The Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation of Sonoma County is proud to announce its 2025-2026 Board of Directors including newly appointed officers and the addition of new leadership who will help guide the organization in advancing career-connected learning for middle and high school students throughout Sonoma County.

CTE Foundation’s newly appointed board officers include Chair, Julianna Graham, Consultant for BPM; Vice Chair, Priscilla Jaworski Quintanilla, Business Services Operations Manager for Redwood Credit Union; Secretary, Brad Davis, Dean of Business, Workforce Development, and Career Education at Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC); Treasurer, Arif Virji, Partner at Carle Mackie Power & Ross, LLP; and Immediate Past Chair, Mark Soiland, Owner of Soiland Company Inc.

“I’m honored to step into the role of Board Chair for CTE Foundation as we enter an exciting new chapter,” says Julianna Graham, Board Chair, CTE Foundation. “This year, we will continue to expand access to career-connected learning that empowers Sonoma County students to explore their passions, develop real-world skills and envision their future with confidence, right here in their own community. I look forward to working alongside our dedicated board, staff and community partners to dismantle the outdated college-versus-career mindset and ensure every student’s ambition is connected to opportunity.”

Board Directors at large include Kelly Bass Seibel, Vice President of Community Engagement for Sonoma County Tourism; Luisa Beck, Senior Recruiter for Jackson Family Wines; Merrilee Roscoe Alvarado, Director of Employee Culture & Community Relations for Hansel Auto Group; Erica Torgerson, Director of Customer Service for Sonoma Clean Power; Hector Velazquez, President & CEO for NexoMedia Inc. and the Red LatinX The Hub; Elisabeth Wade, Dean, College of Science, Technology, and Business at Sonoma State University; and newly appointed director KC Nate, Chief Administrative Officer for Kaiser Permanente, Santa Rosa.

“I am excited to welcome KC Nate to our board. His leadership and commitment come at a pivotal moment in our organization’s history as we continue to deepen our work around healthcare initiatives and expand opportunities for youth in healthcare and beyond. With champions like KC, and the collective strength of our board supporting a wide range of initiatives, CTE Foundation is uniquely positioned to ensure every young person in Sonoma County can pursue their career aspirations with confidence and purpose.” – Eli Weinzveg, Executive Director, CTE Foundation

CTE Foundation continues to play a pivotal role as Sonoma County’s education-to-workforce backbone, transforming educational models by aligning classroom learning with real-world experiences. This commitment has been amplified with the organization’s launch of Path to Purpose, a first-of-its-kind countywide internship program designed to connect high school students directly with local employers, gaining both exposure to local industries and paid work experience. Through this initiative, CTE Foundation is expanding pathways into high-demand industries such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, engineering, agriculture and the skilled trades ensuring that the next generation of Sonoma County talent is prepared to excel in both college and career.