Meals On Wheels was pleased to honor two longtime major donors on October 21, 2016 at the Meals On Wheels Annual Dinner and Auction.
2016 Honoree Major Donor: Phyllis A. Rokus
Managing Director of The PAR Group, LLC
Ms. Rokus graduated from Pepperdine University, with a BS degree, in 1980. While at Pepperdine, Ms. Rokus began pursuing her personal interest of international travel, with emphasis in cultural art and dance. In 1978, Ms. Rokus moved to Europe and studied in Heidelberg, Germany for one year.
Immediately following graduation, Ms. Rokus moved to the East Coast and accepted a position with the Production Company of the Academy Award winning writer Ernest Tidyman. As Mr. Tidyman’s personal assistant, she managed many aspects of Mr. Tidyman’s personal affairs. As needed, Ms. Rokus read scripts, researched history and interfaced with many project executives, television network personnel and movie production companies.
Ms. Rokus moved back to the West Coast to pursue a career in marketing communications with Armco Steel, National Production Systems, which was their oilfield manufacturing division specializing in Down-hole drilling. She was also assistant editor-in-chief of their divisional group newsletter.
Ms. Rokus went back to Europe to continue her international interest. She moved to Dijon, France where she studied language and culture. Ms. Rokus still co-owns a home in France and visits Europe regularly for personal and business interest.
Ms. Rokus took on a full time position back in California with Reid Plastics. Reid Plastics was a privately held blow-molding company, specializing in packaging for the water, juice and dairy industries. Ms. Rokus recognized the growth potential of this national company and over a 10-year period she directed Reid from a domestic focused organization, into a leading global supplier. Today, Reid is known as Consolidated Container Company.
When Ms. Rokus started with Reid Plastics, their sales were less than 5 million dollars and prior to being purchased by CCC their sales were over two hundred fifty million dollars strong, and had products in over 87 countries. As their Vice President of International, Ms. Rokus maintained her relationships with key domestic accounts, along with establishing sales, joint ventures, licensee agreements and manufacturing facilities worldwide.
Ms. Rokus was a supplier member to the Global Council for bottled water companies and has chaired several committees for the International Bottled Water Association. She has been highly recognized for her educational recycling tours, including participants from IBWA, Nestle Waters, Danone, Fiji Water, Niagara, and many more. She has written articles for trade related magazines and is an international speaker for industry related groups.
Ms. Rokus Managing Director of The PAR Group, LLC and continues to have relationships and ownership interest in various industries, from Prepaid Credit Cards, to a Sheet and Metal Company, along with Plastic Packaging, Recycling, Water Purification and Distribution Networks. She continues to work with individuals and companies, guiding them through structural and growth challenges, at all stages of operations.
2016 Honoree: Linda Apodaca
Linda Apodaca is the Manager of Community Engagement for Foothill Transit, a public transit agency serving the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys.
She is responsible for facilitating and maintaining strong and mutually beneficial relationships with diverse groups of people and organizations within the community that Foothill Transit serves, and she represents the agency at key local partner events and industry associations.
Linda manages the free ride coupon program that supports over 75 different social service agencies, schools and outreach programs. The coupons provide free transportation to over 5,000 customers per month who need help getting to work, school and appointments.
In June of this year, Linda earned her Master’s degree in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne while simultaneously serving a seven-month term as Interim Marketing Director. In her spare time, she serves on the executive board of Neighborhood Homework House in Azusa, a faith-based organization that partners with parents of at-risk students to provide them with tools to thrive.
Although her work brings her much satisfaction, Linda says the real meaning in her life lies in serving her husband and three teenage children.