Cindy Huge
Cindy Huge rejoined the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross of Kern County and Eastern Sierra Chapter in January 2023, marking her second term of service. A dedicated communications volunteer for over 13 years, Cindy has served as a National Public Affairs spokesperson and has deployed to 45 disaster responses nationwide. Her unwavering commitment to providing comfort and care to those affected by disasters reflects her deep passion for humanitarian service.
Before retiring from a successful career in radio broadcasting, Cindy worked as a Certified Respiratory Therapist, bringing a unique blend of healthcare and media expertise to her volunteer work. Her diverse professional background and long-standing dedication make her a valued leader and advocate within the Red Cross community.
Javier Gonzalez
Javier Gonzalez is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and serves as a Health & Safety Supervisor with PCL Industrial Services. With over 25 years of experience in Environmental Health & Safety—including 14 years at PCL—he is a proven leader in safety management, risk mitigation, and fostering a culture of care in high-risk industrial environments. He holds a master’s degree in environmental health and safety and is passionate about building safer, stronger communities.
Javier’s connection to the American Red Cross is deeply personal. In 1994, while serving aboard the U.S.S. Tarawa (LHA-1) in the U.S. Navy, he received the heartbreaking news of a family member’s passing through the Red Cross. That moment, facilitated by Red Cross staff working to support military families, left a lasting impact on him. Today, he serves on the board as a way of paying it forward, ensuring that other service members and their families receive the same compassion and support that meant so much to him.
Javier is proud to contribute to the Red Cross mission: to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. He brings not only professional expertise but also a deep personal commitment to the organization’s humanitarian work—especially its vital support of veterans, active-duty service members, and their loved ones.
Noor Qwfan
Noor Qwfan, born in Yemen and raised in the Central Valley, is a senior manager in corporate social responsibility at the Wonderful Company. She has been actively involved with the American Red Cross Kern County and Eastern Sierra chapter since April 2021, initially as a volunteer and, since September 2021, as a board member. Noor currently serves as the chapter's philanthropy chair, contributing her expertise and passion to support the Red Cross's mission.
Isabel Bravo-Perez, MBA, CSP, CHMM, PHR
Isabel Bravo-Perez is a Safety & Health Manager with The Zenith Insurance, with a notable and accomplished career of over twenty-five years as an Environmental, Health and Safety professional. She holds professional designations from the Human Resources Certification Institute, the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, and the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management.
Isabel earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master’s in Business Administration degree from California State University Bakersfield. Throughout her career, she held significant positions such as Vice-President of EHS for Tasteful Selections, EHS Director for Wonderful Citrus, Director of Education for AgSafe, Safety Manager for Sunview Vineyards, and Safety Coordinator & Trainer for Grimmway Farms. In her roles, Isabel has been instrumental in developing and implementing various safety programs, demonstrating her passion for collaborating with employees and management to enhance workplace safety.
A dedicated member of the Bakersfield ASSP chapter for over two decades, Isabel has served as President, President-Elect, Programs Chair, and House of Delegates Chair. She has also contributed as a volunteer on the planning committee for the Bakersfield Symposium for multiple years. Instrumental in the creation of the Bakersfield Women in Safety Excellence (WISE) group and the Women in Agriculture professional group, Isabel is committed to help prepare the next generation of safety professionals and promote the inclusion of women and minorities in the industry.
In addition to serving as Vice Chair of the Red Cross Kern County and the Eastern Sierra Chapter’s board of directors since 2021, Isabel is a member of the Red Cross Latino Engagement Team and as chair of the Philanthropy, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Mission and Outreach committees.
Carolyn Forster
Carolyn Forster joined the Kern County Public Health Services Department in 2005, where she spent over 16 years managing grants and coordinating emergency preparedness activities. In her role with the Emergency Preparedness Program, she partnered with the American Red Cross to deliver community-wide preparedness trainings and led drills and exercises with Public Health Nurses and staff.
Carolyn became a board member of the American Red Cross – Kern County and Eastern Sierra Chapter in 2016 and has held multiple leadership positions, including Board Chair, Vice Chair, and currently serves as Emeritus Chair.
Her dedication to public service and community resilience is reflected in her long-standing volunteer leadership across several organizations:
Carolyn holds a degree in Organizational Leadership from Fresno Pacific University and continues to be a passionate advocate for youth development, safety education, and disaster preparedness.
Michael Trihey
Michael Trihey joined the board of the Kern and Eastern Sierra chapter in 2019. Prior to that, he was on the board of the Habitat For Humanity/Golden Empire for eight years, where he twice served as president. He was twice president of the Kern Press Club.
In the last four decades, he has been involved a number of community betterment projects such as tree plantings, litter cleanups and food distributions.
He has been a journalist in Kern County since 1978, working at The Bakersfield Californian, KERO and KGET.
He and his wife, Diane, rescue senior dogs.
