Quiénes somos

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Me llamo Jack Michael y soy Coordinador de Trayectorias K14 del Distrito de Colegios Comunitarios Santa Cruz Cabrillo, junto con el Consorcio de Colegios Comunitarios del Área de la Bahía (BACCC). En este puesto, apoyo conexiones cruciales entre el sector K-12 y los colegios comunitarios, centrándome en mejorar los programas y las trayectorias de Educación Técnica Profesional (CTE) para satisfacer las necesidades de la fuerza laboral regional. Anteriormente, trabajé durante nueve años como Coordinador de Proyectos de Preparación Universitaria y Profesional en el Programa de Educación Alternativa de la Oficina de Educación del Condado de Santa Cruz. Originario de Akron, Ohio, ahora vivo en el centro de Santa Cruz y soy un triatleta activo y vegano. También tengo un hermano gemelo que aún vive en Ohio.

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David Wright es Vicepresidente de Operaciones de Elements Manufacturing en Santa Cruz. Tiene un máster en Administración Pública por la Universidad Estatal de San Diego y una licenciatura por la Universidad del Pacífico. Es bilingüe español y becario de Rotary International.

Dave es cofundador de Santa Cruz County Friends of the Rail & Trail y formó parte de su junta directiva hasta diciembre de 2015. Otros trabajos sin ánimo de lucro han incluido CEO del Capítulo de Santa Cruz de la Cruz Roja Americana, Director Ejecutivo de SLV Reciclaje y voluntario con Amigos de las Américas. En su tiempo libre, Dave toca la guitarra, enseña en Cabrillo College y realiza proyectos de soldadura y carpintería. Él y su esposa tienen dos hijos y han vivido en el condado de Santa Cruz desde 1991.

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Cristine Chopra es la Directora Ejecutiva del Colaborativo para la Universidad y la Carrera del Condado de Santa Cruz. Nació y creció en Dana Point, California. Se mudó al norte de California cuando se matriculó en la UC Santa Cruz, donde obtuvo su licenciatura. Comenzó su carrera en educación en 1996 como profesora de inglés de secundaria en San José antes de mudarse a Seattle. Durante su estancia en Seattle, se desempeñó como Directora del Colaborativo para el Desarrollo Instruccional en el Proyecto GEAR UP del Estado de Washington, además de apoyar al Centro para la Transformación Curricular y al Centro para la Educación Multicultural. La Dra. Chopra obtuvo su Doctorado en Liderazgo Educativo y Estudios Políticos en la Universidad de Washington en 2014. Ha impartido docencia a estudiantes de pregrado y posgrado en la UCSC y la CSUMB, pero está contenta de haber regresado a la educación primaria y secundaria. Cristine se esfuerza por ayudar a los distritos a pensar en el futuro de sus estudiantes después de graduarse de la secundaria y a cerrar la brecha entre la educación primaria y secundaria y las instituciones de educación superior. Ella es un nuevo miembro de la junta directiva de YFIOB, pero ha colaborado con ellos durante 5 años a través de su trabajo en la Oficina de Educación del Condado y aprecia las múltiples oportunidades que YFIOB brinda para que los estudiantes encuentren su pasión y su camino temprano en la vida.

Su consejo a los jóvenes es que exploren pronto las opciones profesionales, sepan lo que hace falta para conseguirlo y dejen abiertas todas las oportunidades para sí mismos ahora y en el futuro.

(ella/ella) Nicole was born and raised in Watsonville, CA. She started working at Bay Federal Credit Union when she was 19 years old and a teen mom to 3 year old daughter, and has been at that job ever since. Bay Federal has their own internal certification and training programs, that has allowed her to move up in her career. She has worked at every branch of Bay Federal, but is currently the AVP Branch Manager at the largest branch in Capitola. She has won multiple Branch Manager Awards, Service Excellence Award, and Sales and Service Awards. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her three kids by going on walks, watching shows and movies, going to the beach, eating lots of yummy food, and just being together. Nicole joined YFIOB over 7+ years ago. “I feel truly blessed to work for an organization that gives back to the community and grows their employees. I got involved with YFIOB because one of my co-workers, who was sitting on the board, was relocating to a different state. She was so passionate about YFIOB, and she thought it would be a good match for me to fill in her spot. Boy, was she right! This organization is amazing, and the students’ lives that they are impacting is immeasurable. My career advice is: Look at every mistake in life as an opportunity to learn, grow, mature, and evolve. Only you, can own your destiny, so grab ahold of it and shine.

(ella/ella) Tammie Weigl nació en Nueva Jersey y se mudó al condado de Santa Cruz en 1989. Tiene una maestría en ciencias políticas de la Universidad de Drew y ha trabajado en el sector de las tecnologías de la información durante más de 35 años. Ha trabajado en el Departamento de Servicios de Información del Condado de Santa Cruz durante 24 años y ahora es la primera mujer directora del Departamento. Está comprometida con el fomento de la diversidad en la tecnología y con la forma en que las tecnologías de la información pueden mejorar la vida de los residentes del condado de Santa Cruz.

(él/lo) David is an Assistant Professor of Computational Media at UC Santa Cruz, where he directs the Tech4Good Lab. His research interests are in social computing and in designing technology that promotes flourishing in education, work, and community engagement. One of his current interests is in developing sustainable ways to link experiential learning to supporting community projects and needs (see his TEDx talk on Redesigning Our Economy to Maximize People’s Fullest Contribution). His work has received paper awards at AAAI HCOMP and ACM CHI, been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and deployed with the Finland Ministry of the Environment. He received his PhD from Stanford University and his BS from the California Institute of Technology, and he is a recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, the Accel Leadership Program Fellowship, a Magic Grant from the Brown Institute for Media Innovation, and the Baskin School of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award. In his spare time, David loves to read books, take hikes, sing worship songs, serve at his church, and hang out with his wife and three kids. He is passionate about supporting individuals in reaching their full potential and contribution, which is why he loves YFIOB’s mission and work! His advice to young people is to reflect about who you are and who you want to be (Authenticity), to engage in and be open to the opportunities you have (Attention), and to find ways to create alignment whenever possible (Alignment). congregational singing. Michael joined in Sept. of 2017 and has enjoyed being involved with this organization. “My advice to young people would be: if you can find a field about which you are passionate, and can work in that field, amazing! Enjoy and do a good job. BUT, wherever your career takes you, try to enjoy your work, be a contributing employee, and always do more than you are asked.”

(ella/ella) Julia Greenspan is a seasoned professional in the healthcare sector, with extensive experience in the medical device industry and surgical clinical settings. She is currently the Director of Sales Operations at Lazurite, Inc. and is also a co-founder of Ignite Nexus. Julia is passionate about executive coaching, career preparation, and training, bringing her expertise in these areas to help others excel in their professional journeys. Julia is actively involved with Operation Rainbow, an organization dedicated to providing free orthopedic surgery to children and adults in need.

(ella/ella)        Desha cuenta con más de 20 años de experiencia en educación y le apasiona apoyar a los estudiantes en su trayectoria profesional. Su trayectoria profesional comenzó como voluntaria en Planned Parenthood durante su último semestre en ASU. Esta experiencia la llevó a su primer empleo como Educadora de Salud Comunitaria, trabajando con poblaciones diversas en Arizona y el Área de la Bahía. Después de graduarse, trabajó en la Universidad de San Francisco como Subdirectora de Actividades Estudiantiles y en la Universidad de Hawái, Hilo, como Especialista Educativa, trabajando en una beca enfocada en estudiantes de las islas del Pacífico. Trabajó durante cuatro años como Coordinadora de Empleo Estudiantil en Cabrillo y ha sido Directora de Desarrollo Profesional durante los últimos tres años.

(ella/ella) Amy was born in Santa Clara, California, and lived in San Jose, California until she was 3 three years old. At fifteen, Amy began attending Santa Cruz High and graduated from SHS in 1990 where she then continued her education at Cabrillo College and then transferred to San Diego State University. Amy studied Early Childhood Education in college and worked for After School Daycare in the before and after school daycare program as a teacher working with K-6 grade children. After college, Amy became a Recruiter for the local staffing company Express Professionals where she met and husband Jeremy, a certified arborist. Amy and Jeremy started to start a tree service company, Nature First Tree Care in partnership with another couple that has been successfully acquired by Davey Tree. After the acquisition of their business, Amy became a contractor with Central California Alliance for Health working in recruitment. Amy currently works at Graniterock as the Environmental Services Administrator. Before working at Graniterock, Amy worked in the Small Business Development Center at Cabrillo College which provides free advising to small business owners in Santa Cruz County. Amy is a continuous learner who received her notary certification last year and is currently enrolled in Spanish and a business class at Cabrillo, to become bi-lingual by the end of 2020. Amy joined YFIOB in December of 2019 and feels passionate about helping youth and this organization aligns with her ability to help support them with their career paths. “My advice for young people is to use the resources available to help you on your journey to finding the career you love. Reach out to your counselors for advice and do the work needed to get you to your goals. Share your goals with a friend, they can help you keep them.”

(ella/ella) Nisha was born in London and moved to the United States at the age of 1. She was raised in Santa Cruz and attended UCSC and later graduated from UC Davis. As a teen, Nisha worked at the Boardwalk for Whiting’s Food Concessions and later for a local Pharmacy in Aptos. After graduating, she worked for the County Parks Department as a Recreation Leader and later for the Human Services Department as an Employment Training Specialist for the Summer Youth Program. Nisha has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development with a minor in Sociology and Education and has been working in the human resources field for over 20 years with the County of Santa Cruz. Nisha is a certified Selection Analyst with CA State Personnel Board and is a Credentialed CA County Senior Executive with the CA State Association of Counties. She is currently working towards her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification. Nisha enjoys spending time with her family and has served on the G-Ball Board (local girls basketball league) and has been an active member of the Bhartiya Cultural Association where she engages in many Indian traditional activities. Nisha joined YFIOB in 2016 to help youth explore various career opportunities especially in the government sector. Her advice to youth is “Maintain a positive outlook as you are exploring life to find the right career for yourself…build a large network to increase your resources.” Her advice to young people (like herself)? Sometimes dreaming big starts with something small: finishing your resume, sending an email to a prospective employer, growing your network by just one person. Focus on building these habits and eventually you’ll find that the little things add up in a gran camino.

(él/lo) Dante Searcy was born and raised in Sacramento, CA. Throughout his elementary through high school years, he participated in numerous speech competitions and developed a passion for public speaking. When he graduated from high school, he enrolled in an exchange student program where he lived in Panama for a year, attended La Universidad de Panama, and also learned to speak Spanish fluently. He is a first-generation college student who received his BA in Spanish from University of the Pacific, his Master’s of Science in Administration from CSU Bakersfield, and is currently pursuing his Juris Doctorate at Monterey College of Law. Dante served in the U.S. Navy from 2008 to 2013 as a Farsi translator. He is now working as a Human Resources Generalist for Joby Aviation. In his free time, Dante enjoys participating in book clubs, riding his bike, and public speaking. “My advice to young people is based on my favorite quote from Bill Gates: ‘Most people over estimate what they can accomplish in one year, and underestimate what they can accomplish in 10 years.’ If a job is hard at the beginning, give yourself time to learn it and master it. You may surprise yourself with what you’re actually capable of accomplishing if you’re willing to be patient with yourself. I would also encourage young people seek out mentors who can guide you on your career journey, especially if you are first in your family to pursue advanced education or a particular career field. Asking for help and allowing yourself to be vulnerable is a sign of strength.”

(ella/ella) Como enfermera de más de 30 años, me apasiona el campo de la medicina. Con una especialización principal en Cuidados Críticos Cardiovasculares, también he trabajado en otras áreas de la enfermería como Urgencias/Centros de Trauma, Cirugía, y finalmente he pasado la última década en Educación. Con la diversidad que se encuentra en una carrera médica, estoy feliz de asociarme con YFIOB y hablar con aquellos interesados en unirse al campo de la medicina para explorar más a fondo las muchas opciones disponibles.En el lado personal, tengo 3 hijos adultos (y 3 perros 😊) y estoy en una relación comprometida durante los últimos 18 años. Originario de Florida, he vivido en el oeste de Nueva York y Arizona, pero ahora disfrutar de la vida en La Selva Beach. Me parece que la belleza del condado de Santa Cruz y la costa central de California es incomparable. Estoy deseando promover la asistencia sanitaria en esta zona y espero influir en el crecimiento de nuestro hermoso condado. Agradezco esta oportunidad.

(ella/ella) Born and raised in Portage, Michigan (Kalamazoo area). I attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mi. Continued my education at Cabrillo College and received my Early Childhood Education Certification. I also acquired a SPHR (Senior Professional Human Resources) accreditation. Director of the After School Day Care, Inc now called Campus Kids Connection, Inc, HR for McDowell’s Group Homes, West Marine, Threshold Enterprise and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for almost 30 years. Employment Manager at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk from 1995 – 2020. After Covid Lay-Off in July 2020, 10 months later I returned as Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist. Recruitment is my specialty. When did you join YFIOB and why? I joined officially 9/2021. I joined because my work involves recruiting youth to work at the Boardwalk. Through the years, I am proud of the tens of thousands of youth in our community while working at the Beach Boardwalk have developed career and life skills. I have witnessed so many young people through work find strength and a confidence they never knew they had. Lighting the fire in a young person is miraculous and rewarding. Be open to possibilities. I had a very circuitous route to finding a career I loved. It took time and I did many jobs prior that helped me to develop my interest which led to other opportunities. So stay open, don’t feel like you have to know what your career looks like right now. Unless of course you know what you want to do. Go to college……it can be a vocational school or a community college or a 4-year and beyond. But try school and take classes that inspire you. Oftentimes this leads to discovery of interests you never knew about. It is OK to feel confused, insecure…..unworthy….you are not alone. This is normal and with time you can slowly shift out of this….it takes patience…..say “yes’ to things more than “no”. Find people you trust and admire and ask them questions about their career path. There is not one answer for all situations. You have your own unique perspective and gift. No one else is YOU. Appreciate YOU…..and give yourself a little positive talk to get that engine running. Your family, your community needs all of you.

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Margie nació en Santa Cruz. El hospital de West Cliff Drive estaba muy cerca de donde trabaja a diario. Es exalumna de la Escuela Primaria Holy Cross, la Preparatoria Harbor y la Universidad Estatal de San José.

Margie es copropietaria de Whiting's Foods, el mayor proveedor de servicios de comida del paseo marítimo de Santa Cruz Beach y el Kaiser Arena. Supervisa todo lo relacionado con las PERSONAS (contratación, capacitación y motivación).

Margie pertenece a la tercera generación del negocio, fundado por su abuelo y su padre en 1953. Está enormemente orgullosa de las oportunidades laborales que ha brindado a tantos jóvenes locales durante 70 años.

Su objetivo es que los empleados de Whiting se sientan valorados, adquieran habilidades laborales y para la vida, desarrollen un sentido de responsabilidad y aprendan a trabajar bien con todo tipo de personas. Ha visto de primera mano, a través de generaciones de empleados, que los puestos de nivel inicial pueden conducir a cualquier carrera profesional. Ve cómo el trabajo duro puede ser divertido y gratificante, y que las habilidades para la vida y las amistades para toda la vida son más valiosas que cualquier sueldo.

Margie ha dirigido muchos programas de motivación y formación que han ganado premios del sector. Desarrolla constantemente programas para formar, educar y motivar a los adolescentes y jóvenes de hoy en día.

Margie ha apoyado a Your Future is OUr Business durante la última década, pero se unió a la Junta en 2021. Ella cree firmemente en TODO el increíble trabajo de la organización, especialmente en que muchas trayectorias profesionales pueden comenzar desde ese primer trabajo.

Me comprometo a ayudar a los jóvenes a comprender el valor del trabajo para su salud mental, física y emocional. ¡Pueden pasar tantas cosas buenas cuando consigues un trabajo... mucho más allá de un sueldo!

(ella/ella) Jane immigrated to the United States as a child and has spent her adult years in California and upstate New York. She graduated with a BS in Genetics and a BA in Psychology from UC Davis, where she was particularly interested in the genetics of plant drought and salinity tolerance. Working as a strawberry breeder in the Pajaro Valley since 2014, she is continuously amazed by the vibrancy and potential of Monterey Bay in the areas of agricultural excellence, nature conservancy, and building and nurturing thriving communities. Jane is passionate about science communication and encouraging local engagement with agriculture research and development, including emerging technologies and sustainability. In her free time, she enjoys reading about ancient civilizations, playing the piano, drawing and painting, putting together IKEA furniture for friends, and encouraging homeowners to replace their ice plants with native species.