Chester Draculan Project Associate

Chester joined Valley Vision 2024 as a Project Associate in the Leadership and Civic Engagement impact area. Chester primarily supports We Prosper Together and the California Jobs First Regional Investment Initiative. Professional Experience Initially pursuing a tech career, Chester instead pursued a career bridging resources to underserved communities. He then moved to Fresno and served […]

Ethan Mermell Project Coordinator

Ethan joined Valley Vision in October 2024 as a Project Coordinator to support the Food andAgriculture and Clean Air and Climate impact areas. Ethan’s professional and academic careershave shown him the importance of supporting community-led initiatives to produce lastingchange. Professional Experience Ethan began working in garden-based education during his undergraduate degree, which washis entry point […]

Luke Wood President California State University, Sacramento

“To me, livability means creating opportunities and equity driven outcomes in our underserved communities to help provide economic prosperity throughout the six-county Sacramento region. Creating a community where every individual has equal access to opportunity and fostering inclusive environments that support diverse populations, ensuring everyone can thrive regardless of their background. Valley Vision makes the region more livable by providing data and research to implement strategies by providing outcomes for our communities in the state capital region.”

Gretchen James Project Manager

Gretchen serves Valley Vision as a Project Manager in the Leadership & Civic Engagement impact area. Gretchen primarily supports We Prosper Together and the California Jobs First Regional Investment Initiative. Professional Experience Having originally grown up in Arlington, Virginia, Gretchen first moved to California in 2018 to pursue her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies at […]

Angela Caruzo Senior Project Manager

Impact Area Angela joined Valley Vision in 2023 as the Project Leader focused on the Listos California Emergency Preparedness campaign. Professional Experience Over the years, Angela has honed in on her strength for managing projects from start to finish in the private sector while working for companies focusing on industrial materials, advertising, and sales, as […]

Kimberly Menzel Senior Vice President & Area Manager Kaiser Permanente - Roseville Service Area

“Valley Vision is fearless in its pursuit of creating a livable future by facing challenges head on and bringing communities together to create solutions.”

Kerry Wood CEO Sacramento Region Community Foundation

“To me, livability in our region means that everyone has the opportunity to not only survive, but to thrive. A “livable” community is one where people can create fulfilling lives, feel safe and supported, earn a good living, be surrounded by beauty, arts, and culture, and have, at minimum, their basic needs met. Valley Vision makes the region more livable by addressing the tough issues that cause barriers to livability and creating solutions toward a healthier, more vibrant region.”

Dr. Dawnté Early President & CEO United Way California Capital Region

“Livability means creating communities where people can lead fulfilling lives, with access to essential services, a sense of safety, a clean environment, and opportunities for personal and professional growth, regardless of their background or circumstances. It involves ensuring inclusivity and equal access to services like housing, education, healthcare, transportation, and more. By fostering a culture of collaboration and collective impact, Valley Vision helps to create a region that is not only livable in the present, but also prepared for the future.”

Taylor Toledo Vice President of Insights and Analytics 3fold Communications

To me, livability is the shared success of the community. That’s why Valley Vision is so important: we convene diverse groups to create a shared definition of success we can move toward, together.

Liz Kilkenny Project Coordinator

Impact Area Liz Kilkenny is a Project Coordinator at Valley Vision, a non-profit organization based in Sacramento, California. Professional Experience Although she is relatively new to the non-profit industry, Liz brings a wealth of experience from her previous work in personal relationship banking, where she focused on supporting small businesses. With a passion for community […]

Diangelo Andrews Project Associate

Impact Area In 2023, Diangelo joined Valley Vision as a Project Associate in the 21st Century Workforce impact area. Professional Experience Diangelo possesses years of experience in civic engagement and leadership. He is known for his open-minded thinking, strong work ethic, and positive attitude. Diangelo has a proven track record of goal setting and exceeding […]

Hilary Tellesen Director

Impact Area For nearly a decade, Hilary’s career has been in workforce development, managing clean energy job training programs in the North Valley region. Through this work, she built strong partnerships with job training organizations, employers, and educational institutions. Hilary looks forward to focusing on new economic sectors and innovative career pathways to improve the livability of […]