Hilary Tellesen Project Leader

Impact Area For nearly a decade, Hilary’s career has been in workforce development, managing clean energy job training programs in the North Valley region. Through this work, she built strong partnerships with job training organizations, employers, and educational institutions. Hilary looks forward to focusing on new economic sectors and innovative career pathways to improve the livability of […]

Michelle Skinner Chief Growth Officer VSP

“When we focus on livability in our communities, we’re helping provide equal access to the products, services, and safe settings everyone needs to thrive. I’m passionate about Valley Vision’s mission of bringing together the resources and expertise needed to help those in our region reach their highest potential every day.”

Christopher Callahan President University of the Pacific

“Higher education can play a game-changing role in Valley Vision’s quest for a more livable future, bringing to the region innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation and social justice.”

Jun Reina General Manager Capital Public Radio

“Valley Vision’s work is essential to building a community that’s inclusive and integrated. Social issues don’t exist in a vacuum and Valley Vision provides an essential service that identifies a through line for these social issues and connects them with the community. It’s this kind of work that gives the region a sense of shared fate and shared vision.”

Gustavo Garcia Project Associate

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, […]

Lori Rianda  SVP, Greater Sacramento Market Executive Bank of America

“To me livability means a community that has a strong positive identity, economic and natural resources, provides opportunity, has access to excellent healthcare and education, and has an abundance of outdoor space, thoughtful and easily accessible transportation, well planned infrastructure and vibrant culture, arts and entertainment offerings. Valley Vision plays a critical role in driving and maintaining livability standards by, without bias, presenting usable, clear data and fostering conversations and initiatives that create change. I believe that Valley Vision serves in the roles of influencer, convener, instigator and monitor in the Sacramento region and the centrum where solutions are born.”

Laurel Smith Project Associate

Laurel joined Valley Vision in August 2022 as a Project Associate for the Listos California Emergency Preparedness Campaign. She has over 4.5 years of experience working in nonprofit settings dedicated to improving healthy communities in the Sacramento Region. Professional Experience Laurel, a local of the Sacramento region, began her career working in nonprofits following college […]

Jessica Lara Project Manager

Jessica joined Valley Vision in 2022 as a Project Manager, supporting the Listos California Emergency Preparedness campaign. Prior to joining Valley Vision, Jessica worked in early childhood education as an administrator in her hometown of Stockton, California.  Professional Experience Jessica began working in the nonprofit sector as a teenage volunteer supporting local  organizations with outreach, […]

Navreet Hundal Project Associate

Navreet joined Valley Vision in July 2022 as a Project Associate supporting the Innovation and Infrastructure and Healthy Communities impact areas. 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 […]

Alana Ramsay Project Associate

Alana joined Valley Vision as a Project Associate in June of 2022. She primarily supports the Leadership & Civic Engagement Impact Area.  Professional Experience Prior to joining Valley Vision, Alana worked with CivicWell, a Sacramento-based nonprofit supporting sustainable policies and the leaders and communities that implement them. She began in January 2021 as an Administrative & […]

Kathy Saechou Project Associate

Kathy’s ethnicity is Mien-American, and her family’s history is deeply rooted in Northern Laos. She was born and raised here in Oak Park, Sacramento, and her family, background and community are the core reasons why she chose an educational and career path in planning. Community is a very important aspect in Kathy’s life and is […]

Angelina Olweny Project Associate

Angelina joined Valley Vision in 2021 as a Project Associate in the 21st Century Workforce Impact Area. She previously served as an AmeriCorps VISTA in the Sacramento Promise Zone, a Federal place-based initiative that seeks to address inequities in the most distressed areas in urban and rural areas across the nation. Professional Experience Angelina promoted […]