First 5 Fresno County

Kendra Rogers, MPA

Executive Director

Kendra Rogers is First 5 Fresno County’s Executive Director and a part of the boomerang generation of young professionals who have returned to work and live in Fresno.  She is a mother of two, a military wife, and also provides oversight for how the First 5 Fresno Commission distributes millions of dollars to better the lives of children ages 0-5 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.”

Under Kendra’s leadership, in 2011, First 5 Fresno County was one of the first counties to file suit against the Governor and State leaders for their illegal attempt to grab $1 (B) billion from First 5 Commissions.  A judge sided with First 5 Commissions saying AB 99 was illegal. 

Since Kendra was appointed as First 5 Fresno County’s leader in August 2009, she has worked diligently to create strategic partnerships to ensure First 5 Fresno County’s work has a lasting impact.  Kendra brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position.  She was one of the first people hired when the agency was created in 1999.  She started as a program coordinator and then rose through the ranks as a development director and deputy director.

She chairs the State First 5 Association communications committee and also serves on its legislative committee.  Additionally, she is a founding member of "The Children's Movement of Fresno."  Kendra is also on the Board of Directors for the Animal Rescue of Fresno as well as the Learn2Earn Governance Committee.  The Fresno County Board of Supervisors also appointed Kendra to Fresno’s Commission on the Status on Women as well as the Fresno Housing Authority.

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 the Fresno Leading Young Professional’s “Serve Award” in 2010 as well as Comprehensive Youth Services’ “Child Advocacy Award”.

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

Courtney Shapiro, MPA

Community Advancement Director

Courtney Shapiro has been with the Commission since 2007 and is the Community Advancement Director. 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.

“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.
 

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 since 2003 and is presently the Finance Director for the Commission. 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 Officer

Vianey Chairez has been with the Commission since December 2004 and is presently a Finance Officer for the agency.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in management from Fresno Pacific University.  Her role at First 5 Fresno County is to maintain financial records and work closely with Program Officers to manage, review and approve budgets and financial reports for Service Providers.  

Vianey believes the role of a parent is very important for the development and success of a child.  Together with her husband, they make sure to spend as much time together with their daughter who is presently a toddler, by reading, playing and overall bonding.  Vianey believes that working for an organization that focuses on the first 5 years of life has given her the resources to become a better parent for her daughter.

Vianey can be reached at vchairez@first5fresno.org or (559) 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.

Steve Rapada

Contracts & Procurement Officer

Steve joined the Commission in October of 2012. He assists the Operations Director with all aspects of contracts and procurement. Prior to joining First 5 Fresno County, Steve worked in management of procurement, facilities operations, warehousing and distribution. He feels this knowledge will help him provide quality work and service to the organization.

A proud Reedley resident, Steve has spent more than three decades working with youth as a volunteer coach, and board member of local youth football and baseball organizations. “I feel volunteering with youth sports programs gives us an opportunity to connect directly with children to provide a guiding hand to success in all they will do in their lives.”

Steve feels working for First 5 Fresno County is an exciting opportunity to learn more ways to ensure children and their families achieve success.

Steve can be reached at srapada@first5fresno.org or (559) 241-6503.

Carlos Sanchez

Office Manager

Carlos Sanchez joined First 5 Fresno County in February 2005. During the past seven years he has worked in various roles at First 5 Fresno County; Program/Finance Assistant, Operations Specialist and currently the Office Manager. He looks forward to his new responsibilities and the opportunity to apply his finance, data and planning skills as Office Manager.

When Carlos first joined First 5 Fresno County his daughter was a toddler. He is grateful to have learned about and applied developmentally appropriate activities for his daughter from the programs and services funded by First 5 Fresno County. Although his daughter is no longer a toddler, he still uses his knowledge when talking to parents regarding their children. By sharing his knowledge, it has instilled in him that everyone in the community plays a critical role in the development of a child.

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

Zoua Vang, MA

Policy & 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.  The communications team manages First 5 Fresno County’s internal and external communications in addition to all of the agency’s policy and legislative efforts.

In joining First 5 Fresno County, 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.  All seven 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.

For her dedication to her community and commitment to her work, some of Zoua’s honors include: winning the Public Relations Society of America Central California Chapter Image Award for video storytelling (2009); being nominated the Mass Communication and Journalism Department Graduate Candidate for the Dean’s Medalist (2008); receiving Fresno City College’s Humanities Spotlight Award (2005); being named Fresno Metro Ministry’s “Community Support Award” recipient (2004); winning a Best of West Award for “Trail of Tears: The Hmong Story” Documentary (2003); receiving City of Fresno Commendation for using the media to educate the community about the Hmong people (2002); and winning an Associated Press Award for Best Serious Feature, “Harvesting a Dream,” (2001).

Zoua is recognized as the first Hmong television jounalist in the country to work in the mainstream media.  She spent a decade in television news reporting at KSEE (NBC), KSTP (ABC) and hosting Hmong television shows in Fresno and Minneapolis/St. Paul. 

She holds a Master of Arts in Mass Communication and Journalism from California State University, Fresno and she earned Bachelor’s degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Asian and American History from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Zoua can be reached at zvang@first5fresno.org 559 241-7443.

Fabiola González

Policy & Government Relations 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

Community Relations Officer

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.     

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.

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.