CTE Foundation Staff
Kathy Goodacre,
Chief Executive Officer
CEO Kathy Goodacre has led CTE Foundation since its inception and is recognized throughout the community for her leadership in advocating for the Foundation’s mission. Having raised two children with different learning styles, Kathy has a personal passion for ensuring all students see a viable education and career path out of high school. Her vision is for more parents, employers, community leaders and educators to recognize the value of career technical education as an equitable path forward for students to become better prepared to tackle life after high school. By engaging employers, Kathy is committed to a “grow our own” philosophy to ensure our young people can be trained here, go to work here and most importantly have fulfilling lives here in Sonoma County.
Ms. Goodacre started her career in Sonoma County in 1990 where she served as the Vice President of Marketing/Fund Development for the local United Way. Following her departure from United Way in 1997, she launched a non-profit consulting business providing an array of services with an emphasis on program and fund development.
Ms. Goodacre holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky and resides in Santa Rosa with her husband Matt.
Amber Figueroa,
Vice President, Strategic Partnerships
Amber began supporting CTE Foundation’s marketing, fundraising and outreach efforts as an independent contractor in 2014 and joined the team full time in January 2017. She deeply enjoys developing partnerships and programs that inspire young people to see their path and creating opportunities for individuals to contribute to the common good.
Amber’s love for mission-driven work was fostered through a variety of leadership roles, beginning with the family restaurant business, then shifting to global advertising management and finally transitioning to nonprofit organization strategy and development.
Amber holds a BA in International Business from Seattle University and an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona. She resides in Healdsburg with her partner George and kitty, Mr. Boo.
Leslie Simmons,
Vice President, Impact & Investments
Leslie joined CTE Foundation in February 2019 and is Vice President of Impact & Investments. She is passionate about sharing the impact of CTE Foundation’s work through storytelling and loves the opportunity to talk with teachers and students about the value of CTE in supporting students’ excitement for the future.
Prior to her work for CTE Foundation, Leslie spent over a decade running a video and film production business in northern California, crafting engaging visual and written content to meet the marketing and branding needs for clients from billion-dollar corporations to grassroots nonprofits.
Leslie holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Studies from U.C. Santa Cruz, where she studied politics and economics with a social change lens. A native of Healdsburg, Leslie currently resides with her husband and kiddo in Cloverdale.
Brandon Jewell,
Director of Student Experience
Brandon joined CTE Foundation in 2017 and is the Director of Student Experience where he helps implement programs and serves as an intermediary between education and local employers to ensure students are engaged in high-quality career-connected learning. Brandon understands that preparing our local students for life and career in the Sonoma County area is essential for the success of our students and our local economy.
Brandon’s passion for this work began when he was Director of Business Development at Sonoma County BEST (Building Economic Success Together), an economic development initiative, and continued through his role as Director of Economic and Workforce Development at the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber.
Brandon holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Sonoma State University, served in Leadership Santa Rosa Class #31, and was awarded the North Bay Business Journal’s Forty Under 40.
Andriana Duckworth,
Director of Development & Marketing
Director of Development & Marketing, Andriana Duckworth joined the staff of CTE Foundation in April 2023. Initially serving as a Board Member, Andriana felt the strong motivation to serve and support the organization through an increased capacity on staff. She is driven to cultivate strong partnerships and relations within a community to support the evolving needs of today’s students and their career paths.
Andriana has spent the last decade in Sonoma County’s wine industry and non-profit community, beginning her career at the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, where she served as programs and relationships manager. Continuing her career in development, she most recently served as Executive Director for the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance, where was able to continue work on strategic partnerships, development, and marketing.
Andriana holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science/Pre-Law with an emphasis in Legal Studies and Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.
A native to Bennett Valley in Santa Rosa, Andriana resides in the town of Sonoma, with her partner Daniel and their energetic American Chocolate Labrador, Sadie.
Nina Cheek,
Marketing & Fundraising Coordinator
Nina joined CTE Foundation as the Marketing & Fundraising Coordinator in May 2023. With her roots in Santa Rosa, Nina is excited to give back to her community and make a meaningful impact on local students.
Nina holds a degree from the University of California, Davis, in International Relations, with a focus on environmental health and sustainability. She has gained valuable experience in policy development, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach through her work as the Workforce and Public Policy Fellow at the Sonoma County Economic Development Board.
With her passion for sustainability and community engagement, she is dedicated to ensuring that students have access to high-quality educational programs that will set them up for successful careers.
When she’s not busy working, Nina loves exploring the outdoors of Sonoma County, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and spending time with her loved ones.
Debbie Schoemaker,
Business Operations Manager
Debbie joined the CTE Foundation team in March 2020 as Administrative Manager. Her passion for helping children thrive and achieve a successful future is what led her to CTE Foundation. She has volunteered her time to various organizations including Junior Achievement, NY Cares and Gilead House and is now delighted to be part of a team that helps inspire the future workforce of Sonoma County.
Debbie moved to Sonoma County from New York in 2011, where she enjoyed a long career at Deloitte delivering global technology solutions to her colleagues around the world. After many years in the private sector, she decided to apply her experience in the education sector, working in various schools throughout Petaluma, and later joining the development team at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, a nonprofit organization delivering music and arts education to children. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Baruch College in New York.
A native New Yorker who loves the hustle and bustle of a fast-paced city, Debbie has come to love the more relaxed pace of living in beautiful Sonoma County along with her son Justin and partner Tim.
Marolyn Castro,
Programs Intern
Marolyn joined CTE Foundation in July 2023 as a Programs Intern. She is passionate about Marketing but rejoices in seeing students chase after their own aspirations. Marolyn hopes to inspire students to maintain strong ambitions and continue doing what they love.
Marolyn was born and raised in Sonoma County. This fall, she will embark on her post-secondary educational journey at the SRJC to pursue her passion for marketing where she will continue to further her education in the business world.
She lives in Sonoma County with her family and shih tzu, Osa.
