Rob Morse (Chair)

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Elyse Ann Bartels (Destout) (Vice Chair)

Elyse Ann Bartels (Destout) is a veteran wedding and portrait photographer and the Workforce Development Board (WDB) Vice Chair in Santa Cruz County. Since 1999, she has combined her passion for photography with deep community involvement. Elyse has contributed significantly to local initiatives, including developing a high school mentorship program, serving on the Watsonville police assistance board for over 12 years, and organizing the Youth Outdoor Event, which attracted thousands from the central coast.

In addition to her voluntary contributions, Elyse is building a bookkeeping and consulting business to help local entrepreneurs streamline their operations. With an educational background from Santa Cruz High, Cabrillo College, and UCSC extension classes, her 25-year career spans artistic and entrepreneurial ventures.

Elyse’s vision for workforce development emphasizes continual growth and community service. Despite her busy professional life, she cherishes sustainable living, from growing and preserving her own food to running a spring and summer farm box pickup. Elyse’s blend of professional expertise, community service, and personal passions make her a key figure in supporting and shaping the workforce in Santa Cruz County.

Shaz Roth, President/CEO of Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture

Shaz Roth is a third-generation resident of the Pajaro Valley and could not be prouder of her roots in this area. Her family owned Alladin Nursery in Corralitos for over 50 years, and she enjoyed working in all aspects of the family business. She says that one of the best things about having a family-owned business is getting to know the entire community from a very young age and growing those personal and professional relationships throughout a lifetime.

Shaz proudly serves on the Workforce Development Board and works closely with local businesses to overcome challenges and help them succeed. She participates in the Agricultural History Project, Visit Santa Cruz County, and Leadership Santa Cruz County. Her love of this area is evident in everything she does, and she is excited about being part of the positive things happening in the Pajaro Valley.

Janet Nagamine, Owner/Farmer, Hikari Farms, Watsonville & Doctor at Watsonville Community Hospital

Janet built a successful career as a doctor, treating patients with heart attacks, strokes, and other serious illnesses. After seeing how medical errors sometimes harmed patients, she got deeply involved in improving hospital systems to deliver safer care and led many national quality and safety initiatives. At the peak of her medical career, she was unexpectedly called back to her family farm to help wind down the company and lease the farm out. She planned to be away for a few months, and she is still there eight years later. She is still a doctor but sees patients only one day a week. On all the other days, she practices Preventative Medicine on the farm. By providing fresh, beautiful, organic vegetables and fruits that taste delicious, she is helping people lead healthier lives – including the students of WCCUSD.

Ray Sumano: Owner of Sumano’s Bakery

Raymundo Sumano was born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico, and is the youngest of three brothers and two sisters. He completed his schooling there up to the 9th grade. Raymundo is married to Elena Sumano from Mexico City, and together, they have three children named Karina, Angel, and Christina.

At 16, Raymundo moved to the United States with his older brother, Rafael. His first job in the U.S. was in agriculture in Half Moon Bay, California, where he worked in vegetable picking for three years. Later, at 19, he transitioned to work in the restaurant and bakery business in Capitola, California. There, he learned to bake cookies, pastries, and bread from skilled bakers in the industry. Raymundo worked with renowned bakers from various states, including California, Seattle, and Texas. He also enhanced his professional skills by taking courses in baking, basic finance, and troubleshooting at the American Institute of Baking, along with a course in beer brewing at the Siebel Institute of Technology.

With a strong passion for business, Raymundo, at 33 years old, partnered with his brother and established their own business, Sumano’s Bakery, in Watsonville, California. In 2017, with the support of his wife and family, he expanded his ventures by opening Sumano’s Organic Mushrooms Farm in San Juan Bautista. Beyond his entrepreneurial pursuits, Raymundo has a love for sports. After years of playing amateur soccer, he discovered a new passion for tennis, which he wholeheartedly embraced.

Christina Cuevas: Cabrillo Community College Trustee, Area 3

Christina retired in 2019 as the Program Director of Community Foundation Santa Cruz County. Before moving to Santa Cruz County in 1998, she served as the Executive Director of Latino USA, a nationally syndicated public radio program on news and culture. She previously managed the Ford and San Francisco Foundation grant portfolios.

Christina is a board member of the Watsonville Film Festival, a steering committee member of the Live Oak Cradle to Career Program, and an organizing committee member of Women in Leadership Diverse Representation (WILDR)

She holds an MPH from UC Berkeley.

Christina has served on the Workforce Development Board for decades, advocating for the inclusion of the nonprofit sector as a vital member of the County’s workforce, youth employment, expanded outreach to the Latino community, and linkages with community college education and training programs. She enjoys walking her dog, cooking, traveling, and hanging out with family and friends.

Chris Miller: Founder – Cloud Brigade

Carmen Herrera-Mansir: Executive Director of El Pajaro Community Development Corporation (El Pajaro CDC)

Carmen Herrera-Mansir is the Executive Director of El Pajaro Community Development Corporation (El Pajaro CDC), a microenterprise development organization that promotes equal access to economic opportunity in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties.

Ms. Herrera-Mansir joined El Pajaro CDC in April 2004, bringing a wealth of experience in public administration, project management, and business. Her early exposure to business management began in her family’s bakery in Mexico, where she eventually took on a managerial role.

Under her leadership, El Pajaro CDC has become a leading practitioner of effective and innovative regional microenterprise development. Ms. Herrera-Mansir’s background, as the granddaughter of Bracero farmworkers and the daughter of a farmworker-turned-successful entrepreneur, has deeply influenced her commitment to creating economic opportunities for underserved communities. This perspective has been a driving force behind El Pajaro CDC’s success.

During her tenure, El Pajaro CDC launched the EMPRESARI@ Business Education Program and expanded its services to cover three counties, significantly increasing its impact on farm-working and rural communities. In 2013, under Ms. Herrera-Mansir’s leadership, El Pajaro CDC established a Kitchen Incubator, which has grown into a food cluster supporting 35 food-based businesses, including an organic produce farming business and food hub. The organization recently completed the development of a small batch co-packing facility to support food entrepreneurs and small farmers who are further seeking to develop value-added products.

In addition to expanding El Pajaro CDC’s programs, Ms. Herrera-Mansir launched a new microloan program. She oversaw the organization’s designation as an SBA Women’s Business Center, enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem for the region’s rural and urban micro and small business owners. This expansion included the opening of a new office in Salinas.

Carmen Herrera-Mansir is a former board member and board chair of the California Association for Microenterprise Opportunity (CAMEO) and actively participates in various economic development and recovery initiatives in the Monterey Bay region.

Laura Holmquist-Gomez owns Five Star Catering

Laura Holmquist-Gomez owns Five Star Catering, which has provided full-service and drop-off catering for Santa Cruz County for 27+ years. Laura graduated from UCSC with a degree in Economics and Psychology and has lived in Santa Cruz since 1989. Laura joined the Workforce Development Board in 2021 as a liaison between community leaders and local businesses and became a member of the Business Services Committee in 2023. She has experienced firsthand the challenges that business owners and employees face while negotiating equitable and meaningful wages. She appreciates the resources and policy changes the Workforce Development Board has brought to our County. She looks forward to finding new ways to improve the standard of living for all residents, including our newly employed youth, and focusing on ways that we can keep people from moving out of the area. In her spare time, Laura enjoys traveling and working on relaxing and slowing down.

Peter Detlefs: Principal Administrative Analyst at Santa Cruz County CAO Office

Peter Detlefs is a Principal Administrative Analyst in the County Administrative Office with the County of Santa Cruz. With over 25 years of experience in economic and workforce development, public finance, public administration, facility master planning, affordable housing, and redevelopment, Peter is passionate about good government, sustainable urban design, housing for all, and economic and workforce resiliency. He has served on the Workforce Development Board since May 2023 and also serves on the Board for Access2Employment. Peter enjoys spending time with family, traveling, hiking, and gardening in his free time. Peter has a B.A. in Geography from San Jose State University.

Marshall G. Delk: V.P. with Santa Cruz County Bank

Marshall G. Delk serves as the Vice President and Senior Business Banking Officer, bringing a wealth of experience in the banking industry to his role. As a founding investor and employee of Santa Cruz County Bank and Lighthouse Bank (which merged with Santa Cruz County Bank in 2019), Marshall has been at the forefront of local banking developments. His leadership roles include serving as President of Monterey Bay Bank from 1995 to 2001 and Chief Financial Officer of Commercial Pacific Bank from 1989 to 1995.

Marshall’s academic achievements include an M.S. in Taxation from Golden Gate University and a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Louisville, underscoring his deep expertise in financial matters. Since 2004, he has been an integral member of the Workforce Development Board (WDB), dedicating nearly two decades to its mission, including a significant tenure as Chair of the Business Services Committee from 2008 to 2023.

His contributions to the WDB have been marked by a steadfast commitment to connecting employers and employees in Santa Cruz County, fostering a dynamic where both can thrive. Marshall’s vision for the workforce in the area is focused on creating a vibrant economy characterized by living wage jobs and thriving companies.

Marshall is deeply committed to personal fitness outside of his professional life, having participated in CrossFit for over 20 years. He also enjoys exploring the great outdoors and engaging in activities such as hiking, rafting, and traveling, which complement his dynamic career and contributions to Santa Cruz County’s economic and community development.

Katie Setzler: Sutter Health