CTE Foundation Staff
Eli Weinzveg,
Executive Director
Eli Weinzveg grew up in Sebastopol and attended Santa Rosa High School. After graduating, he moved to Sacramento, where he earned his B.A., M.A., and teaching credentials from California
State University, Sacramento. During that time, he married his wife, Nicollette, also a Sonoma County native, and the two soon returned home to Sonoma County to raise their twins in the
community that shaped them. He began his career as a teacher in the Roseland School
District before moving into an administrative leadership role at Roseland Collegiate Prep, where he helped guide the school through the aftermath of the 2017 Tubbs Fire and the COVID-19
pandemic.
In 2022, he transitioned to the nonprofit sector to deepen his commitment to educational equity, joining 10,000 Degrees as Director of College Pathways. In that role, he led teams across Sonoma, Napa, and Lake Counties, expanded the organization’s reach, strengthened district partnerships, launched new professional development systems, and helped drive cross-
program alignment to enhance student impact. Eli joined CTE Foundation in June 2025.
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.
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.
Malloy Schaffner,
Marketing & Communications Manager
Malloy joined the CTE Foundation staff in August 2024 as the Marketing & Communications Manager, and has a history interning with the Foundation throughout 2021 to support marketing efforts for Spark the Future. Malloy has a personal passion for career technical education, as an integrated career pathway offered at his high school inspired him to pursue his current career.
Malloy holds a Bachelor of Arts for Mass Communications and Marketing from California State University Sacramento (Stingers Up!) and is proud to have worked for a variety of diverse non-profits in our community. Malloy brings experience from the Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County, Transcendence Theatre Company, and most recently, Santa Rosa Community Health.
Inspired by his mother Lisa Wittke Schaffner, Malloy’s commitment to education and social equity is deeply personal and driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact. When he’s not busy working, you can find Malloy hiking at the coast & redwoods, spending time with his friends and loved ones playing TTRPG’s, and making the best spaghetti you’ve ever had.
Jolene Pighini,
Student Success Advisor
Jolene joined the CTE Foundation team in December of 2024 as the Student Success Advisor supporting students through the Sonoma Corps program. She is passionate about working with others to foster community and create spaces where everyone can feel a sense of empowerment and belonging. Jolene is also inspired by advocating for the accessibility of resources and opportunity for all students.
Jolene has a background in youth program coordination group facilitation, as well as case management. Her work in nonprofit organizations began in 2016 when she collaborated with the Neighborhood Initiative to implement youth-led leadership programs in Napa County schools. She then was the Education Navigator for VOICES Youth Center offering individualized college and career readiness services and support to high school aged students throughout Napa and the surrounding area. Jolene also has experience working with the Boys and Girls Club and the summer education program, Aim High.
Jolene currently lives in Napa and is a student herself at Sonoma State University. She is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and looks forward to continuing to help others. Outside of work Jolene enjoys books, coffee, live music, and spending lots of time with friends.
