Meet Our Staff

President & CEO Jackie Carrera is passionate about the vital role that community foundations play in creating strong communities. She is continually impressed by Santa Barbara’s sense of place and the love that people have for their county. Whether it’s a neighbor struggling with basic needs such as access to healthy food, housing or employment, or the region facing the threat of a natural disaster, Jackie has found that people want to know what they can do to help. She is inspired to help them make that connection – the nexus of which represents the power, resilience and beauty of the human spirit.

Jackie came to SBF in 2018 as the Chief Revenue & Business Development Officer during which time she led the Foundation’s efforts to drive new revenue opportunities, refine its business model, and continue the development of the donor base and endowment. She stepped into a role as the Foundation’s Interim CEO in January of 2020 and was named the President & CEO in April of 2020.

As the President & CEO, Jackie provides leadership to promote the fulfillment of SBF’s vision, mission, and strategic plan and serves as a spokesperson for SBF, building relationships with nonprofit , business, and public sector leaders, donors and the community.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Jackie served as the President & CEO of the Parks & People Foundation in Maryland for over two decades during which time the organization became a national leader in urban parks and recreation, ecosystem research and education, watershed restoration, job training and workforce development, and innovative programming for youth. She has served as a consultant to nonprofits on fundraising, governance and management. Jackie received her BBA in Finance from Loyola University in Maryland.

Executive Assistant and Board Liaison Karen Roberts recently relocated to Santa Barbara from Topanga. She has frequently visited and enjoyed the beauty and charm of Santa Barbara, and is absolutely delighted to join this community and contribute to its continued growth.

Karen has volunteered her time with Los Angeles-based organizations providing services to homeless individuals and the aging community, and she recognizes how much community outreach can help those in need of support.

As Executive Assistant and Board Liaison at SBF, Karen enjoys fulfilling a wide range of responsibilities while assisting remarkable leaders in their respective roles. Prior to joining SBF, she spent most of her career in the entertainment industry as an executive assistant at independent production companies.

In her spare time, Karen loves exploring the beach and hiking trails in our endless outdoors. Her other passions lie in the arts, including music, painting, writing, dance, theater, and film.

As Vice President, Programs Rubayi Estes finds inspiration in our community and the people who serve them. “I work with an amazing staff, a team that shares the love for our community and the appreciation for the people in the organizations that serve this community. My work, in particular, is based on doing better, learning continuously as an organization, and with our peers, such that our community is a little better off when we are involved.” Rubayi is known to lead with curiosity and collaboration to ensure excellence in programs and learning in philanthropy.

Prior to the Santa Barbara Foundation, she was an independent evaluation and strategy consultant on projects for Open Health Systems Laboratory, World Bank, Orfalea Foundation, Root Change, Save the Children, and Oxfam International, among others. Her professional experience includes the private sector with International Business Incubator and Schering-Plough Biopharma in California’s Bay Area, as well as government with cities of Palo Alto and Goleta, and the 4th Congressional District of Massachusetts, United States.

Her values are rooted in 11 years of free progress learning at the Aurobindo Ashram in Delhi, India where students ‘learn how to learn.’ She has a BA in Global Studies with a socio-economic and anthropological emphasis from UC Santa Barbara, and holds an MA in International Environmental Policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, with certifications in Development Project Management and Global Peace and Security.

Tammy is inspired by the personal act of philanthropy as a tool for social change, and how giving can transform communities and improve the lives of our most vulnerable populations.

As Vice President of Philanthropic Services, Tammy Sims Johnson provides overall leadership and management for the Foundation’s development, donor relations, and communications teams. Prior to joining SBF, she worked at the California Community Foundation as Director of Donor Relations and Senior Philanthropic Advisor responsible for stewarding relationships with individuals, families, and corporations to help them achieve their vision for meaningful giving.

Tammy holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism, with a minor in International Relations, from the University of Southern California, and a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation from the American College of Financial Services. She also graduated from the USC Marshall School of Business with a Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship. Her first job out of college was as a summer intern reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Tammy is also a proud baseball and stage mom to her twin sons.

Todd Yuba is grateful for the opportunity to help improve lives and build communities through his work at the Santa Barbara Foundation. He is inspired by the strength and resilience of the people and communities we serve, and by our compassionate and dedicated donors, community partners, staff, and volunteers.

As Vice President, Finance and Administration, Todd oversees the teams responsible for accounting, investments, operations, and human resources. Prior to joining the Foundation, he served at the California Community Foundation in various roles including Vice President of Finance and Vice President of Operations and Administration. Todd is a Certified Public Accountant (California – inactive) and Chartered Financial Analyst. He earned a B.S. Accounting from the University of Southern California and a M.A. Economics from California State University, Fullerton.

Daniel Aguilar is inspired by being able to be part of a team whose primary focus is to create meaningful change and improve the quality of life in Santa Barbara County.

As the Senior Accountant for SBF, Daniel provides support for the Director of Accounting and the Finance Team by assisting with the annual financial statement audit, preparation of tax returns, SBF’s annual budgets, and reviewing various accounting activities.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Daniel worked for Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt as a Senior Accountant, where he performed audits for nonprofit organizations and Section 8 Housing.  Daniel graduated from California Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. In his free time, he enjoys stand-up comedy, traveling, grilling, playing competitive soccer, and spending time with his family.

Community Engagement Coordinator, Maria Caudillo appreciates the opportunity to serve her beautiful community in meaningful ways, and to act on her love for the nonprofit sector.

As Community Engagement Coordinator, Maria provides support for the entire Community Engagement Department, including the Grantmaking, Strategy, and Communications Teams.

With over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector in various roles, Maria is fully bilingual and brings expertise in event coordination, logistics, and administrative support.

Gary grew up in a small, semi-rural town with a population of 1,500 and learned the value of community at a very young age. His key inspiration for working in the philanthropic sector is to help build and support a community where everyone feels they belong and are valued and appreciated for their contributions.

As the Director of the Collaboration for Social Impact, Gary brings his varied experience and collaborative leadership style to develop strategic partnerships, facilitate community connections and enhance nonprofit sector leadership and capacity. In addition to overseeing the Small Capacity Building Grant program, he focuses on identifying areas where the nonprofit sector needs support, and then works to build alliances and collaborations between businesses, nonprofits and government agencies to meet those needs.

Most recently, Gary was a member of the leadership team at The Fund for Santa Barbara. As Director of Capacity Building, his work served and fostered intersectionality among diverse community-based groups addressing the root causes of community problems. This included a robust nonprofit professional development program featuring nationally recognized trainers as well as the delivery of over 1,000 hours of consulting annually by a team of local issue and knowledge area experts. In addition, he co-developed and co-led a collaboration with the Santa Barbara Independent to launch Santa Barbara Gives!, which has raised over $1,000,000 for Santa Barbara County nonprofit organizations. He is a lifelong community advocate who transitioned a successful marketing/business development career in the software industry to the philanthropic sector. He holds a BA in Communications from UC Santa Barbara.

Raised in the small town of Los Alamos, Shelby grew up with a strong sense of community that now serves as motivation to foster the same for others. She is inspired by her colleagues and those within the community to help improve the quality of life within beautiful Santa Barbara County.

In her role as Data Processor, Shelby processes grants from intake to close, while also providing data entry and data maintenance support for the Foundation. She focuses on maintaining accurate and efficient record keeping and reporting and provides expertise regarding the grants database and data entry processes.

Shelby earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports and Recreation Management from the University of Arizona. In her free time, she enjoys cooking new recipes, live music, and getting outside with her two dogs.

According to Director of Accounting Celine Delpoux, these words from Maya Angelou embody the driving force at the core of the Santa Barbara Foundation: its people. “It’s a real privilege and constant source of inspiration to work alongside such creative, determined and empathetic colleagues.”

Celine is responsible for overseeing accounting operations, supervising the Foundation’s accounting team, managing the annual financial statement audit, and coordinating the preparation of tax returns and SBF’s annual budgets.

Celine brings over 10 years of corporate accounting and payroll experience from a publicly traded school bus transportation company, where she managed multi-states payroll and assisted the Regional Director of Finance Operations with accounting procedures, financial reporting, revenue analysis, budget and audit preparation. Originally from France, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Toulouse Le Mirail. Celine also completed Business and Professional Accounting courses offered by UCSB Extension program. When she is not at work, she enjoys embarking on culinary adventures along the beautiful Central coast, as well as riding her bike across Ventura where she lives.

Stacie’s mission in life is to use data to make the world a better place. The Santa Barbara Foundation allows her to apply that passion in support of an organization with an extensive history of creating positive impact. She feels privileged to work with so many smart people devoting their talents in service to our community.

As Learning and Evaluation Manager, Stacie collaborates across teams to design and implement evaluation activities for programs, departments, and the organization. She applies evaluation insights to continually improve the quality of our programs and expand their impact.

Before joining SBF, Stacie’s work focused on program and policy evaluation. Her projects supported equal access to military service for people who identify as LGBTQ+, increasing the impact of international aid in war-torn villages in Afghanistan, increasing educational access for students from under-resourced communities in the United States, as well as ensuring diverse populations have a positive university experience while studying at home and abroad. She earned her B.A. in Sociology and Gender Studies from Vanderbilt University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara.

Grants Coordinator Andi Garcia recently moved back to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles to be closer to family.  Her family has over five generations in Santa Barbara and she has enjoyed returning home and advocating for the creative wellness and economic health of the community.

Andi has volunteered her time with several local non-profits like SBIFF, the Museum of Natural History, and the Downtown Organization.  Andi recalls, “My grandmother always instilled a sense that we needed to own the city we live in by being present, being active, and contributing as a citizen.”

As a Grants Coordinator at SBF, Andi is passionate about utilizing her 19 years’ experience in contracts and grants at UCLA and UCSB toward supporting the small and micro-business assistance programs Santa Barbara Foundation has offered. “ Working with the team at Santa Barbara Foundation and being able to lend my skills to help our local business community face economic challenges brings so much pleasure and fulfillment.  What a wonderful opportunity to find here at SBF”

Andi’s other passions include creating youth art programs, mentoring artists as small business owners, and local activities preserving the cultural and historical aspects of the local neighborhoods.

Program Manager Petra Gomez is motivated by the Foundation’s role in investing and addressing the needs of Santa Barbara County. Petra serves as the principal point of contact for SBF’s Focus Areas and oversees grants administration for child care, workforce development, and workforce housing. She enjoys building strong relationships and is a great collaborator.

Before joining the Foundation, Petra served as an administrator in higher education, where she managed and provided fiscal oversight of a federally funded grant program. For more than twelve years, Petra’s leadership has supported the community through the implementation of innovative program services, holistic program models, and high student and program outcomes to close educational equity gaps.

Petra holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership & Administration from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a Minor in Education & Applied Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is currently working toward her Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California.

As our new Director of Grantmaking, Jenny is responsible for creating and managing our grant programs for maximum and diverse impact.

Jenny has led nonprofit organizations for 25+ years and loves how they enrich our community and lives. She is grateful for this opportunity to work alongside the staff of the Santa Barbara Foundation, advancing the amazing work of the nonprofits in the County.

A passionate animal lover and environmentalist, her nonprofit career included multiple startups, most recently at MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, where she served as both CFO and COO. Before that, she was the COO of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Executive Director of the Ty Warner Sea Center.

An ardent lifelong learner, Jenny holds three degrees including a BA in Integrative Biology, the University of California at Berkeley, an MS in zoology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and an MBA from California State University at Long Beach.

When not at work, Jenny enjoys playing tennis, walking her dogs, or crafting unsightly and ridiculously heavy clay cups and bowls on the City College pottery wheels.

Director of Communications Jordan Killebrew says, “Community is at the heart of every decision made at the Santa Barbara Foundation and as a person that craves community, I am inspired every day to do what’s best for our neighborhoods spanning the county.”

Jordan and his team promote and enhance the Foundation’s identity through marketing and communications strategy, social media, publications, public relations, advertising, and events.

Before joining the Foundation, Jordan was a marketing & graphic design consultant, working with companies, nonprofits, and government in Santa Barbara County. Jordan also founded Project IV Love, the inspiration that helped raise over $50k for the Love and Remembrance Garden in Isla Vista in its inaugural year. This garden is a community effort that honors the students that lost their lives in the Isla Vista shootings in 2014.

Jordan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he served as a Resident Assistant and Associated Students Program Board member. When Jordan is not working, you may find him out in Santa Barbara at the beach or volunteering.

Denise Lazaro was born and raised in Santa Barbara, and she is determined to make an impact in her community. Denise is a proud daughter of immigrant parents and knows first-hand the financial struggles that working families face. Because of this, she is motivated to give back to her parents and other working families in Santa Barbara County.

As Administrative Assistant to Philanthropic Services, Denise is responsible for processing the generous donations made by members of the community to the Foundation and other funds. She provides support to her fellow team members and enjoys learning about how to make an impact in the nonprofit sector.

Denise graduated from Santa Barbara City College in 2018 with a degree in Sociology and Liberal Arts, and will continue her education at Channel Islands State University, pursuing a BA in Psychology. She hopes to one day run a nonprofit that provides guidance for at-risk youth.

“I believe there are many kids and teens with so much potential to do great things,” said Denise. “Unfortunately, with the challenges they face, society often forgets that they need extra support and that incarceration is not the answer. Often, they aren’t reminded of the great qualities they possess and all that they are capable of. I am here to remind them that I believe in them, and that they can accomplish anything that they set their mind to!”

Senior Investment Officer Andrea Light is inspired by the process of individuals coming together and making an impact on the broader community. The values and passions of her colleagues at the Santa Barbara Foundation and the Santa Barbara County community are Andrea’s greatest motivations to come into work every day and be a part of something bigger than herself.

During her tenure with the Foundation, Andrea has held roles in the Philanthropic Services Department and, currently, in the Finance Department. In addition to her Foundation experience, Andrea has worked in institutional investments, media sales, and was a flight attendant. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay and holds a BA in Anthropology from Cal State Los Angeles.

As Senior Director of Finance, Janet Mocker is energized by working together with her teammates to achieve shared goals and improve operating efficiency.

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2013, Janet spent five years as the senior financial analyst responsible for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance at the Redmond, Washington branch of Aerojet-Rocketdyne, Inc. Previously, she was director of finance and administration, and a member of the executive leadership team, at rpiprint.com. During her tenure, RPI transitioned its business model from traditional to internet-based printing and nearly doubled its revenue. Prior to that, she worked as a senior accountant for the religious community of the Sisters of Providence, where she was responsible for financial reporting and investment accounting and management. Janet began her career as a staff auditor with Ernst & Young, LLP, after which she worked for several Washington State CPA firms, performing financial audits of small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and governmental entities, and preparing income tax and information returns for high net worth individuals, closely-held entities, and nonprofit organizations. She is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from the University of Washington.

As the foundation’s go-to person for software issues, website maintenance, and facilities management, Senior Solutions Developer Nick Munday is inspired by ensuring nonprofits like Santa Barbara Foundation run efficiently, with technical ease.

Nick is from England, where he had his own computer service business. He comes to the foundation after four years at S.R. Hogue & Company in Santa Barbara. Nick is also the owner of Fusion Event Rentals, a local business specializing in rentals for weddings and special events.

Brittany is constantly inspired by the generosity she witnesses in Santa Barbara, as it improves the natural beauty of our landscapes, enhances the vibrancy of our culture, and supports the well-being of our people. She believes that without the nonprofit sector and the wonderful donors who support it, Santa Barbara would be a very different place. Brittany feels fortunate to live here and even more fortunate to work with generous individuals who choose to give to improve the lives of others.

In her role as Director of Development, Brittany is responsible for raising funds to support the Santa Barbara Foundation’s work in the community. She manages direct mail fundraising campaigns and provides opportunities for donors to connect with the Santa Barbara Foundation’s work.

Brittany has dedicated her career to raising philanthropic dollars to support the work of non-profit organizations. Most recently, Brittany served as the President’s Circle director for the SBCC Foundation, raising the annual funds necessary for the Foundation to support the college and its students. Brittany serves on the board of the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate with CASA of Santa Barbara County.

Julia Nguyen is grateful to be a part of a community foundation that provides support, education, and hope for its people. As an avid volunteer, she takes to heart the mission of leading with empathy and love for the community.

As a Development and Communications Officer, Julia is excited to engage with the community through public relations, marketing, social media, and advertising.

Before joining the Foundation, Julia worked in broadcasting news as an Assignment Editor with KEYT Newschannel 3 in Santa Barbara. She covered many stories ranging from wildfires, violence in the community, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Julia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Julia volunteers with the Santa Barbara County Foodbank and with Hope4Kids as a volunteer reader. When Julia is not working, you may find her out at trivia nights, wine tasting, or at the beach.

As Director, Policy and External Affairs, Pedro Paz is motivated by the opportunity to be creative while still helping others in the community.

Prior to working for the Foundation, he was employed by the County of Santa Barbara as the Program & Evaluation Manager for First 5 Santa Barbara County. In addition to this work experience, he has served the Santa Barbara community as a board member for a number of nonprofits, including the Santa Barbara City College Foundation and Fund for Santa Barbara. Pedro has an M.A. and Ph.D. in Education from U.C. Santa Barbara.

Community Engagement Coordinator Jamie Perez has long had a desire to do “something that makes a difference.” Born and raised in Santa Maria, Jamie is grateful for the opportunity to work for her local community through her role at the Foundation.

As the Community Engagement Coordinator based in the Santa Maria office, Jamie provides administrative assistance to the Program Manager, delivering key support to the Foundation’s Focus Areas of Child Care, Workforce Development and Workforce Housing, as well as other community-based initiatives. She also provides grantmaking, project and administrative support to the entire Community Engagement Department.

After graduating from UCSB with a degree in Sociology and Black Studies, Jamie moved down to the Los Angeles area, where she spent more than ten years working for the City of Manhattan Beach Finance Department. Recently, she and her husband decided it was the perfect time to relocate back to her hometown to put down roots and be closer to extended family. When Jamie is not working, she enjoys family BBQs, beach days and checking out local events with her husband and three kids.

Chloe Rieck is ecstatic to be a part of a team that is determined to make a positive and compelling impact in their community. She is inspired by the connection, compassion, and gratitude she continually sees in Santa Barbara County.

In her role as Donor Services Coordinator, Chloe serves clients of the Foundation by maintaining a quality customer service program and the integrity of all donor activities with regard to their philanthropic fund.

Chloe holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She loves to travel and is fascinated by learning how others live and see the world. When not working, she enjoys cooking from scratch, reading, and exploring the beach and hiking trails with her husband.

Yeni found a sense of home in Santa Barbara when she set foot in it. She is passionate about the advancement and prosperity of our community, and her work at the Santa Barbara Foundation gives her that opportunity.

As the Operations Coordinator, Yeni helps the operations team maintain our office space to provide the best environment for staff and our community. Additionally, she ensures that the Foundation House is in outstanding condition and ready for a professional event experience for our community partners.

Yeni brings over 15 years of administrative support experience and several years of project management experience. She is currently obtaining her Project Management Professional certificate and is looking forward to playing a more significant role within the foundation in the years to come.

Stephanie sees working for the Foundation as an extension of her desire to make a difference in the world.  She wanted to be able to help her community in a more direct way and felt that working with the Santa Barbara Foundation was a way to achieve this goal.

Stephanie enjoys the daily challenge of keeping not just the main office of the Santa Barbara Foundation humming, but also the Foundation House and the North County offices. There’s a bustle and excitement surrounding the coming expansion and improvements that are constantly being made so that the Foundation can better serve our community.

Stephanie has a Bachelor’s in Technical Theater and in 2014 earned her Master’s in Arts administration from Drexel University. She has worked at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in Memphis, TN; the Germantown Performing Arts Center in Germantown, TN; The Performing Arts Center, San Luis Obispo and the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, PA. She’s worked every kind of show imaginable from a ballerina’s first dance recital, Joan Baez, Presidential speeches, and everything in between. She’s worked on numerous capital improvement projects throughout her career and is looking forward to the coming expansion with Santa Barbara Foundation.

The driving belief throughout Stephanie’s professional life has always been that the arts can and do change lives. In addition, she has found ways to be an active community leader, serving as the board chair for the San Luis Obispo’s Promotional Coordinating Committee and the Treasurer for the SLO Surfrider Chapter.

Director of Donor Relations Jessica Sanchez says, “The road to effective philanthropy begins with a donor’s motivation. This reminded me that when you are inspired to give, you are often providing encouragement to other people who share passion for a cause, and this is what motivates me every day to help donors meet their charitable goals.”

Jessica is responsible for developing and strengthening relationships with donors and fund advisors, sharing best practices in philanthropic giving, strategically adding value to the donor experience through aligned giving opportunities, and facilitating meaningful engagement experiences for donors.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Jessica worked for Farmers Insurance as a customer service representative and as a tutor for Carney Educational Services. Working for Carney Educational Services, she assisted children in meeting academic and social needs. Jessica graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Studies and Chicano Studies and has received her Paralegal Certificate through the UCSB Extension Program.

Kara Shoemaker is passionate about giving back to her community and is inspired by her grandmother, who at nearly 90 is still an active volunteer at several local nonprofit organization. Kara says “I believe we all have the power to positively impact our community, and I strive to do that in both my personal and professional life.”

As Development Manager, Kara is excited to engage, educate, and celebrate donors to the Santa Barbara Foundation, through special events, curated communications, and impact reports.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Kara worked in donor relations and development for UC Santa Barbara and Direct Relief. In addition, she has volunteered with a number of local organizations, including the Santa Barbara Audubon’s Eyes in the Sky Program and the UCSB Middle East Ensemble. Kara received her Bachelors of Arts degree in English with an emphasis in Environmental Literature from UC Santa Barbara. When not working or volunteering, she enjoys learning about native plants, exploring the Los Padres National Forest with her dogs, and reading.

Caleb is inspired by solving complex problems and discovering new and efficient ways of carrying out organizational objectives.

As Data Administrator, Caleb oversees the upkeep and maintenance of the Foundation’s databases. He works with other departments to maintain optimum functionality of these databases and to utilize data in strategic and effective ways.

Caleb values community involvement and strives to gain firsthand experience volunteering in the nonprofit community that SBF serves. In his free time, he enjoys working with wood, exploring the outdoors, surfing and diving, and playing music with friends.

Wendy Trimble is inspired by the people who make SBF’s work possible, as well as the quality of local programs that improve our communities. Wendy is dedicated to supporting the efficacy and growth of nonprofits, and she is motivated by the dualism of authenticity and impactful community effort encompassed in the Foundation’s work.

As the Investment Accountant for SBF, Wendy provides support for the Director of Investments. She helps to oversee all investment-related activity for accounts and funds, and is in charge of monitoring bank and brokerage accounts held by the Foundation.

Prior to joining SBF, Wendy worked in banking and retail management while attending college at California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI). She holds a BS in Business, Finance from CSUCI.

Community Grants Program Officer Deanna Vallejo is inspired every day by the resilience of our community and the widespread impulse to help thy neighbor.

Deanna manages the grants database, evaluates grants, processes grant requests, builds and sustains relationships with local nonprofit organizations, and provides research, due diligence, technical support, and follow-up on reporting requirements and document retention. She also provides advanced administrative and programmatic support for the Community Engagement Department.

Prior to this role, Deanna served as the Foundation’s South County Office Coordinator, sharing her skills in public relations, client services, human resources, and training, developed over a 25-year career.

Joan is inspired by the way the Santa Barbara Foundation supports our county as a whole. She appreciates the Foundation’s commitment to addressing a diverse set of issues that positively impact all of our communities.

“Santa Barbara County is a region that carries a deep history – a history spanning centuries – that has birthed beautiful architecture, art, and a love for its cultural heritage and natural resources,” Joan explained. “The Santa Barbara Foundation plays a role in nearly every aspect of the community, from the arts, to the environment, to the individual needs of its population, and I feel fortunate to be a part of that.”

As the Staff Accountant and a member of the Finance Team, Joan support the Foundation with its daily operating business functions. She works alongside the grants managers to ensure that grant payments are processed into the community in a timely and efficient manner.

Joan has over 25 years of experience working in business operations for a variety of different of organizations, including private service companies, publically traded corporations, and nonprofit business entities. Starting out as an office clerk and bookkeeper functioning under the CPA of a privately owned company, she instantly saw the need to further her education. Joan started taking college classes after work until she obtained a liberal arts degree, and from there she went on to obtain a Business degree with emphasis in accounting.

Joan is a lifelong learner and enjoys continuing education in all forms, whether it is career or interest-related. “I feel if a person stops learning they will stagnate and fall behind,” said Joan. “It is important to keep an openness and curiosity about life in all its forms.”

As Director of HR and Operations, Evie leads all aspects of Human Resources for the Foundation and supports the Foundation’s general operations in collaboration with the Operations Manager and her team. She believes an organization’s number one asset is its human capital and strives to continually innovate, so that SBF’s staff and leadership team have top-notch support.

Evie previously served in HR roles at nonprofits within the county, notably with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. She holds a BA from the University of California, San Diego and is a Senior Certified Professional through the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-SCP). Her professional values are humor, trust, and innovation.

Prior to making a career transition into HR, Evie worked in a variety of roles including as a professional musician, traveling cosmetic educator, retail manager, and copywriter, to name a few. She loves tending to her dozens of plants, large housecat, and staying curious.

For Receptionist Lani Wollschlager, nurturing inspires her work at the Santa Barbara Foundation.

Lani has held various administrative roles in Santa Barbara and enjoys the variety of tasks which administrative assisting offers. She has volunteered for several nonprofits, which paved the way to finding satisfaction, value and contribution working in the nonprofit sector.

Lani enjoys the great outdoors, along with cooking, gardening and photography.