MYWELLWENTDRY.COM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Deputy Co - Chair
- Deputy Co - Chair / Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture
- Secretary of the California Department of Food
Karen Ross was appointed Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) in January 2011 by Gov. Jerry Brown. Prior to joining CDFA, Secretary Ross was chief of staff for U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a position she accepted in 2009. Before joining the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Secretary Ross served more than 13 years as president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), based in Sacramento. During that time, she served as the executive director of Winegrape Growers of America, a coalition of state winegrower organizations, and as executive director of the California Wine Grape Growers Foundation, which sponsors scholarships for the children of vineyard employees.
From 2001 to 2009, Secretary Ross served on the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. She was chair of the Ag Vision Subcommittee, which initiated the California Ag Vision process that resulted in a report issued in 2010 proposing a strategic plan for the future of the state's agriculture and food system. From 1989 to 1996, Secretary Ross was vice president of Government Affairs for the Agricultural Council of California, representing farmer-owned cooperatives. From 1985 to 1988, she was government relations director for the Nebraska Rural Electric Association. From 1978 to 1985, she directed state operations for the late U.S. Senator Ed Zorinsky.
Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross was appointed Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) in January …
Amarpreet Dhaliwal, of San Joaquin, was reappointed to Partnership Board in July 2017. Dhaliwal has served as mayor pro tem of the City of San Joaquin since 2016 and has held several other positions as a member of the City Council since 2000, including mayor.
He has been president of Raj and Ruby Dhaliwal Inc. since 2014 and owner of D's Mini Mart since 1991.
Andrew Genasci, of Turlock, was appointed to the Partnership Board in June 2014. Genasci has been a field staffer at the California Farm …
Job Titles:
- Community and Government Relations Manager
- Community and Government Relations Manager at Kaiser Permanente Central Valley Area 's Public Affairs Office
Andrew Mendoza, of Stockton, was reappointed to the Partnership Board in July 2017. Mendoza has been a community and government relations manager at Kaiser Permanente Central Valley Area's Public Affairs Office since 2006.
He served as a business and development manager at the City of San Jose Redevelopment Agency from 2000 to 2006 and chief of staff for San Jose City Council member Charlotte Powers from 1995 to 2000. Mendoza earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of San Francisco.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Secretary, California Transportation Agency
In February 2018, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. appointed Brian Annis as Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency where he has served as acting secretary since 2018 and was undersecretary from 2013 to 2018. Prior to this appointment, Brian served as Deputy Secretary for Transportation at the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. Brian served in various positions for the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, including deputy staff director, principal consultant and consultant. He also served in various positions at the California Department of Finance, including principal program budget analyst, staff finance budget analyst and research analyst. Brian has also been an adjunct professor of economics at American River College and an economist for the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the U.S. Department of Labor.
Brian holds a bachelor's degree in political economy of natural resources from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master's degree in economics from the University of Washington.
Carlton Jones, of Tulare, was appointed to the Partnership Board in March 2015. In 2016, Jones became mayor of the City of Tulare, where he served as a member of the City Council from 2004 to 2008.
He has been an engineer at the Fresno Fire Department since 2006, where he has served as a firefighter since 2002. Jones served as a firefighter at the Tulare City Department of Fire Administration from 1994 to 2002.
Carole Goldsmith, of Fresno, was reappointed in March 2015 to the Partnership Board of which she has been a member since 2012. Goldsmith was named president of Fresno City College beginning August 2016. She was president of West Hills College, Coalinga, from January 2013 through July 2016 and was the first woman in this role. Goldsmith was an administrator at West Hills Community College District from 2003 and was appointed vice chancellor of educational services and workforce development in 2009. She served as coordinator for a $19.9 million U.S. Department of Labor grant for job training, leading a consortium of 11 Central Valley colleges.
Goldsmith holds a doctorate in education from University of California, Davis; earned a master's degree in educational administration from National University in Fresno; and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history from Fresno State. She's been a K-12 vice principal, a community college Director of Faculty Training and adjunct faculty member, a college English instructor, and a public school English and history teacher.
Job Titles:
- Cen Cal Business Finance Group
Frank Gallegos, of Fresno, was appointed to the Partnership Board in March 2015. Gallegos has been chief executive officer and executive director at …
Job Titles:
- Business Agent for the International Brotherhood
- Business Agent for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Charles Riojas, of Fresno, was appointed to the Partnership Board in July 2017. Riojas has been a business agent for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 100 since 1999.
He is a member of the California Workforce Development Board.
Cherylee Wegman, of Wasco, was appointed to the Partnership Board in July 2017. Wegman has served on the Wasco City Council since 1998. In 2001, she had the distinct honor to serve as the City's first female Mayor. Wegman is on the board of directors of the Association of California Cities Allied with Prisons and serves on the Kern Council of Governments Board of Directors. Wegman is currently a community resource manager for the Kern Valley State Prison.
Daniel Leavitt, of Davis, was appointed to the Partnership Board in March 2015. Leavitt has been manager of regional initiatives at the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission since 2012. He served as deputy director at the California High-Speed Rail Authority from 1997 to 2012 and was executive director of the California Intercity High-Speed Rail Commission from 1995 to 1996.
Leavitt was a deputy project manager at Parsons Brinckerhoff from 1994 to 1995, a research assistant at the Institute of Urban and Regional Development from 1990 to 1994 and a design engineer at Willdan Associates from 1987 to 1990. Leavitt earned a Master of Science degree in transportation engineering and city and regional planning from the University of California, Berkeley.
David Nelson, of Los Angeles, was reappointed to the Partnership Board in July 2017. Nelson has been senior vice president at AG Spanos Companies since 2008. He was director of commercial real estate at Vulcan Inc. from 2007 to 2008.
Nelson was senior vice president at Playa Capital Company from 2000 to 2007, where he was vice president from 1998 to 2000. He was senior development manager at the Walt Disney Company from 1989 to 1998.
DeeDee D'Adamo, of Modesto, was reappointed to the Partnership Board in June 2013 where she has served since May 2007. D'Adamo was most recently appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to the California Water Resources Control Board. She previously served on the California Air Resources Board from 1999-2013 under the Brown, Schwarzenegger and Davis administrations, where she was instrumental in the board's air quality and climate change programs and regulations. D'Adamo has served in various capacities for members of Congress from the San Joaquin Valley over a 20-year period, working primarily on environmental, water and agricultural legislative policy.
She currently serves on the Valley Coalition for UC Merced's Medical School. D'Adamo was a visiting lecturer at the California State University, Stanislaus Department of Politics from 1992-1998 and an associate in a Modesto law firm working primarily on juvenile delinquency and dependency cases. D'Adamo earned a Bachelor of Arts from University of California, Davis in 1982, and a Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1986.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Vice President of UC 's Division of Agriculture
Dr. Glenda Humiston became Vice President of UC's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources in August 2015. Humiston brings over 25 years of experience working on public policy development and program implementation supporting sustainability; prior experience includes service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tunisia and several years as a consultant on environmental and agricultural issues throughout the western states. Prior to her current position, she served President Obama 2009 - 2015 as the California State Director for USDA's Rural Development programs. From 1998 - 2001 she served President Clinton as Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at USDA. Glenda managed the Sustainable Development Institute at the 2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development in South Africa and the 2006 World Water Forum in Mexico City. Humiston earned her Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley in Environmental Science, Policy and Management; a Master's in International Agricultural Development from U.C. Davis and a Bachelor's degree in Animal Science from Colorado State University.
UC Agriculture & Natural Resources Dr. Glenda Humiston became Vice President of UC's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources in August 2015. Humiston …
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the California Health
- Secretary, California Health and Human Services Agency
Dr. Mark Ghaly was appointed Secretary of the California Health and Human Services by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019. In this role, Dr. …
Job Titles:
- Interim Executive Director of Fresno State Office of Community
- Interim Executive Director, Office of Community and Economic Development
Eduardo González is the Interim Executive Director of Fresno State Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED). Prior to becoming OCED's director, he served as director for the San Joaquin Valley Rural Development Center (SJVRDC). Eduardo was formerly the Director of the Fresno State Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Through Fresno State SBDC, he provided entrepreneurs with consulting and training services. In addition, Eduardo provides support in planning, developing and facilitating OCED's grant-funded projects and various collaboratives. Prior to joining OCED in 2011, Eduardo served more than 10 years in a variety of community-focused roles in the Valley. He was executive director for Youth Centers of America (YCA) and provided vision and leadership to its programming and staff. Eduardo has well over 15 years' experience in the non-profit arena, grant writing, and has helped develop adult education, leadership and prevention projects/programming in the most underserved rural communities. He has supervised the implementation of various advocacy projects for social justice and social change throughout rural communities of the San Joaquin Valley.
Job Titles:
- President of California State University
Ellen Junn is the 11th president of California State University, Stanislaus. As President of Stan State, she has implemented new and innovative programs …
Job Titles:
- Cen Cal Business Finance Group
Frank Gallegos, of Fresno, was appointed to the Partnership Board in March 2015. Gallegos has been chief executive officer and executive director at Cen Cal Business Finance Group since 2014.
He was vice president at Community West Bank from 2012 to 2014. Gallegos was vice president at the Fresno Wells Fargo Bank from 2007 to 2012. He was vice president at Fresno First Bank from 2005 to 2007.
Job Titles:
- General Manager of Fresno Irrigation District
Gary Serrato of Fowler, was appointed to the Partnership Board in January 2014. Serrato is general manager of Fresno Irrigation District where he has been since 1986 and previously held positions as Watermaster and Assistant Manager of Operations. Serrato is actively involved with Fresno County Water Advisory Committee and Friant Water Authority/Friant Water Users Authority.
He also is active with the Kings River Water Association and Upper Kings River Water Forum as well as various regional water committees. Serrato graduated from California State University, Fresno in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural business.
Genoveva Islas, of Tulare, was appointed to the Partnership Board in June 2013. Islas has been program director at Cultiva La Salud (formerly Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program) since 2006. She was an area field representative for the California Diabetes Program at the California Department of Public Health from 2004 to 2005.
Islas was an adjunct faculty member at Bakersfield College from 1997 to 2005 and health education supervisor at Kern Health Systems from 1993 to 1999. She earned a Master of Public Health from Loma Linda University.
Job Titles:
- CVA
- Member of the California State Society of Certified Public Accountants
James A Aleru, of Fresno, was reappointed to the Partnership Board in December 2010 having served since August 2007. He has owned and been the proprietor of James A. Aleru, CPA, CVA, since 2001. Previously, Aleru was an account clerk and auditor-appraiser for the County of Fresno from 1976 to 2001, shareholder and controller for Soccer and Lifestyle from 1996 to 1997, partner and controller for The Medicom Management Group from 1994 to 1995, and partner and chief financial officer for PC Experts from 1986 to 1987.
Aleru is a member of the California State Society of Certified Public Accountants, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, associate member of American Society of Appraisers and audit committee member of the Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission.
Job Titles:
- Secretary, California Environmental Protection Agency
Jared Blumenfeld, 49, of San Francisco, has been appointed Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA),the state cabinet-level agency established in 1991 to …
Job Titles:
- Advisory Board Member the Wine Group
Jim Yovino, of Fresno, was appointed to the Partnership Board in July 2017. Yovino has been superintendent of schools at the Fresno County Office of Education since 2013, where he was a deputy superintendent of schools from 2006 to 2013. He held multiple positions at the Central Unified School District from 2000 to 2006, including assistant superintendent of human resources and director of personnel and secondary education. Yovino served as principal at Houghton-Kearney Elementary School from 1996 to 1998 and as an administrator at Washington Intermediate School from 1996 to 1998, where he was a teacher on special assignment from 1995 to 1996 and a physical education instructor from 1991 to 1995.
He is a member of the Cradle to Career Board, Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame Board, Fresno Kremen Noted Alumni, Fresno State Health and Human Services Dean's Council of Ambassadors, Halo Café Pet Food Pantry, Bonner Center for Character Education and Citizenship, Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, Fresno Rotary, Fresno Chamber of Commerce, El Concilio, Fresno Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Maddy Institute, Fresno State President's Commission on Teacher Education, Central Valley Promise, the Foundation for the Fresno County Office of Education, Fresno Area Compact and the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association.
Job Titles:
- Representative, California Air Resources Board
John Eisenhut, of Turlock, was reappointed to the Partnership Board in July 2017. Eisenhut has been manager of grower relations at Hilltop Ranch Inc. since 1994 and owner of Eisenhut Farms since 1975. He is a member of the California Air Resources Board.
Eisenhut earned a Master of Business Administration from California State University, Stanislaus and a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the California Labor
- Secretary, California Labor and Workforce Development Agency
Julie A. Su is the Secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Su in January of …
Job Titles:
- Representative, California Central Valley Economic Development Corporation
Lee Ann Eager, of Fresno, was reappointed in March 2015 to the Partnership Board of which she has been a member since 2013. Eager has been president and chief executive officer for the Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County since 2009. She was an attorney at Lang Richert and Patch from 2005 to 2009.
Eager was executive director at Rape Counseling Service of Fresno from 1988 to 2000. She earned a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Davis School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Governor 's Office of Business and Economic Development
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Community Planner in Ventura County and Spent 10 Years With the Housing Authority
- Secretary Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency
Castro Ramirez has served on several community and national boards and received the 2019 Community Partner Award from the San Antonio chapter of the American Institute of Architects for chairing the Mayor's Housing Policy Task Force. Her work on that commission led to the San Antonio City Council's historic adoption of a comprehensive and compassionate housing policy that will guide planning, development, incentives, and housing efforts over the next decade. She is a 2020 San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame Inductee and a proud wife and mother of three children.
She is excited to return to California and eager to continue working collaboratively on complex community issues that require equal parts experience, leadership, and heart.
California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Lourdes Castro Ramírez to serve as Secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. She brings more than 25 years of public service and executive management experience in affordable housing and community economic development, and having been sworn in on March 2, 2020, she is charged with leading key initiatives integral to realizing the Governor's vision to expand affordable housing and create inclusive economic growth opportunities that serve all Californians. Secretary Castro Ramírez oversees departments responsible for funding affordable housing, enforcing civil rights protections, monitoring banking and financial transactions, strengthening consumer protections, and licensing 3 million working professionals.
Secretary Castro Ramírez was previously appointed by President Barack Obama to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Public and Indian Housing. While there, she managed $26 billion in federal program funds and worked closely with federal, state, local and tribal governments to advance affordable housing policies and programs.
Prior to joining HUD, Castro Ramírez was President and CEO of the San Antonio Housing Authority, where she expanded affordable housing opportunities, developed education, health and workforce partnerships that helped residents improve their circumstances, and secured a federal Choice Neighborhood Grant that created community-centered revitalization efforts.
Most recently, she served as President of the University Health System Foundation in San Antonio, where she spent three years building philanthropic support for patient-centered programs and improving access to innovative and compassionate care for families across South Texas.
Castro Ramírez began her career working as a Community Planner in Ventura County and spent 10 years with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles in various capacities, including the Director of the Housing Choice Voucher program. She is an accomplished executive dedicated to building partnerships and leading public, private and philanthropic efforts to improve community and system-level housing, health, business, economic and educational opportunities.
She earned her master's degree in Urban Planning and a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Chicano Studies at UCLA.
Luis Santana, of Fresno, was appointed to the Partnership Board in March 2015. Santana has been executive director of Reading and Beyond since 1999. He was a consultant for the Kingsburg Community Assistance Program in 1998.
From 1997 to 1998, he was director for recruitment and outreach at Centro Hispano de Estudios Teologicos and from 1995 to 1997 a missionary for Covenant World Missions. Santana earned a Master of Arts degree in social work from California State University, Sacramento.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Deputy Co - Chair
Central California Legal Services, Inc. Luisa Medina, of Fresno, was reappointed in March 2015 to the Partnership Board of which she has been …
Job Titles:
- Valley Children 's Healthcare
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
California State University, Bakersfield Lynnette Zelezny was appointed to serve as the fifth president of California State University, Bakersfield, effective July 1, 2018, …
Job Titles:
- Chief Operations Officer at the Central Valley Health
- Representative, Central Valley Health Network
Mary Renner, of Fresno, was appointed to the Partnership Board in June 2013. Renner is chief operations officer at the Central Valley Health …
Max Rodriguez, of Madera, was appointed to the Partnership Board in June 2013. Rodriguez has served on the Madera County Board of Supervisors …
Patricia Poire, of Bakersfield, was appointed to the Partnership Board in July 2017. She is the Planning Manager at the Kern Groundwater Authority. …
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
U.S. Department of Agriculture Robert Tse works at the intersection of agriculture technology, broadband and innovation. Using his strategic vision, he integrates policies, …
Job Titles:
- Liaison
- San Joaquin City Council
Amarpreet Dhaliwal, of San Joaquin, was reappointed to Partnership Board in July 2017. Dhaliwal has served as mayor pro tem of the City of San Joaquin since 2016 and has held several other positions as a member of the City Council since 2000, including mayor.
He has been president of Raj and Ruby Dhaliwal Inc. since 2014 and owner of D's Mini Mart since 1991.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Supervisor, Merced County
Merced County Board of Supervisors, District 5 Scott Silviera was appointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley board in December …
Job Titles:
- Finance Director
- Finance Director for OCED
Shelby Gonzales is finance director for OCED, overseeing the fiscal and technical activities that support all of OCED's initiatives and sponsored projects. A …
Ted Smalley, of Visalia, was appointed to the Partnership Board in December 2010. He is the executive director for Tulare County Association of …
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Partnership Board Chair
Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, District 2 Vito Chiesa, of Hughson, in July 2017 was appointed chair of the Partnership Board where he …
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Secretary, California Natural Resources Agency
Wade Crowfoot was appointed California Secretary for Natural Resources by Governor Gavin Newsom on January 11, 2019.
Crowfoot brings more than 20 years of public policy and environmental experience to the office, with expertise in water, climate and sustainability issues. He most recently served as chief executive officer of the Water Foundation and led its transition into an independent organization early in 2017.
Prior to joining the foundation, he served in Governor Jerry Brown's Administration as deputy cabinet secretary and senior advisor to the Governor, leading the administration's drought response efforts. He previously served as West Coast regional director for the Environmental Defense Fund and a senior environmental advisor to then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.