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Ladi
Asgill
Asgill & Associates, Delhi
Ladi is owner of Asgill & Associates,
a consulting firm specialized in helping
small businesses with planning, financial
and risk management. Ladi was born in Sierra
Leone, West Africa and now lives in Delhi,
California where he is also President of
the local chamber of commerce. He graduated
from Texas A&M University with a degree
in Agricultural Economics and also earned
an MBA from Santa Clara University. He worked
for 10 years in marketing and financial
management in the food processing and seed
industries in the Bay Area and Central Valley.
Ladi is actively involved with Toastmasters
International, teaching adult school, and
other community based activities. Hobbies
include gardening and the martial arts
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Gene
Barrera
UC Berkeley, Pleasanton
After receiving his undergraduate degree
from the School of Social Welfare at the
University of California, Berkeley, Gene
is currently completing the requirements
for his Master's in City Planning at the
same institution. As a native to Central
California, he is focusing on sustainable
regional development in the San Joaquin
Valley with a particular interest in economic
and community development. Upon completion
of his degree, Gene plans on returning to
Merced to participate in the unique opportunities
that will be available as City becomes home
to California's 10th UC Campus. Of special
interest to him is the development of university-community
partnerships between the new campus and
its surrounding area.
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David
Brletic
City of Reedley, Reedley
David was born and raised in Reedley, and
is a lifelong resident of Reedley. He is
an Associate Planner with the City of Reedley.
David also serves as the City's Recycling
Coordinator and maintains recycling programs
assisting with Reedley's diversion of 50%
of its' solid waste. He is a graduate of
Reedley College and studied Natural Resources
Planning at Humboldt State University. David
graduated from California State University,
Fresno, with a B.A. in Sociology.
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Cynthia Dudley
Rite Aid, Lindsay
Cyndi was born in Chandler, Arizona. In
her childhood, she followed the many agricultural
harvests and has resided in the Central
Valley for the last thirty years. Cyndi
has lived in Lindsay for the last twenty
years, where she has worked in a variety
of settings including management assistance
of a family bakery, raising three children,
and has supported the local schools and
volunteered in many charities and other
community events. She has held leadership
roles in her local church, including a Deacon
role with her husband, Children's Pastor,
and Special Events Coordinator. She plans
to further her education by attending community
college
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John
Fletcher
One by One Leadership, Fresno
John is the Manager for Neighborhood Leadership
Department and the lead staff for Carver
Academy Mentoring Program and Off the Hook
After-school program. John is responsible
for One by One Leadership’s initiatives
to develop neighborhood associations, which
includes work in strengthening adult and
youth leadership skills. John’s community
experience includes youth leadership and
development, program development and implementation,
youth counseling, grant writing and management
and community organizing. John has worked
with the Boys & Girls Club of Fresno
County, United Way of Fresno County, 21st
Century After-School Program, Jefferson
and Homan Elementary Schools and CWBH. He
has also served as a CASA for three years,
as a board member of Michigan House Group
Home, Inc, Planning Committee for the Fresno’s
2000 Youth Summit, West Fresno Youth Initiative,
West Fresno Planning Collaborative and Coach
for Edison Pop Warner Football Team. John
is also co-owner of the Coffee Shop and
the Emmanuel Community Center.
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Beth
Gabor
Yolo County Supervisor Helen M.
Thomson, Woodland
Beth was raised in Davis, California and
earned her B.S. from the University of California,
Davis in Human Development. For most of
her adult life Beth has worked in Facilities
Management for Calgene, LLC, a plant biotechnology
company. In 2003 Beth chose a new career
path in local government by taking a position
with the Yolo County Board of Supervisors
as deputy to Supervisor Helen M. Thomson,
a former California State Assemblywoman.
Outside of her job Beth is on the Board
of Trustees for Explorit Science Center
and a yoga instructor.
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Nancy
Her
Kings United Way, Hanford
Nancy was born and raised in Fresno and
now lives in Hanford. She is attending College
of the Sequoias. Nancy is the Executive
Assistant for Kings United Way. She was
the Project Director for a grant received
from "Reach for the Stars" Campaign,
a campaign funded by California ratepayers
under the auspices of the California Public
Utilities Commission. Working at Kings United
Way, she is able to help her community through
the many agencies they are affiliated with.
She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending
time outdoors.
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Desiree
Holden
Great Valley Center, Modesto
Desiree is the Systems and Web Administrator
for the Great Valley Center and is working
towards her Bachelor's Degree in Information
Technology from the University of Phoenix,
to be completed in October 2004. Desiree
is a native of Modesto, and has lived in
several areas throughout the Central Valley.
Desiree is an active participant in the
nonprofit technology community taking part
in such activities as Knowibility's Accessible
Internet Rally and CompuMentor's Virus Vaccination
Days. Desiree also is a member of the Nonprofit
Technology Enterprise Network (NTEN), a
professional support network for people
who provide technology services to the nonprofit
sector. She continues to develop her technology
skills through independent website development,
teaching computer classes, and other nonprofit
technology consulting projects.
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Jaime
Holt
Family Networkings, Hanford
Jaime was born and raised in a small town
in northern Oklahoma. After spending a year
as a Rotary Exchange Student in Johannesburg,
South Africa, she completed her undergraduate
degree in Letters from the University of
Oklahoma. In 1999, she received a Rotary
Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship and
traveled to Deakin University in Australia
to complete Masters work in Health Promotion.
Upon returning to the United States, she
moved to Lemoore and ran a Teen Pregnancy
Prevention Program in Tulare County. She
recently became the Executive Director of
Family Networkings, a new nonprofit helping
family focused organizations with administration,
fiscal accountability and management procedure.
She is active in Rotary, Mainstreet Hanford
and the Hanford Chamber of Commerce.
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Ricardo
Jimenez
BMG Mortgage, Turlock
Ricardo was born in Modesto and
raised in Grayson. He attended California
State University, Stanislaus where he earned
his degree in Liberal Studies. Ricardo is
enrolled in the Teaching Credential Program
and will complete the program this summer.
Ricardo has worked as a program coordinator
for United Cerebral Palsy, a group-home
manager for Sierra Vista Children's Center,
and is the director of recreation for the
Stanislaus Teen Recovery Center as well
as a Loan Officer for BMG Mortgage. He also
serves as the Sergeant at Arms for the Latino
Community Roundtable and is the chairman
for the Annual Fall Basketball Tournament
and Community Event.
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Susan
McWilliams
Tree Fresno, Fresno
Susan was raised in Firebaugh, an agricultural
community in the heart of the Valley. She
worked in the family's ag irrigation and
supplies business while attending Merced
College. Susan is the Executive Director
of Tree Fresno, an urban forestry non-profit
serving Fresno County. She served a 4-year
term as Chair for the FUSD Gate-Pac, a parent
advisory group for gifted education, has
served as California Association for the
Gifted area parent representative, Powers-Ginsburg
School Site Committee member and is a member
of the Fresno Metropolitan Rotary.
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Peter
Mitracos
Self-Employed, Tracy
Peter was born and raised in Tracy. He attended
University of California, Santa Barbara
for two years before training as a carpenter's
apprentice with Carpenter's Local 701 in
Fresno. He has been self-employed as a remodeling
contractor for over 25 years. His work is
primarily building design and drafting.
In 1991, after nearly twenty years in the
Bay Area, he moved back to Tracy into the
house that he was raised in. Pete was co-chair
of the Tracy Tomorrow 2000 Land Use Planning,
Agriculture, & Open Space Task Force,
one of five task forces initiated by the
Tracy City Council to evaluate, and propose
solutions to the challenges facing Tracy.
He now serves on the Tracy Tomorrow and
Beyond Steering Committee.
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Jose
Nuno
CSU Stanislaus, Waterford
Jose was raised in the Central Valley; he
was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. Jose is
working part time at California State University,
Stanislaus as a Peer Mentor as well as packaging
specialist for Frito Lay. He is a seven
year member of the U.S. Army reserve force.
Jose has an associate’s degree in
behavioral and social sciences and is currently
working on a Bachelor’s degree in
Psychology. He also plans to attend graduate
school to obtain a Masters degree of Education
in School Counseling. He is the President
of L.U.L.A.C. Collegiate Council, NAK fraternity
pledge class at CSU Stanislaus, and the
UCE Car Club of Modesto, an organization
for customized vehicles.
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Ellen
Powell
Assemblymember Barbara S. Matthews, Stockton
Ellen is a district representative for the
17th Assembly District, serving as a liaison
between the district and the Assembly Member
by maintaining an awareness and involvement
in district affairs and issues, and reporting
to the Member as appropriate. She previously
worked in the Silicon Valley as a Software
Engineer for Measurex Corporation. She is
currently a CATAPULT Youth Mentor, a program
of the Great Valley Center. Ellen holds
a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology,
and is a Certified Technical Writer. Ellen
has resided in Tracy for the last 7 years.
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Esther
Rosario
Stanislaus County Office of Education,
Riverbank
Esther was born and raised in San Juan Bautista.
She attended Community College and entered
a 10 year retail career in management and
marketing. She relocated to Southern California
in 1989. In 1998 she re-entered the workforce
as the Healthy Start Coordinator for the
Riverbank Unified School District. She is
employed with the Stanislaus County Office
of Education as a Preventions Program Coordinator
responsible for the development and implementation
of countywide programs that value community
and benefit youth and families. She also
serves as the Regional Lead for the Healthy
Start Programs. She was the recipient of
the Stanislaus County Women of the Year
Award for 2001 and is a member of the Stanislaus
County Child Development and Planning Council,
Co-Founder of the Riverbank Healthy Start
Community Collaborative and Women of Action,
and member of several social service coalitions
and civic organizations.
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Virginia
Sanchez
Tehachapi Unified School District,
Tehachapi
Virginia is a lifelong resident of Tehachapi
where she raised her six children. She
has served on several committees and took
on the Presidency of the local Hispanic
Club for several years. She has also hosted
a radio show translating public services
announcements for the Spanish speaking
community and playing music in Spanish
when radio station KTPI was first introduced
in Tehachapi. She formed the Mexican Folk
dance troupe to teach the culture to Hispanic
children who were losing their identity
and becoming involved in harmful activities.
She works at Tompkins Elementary School
as a para professional helping children
learn English as a second language. She
is retired from the US Post Office, where
she worked for 25 years.
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Bradford
"Brad" Steele
California Department of Corrections,
Corcoran State Prison, Visalia
Brad is a clinical psychologist performing
forensic psychological assessments and
providing clinical services to mentally
ill inmates. He serves on the city of
Visalia's Citizens Advisory Committee
and as a Director on the Board of the
Tulare-Kings Chapter of the American Red
Cross. He is a Democratic activist and
serves as a delegate on the Tulare County
Democratic Central Committee, 34th Assembly
District Committee, and the State Democratic
Party. He is also active in his union
(AFSCME Local 2620) where he serves as
a delegate on the statewide political
action steering committee and as the chair
of the legislative committee. He is a
graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary's
graduate school of psychology where he
earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology
and the graduate school of theology where
he earned his M.A. in theology.
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Douglas
B. Wilson
Haymond Watson Companies, Inc., Bakersfield
Doug is a 23-year veteran of the commercial
real estate and finance industry and is
a life long resident of the Central Valley.
Along with traditional real estate brokerage
services, Doug conducts project feasibility
studies for clients interested in acquiring,
developing and managing industrial properties,
office buildings and retail shopping centers.
Clients range from small local merchants
to major land developers and several Fortune
100 companies. Doug volunteers as a coach
for youth basketball leagues and recently
served as an academic coach to three students
from Bakersfield High School, who won
a national championship a the University
of Maryland in a historical drama that
highlighted farm labor issues in the Central
Valley. Doug graduated from American University
in Washington, D.C.
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Scott
Winter
LearningChange, Chico
Scott moved to Chico in 1985 to attend
California State University, Chico. After
receiving his Bachelor's degree in Information
and Communication Studies, he worked in
the Bay Area as a program manager for
a non-profit organization. He returned
in 1996 to start a family and try his
luck as an entrepreneur by starting a
training and technology company. He serves
as a board member at his son's charter
school and is active in the development
of the economic landscape within Butte
County.
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Ka
Xiong
Family Resources Council of Merced, Merced
Ka was born in Laos but she has lived in
Merced County for at least 20 years. She
graduated from the University of California,
Riverside with a B.A. in Political Science
and Business Administration in 2001. She
returned to Merced and began working for
the Merced County Office of Education. She
currently is working with the Family Resource
Council. Ka runs the Resource Development
Center that provides resources for nonprofits
and community organizations in search of
grants or tools and information on organizational
development and management. Ka also facilitates
a monthly meeting of grant writers and the
Child Abuse Prevention Council of Merced
County. During her free time she is the
community leader and advisor for Valley
4-H of Merced County.
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