2025 Board of Directors

Terry Rifkin is a licensed Clinical Social Worker who operates a thriving private practice in Laguna Niguel. She holds a Diplomate in Clinical Social Work, a prestigious recognition in her field. A published author and former clinical Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California, Terry has made significant contributions to the field of social work through her expertise and dedication.

In addition to her professional achievements, Terry has been a committed community leader. She is a charter member, past president and past director of the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club as well as a sustaining Paul Harris Fellow. Her exceptional service has earned her numerous accolades including the Business Rotarian of the Year Award for her district in 2008, the Heart and Soul Award 2011 for her dedication to making a difference in Orange County, and the 73rd Assembly District Woman of the Year Award in 2012 from Assemblywoman Diane Harkey for her tireless efforts to support military troops and their families.

Since 2008, Terry has been a tireless advocate for the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group, serving as an inaugural board member and remaining the only director from its inception. She has played pivotal roles in the organization, driving initiatives that provide essential resources, care, and a sense of community for service members. Under her leadership, the Support Group has expanded its outreach and strengthened its mission to honor and support the brave men and women of the 5th Marines.

In 2021, Terry was recognized as Dana Point’s Citizen of the Year for her outstanding service to the Marines, her active involvement with Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary, and her unwavering dedication to the Dana Point Community. She looks forward to continuing her mission in advisory, public relations, and fundraising roles to support the Marines and community she deeply values.

Christian has more than 25-years of banking experience and is currently a Senior Vice President
& Lead Credit Officer with a well-known national bank.  Christian loves baseball, training
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the beach, but above all, he loves being a father and a husband.  He’s
tried to combine his passions by volunteering as both the Cubmaster and Den Leader for Cub
Scout Pack 705 in Dana Point, coaching youth baseball, serving as the Finance Secretary for
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Dana Point, and volunteering with the DPSG for the last several
years.  While his family members are serving or have served in every branch of our military, the
Marine Corps holds a special place in his heart because of his beloved grandfather, MGySgt A.
Asis, USMC.  Christian is honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve and support the
Marines and sailors of the Fighting Fifth and their families.

Cathy is a Capo Beach Resident for 30 years and has recently retired from working as an executive/legal secretary.  She has been active in the local community and has been involved with numerous non-profit organizations including the Capistrano Valley Symphony, the Dana Point Earth/Ocean Society, and the Sand Dollar Guild; a fund raising arm for the Ocean Institute. She joined the Guild in 1996 and has been on the board of directors for most of her tenure and is currently serving as co-President for the second year in a row.  She also belongs to Beta Sigma Phi, Tau Phi Chapter, a philanthropic sorority, and has been on the board of directors for their chapter for many years.  She has been involved as a volunteer with the 5th Marines Combat Golf Tournament and feels privileged to be involved with such wonderful, dedicated people!

As a 40 year resident of Dana Point, I am proud of the mission of the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group and honored to serve on its Board of Directors. My career experience includes retail sales, advertising, telecommunications customer service, sales and marketing, and event planning and management. Currently, I’m a full-time Realtor with 34  years of experience. I have previously served on the Capistrano Valley Symphony Board of Trustees, the Dana Point Incorporation Study Team, the first Harbor Revitalization Committee, and as a Charter Member of the Sand Dollar Guild. I am currently a member of the Dana Point “Citizen of the Year” Committee; the Board of Directors of the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce; National Association of Realtors; California Association of Realtors, the Laguna Board of Realtors and GEMS BNI.

Jan is a native Californian who grew up working in her family’s construction business. After attending business college, she started her own accounting business, where she worked for ten years, helping clients organize their finances and teaching them how to use computer accounting software. She has held leadership roles in construction-related companies, and recently co-managed two-family LLCs and oversaw the extensive remodel of two homes. Now, Jan is retired and enjoys playing golf, fishing, spending time with her family, and volunteering.  She volunteered with the Camp Pendleton Rotary to help make the lives of the families on base a little easier and has been volunteering with the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group for the past eight years. Her awards include an Honorary Life Membership for her volunteer work with the GFWC El Camino Real Jr Women’s Club, an honor in career achievement for Outstanding Women in Orange County from the Office of Continuing Education & Community Service at Saddleback College and Volunteer of the Year for the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group.

As a first-generation Greek American, Dean has a great appreciation for the blessings we have as Americans and a lifelong appreciation of the sacrifices made by our great Marines that protect our freedoms. He is honored to be giving back by serving on the 5th Regiment Support Group board. Dean previously served as a board member and member of the FBI Citizen’s Academy Alumni Association, supporting the bureau’s efforts to educate and build bridges with the community. In those roles, he actively participated in FBI Community Relations across Southern California, including recruiting and event support. To support his work with the FBI CAAA, he became involved with InfraGard, a public/private partnership between the FBI and the private sector, and Orange County Shield, a public/private sector program that works to enhance the security, safety, and quality of life for county residents. Dean is a member of the WWII D-Day Museum in New Orleans. Professionally, he is Vice President, Wealth Management, with Morgan Stanley, where he has worked for the last 31 years.

After living in New Jersey for 40 years but NYC-born and raised, Judy moved to Dana Point in 2008 after some life-changing events. She became a life coach, specializing in helping individuals move on after divorce. Judy started to pursue some of her “bucket list” goals, one of which was to be a stand-up comic, and she made her first stage appearance in 2010 and has had several other “gigs” since then. Her love of comedy led to co-producing DPSG’s “fun-draiser,” “Laughs for Leathernecks,” now in its 8th year. She recently retired from her position as Coordinator of Middle School Youth Ministry at St. Edward the Confessor and currently serves on the Pastoral Council there. In addition, Judy co-chairs running the food pantry for Family Assistance Ministries at the San Felipe de Jesus Satellite in Capo Beach. After a brief hiatus, Judy rejoins the board as member-at-large and feels one of the highest honors she has ever achieved is to serve on the Board of Directors for the DPSG.

Sheri has been volunteering with the Dana Point 5^th Marines for 4 years and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2017.  She has been the CEO of the Schneringer household, married for 36 years, raising 4 kids.  With the last of her 4 children turning 18, she has decided to increase her support to the organization and is pleased to accept the position of Director of Volunteers.  Her previous experience includes 3 years as President of the San Clemente High School Water Polo Booster Club President and 2 years as Team Manager at Capistrano Valley Aquatics Water Polo Club.

Mark was born in Detroit, Michigan., moving to California at the age of twelve. After graduation, he enlisted in the Air Force where he started his career as a loadmaster. Mark enrolled in the Orange County Peace Officers Academy in 1979. In 1982 he became a Police Officer for the City of Orange where he specialized in drug enforcement, crime scene investigations and training of junior officers. In his downtime he began organizing police softball tournaments. He left the Police force in 1989. He started a Landscape and Construction company working with residential and commercial customers throughout Orange County. In his spare time he finds time to play golf. In 2001, Mark and his wife moved to San Clemente and have been enjoying working and living at the Coast ever since.

Born and raised in Vineland, New Jersey, Jill moved to Bass Lake, California in 1979 where she met her husband of 36 years. Jill and her husband moved to San Clemente in 1984 and purchased a home raising five children. Jill started her company, The Pampered Bride, a wedding planning business in 1994. She was fortunate to become part of the preferred vendor list of such venues as the Ritz Carlton, Pelican Hill, Rancho Las Lomas, Saint Regis, and Casa Romantica to name a few. She left the business in 2016 entering into semi-retirement so she and her husband could enjoy more travels. During this time Jill was asked to be the venue manager for the Casino San Clemente where she worked for two more years before deciding to fully retire and spend more time playing tennis, swimming, travelling, and volunteering in the community. We brought Jill out of retirement to be the DP5MRSG Director of Support and Outreach for our Marines, Sailors and Families.