Meet the Board

Jerry Maize - President / Director

Jerry Maize has been with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management since 1993. He holds a BA in Economics from Colgate University in New York. Jerry has completed the CFP Professional Education Program through The College For Financial Planning in Denver Colorado. After graduating in 1981 he migrated to Southern California to begin his career at Merrill Lynch. He has been a resident of Long Beach for most of those years. Jerry and his wife, Jan Maize, have been married for 14 years. Jerry and Jan are also business partners at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and are active supporters of community organizations such as Ronald McDonald House, Pathways to Independence, Little By Little and continue to be enthusiastic members of Rotary Club of Long Beach. Together they bring a strong sense of service to our community. In their spare time Jan and Jerry enjoy travel , outdoor sports, and spending time with family and their two Pugs, Romulus and Remus.

Blake Christian - Vice President / Director

Blake Christian brings over 35 years of experience providing tax consulting and compliance services to the board. His industry experience is broad and includes manufacturing, service companies, restaurants, transportation, energy and healthcare. Blake has served in leadership positions on numerous community boards including the Long Beach Community Foundation, Cal State Long Beach Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership, former President of Long Beach Rotary and former Chairman of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. Blake was named as one of the Top 10 California Accounting Professionals in 2015 and 2014. In 2011, the CalCPA Society honored Blake with its CPA Public Service Award. He also was recognized as the 2010 – 2011 Rotary Businessman of the Year for District 5320. Blake began his career at KPMG LLP and was admitted to its partnership. Blake holds a master’s of taxation from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a minor in finance from California State University, Long Beach.

Sheryl Martinez - Secretary / Director

Sheryl Martinez has provided social work services in Orange County and south Los Angeles County for over 26 years. She holds a Master of Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Ms. Martinez worked for the Department of Children and Family Services for 16 years, initially as a Children’s Social Worker in Adoptions and later as a Supervising Children’s Social Worker in Family Maintenance and Reunification. She currently holds the position of Senior Clinical Social Worker with the Disease Management Program of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Ms. Martinez is married, has a son and a daughter, and enjoys spending time with family and her pets, and doing yoga.

Gary DeLong - Treasurer / Director

Gary DeLong is a third generation Southern California native who’s lived in the Long Beach area for over 30 years. Prior to being elected to the Long Beach City Council, Mr. DeLong served on the Boards of Directors for the Aquarium of the Pacific, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Childnet Youth & Family Services, Goodwill Industries of Southern California, Laurelcrest School for Girls, Long Beach Public Library Foundation, and the Los Angeles Police Historical Society. Gary DeLong is a graduate of California State University Dominguez Hills and the University of Southern California, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA), respectively. He has also been a State of California certified Foster Parent. Councilmember DeLong was also a candidate to Congress in 2012. During his 8 years of service on the City Council, Councilmember DeLong was Chair of the Budget Oversight Committee and the Federal Legislation Committee, as well as Chairman of the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority and the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority. Mr. DeLong also has over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. He is currently President of TMSI, a telecommunications company. DeLong currently serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the Apartment Association California Southern Cities, the Board of Trustees for the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Board of Directors for the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Governors for the Long Beach City College Foundation, the Board of Directors of the Long Beach Community Foundation, the Board of Directors for the Long Beach Ronald McDonald House and the Board of Governors for the St. Mary Medical Center Foundation. Gary currently resides in Long Beach with his wife Dawna, and daughters Danielle, Elizabeth and Katie.

Nick Worthington - Executive Director / Director

Apart from his work with the SCCE, Nick Worthington is the President of Worthington Oil & Gas Inc., and former Dealer / President of Worthington Ford in Long Beach, Worthington Ford Lincoln in Anchorage, and Mercedes-Benz of Anchorage. He also serves as COO & CFO of the Big W Ranch Corp., and teaches marketing at CSULB. He is a trustee, and has served as a member of the Long Beach Police Foundation Advisory Board, the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Ronald McDonald House of LB Corporate Advisory Board, and as President of the Southland Motor Car Dealers Association. He graduated with his M.B.A. from the University of Southern California and earned a B.A. from the George Washington University. He enjoys spending his free time at home with his wife Nichole, and his three children.