Speaker Biographies

Daniel Wallach is a businessman, and social entrepreneur who has spent his life developing ideas to help the world. He has had an unconventional life, he barely made it out of high school and dropped out of college to pursue a dream of becoming an independently wealthy businessman and philanthropist. After his first business venture (a restaurant) failed, he decided to go right to being a philanthropist and became the founding Director of the Colorado Association of Nonprofit Organizations. After a successful tenure there Mr. Wallach became ill and unable to work for many years and became a student of philosophy, religion and natural healing. In 2003 Daniel and his wife moved to rural Kansas to continue healing work and “get away from it all”. In 2007 a tornado brought to his doorstep a new life helping to reimagine and rebuild Greensburg, Kansas.

Daniel and his wife founded Greensburg GreenTown, a nonprofit organization which has worked with the town to help craft a vision for the community and then help bring that vision to fruition.

Mr. Wallach has been quoted in dozens of publications and media outlets including Time Magazine, USA Today, CNN, New York Times and on ABC and NBC morning shows. He was honored with the distinction of being one of 15 people profiled in the United States Green Building Council “15 years, 15 stories video and annual report to mark its 15 year anniversary. In February of 2009, President Barack Obama quoted Daniel when citing Greensburg in his joint address to Congress.

Mr. Wallach is currently writing a book with Hatherleigh Press titled “GreenTown USA” which is scheduled for release in the Winter of 2009.

Ellen Jones Bauer is Program Manager at the Sonoma County Department of Health Services for the Health Action initiative. Health Action is a diverse group of community leaders convened to identify priority health and health care issues in Sonoma County and to develop specific recommendations on local approaches to promote the health of our community and improve the health care delivery system.  Prior to this assignment she managed the Department’s alcohol and other drug, tobacco, and HIV prevention programs, where she worked to develop and implement a range of community-based prevention programs in partnership with community partners. 

Before coming to Sonoma County she had over 20 years of experience designing and implementing national and community-level health program evaluations.  She has led research and evaluation on a wide range of health issues, including sales of sodas in schools, diabetes/hypertension, asthma, long-term care services and insurance, and implementation and outcomes (quality, utilization and cost) of managed Medicaid for both acute and long-term care services. 

She earned a BA in Economics from Stanford, a Masters of Public Policy, Graduate School of Public Policy, University of California at Berkeley, and a Ph.D., Health Services and Policy Analysis, University of California at Berkeley.  She was also awarded several pre- and post-doctoral fellowships from the National Institute on Aging and the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.

She has lived in the Sebastopol since 1999 with her 3 children and husband.

Karen Fies is the director of the Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) as well as the director of the Employment & Training Division with the Sonoma County Human Services Department.  Karen’s key responsibilities include management of the SonomaWORKs eligibility and welfare-to-work programs, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program, and budget for CalWORKs, WIA and special grants (approx. $24M annually).  In addition, Karen directs the staff support for Sonoma County’s 55-member WIB.  Karen has oversight for 110 staff in the Employment & Training Division.

Employed by the Sonoma County Human Services Department since 1986, Karen has over 20 years of experience in employment and training programs for a variety of target populations.   Karen was a key developer of Sonoma County’s welfare reform efforts and strives to build partnerships and develop programs to improve workforce development opportunities for all residents of Sonoma County.

Karen earned a Bachelors of Science degree from the University of California, Davis and a Masters of Public Administration degree from Sonoma State University.

Laura Goldman is VP of marketing and human relations at Solar Works, where she has been a “problem solver and people person” since Solar Works began in 1986. Laura serves as a link to clients, our community and the world at large.She develops and edits written materials and copy, designs solar outreach events, and helps build the Solar Works team so they are happy and productive. Outside Solar Works, Laura is a consultant to community-based organizations and agencies, and other clients in the US and internationally. An educator with a Master of Arts in Medical Anthropology, Laura is also a bi-lingual link between English and Spanish-speaking communities. She is on the faculty at Santa Rosa Junior College, where she teaches Community Health Workers in the Health Sciences Department. Laura also is a community activist in peace, health-related and environmental issues and serves on the Board of Directors of West County Health Centers. In her spare time, Laura enjoys hiking, the outdoors, being in the garden and solar-heated hot tub, practicing tai chi, connecting with friends and family, andexploring the world.

Lyman Bo Greaves, M.D. is a practicing family physician in our community since 1987, currently a member of Sutter Medical Group of the Redwoods.  She has long believed that a healthy health system must have a solid foundation in a vibrant system of primary care.  For the last 2 years Ms Greaves has been a member of Health Action in Sonoma County, and co-chair the Primary Care Work Group.  She says, "We face a crossroads in our community.  In order for primary care to survive here, we must transform how we deliver care, becoming more accessible and convenient for patients.  At the same time, patients must learn how to become active partners in their own healthcare team.  This transformation of primary care is one of my professional passions."

Susan Gorin  was selected as Mayor in December, 2008.  In June, 2008 she replaced John Sawyer as Vice Mayor until November, 2008.  She was elected to the City Council in November, 2006.

Before being elected to the Council, she served as a Santa Rosa Planning Commissioner.  In addition, she has chaired or been a member of many other organizations and agencies, including the Santa Rosa School Board, Santa Rosa Board of Public Utilities, and the Santa Rosa Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

Areas of primary focus include planning for our City’s future, preservation of our natural resources, expanded public transit and safe bicycle and pedestrian transportation, and citizen participation.

Grayson James is Executive Director of Petaluma Bounty, a community based organization creating a more sustainable Petaluma Food System with healthy food for everyone.  Former CEO of Independent Learning Schools (a six campus private school system in the San Francisco Bay Area), Grayson also served as first executive director of COTS’ (Committee On The Shelterless) in the early 1990s. 
Over much of the past twenty years he has worked as a management consultant specializing in executive and management team collaboration and performance improvement with organizations throughout the U.S., Latin America and in Europe.  Since 2000, he has worked with organizations to improve their sustainability performance.  He served on the Steering Team for Santa Rosa’s green building program and formed the City of Petaluma’s Green Team and green building program in 2006. 
Grayson holds a 4th degree black belt and teaches the martial art of Aikido, and lives in Petaluma with his wife, son, dog, chickens and several pet gophers.

Dr. Mary Maddux-González completed her medical studies at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City and holds a Diploma in Human Nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.  Earning her Masters in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley, she completed her residency training at the Santa Rosa Family Practice Residency Program.

Dr. Maddux-González is an Assistant Clinical Professor with UCSF.  She currently serves as Sonoma County Health Officer and Public Health Division Director. Prior to becoming Health Officer in 2000, she was the Community Medicine Coordinator for the Santa Rosa Family Practice Residency Program and worked as a family practice physician at local community and public health clinics. 

Evelyn Rangel – Medina was born in Zacatecas, Mexico.  She attained a Bachelors’ ofArts in Women’s Studies, Political Science: International Relations and English: Theory, Literature and Composition from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  In 2006, she led the largest grassroots political mobilization in Nevada—shutting down the Las Vegas Strip, while coordinating a statewide economic boycott to fight for the human rights of undocumented immigrants.  Later, she was elected president of the United Coalition for Immigrant Rights (U.C.I.R.).  Prior to coming to the Ella Baker Center, she was the 2008-2009 Sustainable Development Fellow at the Greenlining Institute.  As Policy Director of the Green-Collar Jobs Campaign, she focuses on creating a green economy strong enough to lift all communities out of poverty.

Sal Vaca currently serves as the Director of the City of Richmond’s Employment & Training Department andExecutive Director of the Richmond Workforce Investment Board.  He oversees 15 employment and training programs for the City of Richmond including the nationally recognized Richmond BUILLD pre-apprenticeship construction skills and solar installation training program.  Mr. Vaca has over 25 years experience in directing and managing employment and training programs and has established a track record for developing and implementing innovative and effective private/public partnerships.

Mr. Vaca graduated Magna Cum Laude from San Jose State University with a B.A in Social Welfare and a Minor in Business Management.

Carl Wong is a first generation Chinese-American. His mother was born in Shanghai and his father’s family came from the southern provinces of China. As a young boy, he lived in the federal housing projects in Vallejo,where his father was employed at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Prior to starting kindergarten, Dr. Wong was bilingual in Mandarin and Cantonese. Although he now speaks only English fluently, he has maintained a passion for authentic Chinese food.
Carl Wong recalls enjoying junior high and high school, but readily admits he was a less than stellar academic student. Upon graduation from Napa High School in 1965, he took the civil service exam and served a four-year apprenticeship as a machinist at the Mare Island Shipyard, becoming a journeyman machinist in 1969. He completed his lower division coursework at night school through Napa Community College, then transferred to Chico State University to major in industrial technology.
Dr. Wong received his teaching credential and master’s degree in 1972 and began his career in education as an industrial arts teacher at Helix High School in San Diego County’s Grossmont Union High School District. During his 25-year tenure with the Grossmont district, he served as a high school teacher, guidance counselor, ROP coordinator, continuation school principal, high school principal, and assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. During this time, he earned his doctoral degree in education from Northern Arizona University.
In 1997, Wong returned to Northern California to become superintendent of Petaluma City Schools, the second largest school district in Sonoma County. He held this position until 2002, when he was elected Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools. He is now in his second term as County Superintendent.
Carl Wong is a Board of Supervisors' appointee to the Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board. He serves on the Sonoma County Youth Education and Employment Council, United Way of Sonoma-Mendocino-Lake board of directors, and Santa Rosa Mayor's Gang Task Force. He is an active community speaker, a strong supporter of the arts, and an advocate for children of all ethnic backgrounds.