Founder & President
Maryam Zar is a civic leader, policy advocate, and public figure based in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. She is Chair Emeritus of the PPCC former Chair of WRAC and founding Chair of PPTFH. Her home in Pacific Palisades is standing, on a street that is practically unscathed, perhaps due to her successful advocacy.
Vice President
Wally is the President of Walter N. Marks, Inc., 3rd generation owner and operator of the historic Helms Bakery District, as well as a builder and Board Chair Emerita of the Craft & Folk Art Museum. He serves on philanthropic boards across L.A. and lost his home in the Alphabets.
Treasurer
Vicky Schiff is a Pacific Palisades fire survivor who lost her home in Castellammare. She is the CEO of Avrio Real Estate Credit and serves as a post-fire neighborhood leader, bringing professional expertise and local advocacy to the rebuilding process. With deep ties in the business, real estate, and insurance industries across Los Angeles, Vicky is helping to ensure the Palisades rebuilds with resilience, strength, and vision.
Secretary
Robin is Chief Operating Officer of Mad Dogg Athletics, Inc. and a longtime resident of Pacific Palisades whose home was spared in the 2025 fire. Shortly after she and her husband bought their home in the Highlands in 2005, Robin became involved in the Community, first with the Pacific Palisades Junior Women’s Club, and later as one of the founders of the Pacific Palisades Task Force on homelessness. Today, in addition to serving the PRC, she leads meditation classes for residents at Ciela and volunteers with St. John’s Hospital.
Director of Recovery Programs & Community Partnerships
Board member
Kathrin Werner is an original member of the Palisades recovery Colaition, and along with her husband, helped launch the Coalition. Kathrin is the former President of the Paseo Miramar HOA, the oldest HOA in Pacific Palisades. She is now leading the effort to launch a ‘Case Study’ for resilient rebuilding in her neighborhood, where her home is still standing, but many neighbors have lost homes or have extensive repairs ahead.
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John Padden, who lost his home in the Alphabet Streets, serves as the President of Palisades PRIDE — the civic group that beautifies many of the common spaces across the Palisades. John is a member of the Executive Committee of the Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC), bringing with him decades of leadership across business and civic life. His commitment to collaboration and recovery makes him a driving force in efforts to rebuild the community with resilience and vision.
community advisor
Allison Holdorff-Polhill is a lifelong Pacific Palisades resident, community leader, and fire survivor dedicated to strengthening her hometown through service and advocacy. She currently serves as District Director and Senior Advisor to LAUSD Board District 4 Member Nick Melvoin, where she works to advance educational opportunities and community engagement across Los Angeles. Allison’s deep roots in the Palisades and her commitment to both local recovery and citywide education make her a vital voice in shaping a resilient future for the community.
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Michael Edlen, a longtime Pacific Palisadian and respected community voice, lost his home in the recent fire and has since become a guiding force in the town’s recovery. With deep expertise in real estate, land sales, and sustainable architecture, he brings thoughtful insight into rebuilding while safeguarding neighborhood CC&Rs and community character. Michael also established the long-standing tradition of real estate brokers making substantial contributions to local organizations — a reflection of his belief in community goodwill, resilience, and strength.
Digital Advisor/Board member
Cherie Marquez is the CEO of cMedia Collective, a marketing and digital communications agency, and President of Your Next Door Neighbor. For over two decades, she has led marketing and digital communications efforts across nonprofits, top brands, and the entertainment industry, with partnerships including Nike, Apple, and Netflix. A proud Palisadian and resident of the Alphabet Streets, Cherie is deeply committed to rebuilding Pacific Palisades and brings both professional expertise and personal investment to supporting her neighborhood’s recovery and long-term resilience.
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Nina Madok, a retired attorney and Pacific Palisades resident since 2000, is known for her leadership in local initiatives that protect and strengthen the community. She founded PaliBiz to support local businesses during crises, launched Beaches and Parks 4 All to preserve Will Rogers State Beach, and helped start the Kids on Bikes program. Active with the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness since 2015, Nina has long been a dedicated advocate for both residents and the vitality of the Palisades.
Board Member
Joe Iacopino is an active civil litigation attorney with a focus on complex litigation who has lived in the Marquez Knolls area of Pacific Palisades for the past 36 years. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Marquez Knolls Property Owners Association. He has had extensive experience in writing, lobbying and enacting laws in California and American jurisdictions in Asia. He brings to the Board a skill set that includes problem-solving, strategy development, organization and administration in relation to difficult complex issues.
community advisor
Kaye Steinsapir is a longtime Pacific Palisades resident and community activist, deeply committed to preserving the character, safety, and resilience of the Palisades. She has been an outspoken advocate on local issues ranging from responsible development and environmental protection to community recovery after wildfire, always working to ensure that the voices of residents are heard and that the Palisades remains a vibrant, livable place for generations to come.
board member
Dr. Robert Lempert is a senior researcher at the RAND Corporation and a resident of Pacific Palisades who lost his home in the recent fire. An internationally recognized expert on climate resilience and decision-making under uncertainty, he is bringing his professional expertise to the community’s recovery by helping to facilitate Neighborhood Visioning Charrettes with PRC — these exercises guide residents in imagining and planning for a more resilient rebuild of the Palisades.
Board member
Howard Robinson is a longtime Palisadian, former Chair of the PPCC Land Use Committee and past
President of the Marquez Knolls Property Owners Association (MKPOA). A seasoned land use professional, he has been a steadfast defender of CC&Rs and the community’s character, while serving as an effective bridge to local elected officials. With deep knowledge of planning and legislation, Howard is a respected voice in shaping policies that protect and strengthen the Palisades.
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Board member
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Laura Nicole Diamond is a civil rights lawyer, author, and advocate based in Los Angeles. She’s known for the award-winning novel Shelter Us and the anthology Deliver Me: True Confessions of Motherhood. She writes about family, social justice, and parenting and works as an immigration attorney representing unaccompanied children. She is among our Legacy Families — her family having lost three homes in the Palisades Fire. Her area of interest is bluffs stabilization and the safety of our cliffside homes. We are proud to have her advocacy on our board.
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