Our Team

Board of Directors

Valerie Sobel
Founder and President, Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation
Los Angeles, CA

Gary Bess
Principal, Gary Bess Consulting
Paradise, CA

Patty DeDominic
Principal, Patty DeDominic & Associates
Santa Barbara, CA

Esteban Fuertes, M.D.
Pediatric/Adolescent Psychiatry
Santa Maria, CA

Mara Granderson
Los Angeles, CA

Timothy Holcer
Former President and CEO, Novaspect Operating Facilities
Chicago, IL

Keven Schnadig
Writer
New York, NY

Dr. Astrid Sheil
Associate Professor
California State University, San Bernardino

Meet our Staff

Courtney Kramer, Executive Assistant and Office Manager

courtney-kramer I am the Executive Assistant to our Founder and President, Valerie Sobel, and ASRL’s Office Manager. I provide support for Ms. Sobel and for our family assistance programs. I respond to requests from social workers and families, negotiate with vendors, and arrange assistance payments. I help plan fundraising events and answer queries from teenage survivors about our annual Andre Sobel Award Contest. Other things come up such as spending a Friday wrapping gifts for sick children at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles so that they can give something to their moms on Mother’s Day.

Before I came to ASRL, I was working first as a news anchor for radio and then in entertainment publicity. When my godmother died of cancer, I felt a pull towards working with an organization that supported those going through severe illness. When I learned about the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation I fell in love with its unique mission, and have been with the foundation for over a year. The most rewarding part of my job is reading all of the thank you letters we receive from the kids and parents we have helped. In my spare time, I pursue the arts and have written a musical that is currently being workshopped in Vancouver. I sing in a band and also am involved in theater productions. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have about the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation at courtney@andreriveroflife.org

Niki Guillory, Bookkeeper

I’m Niki Guillory, bookkeeper for the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation. I have worked first with Ms. Sobel and later with ASRL since 1998, after the birth of my second child caused me to seek employment that offered a good work/family balance. My duties include: writing checks for families in need, hospital grants, monthly bills, preparing financial statements, ordering supplies, preparing information for the accountant, and supporting Ms. Sobel at her Idyllwild, CA office. I remember the first check that was ever written for a family and the feeling of joy that came over me as I was able to be a part of helping a family in need. I enjoy working with the ASRL Foundation and knowing that we take our mission very seriously. Although I did not know Andre personally, I have become very close to the family and the mission of the Foundation. My own family includes two teenage sons, Joshua and Justin, and husband Steve. My email address is: niki@andreriveroflife.org

Meet our Interns

Mariana Avila

My name is Mariana Avila, and I am thrilled to be an intern for ASRL. I am also in the process of completing my communications degree with a concentration in public relations from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). My initial interest in ASRL began as a class project, organizing a fundraising event to create greater awareness for ASRL and its wonderful cause. Writing family case reports, participating in community outreach and reading about childhood illness while interning at ASRL have all been an inspirational experience. I fully support all that ASRL stands for and am excited to be part of the foundation’s growth.