By Daily Press staff
The Santa Monica American Red Cross has announced three new staff members.
Shirley Strom, new director of resource development, will be responsible for fund raising activities and working with individuals, corporations, foundations and other charitable groups to secure financial support for the Santa Monica Red Cross.
Strom has been executive director for three other nonprofit organizations and an independent consultant for fund-raising and special events for nonprofits before coming to the Santa Monica Red Cross.
Strom first became acquainted with the chapter as a member of the resources development committee and as a local volunteer working on Hurricane Katrina disaster relief.
Her work as a volunteer and nonprofit resource development background led to her present position. She has a political science degree from Webster University, in St. Louis, MO. She lives in Santa Monica and is married with two grown children. Her daughter attends college and her son lives in St. Louis.
Michele McKean, new development associate, will assist Strom in the chapter’s fund-raising activities. McKean will be responsible for building and maintaining the chapter’s donor data base. She worked on assignment at the Getty Villa Museum in Malibu where she assisted in the preparations for its recent public reopening.
McKean moved to the Los Angeles area from New York City in 2002 where she was a buyer and inventory control manager for Felissimo, a luxury retailer. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont, is married and lives in Woodland Hills with her husband.
Betty Martinez, new customer service supervisor, is working in the reception area, where she provides general supervision and guidance to volunteers who help with phones. Martinez is bilingual and assists the chapter’s Spanish speaking clients.
Martinez’s main responsibility is with health and safety services in records and reports where she assists with enrollment of students in classes and student certification. In coming months, her duties will expand to include business and industry sales of CPR/first aid and emergency supplies to local residents and businesses.
Martinez came to Santa Monica from the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Red Cross where she worked as a health and safety assistant and nurses assistant coordinator. She is a Los Angeles resident and a part-time student at LA City College.
Martinez is a single mom raising twin boys, 9, and one 14-year-old.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 15, 2006. Read the original PDF.