Channelle Charest
Channelle Charest is a creative and left-brain strategist currently leading the mental health practice owner cohort for a segment of Solomon Advising where they support, advise, and strengthen all levels of growth and growth strategy for private practice owners nationwide.
Strengthening overlooked urban cores has been a long-time focus for Channelle, who’s worked in the Valley for more than a decade doing everything from serving beers at the neighborhood pub to directing projects for a creative design firm. Channelle also has family currently serving in the military and greatly appreciates the Service to the Armed Forces component of the Red Cross.
Thilani Grubel
A longtime Fresno resident, Thilani Grubel is a mission-driven individual who has worked with or for local nonprofits for much of her career. Leveraging her extensive marketing and communications background, she has been an integral part of sharing the message of those nonprofits. Thilani joined the Central California Red Cross board in 2022 and has been amazed by how the Red Cross serves its region. In her spare time, she can be found spending time with her husband and daughter, or leaving them behind to hike, kayak, or read by herself in a quiet corner.
Marc’ Bady
Since joining Fresno Housing in May 2021, Marc’ Bady has played a key role in strengthening community partnerships and advancing initiatives that support the agency’s long-term strategic goals. As Chief Impact and Initiatives Officer, he leads efforts to expand external collaborations, enhance community engagement, and ensure programs are designed to deliver measurable results that benefit residents and the broader community. His work is focused on driving data-informed strategies that improve program performance and long-term outcomes.
Bady brings over a decade of experience in higher education and is completing his Ph.D. in Human Capital Development. Prior to Fresno Housing, he served as Dean of Students at Coe College, where he was responsible for student development and institutional initiatives.
Bady earned his bachelor’s degree from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., and his master’s degree at Bowling Green State University, in Ohio.
Gerald Golstein
A Fresno County native, Gerald Golstein’s personal life and professional career have been centered around public service and service to others. Serving in the public and private sector since returning to Fresno in 2017, Gerald is currently the Director of Information Technology at California Health Sciences University in Clovis. Previously, he served as the IT Division Manager for the County of Madera. Prior to returning to the Central Valley in 2017, Gerald served in the United States Marine Corps, attaining the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2.
Residing in Fresno, Gerald is active in private and non-profit community outreach organizations and a member of the Woodward Lake Master Association board.
Michell Hart
Michell Hart is a seasoned executive with 20 years’ experience focused on customer and employee experience. She serves as Senior Vice President, Director of Retail Banking at Bank of the Sierra where she has direct oversight of key lines of business that define the customer experience. This includes Marketing, Product Management, Treasury Management, and the Administration their 35 full-service branches located within the counties of Tulare, Kern, Kings, Fresno, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara. Prior to joining Bank of the Sierra, Michell was the Director of Products and Services with Mechanics Bank (formerly Rabobank), where she led a team of Product Managers in business development and optimization of the consumer and small business product portfolios. Rabobank is where her love of the Banking industry began.
Michell graduated from California State University Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance and Economics degree. She also received her Graduate Program Diploma and Foster Business School Certificate in Executive Leadership from Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.
Michell has lived and worked in the greater Sacramento area for most of her life. She is an avid world traveler and adventure seeker. She has visited 27 states and 13 countries. She is the proud mother of to wonderful children. Her son, Cole, is 18 years old attends Arizona State University studying integrated biomedical sciences. Her daughter, Georgia, is 7 years old and attends first grade in Roseville, the city where her family currently lives.
Jeffie Esparza Hickman
Jeffie Esparza Hickman is the Superintendent/Principal of University High School, a nationally ranked charter school on the campus of Fresno State. She is proud to be the first female and the first person of color to lead at UHS. UHS is ranked as the #27 charter high school in the U.S., #12 high school in California, and the #1 high school in the Fresno metropolitan area (U.S. News & World Report, 2024), as well as an A+ grade from Niche.com. Jeffie has 30+ years of educational experience, including as a teacher, athletic coach, cheer coach, Activities Director, Athletic Director, After School Program Coordinator, Vice Principal, and Superintendent/Principal. Being the leader of University High School is a dream come true. She is also a mom to two children: Jared, 24, and Halli, 20, and various cats and dogs
Kevin Lisitsin
Kevin Lisitsin is a dynamic entrepreneur, community leader, and passionate youth and family development advocate. Based in Fresno, California, Kevin has built a multi-faceted career around service, leadership, and impact. As the founder of KTL Success Coaching and a top-producing Farmers Insurance agency owner, Kevin merges business strategy with personal growth principles to empower individuals and organizations alike.
His entrepreneurial ventures have included, recently sold, co-founding Summer Fox Brewery and Rocket Dog Gourmet Brats, which showcase his innovative spirit and commitment to enriching his local community. Kevin’s dedication to service extends far beyond business—he is the co-founder of Diligent Heart, a nonprofit that mentors and equips foster youth aged 15–25 for successful, independent lives.
Kevin’s mission is simple: to engage and connect with the people around him and encourage them to do great things in life. Through workshops, mentorship programs, and strategic partnerships, Kevin champions resilience, purpose, and contribution across all his endeavors.
Above all, Kevin is a devoted husband to Sarah and father to three children: Claire, Nolan, and Eli. His core values are faith, family, and a relentless pursuit of positive change. He is honored to bring his experience and heart for service to the Red Cross Board.
Andy Paras
Andy Paras is the news director at KSEE 24 and CBS 47 in Fresno. He's been a journalist for nearly 30 years, with more than half of those spent as a newspaper reporter and digital trailblazer in South Carolina. He is a graduate of Ball State University and most recently spent five years as a news director in Fort Wayne, Ind. He is married with two daughters.
Vanessa Puopolo
Vanessa Puopolo is the Vice President of Visit Fresno County and an experienced leader in destination marketing, strategic communication, and stakeholder engagement. With over 15 years in the tourism and hospitality industry, she holds CDME and CHIA certifications and brings a sharp focus on data, collaboration, and outcomes that matter. She is currently the Vice Chair of the Visit California Research Committee and believes that creative ideas with lofty goals begin with solid numbers and data.
Beyond her role with Visit Fresno County, Vanessa is actively involved in the local community. She has served as a Clovis Chamber Ambassador since 2018— earning Ambassador of the Year in 2023—is a graduate of Leadership Fresno Class 38 and is a member of the Fresno County Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She has previously volunteered with Hinds Hospice and was a board member with the Ronald McDonald House of the Central Valley.
Vanessa is passionate about service that’s meaningful, measurable, and mission- aligned—whether it’s building up a destination brand or supporting organizations that help people when it matters most. She has two children: Nathan is finishing up his second year at UCLA and Lillian is a junior at Clovis West High School.
Jordan Scott
Jordan Scott is a communications professional serving as senior media relations/PR representative for Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s Fresno and Central Valley service areas. Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente, Jordan served more than three years as Public Information Officer for the County of Fresno, leading media and communications efforts for most County departments and acting as primary spokesperson on a wide variety of County issues and initiatives.
Jordan has a strong connection to the Red Cross that began in 2013 when he became the Regional Communications Director for the Gold Country Region in Sacramento, leading communications efforts for numerous campaigns, events, and some of the largest disasters in California history. In 2015, he joined the national Red Cross communications team as a social engagement strategist and has continued to volunteer occasionally in a virtual capacity during large-scale national disaster responses.
Originally from Sacramento, Jordan relocated to Fresno in 2016 with his wife, Angela, stepdaughter Sydney, and dogs Churro and Rolo. In 2019, the family welcomed their newest addition and light of their lives, Jackson.
Jordan holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Sac State, is a mediocre golfer, and a lifelong fan of the San Francisco Giants.
