Staff
Board of Directors
Staff
Cassie Alaniz, Executive
Director
possesses tremendous experience in the private, for-profit sector,
excelling in high-level sales, marketing, management and training.
Additionally, Cassie started with the Wonder Journey Program as
a Guide (mentor) from 2006-2008 and worked as the Program Director
from 2007-early 2008. She dedicated long hours over that year
working hand-in-hand with Wonder's founder, Diane Knorr, and Diane
enthusiastically endorsed Cassie's candidacy. The Board has had
a chance to watch Cassie flourish as Program Director and inspire
everyone she works with. Her dedication to children and community
runs deep, with a long and rich history of volunteerism. Her very
personal and rewarding experience with her Explorer (mentee) will
guide and motivate her vision and efforts to steer Wonder towards
more matches, new programs and a bright future. In her own words,
"The most profound experience I have had with my own Explorer
was when he invited me to his 6th-grade promotion ceremony. He
was elected student speaker and I was the only person in attendance
for him. Our children in the foster care system need someone consistent
in their lives. They need to know they are strong, resilient and,
most importantly, that they matter." Cassie's passion for our
children in care extended to her personal life as well. In May
of 2008 she became a foster/adopt Mom to a beautiful little girl.
Julie Gustafson, Program
Director
recently joined the Wonder, Inc. team and is pleased to put her
passion, efforts, and experience forth as Program Director. Julie
recently worked as the Program Director for Camp Fire USA happily
managing volunteers, staff, and outstanding youth development
programs throughout the Sacramento region. She is a local graduate
of California State University, Sacramento and was fortunate to
engage in the Sac-MENTORING program while a student. Her experience
as a Mentor, Team Leader, and Program Coordinator for the college
mentoring program will lend its experience greatly to the wonderful
work of Wonder, Inc. She is looking forward to being a part of
and contributing whole-heartedly to Wonder’s mission.
Jackie Lopez, Program
Specialist / C.I.L.T. Director
joined Wonder, Inc. in 2006 after working for FamiliesFirst, Inc.
as an Administrative Assistant. During her time with Wonder, Inc.
she has been promoted to Program Specialist and C.I.L.T. Director
(Counselors in Leadership Training). The Journey Program's newest
extension program is called the C.I.L.T. program and offers our
currently enrolled teenagers and their mentors the opportunity
to become involved in planning their own group outings, demonstrating
leadership at Camp Wonder, and be a contributor and youth voice
for Wonder, Inc. Jackie is qualified to be the C.I.L.T. Director
after supervising the teen camp counselors at Camp Wonder over
two years and serving as a varsity and junior varsity basketball
coach over a seven year period for a local high school. She also
has experience working with the Sacramento Mediation Center, where
she became a certified mediator. Jackie received her B. A. degree
in Communication Studies with a concentration in Interpersonal
and Small Group from California State University, Sacramento.
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Board
Patricia Charles-Heathers, Ph.D.
is the President and CEO of PCH
Consulting & Training Specialists. With a strong commitment for
optimizing human potential, Patricia brings her extensive experience,
passion, and belief in empowerment and excellence to the non-profit
sector. A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Patricia has worked for
the last sixteen years in the non-profit sector as a Clinician,
Supervisor, Division Director, Vice-President, Executive Director,
and Board Member. She serves as Part-time Faculty at California
State University of Sacramento (CSUS) where she has been teaching
in the Department of Counselor Education for the past six years.
Jay Cohen
is a Development Director for the UC Davis Medical Center. After
20 years of success in sales, marketing, management, and business
ownership, he decided to follow his heart and seek a position
in the nonprofit world in 2005. He has a newborn daughter, which
serves as further motivation to help fulfill the Mission of both
the UC Davis Medical Center and Wonder, Inc.!
Shawn Downey-McFetridge
is a Pastry Chef with 17 years experience in the culinary arts.
She is currently the owner of her own boutique wedding cake business
of 10 years. She worked in Washington, DC in development for a
non- profit governmental affairs office and has been a volunteer
fundraiser for the YMCA, school guild, and a political candidate.
Her motivation for Wonder, Inc. comes from a unique and personal
experience of seeing first hand what mentorship can do for foster
children and young adults. Shawn is a mother of two adventurous
young boys.
Dee Hartzog, J.D.
is a retired attorney, having practiced 23 years with a Sacramento
law firm. Even before retirement, she began to realize the difference
it makes, both to the child and to society as a whole, if he or
she can grow up in a caring environment. She now serves on a number
of non-profit boards, most of which are involved in helping children
get a positive start in life. As the grandmother of three small
children, she sees first hand what nurturing can do for young
children.
Katie Newell, M.D.
is a physician at UC Davis Medical Center and is currently the
Director of the Internal Medicine Faculty Practice. She manages
her busy primary care practice while educating medical students
and residents in both the clinic and hospital setting. While attending
medical school at Columbia University in New York City, she participated
in a 2 year public school program where she acted as a mentor
and role model to an underprivileged 6 year old girl. During this
experience she came to appreciate the value of mentoring in strengthening
the confidence and well-being of children. Now as a mother of
2 young daughters and one who feels that she has benefited greatly
from a supportive upbringing, she joins Wonder, Inc. with the
strong desire to give back to the community by supporting and
furthering the mentoring of foster children.
Gregory Brown
is an information system designer with over 20 years of financial
service in the government sector. He began his career auditing
for the California legislature where he earned his license to
practice as a Certified Public Accountant. Currently, he works
for the California Highway Patrol and is one of the coordinators
for their Mentoring Program. Inspirational stories shared by guides
motivated Greg to embrace Wonder, Inc. He joined the Board in
May 2008.
Roderick Venter
is a Student Assistant to the Foster Care Ombudsman for the State
of California. After spending seven years in the foster care system,
he decided to become an advocate for children in foster care in
California. He has served as a youth member of the Sacramento
Chapter of California Youth Connection, and as Chair Person for
the last five years. Currently, he is pursuing college degrees
in the Social Work area and continuing his work and dream of improving
the foster care system.
Previous Board Members
Leslie Cooley, Ph.D.
Dave Hunter, J.D.
Beth Kivel
Libbi Lepow, M.A.
Patty Prado
Georgann Turner
Suzanne Whittaker
Sandra Yingling, Ph.D.
Michael Parr, M.D.
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