The Can Do Kids Team

Deb Luster, Founder & President

Deb loves life. She feels that she has found the perfect balance with CAN DO KID between being a mother of 3 young kids, a PTA President, Girl Scout leader, having a great, supportive husband and finding a business that supports her passion for creating CAN DO children! Deb’s main goal in life is to have her family and kids all over the world know that THEY CAN DO ANYTHING!

Deb likes the ocean and scuba diving with her hubby, Rob. She is also learning how to play the piano and is determined to re-learn the violin. Deb’s big CAN DO activity is her pursuit for a black belt in Tae Kwon Do with all her family. By the way, Deb loves cheetahs because she lived in Africa as a teen and had the amazing experience of petting cheetahs and decided to put them on the packaging!

Deb’s CAN DO KID is her 9-year old daughter Sarah who greets the world with joy and compassion. She is never afraid of trying anything new and becomes a master of her passion. Sarah does Tae Kwon Do, soccer, swim team and softball, plays the violin and piano, is an astounding artist and writer. Most of all, she is a good friend and loves to help people in need around her. Sarah loves cheetahs too!

Chris Elders, Director of Sales

Chris is the Sales Director of Can Do Kid, Inc. and although she enjoys seeing the bars on as many shelves as possible she enjoys seeing children everywhere adopting their new "Can Do" attitudes even more. Before becoming a mom herself, Chris started her career at Annie's Homegrown Inc. and from there moved onto owning and running her own wholesale bread company. After surviving on "the crumbs" that were made she chose to get involved down in Silicon Valley working in sales for both a software company and then finally in Global Sales for Gartner Group Inc.

Nowadays, Chris shows her Can Do attitude by being a full time mother, training for her black belt in Tae Kwon Do and sprinting along side her other "Can Do" teammates in the effort of growing this wonderful company.

My Can Do Kid is my father, Steve Churchill. My dad is always positive, supportive and helpful. He is the rock in our family and is there for us whenever we need him. He’s handsome, brilliant, honorable and my hero. He would have been my choice even before his accident two years ago on October 22nd when he fell off a ladder and broke his neck. Although he was close to death and permanent injury, my dad, with his incredible strength, faith, and one amazing doctor made a full recovery and appreciates life now more than ever.

Sarah Churchill, Director of Sales & Marketing, Eastern Region

Sarah joined Deb and the Can Do Kid team to help build the Can Do Kid culture and business throughout the eastern region. Sarah has over 15 years of sales and marketing experience and has never had this much fun working until now. It is wonderful to see how Can Do Kid impacts kids, families, and the business community as a whole.

Sarah is a mother of one active eighteen month old named George. He keeps her on her toes and needs a sibling! She loves a good laugh and spending time with family and friends. Her favorite pastime includes going to the beach, working out, and traveling with her family. She also enjoys playing a round of golf with her husband, Mike.

Sarah’s CAN DO KID is her 6 year old neighbor, Caroline. Caroline is a true Can Do Kid in spirit and action. She is the eldest of 5 kids and is always on the go. You will find Caroline helping her mom with her siblings, playing tennis, taking drama classes, being a Daisy, or perfecting her Can Do Kid cheer and skits with her friend Devan! She is Can Do Kid’s biggest fan and lives by its motto everyday.

Aniko Molnar, Director of Operations

Aniko Molnar is the Director of Production and New Product Development for Can Do Kid. She is responsible for assuring that all aspects of production and distribution run smoothly. She researches and evaluates new product ideas and is responsible for the development of new products. Aniko is also involved in sales focusing primarily on sports related markets.

Before joining Can Do Kid, Aniko spent 25 years as a chemical engineer investigating and cleaning up groundwater and soil contamination. When she is not working for Can Do Kid, Aniko volunteers at her children’s elementary school, leads a Brownie Girl Scout troop, and consults on environmental projects. She loves to ski, bike ride, hike, camp and spend time with her family and friends.

Can Do Kid pick: My mother always was (and still is) a Can Do Kid!! She showed me that with a positive attitude, dedication and hard work you can do anything. Born and raised in Budapest, Hungary, she grew up during World War II and came of age during the Soviet occupation of her country. During these tough times, she dedicated herself to gymnastics and was soon a part of the Hungarian Olympic team. She went on to compete in the Olympic Games in Helsinki (1952) and Melbourne (1956) and won gold, silver, and bronze medals.

After the 1956 Olympics, she and my father (along with many other Hungarian athletes) came to the US as political refugees. My mother attended the University of California while she was struggling to learn English (she translated every word in her textbooks!) and received a bachelor’s degree. Later she earned a doctorate degree in education while working full time and raising me! She has spent her life working as a professor and an international judge of rhythmic gymnastics. She was also a volunteer ski patrol for more than 20 years. She still judges and loves to travel, ski, and spend time with her family (especially the grandkids!).

Celinda Shannon, Director of Communications

As Director of Communications, Celinda works at getting the word out about Can Do Kid's products and programs. She worked with Deb at Annie's Homegrown Inc., back in the mid 90's. They became fast friends and got their feet wet together in the food business. They have also had the good fortune to get their feet wet together in Kauai at the beach and scuba diving. They both share a love of the water and the creatures that live in it. One of Celinda's personal Can Do accomplishments so far has been running the San Francisco marathon in 4 hours, 4 minutes and 46 seconds!

Celinda's Can Do Kid pick is her friend Lisa Kloman, 74. She originally met Lisa while she was in her late 60’s on a backpacking trip in New Zealand. Attributing to the small world category, they found out that Lisa had lived in the small town Celinda grew up in for 13 years and knew her Dad. Age is no boundary to their friendship as they continue to be friends and traveled on a week-long kayaking trip off Vancouver Island together with Lisa never having kayaked before! "Lisa is a real inspiration to me in her actions and her spirit. I hope I have as much energy as she does when I reach her age!"

Rob Luster, Founder & Financial Operations

Rob is President and CEO of Luster National, Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in the management of capital improvement projects. Rob has a team of over 100 associates and has been in business for 16 years! Rob graduated from West Point and also has an MBA from Long Island University. Rob is a Founding Trustee, University of California, Merced; a Member, Board of Directors, Bay Planning Coalition, San Francisco, California; President and Member of the Board of Directors, West Point Society of San Francisco; and a Member, Board of Directors, Golden Gate Bank, California.

Most memorable Can Do Kid experience: Sixth grade intra-school softball game. I led our team to a 12-9 victory over our arch rival grade school. I went 4-4, to include three home runs, and caught the last out of game in deep center field.

I love everything about the idea of Can Do. All my life I have turned obstacles into stepping stones. The word can’t definitely is not in my dictionary. I just love being around kids ages 4-99 who want to be active, have fun, and help those less fortunate.

My Can Do Kid hero: Hands down, my mom! My mom is a role model to our entire family. She exudes confidence and the unyielding desire to do it right the first time. At the onset of WWII, my mom attempted to enlist in the US Army. Due to a heart murmur, she was turned down. Not dismayed, she took the US Navy welding test and aced the exam. For the remainder of the war, she worked on a 24/7 rotation building heavy cruisers for the US Navy in San Francisco. She heard, she stepped up, and she delivered! My mom is who Can Do Kid is all about!

Matt Elders, Board Member

In his capacity as a Can Do Kid Board Member, Matt is very involved in helping to develop the sales/marketing strategy and execution plan.

Matt feels like a Can Do Kid when he rises at 4:30am (3 mornings a week) to trudge up to the top of Mount Tamalpais with several of his workout buddies.

Matt's Can Do Kid: Dr. Marta Elders, Matt's mom, fits his vision of a Can Do Kid, an incredibly beautiful and talented woman, always willing to offer thought and direction to her two sons. She has spent the better part of the last 30 years developing her knowledge with the intent to better understand and most importantly guide those in need. She is very pragmatic, though generally sees the world in a very "glass is half-full" mindset. It is because of people like Mom that the world is a special place.

Sandra Niehaus, Webmaster

Sandra has been an independent web consultant since 1999, and currently provides usability, design and search engine marketing services to a number of advertising and marketing agencies. As Can Do Kid’s webmaster, she is responsible for the company’s web presence and for helping spread the Can Do message online.

Trained as a composer at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Sandra loves to surf, snowboard, and practice mixed martial arts. She believes happiness is a skill, life an adventure, and friends a treasure beyond price.

Can Do memories: During 8 years as an assistant “Model Mugging” self-defense teacher I had the honor of seeing women of all ages face down and heal their past traumas. Their courage was amazing and humbling.

My CAN DO KID: My sister, who faces challenges with loving thoughtfulness and brings humor and intelligence to her three amazing children, her career, and her friendships.