Board of Directors

As chancellor of one of the world’s great public research universities, Gary S. May leads UC Davis as it advances its mission in several key areas, including:

• Achieving equal access to education and opportunity for students of all backgrounds
• Building diversity and nurturing success among students, faculty and staff
• Deepening the university’s engagement with Sacramento, Davis and the surrounding region
• Conducting useful research and outstanding scholarship in areas of critical need to California, the nation and the world

May became UC Davis’ seventh chancellor on Aug. 1, 2017 by appointment of the UC Board of Regents. He leads the most comprehensive campus in the University of California system, with four colleges and six professional schools that offer 104 undergraduate majors and 96 graduate and professional degrees. UC Davis enrolls about 37,000 students, brings in nearly $800 million annually in sponsored research and contributes at least $8 billion to the California economy each year.

An accomplished scholar and engineer, May came to UC Davis from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, where he had been for nearly three decades, most recently as dean of the institute’s College of Engineering — the largest and most diverse school of its kind in the nation, with 450 faculty and 13,000 students.
Prior to being dean, May was the Steve W. Chaddick Chair of Georgia Tech’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and previous to that, he was the executive assistant to Georgia Tech President G. Wayne Clough.

May is known as a dynamic leader with a passion for helping others succeed. He believes success is best judged by “the extent you enhance the lives of others.” Throughout his career, he has championed diversity in both higher education and the workplace. He developed and led programs to attract, mentor and retain underrepresented women and ethnic minorities in STEM — the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

In 2015, President Obama honored him with the Presidential Award for Excellence in STEM Mentoring.

May has won numerous research awards for his work in computer-aided manufacturing of integrated circuits and other devices. He has authored more than 200 technical publications, contributed to 15 books and holds a patent in this topic.

In 2010, he was named “outstanding engineering alumnus” of UC Berkeley, where he earned his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering and computer science.

A native of St. Louis, May is married to LeShelle R. May, a software engineer, and they have two daughters, Simone and Jordan, who are in college.

Mark Friedman is the Founder and Chairman of Fulcrum Property. The Fulcrum team delivers architecturally distinctive projects that influence the way people work, play, and live. Guiding the company’s work is a commitment to sustainable design principles that bring aesthetic, social, and economic value to the communities they serve.

Mr. Friedman is also a part owner of the Sacramento Kings NBA franchise and is actively engaged in the team’s efforts to build a new entertainment and sports complex in downtown Sacramento.

Mr. Friedman graduated from Harvard College in 1979 and earned a JD/MBA from Stanford University in 1984.

Mr. Friedman is an active participant in charitable and civic organizations. He has served as a board member of CalHumanities, the U.C. Davis School of Education, the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute and the UC Davis Foundation. Mr. Friedman is a founding member of California Infill Builders Federation, a coalition of environmental, development and transit advocates promoting reforms to make infill development easier and less expensive. He was named Sacramentan of the Year for 2015 by the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

Kimberly Menzel is the Senior Vice President and Area Manager for Kaiser Permanente in the Roseville Service area which includes both Folsom and Lincoln. She oversees health plan and hospital operations, including a Women’s and Children’s Center, and is responsible for the provision of health care to more than 364,000 Kaiser Permanente members living in the service area. Kaiser Permanente insures more than 50 percent of the commercial market in the Placer county area and employs over 8,000 employees and physicians.

Ms. Menzel is a health care professional with more than three decades of broad experience in health care operations. In 2009 she joined the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan facility at the Roseville Medical Center as the Chief Nurse Executive. In addition to serving as the Chief Nurse, she also held the position of Chief Operating Officer from 2012-2020. She was named to her current position in October of 2020.

Ms. Menzel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration. Kimberly has also attended the KP Executive Leadership Program at the Harvard Business School.

Her community leadership roles include incoming President for the Roseville Chamber of Commerce and board member of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. She also served as the board Chair for Child Advocates of Placer County.

Faye Nabhani is President/CEO of SAFE Credit Union. Faye is a strategic leader and visionary who brings extensive credit and management experience. Prior to joining SAFE as Chief Credit Officer, Faye worked for KeyPoint Credit Union in Santa Clara, California, for 22 years in a variety of credit operations and management positions, including most recently as their Chief Lending Officer. Faye has served as a member of various boards of directors, including MBL LLC (now CUBG), as Member Engagement and CLO Forum Committee Member for the CUNA Lending Council, and as a board member of the Folsom Tourism and Economic Development Corporation (2016-2018). She earned a degree in Leadership and Organizational Development from Saint Mary’s College of California.

Matina Kolokotronis serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Sacramento Kings. Bringing decades of experience in sports and government law, community affairs and contract negotiations, Kolokotronis’ leadership has been integral to the development of the state-of-the-art, Golden 1 Center as well as its adjacent, $500 million mixed-use development project, Downtown Commons. Golden 1 Center is recognized as the greenest and most technologically-advanced arena in the world and is the first professional sports venue in the world to achieve LEED Platinum certification. Together, Golden 1 Center and Downtown Commons represent a $1 billion investment in downtown Sacramento – a great source of pride for the community and driver of significant economic growth in the region.

Prior to her appointment as COO, Kolokotronis was the President of Business Operations. Kolokotronis is the only female in the NBA to hold the titles of both COO and President of Business Operations. Before being named President of Business Operations, Kolokotronis served as legal consultant for the Kings business and basketball operations teams, negotiating player and staff contracts. During that time, Kolokotronis was an Adjunct Professor of Law at McGeorge Law School, University of the Pacific where she taught Sports Law. Prior to that she served for six years as director of the Sacramento Kings Foundation, overseeing strategic development and fundraising activities. Before joining the Kings, Kolokotronis was an associate with Miller, Owen and Trost and practiced contract and sports law where her clients included the Kings and various NBA players.

Her leadership extends beyond the Kings organization and into the community where she is a dedicated mentor and advocate for numerous women’s advancement groups and non-profits. She is also very active in the Greek church. In 2015, Governor Brown appointed Kolokotronis to the California Citizens Compensation Commission.

Kolokotronis is a graduate of Loyola University and received her law degree from McGeorge Law School, University of the Pacific. Matina and her husband, Sotiris, are long-time Sacramento residents, and their three children – Constantine, Marisa and Nicholas – proudly wear purple.

As Chief Executive Officer of Buzz Oates, Larry Allbaugh leads one of the largest privately held industrial developer/owner organizations in the country, with a primary geographic focus in California’s Central Valley. Through seven decades and several economic cycles, the organization has consistently developed millions of square feet of buildings for a wide range of local, regional and national customers, differentiating itself as a strong, long-term owner of a conservatively leveraged portfolio with dominant market share in selected second and third tier investment markets.

Dr. Alvin Cheung is one of the seven initial financial sponsors and the Founding President of California Northstate University. Over the last nine years, Dr. Cheung has mobilized a great number of physicians and pharmacists and a few technical professionals to establish this University.

Dr. Cheung began his professional career with Kaiser Permanente and advanced to the senior executive level over a 30-year period in the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Region with a fiscal responsibility of $800 million overseeing the pharmacy operations in 9 hospitals and 45 clinics. He is a passionate educator and has taught pharmacology for 27 years in the Nursing Program at American River College.

As the President and CEO of VSP Vision since 2018, Michael Guyette brings three decades healthcare industry experience to the world’s largest, health-focused vision benefits company. Prior to joining VSP, Guyette served as President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and held senior leadership positions at Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, and Independence Blue Cross.

Under Guyette’s leadership, VSP’s purpose to empower human potential through sight has expanded through the company’s industry-leading businesses, which include insurance and eye care services for millions of members, eyewear and lens offerings, and software and practice management solutions for a network of more than 42,000 eye doctors. VSP’s network spans a range of practice modalities, including private practice, retail, and corporate settings.

Over Guyette’s tenure, VSP has experienced significant growth through several acquisitions and business transformations in support of the company’s stakeholders. To meet demands for growing network coverage, VSP acquired Visionworks and Eyemart Express and launched VSP Ventures to offer care-focused solutions for private practice optometrists looking to transition their businesses. Regional carriers, including Community Eye Care and iCare Health Solutions have also joined the VSP family of businesses, as has Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) in support of VSP’s longstanding commitment to the success of independent optometry.

Outside work, Guyette serves on the board of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, where VSP is headquartered, is an active member of the G100 Chief Executive Network, and serves on the Advisory Board of the G. Brint Ryan College of Business at the University of North Texas. In 2020, Guyette was honored to accept the Persons of Vision Award on behalf of VSP, capping a two-decade partnership between the company’s Eyes of Hope charitable platform and the non-profit Prevent Blindness to provide access to vision care for more than 250,000 adults and children in need.

A native of Rhode Island, Guyette holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of North Texas and an MBA from Villanova University.

Dr. Brian King, the ninth chancellor of the Los Rios Community College District, has more than 24 years of community college teaching and administrative experience in California and Missouri.

The Los Rios District is one of the nation’s most respected learning institutions and the second-largest community college district in California, with about 75,000 students. Los Rios serves the greater Sacramento region with four colleges – American River, Cosumnes River, Folsom Lake and Sacramento City – and six major educational outreach centers.

Dr. King joined the Los Rios District in February 2013, after serving more than eight years as president/superintendent of Santa Cruz County’s Cabrillo College in Aptos, Ca. Before that, he served from 1991 to 2004 in increasingly responsible positions at Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield, Mo., where he rose from a faculty position teaching American government and business law to serving as vice president of administration and business.

As president of Cabrillo, Dr. King was credited with leading the college through two successful local bond campaigns, raising more than $20 million in private donations through the college foundation and guiding the implementation of highly successful student success measures.

Since his appointment as chancellor of Los Rios, Dr. King has overseen the opening of two educational outreach centers (the Elk Grove and Rancho Cordova centers); the District’s 50th anniversary gala honoring alumni and philanthropists; and the federal designation of Sacramento City College as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

Dr. King serves on numerous local and state boards and commissions including: the American Council on Education’s Commission on Inclusion; Sacramento Metro Chamber Board of Directors; Valley Vision Board of Directors; Community College League of California CEO Board and Commission on the Future; Wells Fargo Community Advisory Committee; Comstock’s Magazine Editorial Board; NextEd Board of Directors and Executive Committee; Linked Learning Alliance Leadership Council; Dignity Health Sacramento Service Area Board of Directors; Los Rios Foundation Board; and member of the Sacramento Rotary. He also currently serves as a CEO Representative on the state Chancellor’s Office Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative Advisory Committee. He is a past-chair of the California Community College Athletic Association Board of Directors, and was previously a Fulbright Fellow to Russia with a group of national community college leaders.

He earned a bachelor of arts in history from the University of Missouri; a law degree from Duke University School of Law; and a doctorate of education in higher education from the University of Arkansas.

Dr. King lives in Folsom with his wife and two teen-age children and is a dedicated Duke Blue Devils basketball fan.

Dave Lucchetti serves as the President and CEO of Pacific Coast Building Products, Inc.. Lucchetti joined the company in 1970 and was named its President and Chief Operating Officer in 1979. During his tenure, the company has been given the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce’s Best in the Business Award and has been recognized as one of the 10 most admired companies in the Sacramento area.

Lucchetti is a member of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Foundation. Additionally, he has been a member of the Sutter Club, the CSU Sacramento Business Advisory Board, and a Board of Trustee member to the Sacramento Regional Foundation and Sacramento Neighborhood Housing Service. He is also a member of Succeed, Catholic Social Services, and is on the boards of the Wind Youth and Jesuit High School. He served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Contractors State License Board and is a 1998 inductee to the California Homebuilding Foundation Hall of Fame. Lucchetti is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento.

Garry Maisel’s commitment to our communities is evident in his every action as President and CEO of Western Health Advantage (WHA).

As President, Garry has provided leadership at WHA from its start-up in 1996 to current recorded annual revenue of more than $750 million. WHA focuses on improving healthcare access and affordability and is known for developing innovative programs to expand coverage to the uninsured.

The Company’s growth and quality earned it a spot on the Sacramento Business Journal’s list of Top 50 Fasting-Growing Companies in 2011. Garry leads WHA’s growing workforce, who provide award-winning customer service to more than 130,000 members.

In addition to positioning WHA to improve access to health care, he also believes in leveraging his regional organization to support various non-profit organizations and community causes. An active community board member, Maisel currently lends his expertise and experience to:

– WEAVE (Women Escaping a Violent Environment – current Board Chair)
– Valley Vision
– Greater Sacramento Economic Council
– Mercy Foundation
– Crocker Art Museum (current Board Secretary)
– B Street Theatre (current Board Chair)
– Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts (past Board Chair)
– California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce
– The University Foundation at Sacramento State
– The Chevo Foundation (current Board Vice Chair)
– Rudolf Steiner College (current Board Secretary)
– Meristem
– California Association of Health Plans (current Board Chair)
– Health Plan Alliance (current Board Vice Chair)

Garry holds a degree in finance and economics from Sacramento State University and has accumulated 25 years of experience in healthcare plus 10 years in the banking and finance industry, including time as the Chief Financial Officer for a regional community bank. Garry has enjoyed numerous awards including the Sacramento Metro Chamber 2010 Businessman of the Year Award, the 2011 Individual Arts Leadership of the Year Award from the Sacramento Arts & Business Council, the 2014 Executive Leadership Award from Community Link Capital Region, and the 2015 Humanitarian of the Year Award from UCP Sacramento.

Whether he is providing quality healthcare coverage to employers and individuals or providing expert council to regional non-profit organizations, Garry Maisel is perfectly suited to lead an organization committed to the people and businesses of the Sacramento and North Bay regions.

Colleen McCain Nelson is a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist who is the executive editor of The Sacramento Bee and the California regional editor for McClatchy. Nelson works with the journalists in all of McClatchy’s California newsrooms, including The Sacramento Bee, The Fresno Bee, The Modesto Bee, the San Luis Obispo Tribune, and the Merced Sun-Star.

Before coming to California, Nelson was McClatchy’s national opinion editor and vice president and editorial page editor of The Kansas City Star.

She previously worked as a White House correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and as a political reporter, chronicling three presidential campaigns. In 2016, she crisscrossed the country with Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and Bernie Sanders. As a White House reporter for The Wall Street Journal, she wrote about the policies, politics, and personalities in President Barack Obama’s administration, traveling the world with the president and vice president.

Before joining The Wall Street Journal, Nelson worked at The Dallas Morning News where she wrote about local, state, and national politics as a reporter and, later, as an editorial writer and a columnist.

In 2010, Ms. Nelson and two of her colleagues were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing, recognition for a series of editorials that condemned the stark economic and social disparity separating Dallas’ thriving northern half and struggling southern half.

Nelson was raised in Salina, Kansas, and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Kansas.

As president of Sutter Health’s Greater Sacramento Market, Rachael McKinney was one of the first leaders named to help guide the integrated network’s new market-based structure beginning in June 2023. In partnership with the market chief medical officer, she is one half of the administrator and physician dyad providing operational and strategic oversight for all acute and ambulatory operations while executing service line strategies and increasing patient access. Rachael most recently served as the Area CEO for Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento (SMCS), Sutter Davis Hospital and Sutter Amador Hospital.

Rachael’s Sutter Health journey began as an administrative fellow in 2004, marking the start of a career defined by patient-centered leadership. She quickly distinguished herself as a mission-driven, patient-centered, purposeful, and relationship-focused leader at Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo. She spent seven years leading ancillary services and cancer center operations, where she improved employee and patient experience, increased operational efficiency, and expanded programs to serve oncology patients.

In 2011, Rachael became a regional executive for Sutter’s neurosciences service line working in a dyad leadership model with a regional medical director to advance the acute and ambulatory footprint of a nine-county region. Under her leadership, all six hospitals obtained primary stroke certification, and SMCS began its ultimately successful journey to comprehensive stroke certification. Rachael later served as the chief operating officer for VEP Healthcare, Inc. (now U.S. Acute Care Services) where she helped grow the 1,000-physician company across the eight states it served. She returned to Sutter Health in 2017 as the CEO of Sutter Davis Hospital.

Within her first year at the helm of Sutter Davis, Rachael led the vision to increase access to care through a largescale hospital expansion project, now well underway, with expected completion in 2024. She later led the hospital’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, treating the very first patient in Yolo County. Under her leadership, the hospital received Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work recognition, expanded its diversity, equity & inclusion work, launched an employee-led wellness council, and sustained top-decile performance in quality and patient experience. In 2019, Rachael was selected as a participant of World 50 Next Leader, an executive development program for top leaders around the world. Rachael was recognized by the Sacramento Business Journal with a “Women Who Mean Business” award in 2021, included on Becker Hospital Review’s “Women Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know” list in 2023 and later named to the Top 100 Under 50 Executives and Emerging Leaders list by Diversity MBA.

Rachael holds a bachelor’s degree in health fitness with a minor in economics from Gustavus Adolphus College and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota. She is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the boards of the California Association of Healthcare Leaders, Child Abuse Prevention Center, Minnesota MHA Alumni Association/Foundation, College of St. Scholastica MHA Industry Advisory Board, and the Sacramento Host Committee. In 2023, Rachael chaired the Go Red for Women Campaign in Sacramento. A believer in embracing challenges and championing growth, Rachael is passionate about developing future leaders and serves as the executive sponsor for Sutter’s Administrative Fellowship/Internship Program. She resides in Sacramento with her husband, Randy, and dog, Romeo, and in her free time enjoys spending time at the beach, watching Jeopardy, listening to live music, reading, and traveling.

Glenda Nelson is the Tribal Chairperson and Elder of the Estom Yumeka Maidu Tribe of the Enterprise Rancheria, a sovereign American Indian nation of 1,072 tribal citizens. Glenda has served on Tribal Council since 2003. She served two years as the Tribal Council Treasurer prior to becoming the Tribal Chairperson in 2005. Her term as Tribal Chairperson was renewed thru 2025, at which time she will have served on Tribal Council for over 22 years.

In addition to her work in in the legal field as a Paralegal, Office Manager and Legal Secretary from 1979 through 1996, she also worked as the Chief Business Official for the Pioneer Union Elementary School District for 20 years from 1996 through 2017.

She was born and raised on the Enterprise Rancheria. Her grandmother and father both instilled the importance, honor and duty that she feels to serve her Native People — to protect the Rancheria lands and sovereign rights of the Native Nations.

Glenda is the eldest of her six siblings. Coming from a broken home, she was sent to a Native American school for youth, suffered many hurdles, but was one of the very first Native American youth to have graduated College through the assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the 1970’s in the State of California. She has a heartfelt passion for children affected by the Indian Child Welfare Act and works passionately in a leadership role to help identify services and programs available.

Glenda has extensive experience working in Indian Country and continues to be actively involved in Government Relations, Development of Educational Programs, Public Relations, Indian Health Care, Housing and National Tribal Organizations, to mention a few:

Vice Chair and Secretary to Enterprise Rancheria Housing Board of Commissioners – (18 years)

President of the Board of Directors for the Ipakanni Early College School – (4 years)

Secretary to California Association of Tribal Governments – (6 years)

Vice-Chair of Feather River Tribal Health – (16 years)

Tribal Delegate to National Congress of American Indians – (18 years)

California Nations Indian Gaming Association – (18 years)

National Indian Gaming Association – (18 years)

Fee to Trust Advisory Committee – (16 years)

Bureau of Indian Affairs Advisory Committee – (4 years)

President of the Enterprise Economic Development Authority (4 years)

Chairperson Nelson has worked with and lead the Enterprise Rancheria Tribal Council for over two decades. In October 2019 the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain opened and brings many resources to help the tribe provide for its members. Glenda brings many years of gaming, financial, legal and educational experience to the leadership of her tribe, local community and on national forums.

Mark is Accenture’s Sacramento Office Managing Director and leads the Public Service practice in supporting the State of California. In his role he is responsible for growing Accenture’s business and maintaining strong client relationships in the Sacramento region. He helps deepen Accenture’s relationship with local community organizations, partners, nonprofits and government entities. His expertise is in helping government transform through innovation to better serve the needs of its constituents.

Prior to joining Accenture in 2013, he held various leadership and business development roles serving State of California public sector clients. These roles included work at Cisco Systems, Deloitte Consulting and Wang Laboratories, pursuing large-scale systems integration and infrastructure projects that enhanced the delivery of government services to the constituents of California.

Mark is very passionate about inclusion and diversity and currently is the executive sponsor for the Hispanic American Employee Resource Group for the Public Service practice at Accenture and sits on Accenture’s Northern California inclusion and diversity council. He is an advocate in volunteer work and has served on the Sacramento Children’s Home board for the past 13 years serving as previous past president, multiple committee assignments, and currently as assistant secretary. The Home provides services to children and families to help prevent and break the cycle of child abuse focusing on child abuse prevention, intervention, and mental health treatment for our most at-risk children and families.

Mark holds a B.S. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from the University of San Francisco and lives in El Dorado Hills with his wife and two daughters. He is also a veteran of the United State Navy serving for seven years and is a native Californian having grown up in San Jose CA. Other passions include water skiing, golf and performing with his 10-piece professional showband.

Steve Pleau is the founder, President and CEO of Future Automotive Group, one of the nation’s largest automotive dealership groups with 9 locations, 14 franchises, and 2 fleet centers. The group is one of the top employers in Placer County as well as a significant employer in Sacramento County. Local dealerships include Future Ford of Sacramento, Future Ford Lincoln of Roseville, Future Nissan of Roseville, and Future Nissan of Folsom, and the Future Ford Fleet Center is located in Roseville.

Pleau serves on a number of boards and has been a Director of River City Bank since 2001. He is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento with a degree in Business Administration.

The grocery business is in Mike Teel’s blood. As the grandson of Raley’s founder, Tom Raley, and the son of Raley’s second-generation leaders, Joyce Raley Teel and Jim Teel, he learned the grocery business from an early age. Today, he leads the largest family owned company in the Greater Sacramento area with a sense of enthusiasm for the business and responsibility to the communities Raley’s serves.

With his passion for empowering people to make sustainable and healthy food choices, Mike leads the company of 12,000 team members and 122 stores. He is committed to delivering a personalized customer experience, inspiring team member engagement and supporting long-term family ownership.

Mike started with Raley’s bagging groceries. After earning his bachelor’s in business administration from Whittier College, he became a store manager. He later led innovations in the Bakery and the company’s Bay Area expansion. In the 1990’s, he worked alongside executives, which prepared him for his senior leadership progression: Chief Operating Officer in 1995, President in 1996 and Chief Executive Officer in 1998. In 2002, Mike left the company to pursue independent business ventures, returning in 2010 as President & CEO and in 2018 became Owner & Chairman of the Board.

In 2015, the family transitioned majority ownership of the company to Mike, with a goal of long-term family ownership. Mike is involved as a Board Member of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, a group of regional CEOs working to retain, attract, grow and create sustainable businesses.

Brian Ternan is President and CEO for Health Net of CA and California Health and Wellness. In this role, he oversees Health Net’s commercial and government businesses in California. Mr. Ternan is an industry leader with more than 25 years of health plan experience in Commercial, Labor and Group Medicare business.

Mr. Ternan joined Health Net in September, after 4 years as the Commercial Plan President for Anthem Blue Cross of CA. Prior to that, he served as President of Aetna’s Western Region and had P&L responsibility for Group, Individual, Group Medicare and Public and Labor lines of business. During his nine year tenure at Aetna, Mr. Ternan also served as President of Aetna’s Southern California Market; President of West Region National Accounts; and Vice President of Southern California National Accounts.

Prior to Aetna, Mr. Ternan held various positions at Mercer HR Consulting throughout the West. At Mercer, he advised large employers about the various aspects of their human resource strategies.

Education:
B.A., California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, California

Kyriakos Tsakopoulos serves with his father, Angelo K. Tsakopoulos, as Co-Chair of AKT Investments, Inc., a diversified, family-owned land development and property investment company based in Sacramento, California. Mr. Tsakopoulos also serves as President and CEO of Conaway Preservation Group, LLC that owns the 17,500-acre Conaway Ranch located in Yolo County, California.

Active in regional and national civic, charitable and political affairs with a passion for higher education policy, Mr. Tsakopoulos has served as a Trustee of Columbia University, the California State University System, and as Chair of the University of California at Davis MIND Research and Development Institute. In 2018 he served as Chair of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, and currently leads an effort to establish a new college in Placer County, California.

Educated at Columbia University where he rowed varsity crew, and McGeorge School of Law in his hometown of Sacramento, Mr. Tsakopoulos trained as an attorney and is a member of the California and United States Supreme Court Bars. He is an avid airplane pilot, golfer and hunter and resides in Sacramento with his wife, Bri, and three children.

J. Luke Wood is the President for Sacramento State. Prior to this appointment, he was the Vice President for Student Affairs & Campus Diversity and Chief Diversity Officer at San Diego State University (SDSU). Wood was also the Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Education and a tenured full Professor in the Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education (ARPE) at SDSU. According to the Black in the Crimson in Black, Wood is the first and only Distinguished Professor of Black/African American descent in SDSU’s history. In 2023, Wood was appointed by the state Senate to serve on the newly established California Racial Equity Commission. He joined SDSU in 2011 and is an active researcher and equity-driven leader.

In his capacity as Vice President, Wood oversaw a Division of nearly 500 professional staff and 2,000 student staff designed to provide co-curricular experiences to students and advance equity and inclusion for students, faculty, and staff at SDSU. Wood led an operating budget of $46 million with 55 departments in Student Affairs (e.g., Student Health, Counseling, Residence Halls, Student Life, Financial Aid, Cultural Centers, Fraternity and Sorority Life) and Campus Diversity (e.g., faculty and staff professional learning, Employee Resource Groups, faculty inclusion-hiring, general advising). In 2021-2022, his Division secured more than $12 million in philanthropic and sponsorship funding to support critical student and faculty initiatives. Prior to becoming Chief Diversity Officer and Cabinet member in 2018, Wood served as the Director of the Joint Ph.D. Program in Education between SDSU and Claremont Graduate University (2016-2018) and Director of the Ed.D. Program in Community College Leadership at SDSU (2013-2018). Before this, Wood was the Director of the Executive Ed.D. Program at Lincoln Memorial University and Coordinator of the Arizona Education Policy Fellowship Program (AZ-EPFP).

As a Distinguished Professor, Wood serves as the Co-Director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL), a national research and practice center that partners with community colleges to support their capacity in advancing outcomes for underserved students of color. Through CCEAL, Wood has served as an advisor and consultant to hundreds of colleges and university leaders on strategic planning, equity and diversity planning, diversity crisis management, equitable hiring practices, and reducing equity gaps for students of color. Wood is also the Founding Professor of the Black Minds Matter public course and virtual series. The series features leading educators and activists who draw parallels between the experiences of Black lives in policing and Black minds in schooling. The most recent series had over 30,000 learners from across the nation.

Wood’s research focuses on racial equity in education with a specific focus on early childhood education and community colleges. In particular, his research examines contributors to positive outcomes for boys and men of color. Dr. Wood has delivered over 2,000 scholarly professional and conference presentations. His research has been featured by NBC, New York Times, Chronicle of Higher Education, Huffington Post, Fortune Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, San Francisco Chronicle, C-SPAN, and National Press Club. Dr. Wood has authored over 180 publications, including 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and 16 books. Wood is ranked by Education Week as one of the top 50 scholars and public influencers in the field of education.

Wood is the co-sponsor of AB740 along with the Children’s Advocacy Institute. This law was authored by Assembly member McCarty and based on Wood’s research. AB 740 requires school officials to contact a foster child’s court appointed attorney and social worker prior to suspensions. Wood also serves as an advisory board member for Promises2Kids, a non-profit organization that provides over 3,000 current and former foster youth in San Diego County with the tools, opportunities, and guidance they need to grow into healthy, happy and successful adults. His passion for foster children and youth is informed by his own experience as a former foster child and transracial adoptee who was raised in a large foster home.

Dr. Wood is a former recipient of the Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Fellowship from which he served as research fellow at the Stanford Institute for Higher Education Research (SIHER), Stanford University. Wood received his PhD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies with an emphasis in Higher Education and master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University (ASU). He also holds a master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership with a concentration in Student Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in Black History and Politics from California State University, Sacramento. Luke is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. He is a father of three children and husband to Dr. Idara Essien.

Sandra Amara is Mayor of the Auburn City Council. As a lifelong Auburn resident, she has a long history of service to the community, utilizing her training as an attorney, mediator, and educator.

As a practicing attorney/mediator and lifelong educator, Sandra has maintained her law office in Auburn for more than 30 years, which has provided the home base for the many levels of service she has been able to provide to the Auburn community.

This service includes servicing as a Trustee for the Auburn Union School District from 1994-2006, during which she served as Board President for 3 terms. She was active in facilitating a balanced budget, and was able to use her experience as an attorney/mediator to resolve various issues involving the school district.

Sandra has also served on the Auburn Planning Commission from 2014-18, as a board member for Kidz Community for 10 years, and as a Board member for Right Hand of Auburn.

Personal Information

As a lifelong Auburn resident, Amara is a product of Auburn Schools, including Placer High School. She also graduated from USF, obtained her law degree at Lincoln Law School, and has received specialized training in Mediation over the last 10 years. She is currently a Mediator for the State of California dealing primarily with Special Education issues.

Sandra and her husband of 46 years have raised 4 children, all of whom attended Auburn schools. She is passionate about promoting Auburn’s future as a vibrant community, and enjoys her service as a City Council member.

*pending March Board meeting

Holly Andreatta was elected to the Lincoln City Council in 2018, served as Mayor in 2022 and is currently serving as Mayor in 2025. Growing up in Lincoln she has a great love for her community and is striving to preserve Lincoln’s unique charm in the midst of growth.

Holly is a graduate of Bethany Bible College with a BA in Social Science and History and earned her California teaching credential there, as well. She has been an educator since 1991 and recently finished a 14-year tenure teaching at Cooley Middle School in Roseville. She has a Master of Divinity and a Doctorate Degree from Epic Bible College and Graduate School and serves as an adjunct professor. Holly works full-time at Jessup University as an Advancement Officer.

Holly met her husband, Mark, while they were in college and have been married for 33 years. Together they have four grown children. Holly and her husband are both ordained ministers with the Assemblies of God Fellowship. They serve as associate pastors at Lincoln Christian Life Center.

Holly served for five years on the Community Board of Mercy Multiplied in Lincoln. She is a member of Rotary of Lincoln, the Woman’s Club of Lincoln, The Lincoln Fourth of July Foundation, and she serves as the Past President of the Board of KidsFirst. She is also serving as a Placer County Law Enforcement/Community Chaplain.

Serving more than 20-years as a healthcare executive, Yannis Angouras provides a breadth of experience and leadership in operations and strategy from his work in acute-care hospitals and integrated health systems. His current mission is to transform mental health by pursuing possibilities for the Greater Sacramento Area that exceed its current potential. His commitment is to protect life and health by providing an exceptional quality of care with compassion, dignity, and respect.

In his role as the Chief Executive Officer oversees the Heritage Oaks Hospital, a 125-bed Mental Health Facility, the HOPE Center, a 16-bed Psychiatric Health Facility, The Oaks Outpatient Centers with its four outpatient locations, a state-of-the-art ECT center and the HOPE Crisis Stabilization Unit. Prior to this role, Yannis served as the Chief Operating Officer at Aldara Hospital and Medical Center, a Henry Ford International facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His main responsibility was to establish the first fully integrated health system in Saudi Arabia. During his tenure at Kaiser Permanente he served as the COO of the Los Angeles Medical Center, a 540-bed tertiary medical center and academic institute. In this position he oversaw hospital operations, strategy, and growth, including their 68-bed Mental Health Center. And before that, he worked for Providence Health and Services as the Regional Transformation Officer and Regional Manager for Supply Chain and Support Services. While living in Greece, Yannis Angouras was the CEO of the University Hospital of Patras, and earlier the CEO of Aigio General Hospital in Achaia.

Yannis brings global expertise in Integrated Systems, Operational Excellence, Growth Strategies, People Development and Financial Performance. He has a history of community involvement, having supported programs related to youth unemployment, minority owned business growth and homelessness.

Yannis holds a Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Southern California. He also graduated from the Extended Leadership Training at Harvard Business School and earned a Lean Six Sigma Gold Belt from the Six Sigma Academy. He is the husband of a beautiful and very successful dentist Dr. Vasi Bazos, and he is the father of two sons, Nasos and Kleos.

Sarah Aquino was first elected to the city council in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. She was chosen by her colleagues to serve as Vice Mayor in 2019, 2021, and 2024 and as Mayor in 2020 and 2025. Prior to her election to the Council, Sarah served four years as a member of the Board of Education for the Folsom Cordova Unified School District.

Sarah serves as Board Chair for the Sacramento-Placerville Transportation Corridor JPA, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, and the Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Folsom State Prison and California State Prison, Sacramento.

Sarah grew up in Fair Oaks, attended public schools in the San Juan Unified School District, and graduated from California State University, Sacramento. She’s a licensed life and health insurance agent but spends most of her time serving the community. You can find her weekday mornings serving as a crossing guard for Alder Creek Elementary and on Friday and Saturday nights working at Back Bistro. She also enjoys gardening, golfing, reading, and hosting parties for friends and neighbors.

Sarah and her husband, John, have been married 25 years and have two adult children and one very spoiled labradoodle.

Sarah Aquino was first elected to the city council in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. She was chosen by her colleagues to serve as Vice Mayor in 2019, 2021, and 2024 and as Mayor in 2020 and 2025. Prior to her election to the Council, Sarah served four years as a member of the Board of Education for the Folsom Cordova Unified School District.

Sarah serves as Board Chair for the Sacramento-Placerville Transportation Corridor JPA, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, and the Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Folsom State Prison and California State Prison, Sacramento.

Sarah grew up in Fair Oaks, attended public schools in the San Juan Unified School District, and graduated from California State University, Sacramento. She’s a licensed life and health insurance agent but spends most of her time serving the community. You can find her weekday mornings serving as a crossing guard for Alder Creek Elementary and on Friday and Saturday nights working at Back Bistro. She also enjoys gardening, golfing, reading, and hosting parties for friends and neighbors.

Sarah and her husband, John, have been married 25 years and have two adult children and one very spoiled labradoodle.

James Beckwith is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Five Star Bank and its holding company, Five Star Bancorp. With nearly 30 years of experience, James joined Five Star Bank in 2003 after serving as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at National Bank of the Redwoods, in Santa Rosa, California. James graduated from San Francisco State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. He is also a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.

He is deeply connected to the Sacramento community and has chaired several community-based organizations including the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, Valley Vision and KVIE (the local PBS affiliate). Mr. Beckwith is a past Chair of California Bankers Association. He is a member of the Sacramento State University College of Business Advisory Council. In 2024, Mr. Beckwith was elected to the Board of Directors of the California Chamber of Commerce.

James’ professional leadership and volunteer work in the community are the Five Star Bank standard of “Can do. Will do. WE do.”

I am a 4^th Generation Marysvillian, raising the 5^th generation of Belza’s in this community. I am married to Julia, with 3 Daughters and a soon to be Son in January, Rylee (7), Raegan (5), Ruby (3), and Johnny. My Great Grandfather was a Basque immigrant entrepreneur arriving in Marysville in 1906. Our Family has been involved in the region through Business, Real Estate Development, Farming and Public Service ever since.

I’ve worked as an Investment, Commercial and Agriculture Real Estate Agent for the last 18 years, and also a partner in our family development company.

In 2020 I decided to run for Marysville City Council, with a hope and vision to revitalize the area and knock the rough off the diamond Marysville is. Over the last 2 years we have seen some momentous progress in revitalization of Marysville. I believe our newfound friendship with GSEC will be a bridge between our great regional economic demands and the unique opportunities Marysville has to offer.

Krista Bernasconi was elected to a four-year term on the Roseville City Council in November 2018 and was reelected in 2022. Krista recently served as Vice Mayor and was elected Mayor in 2024

Krista owns a public relations firm in Roseville and has spent much of her career developing and executing public affairs plans for clients in the private sector.

Krista is a Roseville native and a veteran of the United States Navy. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Sacramento State. Her work led to being honored as Comstock’s 2022 Women in Leadership, Sacramento region’s “40 Under 40,” and she is a recipient of the Athena Award and Sacramento State’s Distinguished Service Award, both presented for demonstrating professional excellence, community service and leadership skills.

Krista’s involvement in the community has been extensive. She is a Roseville Area Chamber Leadership graduate and former chamber board member. Krista served as a planning commissioner for the City of Roseville for 8 years and was elected to serve on the Roseville City School District Board of Education for 8 years. She is a founding board member of IGNITE Young Professionals in Roseville and the Roseville City School District Foundation.

Krista has served on numerous non-profit boards and enjoys making a positive difference for our city.  Outside of work and council duties, Krista enjoys running and being outdoors with her family.

Donna Bland is President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden 1 Credit Union. Founded in 1933, Golden 1 is one of the largest financial institutions in California with 1,500 employees and a growing membership of over 750,000 Californians. Golden 1 Credit Union is also an industry leader as one of the largest credit unions on the nation.

With more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, Bland became President and CEO of Golden 1 in 2010 after serving as the Credit Union’s Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer.

Over the years, she has been an integral part of Golden 1’s rise to industry leadership through exceptional service, employee engagement, community support, and responsible financial management.

The Sacramento Metro Chamber recently recognized Bland as the 2015 “Businesswoman of the Year” for her contributions to the region, including the investment in the community and partnership with the Sacramento Kings for the naming rights to Golden 1 Center, a world-class innovative sports and entertainment center and catalyst for Sacramento downtown’s revitalization.  She contributes the Credit Union’s success to their focus on member service and the dedication of the employees.

Bland serves on the Board for the Greater Sacramento Economic Council and Credit Union Direct Corporation, as well as various industry committees.  Prior to joining Golden 1, Bland was a Certified Public Accountant with the global tax, audit, and advisory firm, KPMG, in their San Francisco and Sacramento offices.

Donna Bland holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from San Francisco State University. Raised in San Francisco, she now resides in Carmichael, California where she lives with her husband, Scott, and raised their two children, now in college.

Supervisor Bradford was elected in November of 2016 and took office on January 10, 2017.

Gary and his wife Jennifer live in Plumas Lake with their two kids Justin and Megan. Gary graduated from the University of California at Davis in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and has worked on public sector Information Technology projects for over 20 years. He served on the Reclamation District 784 board from 2008 – 2010 and the Olivehurst Public Utility District Board from 2010 – 2016.

As President of AMPAC Fine Chemicals (AFC), Jeff is responsible for operations across all AFC facilities. Jeff joined AFC as a Process Scientist where he held technical and business leadership roles of increasing responsibility, including Vice President and Project Management. Jeff holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. He conducted his Postdoctoral research in Chemistry at the University of Texas, Austin.

Dale Carlsen, graduated from CSU Sacramento.  He founded The Sleep Train, Inc., in 1985 and grew the company to over 300 stores and over 1600 employees.  In 2014, Sleep Train merged with Mattress Firm, to become the first specialty bedding retailer with stores coast to coast and border to border.

Currently, Dale is the CEO of Bunker Wilson, LLC, a real estate investment company, and Ticket to Dream Foundation, a 501(c)3 charity, founded in 2008 to serve the needs of foster children. Dale also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Mattress Firm Holding Company.

He attributes his success to his father’s advice, “Surround yourself with great people, treat them well and make everyone successful.”

Major awards:
• Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year, 2012
• Sacramentan of the Year, 2012
• Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from CSU Sacramento, 2013

Bio coming soon

Don Clark and his brother Bob Clark are the second generation owners and co-presidents of Clark Pacific, a regionally based design-build precast concrete construction firm. Clark Pacific employs over 900 including over 100 engineers, and it currently has four precast concrete manufacturing facilities in California, two miscellaneous metal fabrications facilities, and a general contracting division. Since its founding in 1963, Clark Pacific has delivered architectural and structural precast concrete solutions on over 5000 projects throughout California. The company’s notable recent projects include the 49ers (Levi’s) Stadium, the new Apple headquarters building, and the new King’s (GoldenOne) Arena in Sacramento.

Don Clark and his brother Bob are also business partners in award-winning Clarksburg-based winery, Elevation 10. Besides his many business endeavors, Don Clark is also committed to local education and in 2007 helped launch the successful Delta Elementary Charter School in Clarksburg and in 2015 launched Lighthouse Charter School in West Sacramento in collaboration with the City of West Sacramento. Don Clark serves on the school board for the charter schools. He is also a past president and long-time active board member of the Construction Employers Association.

Mr. Clark is a graduate of the civil engineering program at Stanford University.

As President & CEO, Wendy leads the Kitchell Corporation, the holding enterprise of four independent operating companies, Kitchell Contractors Inc., Kitchell CEM, Kitchell Development Company and American Refrigeration Supplies. Wendy is passionate about developing a strategy and culture that allows for innovation and change in the construction industry. With nearly 30 years in the building industry, Wendy has worked in many aspects of the construction business; as a general contractor, construction manager, consultant and owner.

Wendy serves on the board of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council and is co-founder of the Hard Hat Scholars program in partnership with Square Root Academy. The program provides high school students with a 20-week experience introducing them to the architecture, engineering and construction industry. She is a trusted advisor in the construction field, moderating numerous industry panels on innovation, collaborative delivery models, leadership and the future of the industry.

Kitchell’s primary offices are located in Arizona, California and Texas. Kitchell’s footprint spans 14 states and is comprised of more than 1,000 employee-owners. The company is consistently ranked among the top companies in Engineering News-Record’s national rankings for commercial contractors, CM for fee and PM firms.

Greg Connolly is the Founder and CEO of Trifecta, the nation’s largest organic meal delivery service with almost $100M in annual revenue and a dead-simple mission, “to transform lives with nutritionally superior meals, science backed coaching, and state-of-the-art technology”. And since inception, Trifecta has helped over 400,000 American do just that.

He is a veteran entrepreneur with five startups with almost two decades of experience–including two successful acquisitions.

With 20 years in the health and software industries, Greg has observed businesses evolve from the inception of the internet, to the growth of eCommerce, and now the dominance of inbound marketing.

In his current role as CEO, he has built Trifecta into one of the fastest-growing U.S. startups and established partnerships with premiere global sports leagues and organizations including the UFC, PGA TOUR, Team USA Weightlifting, The CrossFit Games and Mr. Olympia.

Regina Cuellar has served as Chairwoman of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians (Tribe) for seven years, and has been on the Tribal Council for 11 years.

Her early career was dedicated to her Tribe at the Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center. After that, she worked in the Tribe’s Education Department and was a strong advocate for higher education opportunities for Tribal Members.

Her extensive experience in tribal government has been marked by significant contributions to her community and has also taught her innumerable lessons about positive leadership, consensus building and working together for positive outcomes. During her tenure as Chairwoman, the tribe has doubled its land base paving the way for much-needed housing for Tribal Members.

Under her visionary leadership, the Tribe has seen remarkable economic progress. The Tribe  paid off all debt on Red Hawk Resort + Casino, and has built a stunning hotel and entertainment center.  The Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center continues to be a vital resource for the community, offering comprehensive health services for Native and non-Natives alike. The Tribe has established an economic division that operates independently to focus on diversifying and strengthening economic opportunities beyond the gaming industry. This strategic approach ensures sustainable growth and prosperity for the Tribe.

Chairwoman Cuellar is deeply committed to enhancing the quality of life for both the Tribe and the broader communities we serve.  In early 2022, she was elected to the California Tribal College Board of Regents, representing the Central California region. She also holds the position of  board secretary. Later that year, Cuellar was appointed a commissioner on the California Commission on the State of Hate which advises the legislature on ways to better protect civil rights.

Sabya Das is the President & Chief Operating Officer at VideoVerse, a position that reflects his extensive experience in both venture capital and operational leadership. Prior to his current role, Sabya served as a partner and founding member at Moneta Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm. During his decade-long tenure at Moneta Ventures, he played a pivotal role as an active operator and investor, contributing significantly to the growth of companies in their early stages.

One notable achievement in Sabya’s career was his leadership in securing Series A funding for VideoVerse during his time at Moneta Ventures, demonstrating his keen eye for investment opportunities and strategic acumen.

Sabya Das is a graduate of UC Berkeley and has deep roots in Sacramento, California, having lived in the area for over 25 years. His diverse background and extensive experience make him a valuable asset in the world of venture capital and operational leadership.

With well over 30 years of experience in Association Management, Azizza Davis Goines has established herself as an influential leader and dedicated business partner in the City of Sacramento and beyond. For the last 15 years, as the President and CEO of the Capital Black Chamber of Commerce, and Executive Director of its Foundation,  Azizza has developed and helped strengthen partnerships in the Sacramento Region and throughout the state of California always with the mission of creating equity for our underrepresented communities. With a focus on fortifying the economic base of small businesses and microenterprises, Azizza’s community participation and integration through goal oriented partnerships has served her and Sacramento well.

As a 31 year resident of Sacramento, Azizza has actively participated in projects that directly affect healthcare, social justice, education and economic development. Azizza’s efforts in business, healthcare and social justice around the city of Sacramento and throughout the state of California has led to a well-earned reputation with local business owners, peers throughout the nonprofit world, and local, state and national political leaders.

Her work extends beyond the state’s borders as a regular participant in the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference Convention in Washington D.C. where she brings to light issues that can improve and provide sustainability in her city and state and across international borders through her visits and work in Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Turkey and Cuba, where she identifies opportunities for trade, investment, education, healthcare and agriculture.

In her “spare time” she sits on the board of the Steinberg Institute and continues her work in providing palliative care as a hospice volunteer and is committed to the work of the American Leadership Forum (ALF) whose mission is to Unite, Strengthen and Serve.  She was recently appointed to the board of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council.

Chrysanthy Demos is the Founder and President of WellCent Inc. WellCent has developed a platform to translate validated medical innovations and resources to facilitate in-home caregiving. Prior to founding WellCent, Mrs. Demos served as the President and CEO of AKT Investments, Inc, a real estate development company that has developed over 60,000 homes and 30 million square feet of office space, maintains a large commercial building portfolio and manages approximately 20,000 acres of farmland throughout Northern California.

She is a graduate of the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and earned a Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Management from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. In 2021 Mrs. Demos was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve on the the California Volunteers Commission. She additionally serves on the Advisory Council of the MIND Institute at UC Davis, the board of the Sacramento Zoo, the Friends of St. Nicholas, and Leadership 100. In 2008 she founded the Pabna Association for General Education, a primary school in Sripur, Pabna, Bangladesh, on the condition that girls receive equal educational opportunities. Mrs. Demos resides in Sacramento, California with her husband George and two young sons.

As President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Dern is responsible for PRIDE Industries’ Finance, Sales and Marketing, HR, Operations, IT, and Rehabilitation departments.

Dern joined PRIDE Industries in 2008 and brings more than 22 years of domestic
and international experience in accounting and finance, including positions at Oracle Corporation, Ernst & Young, and Arthur Andersen. Dern has an extensive background in corporate finance, treasury, financial planning and analysis, regulatory reporting, board relations, and strategic planning.

In 2014, he was promoted to VP of Finance, and in 2016, he was promoted to Chief Financial Officer.

Active in the community, Dern currently serves on the California Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Comstock’s Editorial Advisory Board. He previously served as Board Chair at the Lighthouse Counseling and Family Resource Center and on the Board of the Roseville Chamber of Commerce.

Dern holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Drexel University, Sacramento, and is a certified public accountant (inactive status). He is also a California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) graduate with a B.S. in Business Administration.

Harry C. Elliott III is President of Elliott Homes, Inc., a family owned land development and homebuilding company which has been in business for more than a century.  After completing his Bachelor of Science degree in real estate and urban land economics from U.C.L.A., Mr. Elliott went on to obtain a master’s degree in finance from the University of California, Berkeley.  In 1969 Mr. Elliott joined the Elliott team full time and, upon his father’s retirement in 1984, took over as President of Elliott Homes, Inc.  Under Mr. Elliott’s direction, the company has consistently been ranked among the top 100 builders in the nation.  In addition, the company also develops and manages shopping centers, office buildings and apartment projects.

In 1993 Mr. Elliott was inducted into the Builder Hall of Fame and remains a lifetime director of the California Housing Foundation.  Mr. Elliott’s success at building and maintaining one of the nation’s most prominent home building organizations has positioned him at the forefront of the industry.  He is a director of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), former president of the California Building Industry Association (CBIA), and life director and former president of the North State Building Industry Association.  Mr. Elliott served as president of the Folsom Lake College and El Dorado Center Foundation at its inception and currently serves on its Board. Mr. Elliott is also active on local, state and national levels with political issues affecting the industry and regularly participates in HomeAid.  Other affiliations include U.C.L.A. and U.C. Berkeley Alumni Associations.

Mr. Elliott and his wife, Debbie, live in Northern California where they enjoy spending time with their four children and two grandchildren.

The City of Galt appointed Chris Erias as the Interim City Manager. Chris brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the community to this role, having previously served as the Community Development Director for the City of Galt from December 2016 until his departure to the City of Manteca in August 2020.

Most recently, Chris served as the Development Services Director for the City of Manteca from September 2020 to February 2024. During his time in Manteca, Chris demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to public service while overseeing a staff of 24 in the Building Safety and Planning Divisions in the growing city.

Chris’ journey in Galt is a testament to his commitment and passion for the city. He began his career in Galt as an Associate Planner in 2005, steadily rising through the ranks to become the head of the Community Development Department. His extensive experience and proven ability to lead make him the ideal candidate to guide Galt into the future.

City Manager Ashley “Ash” Feeney is an accomplished municipal government leader with an extensive background in real estate development. Prior to joining the City of Citrus Heights as City Manager in February 2022, Feeney served as Assistant City Manager and Director of Community Development, Economic Development and Sustainability for the City of Davis.

Feeney brings an entrepreneurial spirit and a mix of executive-level experience in both the public and private sector, serving a cumulative eight years in local government and 10 in private real estate development. His work has contributed to strengthening local government efficiencies, pandemic recovery, successful economic development projects including mixed-use, housing, an innovation district, and more. Feeney holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics with a Minor in Business Administration from Humboldt State University.

In his role as the City Manager of the City of Citrus Heights, Feeney looks forward to supporting the redevelopment efforts of the 100-acre Sunrise Mall site, continuing the City’s tradition of fiscal prudence, and encouraging the legacy of quality customer service at City Hall and the Citrus Heights Police Department.

Since September ’08, Steve has been President & Chief Executive Officer of River City Bank, the largest and most profitable bank based in Sacramento.

He has over 35 years of banking experience, including over 20 years with Bank of America in Sacramento and London, England. While with Bank of America, he held a variety of progressively more senior positions, including serving as the head of Capital Raising and a member of the Executive Committee for the Bank’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa Division.

Immediately prior to joining River City Bank, he was the Founder and CEO of Presidio Bank in San Francisco. He was also the President & CEO of National Bank of the Redwoods in Santa Rosa.

Steve has been involved in a variety of charitable activities over the years, including currently serving as a board member for the Kelly Foundation. He is also on the board of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council and President of the Sacramento chapter of Lambda Alpha, the honorary society for the advancement of land economics.

Steve received a BA in Economics from the University of California at Davis and was awarded membership in the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.  He also completed his MBA at the University of California at Berkeley.

A longtime Sutter County resident and local business owner, Dan Flores was elected to the Sutter County Board of Supervisors in the 2014 Primary election and sworn in to office in January 2015. Dan is the Founder and President of Cambridge Junior College, a private health career college he founded in 1999. Dan is also an owner of the local Coldwell Banker Commercial Brokerage Office. Sutter County has been a great place for Dan to live, work, succeed and raise his family.

A graduate from the University of San Francisco, Dan obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems. Family is very important to Dan. Dan moved to Sutter County to be close to his parents. Since then, he’s attended hundreds of community events and participated as a member of numerous impactful boards. Dan is very active in his church where he volunteers.

Dan has served on the Board of Directors for the Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce and the Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation, Sutter Health, Umpqua Bank, among others. Dan is passionate about supporting economic development initiatives in the County. He is a strong supporter of public safety. He is keenly aware that government was created to protect the people of our great nation.

Known as the “City Supervisor,” Dan proudly serves the citizens of Sutter County’s Second District, which primarily encompasses the original boundaries of the City of Yuba City and lies entirely within the city limits.

Dan and his wife, Tonya, just recently celebrated their 25^th wedding anniversary. He has two children, Nathan and Jessica.

Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs represents District 2, including the cities of Davis and Winters, the campus of the University of California at Davis, and the rural land of southwestern Yolo County. Lucas joined the Board of Supervisors in January 2023 after being elected by the District 2 voters in June 2022.

Lucas earlier served as Mayor and City Council Member for the City of Davis from 2012-22. He is a leading regional voice for smart growth, multi-modal transportation, public safety, economic development and environmental sustainability.

Lucas recently served as Board Chair of the 31-member Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) and serves on the boards (and is former Board Chair) of the following agencies: Capitol Corridor JPA (Amtrak California), Yolo County Transportation District (Yolobus), Valley Clean Energy (VCE)-Yolo County’s local clean power provider, and the Yolo Habitat Conservancy.

Lucas’ work in public service began as a longtime staffer in the California State Assembly- working for four separate Assemblymembers. With fifteen years of experience working in the State Capitol, Lucas most recently worked as Associate Director of State Policy for The Nature Conservancy, where he was responsible for advocating on behalf of the environment before the California State Legislature and numerous state agencies.

Lucas spent nearly a decade advocating for affordable housing throughout Davis and Yolo County as President of Yolo Mutual Housing Association (now Mutual Housing California). During his tenure, the nonprofit association created affordable rental housing for 450 residents. Lucas previously served on the Board of the Davis Food Co- op and the regionally recognized Yolo Basin Foundation. He is a proud member of the Davis Sunrise Rotary Club.

In 2018, the Sacramento Business Journal named Lucas as one of its annual “40 Under 40” young professionals, and in 2021, Sacramento Magazine named Lucas one of the Sacramento Area’s Top 100 Professionals.

He received a B.A. in government from California State University, Sacramento, and earned a certificate in land use and environmental planning from UC Davis. In 2022 he earned his Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

He lives in central Davis with his wife, Stacie, who is Executive Director of the Davis Arts Center. They enjoy the antics of their frisky pup, Berryessa.

Jill Gayaldo was elected to serve on the Rocklin City Council in 2018, first served as Mayor in 2021, and is serving a second time as Rocklin’s Mayor for the 2024/2025 year. Mayor Gayaldo is also serving as Vice Chair on the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) this year.

“I am honored to serve the community of Rocklin, a city that has been home to the Gayaldo family for just over 100 years. I hope to honor the legacy of my late father-in-law Andreas Gayaldo, who also served nearly 20 years on the Rocklin City Council, beginning in 1948,” Mayor Gayaldo said.

“I believe my experience as a Rocklin small business owner, long-time resident, and former commercial landlord provide me with a well-rounded view to tackle the challenges we face this year. I look forward to continuing to do all we can to provide the highest quality police, fire, and parks service to our residents and to support our local small businesses, that are the backbone of our economy.”

Gayaldo retired in 2018 as the director of transportation for the Elk Grove Unified School District, where she oversaw a department with more than 200 employees and an annual budget of approximately $14 million. She is well known in the school transportation industry for championing clean air and working to introduce alternative fuels, including renewable diesel, propane, and the first all-electric school buses in the region. Elk Grove Unified honored Gayaldo with their administrator of the year award and the Sacramento Clean Cities Coalition honored her with their lifetime achievement award.

In addition to her position as mayor, Gayaldo also represents Rocklin on the boards of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments and the Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District.

Gayaldo has a long history of community leadership, having served as president of the school site council at Del Oro High School, as inaugural co-chair of the Rocklin Christmas tree lighting event, and as a member of numerous organizations including the Rocklin Area Chamber of Commerce, the Rocklin Historical Society, Rocklin Residents Unite for Fido, and the “Rediscover Rocklin” business development group. She is also a graduate of the Rocklin Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Academy.

*pending March Board meeting

Bonnie Gore was elected to the Placer County Board of Supervisors in June 2018 and assumed office in January 2019. Prior to serving on the Board, she served on the Roseville City Council from 2012 to 2018, including time as Vice Mayor and Mayor.

Her focus as County Supervisor is economic development, fiscal sustainability, public safety and positive collaboration between local jurisdictions. Supervisor Gore represents the County on multiple committees including South Placer Wastewater Authority JPA, Western Placer Waste Management Authority, California State Association of Counties (CSAC), and the Greater Sacramento Economic Council. She also serves as Chair for the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) for 2021.

She is an active member of the Roseville Chamber of Commerce, twice chairing the Chamber’s regional economic development event and serving as the chair of Leadership Roseville. She has been a recipient of the Chamber’s prestigious “Athena Award”, which honors women in South Placer County who make significant, positive impacts in the community.

She was the founding chair of the Lighthouse Counseling and Family Resource Center and served on the Roseville City Schools Foundation Board. She currently serves as a Trustee for Jessup University.

In 2019, Bonnie founded Female Leadership And Mentor Exchange (FLAME). FLAME seeks to advance and empower next generation female leaders by creating and encouraging mentor relationships between women in executive level leadership roles with young women attending college or beginning a career.

Supervisor Gore earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Santa Clara University. She and her husband, Rob, have one son, Jacob, who recently served in the United States Army, and two daughters “of their hearts” Carmel and Naomi.

Bio coming soon.

(2011-Present) President of Jessup University

• University of California, Santa Barbara, M.A., Ph.D.
• Fuller Theological Seminary, M.A.
• Chapman University, B.A.

Prior to joining Jessup University as its Sixth President in March 2011, John served as the Executive Director of Thriving Churches International and as a Senior Leader of Bayside Church, Granite Bay, California. He is the Founding Pastor of LifePoint Church in Minden, Nevada, and previously was the Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest (now Transformation Ministries) where he was responsible to serve more than 270 churches in four Western states. John also served as the Senior Pastor and in several staff roles at First Baptist Church of Oxnard and as the Youth Pastor at First Baptist Church of Buena Park. Dr. Jackson earned both his Ph.D. and M.A. in Educational Administration and Organizational Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara; M.A. in Theology (Christian Formation and Discipleship) at Fuller Theological Seminary; and a B.A. in Religion (Christian History and Thought) from Chapman University.

His strong background in executive and organizational leadership has given him the opportunity to come alongside high impact churches and leaders in national and global settings to strengthen their organizational leadership and communication skills. John is committed to leverage his Kingdom influence through strategic relationships.

Dr. Jackson has written and co-authored six books: Finding Your Place in God’s Plan, God Size Your Church, Leveraging Your Communication Style, Leveraging Your Leadership Style, Pastorpreneur and High Impact Church Planting.

Dr. Jackson is married to Pamela and they make their home in Rocklin, CA. They have 5 children, 3 wonderful sons-in-law, 3 glorious granddaughters and a big dog named Max.

John M. Jackson, Jr. leads the company with over 40 years of experience in the construction and development of commercial real estate in Northern California and Nevada.  He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Davis and provides his expertise to the development and construction team.

Jackson Properties, Inc. with its 60 team members, has been responsible for the development and construction of more than 7 million square feet of commercial buildings within the Greater Sacramento area. The company and its affiliates currently own 2.5 million square feet of those buildings encompassing more than 600 businesses.

Current projects include a Hilton Hampton Inn that opened in January 2018 in Sacramento and a Marriott Residence Inn in Davis, opening in 2019.

John is an active community leader who has served on many community boards including: KVIE – Public Television, Christian Brothers High School, SUCCEED, the Elk Grove Community Foundation, and the Diocesan School Board. John is currently a member of the Sutter Club, Lambda Alpha, and the Urban Land Institute.

With over 25 years of leadership in IT services and security, Eric Johnson is the founder and CEO of Foresight IT, a Sacramento-based managed IT services firm known for its “Service First” approach. Eric has a track record of scaling successful IT companies, including GNT Solutions, which grew into the region’s leading IT provider before its acquisition in 2021.

Eric’s deep roots in the Sacramento business community, coupled with his expertise in managing IT infrastructure and security for small and mid-sized businesses, make him a key advocate for leveraging technology to drive economic growth. He is passionate about empowering businesses to innovate through advanced technology solutions while maintaining a human-centered approach to service.

Before founding Foresight IT, Eric served as CIO of River City Bank, where he honed his skills in IT security and infrastructure management. He holds degrees in Computer Science and Managerial Economics from UC Davis, where he continues to lecture part-time on finance and investments.

In addition to his professional achievements, Eric is committed to community engagement and enhancing the economic vitality of the Greater Sacramento region through his role at GSEC.

Dr. Tina Johnson is the Sacramento Market President for Dignity Health. For the past two years she has served as Chief Executive Officer of Dignity Health Mercy General Hospital. She began her healthcare career as an Emergency Physician and over the past 15 years has transitioned to roles in hospital administration including Chief Medical Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer.

Tina is a California native, who attended Reed College in Oregon, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City and University of Denver (MBA) in Colorado before moving back to her home state. While working in Colorado, Tina served as a Board member of the Longmont Economic Development Partnership, the Longmont United Hospital Foundation Board, the SCL Home Health Board, the State of Colorado Stroke Advisory Board and the Leaven Insurance Company Board.

Aside from leading and supporting caregivers at work, Tina enjoys traveling with her husband John, discovering new restaurants, hiking, skiing and spending quality time with family and friends. She has 3 children who currently attend college in Boston, Irvine and Scotland. She also has 3 dogs, a Labrador, a Corgi and a Cavalier King Charles and she can be found on any given day at one of Sacramento’s many parks with them in tow.

Paul Lau, who previously served as SMUD’s Chief Grid Strategy & Operations Officer, was named Chief Executive Officer & General Manager in October, 2020. He reports to the SMUD Board of Directors. As CEO, he leads the sixth largest community-owned electric utility in the nation serving a population of 1.5 million residents and managing a $1.7 billion budget.

As Chief Grid Strategy & Operations Officer, Lau was responsible for the operations of SMUD’s power markets, transmission and distribution grids, including the Balancing Authority of Northern California, the development of a holistic smart grid strategy and SMUD’s research and development programs. In this role, he served as executive sponsor for SMUD’s deployment of advanced metering infrastructure and smart grid initiatives.

A 38-year SMUD veteran, Lau has held several other executive leadership positions, including Assistant General Manager of Power Supply & Grid Operations and as the Assistant General Manager of Customer, Distribution & Technology.

Lau serves on the boards of the Large Public Power Council, the California Municipal Utilities Association, the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, the Smart Electric Power Alliance and the Electric Transportation Community Development Corporation and as a Commissioner of the Balancing Authority of Northern California. He serves on the boards of a number of Sacramento-area community organizations, including the University Foundation at Sacramento State, where he also serves as Treasurer, and Los Rios Colleges Foundation. He serves as Director-at-Large and is Past Chair of the Sacramento Asian Chamber of Commerce.

Active in international energy issues, Lau serves as a delegate with the United States Energy Association, where he has helped with electrification, operations and demand-side management in countries such as Bangladesh, India and Jordan.

A registered professional electrical engineer in the state of California, Lau received his bachelor’s degree in electrical power engineering from California State University, Sacramento. He also is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum.

Cameron Law is a Sacramento native who brings his passion and love for Sacramento as well as his experience in social ventures, venture capital, and economic development to the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, as the Executive Director. He is an active entrepreneurial ecosystem-builder and is working through the Carlsen Center to make the Greater Sacramento region a premier hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. He personally values love and service and brings this intention to building the region and serving the community and its entrepreneurs.

Additionally, Cameron is highly active in the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem where he is a co-founder and steward of the Sacramento Entrepreneurial Growth Alliance, a network of collaborative entrepreneurial ecosystem builders committed to growing equitable entrepreneurial opportunities and fueling a thriving regional economy. He is an Organizer for 1 Million Cups, where he works to empower and elevate Sacramento entrepreneurs. Most recently he was selected to serve as the California State Co-coordinator and Sacramento organizer for Global Entrepreneurship Week by leadership at the Global Entrepreneurship Network. He serves on the leadership team and board of FourthWave.io, which is an accelerator for women-led tech businesses.

Cameron also is civically engaged as he serves on the City of Sacramento’s Inclusive Economic and Community Development Investment Committee, the nonprofit boards of the Neighborhood Wellness Foundation, Culture LabX, the Northern California World Trade Center and Advisory Board Member for the Growth Factory.

Cameron has a Master of Business in both Social Impact & Sustainability and International Business from The University of Queensland, Australia, a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Economics from UC Davis. He was one of the first 16 people to receive the Entrepreneurship Development Professional credential from the International Economic Development Council. He was selected in 2019 as a Sacramento Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree and in 2022 was a finalist for Ecosystem Champion of the Year for the Global Entrepreneurship Network, one of Comstock’s Magazines Young Professionals of the Year as well as one of the 2023 40 Under 40 in Economic Development by Development Counsellors International and Jorgenson Consulting (partner of IEDC).

Adonai Mack serves as the CEO of Child Action, Inc., a Sacramento-based nonprofit committed to supporting children and families by facilitating access to affordable, quality child care. With over 20 years of experience in education policy, California politics, and equity advocacy, Adonai has dedicated his career to championing initiatives that promote inclusive opportunities for underserved communities.

Before joining Child Action, Inc. in 2023, Adonai held key roles with the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), where he advanced diversity initiatives and spearheaded federal and state advocacy efforts. Earlier in his career, he was a legislative advocate at the California School Boards Association, focusing on charter schools, professional development, and facilities. His professional journey began with roles advising high-profile leaders, including the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Office of the Secretary for Education under Governor Gray Davis.

A graduate of Morehouse College with a degree in Business Administration, Adonai credits his upbringing in an education-focused family for shaping his passion for public service. Today, he leads Child Action, Inc. with a vision to enhance its visibility and expand services, aiming to double the number of families it supports in Sacramento County.

Outside work, Adonai enjoys golfing, reading, and spending time with his wife, their three children, and three grandchildren. A strong advocate for systemic change, Adonai continues to inspire others with his commitment to equitable education and community impact.

Congresswoman Doris Matsui has represented the city of Sacramento and its surrounding areas since 2005.

As a leader on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, she serves as the Ranking Member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee and as a member of the Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee.

Congresswoman Matsui is a national leader on technology and innovation policy. She authored the CHIPS for America Act, legislation that invested $52 billion to reassert American leadership in the strategically important semiconductor industry.

She spearheads efforts to increase the accessibility and affordability of communications services and continues to focus on promoting the deployment of next-generation wireless technologies. She is a leading voice for policies that support access to reliable, affordable, high-speed broadband for families and students, while ensuring that digital equity and inclusion are top of mind.

As Co-Chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), Congresswoman Matsui is one of the foremost leaders in Congress advancing bold policies to address the climate crisis. Under her leadership, SEEC has spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable infrastructure and reducing harmful emissions. She was a vocal leader in securing robust tax incentives and credits through the Inflation Reduction Act, and has worked in tandem with local leaders to ensure the regional community has the resources it needs to lead on the clean energy transition.

Before coming to Congress, Matsui served as one of eight members of President Clinton’s transition board and later served as Deputy Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Public Liaison. She was previously Chairwoman on the Board for the KVIE public television station in Sacramento, and in leadership capacities for the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento Children’s Home, and the Sacramento Symphony Orchestra.

Kevin McCarty was elected as the 57^th Mayor of the City of Sacramento in November of 2024.

From 2014 to 2024, McCarty served in the State Legislature – representing the 6th Assembly District which included the majority of the City of Sacramento.

McCarty served as Chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, working to combat some of the state’s most pressing public safety issues such as retail theft, gun violence, and drug abuse. In addition, McCarty served as the Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, overseeing historic increases in public education and expanding college access and affordability.

As an Assemblymember, McCarty authored over 90 measures that became law including – The Universal Preschool Act, the American River Parkway Conservancy Act, Independent Investigations in Police Shootings, HOPE California – Drug Treatment for Repeat Felons, Voting Rights for Formerly Incarcerated and the Financial Literacy Act.

A lifelong Sacramentan, McCarty began his career as a Housing and Redevelopment Commissioner and then served on the Sacramento City Council for a decade.

After receiving his high school diploma through adult education, he attended American River Community College and earned degrees from CSU Long Beach and CSU Sacramento. McCarty and his wife Leticia live in Sacramento with their twin daughters Victoria and Barbara.

Connect with Mayor McCarty on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @MayorMcCarty

*pending June Board meeting

Ken Monroe is President of Holt of California a Caterpillar dealer serving the Northern Central Valley of California. The company is a family business since 1931 and Ken has served as President since 1998.

Mr. Nagle is the CEO of Sacramento Soccer & Entertainment Holdings. He led the Sacramento Republic FC ownership group in bringing Major League Soccer (MLS) to Sacramento.

He is also co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Envision Pharmaceutical Holdings, Inc, a position he held from its inception before voluntarily stepping down in March of 2014. He served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors until the company was acquired by the Rite Aid Corporation in June of 2015 for $2.3 billion. Envision was a privately held company and reached nearly $5 billion in revenue in 2014 with very substantial EBITDA year over year during his stewardship. It was one of the five largest prescription benefit managers (PBM) nationally and consistently outperformed its competitors in virtually every critical metric measured by industry analysts during his tenure as CEO. In addition, the company had been recognized for its industry innovation and leadership in transparency in the health care marketplace.

In addition, Mr. Nagle serves as President and sole owner of The Nagle Company, Inc., an organization that is engaged in real estate development, shopping malls and other investments. Currently, he is a General Partner of the El Dorado Hills Town Center, recognized as one of the most successful developments of its kind in Northern California. He also owns several commercial and residential properties in the region. He also owns 25% of Moneta Venture Capital and resides on their Board. He is also the Founder of Jaguar Ventures, a firm that invests primarily in technology, health care and other business opportunities.

He is also an owner and executive voting member of the Sacramento Kings basketball team and was highly instrumental in leading the efforts with Mayor Kevin Johnson to retain the team in Sacramento.

Mr. Nagle spent over 13 years in the pharmaceutical industry with the majority in executive management positions in managed care and contracting operations. In 1994, he joined Foundation Health Systems now known as Health Net and co-founded its affiliate, Integrated Pharmaceutical Services (IPS), which quickly became the nation’s sixth largest Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) Company by 1998. He served in several senior level positions. Mr. Nagle left IPS in 1999 and co-founded HMN Health Services, Inc., a privately held PBM, as Executive Vice President, which was acquired by AdvancePCS (now CVS Caremark) in July of 2000.

Mr. Nagle is also a trustee at Saint Mary’s College of California and Chairs the Governance Committee as an executive Board Member. He currently serves as a Board Member (Chairman of Finance Committee) of the St. Hope Public Schools in Sacramento which was recognized in 2011 as Charter School of the Year (PS7). He serves as a consultant to Leavitt Equity Partnership Fund and as a Board of Advisor for UC Davis School of Medicine. He is a Founding Member of Greater Sacramento Economic Council. In 2012, 2013, and 2014, the Sacramento Business Journal voted him as one of the top Leaders and Executives of the Year. In 2015, the Journal named him Executive of the Year.

Mr. Nagle has a passion for education reform and health care. While supporting numerous philanthropic causes, he has been particularly instrumental in major fund raising campaigns for the St. Hope Foundation and Cristo Rey Sacramento.

Mr. Nagle has an A.A. from Long Beach City College, a B.A., in Political Science and Speech Communication from California State University, Long Beach and an M.A., in Business and Public Administration, from the University of Southern California as well as an Executive Management Certificate in Medical Marketing from the University of California, Los Angeles, Anderson Graduate School of Business. He resides in El Dorado Hills, California. He has two daughters, Lindsay, age 26 and Haley, 23.

Siri Nelson, MHA, FACHE, CPA, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Marshall, an independent, non-profit healthcare provider in El Dorado County, California. Siri is a seasoned healthcare executive, with 29 years of experience in rural healthcare. She is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and holds a master’s in health administration from the University of Southern California. Her background includes serving as CEO at Renown South Meadows Medical Center in Reno, Nevada; Chief Administrative Officer for Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport California; and Chief Financial Officer and Interim CEO at Sutter Amador Hospital in Jackson, California. Siri is the past chair of the American Hospital Association’s Rural Health Services Committee and is a board member for the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California and is the 2023 Board Secretary/Treasurer of the California Hospital Association. She is a member of the Womens’ Fund of El Dorado County and a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of America.

Derrick was born and raised in Sacramento, California. After attending Rio Americano High School, he attended the University of Arizona where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Regional Development. After college, Derrick took time to travel and then moved to San Francisco where he worked for the client services team at Mathews International Capital Management. Derrick chose to continue his education and earned his MBA from the University of San Francisco in 2015.

After graduation, Derrick moved back to his hometown of Sacramento to be a part of The Niello Company as the company Controller. In 2020 Derrick moved to his current role as Chief Financial Officer.

When he’s not at work, Derrick spends his time with his wife Lauren and three children Richie (6), Gianna (4) and Rocco (1.5).

Bio coming soon.

Peifer was promoted to President and CEO at Eskaton on September 1, 2023 following 18 years with the organization and most recently serving as Chief Strategy Officer. Eskaton serves over 3500 older adults across Northern California with 1700 committed team members through a variety of campus-based senior living communities and services. Her career spans over 30 years in the field of aging services including experience in public, private and nonprofit sectors.   She serves as Chair of the board of directors for LeadingAge California, comprising over 800 member organizations across California. Peifer is committed to developing the next generation leaders and serves on the Advisory Board of the Gerontology department at California State University, Sacramento.  Ms. Peifer holds a Master of Science in Gerontology and Education from California State University, Sacramento. She and her husband, Scott, raise three boys.

Mayor Siri Pulipati has been a force for change since being elected in 2020. In just her first term, she has transformed challenges into opportunities, driving progress with a relentless commitment to her community. Siri has been instrumental in attracting tech companies to the region, creating new job opportunities and fueling economic growth. Her leadership in youth STEM programs has opened doors for the next generation, empowering young minds to dream big and achieve even more.

Siri’s dedication to public safety is unwavering. When the community faced a surge in mail theft, she collaborated closely with the Rancho Cordova Police Department, leading to the apprehension of a key culprit. She tackled the dangerous conditions on Grantline Road head-on, working with a congressman to secure a $25 million funding grant, ensuring safer roads for all.

A visionary leader, Siri formed a planning commission to guide future growth and teamed up with the Parent Coalition to advocate for a new middle/high school. Her efforts are reducing bus transportation times and guaranteeing that the children of Rancho Cordova receive the top-tier education they deserve.

With a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Sacramento (CSUS), and years of leadership experience in Fortune 500 companies, Siri is not just a leader; she is a trailblazer. As she runs for reelection, her vision is clear: to continue driving progress, fostering innovation, and ensuring that Rancho Cordova is a place where every resident can thrive

Judson Riggs is the Chairman, CEO and President of Teichert, Inc., a construction and construction materials company. Teichert holds California Contractor’s License number 8, the oldest active license in the state. Teichert Construction is a general contractor that builds daily use infrastructure, including hundreds of thousands of miles of roads and freeways, commercial and industrial site work, parks, airports and more. Teichert Materials is one of the largest construction materials producers in the country, with businesses including Teichert Aggregates, a rock, sand, gravel and asphaltic concrete producer.

Riggs serves on the board of directors for PRIDE Industries. He is a graduate of the University of California, Davis.

Cathy is the President & CEO for the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, one of the largest and most influential Latino organizations in the region. She currently serves on the Boards of the UC Davis California Aggie Alumni Association and Cristo Rey High School. Most recently, she was awarded by the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce the 2021 “Chamber Executive of the Year.” She has been recognized by the Sacramento Business Journal as a 2021 “Most Admired CEO-Association” recipient, and a 2016 “Women Who Mean Business Recipient”. She has also been recognized by Sacramento Cultural Hub as a 2019 EWOC (Exceptional Woman of Color). She was featured in the 2017 UC Davis Spring Magazine as one of 11 alumni making an impact in Sacramento. Cathy is a Senior Fellow of American Leadership Forum (ALF, Class XXI). She has a strong history of community engagement through her service with non-profit Boards and committees including Roberts Family Development Center, PRO Youth & Families, and others. Cathy was the Keynote Speaker for California Seal of Biliteracy for Sacramento County, and a featured speaker for the US Attorney’s Office-Eastern District, Apple-Elk Grove Campus “Hispanic Heritage Month”, Hispanic Scholarship Fund “Hispanic Hero” Conference and is often a presenter and panelist for numerous conferences in the region and state. She is passionate about mentorship and helping mentees fulfill their potential. She grew up in the tight-knit small town of St. Helena, Napa Valley, where she learned the powerful impact a community can accomplish. It’s that experience that drives her to not only make a difference in all that she does, but to leave an imprint that inspires others to do the same. She lives in East Sacramento with her husband, Sid and three dogs, Chico, Luna, and Louie.

Bobbie Singh-Allen was elected Mayor of Elk Grove in November 2020.

Singh-Allen was appointed to the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Trustees on August 16, 2012 and later elected to serve two four- year terms in 2014 and 2018. She served as Board President for 2 years. She has helped lead the fifth largest school district to strong financial reserves, strengthened relationships between management and labor, robust Career and Technical Education programs, higher graduation rates, inclusive curriculum, enhanced Visual and Performing Arts, and more.

Singh-Allen has represented the private sector for over twenty years. She has led statewide associations representing the hotel and lodging industry, special education service providers and schools, housing and community development companies, and government relations- public affairs consultant for various clients on issues including land use development, affordable housing, real estate, and more.

She is committed to bringing her leadership skills, professional development training in collaboration, equity, and implicit bias to help lead the City of Elk Grove. Singh-Allen is a champion for good governance which includes transparency, accountability, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement.

Singh-Allen received her J.D. from Lincoln Law School of Sacramento and earned her B.A. in Government from California State University, Sacramento.

Singh-Allen is a native of India and a wife and mother of two children. She has lived in Elk Grove for nearly 30 years. She is an elected State Commissioner for Visit California.  She also serves as a member of the Sacramento Regional Coalition for Tolerance, California Chamber of Commerce, Cal-Travel, and more. Previously, she served on the Elk Grove Teen Center Board of Directors, Elk Grove Food Bank Board of Directors and was an active member of the Rotary Club of Laguna Sunrise. Her civic and community engagement earned several awards and recognitions. In 2015, she was selected as “Woman of the Year” for Assembly District 9 and recognized for her many achievements in front of the California Legislature.

Jeremiah Z. Smith was named President & Chief Executive Officer of First Northern Community Bancorp and its subsidiary, First Northern Bank, effective January 1, 2023. He served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of First Northern from 2014 to 2022 and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2010 to 2014. Jeremiah joined the Bank in 2003, was named Assistant Controller in 2005 and was promoted to Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller soon after.

Jeremiah is also a member of both the Bancorp and Bank’s Board of Directors. He serves on the following Board committees: Asset Liability, Asset Quality, Directors Loan, Information Services Steering, Profit Sharing, and is a voting member of the Management Loan Committee.

Jeremiah is a member of the American Bankers Association (ABA) Bank Pac and Payment Systems Administrative Committees, a member of the California Bankers Association (CBA) Board, member and past chairman of CBA’s State Government Relations Committee and a member of CBA’s Agricultural, Membership, and Federal Government Relations Committees. Jeremiah is a board member for the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, Solano Economic Development Corporation, and the West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce. Jeremiah serves as chairman of the Community Reinvestment Coalition. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of West Sacramento. He served as Honorary Commander of Travis Air Force Base from 2014 to 2016.

Jeremiah received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from California State University, Sacramento. In 2008, Jeremiah graduated from the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Sadie St. Lawrence is the Founder and CEO of the Human Machine Collaboration Institute (HMCI). HMCI pioneers research and education, to optimize human and machine interaction in the new era of knowledge work with AI, serving leading public and private organizations. Prior to HMCI Sadie founded Women in Data™, a non-profit organization with representation in 55 countries, and a community of over 70,000 data professionals. Women in Data earned recognition as a Top 50 Leading Non-Profit and the foremost community for Women in AI and Tech in 2021.

With three degrees in piano performance, psychology, and data science, Sadie’s journey from neuroscience research to over a decade in data science and AI strategy showcases her diverse expertise. Her accolades include being named one of DataIQ’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Data (2024), Dataleum’s 30 Outstanding Women in Data (2023), Top 30 Women in AI (2022), Top 10 Most Admired Businesswoman (2021), Top 21 Influencer in Data (2021), and Top 30 Most Inspiring Women in AI (2021). She has also received the Outstanding Service Award from UC Davis (2019).

Additionally, Sadie’s leadership extends to her role on the White House Council for Equitable Data and AI Training, her contributions as a DARPA community member, hosting the award-winning Data Bytes podcast, and educating over 600,000 individuals through her data science and AI courses at UC Davis, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning.

Tom Stallard is a native Californian.  He holds degrees in economics and law from UC Davis.  In addition to operating two businesses, Legislative Intent Service which researches the background of statutory and regulatory law, and Rose Colored Glass Company which rehabilitates historic commercial property, Tom has a rich history of public service.  He is a former 8 year Yolo County Supervisor and currently in his fifth year on the Woodland City Council where he is the current Mayor Pro Tempore.

Tom’s legal work has involved him in many important law cases including the probate decisions of the Howard Hughes Estate, the protection of celebrity likenesses in a case involving Bela Lugosi, and as part of the defense team in the first Rodney Allen King police brutality trial.  Tom has also served on more than 20 non-profit boards and was the founding Secretary of the California State Library Foundation and the founding President of the California State Archives Foundation which launched The California Museum, located in Sacramento.  His other board service has included KVIE Public Television, Valley Vision, Great Valley Center, American Leadership Forum, Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and many more.  Tom also helped found and was the first president of the Cache Creek Conservancy which has done creek restoration work while accommodating reasonable gravel mining.  The Conservancy developed and operates a 135 acre creekside nature preserve that acts as an outdoor laboratory to teach children and others about the importance of understanding and protecting the natural world.  For this work, Tom and Yolo County received the Governor’s Economic & Environmental Award.

Tom’s passion for environmental sustainability infuses his service on the Sacramento Area Council of Governments where he was a leader in the development of a 50 year land use strategy called “Blueprint” which encouraged smart growth development in the six county Sacramento Region.  Today, average vehicle miles traveled per resident is actually in decline due to policies put in place in that plan just eleven years ago.    This work resulted in the receipt of a second Governor’s Economic & Environmental Award, among over a dozen such recognitions including a citation from the Secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency.  Tom chairs the Woodland Sustainability Committee and has helped stimulate a number of innovations that have made Woodland a quiet leader in best practices and conservation.

Eric Stevens is President of the Adventist Health Northern California Network, leading strategy, and operations at our facilities in, Stockton, Lodi, Yuba City/Marysville, Feather River, Mendocino County, Clear Lake, St. Helena, and Vallejo. He also provides executive leadership for imaging, lab, pharmacy, home care, and hospice for Adventist Health.

Mr. Stevens brings more than 40 years of healthcare experience to this role, most recently as CEO of a 3,000 bed, multi campus, acute care enterprise in Orlando, Florida.

A former registered nurse, Mr. Stevens began his 40 plus year healthcare career at what is now Adventist Health Glendale and has held leadership positions in Oregon, Tennessee, Florida, and California.  He deeply understands the culture required to consistently provide high-quality, efficient, compassionate care and build strong provider relationships. In addition to a master’s degree in health administration, Mr. Stevens holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing

Eric is married to Darlene, a nurse practitioner/CPA. They enjoy travel, reading, pickleball, golf, and spending time with their adult son Collin who lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Brian is a fifth-generation resident of El Dorado County and a descendant of the pioneering families of Wagner and Veerkamp. He follows in the footsteps of his great-great uncle John Wagner, an El Dorado County Supervisor from 1919 to 1934.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a minor in economics. He also attended two years of law school, holds two Associate of Arts degrees (one in fire technology and the other in general studies). He is a Charter Adjunct Professor with a Lifetime Teaching Credential for Los Rios Community College and continues to share his knowledge and training with the community in many ways.

Brian retired in 2011 from Fire Service after 30 plus years in public emergency services that began with a position as a volunteer/paid call firefighter and culminated in his last position as fire chief of the El Dorado Hills Fire Department. The Department’s efforts under Brian’s leadership allowed them to maintain financial stability for Fire and Emergency Services resulting in cost effective, high level and efficient service.

In 2012, Brian was elected to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors and served two four-year terms for District 3 and through his various County assignments. The end of Brian’s two terms as the District 3 County Supervisor did not mean a time of rest, he completed two years as Executive Director for El Dorado County Emergency Services JPA, served on LAFCO (Local Area Agency Formation Commission), and was elected to EID’s Board of Directors.

Brian’s commitment to “Service Above Self’ is evident in the many ways he finds to give back to our El Dorado County community. Brian has served 14 years as an elected Board member with the Camino Union School District, three years as Board member of the El Dorado County Emergency Services Authority JPA, and 25 years as emergency medical services training program director for El Dorado County Fire Chiefs Association. He is a 17-year Rotarian, I2-year member of Kiwanis Club of Placerville, Marshall Foundation for Community Health Emeritus Board Member, Marshall Medical Board Member, El Dorado Community Foundation Board Member and he also maintains affiliations with Boys and Girls Club, The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the USGA, and the NRA to name a few.

Brian resides in Placerville with Lori, his wife of 44 years. He has two daughters, two sons-in-law, two granddaughters, three grandsons and many other family members that call El Dorado County home.

Appointed as County Executive in January 2024, David Villanueva directs and coordinates all County departments and works with the Board of Supervisors to achieve organizational and community goals.

David joined the County in July 2008. Prior to his appointment as County Executive, David served in several roles, including Assistant County Executive, Deputy County Executive for Administrative Services and Chief Information Officer and Director of the Department of Technology.

Before his time with the County, David worked for the State of California as Deputy Director and Chief Information Officer for the Department of General Services and as an accounting administrator with oversight responsibility in preparing and analyzing various financial statements.

Born and raised in Sacramento, David holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from California State University, Sacramento and completed the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.

Born and raised in the Sacramento Region, Rachel Zillner worked nearly two decades in the banking industry before shifting to full-time business ownership and management – although she has always led with an entrepreneurial spirit.

In 2019, Rachel co-founded Clutch, a consulting and management services firm supporting public entities, private businesses, and non-profit organizations as they strive to meet and achieve their goals. She now serves as the company’s CEO, leading the strategic direction for the nearly 200-employee organization.

Rachel has a knack for finding great talent and bringing the right people together to tackle challenges big and small. She has an impeccable reputation for finding innovative approaches to significantly improve processes, decision-making, and value. Rachel is known for her fearless leadership, and financial savviness, and carries the unofficial world record in trying to create more than 24 hours in a day.

Rachel is a longtime supporter of the Sacramento business community, having served as the chair of the Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation Board of Directors and Metro EDGE, as well as a past member of the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Executive Committee. She was awarded the Sacramento Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2015 and in 2018 was recognized as the Executive Woman of the Year by the National Association of Women Business Owners. More recently, Rachel, along with her Clutch co-founder, was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by Folsom Chamber of Commerce (Choose Folsom) and is a nominee for Earnst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 Bay Area award. Rachel is also a member of the local chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), an international organization.

She graduated from California State University of Sacramento in 2009 with a degree in Business Management and obtained an MBA in 2012 from the University of Phoenix.

Rachel loves to travel the world with her two beautiful daughters: Paisley (10) and Pepper (8), and her supportive husband, David.

Kyle Zimbelman has worked for El Dorado County since 2014. Since 2018 he has served as the Economic and Business Relations Manager for El Dorado County within the Planning and Building Department.  Kyle oversees Economic development efforts on behalf of the County and works with the business community on retention, expansion, and attraction initiatives.  He is also the lead on the County’s Broadband internet efforts. Kyle works with internal and external stakeholders on the County’s Economic Development strategic plan, which includes elements focused on housing, education, workforce development, and quality job creation.

Kyle received his B.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Point Loma Nazarene University. He currently lives in Apple Hill with his wife and 4 children.