James B. McClatchy Foundation, Chief Impact Officer

Board Term: 2023-2025, Vice President of External Committee

Misty Avila has spent 15 years in the nonprofit sector supporting youth development, youth media, afterschool programs and community organizing. She currently serves as the Chief Impact Officer for the James B. McClatchy Foundation leading a unified program team for the Central Valley quality of life, English Leaders, and the free press. Born in Sacramento, Misty cares deeply about uplifting voices in the Central Valley of California. She has served as Chief Administrative Officer for UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education and actively serves on the Board of Directors for Aspiration, a nonprofit which supports nonprofits with technology. She graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and brings her family restaurant roots into her everyday work. Misty is also a proud mom and enjoys advocating for systems change led by youth voices.

Peralta Community College District, Ethnic Studies Faculty

Board Term: 2025-2027

Erika Céspedes (she/they/ella) is a senior leader with 15 years of experience working across education equity, racial justice, and youth development. Erika’s diverse leadership spans non-profit, grassroots organizing, K-12, and higher education efforts on a regional, statewide, and national level. She has served as a CSU and community college adjunct professor in Race and Resistance Studies and Ethnic Studies for the last ten years. Erika holds an M.A. in Ethnic Studies and will complete a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) focused on Educational Leadership, Social Justice, and Equity from San Francisco State University in 2025. As the daughter of a single, immigrant mother from Colombia and a former community college student, Erika’s career has proudly been committed to education initiatives and organizations centering low-income, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, systems-impacted, and first-generation college-bound communities.

American Conservatory Theater, Human Resources Director

Board Term: 2023-2025, President of Governance Committee

Chrystal Ellis Sweazey serves as the Director of Human Resources at the American Conservatory Theater with over ten years of leadership and organizational development experience. Chrystal served as Director of Human Resources for Hanna Boys Center and as Executive Director for Grattan After School Program. She was recognized for her commitment to education and leadership development by the California Department of Education in 2016. She resides in the Bay Area, California, where she enjoys the great outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

San Francisco Beacon Initiative, Workforce Development Program Manager

Board Term: 2025-2027

AJ Frigillana entered the youth development field at the age of 15 as a camp counselor in her hometown of Long Beach, California. In her current role as a Workforce Development Program Manager with the San Francisco Beacon Initiative, she works to support the staff of vital programming through her commitment to job quality, leadership development coaching, facilitation, and collaboration with workforce development practitioners both locally and state-wide. Her life’s work is to create intentional spaces where staff at all levels can continue to amplify their skills and cultivate their leadership. AJ earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies from the University of San Francisco and has shared her work on several regional and national panels. Her work has also been recognized by the National Afterschool Association as a Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders honoree and she is a proud alumnus of CalSAC’s Leadership Development Institute for Emerging Leaders of Color.

Junior Achievement of San Diego County, Vice President of Impact

Board Term: 2023-2025, Board President-Elect & External Committee

Hanna Jensen is the Vice President, Impact at Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego), bringing over 10 years of experience in philanthropy and nonprofit youth development. In this capacity, Hanna is responsible for leading the development, programs, and marketing teams at JA San Diego. Prior to JA, Hanna was the Director of Community Outreach for the YMCA of San Diego County. Hanna is native to Southern California earning her B.A. in Liberal Studies from San Diego State University and her M.A. in Social Entrepreneurship from Pepperdine University. Hanna is dedicated to building a brighter future for San Diego’s youth through her participation as a Board Member for the Toby Wells YMCA and her involvement in the San Diego Women’s Foundation. Most recently Hanna was awarded San Diego Business Journal’s “Top 40 Next Business Leaders Under 40”. In her spare time Hanna enjoys rooting on the Lakers with her dachshund Kobe Bean.

David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Communications Officer

Board Term: 2025-2027

Andrew has nearly fifteen years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic fields using communications for good. He is passionate about supporting young people and inspiring a lifelong love of education. He is currently a communications officer at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, where he leverages strategic communications to advance the Foundation’s grantmaking in support of children and families. Previously, Andrew worked at Blue Shield of California Foundation, working to use communications to help break the cycle of domestic violence in California and improve the well-being of all Californians. He holds a B.A. in history from the College of New Jersey. A native of New Jersey, Andrew enjoys exploring California with his wife and their dog Charlie, motorcycling, and baseball. 

Healthforce Center at UCSF, Program Manager

Board Term: 2023-2025, Vice President of Governance Committee

Gina Lima has over 10 years of leadership development experience and a deep passion for promoting access to quality education for all. Gina is currently a Program Manager at UCSF where she oversees program implementation and evaluation for a leadership development program for health care leaders throughout California. Prior to UCSF, Gina worked at Genentech supporting the implementation of global IT projects. She started her professional career at CalSAC, which sparked her interest and motivation in the field of education. Gina received a BA in International Relations from San Francisco State University. In her spare time, she trains jiu jitsu and loves to travel. 

Moreland School District, Expanded Learning Opportunities Program Manager

Board Term: 2023-2025, Board Secretary & Governance Committee

Gizzele Linayao has over 20 years of experience in the expanding learning field.  Most of her work focuses on developing and creating systems for fee-based before and after school programs in San Jose.  As a former site coordinator, she was passionate about helping parents build confidence in their parenting styles and providing opportunities for youth to explore their interests, exercise their independence, and build life-long friendships.  As a CalSAC Senior Certified Trainer, Gizzele is committed to uplifting the expanded learning workforce.  During the height of the Covid pandemic, she was recognized by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors for her contributions to the community.  She designed a remote tutoring program for Moreland School District's students that was staffed by expanded learning front line staff. Gizzele is a member of the West Valley College Child Development Advisory Group and a TA Fellow alum from the inaugural cohort of the California Expanded Learning School of Leadership and Facilitation.  One of her most significant accomplishments in the field after receiving her graduate degree in Human Development and Educational Leadership from Pacific Oaks College was co-creating the framework for the Site Coordinator Network and launching it at the Site Coordinator Symposium. She currently works as the Expanded Learning Opportunities program supervisor for Moreland School District.  Gizzele enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and archery in her spare time.

Playworks, Development Manager

Board Term: 2025-2027

Kira is a Los Angeles native and Development Manager for Playworks in California. With over a decade of experience in early childhood development, after-school programming, and donor relations, she has led initiatives that enhance education quality, participation, and student outcomes through various programs. Her journey began in 2014 as an AmeriCorps VISTA, where she expanded college access for high school students, igniting her passion for supporting grades 6-12 in under-resourced communities. A proud graduate of California State University, Dominguez Hills, Kira is committed to fostering trust, collaboration, and meaningful relationships in diverse school communities. Currently participating in Playworks Advancing Equity in Leadership cohort, facilitated by CalSAC, Kira is equipping herself with tools to champion equitable leadership in youth-based organizations. A lifelong learner, she brings a foundation of trust and collaboration to everything she does. Outside of work, Kira enjoys time with family and friends, writing, exploring new foods, and embracing the outdoors.

CultureThrive, Founder

Board Term: 2025-2027

Denise Montgomery is founder of CultureThrive, a consulting practice through which she works globally, nationally, and locally to grow and guide investment in youth programs, healthcare, and the arts, and to strengthen youth program quality. 
Globally recognized for her expertise in creative youth development (CYD), she has contributed more than a dozen publications to the field of CYD and is author of the National Blueprint to Advance Creative Youth Development. Her work has been covered by National Public Radio, The Washington Post, and Youth Today, among other media outlets. 
Denise is an invited member of World Education Resource Association's Task Force on Global Research in Extended Education and a founding member of GELYDA, the Global Expanded Learning and Youth Development Association.
Denise is an education advisor to the National Museum of the American Latino and serves on the board of the New Children’s Museum. She lives with her family in San Diego, California.

Partnership for Children and Youth, Co-CEO

Board Term: 2022-2024, External Committee

Aleah Rosario has over ten years experience advancing equity in the youth development field and is currently the Co-Chief Executive Officer with the Partnership for Children and Youth. Previously, with the California AfterSchool Network, she led the development of responsive policies and strategies that uplift, advance, and bring dignity to the youth worker workforce. Her commitment to the workforce was honed during her time with the California School-Age Consortium where she engaged with hundreds of committed, skilled, and equity-centered youth-serving leaders and advocates. Born and raised in rural central California, Aleah is descended from five generations of women of color activists in the Central Valley, received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from CSU Stanislaus, and is an alum of the White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellowship which aims to equip participants with a real-world understanding of the art, science, possibilities, and realities of policymaking around afterschool and expanded learning.

Intapp, HR Program Manager

Board Term: 2023-2025, Internal Committee

Shilpa migrated to San Francisco Bay Area from India’s tech hub, Bangalore, over a decade ago and has since grown her family to include a firecracker toddler and 15 alive and thriving indoor plants. A fervent advocate, she stands tall for survivors of domestic abuse, actively volunteering with Matri to raise awareness and engage donors. In the past, she championed the cause of education equity by volunteering to teach spoken English to children from low-income families in India and served as an ESL volunteer with the Sunnyvale library. Shilpa has also added her voice to the ongoing debate of immigration reform and has been a strong advocate for work authorizations for the community of H4 visa holders. Beginning her career in marketing, Shilpa discovered her true calling lies in fostering inclusive workplace environments, which led her to transition into HR. Currently, she leads executive program management and communications for the People organization at Intapp, where she continues to champion organizational development and strategic communication.

Woodcraft Rangers, Chief Program Officer

Board Term: 2023-2025, External Committee

Danny Salas, Chief Program Officer, oversees the Woodcraft Rangers expanded learning programs that cover a range of specialty areas including STEM programming, Visual & Performing Arts, Literacy & Numeracy, etc., while guiding a team of Directors and Program Managers who are responsible for over 950 passionate and highly trained site-based site coordinators and club leaders. In this role, Danny has overseen Woodcraft Rangers Back 2 Woodcraft Rangers Training Academy, PLAY Conference , a Peer Learning and Youth conference, Site coordinator training Academy, and a County wide Continuous Quality Improvement efforts in Expanded Learning. He has been instrumental in the formation of partnerships that support inclusion of neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ youth. As a native Angelino from the Boyle Heights neighborhood, Danny has a deep commitment to communities that are historically underserved. He is passionate about mentoring and coaching youth and staff to achieve their greatest potential and has successfully led the program team to develop and leverage partnerships that uplift communities.

CypherWorx, Inc., Co Founder & CCO

Board Term: 2023-2025, Board Treasurer & Vice President of Internal Committee

Steve Stookey’s story started out on a farm on the East Coast, working west as he graduated from Wittenberg University with a degree in Business/ Economics. Steve found his way to the West Coast, accumulating over 30 years of award-winning Sales and Management experience. Steve and his wife Rosslyn live in Seattle with their 2 school age children, Jack, and Ava. A Co-Founder of CypherWorx, Steve brings a great deal of experience working with afterschool programs across the country. As a partner to CalSAC, Steve has shown a passion for providing the best possible experience for children in afterschool programs, supporting the CalSAC mission.

Hallmark cards, Inc., Corporate Vice President of Technology, Transactions, and QC/PMO and Hallmark Labs, Divisional CFO

Board Term: 2025-2027

Paul Wang is Corporate Vice President of Technology, Transactions, and QC/PMO for Hallmark Cards, Inc. In addition, Paul serves as Divisional CFO for Hallmark Labs, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc., enabling merchant, subscription, and cloud services for the enterprise.
Paul brings over 20 years of financial and management experience and as Corporate Vice President and Divisional CFO he is responsible for overall technology portfolio management as well as enterprise service delivery functions. Within the portfolios, Paul is responsible for the overall financial management of both digital and core technology including financial reporting, cash flow, long range business planning, and accounting. Within service delivery, Paul oversees governance and delivery of managed services throughout the technology estate including both onsite and nearshore/offshore support for IT operations, merchant services, cloud services, subscription billing and retention services. In partnership with key areas of corporate Hallmark, Paul helps oversee the technology group’s transactions including commercials, procurement, risk, and compliance functions with an overall goal of accelerating innovation while driving financial and operational efficiency. Prior to his role as Corporate Vice President, Paul served as Hallmark Labs’ Site Leader (GM) and CFO. He joined Hallmark Labs as VP of Finance.
Prior to Hallmark Labs, Paul was focused on the B2B sector, working in production finance for television shows airing on US networks serving in roles with increasing responsibility including Production Controller for Fox Twentieth Television.
Paul started his career as a business analyst for Bainbridge Consulting providing corporate management consulting services to Fortune 50 and Fortune 100 companies in the technology and media industries. Paul holds a BS from UCLA and is an actively licensed CPA. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. In his spare time Paul enjoys being of service to communities, currently serving as the executive co-sponsor of Hallmark’s Asian American Resource Community at Hallmark (AARCH), an employee resource group serving the core Hallmark business. Prior to AARCH, Paul served as Board Treasurer for 9 years at the Las Virgenes Educational Foundation (LVEF), a 501C3 nonprofit providing education and enrichment opportunities to children K-12 and also served for 4 years over two consecutive terms as Board Member with the Merchant Risk Council, a 501C6 focused on enabling safe and profitable eCommerce operations for its merchant members.

BAYCAT (SF), Associate Director of Community Engagement

Board Term: 2023-2025, External Committee

Chris Williams is a Puerto Rican educator, coach and storyteller. Originally from New York City and a first-gen college grad from Hampshire College, Chris works with students (and their families), specifically from backgrounds similar to his own. He provides energy, passion, and creativity to everything he does, whether it’s hosting karaoke, teaching Identity & Ethnic studies or telling stories at The Moth (and other events). He has also led workshops on cultural competency and DEI-related topics with The ReMix: Cultural Consulting Collective. Currently, Chris is the Associate Director of Community Engagement at BAYCAT as well as an Identity and Ethnic Studies teacher. He is an avid learner, and striving to become a more effective educator, storyteller and connector.