Making Headway.

Robert Van Fleet – President

Originally from Ohio, Bob came to California in 1964 and then to Humboldt County in 1965. He graduated from Humboldt State University with a B.A. in Psychology in 1968.

Bob worked for 38 years, primarily in the Regional Center and mental health systems, as a provider of services to people with disabilities.  His particular interest is encouraging and supporting people with disabilities to get jobs and build their careers. He is a co-founder of the Northwest Committee for Employment of People with Disabilities and was appointed to the California Governor's Committee for Employment of People with Disabilities.

Recently retired and living in rural Burnt Ranch, California, Bob enjoys hiking, swimming and kayaking in warm, sunny Trinity County. Retirement also allows time for summer weekend trips on his motorcycle to see sprint car races.

Jim Peaker – Treasurer

Jim Peaker has a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from Rockhurst University in Kansas City. He is Regional Director Rehabilitation Services for St. Joseph and Redwood Memorial Hospitals and has been with General Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital as a Physical Therapist and lead physical therapist since 1998. Jim’s focus is on acute inpatient rehabilitation. He enjoys travel and experiencing the outdoors with family, especially hiking, camping, and backpacking with the goal of completing the Sierra High Route in the next 5 years.

Mary Meengs, MD - Member at Large

Mary Meengs is a Family Practice doctor who has lived in Eureka for eight years.  She worked for Mobile Medical Office for seven years, taking care of homeless and underserved patients.  Not surprisingly, she gained much experience with brain injured patients in these populations, and has a huge appreciation for the scope of services offered by Making Headway.  Currently she is working as the Client Services Director of the Humboldt Community Breast Health Project, and keeps busy outside of work with other volunteer gigs, including literacy tutoring.

Linda Gleye-Lurtz - Member at Large

Linda is the mother of a young man with TBI.  Over the last 10 years she has learned a lot about this disorder as well as the myriad agencies and bureaucracies that one with TBI has to deal with.

Kevin O'Brien - Member at Large

Originally from New Hampshire, Kevin received his Master's Degree in Psychology in 1977. He later earned state licenses as an Educational Psychologist and MFCC, conducting a private practice in Eureka. Kevin continued to work in Eureka and Humboldt County as Principal and Vice Principal in both the elementary and secondary educaiton systems. He is currently the Director of Student Access Services for Humboldt State University, insuring equal access to campus facilities and curriculum for students with disabilities attending HSU. Kevin's work for the last 35 years has focused on the needs of persons with disabilities within the private and public sectors of Humboldt County.

David Williams - Member at Large

North Coast Veterans Resource Center is dedicated to helping veterans in need. Their programs are part of a long-term effort to achieve lasting improvements in the lives of veterans, their families, and our community.