Joan Busick

President and Co-Founder

 

Joan is a Certified Public Accountant with her own accounting firm in Palm Desert, California specializing in working with women. She is the author of Surviving Beyond Happily Ever After, a guide for women who are not prepared to handle life on their own, and a public speaker on the relationship between women, finances and power.

 

“Ever since I returned to school years ago, faced with raising two little boys and very few financial resources, I have been fasinated with the common threads that run through all women's lives. We have so much to offer each other and we have so much potential to tap into. It's simply time to give back and assist other women in reaching their dreams.” Contact Joan

Jan Harnik

 

 

Jan has been a desert resident since 1977. She believes that education is the foundation for the growth and prosperity of our community and has worked with several organizations to support that principle. A Palm Desert High School Foundation board member since 2003, she is currently the President, has served on the Board and the Scholarship Committee for National Charity League, worked for the American Heart Association and with Desert Cancer Foundation.

 

Raising four daughters has provided a clear illustration of the importance of lending a hand, developing self-reliance and always "remembering who you are".

Contact Jan

Diana Herrington

Vice President

 

Diana has worked with families in various settings over the last twenty-eight years. She has a Master's Degree in Counseling, Parent Community Work, and Administration of Programs for Young Children. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in Palm Desert, CA.

 

Diana has taught child development at graduate and undergraduate levels for Chapman University, College of the Desert, and Pasadena City College. She was also a founding Board member of the local chapter of California Marriage and Family Therapists. Contact Diana

Cindy Kleine

 

Cindy is a founding partner with her husband in their firm, Advanced Retirement Strategies, Inc. located in Palm Desert, CA Their mission is to design financial planning strategies for clients to achieve their goals and objectives for retirement.

 

A graduate from California State University, Northridge, Cindy started her professional career in the corporate world of insurance . Her advancements in this field took her from claims adjusting, underwriting to territory manager in the sales/marketing department. Without her formal education, she realizes she would not have been able to enter this career at the corporate level let alone advanced to the levels she has achieved. Education has been the mainstay of her life holding several professional designations along the way.

She is married to the love of her life, has one son, two married step daughters and five grandchildren. Contact Cindy

Maggie Nugent Schmidt

Secretary

 

Maggie is a Realtor with Windermere Real Estate in Coachella Valley. Prior to moving to the desert in 2004 she owned her own business in San Francisco, which designed and imported tableware and home accessories from several countries. Since moving to the desert Maggie has been looking for a sense of community and a way of giving back; the Girlfriend Factor has provided those opportunities for both things to happen. Her high energy and passion for "getting things done" have been valuable resources for helping to expand and grow the Girl Friend Factor. Contact Maggie

Katie Sween

Treasurer

 

Katie has recently moved to La Quinta from Northern Calif where she retired from Agilent Technologies/Hewlett Packard after a 30-year career as a Human Resources Executive. She served 6 years on the Board of Directors for the YWCA of Santa Clara County and 2 terms as the president. Her experience, knowledge and abilities bring value to the board and the organization.

 

Katie received her degree while working full-time and raising her two sons. This contributes to her passion for the mission of the GFF.Contact Katie