Committee Members
Committee Members
Select the tab for a member below to see their bio.
Member-At-Large (vacant)
Please see vacancy announcement on top page.
Michael Monachino
Member-At-Large
Mr. Monachino has been a resident of the Coachella Valley for 15 years and has been active in supporting non-profits in the region. He has extensive knowledge and expertise in finance, construction, engineering and management. Mr. Monachino has served as a proud Director for the Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre since 2015. He formerly served on the Make a Wish Foundation NYC.
Mr. Monachino has degrees from the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) in Electrical & Mechanical Engineering and Architecture.
His career has included positions with IBM, MFD Construction, and T*IPS Legal and Financial Consultants.
Term Started: September 2022 Term Ends: September 2024
Business Representative
Please see vacancy announement on top page.
Kelly Merchant
Student Representative
Kelly Merchant is appointed as Student Representative. She is currently ASCOD President. Her educational interests include Political Science. She brings with her EMT training. Kelly has volunteered for the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission and Life Stream Blood Bank. She is a strong advocate in student involvement in College undertakings. Through this committee Kelly hopes to give back to the college and pave the way for future student involvement and community leadership.
Term Started: September 2022 Term Ends: September 2024
James Dietrich
Senior Citizen Group Representative
Mr. Dietrich is a real estate investor, property manager, funds manager, contractor, and educator with over decades of experience. He is retired from a 30-year career in manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, transportation, logistics supply chain management, material handling automated design, installation, and project management. He is also retired from a 15-year career in historic home repair. His community service includes Kiwanis of Palm Springs, American Legion, Southwest Church of Palm Desert, Sigma Pi College Fraternity of CSULB, and Fraternal Order of Elks. Mr. Dietrich has a 4-Year BS Degree and an Associate Degree in business and finance. He is enrolled in the Energy Building Systems Technology Program at the College of the Desert.
Term Started: September 2022 Term Ends: September 2024
Diane M. Rubin, CPA
College Support Organization Representative
Diane M. Rubin, CPA, is a retired audit partner with the firm of Novogradac & Company LLP, a national public accounting firm headquartered in San Francisco, California with offices throughout the United States. Diane began her career at Price Waterhouse in New York after obtaining an MBA in Accounting from the University of Washington. She currently is an independent director of the Board of Directors of First Foundation Inc. and serves as Chair of its Audit Committee. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation and is a member of the board of the College of the Desert Foundation. She was a member of the Board and Chair of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and served as a member and President of the California Board of Accountancy. Diane has also served on the Rancho Mirage Parks and Trails Commission, the Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory Foundation, and the Board of Directors of the Palm Springs Opera Guild of the Desert.
Term Started: September 2022 Term Ends: September 2024
Richard D. "Rick" Seeley
Taxpayers' Association Representative
Rick is a community champion and philanthropist. He holds a bachelor's degree in business management from the Univerisity of Redlands and has done post-graduate work at the University of Michigan and University of Southern California. Early in his long career he proudly attended California's Chaffey and Long Beach community colleges to complete his lower division studies. He firmly believes in the vital role community colleges play in the field of education.
In 2016 Rick retired from Southern California Gas Company after a 33-year career of increasing responsibilities culminating in his tenure as the Director of Procurement and Supplier Diversity. With his professional career grounded in a heavily regulated business environment, his detail orientation was finely tuned. In many of his assignments he was required to oversee regulatory filings which involve review of past expenditures and projection of future costs.
Today, Rick also serves as the president of the Palm Springs Cultural Center. The cultural center incubates, produces and encourages arts and cultural programs to leverage the unique power of creativity to open minds, bridge what divides us and discover what connects us. In this capacity, Rick has an avid interest in developing exposure to the arts for residents of all ages, experiences and backgrounds in the community.
Rick is also the treasurer of the LA Philharmonic Affiliates in the Desert, another group providing opportunities for Coachella Valley students to be exposed to classical music at Disney Hall and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. This role, as well as his work at the cultural center is the perfect progression in the common thread of his career of promoting economic and cultural diversity equality in all aspects of business and the arts.
As a fourth generation Southern Californian Rick is founding and continuing director of the Long Beach Heritage Foundation. He is also a founder and board member of BuildOut California, the world's first LGBT trade organization focused on leveling the playing field in construction industry procurement opportunities for LGBT suppliers. He lives in south Palm Springs with his husband, Bradley.
Term Started: March 2022 Term Ends: March 2024
