Staff
Valley Vision’s staff is made up of a passionate team of researchers, project managers, strategists and facilitators who are driven to improve lives.

Diangelo Andrews Project Associate![]()
Impact Area In 2023, Diangelo joined Valley Vision as a Project Associate in the 21st Century Workforce impact area. Professional Experience Diangelo possesses years of experience in civic engagement and leadership. He is known for his open-minded thinking, strong work ethic, and positive attitude. Diangelo has a proven track record of goal setting and exceeding […]

Maritessa Bravo Ares Project Leader![]()
Maritessa joined Valley Vision in July 2023 as a project leader focused on the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) program. Professional Experience Maritessa is a social impact professional with over 10 years of project and program management experience in Northern California. Most recently, she worked in the financial services industry managing a variety of projects […]

Caitlin Blockus Project Manager![]()
Caitlin Blockus began her career at Valley Vision in 2021 as a Project Associate in the Workforce Development Impact Area. She soon worked her way up to a Project Manager position and serves as Coalition Manager for the Capital Region Coalition for Digital Inclusion (CRCDI). Caitlin’s passion for digital inclusion was sparked by her previous […]

Angela Caruzo Project Leader![]()
Impact Area Angela joined Valley Vision in 2023 as the Project Leader focused on the Listos California Emergency Preparedness campaign. Professional Experience Over the years, Angela has honed in on her strength for managing projects from start to finish in the private sector while working for companies focusing on industrial materials, advertising, and sales, as […]

Gustavo Garcia Project Coordinator![]()
Gustavo joined Valley Vision in August 2022 as a Project Associate supporting the 21st Century Workforce area. Professional Experience Born and raised in the Central Valley, Gustavo has always supported organizations that have focused on increasing accessibility to people from disenfranchised communities. His first experience in the nonprofit sector was in outdoor education and leadership, […]

Navreet Hundal Project Associate![]()
Navreet joined Valley Vision in July 2022 as a Project Associate supporting the Innovation and Infrastructure impact area. Raised in California’s Central Valley, Navreet’s firsthand experiences taught her the importance of centering community voices in regional decision making, in order to create equitable change. Professional Experience With a broad academic focus, Navreet’s undergraduate career focused […]

Renee John Managing Director![]()
Renee joined Valley Vision in March of 2020 to support efforts in the 21st Century Workforce Impact Area. Prior to Valley Vision, Renee led workforce development projects for ten years as a director with a community based nonprofit. Her work has included Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act projects, administering community block grants, youth employment, refugee […]

Brittnii Johnson Operations & Office Coordinator![]()
Brittnii joined Valley Vision in June of 2021 as an Executive Associate supporting the CEO, Evan Schmidt and office staff administratively. Professional Experience Brittnii comes with a diverse set of skills and experience. Her first career was in early childhood education working with children in a preschool setting. She has also assisted prospective college students […]

Grace Kaufman Project Leader![]()
Grace started as Project Manager at Valley Vision in 2020 and became Project Leader in 2023. She works in the Food and Ag and Clean Economy impact areas by managing the Yolo Food Hub project, the Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan (CROP), and the Zero Emission Hydrogen Locomotive Project. At Valley Vision, Grace has supported the […]

Trish Kelly Managing Director![]()
Trish joined Valley Vision in 2014 as managing director after several years as a consultant to the organization. She oversees Valley Vision’s food and ag economy, 21st century workforce, and broadband strategies. Professional Experience Trish’s vast regional and statewide networks greatly contribute to the growth and vitality of the region. An effective grant writer, Trish helped […]

Liz Kilkenny Project Associate![]()
Impact Area Liz Kilkenny is a Project Associate at Valley Vision, a non-profit organization based in Sacramento, California. Professional Experience Although she is relatively new to the non-profit industry, Liz brings a wealth of experience from her previous work in personal relationship banking, where she focused on supporting small businesses. With a passion for community […]