Board of Directors
24/7 Crisis Lines
530-662-1133 / 916-371-1907
Empower Yolo Main Line
530-661-6336
Help is only a phone call away...
The Empower Yolo Board of Directors
| Name | Role | Occupation | Member Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evan Schmidt | Chair | CEO, Vision Valley | January 2018 |
| Peggy Bernardy | Vice Chair | Attorney, California Department of Public Health | January 2017 |
| Stuart A. Starkweather, M.D. | Treasurer | Internal Medicine Specialist-Retired | March 2020 |
| Susan Gefter | Secretary | Attorney, Retired | December 2012-2018 May 2021 (Rejoined) |
| Cathy Farman | Board Member | Retired Attorney | March 2014- December 2019 January 2022 (Rejoined) |
| Dennis Dahlin | Board Member | Landscape Architect, Consultant to Cesar Chavez Foundation | January 2017 |
| Linda Moore | Board Member | EVP and General Counsel, Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. | January 2018 |
| Magalean Martin | Board Member | Former Student Support Specialist & Community Advocate | August 2018 |
| Jessica Murray | Board Member | Quality Assurance Manager, Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. | January 2021 |
| DeKristie Adams | Board Member | ChickPeas Kitchen, Owner | January 2021 |
| Laurel Hsieh | Board Member | Quality Assurance Specialist, Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. | May 2021 |
| Mayra Llamas, Ed.D | Board Member | Executive Director, UC Davis | December 2022 |
In December of 2015 the Board of Directors of the Yolo Family Resource Center dissolved when the agency merged with Empower Yolo. At the time of the merger, many of those Board Members joined the Empower Yolo Board of Directors.
Join us around the table in service and community:
Empower Yolo, promoting safe, healthy and resilient communities, is an impactful nonprofit in Yolo County providing 24-hour crisis intervention, resource centers, community outreach, and more.
The Empower Yolo Board currently consists of 12 community members. The Board’s role is to support the mission of the organization through providing leadership, oversight, guidance, and fundraising support. In recruiting new members, we are seeking:
- A commitment to the mission of Empower Yolo
- Representation from diverse communities in Yolo county – including young people, rural areas, people of color, and other groups who are underrepresented on the Board
- An orientation towards social justice and commitment to empowerment of survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence
Board members are expected to attend a monthly meeting, serve on a subcommittee, and seek ways to contribute positively to the advancement of Empower Yolo’s mission. The Board of Empower Yolo is committed to conducting business in a manner that appreciates, enhances, and utilizes the strengths of Empower Yolo’s clients and honors their cultural practices and traditions.
If you are interested in becoming a Board member and have any questions contact Susan Gefter at [email protected]; or for a board application apply here: Empower Yolo Board Application.