RioVision Mission: RioVision’s mission is to join together to build, revitalize, energize and beautify the Rio Vista community.
RioVision Board of Directors: The Board of Directors represents the interests of the community and acts as “governors” or “trustees” charged to pursue the mission of RioVision. The Board of Directors must advise, govern, oversee policy, provide direction, leadership, and generally promote the organization so as to support RioVision’s mission.
BOARD OFFICERS
Chris Armbrust was born in Palo Alto and grew up in Sunnyvale when there were still orchards and cherry trees. His grandfather and uncles always had boats in the Delta. Chris would often come to the Delta to water ski, swim and occasionally fish. When he finally got his own boat in 2011, Chris and his wife Grace headed up river from their then home in Sausalito (make a left and keep heading up river). They discovered Rio Vista on one of their stops while staying at the Delta Marina. They fell in love with the town. They bought a house in Core in 2018 and have made Rio Vista home. They love the people, being close to the river and the town.
Chris has a BS EE/CS from Santa Clara University. He has been a consultant, author and expert witness working with media technologies including CD, DVD, Blu-ray and streaming video. He has a couple of current ventures including Marin Digital and PaGoI (Put a Gauge on It). He has worked for big companies (HP, Technicolor, Panasonic, THX) and some companies (some garage based) as part of management and as individual contributor.
He brings a passion for making great things happen in the communities that he lives in. He was president of a community group to build a swimming pool at San Lorenzo High School in Felton, CA. The pool’s first year of use saw over 400 students involved in the aquatics programs out of a student body of 1100.
He volunteers with the USCG Auxiliary in Central Marin where he has been Flotilla Commander.
Chris has served as a committee member on Water and Wastewater Monitoring Committee (2022-Feb 2023) and the Municipal Utility Rate Committee – Mar 2023-present.
Chris joined the Rio Vision Board in March of 2023.
Chris Quan grew up in Oakland and was a long time resident of San Francisco before moving to Rio Vista in 2008 on a part time basis. Chris graduated from UC Berkeley with a Master Degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He immediately went into the tech industry upon graduation. He has held positions as a programmer, consultant, regional sales manager, tech support manager and system administrator. Chris was the co-chair for the Lowell High School Fundraising Committee and also coached youth basketball and baseball. He became a full time resident of Rio Vista in 2015 and supplied the concept for the mural on Books RioV. Chris was appointed to the board in April, 2019.
Tom Surh has been a resident of Rio Vista since 2011 when he retired and moved from Oakland, CA. Tom joined the RioVision team in 2013 and serves as the Vice President of the Board. A U.S. Army veteran, Tom was an attorney for legal aid, a local bar association, and in private practice with an emphasis on immigration, family law and juvenile dependency. He also served the Alameda County Superior Court as a family law facilitator, and as a judicial officer (Court Commissioner).
Robie Williams grew up in Redwood City, CA where she finished school, got married and had three children. Robie has spent much of her life trying to figure out what she wanted to be when she grew up. So, she dabbled in different careers. She started out working in an old fashioned answering service with cord boards, worked as a purchasing agent for a silicon chip manufacturer, performed bookkeeping and accounting in various businesses, finally finding her niche in the construction industry. Robie was involved in fire sprinkler construction, computer room build-outs, masonry, electrical (both residential and public works) and her favorite – the paving and grading industry where she worked on both public and private works projects. Robie moved to Rio Vista in 2015 and found RioVision at the Bass Derby that same year. She has been a volunteer with RioVision ever since, she was appointed to the Planning Commission in 2018 and has been a member of Soroptimist International of Rio Vista. She was appointed to the Board in April, 2021.
ADDITIONAL BOARD MEMBERS
Arthur Darden was raised in the San Francisco Bay area. As a child, he came to Rio Vista to fish from the river bank as part of family day trips. He served in the US Army from 1962-1966. He managed technology support groups for Research and Development teams with large corporations serving diverse industries. He retired as Operations Security Manager for a world renowned amusement park. In Rio Vista he has served as Vice-Chair of the Trilogy Emergency Action Committee educating the community on preparations for an emergency, Chair of the Access Committee addressing community access concerns, and President of the Saddle Rock Village Board of Directors. Art was appointed to the RioVision Board of Directors in April, 2016.
Drew Haisley Drew Haisley has been a Realtor for 34 years. The first 19 years were working in new home sales with builders. Drew opened Trilogy at Rio Vista when it was called Summerset in1995. She loved the small town feel of Rio Vista and the relaxed atmosphere and returned to Rio Vista in 2010. She now works with Diane Shafer in the resale Real Estate market. Drew’s hobbies are many. Drew is an animal enthusiast, an active mother and now Grandmother for her 2 adult children, loves Pilates and waterskiing, loves traveling to new countries and is a consistent supporter of a local non-profit as well as new member for Rio Vision. Drew was appointed to the Board in April, 2024.
Donna Nunes was born and raised in Rio Vista. She graduated from RVHS in 1959, married and had three sons, then went back to college. She has a degree in Business and minored in English. She taught at Antioch High School for 28 years. Over the years Donna has been involved with the swim team and aided in instructing swimmers for about 10 years. She joined Rio Vista Foundation about 7 years ago and served as their secretary for 4 years. With sons who played sports it was a natural that she and her husband were involved with the Booster Club for several years. Donna’s hobbies include reading, knitting and golfing. She belongs to the Trilogy 18-hole Ladies Golf Club. Donna was the membership chairperson for Friends of the Library for about 3 years as well. For local history, Donna went to school with Jim Pezzaglia and his mom was her 8th grade teacher. Donna looks forward to be being of service to RioVision. She was appointed to the Board in April, 2021.
James Pezzaglia was raised in Rio Vista, as a member of a 4th generation Rio Vista family. As an educator he was Doctor of Instruction at the San Bernardino Valley College and then entered the legal field serving as Deputy District Attorney, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, Staff Council with Phillips Petroleum Company, and a variety of private law firms, including his own. Jim has a long history of community service to such not-for-profit organizations as Lindsay Wildlife Museum, Arts Vision Task Force, Arts Commission, and Fiscal Health Task Force of Walnut Creek. He was appointed to the RioVision Board of Directors in early 2015.
Evelyn Wilson was born and raised in Rio Vista. She is a 4th generation Rio Vistan. She attended all Rio Vista schools. After graduation she moved to Stockton to attend San Joaquin Delta College and Humphrey’s Business School. Upon returning to Rio Vista in 1965 she was hired at Bank of Rio Vista and worked there until November of 2018 as Human Resource Manager and Corporate Secretary. In November of 2018, Bank of Rio Vista was acquired by F&M Bank, and she was re-hired by F&M Bank as Assistant Cashier/Commercial Specialist Administrator. She has always been very active in the community serving as President of the Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce in 2006, as a member of Rio Vista Rotary for 20 + years and as a Board Member. Currently she is serving as a Board Member for the Rio Vista Foundation, as a member of the Rio Vista Moose Lodge and as a member of the Stockton Chapter of the Elks Lodge. She has volunteered and served as a Board Member of Rio Vista Ministries, known now as Rio Vista Food Pantry. She is looking forward to being involved and serving on the RioVision Board. Evelyn was appointed to the Board in April, 2021.