Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley Logo

Locations, Staff, & Board

Locations

We are proud to serve more than 60% of the youth in Sonoma Valley at our seven different locations.

Maxwell Clubhouse (Our main clubhouse)
Maxwell Farms Regional Park
100 W. Verano Avenue
Sonoma, CA 95476
Serving grades K through 8th

Yair “Yaya” Alvarez, Program Director
Call/Text: 707-210-2519
[email protected]

Hours of Operations:
End of the School Day to 6:30 pm

El Verano Elementary School Site
18606 Riverside Dr
Sonoma, CA 95476
Serving grades K through 5th

Arlene Roman, Program Director
Call/Text: 707-312-4684
[email protected]

Hours of Operations:
End of the School Day to 6:00 pm


Flowery Elementary School Site
17600 Sonoma Highway
Sonoma, CA 95476
Serving grades K through 5th

Jenni Martinez, Program Director
Call/Text: 707-312-4684
[email protected]

Hours of Operations:
End of the School Day to 6:00 pm


Sassarini Elementary School Site
652 Fifth Street West
Sonoma, CA 95476
Serving grades K through 5th

Bianca Gutierrez, Program Director
Call/Text: 707-299-8223
[email protected]

Hours of Operations:
End of School Day to 6:00


Altimira Middle School Site
17805 Arnold Dr
Sonoma, CA 95476
Serving grades 6th through 8th

Chantavy Tornado, Program Director
707-721-2497
[email protected]

Hours of Operations:
End of School Day to 6:00 PM



Sonoma Charter School Site
17202 Sonoma Hwy
Sonoma, CA 95476
Serving grades K through 5th

Jojo Sanchez, Area Director
707-721-2497
[email protected]

Hours of Operations:
End of School Day to 6:00 PM

Sonoma Charter School opens Monday November 7th


Teen Services Sonoma
17440 Sonoma Highway
Sonoma, CA 95476
Main Line: 707.931.6961
Club Cell: 707-775-1284
Serving grades 9th through 12th

Eric Gonzalez, VP of Teen Services
707-931-6961 x101
[email protected]

Alixya Soto, Director of Teen Programs
Call/Text: 707-775-1284
[email protected]

Erin Shallat, Lovin’ Oven Culinary Academy Culinary Nutritionist
[email protected]

Alejandro Jacobo Sanabria, College & Career Manager
Call/Text: 707-775-1284
[email protected]

School Year Hours of Operation:
3:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
2:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Wednesday

Summer Hours of Operation:
12:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Monday – Friday

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Meet the dynamic leadership team committed to supporting Sonoma Valley youth in reaching their full potential!

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Executive Leadership Team

Cary SNOWDEN, President & CEO
(707) 938-8544 x107
[email protected]

Eric Gonzalez, VP of Teen Services
(707) 931-6961
[email protected]

Proud BGCSV Alumni. Once a Club kid, always a Club kid.

Dawn Holman, VP of Operations
(707) 938-8544 x103
[email protected]

Michael Irvine, VP of Development & MARKETING
(707) 938-8544 x104
[email protected]

Proud BGCSV Alumni. Once a Club kid, always a Club kid.

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Senior Leadership Team

JOJO SANCHEZ, Sr. DIRECTOR OF YOUTH SERVICES
(707) 938-8544 x111
[email protected]

Cassie Oaks, Sr. Director of Program Quality & Training
(707) 938-8544 x111
[email protected]

Proud BGCSV Alumni. Once a Club kid, always a Club kid.

Brooke Padgett, Sr. Director of Child & Club Safety  
(707) 938-8544 x114
[email protected]

Proud BGCSV Alumni. Once a Club kid, always a Club kid.

ALIXYA SOTO, SR. DIRECTOR OF TEEN PROGRAMS
Call/Text: (707) 775-1284
[email protected]

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BGCSV Team

Meet the passionate and dedicated team committed to supporting Sonoma Valley youth in reaching their full potential!

YAYA ALVAREZ, Director of Youth Programs – Maxwell Clubhouse
Call/Text: (707) 210-2519
[email protected]

Proud BGCSV Alumni. Once a Club kid, always a Club kid.

NATALIE GODDARD, MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN
[email protected]

KARINA ECHEVERRIA, PROGRAM DIRECTOR – SONOMA CHARTER SCHOOL
Call/Text: (707) 721-2497
[email protected]

BIANCA GUTIERREZ, PROGRAM DIRECTOR – SASSARINI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Call/Text: (707) 299-8223
[email protected]

CRYSTAL HELMER, Director of events
(707) 938-8544 X113
[email protected]

MAIA LAZARUS, HR Manager
(707) 938-8544 X112
[email protected]

Jenni Martinez, PROGRAM DIRECTOR – FLOWERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Call/Text: (707) 299-8589
[email protected]

KATIE OVANDO, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Call/Text: (707) 210-7898
[email protected]

ADRIAN PALENCHAR, OPERATION BICYCLE MANAGER
Call/Text: (707) 343-7223
[email protected]

ARLEnE ROMAN, Program Director – El Verano Elementary School
Call/Text: (707) 312-4684
[email protected]

CHANTAVY TORNADO, PROGRAM DIRECTOR – ALTIMIRA MIDDLE SCHOOL
(707) 779-9936
[email protected]

NATALIE WALLACE, Literacy program director
(707) 938-8544
[email protected]

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Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is a highly dedicated group of volunteers who oversee the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley's mission, purpose, and policies. Every member of our board has set an example of generous financial support and brings a unique set of skills and expertise to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley.

Jay Rooke – BOARD CHAIR, safety chair

Proud BGC Alumni. Once a Club kid, always a Club kid.

A member of Forbes Coaches Council, Jay Rooke, J.D., is a trained executive and business coach who resides in Sonoma. Jay spent the first half of his life on the East Coast where he worked as a toxic tort litigator for the City of New York, as well as helping Merck pharmaceuticals launch the first-ever anticancer vaccine. He attended culinary school in New York City, and later opened his own restaurant in California. Prior to coaching, he most recently worked for NBC Sports; he also has experience working in the clean tech, sustainability and wine industries. Jay is the Co-Founder of GivingKicks.com, a charitable initiative to provide 1,000 shoes to 1,000 underprivileged kids when they go back to school in the fall.

kATHY bLOCH – Vice chair

Kathy retired from the practice of law in 2013. She served as the General Counsel of a technology company in San Jose and previously was a partner at the law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Palo Alto. Kathy received her J.D. from Stanford Law School and has served as Chair of the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors. She received the Stanford Governors’ Award for service to Stanford University in 2017. Since retiring, Kathy has enjoyed volunteering with a number of organizations, from reading with Sassarini Elementary School first-graders, to tutoring Sonoma residents studying to take the U.S. citizenship exam, to serving as a docent at Sonoma’s historic State Park. She also serves on Impact100 Sonoma and Girl Scouts of Northern California and is a former board member of Teen Services Sonoma.

marney malik – TREASURER

With husband Shah, moved to Sonoma in 2016 from Vancouver, WA to be closer to kids and grand-kids, who all live in Sonoma. One of the founders, and a former Executive Officer of the Greenbrier Companies, Inc. a NYSE listed company, where I held various senior management positions over my 30+ year career, primarily focused on finance, risk management, business development and mergers and acquisitions. Served on the Board of Directors of Easter Seals Oregon for 13 years, including as Treasurer. Was a 10-year student sponsor through Marathon Education Partners, a non profit that pairs gifted but economically and socially challenged students with a mentor and a direct college bound financial support system. Currently serve on the Board of Directors of Impact 100 as Treasurer and former Board Member and Treasurer of Teen Services Sonoma.

Larry Krieger – SECRETARY

Krieger has lived in Sonoma since 2000 and has served on the Club’s Board since 2005 as VP of Strategic Planning and Governance. A lifelong tennis player, Krieger is the General Manager of the Bay Club in Marin, a former board president of the International Health and Racquet Sports Association, and a member of the Advisory Board of The Tennis Hall of Fame. He has represented the US in 10 senior team matches in the UK, Mexico, France, and Canada. Larry is married to the lovely Virginia Krieger, who works for the Sonoma Valley International Film Festival.

windee smith – immediate part chair

Before moving to Sonoma in 2002, Windee Smith had a restaurant and a wine store in San Francisco for many years. She was most recently the owner of The Valley Wine Shack in Sonoma. Not long after moving here, she became aware of The Club and its positive impact on the community. After seeing how many families feel the impact of The Club’s programs, she was committed to serving The Club in any capacity. She feels that being a member of the Board and the Marketing Committee allows her to serve not only The Club, but also the community, and The club is such an integral part of Sonoma.

George Arabian

George has devoted thirty-five years of his career to senior management in the technology sector, specializing in crafting growth strategies and executing revenue plans for companies that played a pivotal role in shaping the Internet landscape. Under his leadership, teams executed strategic initiatives both domestically and internationally for innovative high-growth technology companies, yielding successful outcomes, including three (3) NASDAQ IPOs and two (2) profitable exits through acquisitions. Additionally, George serves as the founder and Managing Partner at Steelhead Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund.

In 2017, George and his wife, Ann, relocated from Marin County to Sonoma/Glen Ellen, where they have both actively engaged with the local community. George serves on the Board of Jack London Park Partners and leads the Advisory Council responsible for establishing the inaugural Jack London Park Digital tour. His deep-seated commitment lies in creating opportunities for the younger generation, exemplified by his collaboration with Eric Gonzales at Teen Services, where they developed workshops centered on “Entrepreneurship and Career Opportunities in the Technology Sector.” Additionally, George takes great pride in his role as a board member at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley.

DOUG hanford

Doug grew up in Sonoma Valley attending public schools and is a graduate of UC Berkeley with a BA in Landscape Architecture.  A licensed Landscape Architect and General Engineering Contractor, Doug is the founder and president of Hanford ARC, a general engineering construction firm founded in 1984 specializing in large scale stream and wetland restoration projects.

Doug has served for 6 years on the Sonoma County Planning Department Design Review Board, 14 Years on the Sonoma County Agricultural and Open Space Advisory Committee, and 7 years on Sonoma Valley Teen Services Board developing employment skills and job opportunities for teens.

Katie Holden

Katie currently works at Friedman’s Home Improvement at the headquarters office in Petaluma as Leadership Team Administrator. In her role she is responsible for: managing all internal communications, planning corporate events and meetings, managing the office, and providing administrative support for the President and Leadership team. Katie previously worked as the Project Manager for Carleton Group managing the installation of medical casework and equipment for large medical office buildings and hospitals in the Bay Area. She also previously worked as the Director of Development and Director of Marketing & Events at Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley for nearly 10 years. Katie was born and raised in Sonoma. She graduated from Chico State with a BA in Communications.

Jennifer powers

Bio coming soon.

STUART PRICE

Bio coming soon.

oz robledo

Bio coming soon.

Connie Sangiacomo

Connie Sangiacomo was born and raised in Huntington Beach, California. She attended Mater Dei Catholic High School in Santa Ana, California and continued her studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder graduating with a BA in English. After her college career, Connie moved back to Southern California and began her career working in Los Angeles as a Casting Associate for feature films. She spent the next six years working for various Corporations including Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Brothers and directors/producers such as Anthony Minghella and Jerry Bruckheimer. After moving to Sonoma in 2002 she shifted focus and began work as a corporate sales manager for Villagio Inn & Spa and Vintage Inn located in Yountville. Working there for four years Connie received Villagio and Vintage Inn’s Exceptional Leadership Award in 2005. It was also in 2002 when Connie developed a passion for charity work. For several years, she worked closely with committee members to organize the first annual Fertile Hope Gala. Fertile Hope is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to providing reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients and survivors whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility. Today this organization is a part of the Lance Armstrong foundation known as Livestrong Fertility. Connie’s charitable work continued with Queen of the Valley Hospital Foundation, Saint Francis Solano Church and School and most notably, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley. The Sweetheart Gala & Auction is the largest annual event for Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley and critical funds are raised at this Event to support their operating budget. Connie worked for 8 years on the committee assisting in the planning of this Event in various capacities. She co-chaired the Event for 3 years working to build momentum around the Event and increasing the event revenue through tickets sales and sponsorships. Connie lives in Sonoma with her husband Steve Sangiacomo and her boys Drew (11) and Sam (9).

Robyn Sebastiani

Bio coming soon.

MELISSA BUCKLEY VAIO

Proud BGCSV Alumni. Once a Club kid, always a Club kid.

Having moved to Sonoma at the age of 2, Melissa is deeply rooted in Sonoma Valley. After graduating from UCSC, she worked and traveled for a year in the Torres Straights, Australia before moving back to Sonoma to work as a licensed agent in the Life & Health Insurance Industry. Shortly after having her twins, Melissa quit her job to support her husband’s burgeoning plumbing business. Melissa and her husband Bart, have 3 children, Lucas, Georgia, and Josephine all of who have participated in various BGCSV programs since very young ages. Melissa previously served as Treasurer for the Diamond A Recreation Association and as the President & Co-President of the Presentation School Parent Association. Melissa is deeply committed to supporting the young people in our community.

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