CAMBRIA CSD - Key Persons
Debra Scott was elected to the CCSD Board of Directors in the November 8, 2022 Statewide General Election, and her term expires on December 4, 2026…
Harry Farmer was elected to the CCSD Board of Directors in the November 8, 2016 Presidential General Election and was re-elected in November 2020 for…
Karen Dean was elected to the CCSD Board of Directors in the November 3, 2020 Presidential General Election and her term expires on December 6, 2024.
Karen grew up in Connecticut, coming to the west coast at the end of her junior year of high school to help her sister in Washington. She completed high school in Edmonds, WA, and continued her education in Seattle to become a Certified Dental Assistant. Karen met her husband Allan while he was stationed at Whidbey Naval Air Station, and after his service in the Navy was completed, they moved to Fresno, California where Allan was from. Karen and Allan raised two sons, and have two grown grandchildren.
Karen worked as a dental assistant at a periodontal dental practice in Fresno, becoming the supervisor of the patient care side of the practice, which included overseeing several other dental assistants, hygienists, X-ray, sterilization, supplies, controlled drug inventory and regulatory reporting, and patient education.
After the birth of their youngest son, Karen explored a change in career in order to have more flexibility to spend time with her young family. She worked part time as an assistant manager of a retail business, and taught craft classes. During that period of time, she met some well known local interior designers, began working with them and learning that profession. Discovering her passion for creativity and design, Karen pursued a career in interior design and started her own Interior Design & Fabrication business, which she owned and operated for over 25 years. Karen was also very proud to have won first place in a national design competition for design and fabrication in the specialty window treatment category.
The Deans moved their family up to the foothills of Fresno County, and concurrent with her design business, Karen also served on the Board of Directors of a Property Owners Association for twelve years, ten years of which as President. In that position, her duties included overseeing the maintenance and repair of several miles of privately owned roads and equestrian trails, culvert and creek crossings, including obtaining bids and contracts, as well as enforcement of Codes and Ordinance, architectural review, chairing meetings, etc. This position also involved many interactions with the County Code Enforcement, Planning and Building, the Sheriff Department, and Fish & Wildlife.
Karen and Allan bought their home in Cambria in 1994 with the intention of retiring here this most beautiful place to live, and did retire and become full time residents in 2012. Wanting to give back to the community she loves, Karen served on the Board of Directors of Greenspace in 2018/2019, on the NCAC as an area representative for three years, was the Vice Chair of the CCSD Standing Committee on Resources & Infrastructure for three years, becoming the Chair of that committee after being elected to the CCSD Board of Directors in 2020. She became the Vice President of the Board of Directors in December of 2021 and Board President in December 2022.
Matthew McElhenie was born in Fresno, CA. He moved to San Luis Obispo County in 1997 to attend Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He started his public…
Job Titles:
- Fire Chief
- Meet Fire Chief
Michael Burkey was born and raised on the Central Coast of California and currently resides in Paso Robles. He graduated from Atascadero High School in 1996 and, that same year moved to San Diego, California. He obtained his EMT certification in 1997 from Miramar College and began working for East County Fire Protection District as a Firefighter/EMT. He continued through school and worked for various ambulance agencies in San Diego County, including AMR, before relocating back to San Luis Obispo County, where he continued his EMS career with San Luis Ambulance. He became a Paramedic with San Luis Ambulance in 2004 after attending N.C.T.I. in Milpitas, Ca. During his time at SLAS, he obtained his ACLS, PALS, and PHTLS Instructor and began teaching at the Cuesta College Paramedic Program. He became a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic in 2009 with the Selma City Fire Department. In 2010, he became a full-time employee with the Cambria Community Healthcare District, and shortly after, in 2011, he became a Reserve Firefighter with the Cambria Fire Department. He obtained his Engineer qualification in June 2016 and was hired as a full-time Engineer Paramedic in December 2016. He went on to become a member of the County USAR Team in 2017 and obtained his OIC qualification in 2019. In 2018, he was awarded San Luis Obispo County Training Officer of the Year. Michael was chosen to fill the provisional Fire Captain Paramedic vacancy in July 2021 and hired as the full-time Fire Captain Paramedic in September 2021. Michael was promoted to the position of Interim Fire Chief on June 23, 2022, with the term ending on October 7, 2022. Michael was appointed as Interim Fire Chief on October 3, 2023.
On Monday, April 22, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Fire Chief Michael Burkey will be working out of the Cambria Veterans' Memorial Hall and would love to meet you and hear your thoughts on…
Michael Thomas was elected to the CCSD Board of Directors in the November 8, 2022 Statewide General Election and his term expires on December 4, 2026.
Tom Gray was elected to the CCSD Board of Directors in the November 3, 2020 Presidential General Election and his term expires on December 6, 2024. He and his wife, Barbara, have been Cambria homeowners since 2005 and full-time residents since 2009. He is now retired from a career in journalism and communications consulting, including editorial positions at the Daily News of Los Angeles and Investor's Business Daily. He holds degrees from Stanford University (B.A.), UCLA (M.A.) and California Lutheran University (M.B.A.).
Tom has been active in a number of advisory roles concerning land-use planning, water supply and infrastructure. He has served as chair of the North Coast Advisory Council (NCAC), chair of the NCAC's Land Use Committee and co-chair of its transportation committee. He has also been a member of the Cambria Community Services District's Resources & Infrastructure Committee. On a regional level, he has been the Second Supervisorial District representative on the San Luis Obispo County Water Resources Advisory Committee. He became the Vice President of the Board of Directors in December of 2022 and Board President in December 2023.