Strategies Staff

		Leda Albright E-mail: ledaalbright@all4kids.org Leda Albright, a Training Specialist and Sustainability coach with Strategies, works out of the Anaheim office of the Children's Bureau. Her major statewide responsibilities include training on FRC Core, Peer Review, and Community Development and writing articles for the quarterly newsletter. Leda served as Executive Director of a family resource center in Orange County for 9 years. She worked closely with the parent advisory committee and foster/adoptive families. Leda has extensive experience with collaboration among community and county agencies. She participated in the development of a multi-agency web-based data system. Concurrently, she was a program counselor for a social and recreational program for the developmentally disabled population, assisting in the planning, design, and supervision of special events. Leda does volunteer work in Ensenada, Mexico and travels as often as she can. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of San Francisco in Human Relations and Organizational Behavior. Leda works in Strategies' Southern California office.
		Ruth Alderson E-mail: ralderson@youth4change.org Ruth Alderson studied math, Spanish, and ancient Greek in college. She uses none of this in her work life. Instead, she uses other skills she picked up along the way – as both a voracious reader and a mild geek – to the benefit of the Strategies team and the individuals, organizations, and communities it serves. Since 2002, Ruth has edited and designed the Working Strategies newsletter, numerous event flyers, and related Strategies publicity items and training materials. She is also the person responsible for maintaining this very website where you are reading these words. On occasion, Ruth has been known to demystify her coworkers' computer confusion, supply skit storylines, and even train on a technology topic or two. Ruth's previous experience includes work as a technology intern for a small nonprofit, as a Classroom Hotline student support worker for a large public University, and as an editor of two small publications. Ruth works in Strategies' Northern California office.
		Phyllis Avilla E-mail: pavilla@youth4change.org Phyllis Avilla is a Project Specialist who brings 17 years of teaching experience in the California Public School system to her position. She is well known for her highly interactive and enthusiastic trainings in Home Visiting Essentials, Home Visiting Next Steps, and FRC Core Training. Prior to her position with Strategies, Phyllis was Manager of the Tehama County Rape Crisis Intervention, providing the following services to clients: Court accompaniment and advocacy Facilitated Adults Molested As Children Support groups (AMAC) Facilitated Crisis Line training Phyllis has also acted as Resource Developer and Family Advocate for Tehama County Head Start, as well as Program Manager for Red Bluff and Corning Family Resource Centers (Northern Valley Catholic Social Service). Phyllis is a graduate of California State University, Chico with majors in Psychology and Education. She also holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies from University of California Davis. Phyllis works in Strategies' Northern California office.
		Orrin Banta E-mail: obanta@youth4change.org Orrin D. Banta is an Events Coordinator working out of the Northern California office (Region 1) of Strategies. Orrin's primary role is to coordinate events for Strategies' Sustainability Project. Orrin received his Bachelors of Arts in Economics from CSU., Chico and has experience working for both private and public agencies. Prior to coming to Strategies, Orrin performed economic, demographic, and opinion research and analysis as an independent consultant and as an employee of a local research and consulting firm. In addition, he was employed for several years by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte in various administrative capacities and has several years' experience working in the restaurant industry. He has been instrumental in the development of numerous training programs including Family Economic Success and the Sustainability Project. Orrin works in Strategies' Northern California office.
		Magdalena Benitez E-mail: magdalenabenitez@all4kids.org As a Strategies Project Specialist, Ms. Benitez has provided training and technical assistance in topic areas such as Youth Development, Parent Involvement, Case Management, Public/Private Partnerships, Domestic Violence and Home Visiting. Ms. Benitez is also a statewide FRC coach in the Sustainability Project. Her professional experience includes working with youth and families in school based mental health programs as well as community development programs. Ms. Benitez directed a grass roots family resource center in the Pasadena area that was awarded the James Irvine CORAL (Communities Organizing Resources to Advance Learning) funding grant. Through Ms. Benitez's leadership, community parents were trained to become active leaders in their children's education. In addition, Ms. Benitez developed a "Teen Leadership Institute" for FRC youth that provided a variety of supports that addressed the 40 developmental assets that support youth to become healthy, responsible and productive adults. Magdalena is bicultural, bilingual in Spanish and received her Masters in Social Welfare from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1999. Magdalena works in Strategies' Southern California office.
		Geoffrey Biggs E-mail: gbiggs@icfs.org Geoffrey Biggs, M.A., has been a training specialist with Strategies since 2002. He has been a trainer for the FRC Core, Home Visiting, and Case Management trainings as well as the Family Support Training Series. Prior to joining Strategies, Geoff worked as the director of the Home Visiting programs at Interface Children Family Services in Ventura County. He also has an extensive background as a counselor at inpatient psychiatric hospitals. "I became involved in Family Support programs because they provide the opportunity to help children and families when their difficulties are much smaller than if we do nothing until a person is in so much difficulty that they need to be hospitalized." Geoff is also the composer of the "Family Support Superhero" Song. Geoff works in Strategies' Central California office.
		Candace Carroll E-mail: ccarroll@youth4change.org Candace J. Carroll is a trainer/coach with Strategies, providing technical assistance and training to public and private nonprofit organizations and partnerships that strengthen families and communities. Her areas of expertise are coaching and facilitation in various components of sustainability–assessments, vision/mission/leadership, building allies and champions, fund development planning, results-based accountability, management and organizational infrastructure, and board leadership and development. She also has expertise in community organizing and development. Candace served for six years as tribal administrator for a small California tribe, supporting its transition from an organization with small, primarily grant-funded programs to an organization with casino and private enterprise revenues supporting multiple programs, including building the organizational capacity required to meet that growth. Candace also was director of a Community Partnership program for eight years, developing, organizing, and facilitating several networks and local coalitions of agency and community representatives to improve the quality of life in local communities. Candace works in Strategies' Northern California office.
		Anvi Dinh E-mail: anvidinh@all4kids.org Anvi Dinh has been an Events Coordinator with Strategies, Region 3, located at Children's Bureau in Anaheim, since 2006. Her major responsibility includes negotiating contracts with hotels, training locations, and caterers. In addition, she accepts registrations for trainings by phone, email, mail, and fax. Anvi brings her data entry experience to her duties as well as working with trainers to put together the binders for trainings. Anvi previously worked at a Family Resource Center in Orange County for 1 ½ years as the administrative assistant to the Director and the office manager. Anvi is the event coordinator for one of her church's groups. She is also a choir member. Anvi works in Strategies' Southern California office.
		Samantha Florey E-mail: samanthaflorey@all4kids.org Samantha Florey is a Training Specialist with the Strategies' Region 3 office at the Children's Bureau in Anaheim. A Strategies staff member since early 2005, Samantha received her Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. Upon completion of the masters program, Samantha transitioned into a Family Resource Center coordinator position for a Healthy Start program in San Diego. She spent several years supervising front-line family support workers, conducting student growth groups, running an after school program & facilitating parent education programs. Samantha has a strong knowledge of family support work and uses that knowledge to train on topics such as Case Management, Home Visiting and Youth Development. She works closely with numerous family support programs & collaboratives in San Diego and Imperial Counties. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys volunteering with Special Olympics and breast cancer research organizations. Samantha works in Strategies' Southern California office.
		Anthony Guillean E-mail: strategies5@all4kids.org Mr. Guillean is currently the Regional Director of Strategies Region 3. Prior to Strategies, Mr. Guillean served as the Associate Director of the United Way Kellogg Training & Consulting Center (KTCC), a center that trained board of directors and staffs of nonprofit organizations in sound management and leadership practice. Prior to KTCC, Mr. Guillean served as the Director of Youth Services for A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE, a nationally recognized prejudice reduction project sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League. In this effort Mr. Guillean conducted over 250 prejudice reduction and diversity trainings for preschool, after school, teen and parent programs. His professional background also includes counseling adult and youth in the areas of child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, sexual victimization, male battering and anger management. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Master's Degree in Social Welfare from the University of California at Berkeley. Anthony works in Strategies' Southern California office.
		Jody Hall-Winget E-mail: jwinget@youth4change.org Jody Hall-Winget is an Events Coordinator located in the Strategies Paradise Office. She has been with Strategies since 2002, handling the logistics for Region One trainings. Prior to joining the Strategies team, she served as an AmeriCorps member at the Paradise Ridge Family Resource Center working as a Family Support Worker. Jody is currently working on getting her certification as a Meeting Planner from Sonoma State. Jody works in Strategies' Northern California office.
		Annette Marcus E-mail: amarcus@icfs.org Annette Marcus, LCSW, is the director of the Interface Children Family Services’ training division and Strategies, Region 2. She especially enjoys facilitating meetings and is interested in the power of collaboration and partnerships to accomplish real systems change. She has worked as a child welfare worker, a home visitor, and a community mediator. She directed a runaway homeless youth shelter and was the executive director of a statewide peace advocacy organization in Arizona. In 1986, Annette helped to link feminist and peace advocacy organizations across the United States on the cross-country walk, the Great Peace March. Annette received her MSW from San Francisco State University in 1994, with an emphasis on child welfare issues, and her B.A. in 1986 from the University of Arizona where she majored in journalism. Annette works in Strategies' Central California office.
		Yvonne Nenadal E-mail: ynenadal@youth4change.org Yvonne Nenadal is the Regional Director of Strategies, Region 1. She is the co-creator of the Strategies Sustainability Project, an intensive research-based capacity-building model designed to provide family strengthening programs with site-specific coaching, team trainings, and peer-to-peer learning circles. Yvonne especially enjoys providing individualized coaching and consultation services regarding organizational and program development to family support programs. As the previous director of two family resource centers (FRCs), Yvonne brings to her position a high level of practical experience and expertise regarding the daily operations of FRCs and the long-term strategic planning required by these organizations. Prior to her work with FRCs, Yvonne worked as a substance abuse counselor, as well as a college instructor in substance abuse topics. She received her Masters degree in Public Administration from California State University, Chico and her Bachelors degree in Recreation Therapy from California State University, Long Beach. Yvonne works in Strategies' Northern California office.
		Yvette Padilla E-mail: ypadilla@icfs.org Yvette Padilla comes to Strategies as Event Coordinator via nearly two decades in the nonprofit arena. Her past employers include the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, the Center for Prevention of Domestic Violence, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Her past-life incarnations include: writer, as part of the anthology BloodWhispers: L.A. Writers Write About AIDS; stand-up comedian (although some would argue the “comedy” aspect); American Academy of Dramatic Arts graduate; good friend; bad waitress. Yvette works in Strategies' Central California office.
		Sarah Paige E-mail: spaige@icfs.org Sarah Paige is the Data Analyst for Strategies, Region 2. She is, like many people in nonprofits, an "accidental techie" who quickly graduated from being the first person on staff to be able to produce any type of graphics to our local resource for all of our computer programs and logistical issues. Prior to her work with Strategies, she had a varied career including time spent as a Wildlife Rehabilitator, Vet Tech, Auto Mechanic, and the warehouse supervisor for Olivia Records and Cruises. In 1986, she was a community outreach specialist on the advance team for the walk across the United States known as the Great Peace March. Sarah works in Strategies' Central California office.
		Rick Pero E-mail: rpero@youth4change.org Rick Pero is with Strategies Statewide Training and Technical Assistance team as a Project Specialist II, emphasizing family resource center sustainability. He has extensive experience training and presenting in a diversity of settings from rural county programs to national level private, nonprofit agencies. He has held several public sector positions, including supervising CalWORKS and “Workforce Investment Act” Case Managers. Rick has 15 years teaching experience in university, college, and high school positions. His practical experience includes work with the Federal Government and several management positions. After creating and running his own several-million dollar small business corporation, Rick went on to develop a successful consulting and coaching practice. His education combines a Business Administration / Finance degree with graduate work in Behavioral Sciences / Human Development. Rick holds several certifications in the fields of Emotional Intelligence, Consulting, Coaching, Banking, and Career Counseling. Rick works in Strategies' Northern California office.
		Daphne Quick-Abdullah E-mail: tuquick@yahoo.com Daphne Quick-Abdullah, MSHS, has been a training specialist with Strategies since 1997. She has been a trainer for the California Peer Review Process, FRC Core Training, Tapestry, Self Care, High Performance Partnership, and Youth Development. Her most recent work with Strategies has included coordinating and facilitating regional and statewide projects in collaboration with nonprofit organizations and networks. Daphne spearheaded and supervised the production of the California Family Resource Center Videos. She also has an extensive background working with nonprofit organizations which includes community relations, volunteer coordinating, education, and program development and implementation, as well as direct services with children and families. “My passion for working with individuals and communities to support them in personal growth and social transformation is what lead me to the human services field.” Daphne works in Strategies' Central California office.
		Judi Sherman E-mail: jsherman@cruzio.com Judi Sherman, MA, Ed., began her association with Strategies as a consultant in 2004 and is now staff Lead Technical Assistant Specialist. Prior to working as a consultant, Judi worked at Mountain Community Resources from 1996 to 2003 as Associate Director. Her responsibilities included program development, evaluation and management, as well as working closely with the board of directors in policy development and strategic planning. Judi represented the countywide family resource center network in community-wide collaboratives on issues such as service integration and evaluation. Judi came to MCR from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where she was responsible for staff training and development, and became a trained facilitator. Earlier, she worked at Automatic Data Processing as Director of Customer Service, where she managed a payroll budget of $1.5 million. Judi started her career in Santa Barbara, CA as a special education teacher, earned her Masters Degree in education, then traveled extensively and established an import business. Judi lives with her family in Ben Lomond, CA, and still loves to travel. Judi works in Strategies' Central California office.
		Alma Tovar E-mail: almatovar@all4kids.org Alma Tovar, Project Assistant with Strategies Region 3, works out of the Anaheim office of Children's Bureau. Her major statewide responsibilities include accepting training registrations online and on the phone, maintaining accurate and up-to-date training filing system, negotiating contracts with hotels and other training locations, providing on-site logistical support to regional and statewide trainings, and participating in statewide project workgroups. Prior to her position with Strategies, Alma worked as a Data Entry/Secretary for the Bridges for Newborn's program, a project of Children's' Bureau. While at Bridges for Newborns, Alma developed and implemented various organizational systems that are still in place. Alma has lived in Orange County for the past 27 years. Alma has volunteered for an Orange County Hospice and Operation Gratitude, an organization that sends care packages to Military Serviceman. Alma works in Strategies' Southern California office.