Meet Our Team

Executive Director

A Los Angeles native, Keith Gosselin obtained his undergraduate degree at LMU and then spent two years in Virginia earning his MBA at the College of William & Mary. Over the subsequent 15 years, Keith managed a small air pollution monitoring equipment manufacturer, developed the marketing department for a medium-sized communications devices firm and then launched the eBusiness department for a Fortune 100 uniform rental company, before launching his own consulting business in 2003.

Keith started college instruction part-time but was offered – and accepted – a full-time tenured position at Mount Saint Mary’s University. Over the next 20 years, Keith Gosselin also taught as an adjunct faculty member at CSUN, UCLA and CLU. He obtained a great amount of experience with nonprofits through his consulting business and by conducting pro bono projects as part of his college instruction.

“I am excited to begin my third – and final – career as an advocate for the elderly. Having cared for my mother for two years, I know the difficulties that children face as they navigate the care for their parents.”

Community Relations Coordinator

Sylvia Taylor-Stein was introduced to the Ombudsman Program in August of 1999 and became actively involved in September of the same year. Sylvia, and her husband Marc, a native Californian, have five adult children and live in Ventura County. Sylvia’s greatest inspiration in her life was her grandmother who died at 92 years of age after suffering with Alzheimer’s disease for 10 years. It was this love and deep respect for her grandmother that influenced her desire to become involved with the elderly, and the exceptional advocacy work of the Ombudsman Program.


Sylvia received her higher education at Ambassador University in Hertfordshire England and the University of Northern Kentucky. Her work experience is extensive in the areas of publishing, marketing, management (including non-profit management), and public relations. She was executive vice president of an international publishing company for 12 years where she also served as director of its private foundation.

Sylvia says, “My grandmother was blessed to live and die at home with loving people around her. This is not the case for most of our elderly in long term care. My goal is to help build a strong ombudsman program here in Ventura County that can provide the effective advocacy, care and support they need and deserve.”

Volunteer Coordinator

Iva Mrkonjic (pronounced E-va Mer-ko-nich) comes to Ventura County and the Ombudsman program from the South Bay of Los Angeles. Iva has been working in the nonprofit space, specifically with volunteers, since 2019. A proud AmeriCorps alumna, she served multiple service projects with a literacy intervention nonprofit providing volunteer tutoring and mentorship programming to primary school-aged students before joining their staff in operations and recruitment. There, Iva supported her own students, and eventually went on to support all program students across 13 different school sites (LAUSD), and nearly 650 volunteers. While she loved and remained passionate about education, Iva genuinely enjoyed pivoting her focus back to volunteers, coaching and training new and seasoned volunteers, as well as leading various volunteer recruitment initiatives. “They [volunteers] are always going to be the backbone of a strong service-oriented organization.”

Iva also lived with, and helped care for, her 99-year-old grandmother – a very proud Oxnard native – for over 10 years, until her passing in 2021. It was because of these experiences that Iva truly began to understand firsthand the enormous importance of elder care and the essential value of preserving and protecting ones’ quality of life and freedom of choice. All of which ultimately inspired her to join the Ombudsman program in August 2024. Iva says, “It’s a privilege to serve – whether that’s the seniors in our community, or volunteers who are out there every day making the world a kinder and brighter place. We all need a helping hand now and again.”

Executive Assistant & Placement Counselor

Vicky Odle, Executive Assistant and Pre-placement Counselor, is a California native, residing in Ventura with Alan, her wonderful husband of more than 35 years. After raising their two children, and working alongside her husband in the family business, Vicky felt her needs grow, both professionally and spiritually. In 2001, Vicky went to work as an Accounts Receivable Specialist. After eight years of office work, Vicky received an opportunity to facilitate and counsel in the private rehabilitation field. It soon became evident to Vicky that her passions would always reside in an environment where giving back was prominent.

Later, when Vicky found herself in the position of having to advocate for her mother and father during their time of illness, she came to see the vital need for strong advocacy voices in our health care facilities. When offered a staff position at Long Term Care Services, Vicky felt no hesitation, and knew she had found her calling. Being able to help seniors and their families maneuver their way through the difficulties of long term care placement and residency has become an overwhelming passion for Vicky. Watching the program’s Ombudsman Volunteers give their time so selflessly to support these resident’s issues and needs is also hugely rewarding and inspiring for Vicky.

Vicky says, “Working for the Ombudsman Program has been a true gift. I feel complete. I wake up every day feeling incredibly blessed, and grateful God has given me the opportunity to serve our seniors and their families, while working alongside such inspiring individuals. Helping secure respect to our frail senior population should be a goal for all.”

Case Coordinator

Naty Avila, Data Assistant and Translator joined the Ombudsman Program in August 2021. She is a lifelong resident of Ventura County having grown up in Fillmore. Her passion for advocacy is rooted in her upbringing having served her Spanish-speaking parents as their translator and growing up with a father with Parkinson’s/Dementia. Her desire to help others has led her to pursue a career in social services and she is currently working on her degree.

Naty has a natural ability to connect with people and her caring and empathetic demeanor helps her connect with the residents and their families. In her spare time, she enjoys running with her Ventura-based run club and spoiling her dog, Charlie.

“The best part of my job is being able to help and counsel families who are overwhelmed by the challenges of caring for an elderly loved one.”

Field Services Specialist

After being a volunteer for 9 years, MaeRetha, joined the Ombudsman Program as Field Service Specialist. “I am proud to be included in this great team of dedicated staff and volunteers advocating for the elderly in Ventura County.”

MaeRetha brings of wealth of knowledge and clinical healthcare experience to our program. She has a B.S. degree from Saint Louis University, School of Nursing and Allied Health and Masters’ degree in Business Administration from National University. MaeRetha is also a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) and a Certified Health Coach. She retired in Los Angeles area after working for the State of California 28 years in northern California in various health programs as a health education consultant, health program specialist and analyst working on issues that impact health outcomes for some of this state’s most vulnerable populations.

MaeRetha also has an academic background as Program Director and adjunct professor in Health Sciences and Health Informatics at five colleges three of which were California’s Community Colleges: Solano, Los Rios and Moorpark.

MaeRetha has been serving her community in various ways over the years as volunteer/mentor for various organizations like STAND Against Domestic Violence, the California Black Women’s’ Health Project, Dress for Success – Los Angeles, Youth Saturday School for NAACP Ventura County.

MaeRetha enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with family and friends. She has two adult children and two grandchildren. Her personal interests include meditation, decorating, reading and cooking.

People often ask why she loves spending time with seniors and it’s because she lost her parents before they aged and this is her way of honoring them. “I feel blessed and honored to be in seniors’ presence protecting their rights for quality care and services.”

Field Services Specialist

Mat Bennett was born in Manila, Philippines and moved to California in 1990. She has lived in Ventura County since 2020.

Mat is a believer in fitness and has worked in the past as a fitness consultant and private trainer. She joined the program in 2020, right after her mother passed away. She served first as a volunteer and then during the covid lockdown joined the staff in the position she now holds.

Mat says, “I continue to do this work because it is so important, and I always remember that I do this as a Mitzvah for the memory of my mom.

Matt has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication, and lives in Simi Valley with her husband and two beautiful cats.

Field Services Specialist

Stephanie James is excited to join the staff as Field Services Specialist. Now that her children are raised and married, she is looking forward to pouring her attention and affection in a new direction. A California native, she and her husband of 33 years have been in Ventura County for 15 years.

She received a BA in English and a BS in Secondary Education from San Diego Christian College. She taught high school English for many years, setting that aside to school her own children at home. She has worked with several elderly ladies as a home-helper, and quickly learned she loved being with the elderly! Helping her own elderly parents has opened her eyes to some of the difficulties the elderly face. She is enthusiastic to begin serving the elderly community in a broader scope in Ventura County.

“It is clear throughout Scripture that God’s heart is with the widow and that we are to minister to them in their affliction”, says Stephanie. “I am blessed and privileged to work toward fulfilling that mission.”

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