Our Team
Meet the Team
Executive Director
Tom Widroe
Back in 1998, Tom began building organizations for clients by helping them recruit and retain the right talent to help them compete in the world of business, politics, public affairs, and non-profits. His experience working with County Supervisors, State Assembly members, and U.S. Representatives gave him the foundation to launch his own agency, the Widroe Group.
His policy expertise make him a skilled advocate for companies and individuals across the board. Tom is a veteran.
Board President
Lanny Ebenstein
Dr. Ebenstein received his B.A. from UCSB and his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics. He has had 10 books published in the history of Economic and Political Thought, including the first biographies of Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman. Dr. Ebenstein is also the author of Chicagonomics: The Evolution of Chicago Free Market Economics, which was an "Editors' Choice" selection in the New York Times Book Review. Dr. Ebenstein's current research foci include the History of Economic Thought and Progressive Taxation. In the community, he served eight years as a member of the Santa Barbara Board of Education.
Board Members
Roy Reed
Board Member & Past President
Roy Reed is a Santa Maria native who earned both his B.S. and M.S. in Biology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, with a focus on microbiology and plant pathology. He has over 35 years of experience in the dental and pharmaceutical industries and has been actively involved in land use and energy advocacy while managing family farming and ranching properties.
Timothy Mahoney
Board Member
Tim Mahoney is a former Public Affairs Manager for Southern California Gas Company, where he represented the utility across Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. He brings extensive experience in government relations, community engagement, and energy initiatives, and previously served as Executive Director of several local organizations, including SBC Taxpayers Association.
Frances Romero
Board Member
Frances Romero is a land use consultant and government relations professional with over two decades of experience across the Tri-Counties. She is a former Mayor of Guadalupe and has served in key leadership roles, including Planning Commissioner and Santa Barbara County Park Commissioner. She serves on the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel and as an advisory committee member for The Ascend Fund.
Tobe Plough
Board Member
Mr. Plough has served on the Montecito Water District Board since 2016 and is the founder of Plough & Associates, a long-standing management consulting firm specializing in energy infrastructure projects. A Montecito resident since 1979, he has been actively involved in the community, including leadership roles with the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation and service on numerous local boards and committees.
Robert Clarke
Board Member
Robert Clarke is a former Solvang City Council member and past Chair of the Solvang Planning Commission, with a strong background in local planning and civic engagement. He is an active community volunteer and has been involved in key discussions on tourism, business development, and cultural preservation.
John Duston
Board Member
John Duston is a California licensed CPA and currently runs an accountancy firm, The Guardian CPA, in Santa Barbara. He specialized in tax preparation, tax strategizing, and financial planning for small to mid-sized businesses and investors. He and his family have loved living in Santa Barbara ever since attending UCSB for his accounting degree.
