First 5 Fresno County

Kendra Rogers, MPA

Executive Director

Kendra Rogers oversees a staff of 19 and is charged with providing oversight for how the Commission distributes funding in Fresno County.

“With revenues dwindling, there are challenges in meeting the needs of our youngest children,” Kendra said.  “But despite these challenges, First 5 Fresno County continues to be that strong voice that advocates for children and we remain committed to funding vital programs and services.”

Commissioners appointed her First 5 Fresno County’s top leader in August 2009 saying it was important to find someone who had a track record of being an effective, efficient, and dynamic leader.

Kendra brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position.  She was one of the first people hired when the agency was created more than10 years ago.  She started as a program coordinator and then rose through the ranks as a development director and deputy director. 

She holds a Master’s in Public Administration from California State University, Dominquez Hills and a Bachelors in Law & Society from University of California, Santa Barbara.  Kendra grew up in Fresno County and has chosen to raise her family here in the valley.  She and her husband are the parents to two young children. 

Being active in her community is something Kendra is passionate about.  She serves as a Board of Director for the Animal Rescue of Fresno and the Fresno National Women’s Political Caucus.  In addition, she was also recently appointed by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to Fresno’s Commission on the Status on Women.

For her leadership and efforts in the community, Kendra was selected as one of the 2009 Top Ten Professional Women of the Year for Fresno County and received a Child Advocacy Award in 2010.

Kendra can be reached at krogers@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-6515.

Courtney Shapiro, MPA

Special Projects Officer

Courtney Shapiro has been with the Commission since 2007 and is the Special Projects Officer. She earned her Master’s in Public Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills and her Bachelors in Communications from Notre Dame de Namur University.

In high school, Courtney was named Congressman David Dreier’s Youth Volunteer of the Year, for volunteering over 2400 hours. She believes that service is the key to building a stronger community. As one of her many projects at First 5, she currently oversees the First 5 AmeriCorps members, which allows her to stay connected to her service roots. That is why she loves working for First 5 Fresno County.

“I know that collaboration and hard work between organizations can truly make a difference for our children,” said Courtney.

As a former non-profit development manager, Courtney knows how important service provider’s roles are within our community. She believes that we all have a responsibility to provide support for one another in order to invest in our children’s future.

Courtney and her husband Josh are the proud parents of two vibrant young girls (Brooklynblair 5 and Taylor 2).

“It wasn’t until I had my own children did I realize how important the role my parents and community played in my development,” said Courtney.

Courtney can be reached at cshapiro@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-6564.
 

Zoua Vang, MA

Communications Director

As a former journalist, Zoua traveled all over the country and world to tell stories.  She covered the closing of the last Hmong refugee camp in Thailand and was in New York City to document the anniversary of the September 11th bombing.  However, none of these experiences impacted her as profoundly as having children.  In 2005, Zoua joined First 5 Fresno County to create its Communications Department. 

Zoua said, “I knew I was doing something ‘good’ but I had no personal understanding of the critical importance of the work.  After the birth of my two children, I realized my life’s work would not solely be judged by the tasks I performed, but also by the type of children I send into the world.” 

Her family relied on public assistance and Zoua and her six siblings grew up in the public housing projects in Southeast Fresno.  She says her parents didn’t have much but they invested time and love in their children, hoping for a big return.  It paid off.  Seven of their children are college graduates, three were valedictorians, two were journalists, one is a medical doctor and there is a lawyer in training.  Zoua feels her family is an example of what can be achieved if our community invests wisely in children. 

She holds a Master of Arts in Mass Communication and Journalism from California State University, Fresno.  She earned Bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and History from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.  Prior to joining First 5 Fresno County, Zoua spent a decade in television working as a reporter at KSEE (NBC), KSTP (ABC) and on Hmong television shows in Fresno and Minneapolis/St. Paul. 

Zoua can be reached at zvang@first5fresno.org559 241-7443.

Fabiola Gonzalez

Policy & Communications Officer

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco-Mexico and immigrating to the United States as a teenager, Fabiola González understands first-hand the struggles, hopes and dreams of immigrant families working toward a better future for their children. Fabiola is an only-child raised by three nurturing women; her single mother, an aunt, and her grandmother. “I am extremely grateful to the women that raised me and showed me by example the value of family, education, and determination,” says Fabiola.

Resulting from her life’s experiences as a young immigrant woman, Fabiola developed a passion for social and systems change often speaking up and standing in solidarity with disenfranchised populations like immigrants and farm workers. She went on to graduate with honors from California State University Fresno with a B.A. in Sociology and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management.

Fabiola has worked for a community agency addressing the needs of low-income families, a political campaign, a legal services office, a congressional district office, and a public policy institute. By far, her most important position yet is that of being the mother of two girls, Yamilhet and Alehxa and sharing the wonders of parenting with her husband, Saúl.

Fabiola is determined to continue working to improve the quality of life of children in Fresno County and bring to the forefront the importance of a community coming together to raise the next generation.

Fabiola can be reached at fgonzalez@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-7444.
 

Elizabeth Campos

Communications Specialist

Elizabeth Campos joined the Commission in October of 2009 as its office assistant and was promoted shortly after to become First 5 Fresno County’s Communications Specialist. 

Elizabeth was raised in a rural farming community near Guadalajara, Mexico.  At the age of eight, her family immigrated to the United States in search of opportunities that would improve their lives.  Elizabeth began a journey of bilingual and bicultural experiences that continues to strengthen and shape the person she has become.  As a student at California State University of Fresno, she was one of fifteen scholars selected to take part in a National Science Foundation-Research Experience for Undergraduates program in Cuernavaca, Mexico.  She became a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and received her B.A. in Cultural Anthropology and Chicano/Latin American Studies in 2006. 

After graduating college with an improved understanding of diverse populations and cultures, Elizabeth served as an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer to assist at-risk youth and their families by providing them with the necessary resources to help them succeed in school, at work, home and in their communities.  Her two year commitment as a volunteer strengthened her passion for service to others.   

Elizabeth can be reached at ecampos@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-6511.     

Emilia Reyes, MBA

Finance Director

Emilia Reyes comes from a migrant farm working family and was born and raised in Mendota.  Emilia knows the struggles of growing up in a rural community.  From those early experiences she learned that hard work and determination allowed her to overcome tough circumstances and excel in education earning a BA from UC Santa Cruz and an MBA from Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Emilia has been with First 5 Fresno County for seven years and is presently the Finance Director for the agency. Her number one joy in life is her son Raymond. Raymond is a vibrant young boy that was diagnosed with Autism at the age of four.

"Having a son with Autism has given me a better appreciation of the little things.  The small accomplishments to some parents are huge milestones in our lives," said Emilia.

Working at First 5 Fresno has been very useful when it comes to providing the right intervention for her son. As most parents, she was confused on where to go and what to do, but was able to access the services and resources that First 5 Fresno County offers to all families. These services have been instrumental in Raymond's development and growth.

If Emilia could give advice to all parents that suspect that their child may have a special need it would be, "Early screening, assessment, and intervention are critical so follow your instinct when it comes to the development of your child." She believes this is the key to the foundation of their success.

Emilia can be reached at ereyes@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-6536.   

Michael Shubin

Finance Officer

Michael Shubin grew up in the Central Valley.  He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Fresno.  Michael has been with First 5 Fresno County serving as the Finance Officer for three years.  Prior to coming to First 5 Fresno County, Michael worked in the Human Services Finance Division at Fresno County. 

Michael teams up with the Program Officers and works on program budgets and reviews financial reports for Service Providers.  He especially enjoys conducting fiscal site visits. 

“Being able to go and see each program and how they work is my favorite part”, says Michael.  “You get a better understanding of what a program is about and the challenges they face.”

He enjoys watching sports and traveling with his wife.  He is active in basketball and indoor soccer leagues.

Michael can be reached at mshubin@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-6513.

Vianey Chairez

Finance Specialist

Vianey joined the Commission in December 2004 as a Program Assistant and was then promoted to a Finance Specialist.  She supports the Finance Department by maintaining contract records, billings, invoices and other financial documents.  She also works closely with the Program Officers in reviewing and approving budgets and financial reports for small contracts.

Vianey comes from a typical Hispanic family who struggled to give the best education to their children.  She recently became a mother and from the resources that First 5 Fresno County provides to parents, she learned about development delays that happen at an early age.  Day after day, she observes her daughter and focuses on her development so she can grow strong and healthy.  She enjoys working for First 5 Fresno County knowing that it’s making a difference in our children.

Vianey can be reached at viboa@first5fresno.org or 241-6578.

Jerry Salas

Operations Director

Jerry Salas is the Operations Director.  His duties include facilities management, information technology, risk management, procurement, contracting and contract compliance.  He has been a part of the non-profit sector for more than 14 years working in programs, government contracting, procurement, and finance.  He has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.  He takes his leadership seriously and attributes this to his two tours of duty with the United States Marine Corps.

Jerry was born in Fresno, and is the son of migrant farm workers.  The family eventually moved to Merced where he attended pre-school and graduated from Merced High.  He has two beautiful daughters. 

“It has been a blessing for me to be working with professionals that helped to raise and support the developmental, social and emotional development of my daughters,” said Jerry.

He believes that his role as a father was critical in his child’s development and says, “If you can do more for your children, like spend time reading, playing, and giving them your attention, it will pay off big.  Give your children hugs and kisses as often as possible.”

Jerry can be reached at jsalas@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-6514.

Gary Cornuelle

Operations Officer

Gary Cornuelle's job at First 5 Fresno County is providing support in the areas of  procurement, capital projects, and inventory & asset management. Gary brings over 20 years experience in those areas.

“The projects that I support give me the opportunity to see how Fresno County children  are benefiting from our mission” says Gary. “The First 5 team is great to work with.  It’s great to be a part of something that gives back to the community.” 

Gary has a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco and has been with First 5 Fresno County since September 2007. Gary and his family moved to Fresno from the San Francisco Bay Area in 1999 to be closer to family and raise his children in an close knit community.

Gary has mentored and coached young children in baseball and basketball  for 10 years.

“The time I spent coaching was very rewarding. I was able teach children the importance of teamwork, responsibility and leadership," says Gary.

Gary can be reached at gcornuelle@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-7618.

Carlos Sanchez

Operations Specialist

Carlos Sanchez joined the commission in February 2005.  He assists the Operations Director on contract compliance issues and maintaining the Commission’s contract data system.  Prior to working at First 5 Fresno County his work experience was in finance and data entry.  Carlos feels his skills are transferred well into his role as the Operations Specialists. 

One of the major joys in his life is his 10-year-old daughter, Carla Marie.  Carlos says, “I knew as a new parent it would be critical for me to play a role in my child’s life." 

Carlos enjoys working for an organization that improves the lives of children and families in Fresno County.  He is appreciative to have learned a lot from the services and programs the Commission funds for the benefit of children and our community. 

Carlos can be reached at csanchez@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-6545.

Michelle Diaz

Office Assistant

Michelle Diaz  supports the First 5 Fresno County staff.  Michelle has her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Chico State.  She loves children and taught preschool prior to joining First 5 Fresno County.  Michelle feels that working with First 5 Fresno County is a continuant of her service to children.

Michelle can be reached at mdiaz@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-6512.

Olivia Arnold

Program & Evaluation Director

Olivia Arnold joined the Commission in February 2008 and is responsible for the overall management of program and evaluation functions for the Commission's strategic initiatives.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in International Relations from the University of Southern California.

Her focus is to develop approaches and materials that are understandable to a variety of stakeholders and can be used for strategic decision making. 

“Teamwork and collaboration help create successful programs,” said Olivia.

A mother of two and Fresno native, Olivia is passionate about improving the quality and capacity of services for young children and families in the community that raised her. Olivia has been involved with community, social and economic issues since she started her career and finds her job with First 5 Fresno County extremely rewarding. She is grateful to have the opportunity to serve the youngest and most precious population in our county.

Olivia can be reached at oarnold@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-6584.

Guillermina V. Toland, MPH

Senior Program Officer

Guille joined the First 5 Fresno County in April 2008 and she is a Senior Program Officer. She was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and grew up in the small rural community of Firebaugh, California. Growing up in a farm working family, Guille is familiar with health and economic concerns faced by families in the Central Valley.

Guille completed her Master's of Public Health in Health Promotion from the California State University, Fresno, in summer 2011. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Health Science with an emphasis in Community Health. Before coming to First 5 Fresno County, she worked at the Fresno County Department of Public Health as a Health Education Specialist. Guille’s experience gives her an unique understanding of the needs of the community and fuels her commitment to promote early health literacy and support families and communities to establish healthy lifestyles.

Guille’s inspiration comes from her husband and their four children. They keep her grounded and always reminds her to cherish the “little things” in life such as spending quality time together and enjoying every moment to its fullest.

Guille can be reached at gvtoland@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-6599.
 

Lilith Assadourian

Program Officer

Lilith Assadourian was born and raised in Armenia – a small country in the Caucasus south of the Caspian and Black Seas, where Europe and Asia meet. After immigrating to the United States, Fresno has been her home.  Her immigrant experience has cultivated cultural humility and connected her with the Central Valley’s diverse community.

Lilith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development with a minor in Sociology from California State University, Fresno (CSUF). Her experience in Early Childhood Education has enhanced her understanding and appreciation of theoretically sound, relationship-based and thoughtfully individualized early care that nurtures each child's unique developmental needs and interests.  Lilith is currently enrolled in the Master's degree in Counseling program with the option in Marriage and Family Therapy Program at CSUF.

Lilith finds joy in making a difference in the lives of the little ones. She finds her work with First 5 Fresno County fulfilling and rewarding and is thankful to be part of an incredible team that puts children and families first.

Lilith can be reached at lassadourian@first5fresno.org or by phone at (559) 241-6518.

Hannah Norman

Program Officer

Hannah Norman joined the First 5 Fresno County team as a Program Officer in August 2009. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with a minor in Mass Communications Journalism from California State University, Fresno.

A Fresno native herself, Hannah’s goal is to pour back into the community that raised her up. She is proud to work for an agency that has a mission and vision that aligns with her own desire to equip and build strong children and families in our community.

Hannah is grateful for the opportunity to serve Fresno County and is continually encouraged by the people working for and living in this community.

Hannah can be reached at hnorman@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-6504.

Michael Duarte, MBA, MA

Capacity Building Officer

Michael's role as a Capacity Building officer is helping organizations recognize the importance of diversity, intercultural, and interpersonal relations, which are critical in creating a successful organizations. His passion lies in the interconnectivity of people and their relationship to each other and understanding the structures needed for fostering strong, sustainable and successful community benefit organizations.

Michael's knowledge includes designing and overseeing organization-wide transformation processes for groups, building high performance leadership teams, improving cross-functional teamwork, and strengthening organizational culture to deliver results.

He received his undergraduate degree in Management and Organizational Development and holds a Masters of Arts degree in both Leadership and Organizational Studies and Business Administration from Fresno Pacific University.

Michael can be reached at mduarte@first5fresno.org or 559 241-6503.

Mercedes Carmona

Program Officer

Mercedes is the School Readiness Program Officer for First 5 Fresno County. She has been with the Commission since January 2008.

As a Program Officer, Mercedes also oversees mini-grants and Kindergarten Camp. Prior to working with the Commission, she worked for The Fresno Bee for nine years as a customer relations representative and a district manager.

“I am truly blessed to work with an amazing group of individuals who care deeply about the future of our community and are driven solely by working on bettering the lives of children in Fresno County,” said Mercedes.

Her greatest joy is spending time with her daughter painting, making sculptures out of play-dough, and going on treasure hunts in the back yard. She loves music and art, and also recently took on belly dancing.

Mercedes can be reached at mcarmona@first5fresno.org or 241-6583.

Mayra Diaz

Program Assistant

Mayra was born in Mexico and grew up in Dinuba, CA. She joined First 5 Fresno County in December 2010 as the Program Assistant. Mayra earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University, Fresno and graduated with honors. Prior to joining First 5 Fresno County, she worked at Reading and Beyond, a non-profit organization that focuses on literacy.

“Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, averting our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted”. -Garrison Keillor
In her spare time, Mayra enjoys jogging, going to concerts, having tea with friends and traveling.

Mayra can be reached at mcdiaz@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-6535.