WestCare Board – New Faces and Fond Farewells 

We are excited to share some important updates regarding the WestCare board. This year has brought new faces and other changes too!

In the first quarter, we welcomed Mr. Stewart Blanton to the WestCare board. Stewart is an executive coach with extensive experience leading diverse teams in the hospitality, food, and retail industries. He has been recognized for his creativity, leadership, and operational management with private entities specializing in scratch-made meals and corporate food purveyors such as ARAMARK, Marriott, Sodexo, and others. Additionally, Stewart has served as a corporate trainer for the Veterans Canteen Services, a division of the Department of Veteran Affairs. 

Stewart earned his bachelor’s in Business Administration from Austin College and has been certified as a ServSafe Proctor and received an Executive Coaching certification from the CaPP Institute. He is an avid supporter of community-wide organizations in San Antonio, TX, serving on the board of directors for the Ella Austin Community Center. He is also involved with the THRU Project, where he was selected as Mentor of the Year, and is a Big Mentor for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, where he received the James L. Blair award and the Family of the Year award by the United Way. We are thrilled to have someone of his caliber join our board. 

Richard T. Gromlich – Vice Chair, WestCare Washington, Inc.

Richard T. Gromlich is currently a partner at Potomac Ridge Consulting, LLC, and President of Gromlich & Associates, LLC. Both firms focus on aviation/maritime operations, logistics/supply chain management, strategic planning, and organizational change management. 

Gromlich retired from the Coast Guard as a Rear Admiral on July 1, 2016, after 33 years of distinguished service. In his final tour of duty, he served as Commander of the 13th Coast Guard District in Seattle, WA, where he was responsible for all Coast Guard operations throughout the Pacific Northwest. He also cultivated relationships with numerous other federal, state, and local agencies, elected officials, tribal nations, and international counterparts. 

A rotary-wing aviator, his operational and command tours of duty included Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Aircraft Repair and Supply Center (ARSC), Executive Officer of Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Aeronautical Engineering Officer at Air Station Savannah, Georgia. He also served in various other key positions throughout his career. 

Gromlich graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He completed Naval Flight Training in Pensacola, Florida in 1986 and logged more than 3,600 flight hours. In 1997, he earned a Master of Science in Industrial Administration from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Business. He and his wife, Bonnie, have four children and reside in Denver, NC. 

Linda Falba McSweeney – Vice Chair, WestCare Nevada, Inc.

Linda Falba McSweeney was raised in Las Vegas and graduated from Bishop Gorman High School. She went to Northern California to attend San Jose State University, where she majored in Speech Pathology. Linda worked in the school system for 33 years, focusing on children with language delays, stuttering difficulties, articulation, and autism. As the speech pathologist, she coordinated student study teams and brought together parents and school personnel to address children’s individual needs. This led to an additional position as Coordinator of Integrated Children’s Services, where she developed community outreach programs. These programs included involving seniors in reading with children, business members mentoring middle school kids, starting homework clubs, and providing school sites for family counseling in the evenings. Special outreach to Hispanic families included computer lessons and multicultural literacy nights throughout the year. Much of the funding for these programs came through grants written by Linda, making her a key figure in building bridges between schools and the community. Now retired and living again in Las Vegas, her interest in parents and children continues.

Dr. Carlos Rodríguez Mateo – Vice Chair, Guara Bi, Inc. 

Dr. Carlos Rodríguez Mateo is a distinguished figure in Puerto Rican politics and public service. Born in Salinas, Puerto Rico, Dr. Rodríguez Mateo embarked on an academic journey that led him to earn a bachelor’s degree in natural sciences with a concentration in biology from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. He furthered his education by obtaining a doctorate in medicine from Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra in the Dominican Republic, followed by a master’s degree in public health from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. 

His career in public service began with his tenure as the Mayor of Salinas from 2005 to 2013. Dr. Rodríguez Mateo’s commitment to his community extended to his role as a senator for the Guayama district from 2017 to 2021, during which he served as the president of the Government Commission. He is affiliated with the New Progressive Party (PNP) and has been a driving force behind significant legislative measures, including the establishment of public policy around fibromyalgia and the approval of Law Number 80, known as the “Law of the Incentivized Retirement Program for Our Public Servants.” In addition to his political accomplishments, Dr. Rodríguez Mateo has a profound background in health, having served as the Administrator of the Mental Health and Addiction Services (AMSSCA) and championing a new mental health law to improve services for citizens. We are honored to welcome someone of his dedication and expertise to our board. 

Marilyn Moran – Chair, WestCare Nevada, Inc.

In June, Marilyn Moran was promoted to Chair of WestCare Nevada (WCNV). Marilyn’s leadership and commitment to our cause have been exemplary, and we are confident she will excel in this new role. Marilyn has been a lifetime supporter of WestCare’s mission of Uplifting the Human Spirit. Read Leading With Purpose featuring Marilyn Moran to learn more about her remarkable story.

Lymaris Rodriguez- Vice Chair, Guara Bi, Inc.

Lymaris dedicated 3 years to WestCare’s Board. We are grateful for her contributions and pleased to announce that she will remain involved as a member of the Community Advisory Council (CAC).

John Jeppsen – Chair, WestCare Nevada, Inc.

After 16 years of steadfast service, John has retired from the board. John’s insights and efforts have been invaluable, and we are glad he will continue to serve on the CAC. 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our board members for their support and dedication to WestCare. We look forward to the continued growth and success of our organization with the guidance of both our new and existing members. 

Thank you for being a part of the WestCare family.