Effective July 1, 2026
Officers/Executive Committee
Jay Thomas, President
Mike Kasperzak, 1st Vice President
Jeanine Valadez, 2nd Vice President
Jung Yoon, Treasurer
Allison Aldrich, Secretary
Kuljeet Kalkat, Past President
Gerri Acers serves on the Education Committee. She has lived in Los Altos for 43 years and worked as a former teacher and school administrator in San Mateo/Foster City School District for 28 years. Her career also included 15 years with the New Teacher Center, a national education nonprofit mentoring teachers. Gerri is a member of the Foothill College Commission, Mountain View/Los Altos Scholars, Los Altos Rotary and the Museum’s Education Committee. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from Santa Clara University.
Allison Aldrich is secretary of the board. She serves in a national capacity for the Young Men’s Service League and contributes locally as a Los Altos CERT and BAT leader. She is a past-president of the Claremont McKenna College parent board where she was an ex-officio member of their Board of Trustees. She has a background in management consulting, product design, and project management. Allison holds an MA in Art History from George Washington University, and a BA in English and psychology from UNC Chapel Hill.
Wynn Belton has been a resident of the area for 44 years. He brings a strong background in technology sales and a deep commitment to the community. After graduating from Los Altos High School, he earned a BA in political science from UC Berkeley. Currently, he helps lead sales enablement for the global sales organization at Palo Alto Networks. Outside of work, Wynn finds joy in playing basketball, international travel, hiking, and supporting his children’s diverse activities on the weekends.
Kuljeet Kalkat is immediate past president, previously serving as board president. A long-term resident of Los Altos, he has spent over 30 years in product development and management in the computer industry and today mentors clean technology startups. From 1991-98 he and his wife ran a small business in downtown Los Altos. He serves as chair of the Los Altos Financial Commission and on the board of the Community Service Agency for Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. He holds electrical engineering and economics degrees from University of Maryland and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon.
Mike Kasperzak is 1st vice president and brings more than 25 years of experience in business, law, and public service to the Museum’s Board of Directors. A former two-time Mayor of Mountain View and long-serving City Council member, he has held leadership roles with the League of California Cities and National League of Cities. Mike is a well connected local leader active with several organizations including the Los Altos Stage Company and the Mountain View Chamber. He holds a Juris Doctor from Hastings College of the Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Lewis and Clark College.
Rebecca Lowell has extensive experience in community engagement, having volunteered for local school foundations for a decade and currently serving on the board of the East Palo Alto Kids Foundation. She has held leadership roles in the MVLA High School Foundation and Los Altos Educational Foundation and is a Los Altos city commissioner on the Joint Volunteer Awards Committee. Rebecca has a background in fundraising and holds a BA in Political Science from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Mira Sharma is a 26-year resident of Los Altos who was born and educated in India. She began her career as a literary editor at Katha and later taught literature at Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi, where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English literature. Until recently, she led design and content teams at local software company eGain Corp. She has served as an art docent in the Los Altos School District and is a former board member of the Los Altos Education Foundation.
Jennifer Springer is a longtime resident of Los Altos, and brings extensive experience in community service and volunteerism. She has held various PTA roles, coached youth sports, and remains actively engaged in the work of the Los Altos Village Association. Recently, she has also been active in the Museum’s focus groups, fundraising, and board recruitment efforts. Her professional background is in leading teams, board development, volunteer coordination, youth mentoring, and career development.
Jay Thomas is president of the board and previously served as treasurer. With a distinguished career in the technology industry, Jay held numerous executive positions before retiring. His commitment to education is evident through his previous role as the president of the Los Altos Education Foundation (LAEF) and his 12-year tenure as an elected member of the Los Altos School District (LASD) Board, including three terms as Board President. He earned an MS in communications systems engineering from Santa Clara University, and a BS in electrical engineering from Cal Poly.
Jeanine Valadez is 2nd vice president. A Los Altos resident since 1989, Jeanine is a retired semiconductor industry executive with a background in electrical engineering and pioneering work on Wi-Fi standards. Her volunteer efforts focus on early childhood literacy, social justice, housing, and climate action. She currently serves as a Library Commissioner for the City and volunteers on the Museum’s docent and exhibits committees. Jeanine endeavors to expand historical knowledge, enhance the Museum’s brand, and encourage the development of impactful, collaborative programs and exhibits.
Jung Yoon is board treasurer. A Los Altos resident for 15 years, she recently retired from a 25-year career in nurse leadership roles. She has been involved with Los Altos History Museum since 2018, organizing fundraising efforts and co-chairing the 2024 Dancing through the Decades gala. Jung currently volunteers at Los Altos High School, and has three children in the local school district. She holds a master’s degree in nursing and is an alumna of Harvard Business School.
Derrick Harris is the Youth Representative to the board. He is a rising senior at Pinewood School, and has served as a Teen Docent at the Museum since 2024. Aspiring to become a journalist, Derrick writes the “Teen Perspective” column for the Museum’s newsletter and has contributed additional freelance writing. In his free time, Derrick interns with the local nonprofit Justice Vanguard and writes for his own blog, “Backrow to Baseline.”
