Staff
Who We Are
Kathy Goodacre
Chief Executive Officer
Kathy started her career in Sonoma County in 1990 where she served as the Vice President of Resource Development for the local United Way. Following her departure from United Way in 1997 she started and ran a consulting business for non-profit organizations providing an array of services with an emphasis on program and fund development. Kathy joined the Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation as their first Executive Director in 2013 and has significantly grown its fundraising and grant-making capacity annually through the cultivation of productive relationships with a wide variety of industry and community partners. These relationships have generated millions of dollars in public and private investments, the majority of which has been granted to schools and education to career programs across Sonoma County. She is currently the Chair of the Operations Team for the County’s Cradle to Career effort and serves on the Health Action Council, Upstream Investment Policy Committee, and City of Santa Rosa Violence Prevention Partnership Policy Team. Kathy holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky.
Amber Figueroa
Vice President Operations and Programs
Amber moved to Sonoma County in 2013 from Berkeley, California, where she was Vice President of Development for ChangeLab Solutions. Her nonprofit background also includes consultant roles at the Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County, Bioneers, and the Real Medicine Foundation. Before deciding to apply her efforts to mission-driven work, Amber enjoyed a successful career in Advertising and Marketing Management for a variety of national brands. Amber began supporting the Foundation’s marketing, fundraising, and outreach efforts as an independent contractor in 2014 and joined the team as Director of CTE Programs in January 2017. Amber has earned a BA in International Business from Seattle University, and an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona.
Brandon Jewell
Director of Industry Engagement
After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Sonoma State University, Brandon began his career in marketing and business development at Sonoma County BEST (Building Economic Success Together), an economic development program of the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce. Brandon then became the Director of Economic & Workforce Development at the Chamber. Starting in July of 2017, Brandon became the Director of Industry Engagement at the Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation where he aligns industry and education to provide relevant work-based learning experiences to students as they explore and prepare for future careers. Brandon is also a member of Active 20-30 Club of Santa Rosa #50 and a board member of PMG (Professional Marketing Group) North Bay.
Kristin Loheyde
Director of Resource Development
Kristin joined the CTE Foundation team in 2019. She has over twenty years of professional, academic and volunteer experience in fundraising and education, most recently with the SRJC Foundation and CSU East Bay. Prior to a career in major and planned giving, Kristin taught ESL for many years and was a Learning Consultant in culturally competent healthcare at Kaiser Permanente Northern California. A long-time sailor, Kristin volunteers with Blue Water Foundation to provide at-risk and under-represented young people an opportunity to experience the same joy and sense of freedom she does on the water. Kristin has a BA in International Studies and French from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and an MSEd from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Originally from New England, Kristin now considers herself a West Coaster having lived in Oregon, British Columbia and California. She moved to Santa Rosa in 2018 to be near family.
Leslie Simmons
Development and Marketing Manager
Leslie has 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. Prior to launching her business, Leslie worked in program management for organizations focused on child and youth development, and led community organizing efforts for social and economic justice in Santa Cruz and Sacramento. Starting in 2019, Leslie manages development and marketing at the CTE Foundation. A native of Healdsburg, Leslie graduated U.C. Santa Cruz with her bachelor’s degree in community studies.
Alondra Mendoza
Program Coordinator
Alondra joined the CTE Foundation initially as the Office Manager in 2017. She received a Certificate in Office Administration from Santa Rosa Junior College’s Business Administration program in 2015 while working in the office of the Senior Dean of Career & Technical Education and Economic Development as an Administrative Assistant II. There she provided administrative support in CTE and Work Experience departments, as well as worked directly with the Dean of Workforce Development. Alondra received an Associate’s Degree, with honors, in Administrative Office Professional from Santa Rosa Junior College in 2017.
A Word
From the Executive Director
“The CTE Foundation board and staff are dedicated to innovating the education to career experience for our local students so they are prepared to enter rewarding careers that strengthen their lives, the community, and the economy.”
– Kathy Goodacre
Get In Touch
Location: 1030 Apollo way. Santa Rosa, CA 95407
Telephone: (707) 708.7080
Email: admin@ctesonomacounty.org