Sonia Aery, Chair 

Allstate Insurance, Agency Owner

Sonia Aery has been the owner of the Allstate Insurance: Sonia Aery Agency since December 2015. She was born and raised in the North State, and is an active member of her community. Previously, she has served on the boards of Catalyst Domestic Violence Services and the North Valley Housing Trust. Sonia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Development from UC Davis and a Master’s in City & Regional Planning from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. The work of United Way of Northern California is central to Sonia’s core values, and is a main reason she is eager to work with the UWNC team to move the North State forward. She lives with her partner, Sarah, and their two tuxedo cats in Chico.

Captain Scott Fredrick, Vice-Chair

California Highway Patrol 

Captain Scott Fredrick is a 26-year veteran member of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) who currently serves as Special Services Commander of the CHP’s Northern Division. He has served on the United Way of Northern California Board of Directors since 2016. Captain Fredrick currently serves as the Vice-Chairperson of the Board, as well as the Community Impact, Executive, and Governance committees. Captain Fredrick is married to his wife of 26 years, has a 20-year-old son serving in the U.S. Army, and a 17-year-old daughter who is a senior in high school. The captain has a passion for helping our youth and an interest in increasing the public’s trust of law enforcement throughout the region.

Joanna Padilla Mitchell, Treasurer

Regional District Manager, Wells Fargo

Joanna Padilla is a District Manager for Wells Fargo community bank branches across Butte, Shasta, and Tehama Counties. She has worked for Wells Fargo for 15 years, previously working and serving the communities of Sutter and Sacramento Counties. Joanna earned her bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication and Human Resources from Chico State University. Her previous board memberships include the Butte Humane Society and Colusa Rotary Club where she served as Treasurer. Joanna and her husband live in Chico and are raising two young girls. They enjoy family bike rides together. Joanna also enjoys cooking and running 5Ks, 10Ks, and half-marathons.

Kristin Behrens, Secretary

Dignity Health St. Elizabeth Community Hospital 

Kristin Behrens is the Senior Director of Clinics and Support Services for Dignity Health St. Elizabeth Community Hospital. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University and an MA from JFK University and the NTL Institute of Boston. She has been with Dignity Health for 19 years and has served the Tehama County community as the chair of the Red Bluff Tehama County Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Tehama County Public Health Advisory Board, Director of the Corning Chamber of Commerce and as a Director on the Cornerstone Community Bank board. Kris and her husband raise Cutting Horses and enjoy ranching, gardening and their three Pembroke Welsh Corgis.

Anand (Lucky) Jesrani

Senior Deputy District Attorney, Shasta County

Lucky Jesrani is a Senior Deputy District Attorney at the Shasta County District Attorney's Office. He grew up in Red Bluff, and after graduating from UC Davis and McGeorge School of Law, he returned to the area and has been an attorney for a total of about 16 years. Prior to joining the DA’s office he worked in private practice, doing corporate and real estate litigation law. About 9 years ago he joined the DA’s office. His assignment at the DA’s Office is Consumer Protection and he also handles prosecutions of Real Estate Fraud.

Ann Schwab

Councilmember, City of Chico 

Ann Schwab joined the United Way of Northern California’s Board of Directors in 2019 and serves on the Finance and Butte/Glenn Advisory Committees. She is a member of the Chico City Council. First elected in 2004, Ann has served two terms as Mayor. She is the former Director of Chico State’s Community Action Volunteers in Education and past chair of Chico State’s Staff Council. Along with her husband, Budd, she owns Campus Bicycles in Downtown Chico. Ann received her undergraduate degree from California State University, Chico.

Bruce McPhee

AT&T

Bruce McPhee feels a strong calling to serve our local community. He has held a place on UWNC’s Board of Directors since 2008. He has also served as Secretary and Past President of the Palo Cedro Lions Club since 2004. For the past 20 years, he has worked in various roles at AT&T, from Plant Engineer to Public Works Manager to ATO Development Coach to his current role as Construction Manager.   

Candy Carlson

Member, Tehama County Board of Supervisors

Candy has served on the Tehama county board of supervisors for District 2 since December 2014. Candy is a businesswoman who works as a dog trainer/behaviorist. She has also worked in HR management and mortgage lending throughout her career.

Collin Bogener

Moore & Bogener, Inc. 

Collin Bogener is a Shasta County native, who has been on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Northern California since May 2018. Professionally, he is a partner and founder of the law firm of Moore & Bogener, where he specializes in real estate, business and municipal law. He also holds the title of City Attorney for both Anderson and Corning. In his spare time, he enjoys travelling with his wife, Emily.

Danna Prater

VP, Director of Tri Counties Bank 

Danna Prater is the Director of Community Development for Tri Counties Bank and has been in banking since 2004. She holds a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager designation from the American Bankers Association. She was previously involved with United Way of Jackson County in Southern Oregon and currently participates in various compliance roundtables and working groups. Danna has three grown children and three grandchildren. During her free time, she enjoys cooking with her husband, boating, kayaking, and spending time with her family and two Boston Terriers.

Greg Balkovek

Retired Captain & Insurance Agency Owner 

Greg Balkovek has an extensive United Way background, joining UWNC as Executive Director in 1973, following five years as Public Relations Director for the United Way of Santa Clara County. In 1980, he entered the insurance field with Insurance Associates of Redding, opening his own multiline insurance agency with a partner in 1984 and retiring in 2016. He returned to the UWNC as a board member in 2012. Over the years, Greg has devoted time, talent and resources to a number of community organizations and activities. He also served in the military as National Guardsman in 1962, advancing to the rank of Sergeant, then attending OCS at Ft. Benning, GA to become an officer. He completed his service in 1974 with the rank of Captain. Greg holds several degrees including a master’s from San Jose State University. Greg and his wife, Kathy, have two children and six granddaughters.

Jack Potter Jr.

Chairman, Redding Rancheria

Jack potter Jr. is involved in many boards representing Indian country tribally, locally, statewide, and nationally. He has been on the Redding Rancheria Tribal Council for 18 years, most recently as their Chairman and Cultural Resource Manager. He also serves on California Rural Indian Health Board, Northern California Tribal Chairman Association as the Vice-Chairman, Medicine Lake Committee for the Pit River Tribe, Redding Rancheria Community Fund Board, Redding Rancheria Enrollment Committee, Pow Wow Committee, California Tribal Families Coalition, and Indigenous People's Day Committee for Shasta County. Jack has also served on the Shasta County Sheriffs Cultural Awareness Council for 21 years. Recently, he was elected to the National Congress of American Indians as Vice President of the Pacific Region. Jack became involved in many aspects of Indian country at an early age, and he even sat under the tables during land claims meetings in the 70's listening to the elders.

Jack is the son of Jack Potter Sr. and Kathy Wilson, the grandson of Edith Geto Stevens and Lloyd Stevens, Stevie Wilson, Mildred and Willard Rhoades, Gordon Potter. Jack is Winnemem and Nor-el-muk Wintu on his father’s side and Kosoimunonu and Kanusu Mi-Wuk on his mother’s side with a little bit of Navajo and Pit River influence from both grandfathers, Lloyd and Willard.

His greatest achievement to date is his 30 years of marriage to his wonderful, loving wife, Myrna, along with their two children, Christine Ceja and Martin Potter Sr., one granddaughter, five grandsons and five great granddaughters. If Jack was not busy enough already, two years ago he started raising his grandson Martin Potter Jr., to whom he is teaching his native language while traveling to pow wows and other native gatherings. Martin was recently crowned for his second term as Stillwater Pow Wow Little Brave, which makes his grandpa very proud.

Janet Goodson

City of Oroville, Councilmember 

Janet Goodson is originally from Sacramento, CA where she worked in the State Judicial system for the Department of Justice, the Department of Corrections, and the Board of Prison Terms. Ms. Goodson left Sacramento in 2009 and relocated to the City of Oroville where she ran for a City Council seat in 2015, was voted in as the Vice Mayor for two years, and continues to sit on the dais as a City Councilmember. Ms. Goodson attended the University of Oregon and received a degree in Social and Behavioral Science at Butte College. She is currently employed by Youth for Change in Chico, CA as a Behavioral Health Counselor working with at-risk children and transitional youth. Additionally, Janet Goodson is the President of the NAACP Butte County Branch 1029, a Commissioner on the Northern California Juvenile Justice Detention & Delinquency Prevention Board, is an ordained Minister, the Executive Secretary for the San Francisco Northern Region CME Church District, and is the Chairperson of the United Way, Equity and Advocacy Committee.

Jim Cloney

Shasta Union High School District

Jim Cloney is the Superintendent for the Shasta Union High School District, serving in that position for the last 12 years. He is married with four adult sons all living and working the Redding area. He has lived in Shasta County since 1991, after receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Humboldt State University. He is active in Redding East Rotary, the Reach Higher Shasta Executive Committee, the

Region I Board member for the Association of California School Administrators and Northern Section of the California Interscholastic Federation.

Mike Mangas

KRCR-TV

Mike Mangas has been a news reporter, anchor, and sports director with KRCR-TV since 1978, with a couple of brief stints at Dignity Health. He is also a Roman Catholic Deacon and a member of the Redding Rotary Club. He has served on the boards of the Shasta Community Health Center and the Good News Rescue Mission. He has also served on the advisory boards of Northern Valley Catholic Social Service, Shasta County Public Health and Mercy Medical Center Redding. Mike graduated from California State University, Chico, and is a passionate member of the community. He enjoys spending time with his wife, three children, and five grandchildren.

Teckla Johnson

Trinity Together: Cradle to Career Partnership Program Manager 

Teckla is based in Weaverville CA where she has worked at Trinity Together: Cradle to Career Partnership as the Program Manager since 2018. Teckla holds an M.S. in Social Work with an emphasis in community organizing from the University of Minnesota. Teckla supports the goals and coordinates the work of Trinity Together through relationships with various community groups, including business leaders and educators. Teckla works with schools to promote career education through work-based learning, industry experts, speakers, soft skill lessons, and more. Her work with various partners in Trinity County and beyond strengthens the infrastructure that youth need to become successful adults.