Leadership

Jennifer Capella

Board President

Jennifer Capella is SCB's Board President, and is responsible for providing guidance in planning, developing, and overseeing the implementation of Southern California Ballet’s programs and activities. Before becoming SCB’s Board President in 2020, she had served as SCB’s Board Treasurer since 2015, where she was responsible for financial oversight, including keeping and maintaining adequate and correct books, providing financial statements and reports to the Board, and overseeing fiscal budget preparation. Along with Rebecca MacGowan, Jennifer was awarded the inaugural SCB Volunteer of the Year Award in 2018.

Outside of SCB, Jennifer is the Financial Planning and Analysis Supervisor at Hawthorne Machinery Co., where she oversees company-wide budget preparation, monthly financial reporting and review, and in-depth investigations into financial queries with resulting analyses. From October 2002-2007, she was the Senior Financial Analyst at National Pen Incorporation, and worked with divisional managers to prepare budgets, performed monthly financial analysis, and investigated variances.

Jennifer received an MBA and an MS in E-Commerce from the University of San Diego in 2002, and has a BS in Financial Management from Bob Jones University. 

Terry Worley

Vice President

Terry Worley began working with Southern California Ballet over 16 years ago when her daughter began her dance education, and immediately began volunteering in the costuming department. After her daughter left the academy in 2012, Terry was invited to SCB’s board, and soon after was voted in as Board Chair. She successfully led SCB through its transfer of Black Mountain Dance Center academy to the Southern California Ballet nonprofit in 2015, and in 2017, oversaw the first transition of artistic directors to have occurred in SCB’s 30+ year operating history. After six years serving as Board Chair, Terry stepped down to Vice Chair in 2020 to promote new leadership through a new era of growth and vision for SCB’s future.

In 2014, Terry started her own business in costume and tutu construction, TUTUTerry, after years of involvement in SCB’s costuming department. Her business now flourishes and she continues to do additional commissioned work for SCB’s new repertoire costumes.

Terry’s involvement in nonprofits originally began after years of working in research and clinical laboratories with a degree in Medical Technology. She quit pursuing a management career in clinical hospital laboratories when her oldest child was diagnosed with autism, and discovered career fulfillment in volunteering in the community. She began chairing and volunteering in committees of the Historic Preservation of Durham and the Durham Symphony Orchestra, eventually becoming Board Chair of the DSO. For several years, she worked on supporting and organizing the city’s historic home tour and supported the DSO through several seasons of performances.

Richard Woodward

Treasurer

Richard joined Southern California Ballet as Treasurer in 2020, bringing 40 years of marketing and R&D management experience for high-tech manufacturing-based businesses.

In 1984, he joined a 40-employee startup company and was one of the key architects of its growth to a $300 million market leader over a 25-year period. He helped design two innovative marketing-leading analyzers. Richard also helped lobby the US Senate in 1995 on a successful climate change issue, and in 2005 led an industry-wide consortium that caused the US Department of Energy to reverse its decision to halt production of a man-made element vital to the industry. 

Richard received his BA in Statistics and Chemistry from Princeton University and his MBA from Stanford University. He was a nuclear submarine officer for five years. His current volunteer activity includes maintaining an adopted hiking trail; and helping low-income and homeless individuals in tax preparation, resume building, and interview coaching. 

Outside of work, Richard is an avid outdoorsman, and has developed a passion for backpacking that led him to finish the 222-mile John Muir Trail in 2019. He loves sports, reading non-fiction, writing, traveling with his wife, and hiking. He values spending time with his family and has been married for 46 years to his wife Elaine, with whom he has two daughters and four grandchildren.  Elaine volunteered with SCB, and both daughters danced there.  

Corie Wightlin

Secretary

Corie Wightlin has served on SCB’s board as Fundraising Committee Chair since January 2019, has volunteered at SCB since 2015, and is the small-business owner of Mindfully Empowered, supporting schools, businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations with the benefits of mindfulness. She has a BA from Occidental College and her Credential and Masters in Education from the University of San Diego, has Mindfulness Educator Certification from Mindful Schools, and is currently enrolled in an ADHD Life Coach Certification program. Corie was a classroom educator for 16 years and is currently  a curriculum consultant and coach in schools across California, Arizona, and Texas. She has previous fundraising experience in the capacity of schools, nonprofits, and events. 

Corie values equity and equality for all children in access to education, the arts, sports, and other enrichment activities. She likes to help create community, a sense of belonging, dignity, and connection. Corie has 3 children, two of whom dance at SCB. 

Manuel Corrales, Jr.

Board Member

Manuel Corrales, Jr., has been practicing law in California since 1985, specializing in employment litigation, civil trial litigation and appellate work. Soon after graduating from Brigham Young University Law School, Mr. Corrales clerked for the Hon. H. Vern Payne, Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court. Early in his career, Mr. Corrales worked for two well-established insurance defense law firms in San Diego County, and thereafter worked with a law firm specializing in representing plaintiffs in civil lawsuits. Over the years, Mr. Corrales has had over 75 jury and non-jury trials. He has successfully handled to conclusion complex cases involving catastrophic injuries, employment litigation, product defects, commercial business disputes, and wildfire litigation. He presently handles disputes involving Indian law and related litigation, and represents a federally-recognized Indian tribe in California as its sole attorney. He has also successfully obtained numerous reversals on appeal for his clients in connection with his appellate work. Mr. Corrales was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force, after serving four years active duty prior to college.

Mr. Corrales holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do martial arts, and currently trains intensively in martial arts and kickboxing and is a 2nd Degree Black Belt Instructor.

Rebecca MacGowan

Board Member

Rebecca MacGowan has been an active volunteer with SCB since 2009 when her daughter started classes, beginning as a dressing room mom and now serving as the Volunteer Coordinator Chair, managing volunteers for studio performances and events. She joined the SCB board in January 2019.  Along with Jennifer Cappella, Rebecca was awarded the inaugural SCB Volunteer of the Year Award in 2018. In addition to her work with SCB, she has served in various non-profit board positions, beginning with the preschool board and continuing to elementary PTA and foundation boards, earning the “Very Special Person Award” in 2012, and the “Honorary Service Award” in 2015. She currently serves as an executive board member of the Rancho Bernardo High School Music Boosters. Rebecca is a graduate (summa cum laude) of Texas Tech University with a BA in History. Her professional background includes nonprofit operations and development and residential construction management, administration and marketing. Currently, she is a classified employee with Poway Unified School District. 

Heather Rogers

Fundraising Chair

Heather Rogers has been an active volunteer with Southern California Ballet since 2019 when her daughter performed in her first Nutcracker show. She joined the board in 2022 as SCB’s Fundraising Liaison. Heather has always enjoyed dance and the arts, taking dance classes in grade school and throughout her time in University. Both of her children now take classes at Southern California Ballet.

With a B.S. in Biology and an emphasis in Zoology, she has had the opportunity to work for several local non-profit organizations. Her positions with San Diego Zoo Global included an internship in the Endocrinology Lab, a Research Associate for the Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Program on San Clemente Island, and an Elephant Keeper at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park. Heather also worked as a Care Center Manager at Project Wildlife and an Animal Care Manager with SoCal Parrot.

Each position she has held within these organizations started with volunteering. Heather understands and values the importance of volunteering and enjoys inspiring others to make a difference.

Erika Valente

Board Member

Erika has been volunteering at Southern California Ballet since her daughter began in 2014 and joined the board in 2022. She has a BA and multiple subject credential from UCSD, an MA in Education, as well as a reading specialist credential from SDSU. Erika has been an elementary educator for over 20 years in the Poway Unified School District, at times also working as a teacher trainer. Erika is a proud dance parent who brings her experience working with students and adults to the board. She has developed an appreciation for the arts through life work with music and now through volunteer work at the studio.