Members

ADVENTIST HEALTH CENTRAL VALLEY NETWORK

Valerie Alvarez is the Director of Community Integration for Adventist Health Central Valley Network. She has been part of the Adventist Health family for 15 years. During this time, she has developed community programs such as the Mobile Care Clinic, Adopt-A-Family Program and Inspire Hope. These programs help serve the mission of Adventist Health to live God’s mission to inspire, health, wholeness, and hope. Valerie is also Chair of the South Valley Chapter of Make A Wish. Valerie was born and raised in Corcoran, California. Coming from a small town helps her strive to provide the resources needed in the rural areas that are not easily accessible. In her spare time, she enjoys spending as much time with her daughter Brielle, playing co-ed softball with her family, and traveling. Serving the community in as many ways as she can to better the life of the community she lives in is her personal mission.

CHAMPIONS RECOVERY ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS, INC.

Frank Ruiz is a native of the San Joaquin Valley and has worked in the nonprofit sector since 2007 developing and implementing community economic development programs, asset building programs, substance use disorder treatment, and homeless prevention programs. Since 2019, Frank has served as the Executive Director for Champions Recovery Alternative Programs, Inc., which has provided housing navigation, transitional housing, and permanent supporting housing opportunities for unhoused individuals in Kings County for many years.

HANFORD CITY COUNCIL

Mark Kairis has been a Hanford resident since 1984. He retired in 2016 after serving 30-years with the California Highway Patrol. Mark is actively involved in the community as a current Hanford City Council Member representing District E. As a Council Member, Mark works hard to improve the quality of life for all Hanford residents. He believes Honesty, Integrity and Transparency are critical to establish a strong community relationship.

Mark is honored to serve on the Kings County Homeless Collaborative (KCHC).

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF KINGS COUNTY

Sandra Jackson-Bobo is the Executive Director for the Housing Authority of Kings County. Sandra has over 25 years of management experience. Prior to assuming the role as Executive Director, Sandra was the Housing Management Coordinator for the Housing Authority. Sandra was responsible for supervising the Section 8 Department, as well as interpreting and keeping apprised of regulations pertaining to local, state, and federal housing programs. Sandra earned a master’s in business administration. Sandra’s greatest passion is working with people to help find a solution that will work for them.

KINGS COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION

Kings Community Action Organization (KCAO) is the federally designated anti-poverty agency for Kings County. KCAO is a private, non-profit organization that was established in 1965 pursuant to the Economic Opportunities Act of 1964. The organization has service sites located in Armona, Avenal, Corcoran, Hanford, Home Garden, Kettleman City, Lemoore, and Stratford.

KCAO's mission: Working as a team, KCAO will seek and provide programs that develop self-sufficiency in individuals, families, and communities within Kings County. The agency reaches out to low-income people to address their multiple needs and administers a full range of coordinated programs designed to have a measurable impact on poverty. KCAO envisions a future where Kings County residents and communities will achieve self-sufficiency through the high-quality and client-focused programs of KCAO.

KINGS COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Lisa Lewis PhD is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Dr. Lewis has worked in outpatient mental health care in the Central Valley of California for 20 years. Her primary focus is setting up systems of care which provide the highest possible quality of care for county Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Building a system of care with skilled psychiatrists, clinicians, case managers and peer supports to meet the various outpatient level-of-care needs of those served has been her focus in Kings County for the last 6 years.

As we face the challenge of homelessness, a well-structured and high functioning system of care is needed to receive the appropriate referrals for mental health and substance use disorders care. Dr. Lewis and her team work closely with county and community partners to meet these needs. Dr. Lewis is a 30-year resident of the Central Valley and a proud NAVY mom.

KINGS COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Joe Neves graduated from West Hills Community College, University of Phoenix and Brandman University. He has a Masters in Business Administration and a Class-A Drivers License with all endorsements, as well as a Motorcycle license. Joe worked on a family farm through high school and college until 1986 when he became manager of the Stratford Public Utilities District. Stratford is a special district serving the community’s needs of public works. He was elected to the Kings County Board of Supervisors in 1994 and continues to serve the people of Kings County.

Joe is happily married to his wife Kathy and enjoys barbecuing, announcing sports events, and working with many groups in the community.

KINGS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Rose Mary Rahn is the Director of the Kings County Department of Public Health. Born and raised in Hanford, Rose attended local schools and the College of Sequoias in Visalia before finishing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles. She has over 36 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse, with 24 of those years being in Public Health. Rose started her public health career in Kings County working in the women’s reproductive health clinic, from there she worked for five years for the Santa Barbara Department of Public Health in communicable disease, tuberculosis prevention, and home visitation services. Most recently Rose served as the Public Health Nursing and Maternal Child Health Director at the Fresno County Department of Public Health where she had been for 16 years. She returned home to Kings County in February of 2022 to take on the role as Director and is enjoying being home and working in the community that raised her. Rose is passionate about improving the lives of others through prevention and establishing systems and policies that promote equitable health for all. Rose is married to her husband Keith and enjoys spending time with him and their dog Sailor.

KINGS COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

Wendy Osikafo obtained her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Montana in 1996. After that, Wendy joined the Peace Corps for two years. While stationed in Ghana, she worked with homeless children, building a connection with them and their community. Upon her return, Wendy completed her Master of Social Work degree at Fresno State while working at the Fresno County Department of Social Services in the Department of Child Welfare. For the next 16 years, she continued with the agency in a variety of roles including social worker, social work supervisor, program manager, and deputy director.

In 2016, Wendy became the assistant director for the Kings County Human Services Agency. She was responsible for the Child Welfare and Adult Services Divisions for the first three years and then oversaw the Fiscal and Administrative Divisions for the next three years thereafter. In April 2022, she was appointed as the new agency director. Wendy looks forward to partnering with the community and other agencies in the ongoing efforts to reduce homelessness in Kings County.

KINGS COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

Lavena Najera is the Youth Services Specialist for the Kings County Office of Education. She received her BA in Liberal Studies from California State University, Fresno, and her MA in Education with an emphasis in Educational Leadership from the University of Massachusetts Global. Lavena has 15 years of experience working in education and believes in the importance of building strong relationships with school districts and her community to help students reach their educational and personal goals.

KINGS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Undersheriff Robert Thayer is a 34-year Veteran of the Kings County Sheriff's Office. Having worked a multitude of assignments throughout his career, he was ultimately promoted onto the Sheriff's Management team in 2008 as a Division Commander. In 2011, he was promoted to Assistant Sheriff and then to Undersheriff in April 2023. His primary role is to support the Office of Sheriff David Robinson, which includes Patrol Operations, Detectives, Criminal Task Forces, Coroner's Office, Civil, Records, Animal Services, Jail, Court Services, Communications, Air Supports Units, S.W.A.T, S.E.R.T, K-9 and Water Rescue Unit.

KINGS TULARE HOMELESS ALLIANCE

Laura grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she knew from a young age that she wanted a career in non-profit work. After attending a small liberal arts college in Michigan, Laura spent two years traveling the country with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps working for nine different nonprofit organizations. Following AmeriCorps, Laura settled in San Francisco where she lived for seven years doing volunteer management for the Presidio Trust and Project Open Hand.

Laura moved to the Central Valley in September of 2017 when she was hired by the Kings Tulare Homeless Alliance. Since then, she has held several positions including Administrative Assistance, Community Engagement Coordinator, Program Manager, Director of Grants, and Executive Director of Operations. She has been on the Point in Time leadership team for the last four years, managed the Housing Heroes fundraiser luncheon, and overseen the Alliance’s grant program.

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE

Jeanette Tackett owns and operates JH Tackett Marketing with her husband Jeff Tackett. Jeanette has been in the print industry for 20-years. Jeanette and her husband have run a full-service print and promotional product company. Together, they focus on partnering with their customers to make their businesses come to life.

Jeanette loves to serve people and help her community. She sits on several boards and helps wherever she is needed. Jeanette currently sits on the Homeless Collaborative Board, Work Investment Board (WIB), and serves as president of the Kings County EDC board. She and her husband support many groups, churches, non-profits, and corporations in their efforts to support the community as well.

KC AREA PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCY