The Orinda Association Board Member Eloise Sotelo is taking over the Seniors Around Town (SAT) program as long-time program director Cathy Goshorn has stepped down. SAT provides alternative transportation for Orinda seniors who are no longer able to drive and who may not qualify for the County Connection LINK system.
Seniors Around Town (SAT), one of the signature nonprofit programs of The Orinda Association, welcomes a new program manager this month. Long-time leader Cathy Goshorn has stepped down to pursue new opportunities after a decade in the role.
Replacing her is Eloise Sotelo, an Orinda Association board member with over 30 years of experience working in social services programs, including more than 15 years as Lead Supervisor for Contra Costa County Aging & Adult Services, a program that helped elderly adults at risk of becoming unhoused due to health issues.
“Seniors Around Town is a great program and I look forward to refining the inner workings,” Sotelo said. “We need to take advantage of our computer system to better serve both our volunteers and riders.”
Sotelo said one of her first goals is to get to know the program’s clients (the riders.) To accomplish that, she plans to drive as many of them as possible over the coming year so she can personally connect with them and understand their unique needs.
She also plans to assess other cities’ programs, looking for synergies and ideas on how to better meet the needs of seniors who face isolation due to a lack of personal transportation. That’s where her longstanding ties with county and state organizations focused on aging and adult services will be particularly valuable.
“Cathy Goshorn did an extraordinary job of connecting with the program’s volunteers and riders,” Sotelo said. “The dedication of all the volunteers is impressive. I am looking forward to building on the success we’ve already achieved.”
Sotelo is a Los Angeles native who received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and a graduate degree from Chapman University. Following graduation, she moved to the Bay Area where she spent her career and retired in 2015. In addition to The Orinda Association, she volunteers with Orinda Juniors Women Club.