Thriving Together
Laguna Blanca Welcomes its Newest Trustees
The Board of Trustees ensures Laguna Blanca fulfills its mission and upholds its core values of scholarship, character, balance, and community. Working closely with the head of school, the board provides counsel and guidance, and helps secure the resources needed to serve its students. Get to know the newest members here.
CATHERINE BLAGDEN
Catherine is an East Coast native from a foodie family and has always been passionate about health, wellness, education, and athletics. She began her education at Colby College where she played three varsity sports and studied Human Development and Psychology. After a brief stint in NYC working in media, Catherine moved to California to pursue an MA in Health Psychology from Stanford University and worked in the health field for several years at UCLA, Stanford and as a Health Coach – specializing in exercise, nutrition, and mindfulness. Although working in the field of psychology and health was fulfilling and enjoyable, she longed for a more creative outlet.
Living in the Bay Area, she was drawn to the food and wine scene and the world-renowned wine program at UC Davis. Catherine completed an MS in Viticulture and Enology (grape growing and winemaking) and entered the wine business. For the past 20 years, Catherine has worked as a winemaker; she started and has been running her own business for the last 15 years. During this time, she also continued to nurture her passion for wellness and psychology by obtaining certifications in yoga, nutrition, health coaching, and sports psychology. Recently, she created a group for teenage girls, helping teach social and emotional well-being strategies. Catherine and Dr. Peggy Smith co-developed the curriculum and are launching and running new groups starting Fall 2024.
Catherine, her partner Mary Ricks, and daughter Arden Blagden '28 look forward to becoming active members of the Laguna Blanca community and are eager to embrace the adventures and opportunities that lie ahead.
LINDSAY ERVIN
Lindsay Ervin is a corporate attorney with extensive experience in financial services and securities lending. She began her legal career at Foley Hoag LLP in Boston before moving in-house to State Street Bank and Trust Company, where she served for 11 years as Vice President and Senior Attorney. In that role, she provided legal support for the company’s global securities lending business.
Lindsay Ervin is a corporate attorney with extensive experience in financial services and securities lending. She began her legal career at Foley Hoag LLP in Boston before moving in-house to State Street Bank and Trust Company, where she served for 11 years as Vice President and Senior Attorney. In that role, she provided legal support for the company’s global securities lending business.
Lindsay earned her B.A. from Williams College and her J.D. from Boston College Law School.
Since 2019, Lindsay has been an active member of the Laguna Blanca community. She served for two years as Vice President of the Lower School in the Laguna Blanca Family Association, was a class representative for multiple years, and continues to lend her time and energy to events such as the Golden Oak Gala and the Family Festival.
Lindsay lives in Hope Ranch with her husband, Drew Sharma, and their two children, Chloe '32 and Cameron '36, who are both students at Laguna Blanca.
NICHOLAS PARISI
Nicholas Parisi is the Co-Founder of Cojourn Companies, a long-term holding company that acquires and grows enduring businesses. He has held executive roles including President, COO, and CIO across several operating companies, and previously was an equity partner at a Bay Area family office focused on real estate and private equity. Nicholas holds an MBA from Duke University, where he serves on the Fuqua School of Business Alumni Board and the Center for Entrepreneurship's ETA steering committee. He earned dual bachelor's degree in economics and philosophy from Westmont College. Nicholas and his wife , Drew, are proud parents of two elementary students at Laguna Blanca.
Nicholas Parisi is the Co-Founder of Cojourn Companies, a long-term holding company that acquires and grows enduring businesses. He has held executive roles including President, COO, and CIO across several operating companies, and previously was an equity partner at a Bay Area family office focused on real estate and private equity. Nicholas holds an MBA from Duke University, where he serves on the Fuqua School of Business Alumni Board and the Center for Entrepreneurship's ETA steering committee. He earned dual bachelor's degree in economics and philosophy from Westmont College. Nicholas and his wife , Drew, are proud parents of two elementary students at Laguna Blanca.
STEPHEN SOBHANI '96
Stephen has over 25 years of experience in the global health and partnership arena and specializes in expanding and evolving organizations that work in the global development arena with particular emphasis on resource mobilization. His programmatic expertise span a broad range of development issues including, maternal, newborn and children’s health, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), HIV/ AIDS, nutrition, reproductive and sexual health, and the recruitment, training, deployment of community health workers across countries around the world. He currently operates Montemar Consultants, a boutique consulting firm that specializes in developing relationships between high net worth individuals and networks in developing regions with new and pre-existing global health programs and opportunities.
Stephen has over 25 years of experience in the global health and partnership arena and specializes in expanding and evolving organizations that work in the global development arena with particular emphasis on resource mobilization. His programmatic expertise span a broad range of development issues including, maternal, newborn and children’s health, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), HIV/ AIDS, nutrition, reproductive and sexual health, and the recruitment, training, deployment of community health workers across countries around the world. He currently operates Montemar Consultants, a boutique consulting firm that specializes in developing relationships between high net worth individuals and networks in developing regions with new and pre-existing global health programs and opportunities.
Stephen’s previous leadership roles have been with former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s Every Woman, Every Child Strategy, The Sesame Workshop, Abbott Labs, PhRMA, and the United Nations Foundation. Stephen also founded The Great American Condom Campaign - today the nation’s largest distributor of condoms ever. His work in global development began at the United Nations Foundation after its founding by Ted Turner’s gift of $1 billion in 1998.
Originally from Santa Barbara, CA and a Laguna Blanca graduate, Stephen holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service and Master's in Public Policy from Georgetown University. He is married with two children attending Laguna Blanca and volunteers as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for the County of Santa Barbara.
DAVID TROGAN
David is an Executive Director and Senior PM Director at Morgan Stanley. With more than 35 years of experience in finance, David brings deep expertise and insight to his clients. Beyond his role in wealth management, he’s an active supporter of early-stage companies and is a founding member of Pasadena Angels.
A strategic thinker with a commitment to giving back, David has held board positions with organizations including Ernst & Young Alumni Association, Pasadena Angels, Huntington Hospital (Planned Giving), among others.
David earned his MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and holds a B.A. in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He began his career at Ernst & Young, where he earned his CPA designation.
David lives in Santa Barbara with his wife, Karen, and is the father of three—Nathan, Abby, and Helen ’30.
Community
Laguna Blanca is Santa Barbara’s premier private, co-educational, college preparatory day school for students in Early Kindergarten through Grade 12.