COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF KERN - Key Persons
Biography
Catherine is the Director of Development for the Community Action Partnership of Kern Foundation. She develops and manages all fundraising initiatives that support CAPK's mission to provide services to people who face poverty and economic disadvantage in the counties we serve.
Catherine was born and raised in Bakersfield and is a graduate of Garces Memorial High School and California State University, Fresno. She built her skills in community outreach, event planning and fundraising experience working in the hotel industry, coordinating special events for KGET-TV 17, doing fundraising for the American Lung Association and managing the Kern County satellite office for Make-A-Wish Central California. She took the opportunity to become a licensed loan officer and worked in the mortgage industry for two years before she joined CAPK.
Catherine's goal is to empower the agency's ability to fund major projects and make it possible for CAPK to improve the communities it serves. She is excited to be back in the non-profit sector and to be a part of the CAPK team. She is proud of the work the agency does every day by providing essential and life-changing resources people across Kern County and California.
Job Titles:
- Board Member / Controller, Grade 6 Oil
Biography
Denise was born and raised in Bakersfield and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Denise earned her Certified Public Accountant license in 2001 while working as an auditor for Deloitte & Touche LLP. She is currently the Controller at Grade Water and Power and has previously held similar positions in several independent oil and gas companies in Bakersfield.
Denise is a longtime supporter of the economic empowerment of the disabled community, children's education, military veterans, law enforcement and the energy industry. She says it is a privilege to serve as a private sector member on the Board of Directors of Community Action Partnership of Kern which provides much needed services to the underprivileged residents of Kern County.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Director of Operations for CAPK
Biography
Emilio Wagner is the Director of Operations for CAPK. He oversees the agency's Information Technology, Information Systems, Procurement, Risk Management, and Facilities programs.
Emilio has, in his 21 years at CAPK, led the creation of a proactive internet technology environment at CAPK by migrating from an on-premise to a secured cloud environment for email, software, and file storage. He also developed the criteria for designing a customer relation management system to aggregate and deduplicate client data for the purposes of enhanced reporting. One accomplishment of this endeavor led to the creation of the Information System department which supports the various programs' data initiatives, by developing custom applications and reporting tools to assist with enhancing the outcomes of the clients served.
Emilio studied architecture, construction management, and computer science at Bakersfield College and Computer Science at California State University Bakersfield. He is a licensed General Contractor with 25 years of experience. Using his 22 years of experience with AutoCAD he has successfully developed and submitted construction documents for CAPK facilities to city and county planning officials for approval. Has also managed several projects from developing in-house conceptual designs to overseeing the construction of multimillion-dollar facilities.
Job Titles:
- Quality Assurance Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Board Member / Head Start Policy
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Retired Kern County Executive
Fred Plane is a retired Kern County executive and an adjunct professor at California State University Bakersfield.
Fred has been on the Board of Directors of CAPK for the past 29 years. He has served as Board Chairperson for six years and is currently in that position. He is also the Board President for Desert Willow Apartments in Ridgecrest, a HUD funded non-profit originally sponsored by CAPK to provide independent living services for those suffering from mental illness.
Fred is proud of CAPK's successful 50 year history of helping better the communities it serves through its anti-poverty programs and he has seen firsthand the impact the organization makes on people's lives throughout Kern County and beyond.
Fred earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master's in Public Administration, both from CSUB. He retired from Kern County as the CFO at Kern Medical Center and has been an Adjunct Professor of Public Policy and Administration at CSUB for 23 years. He also serves on the CAPK Foundation Board and assists in pursuing support that will allow CAPK to continue to grow and innovate.
Job Titles:
- CAPK in 2021 As the Director
- Director of Youth & Community Services
Biography
Freddy Hernandez joined CAPK in 2021 as the Director of Youth and Community Services. This position oversees the agency's Family Resource Centers, Energy Program, Friendship House Community Center, Shafter Youth Center, and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.
Freddy's position allows him to collaborate with other CAPK programs and community partners whose primary goal is to assist the underserved and improve the communities they live in. The long-term history of CAPK services in the community is aligned with his passion of helping others and making a difference in people's lives.
He gained his bachelor's degree in business administration and a Master's in Public Administration right here in Kern County at the California State University of Bakersfield. He has more than 15 years of experience working with non-profits and providing services to the disadvantaged communities of Kern County.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance
- CAPK 's Director of Finance
Biography
Gabrielle Alexander serves as CAPK's Director of Finance. She grew up in the San Joaquin Valley and received both a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and a Masters of Business Administration from California State University, Bakersfield. She has worked in a variety of industries including agriculture, insurance and government. This experiences gives her a diverse and expansive understanding of the finance industry which she employs to maintain and strengthen CAPK's financial health.
Job Titles:
- Outreach & Advocacy Coordinator
Biography
James Burger is the communications, media and public relations lead for CAPK. He grew up in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz and his Masters of Public Administration from California State University Bakersfield. He is proud to serve the families and individuals who need the most help breaking down barriers that stand in the way of their self-sufficiency and success.
Jeff Flores has been fighting side by side with local officials, nonprofits, and private businesses to improve the quality of life for our community for decades. He believes engaging in community service is the force that accomplishes real change within our community.
He previously served as President of the Kern High School District Board of Trustees where he served three terms as a trustee. He has now been elected to the Kern County Board of Supervisors, representing District 3 and has been elected by his peers to serve as the board's Chairman for 2023.
Previously he worked as Manager of Government Affairs and Communities for Rio Tinto Minerals, representing the company among government, industry, and community stakeholders. He also managed the Borax Educational Scholarship Foundation assisting many students with access to higher education and community philanthropy. He served as a Kern County Planning Commissioner overseeing land use and development projects promoting jobs and a favorable business climate. He was a Director at the Kern Economic Development Corporation fostering economic development.
He has served on the Board of Directors for Kern Health Systems improving healthcare for Kern County residents. Jeff served as a Director for Leadership Bakersfield with the Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce developing our next generation of young leaders. Other positions he has held include; Regional Delegate to the California School Boards Association, Director of the Kern County School Boards Association, and a member of the Kern County Committee on School District Organization.
Currently, Jeff serves on the following boards and committees; Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK), Kern Emergency Council, Kern Emergency Medical Care Advisory Board, Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG), Kern County Foundation, Kern Medical Center Foundation, Southern California Water Committee the Tobacco Funding Corporation of Kern County and the Treasury Oversight Committee among others.
Jeff received his BA in Political Science at the University of San Diego with a concentration in International Relations, Minor in Spanish, and Master of Public Policy and Administration from CSU Bakersfield, with Post Graduate work in the resources sector at the University of Queensland Australia.
He is Vice President of the Kern Athletic Fencing Foundation promoting sports and education among youth. Jeff resides in East Bakersfield with his loving wife Jacquelyn, and son Oliver, a sixth grader at Cesar Chavez Elementary School.
He is proud and humbled to serve as District 3 Supervisor where he will focus on the critical issues of public safety, promoting economic development and improving quality of life for everyone who has the privilege of calling Kern County home.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Advisory Board
Biography
Jeremy Tobias joined Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) in January 2009 as the Chief Executive Officer. Under Jeremy's leadership, the agency has grown substantially and provides a variety of needed services to low-income individuals and families in Kern County, as well as a number of other counties in California. CAPK employs more than 900 individuals and Jeremy leads an executive team that oversees 17 major programs and services with an annual operating budget of approximately $100 million.
Jeremy graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Geography and Planning and he began his career in Delano, CA as City Manager and in Shafter, CA as Assistant City Manager. Jeremy's wealth of experience and leadership qualities have had a major impact on CAPK and its ability to serve more than 100,000 of the most vulnerable residents on an annual basis, and help them to overcome obstacles, become more self-sufficient and achieve their version of the American dream.
Job Titles:
- Board Member / Retired Teacher / Contractor
Job Titles:
- Pastor
- Senior Pastor of Truth Tabernacle
Jon Mullings is the Senior Pastor of Truth Tabernacle. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and a Master of Arts Degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Jon is known for his practical and life-changing teaching style, his love for his family and community, and his passion for spreading the gospel of Jesus world-wide via Global Missions. He currently serves as District Global Missions Director for the United Pentecostal Church and is a member of the church's national Global Missions Board.
He also serves as a private sector member on the Board of Directors of Community Action Partnership of Kern which provides much needed services to the underprivileged residents of Kern County.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- President of the Advisory Board
Under the CAPK Homeless Services Program, Laurie will oversee day-to-day operations of all Center programs and services located at M Street. She brings over 20 years experience in management and working with diverse populations. Laurie has a BA in Applied Behavior Science. She enjoys reading, dancing, traveling and hanging out with her grandson.
Job Titles:
- Risk Management Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Director of Human Resources
- CAPK 's Director of Human Resources
Biography
Lisa McGranahan is CAPK's Director of Human Resources. She began her career with CAPK in July 2020 after many years of human resource management in both public and private sectors and union and non-unionized industries.
Job Titles:
- Utility Assistance & Outreach Manager
Biography
Louis joined us in February 2023 after leading Bethany Services, Inc., as the CEO, currently known as Open Door Network, for twenty-one years. His impactful work with individuals experiencing homelessness and domestic violence, along with his substantial experience as a non-profit leader and overseeing a staff of nearly 200, speaks for itself. Louis is also one of the most experienced local experts on Rapid Rehousing and incorporating shelter-based child development services in the community.
Other accomplishments under Louis' leadership include:
Creating and operating Discovery Depot, the first licensed childcare facility in a homeless center in California
Encouraging BHC board members to take over the management of The Alliance Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault when it faced a funding crisis and was in danger of shutting its doors
Developing Small Steps Child Development Center at Alliance to provide preschool and support to children who are victims of sexual assault or who have witnessed domestic violence
Traveling to Harvard University in 2015 to present BHC's Job Development Program as an innovative, scalable program at the American Roundtable to Abolish Homelessness.
Substantial growth in both organizations: revenue increased from $654,684 in 2000 to a combined revenue of almost $10 million in 2021; staff increased from 16 employees to 183
Partnering with the City of Delano to open a domestic violence shelter to serve Delano, Pixley, Earlimart, Ducor, Lost Hills, Wasco, Tulare, Alpaugh, Tipton, Richgrove, and McFarland
In 2013, Louis received the distinction of a Senate appointment to the State of California Domestic Violence Advisory Council. Louis also served on California State University, Bakersfield's Department of Social Work Advisory Board.
Louis received a Bachelor of Art in Spanish from San Francisco State University and a Master of Nonprofit Administration from University of San Francisco. He began his nonprofit service career in the Mission District.
Perhaps his greatest role is that of husband and father. Louis has been married to Kate Gill for 23 years. Together, they have 21-year-old Nolan, and twin 19-year-old daughters, Kiera and Bridget.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair
- Member of the CAPK Governing Board
Maritza Jimenez has been a member of the CAPK Governing Board for two years and is currently the board's Vice-Chair.
Maritza has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Fresno Pacific University with an emphasis in organizational leadership. She has more than 20 year of experience as a leader in the health care Industry. She currently leads Marketing and Public Affairs efforts for Kern Health Systems.
Maritza serves as an elected member of the CAPK Board representing low-income residents in the Southern Kern County area.
She is proud of the work CAPK does to provide our low-income communities with services that are vital for their quality of life.
Job Titles:
- Board Member / 32nd State Assembly
Mia is the currently Senior Public Relations Specialist for Berry Corporation. She loves the deep roots of the oil and gas industry in Kern County, how it powers our state and the need for continued advocacy of this industry. She represents Berry while also trying to make a positive impact in the community. Previously she worked for Assemblymember Vince Fong serving the constituents in his district while learning about the diverse industries in the county.
She currently serves on the Leadership Bakersfield Advisory Council for the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, Bakersfield College Alumni Association and just recently became a mentor for the Taft Oil Technology Academy. Previously, was a mentor for the Kern Economic and Development Foundation energy academy for three years.
Job Titles:
- Private Sector Representative
- Treasurer
Michelle Jara-Rangel is private sector representative on the CAPK and has served since 2020.
Michelle has an Associate degree in Human Services and a Bachelor degree in Organizational Leadership from Fresno Pacific University. She has worked in the social service field for over 28 years, with 20-years committed to the Head Start community -including 15-years with CAPK - and 9-years in the Tribal community where she currently works for the Owens Valley Career Development Center. She comes from a Hispanic/Native American background and her family's roots grow from the Yaqui people of Mexico.
Michelle is proud of the work CAPK does in the communities it serves. She said staff listen to community needs, design programs to meet those needs and work hard and connect the public with those programs.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Nila Hogan is a non-profit leader who provides support to youth who have experienced childhood trauma or are dealing with difficult life transitions and provides families with reunification and maintenance support and assistance.
Nila holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science with and emphasis in legal studies from California State University Chico and she uses that education to enhance her professional pursuits in support of children and families. She currently serves as a member of the City of Bakersfield Miscellaneous Civil Service Commission, as well as serving on the CAPK Foundation Board. She serves as the Head Start Policy Council member on the CAPK Board.
Nila's passion for serving on the CAPK Governing Board comes from her belief that the agency offers something that everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of. "It is a truly universal agency looking out for the community."
In her free time, Vigil keeps busy improving lives and addressing the struggles of the families she represents as Secretary of the Community Action Partnership of Kern Governing Board. She also volunteers for various local campaigns including the annual Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House - Walk for Kids, Kern County Homeless Census Count and the annual Kern County Veterans Stand Down. Vigil also serves as the Vice President of the Democratic Women of Kern and sits on the Advisory Board for the Kern County Women's March. Vigil is a wife and proud mother of Eliseo, who recently graduated from Wasco High School where Ana has served as President of the Tiger's Parent Club from 2018 - 2020.
Job Titles:
- Chief Business Development Officer
Biography
Pritika Ram spearheads the development of agency-level initiatives, new service lines and expansion of existing programs in partnership with the CAPK leadership teams as the agency's Chief Business Development Officer. This includes organizing and coordinating the work of grant analysts, outreach, advocacy, and government relations. Pritika also coordinates Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA), National Performance Standards, Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and data reporting, and provides oversight of program services, such as the 2-1-1 Call Center, CAPK Foundation, school-based case management services, and leads new initiatives, special projects, and agency fundraising.
Pritika has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Master's in Public Administration with a concentration in Health Care Management, both from California State University Bakersfield. She came to CAPK five years ago from another large non-profit agency in Kern County.
Pritika is proud of the work CAPK does every day and knows the Agency's fast response times to those in need allow us to meet clients "where they are." The staff members really do drive the mission of the organization because of their focus, expertise, and commitment to serving the community.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Secretary
- Treasurer
Job Titles:
- Director of Community Development for CAPK
- Director of Housing & Supportive Services
Biography
Rebecca Moreno is the Director of Community Development for CAPK. She has worked with the agency for three years, overseeing the Coordinated Entry System in partnership with the Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative. Rebecca has also assisted with the development and implementation of the M Street Navigation Center, supervising the program services and housing. She brings more than five years of experience working in homeless services, over 10 years of case management, and a wealth of knowledge about program development and implementation. Rebecca serves as an officer on the BKRHC Governing Board and Chair of the CES committee. For the last three years, she has worked closely with community stakeholders on regional efforts to end homelessness. Her service and expertise has been recognized by elected officials and community leaders at the local and state levels. In her personal time, she serves as a board member of Housing Outreach Partnership, Inc. and enjoys traveling, cooking, and gardening.
Job Titles:
- CAPK Media Contact Information
- PR & Advocacy
Job Titles:
- Advocacy & Public Relations Manager
At CAPK, Savannah's impact extends far beyond her official duties. Serving as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) chair for the inaugural committee and leading the NCAP Young Professionals Advisory Committee, she cultivates the next generation of change-makers while orchestrating successful events and campaigns. Savannah's unwavering commitment to community engagement and inclusivity embodies servant leadership, leaving an indelible legacy shaping Kern County's future.
Job Titles:
- Subsidized Reimbursement Manager
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Health & Nutrition Services
Biography
Susana Magana serves as the Director of Health and Nutrition and oversees CAPK's Migrant Childcare Program, Women, Infant & Children Program (WIC), Cal Fresh Healthy Living Program, Central Kitchen and the Food Bank. She has been with Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) since November 2004. Susana was hired as a Subsidized Reimbursement Specialist for the Migrant Childcare Program (MCAP). She quickly moved into the Subsidized Reimbursement Coordinator position and then Program Administrator, where she was able to grow the program from $5.3 million dollars to $27 million dollars.
One of Susana's signature achievements was being named migrant expert on Senate Bill 393 authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado. She testified at several committee hearings and was instrumental in getting this bill passed. The bill was signed by Governor Newsom October 5, 2021 and changed Welfare Code language to provide additional administrative funding for the MCAP contract to fulfill the accessibility and linguistic needs of the migrant community throughout California.
Susana holds a degree in psychology and is currently working towards a degree in Business Administration. She lives in Bakersfield with her husband of 22 years, her 15-year-old daughter, their Great Dane and a rescue desert tortoise. Susana is truly passionate about serving the community and feels extremely blessed to be part of CAPK.
Biography
Tracy Webster has been the Chief Financial Officer for Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) since 2018. She is responsible for overseeing a budget of approximately $100 million combining roughly 80 federal, state, and local funding sources to serve high risk populations in the communities of Kern, San Joaquin, and San Bernardino counties. Tracy also oversees CAPK's Finance and Operations departments and has played an integral role in the agency's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, developing a robust set of agency protocols to ensure the safety of staff, clients, and the community. She has more than 20 years' experience in non-profit and governmental accounting, including serving at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS), and the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District (P-BVUSD). One of Tracy's signature achievements was securing the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting during her time at Panama-Buena Vista. Only three other school districts in the State of California were able to achieve that distinction. Tracy holds a Master's in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting as well as a Chief Business Officer Certificate.
Job Titles:
- Director of CAPK 's Head Start / State Child Development
- Director of Head Start / State Child Development
Biography
Yolanda Gonzales is the Director of CAPK's Head Start/State Child Development program. She is a veteran executive who has served the agency for more than 37 years and is responsible for providing leadership and guidance to early childhood education program teams across Kern and San Joaquin counties and ensuring full compliance with both federal and state regulations.
She works tirelessly to ensure that all children receive high-quality services and the chance to reach their highest potential through life-long learning.
Yolanda's biggest accomplishment and greatest pride comes from knowing that she makes a difference in the lives of Head Start families and children by allowing them to access high quality, early childhood education. Learning about the success stories from our past families and children shared with her makes her proud of the work she and her team do at CAPK.
Yolanda's background is focused on the field of Early Childhood Education, with a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development.