Tessera creates...
Our Board of Directors
Barbara Burnett (Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board) spent 15 years in the retail industry as a Buyer for the Fed Mart Corporation, the May Co., and the Navy Resale System. Barbara is a graduate of San Diego State University with a degree in psychology.
Barbara took on her most rewarding and challenging career in 1987 as Mom to daughter, Alyssa, the inspiration for Tessera. In 1989, when Alyssa’s developmental disabilities began to unfold, Barbara became an advocate for children with special needs. Throughout the years, she has been very involved in all aspects of Alyssa’s special education program, working with the school district to ensure an appropriate program for Alyssa. Her community service includes the Northshore School District, including the PTA and the Special Education Parent’s Advisory Council. She spent 4 years as a member of the board of directors for Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, where she was active in their fundraising efforts as auction chair, and co-chair of their golf tournament. Barbara continues to serve on Little Bit’s advisory board.
Charles Burnett (Co-Founder and Treasurer) is the Senior Vice-President of Pharmacy at Costco Wholesale Corporation, a division he grew to $2.5 billion in annual sales. Before Costco, Charlie was President of SavMart, a San Diego Corporation he founded in 1982. Charlie was employed at several independent pharmacies before joining FedMart in 1971 where he was promoted to General Manager.
Charlie is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a degree in Pharmacy and the University of San Diego with a law degree. He is married to Barbara Burnett and is the father of three children. His daughter Alyssa is the inspiration for Tessera.
Ronald Yutrzenka (President) is the President and CEO of The PGV Group, Inc., a consulting and manufacturers’ representative company with offices in Issaquah, Washington. Prior to his current position, Ron held various sales, marketing and management positions with Warner Lambert, Inc and Leiner Health Products, LLC.
Ron is a graduate of the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He currently serves as the Chairman of the annual Alyssa Burnett Golf Invitational. He has chaired the event since its inception.
Victor Curtis (Secretary) is the Vice President of Pharmacy, Merchandising and Internet for Costco Wholesale Corporation. In this position he has grown the internet pharmacy to a $7 million a year business and his department had over $1 billion in sales. Prior to joining Costco, Vic worked with Sav-On Drug a division of Albertsons and was a pharmacy manager for eight years.
Vic is a graduate of Idaho State University with a Bachelors degree in Pharmacy and California State University with a Bachelors degree in Biology. Vic is responsible for corporate sponsorships for the annual Alyssa Burnett Golf Invitational.
Rich Begert (Director) is the President and CEO of SinglePoint. Prior to Singlepoint, he was President and CEO of ImageX, where he led the company from private funding to its initial public offering that was later acquired by FedEx. Rich also spent 12 years at McCaw Cellular/AT&T Wireless and 9 years at Xerox.
Rich is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration. Rich is currently on the board of trustees for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He is involved with Tessera because of his youngest son who has autism.
Charlotte Cassady (Director) is a lawyer specializing in education law. After working at several local firms, including Perkins Coie and The Defender Association, Charlotte started a law firm in 1998 focusing on special education law, school discipline matters, guardianships and estate planning for families with special needs members.
Charlotte graduated from Tulane Law School.
Michael Dunmire (Director) has over 35 years of experience in investment management. In 1986 he created the Frank Russell Company's Alternative Investment Strategies Department and managed all aspects of the department for two years. In 1988, Mike co-founded and became president of Paradigm Partners, Inc. which was sold to a Fortune 50 pension fund in 1995. In 1996 Mike co-founded Paradigm Partners NW, Inc. the manager of the Benchmark Plus family of "super enhanced" index funds. Prior to the Frank Russell Company, Mike was a Founding Partner and Director of Research at Cable, Howse & Reagan (now Reagan McKinze). He also held positions with Seafirst Holding Company, Seattle First National Bank and Bankers Trust Company.
Mike is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelors degree and Columbia University with an MBA. Mike retired at the end of 2005 and spends the majority of his time on public policy issues, philanthropic endeavors and has been actively involved with Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center since 1980.
Carole Faltermeier (Director) has been a member of the American Institute of Architects since 1981 and has worked for architectural firms in California and Washington. She has been involved in the design of many public buildings including schools and residential facilities incorporating standards for accessible design.
Carole is a graduate of California State Polytechnic University with a Bachelors degree in Architecture. Carole has served as a volunteer for the Volunteers of America/Children of Promise Program, Bainbridge Island Rally for a Cure Breast Cancer Fund Raisers, and the Bainbridge Island PAWS fund raiser.
Joseph Faltermeier (Director) is a Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor at Goldman Sachs with over fifteen years of direct investment and wealth management experience. Joe has earned a Certified Financial Planner designation from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.
Joe graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelors degree in Mathematics and attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, participating in its post-graduate degree program in Operations Research and Statistics. Joe also graduated as class valedictorian from the University of California – Irvine with an MBA. Joe is active in various community and philanthropic activities, including being a member of the ArtsFund Strategic Planning Task Force 2008.
Lori’s experience includes Program Manager for Leadership and Advocacy for the Arc of Snohomish County. Lori has been active in the disabilities field for over 20 years. She is currently involved in the Washington State Combating Autism Advisory Council, the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, the University of Washington’s Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council, and the National Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance.
Lori has a child with a developmental disability, seizure disorder and is health impaired. These experiences led her to become active in advocacy efforts for systemic change and inclusion for all individuals with disabilities.
Robert “BK” Kaminski (Director) was the Chief Executive Officer of Leiner Health Products since 1992. In 1997, he was appointed Vice Chairman of Leiner. From 1988 to 1992, he was Chief Operating Officer of the Company and from 1982 to 1988, he was Executive Vice President of Sales. BK joined Leiner in January, 1978 from Procter & Gamble where he was in Sales Management.
BK also is a member of the Board of Directors for Enzymatic Therapy, Inc., and a member of the Council of Responsible Nutrition. He also sits on the National Association of Chain Drugs Stores Leadership Council.
Ann Uherek, Psy.D. (Director) is in private practice and is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Child Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, at the University of Washington. She is a trainer and psychology provider for the Division of Developmental Disabilities. She practiced in California from 1984 through 1992 and worked with adults and children in both inpatient and outpatient settings, with staff privileges at three psychiatric hospitals. During this time, she was an assistant clinical professor in the medical school and Department of Psychiatry at UCLA. She was the Lead Psychologist and Director of the Child Psychiatry clinic at Children’s Bellevue, a satellite clinic of Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, from 1992 to 2002 and was instrumental in developing an intensive in-home intervention program and summer program for children with autism through the Children’s Bellevue clinic.
Ann graduated from the University of Denver with a doctorate in clinical psychology and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology and developmental disabilities at the UCLA, Neuropsychiatric Institute.
