Gonsalves, M.D., Co-Founder
Dr. Gonsalves is a board certified anesthesiologist who actively practices medicine at a number of institutions in San Diego County. He has personally cared for thousands of members of the San Diego Community. He has won several community service awards and actively participates in improving the trauma care system in Southern California.
Dr. Gonsalves is an expert in Medicare financing and is well versed in the economic challenges that medicine is facing. He is a fiscal conservative and registered Independent voter. He thoroughly believes that our local, state, and federal representatives do not have an income problem, but rather a spending problem.
Dr. Gonsalves has helped save Californians over one billion dollars in taxes. He has been politically active for more than ten years. In medical school he encouraged people to get involved in state politics as related to medicine.
Dr. Gonsalves is a regular contributor to the North County Times newspaper in San Diego County. He has been featured on KUSI's San Diego People, and he has been a recurring guest on the Fox Business Channel
Dr. Gonsalves resides in Carlsbad, with his wife, newborn son, and their two adopted stray cats.
Rhonda Deniston, Oceanside Regional Director
Rhonda Deniston is an integral member of the Stop Taxing Us organization. An Events Technical Director for the past 21 years, Rhonda is well versed in what it takes to organize and manage large teams--so much so that she successfully attracted over 5,000 protesters to Stop Taxing Us's very first Tax Day Tea Party in Oceanside, 2009.
Rhonda’s priorities are God, family, and country. As a Army Veteran, a business owner, a wife of a retired Navy Chief, and most importantly a mom, Rhonda is very active in her community. She serves as a trainer for the Oceanside Community Emergency Response Team, a youth baseball coach, and a community organizer for Stop Taxing Us.
Currently working on a Bachelors in Emergency management, Rhonda still finds time to help educate and inform the public on tax issues as a frequent guest on The Roger Hedgecock Show, The Rick Robert’s Show and other media outlets. Rhonda's many contributions to Stop Taxing Us continue to help spread the message of fiscal responsibility and accountability.
Dana Matas, Internet Outreach and Marketing
Prior to focusing on community activism, Dana spent 12 years working as a marketing professional. Her career began at Pitney Bowes Management Services where she supported sales executives in their bid to win contracts with Fortune 500 clients. She went on to work for several companies, contributing to their overall communications strategy, eventually running her own successful virtual marketing agency and becoming the Marketing Communications Director at Blue Mind Group. Most recently, Dana was the Global Marketing Projects Manager at Life Technologies where she influenced thought-leadership by investigating and piloting emerging online marketing strategies. Now, Dana is using her marketing expertise to help hold elected officials accountable as a member of Stop Taxing Us, leading its Internet outreach and marketing initiatives.
While Dana has spent the last 12 years focusing on her career and family, she is no stranger to politics. She earned her BS Degree in Communications with an emphasis in Political Science from Arizona State University. While in college, she founded the first college chapter of the Federation of Republican Women and completed several politically focused internships, including working in DC for Rep. Matt Salmon, campaigning for Rep. JD Hayworth, and helping to produce a nationally televised commercial featuring Newt Gingrich for the 1996 Republican National Convention.
Today, Dana resides in Carlsbad, CA, with her husband Steve and is a stay-at-home-mom to her three children. She regularly volunteers at her children's school and was recently elected Vice President of her Homeowners Association. When she isn't attending to her family or serving her community, Dana freelances as a marketing consultant.
To learn more about Dana Matas, visit her blog at www.According2Dana.blogspot.com.
Susie Songe, Volunteer Coordinator
Susie Songe is the volunteer coordinator for Stop Taxing Us. A businesswoman and a resident of
Susie is married, a mother of two, and has done volunteer work for humanitarian causes, both domestically and internationally. Along with many others, Susie participated in the effort to preserve the A native Californian, Ernie Bray grew up in a family of public educators, which include his father, uncle, two aunts and grandmother. Born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley town of Porterville, California, Ernie was a high school and collegiate basketball standout who graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a BA in Sociology & Institutional Analysis. An avid student of United States history, he can trace his lineage to the Plymouth Colony and is a direct descendant of two patriots who served in the Revolutionary War under General George Washington. In 2009, under Ernie’s tenure as CEO, his firm was named to Inc. Magazine’s prestigious list of Fastest-Growing private companies in America. Ernie’s firm was also recognized as the 2009 San Diego Business Journal’s Closely-Held Business of the Year, a 2010 Finalist for Businessperson of the Year by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, and a 2010 finalist for Executive of the Year at the American Business Awards. Ernie is a strong supporter of entrepreneurs, small business, and free enterprise. He firmly believes we need to stand up for our founding principles and greatness of America. Ernie resides in Carlsbad, CA with his wife and two children. To learn more about Ernie's political views and efforts, visit http://www.brayforamerica.com/.
Ernie Bray, Community Outreach Director
Ernie Bray is an entrepreneur and national business leader who has established a reputation as a one who defines problems, develops solutions and achieves results. Ernie has built a successful nationally recognized business services & technology firm that has experienced record growth while creating work for Americans throughout the country during one of the worst recessions in United States history. He now seeks to utilize his leadership skills to help restore the voice of the people. His goal is to lead the way in helping promote transparency, honesty, integrity and accountability currently unseen in today’s political landscape.
Joe Brown, Co-Founder
Joe Brown helped to co-found Stop Taxing Us. He was heavily involved during the group's infancy and contributed to its success early on. While Joe no longer participates as an active member of Stop Taxing Us, the organization appreciates his past efforts.
See what the Stop Taxing Us Leadership has to say about local, state, and nationwide initiatives. Read our blog
