Staff
Bernice Rosas Belmonte is the project coordinator at the Catalyst Center. She manages Catalyst events, communications and marketing. Click HERE for full bio.
Raquel Chandler is a bilingual English and Spanish speaking family mediator and consultant. She has her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master’s degree in Human Resources. Click HERE for full bio
Paige comes to the Catalyst Center with a background in program management and direct service in a K-12 educational setting. Click HERE for full bio
Garbralle has been teaching graduate courses at California State University, Fresno and providing professional development, cultural competence and diversity trainings through her consulting business. Click HERE for full bio
Debbie coordinates all conference and training events and assists in staffing the Continuing Education Committee. A certified meeting planner, Debbie is responsible for the coordination of conferences and trainings throughout the year. Click HERE for full bio.
Taylor Davis is a senior at the University of California, Davis. Double majoring in political science and history, she is passionate about social justice and equity, and hopes to turn these passions into a career of helping others and working to break down systems of oppression. Click HERE for full bio.
Corina Dubon is the Alliance membership and outreach manager. Corina is an experienced program manager with a demonstrated history of working with nonprofit organizations. Click HERE for full bio.
 Rochelle GammadExecutive Assistant
Rochelle is a graduate of California State University Long Beach, with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology with an option in Fitness, and a minor in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Click HERE for full bio.
Max Geide is the California Alliance communications and events manager, responsible for member and external communications for the California Alliance and the Catalyst Center, database maintenance and organizational duties related to member services. Click HERE for full bio.
Deme Hill is long-term advocate to the government and social service system and has served our American communities for more than 20+ years; with expertise in juvenile justice, homelessness and child welfare. Click HERE for full bio.
Stephanie Ivler is senior policy advocate focused on transition age youth, juvenile justice and residential services issues. Stephanie is an attorney and former director of the Foster Care & Adoptions Division of Bienvenidos Children’s Center. Click HERE for full bio.
As operations manager, Kim Janoe oversees all Alliance and Catalyst accounting, Human Resources, and supervises communications and membership functions. Click HERE for full bio.
Danielle Molé Danielle Molé has been with the Alliance since 2011 and is the senior policy advocate staffing education and prevention services committees along with a workgroup on commercial sexual exploitation. Click HERE for full bio.
Rhonda Okonkwo is a program analyst for the California Provider Helpline. She has over 12 years of experience in social services, particularly child welfare services and medical social work. Click HERE for full bio.
As program manager for the Catalyst Center, Stacy Shwartz Olagundoye provides technical assistance and training customized to meet the unique needs of individual agencies, counties or communities in areas impacting children and families in the context of programs, policy and organizational development. Click HERE for full bio.
Jacqueline Rutheiser is a senior policy advocate responsible for advocacy on child welfare issues including the adoption of children from foster care, foster family-based care and services, in-home and family-based services, and housing, services and support for transition-age youth. Jackie staffs the Adoption, Foster Family Agency and Family-Based Services Committees. Click HERE for full bio.
Adrienne is senior policy advocate for behavioral health. As such, Adrienne is the primary staff to the Mental Health Committee and works on public policy issues pertaining to children's mental health. Click HERE for full bio.
Christine Stoner-Mertz, CEO, leads the Alliance and the Catalyst Center and with the Board of Directors, drives the mission and vision for the organization. A licensed clinical social worker, Chris most recently led Lincoln, an Alliance member organization, before taking this position. Click HERE for full bio.
Alex Volpe was the executive director of Bay Area Youth Center/Sunny Hills Services and interim chief operating officer at Unity Care Group Click HERE for full bio. |
Raquel Chandler
Paige Clark
Garbralle Conroe
Deborah Clore-Myers
Taylor Davis
Corina Dubon
Max Geide
Deme Hill
Stephanie Ivler
Kim Janoe
Rhonda Okonkwo
Stacy Shwartz Olagundoye
Jacqueline Rutheiser
Adrienne Shilton
Christine Stoner-Mertz, LCSW
Alex Volpe