Board of Directors
Transitional Bridges is governed by a Board of Directors personally inspired, and dedicated to improving the end-of-life experience. Compassionate by nature, each board member brings their unique talents and skills from various professions, including healthcare, marketing, business, and financial management.
Lorene Morris
Founder and President
Lorene Morris, MPS, is the Founder and President of Transitional Bridges. Throughout her career, she has worked collaboratively with clinicians and assisted patients and families in securing necessary resources while navigating complex systems to obtain vital services and benefits. Ms. Morris worked for nonprofits, including the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Heart Association (AHA). While at the ACS, she focused on impacting systemic change to improve health outcomes for patients with cancer. During her tenure at the AHA, efforts supported a statewide initiative to advance pre-hospital response to St-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and other systemic initiatives designed to improve cardiovascular outcomes. Ms. Morris’s career later segued into the academic setting. She retired from California State University at San Marcos, where she specialized in grant writing for health and palliative care.
Fueled with an innate passion for assisting others and motivated to improve the end-of-life experience for family members, she created Transitional Bridges. Lorene loves music, art, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. A resident of Southern California, she lives with her husband and two temperamental felines.
Sharon Zornes
Treasurer
Sharon Zornes, CPA, has been a California Certified Public Accountant for over 40 years. She worked for several years for a regional CPA firm located in Newport Beach, specializing in taxation. After starting a family, Sharon and her husband relocated to Fallbrook. Here she worked as a Controller in the hospitality industry for timeshare associations. She managed the financial reporting for twelve owners associations, with annual budgets over $80 million and servicing over 45,000 owners. Her professional experience includes financial reporting for non-profits, corporate tax compliance, property and sales tax compliance, cash management, and fiscal budgeting. Upon retirement in 2017, Sharon applied for and completed the UCCE Master Gardener program. She is currently active in that non-profit organization, which focuses on providing scientific-based agricultural information to the home gardening community. She currently volunteers her time serving on the Grants Committee, School Garden committee, and developing a Master Gardener plot in a local community garden.
Jesus Duran Perez
Secretary
Jesus Duran Perez is a dynamic young professional with a rich tapestry of experiences across various industries. As a Graduate of California State University San Marcos with an emphasis in International Relations, Jesus keeps up to date with world events and enjoys traveling the world to further drive and improve his perspective and community. Jesus has joined the YMCA of San Diego as a Resource and Referral Advisor specializing in Provider/Business support. Jesus provides technical assistance to early care and education programs and the community, including market rates, data, and resources. He participates in community outreach events to develop community awareness of agency services. He is committed to collaboration, social impact, and community-driven initiatives. Jesus is deeply passionate about helping and inspired by the opportunity to contribute to initiatives that improve the well-being of individuals and communities. An advocate for nonprofits, Jesus thrives on creating positive change and fostering meaningful connections.
Cassandra Highbridge
Former Secretary 2021 – 2023
Cassandra Highbridge is the granddaughter of Phyllis Highbridge, the inspiration for the creation of Transitional Bridges. She has a passion for volunteering and helping her community. Cassandra is an experienced marketer with a strong background in targeted email marketing initiatives. She has worked at top firms such as Shutterfly and Unstack and has over four years of industry expertise. Her skills include project management, campaign execution, and data-driven decision-making. Originally hailing from Connecticut, Cassandra relocated to San Diego and quickly fell in love with the city. In her free time, you can find her diving into fitness activities, hunting for the best coffee spots in town, and indulging in her love for reading.