BUSINESS PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Learn more about some of our top business partners.
BUSINESS PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Nadine Donalds
Coldwell Banker Realty
It was back in Newton, Massachusetts as a 7th grader singing in a traveling choir named the Troubadors, that Nadine Donalds fell in love with music. She’d enter the auditorium with her singing mates from the back of the theater, file on to the stage, all the while not missing a note of “Dona Nobis Pacem.”
“I was so thrilled and proud,” remembers Donalds, a local realtor with Coldwell Banker. “Our choir was truly amazing, and we sounded incredible.”
Experiences like those with her choir eventually led Donalds -- whose own children would later have their own memorable musical experiences courtesy of Kiddo!-funded programs at Old Mill School -- to team up with Kiddo!. For the past two years Donalds has been a Kiddo! business partner, and she looks forward to re-upping her partnership in the years to come. Donalds originally got involved with Kiddo! shortly after her family relocated from Connecticut to Mill Valley.
“I remember how special music was to my life and education," says Donalds, whose first job upon arriving in Mill Valley was as a Kiddo!-funded classroom aide in one of the two 4th grade classrooms. "This is one of the many reasons why I value Kiddo! and support their mission. The enrichment and extracurricular activities that Kiddo! funds are an important part of a well-rounded education, and where kids are able to express themselves in creative and meaningful ways."
Donalds’ eventual journey into real estate was inspired by her late mother and mentor, Georgette Iskandar. With her mother's legacy guiding her, Donalds, a first-generation Egyptian, has found success and fulfillment in the career she embarked upon after leaving her job at Old Mill. Her office in downtown Mill Valley is the hub of her passion for helping clients navigate one of life's most important decisions - buying or selling a home. And her dedication to her clients, combined with her natural strengths and skills, make her a trusted advisor and a valuable asset to the community.
With roots now firmly planted in Mill Valley, Donalds’ vibrant energy and enthusiasm are contagious, as she brings a unique blend of experience, passion, and dedication to everything she does. Whether supporting Kiddo!, guiding clients in real estate, or cherishing the memories of her own children's experiences at Old Mill, Donalds is a shining example of what it means to make a difference in the community. And her unwavering commitment to excellence makes her a true asset and a beloved member of the Mill Valley family.
Dr. Ashley Smith
Southern Marin Dermatology
During the dark days of COVID, Dr. Ashley Smith never conceived of being one of Kiddo!’s top business partners. Back then – when grocery store lines snaked around stores’ perimeters, when folks walking on hiking trails masked up outside and kept far, far berths from anyone whose path they crossed, when Smith herself just barely managed to wedge open her business’ door and creep down to the parking lot lot outside the Southern Marin Dermatology Building and examine a few brave patients’ skin lesions outdoors – even making it to the next fiscal quarter, seemed iffy at best.
“COVID was stressful, for sure,” says Dr. Smith, who just this year upped her annual donation to place Southern Marin Dermatology at the School Partner level. “But by mid-May, we welcomed patients indoors for select cosmetic treatments, namely Botox appointments. And no joke, it was our busiest Botox month to date. Patients were so eager to do something to help them feel better.”
That enthusiasm from her patients is exactly why Smith entered the field of dermatology. Originally thinking she’d specialize in obstetrics and gynecology, Smith took a left turn into the halls of the dermatology wing after a rotation there showed her how different treating skin was.
“It’s a ‘happy specialty,’” says Smith. “We get to help people look and feel better every day.”
And since COVID couldn’t quash vanity – or anything more serious like skin cancers – Smith says that with the epidemic finally fading somewhat in the rearview mirror, the survival of her all-woman enterprise during one of the most trying times in history means it’s time to give back.
That “happy specialty” of dermatology is now helping not only her patients, but it’s helping children throughout the Mill Valley School District. Her philanthropic contribution is instrumental in shaping the educational landscape for young minds, and will leave a lasting impact on the community.
Of course, there’s a reason Smith chose Kiddo!. She has seen first hand the value Kiddo! has in the lives of her own two sons, who are in 2nd and 4th grade at Old Mill School.
“My kids love all the Kiddo! activities: music, art, PE,” she says. “We are so appreciative of all the ‘fun stuff’ that Kiddo! does, and it makes sense to support the people who help make it all happen.”
Growing up in the vibrant coastal town of Laguna Beach, California, Smith’s journey to becoming a dermatologist was a blend of passion and practicality. Her academic pursuits led her to UC Berkeley for her undergraduate studies, where she majored in Biology. Later, she attended Saint Louis University for medical school and completed her Dermatology residency at Rush Medical Center in Chicago, followed by a prestigious Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship.
Smith eventually settled in Mill Valley with her husband Colin, a high school teacher, and her two sons. Their daily ritual of walking to school together symbolizes not only family bonding, but also Smith’s deep-rooted commitment to community involvement.
“My first job after 8 years in the Midwest was in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg,” says Smith. “I loved being back in the Bay Area, and I decided to open a dermatology practice in Marin since that’s where I dreamed of living.”
As a leading dermatologist, Ashley's practice thrives in Marin, offering a comprehensive range of medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology services. Her clinic serves as a sanctuary for patients seeking both essential medical treatments and rejuvenating cosmetic procedures.
“I really enjoy the visual nature of dermatology,” she says. “I love that dermatology combines men and women patients, all ages, mostly very healthy patients.”
Through her exemplary leadership and unwavering support, Ashley Smith continues to be a driving force for positive change, leaving an indelible mark on both the field of dermatology and children's education.