Lisa is President and CEO of United Way of the Wine Country. She graduated cum laude with her BA in Latin American history in 1984 from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and obtained her JD from the Columbus School of Law in 1988. A member of both the Maryland and California bars, she has spent most of her professional career as a social justice advocate and nonprofit executive. Lisa was appointed by Governor William Donald Schaeffer as Executive Director of the Maryland Commission for Women. For over 12 years, Lisa directed the YWCA Sonoma County, leading the organization through many innovative joint ventures with various community organizations and government partners, to fulfill the YWCA’s mission of empowering women and children and eliminating racism. In 2012, Lisa joined Community Foundation Sonoma County and 10,000 Degrees Sonoma County to create greater college access resources for first-generation Sonoma County students.
Lisa’s community involvements are closely related to her work and passion for social justice and community building. Lisa is the only Latina to chair the Sonoma County Fair board of directors during its 82-year history and was the first member of the community appointed to serve on the Editorial Board for the Press Democrat newspaper. Lisa currently chairs the Board of Directors for Forget Me Not Farm Children’s Services and vice-chairs the board for Los Cien Sonoma County. She also serves on the Sonoma County LGBTQI Giving Circle Steering Committee, Sonoma County Secure Families Steering Committee, Rebuild North Bay Foundation Board of Directors, St. Joseph Health Sonoma Community Benefit Committee, Sonoma County Health Action Partnership Council, Cradle to Career Operations Team, and Congressman Mike Thompson’s Immigration Advisory Group.
