Gordon Bourns

Chair of STEP

Chairman and CEO, Bourns Inc.

Gordon Bourns grew up working weekends and summers at the family business, Bourns, Inc., which his parents, Marlan and Rosemary Bourns founded in their Pasadena garage in 1947.  He received a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Irvine and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of California, Los Angeles before he became a Bourns employee in 1973.  During his 52-year career with Bourns, he has held positions in sales, marketing, engineering, quality assurance and manufacturing, as well as general management.  He was elected Chairman of the Board in December 1988 by the Company’s Board of Directors and was elected President in 1990. 

Yamileth Shimojyo

Vice Chair

Yamileth Shimojyo brings over two decades of experience in science education, currently serving in STEM and science leadership at the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) for the past 15 years. She holds a B.S. in Biology with a Minor in Biblical Studies from Biola University and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from CSUSB. Her journey to RCOE began after securing a $3 million grant to support middle school science teachers, leading to a successful partnership that launched her countywide impact. Yamileth has served as a classroom teacher, AVID coordinator, literacy coach, and science coach in districts across California and internationally. Born in Nicaragua and raised in the U.S. after fleeing political unrest, she is passionate about equity, high-quality STEM instruction, and building sustainable programs that reach all students. She and her husband Henri—whom she met at Biola—have been married nearly 30 years and are raising three children. Yamileth enjoys reading, gardening, soccer with her family, and attending musicals