SCDS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Middle School Dean of Students
Aly Conway began teaching at Sonoma Country Day School in 2015. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from Sonoma State University, where she was a four-year member of the Women's Basketball Team and served as Team Captain. Aly participated in the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and was President during her Senior year at SSU. After college Aly worked for a start-up company in the North Bay as a data analyst and also coached basketball at Sonoma State and Cardinal Newman High School. It is through these coaching experiences that Aly discovered that her true calling is teaching. Aly returned to her alma mater to earn a Single Subject Teaching Credential while also teaching in the math department at Santa Rosa Middle School.
Aly works to bring out a love of math in all of her students. She challenges them daily to develop strong problem-solving skills as well as teamwork and critical thinking. Aly believes all students have the opportunity to succeed and that making mistakes can actually enhance the learning process when students work hard and persevere.
In her spare time Aly enjoys hiking and being outdoors. She also coaches basketball and loves the opportunity to travel with her teams during the summer.
Job Titles:
- Extended Programs Associate
Job Titles:
- President and Co - Founder of Disruption Wines
Arthur, president and co-founder of Disruption Wines, is a longtime wine industry professional. He is a member of the finance committee. He has an SCDS alumnus, Sean'17 as well as student Gabriel ‘20.
Bob Cabral joined the board in 2014. His daughter is a member of the Class of 2016. Mr. Cabral has been making wine for 35 years and mastering his craft in Sonoma County since 1987. He was the general manager and director of winemaking for Williams Selyem Winery until 2015 when he moved on from the position to pursue his dream of crafting wines with his wife, Heather.
Chen Souksavath enjoys working at Sonoma Country Day School because he likes the children as well as the buildings and garden. He has been a member of the Sonoma Country Day School community since 2002. His work includes preparing audit schedules, financial reports, and income tax returns for the school and the Country Day Parents. His career has also included work for CPA firms in Napa and Santa Rosa as well as other non-profit organizations within Santa Rosa.
Chen was born in Laos and loves to travel. With a particular fondness for Thai and Lao cuisine as well as the Big Island's weather, he visits Laos, Thailand, and Hawaii whenever he can. He also loves playing tennis and running every day. His greatest achievement in sports has been coaching his three daughters Jenny, Susan, and Laurie, all of whom received tennis scholarships to college. Aside from his skills with numbers and in sports, Chen is one of the leaders for the Laotian community in Santa Rosa where he lives with his beautiful wife Savoy, his three dogs and two cats.
Mr. Crispo joined the board in 2015 and serves on the buildings and grounds committee. His daughter is an alumna from the Class of 2013. As a volunteer while she was a student, he was a member of SLUGS, built sets for the eighth grade play, and helped the Class of 2013 decorate the school's outdoor pizza oven with tile artwork. In 2011, Mr. Crispo and his family moved to Sonoma County to run the family vineyard after he retired from a career in safety and emergency response.
David is one of our Operations Associates. He very much admires our community here at SCDS because students, parents, and staff are all so welcoming. What David enjoys most about being a member of our Facilites team is that he gets to experience the entire campus. He also has the opportunity to interact with the students, from building bird houses with the eighth grade class to mining for gold in the garden with fourth grade scientists. He enjoys traveling with his wife and likes to spend his weekends doing carpentry, working on DIY projects, and biking at Annadel park.
Doug was formerly a member of Dentons' Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. He practiced in the US (California) and Canada (British Columbia), and used his extensive commercial litigation background to achieve cost-effective and creative solutions for his clients. Doug and his wife Shanti moved to Calistoga from Oakland in 2019 and have a child in the SCDS Class of 2023.
Elizabeth Gleadall joined the Sonoma Country Day School community in 2001. She moved from The Gillispie School in La Jolla, California, where she had worked for six years as a first grade teacher and then as director of development. An alumna of independent elementary and high schools, Elizabeth is passionate about the value of a K-8 independent school experience and its role in providing a strong educational foundation and setting the stage for success in high school, college, and into adulthood.
Elizabeth has many years of experience in development, and many more as a volunteer for nonprofit organizations. She has led successful annual and capital campaigns, produced numerous special and fundraising events, initiated fundraising, major gift, and grant programs, developed award-winning publications and events, and designed and managed public relations and marketing campaigns. Among her awards is the national Circle for Excellence Award for Educational Fundraising presented by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
Elizabeth graduated with honors from the University of San Diego, where she received a master's degree in education, and from the University of California, San Diego, where she received a bachelor's degree in communications. She attended elementary school at The Palm Valley School, an independent school in Palm Springs, California, and high school in Tennessee at the Webb School of Knoxville.
She lives in Healdsburg with her husband Tim and their children, William (Class of 2019) and Sarah (Class of 2024).
Doug was formerly a member of Dentons' Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. He practiced in the US (California) and Canada (British Columbia), and used his extensive commercial litigation background to achieve cost-effective and creative solutions for his clients. Doug and his wife Shanti moved to Calistoga from Oakland in 2019 and have a child in the SCDS Class of 2023.
Ellen, a school founder and alumni parent, has been recognized for her early SCDS leadership as one of the initial inductees to our Founders' Circle. A former public school teacher, Ellen is a member of the advancement committee. Her children, Jeff '89 and Michael '93, are founding students.
Greg worked in the wine industry before co-founding Trilogy Glass & Packaging in 2004. After serving as its President for eight years, Greg sold Trilogy to a global packaging firm in 2011. Greg is now a partner at Synergy Communities. Synergy is one of the largest residential development companies in the North Bay and played a large role in rebuilding hundreds of homes and apartments after the fires. Greg is the father of an SCDS graduate from the Class of 2011 and a current student in the Class of 2030.
Greg worked in the wine industry before co-founding Trilogy Glass & Packaging in 2004. After serving as its President for eight years, Greg sold Trilogy to a global packaging firm in 2011. Greg is now a partner at Synergy Communities. Synergy is one of the largest residential development companies in the North Bay and played a large role in rebuilding hundreds of homes and apartments after the fires. Greg is the father of an SCDS graduate from the Class of 2011 and a current student in the Class of 2030.
James launched Elliott CPA Group, with offices in Windsor and Healdsburg 15 years ago, after working with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) Wine Industry Services Team. James is a member of the Finance Committee. He has an SCDS graduate from the Class of 2020, a member of the Class of 2022, and two members of the Class of 2029!
Job Titles:
- Marketing Director for Medtronic, PLC
Jean Lalla is a marketing director for Medtronic, PLC, and responsible for multiple functions within the coronary marketing organization. Ms. Lalla has focused her 25+ year-career in healthcare marketing where she has designed, developed and marketed medical devices that positively impact the quality of life for patients around the globe. She also has a passion for the professional development of women and has dedicated significant time to moderating and facilitating groups of women to support the achievement of their career aspirations, is a strong advocate for engagement, inclusion, and diversity in the workplace, and works to ensure employees are inspired and motivated while at work. Her children are members of the Class of 2021 and Class of 2023.
Jeff Kloes joined the board in 2011. He is a member of the buildings and grounds and finance committees. Mr. Kloes's son is a member of the Class of 2015. He is president and owner of Thermalsun Glass Products, which produces high quality insulated glass units, in Santa Rosa.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Operations
Jennifer Macias joined the Sonoma Country Day School community in 2003 following a career in law enforcement as a public safety dispatcher. Jennifer fulfilled a variety of administrative roles in the human resources and business offices at SCDS before serving in her current capacity as Director of Finance and Operations. Responsible for the financial health and investment management of the school, Jennifer also oversees human resources and the school facilities. She holds a degree in business administration with an emphasis on business and finance, and is a member of the California Independent Schools Business Officers Association and the National Business Officers Association.
Jennifer and her husband, a police officer for the City of Santa Rosa, have three children who attend SCDS. A Sonoma County native, Jennifer has served on several nonprofit boards and has volunteered for underprivileged youth organizations throughout the community.
Joel Feldman-who served multiple terms on our board and retired in 2013-was honored by the board with the permanent status of Emeritus Trustee upon his retirement. Mr. Feldman's daughters are alumnae of the Class of 1996 and Class of 1998, and his spouse is retired trustee Maureen Feldman. He initially served as a trustee from 1996 to 2003 and rejoined the board in 2008 serving until his 2013 retirement. He is president and chief operating officer of Byer California, a San Francisco-based ladies apparel manufacturer.
Juelle Fisher was named Trustee Emeritus in 2010. Mrs. Fisher, with Tricia Coxhead and Ellen Wear, founded SCDS in 1983 and was invited to the Founders' Circle in 1996. She has been a trustee since 1983 and is a past board chair. Her three children are SCDS alumni, member of the Class of 1990, Class of 1992, and Class of 1996.
Julia Hochberg joined the board in 2014. She has two daughters enrolled at SCDS. Mrs. Hochberg is co-owner and vice president of Sonoma Jet Center, a private aviation services company at the Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport. She has been involved in all aspects of private aviation services including operations, marketing, customer experience, and acquisition and strategy, and is a private pilot. She is the TEDxSonomaCounty producer and a member of the event's organizing committee.
Job Titles:
- Vice President and General Manager of the Hansel Auto Group
Justin Hansel is the Vice President and General Manager of the Hansel Auto Group. The Hansel Auto Group operates nine automobile dealerships and an equipment leasing company in Santa Rosa and Petaluma. Justin was born and raised in Sonoma County. Before joining Hansel Auto Group he was VP of Community Banking at Wells Fargo from 1996 to 2002. In 2002, he became the Vice President and General Manager of Hansel Auto Group. Justin graduated from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. His three children are members of the Class of 2017, Class of 2019, and Class of 2022.
Mrs. Meyer joined the board in 2015 and serves on the advancement committee. Her children are members of the Classes of 2020, 2023, and 2024. Mrs. Meyer grew up in Perth, Australia and has degrees in economics and winemaking. She and her husband make wine at Meyer Family Cellars.
Mrs. Meyer joined the board in 2015 and serves on the advancement committee. Her children are members of the Classes of 2020, 2023, and 2024. Mrs. Meyer grew up in Perth, Australia and has degrees in economics and winemaking. She and her husband make wine at Meyer Family Cellars.
Job Titles:
- Director of Enrollment and Communications
Kelly Schmidt began her career at Sonoma Country Day School in 2006 as a Neighborhood Associate. She spent two years in the primary division as an Associate Teacher before joining the admission office in 2009. Kelly loves meeting prospective families and students and teaching them about the opportunities, programs, and community that make SCDS the truly special place that it is.
Besides overseeing the admission process for families entering SCDS, Kelly also counsels eighth grade students and their families on secondary school placement. She is the alumni relations contact for our young graduates, coordinates the weekly all-school Assembly, manages school communications, and also enjoys chaperoning student trips, whether local backpacking or international experiences.
Outside of SCDS, Kelly is an avid equestrienne and orchid enthusiast. She has a rescued barn cat who many SCDS students helped socialize as a kitten. Kelly grew up in Sonoma County and is a graduate of Analy High School and UC Santa Cruz, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Literature with an emphasis in Creative Writing.
Laci Sandoval moved to Sonoma County in 2013 with her husband, Travis. They have two sons currently enrolled at SCDS in the Classes of 2029 and 2033. Laci is the founder and executive chef instructor at Wind & Rye Kitchen in Penngrove. She enjoys being active in CDP and the SLUGS garden group, sits on the Buildings and Grounds Committee, and looks forward to building and nurturing community at the school.
Job Titles:
- Director of Community Engagement
Born and raised in California, Michele has lived in Sonoma County for the last 18 years. She had the privilege of working as a parent volunteer for the Windsor Unified School District while raising her young daughters, which sparked her interest in education. She worked Special Education as a Paraprofessional for 9 years before deciding to go back to school for her teaching credential. Michele became passionate about teaching after seeing the joy in children's eyes and knowing she had made a difference in many lives.
In Michele's free time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, spending time with her extended family and daughters Marissa and Lexie. Marissa is a student at Oregon State University and Lexie is attending University of Oregon.
Noelani Price has two children at SCDS in the classes of 2028 and 2030 and sits on the Strategic Planning Committee. She leads enablement for Global Communications at Cisco with over a decade of experience in communications and marketing. Noelani was a valued member of our 2020-21 Resilience Task Force, a group of forward thinkers whose goal was to brainstorm and develop recommendations that considered ongoing challenges and disruptions, support Aspire 2025 Strategic Plan goals, and maximize new opportunities.
Paul Godowski joined the board in 2013. His daughter is a member of the Class of 2020. A longtime researcher, Dr. Godowski has enjoyed a career as a scientist, consultant, and investor in the biotechnology industry and is a prolific inventor.
Ramiro founded and is General Manager at Northbay Technology Company (NBTC Design), a smart home automation company serving Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, and Greater California. Ramiro's is the father of a member of the Class of 2028.
Rebecca Wolohan teaches popular theater classes in our Extended Programs and leads the 7th/8th grade musical theater class. Rebecca is active in the local Sonoma County theater scene and has also written original plays that have been featured at SSU festivals. Rebecca also manages community rentals of our Jackson Theater and greater facility.
Rob Fisher ‘92 is a returning board member, having served from 2006-2015. Rob has a background working on Wall Street as a corporate financial advisor focused on mergers and acquisitions and currently serves as the CEO of Fisher Family Vineyards. Rob has two children in the Classes of 2026 and 2028.
Scott Schadlich joined the board in 2014. His daughter is a member of the Class of 2010 and his son a member of the Class of 2014. Mr. Schadlich has over 25 years experience in real estate and business management. In 2010 he founded Next Investments, which specializes in acquiring and repositioning undervalued commercial real estate assets. Previously he was the chief operating officer of the Airport Business Center in Santa Rosa.
Operations Manager Sean McFarland joined SCDS in 2014 after an extended stint as Chief Engineer of Madrona Manor in Healdsburg. After graduating from UC Berkeley in 1993, he caught a serious travel bug which led him to Portugal to write a guidebook on the country, then to Mexico and Central America where he ended up running the Green Tortoise Adventure Travel's Central American operations. After ten years of driving busses through the jungles of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama, he decided it was time to move to beautiful Sonoma County with his wife, who he had met on the bus.
He now enjoys a somewhat more predictable life and lives with his wife and son in Forestville. At SCDS he loves keeping the buildings and grounds running smoothly and looking beautiful as well as sharing a lifetime's worth of hands-on skills with the students.
Job Titles:
- Lower School Division Head
Shaun McTigue joined Sonoma Country Day School in July of 2017 as the Lower School Division Head. He ensures that the lower school lives the mission of the school, to bring learning to life, and strives to uphold a healthy learning environment for all students. Shaun earned his undergraduate degree from Loyola University Chicago, and a MEd from Jones International University. Shaun has worked in independent schools in Chicago and Detroit, and spent four years teaching abroad in the UAE.
Shaun is drawn to independent schools because of the community feel and ability to meet students where they are in the educational journey. The attention given to fostering relationships with students and parents is a major reason Shaun is here at SCDS. Shaun has two sons enrolled at SCDS, and couldn't be happier to have his family be a part of such a great institution.
Job Titles:
- Campus and Database Coordinator / Comet Leadership Council Advisor
Shelly Laskey is a life-long learner and teacher. At an early age she knew teaching was what she wanted to do. However, she had other experiences to explore along the way.
Shelly was born and raised in California. She has attended schools in Sonoma County and graduated from Sonoma State University with her Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential. Her teaching experiences include both public and private schools. Shelly loves that moment when the excitement and enthusiasm bubbles up in her classroom and she strives to see the joy of learning in each student.
Shelly began teaching at Sonoma Country Day School in 2009. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, music, scuba diving, and motorcycles. Shelly's red hair, smile and enthusiasm stand out, and she hopes you will introduce yourself to her when you see her.
Job Titles:
- Information Systems Manager
Stacey joined the Sonoma Country Day School community in 2014 as our Registrar and Database Administrator and is now our Information Systems Manager. She manages all of the software systems that make things run smoothly here! Stacey has an Associate's Degree in Business Software from Heald College, in addition to certifications in computer forensics and Blackbaud, the software platform we use at SCDS. Prior to working at SCDS, Stacey spent eight years at Sonoma Academy, working in enrollment and marketing.
Stacey lives with her husband, Fin, and two children who are in the class of 2025 and 2027. Stacey is a native to the area, and her family opened the first Mexican restaurant in Sonoma County!
Tam Smith joined the board in 2011. Her children are SCDS alumni; her daughter is a member of the Class of 2007 and son is in the Class of 2011. Mrs. Smith is secretary of the board, co-chair of the strategic planning committee and a member of the ad hoc policy review and revision committee. She is a past president of SLUGS, serves on SCDS's Eco-Council, and has created the La Dolce Vita silent auction catalog for several years.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to the Head of School and Board of Trustees
Tina Souza joined the Sonoma Country Day School community in June of 2004. Originally a member of the technology team, Tina has moved into the position of school secretary, maintaining student information and files, managing the office, and acting as the connection between parents, students, and teachers during the school day.
Tina is responsible for the creation and implementation of our extended programs robot club and is a member of the Sonoma County Robotics Steering Committee. She is also involved in FIRST Lego League, an international organization inspiring children to explore science and engineering through robotics.
Tina is a wooden boat enthusiast and enjoys spending time with her husband and children traveling Lake Tahoe's west shore in their 1971 Abbate mahogany boat. She also enjoys playing bocce ball at her home in west Petaluma.
Tricia Coxhead is a co-founder of SCDS and initially served on the Board from its inception in 1983 until the early 1990's. She is a member of the Founder's Circle and Legacy Society. Her sons, Douglass Toth, and Cramer Toth, were in the classes of '91 and '94. Tricia has three grandchildren in the school in the Classes of 2030 and 2032. After practicing physical therapy at UCSF, Tricia was in the wine and vineyard business for 20 years. She presently has a psychotherapy practice in Santa Rosa.
Vivek joined the board in 2019. He is currently Chief Commercial Officer at Cerus. Vivek brings with him independent school trustee experience, as he recently served on the board of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. Vivek received his MBA from the Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania and holds dual bachelor degrees from the University of Michigan. He has two children currently enrolled at SCDS.
Vivek joined the board in 2019. He is currently Chief Commercial Officer at Cerus. Vivek brings with him independent school trustee experience, as he recently served on the board of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. Vivek received his MBA from the Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania and holds dual bachelor degrees from the University of Michigan. He has two children currently enrolled at SCDS.