Now Accepting Volunteer and Staff Applications for Our 2026 Summer Sessions
Advisory Board
Kate Carinder - President
Kate serves as Board President and is the Senior Director of Development for the College of Engineering at San Diego State University. With more than twenty-five years of experience in university advancement and governmental relations, she has dedicated her career to building partnerships and expanding opportunities in higher education. A first-generation college student, she attended Kansas State University on a volleyball scholarship, where she earned her bachelor’s degree, and later completed a master’s degree at The George Washington University.
Kate is an active member of the Coronado Rotary Club and a past trustee of the Coronado Library Board. She is passionate about connecting people, fostering collaboration, and driving initiatives that create a stronger community and a brighter future.
Fred Downey - Vice President
Fred Downey serves as Vice President of the Board and is the CEO of Downey and Son, where he leads multi-unit and multi-brand marketing and management operations. With extensive experience in business leadership, Fred has built his career on driving growth, fostering teamwork, and developing strong organizational strategies. Beyond his professional role, Fred has dedicated many years to coaching youth and high school soccer, mentoring young athletes both on and off the field. Together with his wife Laura, he has been a committed volunteer with Camp Able for over a decade. Their passion for service shines through in their dedication to the campers, staff, and families, making a lasting impact on the Camp Able community.
Fred is deeply committed to giving back and is proud to help further Camp Able’s mission of creating transformative experiences for individuals with disabilities.
Jessie Nord - Secretary
Jessie Nord serves as Secretary on the Camp Able Advisory Board and is Principal of Wegeforth Elementary in the San Diego Unified School District. Prior to becoming a principal, she spent nearly a decade as an Assistant Principal and an Extensive Support Needs Teacher.
Jessie’s connection to Camp Able began as a teenager, working first as a lifeguard and later as an aquatics supervisor. Over the past 17 years, she has remained deeply involved as a volunteer and supporter. Her friends and family know that summer schedules are planned around her time “out at camp,” often joining her to volunteer at the place she considers her happy place.
Creating access and opportunity for individuals with disabilities is one of Jessie’s core values as both an educator and school leader. She considers it an honor to carry that mission forward on the Advisory Board, helping ensure Camp Able’s legacy continues for generations to come.
Mary Grant - Treasurer
Mary Grant serves as Treasurer and brings more than three decades of professional experience and a deep personal connection to Camp Able. She holds a B.A., M.B.A., and J.D., and has been practicing law for 31 years. Mary and her husband, Mark, have been married for 37 years and have three children—Andrew (30), Aidan (27), and Alexis (25). The Grant family has lived in Alpine for 36 years, where they have built strong roots in the community.
Mary and Mark first became involved with Camp Able 15 years ago, when their son Aidan began attending. Since then, Aidan has been a joyful part of Camp every summer, and the entire family has experienced the camp’s transformative impact. Inspired by this, Mary and Mark have been actively engaged in supporting Camp Able, especially through fundraising efforts for the annual Gala.
In addition to her dedication to Camp Able, Mary enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, and running.
Mark Grant - Member at Large
Mark Grant serves as Member-at-Large and brings his voice, passion, and life experience to Camp Able. A former Major League pitcher turned beloved broadcaster, Mark is best known to Padres fans as the color analyst for the San Diego Padres on television. He was a first-round pick (10th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 1981 out of Joliet Catholic Academy in Illinois, and he pitched several seasons in the majors including for the Padres, Braves, Mariners, Astros and Rockies. After his playing career, he transitioned into broadcasting in 1996, becoming a fixture in Padres telecasts.
Off the field, Mark is deeply rooted in family and in community. He and his wife Mary have three children: Andrew, Alexis, and Aidan (who has Down syndrome and autism), and together they live in Alpine, California. Mark and Mary’s care for Aidan has long been a central part of their lives, and it has shaped Mark’s perspective and advocacy.
Mark’s involvement with Camp Able is personal—Camp has been part of the Grant family story for many years, and Mark brings both his visibility and his heart to his role on the board. He’s committed to supporting the organization’s mission, using both his public platform and lived experience to help foster a more inclusive, caring community where every camper is seen, valued, and empowered.
Kerry Emory - Member at Large
Kerry Emory serves as Member-at-Large and brings a lifetime of medical expertise and community service to Camp Able. A former Division I swimmer, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Iowa in 1984 while on a swimming scholarship. She began her career as a pediatric RN, working in pediatrics, PICU, and Critical Care Pediatric Transport at Stanford.
In 1996, Kerry earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Samuel Merritt University and became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). She went on to serve as a Nurse Anesthetist at Kaiser for 27 years, retiring in 2023. Kerry continues to share her medical knowledge and heart for service with Camp Able, where she began serving as the camp nurse in 2024. In addition, her two certified therapy Golden Retrievers have participated in Camp Able events, bringing joy and comfort to campers.
Gary Alstadt - Member at Large
Gary Alstadt was honored to join the Camp Able Board of Directors in 2024, bringing both professional expertise and a deeply personal perspective to the organization. Born and raised in San Diego County, Gary is a proud San Diego State University alumnus, where he studied Computer Information Systems. He went on to build a 36-year career in the IT industry with the San Diego Unified School District’s Integrated Technology Department, retiring at the end of 2020.
Gary and his wife, Sherril, moved to Coronado in 2009 with their two children, Amelia-Marie and Max, and quickly embraced the island as their “forever home.” They are proud parents of Amelia-Marie, a PhD candidate, and Max, who will begin law school in 2025.
In addition to his professional career, Gary has served as an officer and board member for other nonprofit organizations, including the San Diego Wheelchair Association (SDWAA) and Optimal Giving. Both Gary and Sherril sustained spinal cord injuries as teenagers and have lived with disabilities for over five decades. Their resilience and shared experiences have been a source of strength throughout their 40-year marriage, which they will celebrate in January 2026.
Gary hopes that the lessons learned from living with a disability will allow him to serve the Camp Able community, its board, employees, volunteers, and most importantly its participants, in a unique and meaningful way.
Mary Fagan - Member at Large
Mary Fagan serves as Member-at-Large and brings more than three decades of leadership in pediatric healthcare to Camp Able. She recently retired after a 35-year career at Rady Children’s Hospital, where she spent the last 14 years as Chief Nursing Officer. In this role, she oversaw nursing services for the Helen Bernardy Center for Medically Fragile Children.
Through her work at the Bernardy Center, Mary witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of Camp Able on children and their families. Seeing the joy, confidence, and connections fostered through camp inspired her to become more deeply involved in supporting its mission.
Mary is honored to continue serving the community through her work with Camp Able, helping ensure that every participant has the opportunity to experience the same joy and sense of belonging she has seen throughout her career.