Staff
Gary Simpson (CEO)
Gary is a graduate of the US Naval Academy with a BS in Naval Engineering and a minor in Nuclear Physics. He has an MBA from Pepperdine University. After 5 years as a Surface Warfare officer in the Navy, he spent 28 years working for Procter & Gamble retiring as Vice President - Global Product Supply - Baby Care. He spent several years as a Product Supply and leadership consultant before joining the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy Board in 2007. He left the Board in 2016 to take the role of CEO - Federal Prison Industries in the Department of Justice in Washington, DC. Upon his return in 2018, he began consulting with the Board and was hired in 2022 as the Formative Foundation CEO.
Donna Voigt (Operations Assistant)
Donna graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in Biological Sciences. Upon graduation from UCSB, she worked in the Human Resources Department of Delco Electronics for 5 years before leaving that position to stay home and raise her children. She eventually re-entered the workforce once the kids were older and was employed as the Office Manager of a local construction company for 8 years. Donna became involved with the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy during the Fall of 2009 when the need arose for parent volunteers. In September of 2015 Donna was hired as the Operations Assistant for the DPEA Foundation.
Chelsea Frei (Operations Assistant)
Chelsea has a professional career spanning over 10 years in education, and recently relocated to Santa Barbara from Boise, Idaho. The recent move marks an exciting new chapter, offering the opportunity to become an active member of the DPEA and the broader high school community. Throughout her career, she has maintained a strong passion for education and community involvement, striving to create environments that encourage curiosity, inclusivity and excellence. Prior to entering the field of education, she worked in Human Resources, gaining valuable experience in people-centered roles. Chelsea joined DPEA in 2024 and is excited to contribute to the dynamic engineering academy. She is eager to support the Elementary School STEAM programs, and colleagues as a part of the DPEA team.
Carin Ezal
Carin graduated from USC with a B.S. degree in Accounting. She worked in this field for a few years before attending UC Santa Barbara and earning a M.S. and a Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Carin was a postdoctoral researcher in molecular biology at UCSB, treasurer on the board of directors for a number of non-profits, and served two terms as a Goleta Union School District board member. She was glad to combine her interests in science, education, and accounting and join the Formative Foundation in 2024.