Organizers of California International Marathon add four to leadership team
The Sacramento Running Association, organizers of the California International Marathon (CIM), recently elected four new members to serve on the non-profit’s board of directors.
At the SRA’s recent monthly meeting, President Denis Zilaff welcomed the newest directors, Julia Himovitz, Michelle Reyes, Ken Smalley and Clark Whitten.
The four new members join an existing board comprised of President Zilaff, Past President Leigh Rutledge, Vice President Allyson Thomas Conwell, Secretary Muffet McCleneghan, Cynci Calvin, Dr. Steve Polansky, Deirdre Fitzpatrick and Tamara Torlakson.
“The new board members bring an exciting and revitalizing energy and new ideas to supplement and invigorate the long-standing board members without disrupting the core values that made SRA the world-class organization that it is today,” said Zilaff.
“This is an exciting time for our organization.”
Himovitz, an attorney at the California State Board of Equalization and previously Downey Brand LLP, is a member of the Sacramento Estate Planning Council and the Sacramento County Bar. The Carmichael native received her undergraduate degree from San Francisco State University before obtaining a Master of Social Work degree from Sacramento State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. Himovitz completed her first marathon in 2000 at CIM.
Reyes, a Sacramento native, currently serves as Communication Director for State Assemblyman Matthew Dababneh. She is a member of the Sacramento Young Democrats and various Capitol staff associations. Prior to her work in the state Capitol, Reyes worked in the Los Angeles office of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and at the Spanish language television network Univision. Reyes enjoyed a successful athletic and academic career at American River College before transferring to the University of California, Los Angeles where she obtained her undergraduate degree. Reyes ran her first marathon at CIM in 2014 where she qualified for the Boston Marathon.
“I think there’s a lot of opportunity for the board to enhance and expand their scope and footprint within our running community and hope to be able to utilize my connections to enhance SRA’s distinguished reputation,” said Reyes.
Smalley is the owner of Ken Smalley Insurance Agency, a Sacramento-based Farmers Insurance brokerage. Smalley, a Natomas resident, held the New Jersey high school state track and field record in the mile. Prior to working in insurance, Smalley graduated from Syracuse University and worked for several Fortune 500 companies including Hewlett-Packard. Smalley is a long-time CIM aid station and course monitor volunteer.
Whitten, a Folsom resident, manages the Mather Development Projects for the County of Sacramento’s Office of Economic Development and is the Division Director for the Business Environmental Resource Center. The Oklahoma native previously worked for the international engineering firm Bechtel. The long-time River City Rebel has run CIM six times and has served as a CIM pace team leader. Whitten is also a two-time finisher of the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run.
“Considered pragmatic by most of my family, coworkers and running friends, I hope to enhance SRA opportunities and help steer us from conflicting situations,” said Whitten.
“I am blessed with one of the coolest jobs in the region and I hope to capitalize on my business and elected official relationships to help SRA achieve its goals.”
The Sacramento Running Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding ways to encourage people of all ages and abilities to run. The SRA is committed to developing new, quality running events that appeal to a broad variety of runners.
SRA events include the Capital Cross Challenge on Sept. 30, the Run the Parkway on Nov. 5, the 35th annual California International Marathon on Dec. 3, the Super Sunday Run on Feb. 4, 2018, the Credit Union SACTOWN Run on April 8, 2018 and the Gold Country Half on June 10, 2018.