The People Behind the Murals

S. Elaine Lyttleton

President – Businesswoman. Owner (with her husband Norman Case) and Executive Winemaker at Hatfield Creek Winery, Ramona CA. Creator of the H.E.A.R.T. Acronym, founder of the Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project and the Ramona Art & Wine Festival. Retired tax professional (Enrolled Agent), businesswoman. Former Chairman of the Board of the Carlsbad (California) Chamber of Commerce, Former Chairman of the California Tax Education Council, Former Campaign Manager of the YES on Legoland California Initiative Campaign. A passionate advocate for Economic Development and Small Business.

Molly

Molly Jaeger-Begent

Vice President – Artist and Art Gallery Owner. A resident of Ramona since 2008 when her family bought the Old Owen Ranch on Highland Valley Road. Molly and her husband David Begent owned a successful San Diego construction company that specialized in biotech tenant improvements for 30 plus years. They moved to Ramona after they retired to pursue their goal of becoming full time artists. They converted one of the two barns on the ranch into a 10,000 square-foot art studio and the other barn into an “Art Barn,” and they began creating art while becoming involved in the Ramona Art Community, which to their delight they learned was quite robust. They now host several art events on their ranch, and the family runs a non-profit art gallery, 2Create Gallery—which has one of Ramona’s wonderful murals on the front of the building—on Main Street in historic downtown Ramona.

Rob Lewallen

Treasurer – Designer and Builder of energy efficient homes. Former member and past Chairman of the Ramona Community Planning Group, founding member / current Chairman of the Ramona Design Review Board / Chairman of the Ramona Village Design Committee / Board member of Sustainable Ramona / Organizer of the Ramona Earth Day Festival / Performing musician in the Ramona and San Diego area / 2022 recipient of the Ramona Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.

Robert E. Krysak

Secretary – A practicing attorney. 2015 through 2018 Ramona Chamber of Commerce President, Present Treasurer. Former member and chairman of the Ramona Municipal Water District Board of Directors. Served as Ramona’s representative on the San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors. Served 7 years on Ramona Town Hall Board. Formed and served on Committee for a Better Ramona. 2023: President of the Ramona Bar Association, Board member of the Ramona Food & Clothes Closet, Chairman of the Ramona Leadership Council, Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project Secretary.

Lisa

Lisa Barnett

Director – Businesswoman – Owner, Farmer and Creative Director at Backcountry Gardens, Ramona. Co-chair of the Ramona Art and Wine Festival committee. Standing member of the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association (RVVA) Marketing Committee. Co-founder and chair of Ramona Grape Stomp Committee. Retired after 30 years in Information Technology.

Chris Anderson

Director – Realtor. 2023 Assessment Appeals Board member, San Diego County; 2022 & 2015 President San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR); Director, National Association of Realtors 2014-Present; Director, California Association of Realtors 2006-Present; Elected member and past chair – Ramona Community Planning Group 1999-2013; Appointed to Ramona Design Review Board 2006-Present; Director, Ramona Outdoor Community Center 2012-Present; President, Ramona Rodeo 2014 & 2015; Ramona Citizen of the Year 1999; Named San Diego County’s Realtor of the Year in 2001 & 2019 by the San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR); Director, San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy 2012-2015; President Women’s Council of Realtors 2012; Ramona Tree Trust, Secretary 2006-Present; Co-founder Ramona Bluegrass & Old West Festival.

Paul Pakus

Director – Retired Engineer. Retired in 2007 after a 35-year career as both a Naval Officer and civilian project manager at the former Naval Ocean Systems Center in San Diego. Past member of the Board of Directors of the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. Past Judge for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

Mindy Waldhauser

Assistant Geriatric Care Manager and Patient Advocate. Mindy has been with Grace Care Management for the last 17 years. Prior to that she worked for ARCH Health Care and Palomar Medical Health Group since 2003. Mindy is active in several volunteer committees in Ramona. She is a member of the Ramona Art and Wine Festival committee, chairing both the Vendor and Silent Auction subcommittees. As a member of the RVVA, she volunteers on both the Marketing Committee as well as the Social Committee. Mindy is a past Board Member of the Ramona Pregnancy Care Clinic and a longtime board member of Ramona School District PTA. (Photo credit: John Hancock)