Board Member Biographies
Jennifer Fisher
Board Chair(Community Representative)
Jennifer Fisher is corporate attorney for Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, the leading provider of building valuation software, data and technologies to the appraisal, assessor and property insurance industries. Unlike many attorneys, she passionately enjoys practicing law and is responsible for setting the company's overall philosophy and strategy regarding legal matters, including providing advice and counsel to company managers, preparing and reviewing agreements, managing the company's intellectual property portfolio, overseeing corporate compliance and managing risk.
Jennifer currently serves as Chair of the National Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division and is a life member of the National Bar Association and the California Association of Black Lawyers. Her other professional and community affiliations include, the Association of Corporate Counsel, Los Angeles Urban League, Library Foundation of Los Angeles' Young Literati, Langston Bar Association, Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Corporate Counsel Women of Color and the City Club on Bunker Hill where she serves on the Future 54 Committee.
A native Chicagoan, Jennifer is a graduate of Harvard University and The University of Chicago Law School and grew up in Orange County before it was hip and called "The OC." Prior to joining MSB, Jennifer survived practicing corporate & securities law as an associate at Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, one of the world's largest law firms.
Brandi Jones
Vice-Chair (Community Representative)
Brandi Jones is Assistant Dean of Students at Occidental College in Eagle Rock. She is responsible for providing academic and counseling support for students; designing, implementing, and evaluating retention programs; and developing campus wide diversity initiatives. Brandi is responsible for overseeing the work of the following departments: Community and Government Relations, Neighborhood Partnership Programs, Intercultural Community Center, Women's Center,and Upward Bound.
Her strategic approach to building confidence in students is grounded in self awareness and esteem development. Brandi has held student affairs positions at California Institute of Technology, California State University Dominguez Hills, California State University Long Beach, and Long Beach City College.
In addition to her professional contributions, Brandi is actively involved in the community. She serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Children Youth and Family Collaborative which is a non-profit organization to support foster youth in Los Angeles country. Brandi finds joy in encouraging all age groups through motivational seminars, workshops, and presentations.
Bernadette Rodriguez
Secretary (Community Representative)
Bernadette Rodriguez is an experienced independent management consultant; specializing in process redesign, quality improvement/measurement and strategic planning. Bernadette has extensive experience facilitating teams, developing data collection methodologies, and turning strategic goals in measurable frameworks in order to improve executive decision-making. She has worked with renowned organizations such as The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Citibank, Medtronic, Inc., and Allergan.
Her most recent endeavor, however, is running her real estate investment company, named ADANAC, LLC. The company focuses on the development of existing multifamily, retail, and mixed use properties located in targeted communities in Southern California. As a die-hard New Yorker, however, Bernadette has definite plans to add east coast holdings to the company's existing portfolio of properties.
Bernadette has a love for education and learning and used to be a kindergarten teacher in NYC prior to obtaining her MBA and embarking upon her entrepreneurial projects. She has consistently volunteered her time as a tutor and/or mentor through community organizations such as BizWorld, Peace Games, and Upward Bound.
Bernadette received her B.A. in Psychology and Premedical Studies at Columbia University and received her M.B.A., specializing in healthcare management and finance, at The Wharton School of Business.
Steven Cogswell
Member (Community Representative)
A product of the Los Angeles public school system and California State University at Los Angeles, Steve applied his business management degree to the creation of successful entrepreneurial enterprises in the motion picture production field and later in the creation of what became the nation’Äôs second largest non-facilities-based cellular telephone service provider, a public utility having a presence in many Western states. He began his career as an advertising executive for a major international daily newspaper in New York City.
More recently, Steve has been engaged in offering management services to major private clients, in particular in the area of real estate investment portfolio management. This has included the oversight of hotel, national chain and local mall retail, and large-scale residential properties. In addition, Steve actively manages a specialized manufacturer of custom electronics used in motion picture production.
He has served on volunteer Boards of Trustees for over thirty-five years, often as President. His wife and he live in the Crescenta Valley area. Their two grown sons are following the family tradition in the entertainment business, one as a Vice President of MTV Networks in New York, the other as an active television director. Steve’Äôs wife Michelle is on the staff of a small private school in San Gabriel.
Steven is pleased to participate at OCS because he supports the school's philosophy that with proper nurturing and sensitivity to individual talents, all children can attain learning success.
Emily Brockman
Member (Faculty Representative)
Don Speakman
Member (Parent Representative - K - 3rd)