2024 SPEAKERS

Karen Ross was appointed Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture on January 9, 2019 by Governor Gavin Newsom. In re-appointing Secretary Ross, Governor Newsom cited her unmatched leadership experience in agricultural issues nationally, internationally, and here in California, in areas including environmental stewardship, climate change adaptation, and trade. Secretary Ross was initially appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in 2011.

Before joining CDFA, Secretary Ross was chief of staff for U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a position she accepted in 2009. Prior to that appointment, she served as President of the California Association of Winegrape Growers from 1996- 2009, and as Vice-President of the Agricultural Council of California from 1989-1996. Her prior experience before moving to California included staff work for a United States Senator, a presidential candidate, and government relations for rural electric cooperatives and public power districts.

Secretary Ross is passionate about fostering the reconnection of consumers to the land and the people who produce their food, and to improving the access of all California citizens to healthy, nutritious California-grown agricultural products, celebrated for their diversity and abundance in serving local, national and global markets. During Secretary Ross' tenure, the Department has focused on core functions to protect and promote California agriculture, investing in the Department’s employees to provide the best service to farmers, ranchers and consumers and fostering an agricultural industry that embraces its role as a global leader on everything from the most technical aspects of farming to the broadest environmental imperatives.

Secretary Ross has strengthened partnerships across government, academia and the non-profit sector in the drive to maintain and improve environmental stewardship and to develop adaptation strategies for the specific impacts of climate change. She has initiated programs to provide greater opportunities for farmers and ranchers to engage in sustainable environmental stewardship practices through water conservation, energy efficiency, nutrient management, and ecosystem services; and she has worked to provide greater access to farm-fresh foods at school cafeterias through CDFA’s Farm to Fork.

Secretary Ross grew up as a 4-H kid on a farm in western Nebraska. She owns 800 acres of the family farm where her recently retired younger brother, a fourth-generation farmer, is mentoring a new, beginning farmer in growing no-till wheat and feed grains, incorporating cover crops and rotational grazing for beef production. The Secretary has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a graduate of the Nebraska Ag Leadership Program. She has served on numerous boards and committees in California agriculture and with various academic institutions.

Alexis is the Deputy Director of the Family Engagement and Empowerment Division at the California Department of Social Service (CDSS) where she works with a team that oversees the administration of the state’s CalWORKs, CalFresh, and nutrition programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the state’s Guaranteed Income Pilot Program. Prior to that, she was the Senior Director of Safety Net at Code for America, where she helped launch the Safety Net Innovation Lab to leverage technology to improve access to essential safety net benefits. Alexis also served as the CalFresh and Nutrition Branch Chief and in several CalFresh policy roles at CDSS. Alexis holds a Master of Social Work from the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.A. in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, San Diego. Alexis lives in Sacramento with her husband and daughter.

Sarah Nordwick, a native of Hollister, California, embarked on her academic journey at CSU Fresno before earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from CSU Monterey Bay. Her passion for community service led her to join the Community Food Bank of San Benito, where she has dedicated eight years to serving in various roles (even learning to drive a forklift!).

Sarah joined the Board of Directors in 2016 and eventually became Chairperson before transitioning to a staff position as the Director of Community Engagement and Development in September 2020. Sarah has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to breaking down barriers and increasing access to healthy food in San Benito County.

Community Food Bank of San Benito's mission of building dignity has created a warm and accepting environment where individuals feel safe and empowered to seek assistance. By centering its efforts on dignity, Community Food Bank goes beyond simply providing food; it nourishes a sense of respect, compassion, and inclusivity for those accessing its services.

In May of 2022, Sarah's proven record earned her the position of Chief Executive Officer following a successful interim leadership period. Under her leadership, the organization has developed technological advances and innovative programs to expand access to healthy food options, particularly for underserved populations. Sarah has actively worked to forge partnerships with local farmers, businesses, and community organizations to secure donations of nutritious food items and decrease the stigma of utilizing a food bank. Additionally, she has spearheaded efforts to establish pantry sites and mobile food distribution services, ensuring that individuals facing transportation challenges can still access essential food resources.

Her dedication and passion serve as a driving force in her ongoing efforts to combat food insecurity and improve the well-being of individuals and families in the community she calls home – simply neighbors helping neighbors.

Mrs. Natalie Caples has served as Nutrition Education Coordinator, Programs Supervisor, Programs Manager, Director of Programs, and Chief Operations Officer since joining Central California Food Bank in 2008 and was appointed Co-Chief Executive Officer in June 2020. She graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics and a minor in Business Administration.

Natalie is a passionate anti-hunger advocate engaging in work at the local, state and federal level to advance food security for Central California neighbors. Her focus is to leverage the unique talents and skills of the CCFB team to end hunger in Central California. Outside of her professional commitments, Natalie is a mom of 3 and, with her husband, owns a local breakfast/brunch restaurant in Fresno. She volunteers as a Leader for her daughter's Girls Scout troop and enjoys staying active and traveling with her family. 

Since joining CAFB in 2020, Stacia has led the Association’s pandemic response effort, resulting in the distribution of over half a billion pounds of fresh produce and shelf-stable foods and securing vital food, infrastructure, and human resources for food banks across the state. Stacia brings an extensive career leading public affairs, communications, emergency response, and charitable giving in the grocery industry. Most recently, the Executive Director of Communications & Public Affairs for The Save Mart Companies, Stacia spent most of her career at Albertsons, eventually serving as their Vice President of Public Affairs. Over the past 20 years, she has provided strategic communications counsel to several regional grocery chains, Kaiser Permanente, and the United Nations World Food Programme.

Stacia serves on the board of The Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S. Foundation. A Bay Area native, she holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Southern California and a B.A. in Public Relations from Biola University.  

Kim Frinzell joined the California Department of Education in 2013 and, since 2018 has served as the Nutrition Services Division Director. The Nutrition Services Division oversees the federal School Nutrition Programs, Summer Meal Programs, Food Distribution Program, and the California’s Universal Meals for All Program, serving over 870 million meals and snacks annually. Kim considers it a privilege to work with the 230 professionals in the division who are dedicated to supporting child nutrition program sponsors and California’s 5.8 million public school students with equitable year-round access to delicious and nutritious meals so they are able to reach their full academic potential and healthy habits for life.

Prior to joining the Department, Kim was with the California Department of Public Health, Women, Infants, and Children program for 11 years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Science from the California State University, Fresno and is a registered dietitian with over 29 years of food service, nutrition counseling, nutrition policy and public health experience.

Amy is the Director of Programs at the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank overseeing programs serving an average of 400,000 individuals a month through a network of over 500 partners. Her career has focused on non-profit work both domestically and abroad including serving in the United States Peace Corps. Her previous experience has provided her the opportunity to work in youth development, women and girls’ empowerment, military family resilience, and higher education. She is passionate about supporting students and early career professionals in the non-profit field to create a pipeline of talent for the sector across focus areas. Amy holds a B.S from San Jose State University and a Master of Public Administration from San Francisco State University.

Erica Padilla-Chavez was born in Watsonville, CA and is a graduate of Watsonville High School. She was the first in her family to attend a university and is proud to be a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and a Masters in Public Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. She is also an alum of the California/Hawaii Public Health Leadership Institute and an alum of California’s Institute Medical Leadership Training Program offered through USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy. 
 
Erica’s career has embodied a commitment to the improvement of health and wellness for all people. With over two decades of experience in the health and human services field, Erica has a history of facilitating collaborations that can impact positive changes in communities. She has a deep understanding of health equity and is well versed in the social determinants of health, the conditions that affect a wide range of health and quality of life outcomes for people. Her carrier spans a wide range of administrative experiences including serving as the Department Manager for UCSC’s Latin American & Latino Studies Department, served as the first Health Equity and Policy Manager for Monterey County, and she was formerly the CEO of Pajaro Valley Prevention & Student Assistance, Inc., an organization that offers behavioral health and social services support to children, youth, and families. There she led the construction of a state-of-the-art integrated behavioral health facility. Erica is currently serving as CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, the first food bank in California and the second in the nation. Second Harvest is committed to ending food insecurity in our community through a collaborative approach that includes private, public, and community-centered partnerships. 
   
To contribute to improving the quality of life for all in the Central Coast, Erica is a member of Dominican Hospital’s Community Board, a member of the RISE Together Santa Cruz County Initiative, and has held multiple board positions including as a Trustee for Hartnell Community College. In addition to her volunteer service on boards, Erica is involved in several collaborative efforts including serving as the co-founder of the South County Triage group as is a current board member of Santa Cruz’ Health Information Organization (SCHIO). Erica is married to Alejandro Chavez, a UCSC alum, and they have two children, Emileo and Maya, both born in Santa Cruz, CA.   
 

Carly began working with Food for People as the Development Director in 2015 managing the diverse development and capital projects that have helped Food for People grow into the thriving organization it is today. In July of 2023 she moved into the role of Executive Director for Food for People. A former Performing Arts Theatre Manager with a BA in Critical and Visual Studies from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn New York, she brings a wide range of management, funding, and communications experience to the role. She is passionately committed to creating a healthy community in which everyone has an opportunity to grow and thrive with dignity.

In March 2022, Margie embarked on her role at the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) as the Diaper Bank Coordinator, demonstrating her commitment to driving positive change within the community. Acknowledging her dedication, she was promoted to Interim Program Manager of the Food Bank in October 2022. With a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Margie possesses the necessary expertise to effectively manage and lead initiatives addressing food insecurity in her area. Presently, she supervises seven distinct programs at CAPSBC Food Bank, diligently ensuring that individuals and families in San Bernardino County have access to nutritious and culturally appropriate food.

May Lynn joined CAFB in 2022 to help improve the use of data and research in food banking and advocacy. She has previously worked as a food bank nutritionist, food pantry manager, and non-profit executive director. Before coming to CAFB, she worked for a funding program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on strategies to advance health equity through research. Her own research has focused on child food insecurity and the impact of universal school meals. May Lynn holds a Master of Health Science degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Doctorate in Public Health from UC Berkeley.