Welcome to the Palomar Estates West Residents Association (PEWRA) Board Page.
Here you can get to know your Board members and review the Bylaws by which we operate. The Board meets in the Pavilion the first Tuesday of each month at 6.30 PM. There is a General Meeting three times a year; February, June and October, with June being our annual meeting. Click here for PEWRA ByLaws
Cathie Byrd, President
My husband, Ron, and I have lived in PEW for 7 years. We enjoy catching some rays at our local beaches, taking in concerts at local music venues and spending time with family and the many friends we’ve made at PEW. Together, we’ve raised 8 children and have 4 (with one on the way!) grandkids.
My “work” life has been varied and NEVER dull! My 20 years of work experience with nonprofits includes volunteer, program and event management with CASA and Big Brothers Big Sisters. I’ve failed at retirement ( twice) and am currently contracted with the Community Resource Center in Encinitas to manage their nonprofit fundraising events. I also do a bit of catering just for fun!
My volunteer service experience includes foster parenting and serving with various organizations including the Community Resource Center and the San Dieguito Interfaith Ministerial Association. While living at PEW, I’ve served on the breakfast committee, the social connection and delivered the welcome packets to new residents. I’m now looking forward to kicking my volunteer service up a notch with this opportunity to serve as a PEWRA Board member because…in the words of Dr. Suess “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s Not.”
Garry Larson, Vice President
After living my entire working life in the Pacific Northwest, I retired to Oro Valley Arizona. After four brutal summers there Melissa and I started looking for a home in the San Diego area, where she had lived for over 30 years. Several trips later we struck gold when we found Palomar Estates West. We have it ALL here, beautiful weather and vistas, excellent updated indoor and outdoor facilities and best of all, many great neighbors and friends.
I enjoy playing on the mens billiards team and am looking forward to the post-Covid era.
I will be an advocate for you and I will do my best to assure our safety and well-being as we age.
It is my honor to be your representative on our Residents board. Please contact me with questions, concerns and ideas to help us continue to ensure Palomar Estates West remains an inclusive and vibrant paradise.
Joan Ellen "Jo" Gehringer, Secretary
I moved into my home in Palomar Estates West in 2018. After retiring from full time employment, I wanted to be close to my daughter who lives in Carlsbad and on one of my exploration trips searching for a new home I was fortunate enough to discover San Marcos and Palomar Estates West. It has been a great down-size adventure and I have really great neighbors in a friendly and active community.
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After working for several years for TWA in Philadelphia and Hartford, marriage brought me to California. Over the next several years and homes in several cities (Anaheim, Arroyo Grade, San Luis Obispo and Fresno) I achieved my licensure as a registered nurse and post graduate studies in Psychology. After 40 years in nursing and Hospital administration I retired in 2017. After a two year interruption courtesy of Covid quarantine I am eagerly looking forward to meeting even more PEW residents and hope my activities with the board members and general population can contribute to this very special community and its continuing growth and development.
Susan Friedman, Treasurer
After living my first 60 years in the NW suburbs of Chicago, I traveled to San Diego in 2016 to be close to my son and family. After 6 months of searching San Diego County, I kept coming back to PEW because I loved the area and how friendly people were when I was just driving through. Prior to retirement in 2016 I worked in Commercial Property Management for Industrial, Office, and Medical buildings. I started as an Assistant Property Manager and progressed to Senior Property Manager over the course of 14 years. I was responsible for budgeting, tracking rent payments, annual reconciliation of tenant payments to property expenses, lease management, and managing our maintenance staff. I was also chosen to assist in the development of Corporate and Departmental processes and proprietary software integration. In my earlier career I was a Data Entry Operator and a Computer Operator (back in the day of mainframes). With all the above, I was proficient in all Microsoft Office Products including Excel as well as many different proprietary software. In my spare time, I enjoy socializing, camping/travel, sports, crochet, jigsaw puzzles, bowling, and spending time training & walking my dog. I’ve been an avid volleyball player since I was in 5th grade through 2017, but have slowed down in the last 7 years. I enjoy working with people and I would like to be an asset to the community in which I live and enjoy so much.
Jesse Nieto, Director
My wife Pat and I retired here after living in San Jose, CA for over 45 years. We chose the San
Diego area after having traveled here numerous times for grandchildren’s soccer events, plus
the fact our oldest granddaughter lived down here after attending and graduating from SDSU.
We wanted to be able to know our great grandchildren as we did our grandchildren in San
Jose. We feel fortunate to have found the perfect place to live!!
I spent 4 years in the Navy on the east coast. My career afterwards was spanned over 40 years
in sales and marketing working in the industrial chemical industry. Having a sales background
follows along with why I enjoy talking to and working with people!!
I feel I bring a “can do” attitude to the board. I enjoy putting together the “clean-up” programs
for the residents including Dumpster Day, Battery Recycling, Paint Recycle Day and plan for more of
these events in the future.
Rick Towle, Director
My wife Cindy and I retired while we were still living in Oregon. We decided we needed to be back living in sunny Southern California. We came to Palomar Estates West in 2021 and have loved living here ever since. We have one son who is still in Oregon but comes to visit often. I worked full time supporting the semiconductor industry while living in Oregon for 28 years. During my time off, my wife and I renovated a 1916 Craftsman Style house in Oregon City, where we raised our son. Here at PEW, Cindy and I are in the Social Connection, I play darts once a week and continue to be amazed at the amount of activities that are available to the residents. I enjoy helping out where I can and look forward to my time on the board.
Michael Ach, Director
My name is Michael Ach, and I reside in space 436A. I have lived in Palomar West for over six years. I am retired from U.S. Customs and Border Protection after 26 years as a Branch Chief, where I was responsible for the Enforcement of Counterfeit Electronics entering the country. I supervised a group of 56 people across the country. I have served on several HOA boards at my previous residences. I believe in a commonsense approach to solving problems and that the cheapest fix is usually not the best fix. Palomar West is truly a beautiful community, but things can always be improved upon and need repairs. We can no longer continue to put “Band Aids” on problems and hope they will go away. A prime example is the drain and carwash issues that the park is currently dealing with. The board must be advised, I believe when these problems arise immediately. The board should take an active role in what the repair of these problems and who will be performing the repair. We can’t expect the Palomar Maintenance Crew to be able to fix every problem that arises.