations, reaching thousands across multiple school districts, highlighting the importance of education, danger of sexual predators, bullying, domestic violence, victim empowerment and overall crime prevention. Kacey teaches workshops to teens on domestic violence, bullying, sex trafficking, self-empowerment and the necessity of education.
Kacey Sutton, Esq.
CO-CREATOR OF THE WRITE OF YOUR L!FE™, FORMER WWW VICE PRESIDENT AND CURRICULUM DIRECTOR
Kacey Sutton, Esq., WWW Co-Founder & Co-Creator of The Write of Your L!fe,™ is the past WWW Vice President and past Curriculum Director. She has been a Riverside County Deputy District Attorney since 2006. Kacey prosecutes sexual assault and child abuse cases. A passion to advocate for victims especially in the arenas of sexual assault and domestic violence led Kacey to become a prosecutor.
Kacey works daily with at-risk youth through her role on multiple Youth Accountability Teams. Kacey provides school assemblies and parent presentations, reaching thousands across multiple school districts, highlighting the importance of education, danger of sexual predators, bullying, domestic violence, victim empowerment and overall crime prevention. Kacey teaches workshops to teens on domestic violence, bullying, sex trafficking, self-empowerment and the necessity of education. Kacey works with school districts through the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) process meeting with hundreds of families working to get truant children back in school. She sits on the board of the Humanity of Justice Foundation a nonprofit aimed at combating child abuse, and works out in the community through a variety of programs to empower youth.
Through her work in Riverside County, Kacey received the Excellence in Public Safety Award 2009, Community Hero Award 2012, Chief Probation Officer’s Award 2012 and was honored by the Riverside County Office of Education in 2012 for Outstanding Support and Collaboration in Promoting a Safe and Secure Learning Environment.
Kacey graduated from the University of San Diego, summa cum laude, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in History. Kacey received her law degree and certification in dispute resolution from Pepperdine University School of Law.
Kacey Sutton, Esq.
CO-CREATOR OF THE WRITE OF YOUR L!FE™, FORMER WWW VICE PRESIDENT AND CURRICULUM DIRECTOR
Kacey Sutton, Esq., WWW Co-Founder & Co-Creator of The Write of Your L!fe,™ is the past WWW Vice President and past Curriculum Director. She has been a Riverside County Deputy District Attorney since 2006. Kacey prosecutes sexual assault and child abuse cases. A passion to advocate for victims especially in the arenas of sexual assault and domestic violence led Kacey to become a prosecutor. Kacey works daily with at-risk youth through her role on multiple Youth Accountability Teams. Kacey provides school assemblies and parent presentations, reaching thousands across multiple school districts, highlighting the importance of education, danger of sexual predators, bullying, domestic violence, victim empowerment and overall crime prevention. Kacey teaches workshops to teens on domestic violence, bullying, sex trafficking, self-empowerment and the necessity of education. Kacey works with school districts through the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) process meeting with hundreds of families working to get truant children back in school. She sits on the board of the Humanity of Justice Foundation a nonprofit aimed at combating child abuse, and works out in the community through a variety of programs to empower youth. Through her work in Riverside County, Kacey received the Excellence in Public Safety Award 2009, Community Hero Award 2012, Chief Probation Officer’s Award 2012 and was honored by the Riverside County Office of Education in 2012 for Outstanding Support and Collaboration in Promoting a Safe and Secure Learning Environment. Kacey graduated from the University of San Diego, summa cum laude, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in History. Kacey received her law degree and certification in dispute resolution from Pepperdine University School of Law.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Diana Walsh-Reuss
Board Chair
She has a life-long focus on supporting students with the greatest needs through a career in education spanning almost 40 years, Formerly the Associate Superintendent of Schools, she has served the Riverside County educational community leading Alternative Education and Special Education, Head Start, State Preschool, Child Care, Migrant Head Start, and Migrant Education in a variety of capacities during her tenure. In addition, Dr. Walsh-Reuss facilitated the creation of Come Back Kids, a drop-out recovery program and Riverside County Education Academy, a military-themed charter high school. Her career experiences include teaching pre-K through adult education, assistant principal, principal, director, and assistant superintendent.
Dr. Gimel Rogers, Psy.D.
BOARD CHAIR
Dr. Gimel Rogers, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist and the Training Director of the Professional Clinical and Forensic Services department at the Institute on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma (IVAT).
She earned her doctorate from Pepperdine University and has provided trauma focused care with clients from the Children of the Night Program, the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility, FCI Terminal Island, and community programs serving survivors of intimate partner violence.
She utilizes an array of therapeutic interventions with an emphasis on cognitive behavioral therapy.
Dr. Rogers presently works with survivors who are recovering from emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Additionally, she assists clients who are involved in criminal, family, and civil cases involving a broad range of forensic issues.
Having published in the areas of culture, coping, spirituality, and trauma, she is an adjunct professor at Pacific Oaks College, Pepperdine University, and Point Loma Nazarene University. Her inaugural book is the “21-Day Relationship Healing Devotional and Journal” a poetry-based devotional that promotes restoration through reflection.
Dr. Rogers dedicates time and energy to individuals across the world through her organization Fearless Individuals Resistant to Entrapment (F.I.R.E.) and its brand One Temple Fitness.
Dr. Gimel Rogers, Psy.D.
Advisory Board Member, Licensed psychologist and Custody Evaluator of the Professional Clinical and Forensic Services Dept, the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma (IVAT)
Nikki Randolph
WWW Co-Founder, NR Investigations, LLC, Past Paralegal Riverside District Attorney’s Office
Maria Framinán Smith
WWW Board Treasurer, Certified Public Accountant, Former Tax Manager, Alexander Thompson Arnold, PLLC
Aung Moe
Chief Operating Officer at Hiko Miniko LLC, Hiko Enterprise and Hiko Global; Masters in Criminal Justice, Boston University/Arizona State University and Masters in Nonprofit Management and Leadership, Arizona State University
Tonia Fergusen
Board Secretary, Administrative Assistant II, San Bernardino Superior Court, MA Psychology Marriage & Family Therapy, Azusa Pacific Univ.
Debra Máres (Postil)
Riverside Senior Deputy District Attorney, Pacific Oaks College Adjunct Faculty, WWW Co- Founder/Executive Board Advisor
Christen Montero
Chief Marketing Office, Blue Social, Top 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the World, Management Consultant, Artist, Speaker
Kailin Scott
Gateway College & Career Academy Marketing & Outreach Specialist, MBA Marketing & Management La Sierra University
Jenny Johnson
Former Riverside County Department of Social Services Social Worker, BA Sociology Cal State San Bernardino.
Jernine Williams
Associate Director of Development at University of California, Riverside, Former Girl Scouts San Gorgonio Dir. of Development
Jeffrey Michael Kidd
Executive Director