Who We Are
Heather Arnold
TREASURER
PEAK volunteer Heather Arnold lives in San Luis Obispo, where she has worked in the tax field for 14 years. Starting out as a back-office tax support to earning her CPA license, she has grown her knowledge in personal and business income taxes.
Outside of work, Heather likes getting outdoors to enjoy the Central Coast with her husband, Joseph, and three children Lina, Audrey, and Gus.
Lindsey Haring
PRESIDENT
A mother of three and co-owner of The Mountain Air and The Switchback, Lindsey commits her professional and personal resources to expanding opportunities for kids in our community.
An alumnus of Cal Poly and graduate of Chico State University, Lindsey worked for the SLO Chamber of Commerce and Cal Poly before becoming a small business owner in 2020.
Her service on the PTA board at CL Smith Elementary, a Title I school in San Luis Obispo, inspired her to create the “You Can Be That Cat” campaign, which raised $40,000 dollars to fund the school's art program for five years. She has also served as a board member for the San Luis Obispo Children's Museum and San Luis Coastal Education Foundation.
Lindsey is grateful to call the Central Coast home with her husband, kids, and dogs!
Louise Kraemer
CO-FOUNDER & BOARD MEMBER
My name is Louise Kraemer, and currently I work at Pacheco Elementary School as a bilingual aide in kindergarten. I started working at Pacheco when my youngest child entered 1st grade 19 years ago.
This opportunity to work with children opened my eyes to the need in our San Luis Obispo community to help more children have the access to participate in activities beyond school.
I firmly believe that talent is universal, opportunity is not. PEAK is the bridge to help kids become involved, develop confidence, build relationships, learn new skills, and be a part of something bigger than themselves.
Samantha Rider Lalush
BOARD MEMBER
Originally from Chile, Sam moved to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly and is proud to call the Central Coast home. A Cal Poly graduate, she is a registered dietitian and diabetes educator who currently teaches nutrition at Allan Hancock College.
Through her work, Sam has seen the important role physical activity plays in supporting lifelong physical, emotional, and social well-being. She lives in San Luis Obispo with her husband and two children, both of whom have enjoyed participating in a variety of sports from a young age. Seeing the positive impact these experiences have had on their lives inspired Sam to join the PEAK board and help make extracurricular activities accessible to all children in the community.
In her free time, Sam enjoys hiking, being active outdoors, and spending time with her family.
Michelle Serrano
BOARD MEMBER
Michelle has had a lifelong love of kids, sports, and community impact and has been lucky enough to pursue those passions professionally through her career at the national non-profit organization Playworks, where she currently serves as the Vice President of Field Operations for California
She is also HUGE sports fan, has a B.S. in psychology from Santa Clara University and lives in the Central Coast of CA with her husband Oscar and two children, Camilla (9) and Joaquin (7). Her days are filled with coaching her kids' sports teams, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying different forms of physical activity every day.
Celia Uribe
SECRETARY
My family and I made San Luis Obispo our home 13 years ago. Our two sons became involved with youth sports at an early age and continue to be enthusiastic participants in soccer and cross country.
As an educator, I have the special privilege of watching students, past and present, playing sports in our community. I began helping as one of the PEAK volunteers in 2019 when I learnt of the barriers that were holding families back from participating in extracurricular activities. I currently serve on the AYSO board and coach our EPIC soccer team during the Fall.
Susan Westwood
CO-FOUNDER & VICE PRESIDENT
Susan's professional career has included planning medical conferences, managing nonprofit associations, and running a small business. Prior to that, she taught at Cal Poly and Cuesta College and served as a writer, copy editor, and consultant.
Her work as a PEAK volunteer began while her two sons were attending Pacheco Elementary School. When Louise Kraemer explained the disparity between students who were participating in extracurriculars and those who were not, she and Louise decided to try to level the playing field. They soon began raising funds to pay registration fees for disadvantaged students, and they helped families enroll children in those activities.
Susan is a Cal Poly graduate who has enjoyed calling San Luis Obispo home for the past 35 years. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, woodworking, being outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.
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