The Board of Trustees consists of 9 to 17 community members who have demonstrated their interest in the community and share the vision of Encompass and its goal of service. Our trustees are willing to assume the responsibility of active support of these goals and purposes. One seat is held by the current Chairperson of Encompass’s Head Start Policy Council. Every effort is made in the selection process to obtain broad community representation.
Board meetings are scheduled 11 times each year.
Meet the Trustees
Ashley Carriveau, At-Large
Ashley was born in Eugene, OR, and raised in Arcata, CA. She attended and swam competitively for San Jose State University. Before starting her career in public accounting, she took a year off to train for Olympic Trails in the 100-meter backstroke. Ashley worked in public accounting for three years with Grant Thornton before entering corporate accounting. She currently works as the Corporate Controller at Universal Audio, Inc. Ashley is the mother of two amazing boys, an almost 5-year-old and a 7-year-old. In her spare time, Ashley enjoys working out, cooking, and hanging out with her family. She is honored to be part of such an incredible organization and looking forward to helping make a difference.
Steve Glynn, Treasurer
Steve Glynn is honored to be on the board of an organization that performs such vital work in our community. He is currently a Director of Finance for Universal Audio for forecasting, budgeting, standard costing and financial support. He has worked for a variety of companies here in Santa Cruz and over the course of his career he has held many roles in both Operations and Finance and has been involved in areas ranging from M&A work, opening and managing a factory, implementing standard costing and forecasting systems, pricing and jungle tours. He has a B.A. in Economics from UCSC and a Certificate in Operations Management from Cal Tech. He lives in Watsonville with his wife Julie and a couple of cats named Ash and Ember.
Wilma Gold, At-Large
Wilma Gold is an expert in early childhood education. She began her career working as a preschool teacher. She began teaching while in school and became a director upon graduation. Wilma has directed parent co-ops, state-funded, faith-based, private-for-profit, and not-for-profit programs for infants through after-school. She is the founder of Simcha Preschool, a faith-based program in Santa Cruz County. She also opened the Tamien Children’s Center for Bright Horizons, sponsored by the Santa Clara Transit Authority. She later served as a regional manager for Bright Horizons for four additional years. Wilma then took the position of Director of Children’s Services at UC Santa Cruz, where she served for six years.
Wilma has also served as the chair of the Santa Cruz Child Care Planning Council, President of the Peninsula Association for the Education of Yong Children (PAEYC), and sat on the California Association for the Education of Young Children Board.
She taught in the early childhood education department at UC Santa Cruz Extension, Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, and most recently, Pacific Oaks College in San Jose, CA. As an instructor, she taught both the bachelors and graduate programs in Human Development.
Wilma is also on the planning and development committee as treasurer for Educators for Peaceful Classrooms and Communities. In addition, she conducts teacher, parent, and community workshops and classes in that role. Wilma has a BA from Pacific Oaks College and a Master of Social Work from Yeshiva University.
Sarai Jimenez, Head Start Policy Council Representative
Sarai Jimenez is currently serving Encompass as our Head Start Policy Council Representative. She believes that programs like Head Start are so important in our community because the first five years of a child's life are when children and families need the most love and support. She will work to ensure that the quality of Encompass' Head Start Program persists, and that the voices of children, families, teachers, and volunteers are heard.
Sarai was born and raised in Watsonville, CA. She became a single mother at age 17 and, like most first-time parents, had no experience and very little knowledge of how to raise another human being. However, she knew she loved her baby with all her heart, and wanted him to have the best start in life. The Head Start program, along with her family, gave her the guidance and resources she needed to raise a kind, smart, compassionate, and confident kid. Three more babies followed and one-by-one they have all participated in the Head Start Program. On top of being a highly involved and proud parent, Sarai has an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts, a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and is currently a full-time student at Alliant University getting her Master’s Degree in Special Education. She is currently employed as a Benefits Representative (case worker) for the County of Santa Cruz. She loves working directly with the community and serving those in need.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, lifting weights, and going on outdoor adventures with her family and dog (a pug named Lilly). Her favorite quote is: “Always take something from everything and everyone, even if it is what or who not to be”.
Elaine Johnson, Chairperson
Elaine Johnson is from the Bronx, in New York City, and has been living in Santa Cruz for 20 years. For as early as Elaine could remember, community, collaboration and working toward extending access for all community members have always been at the forefront of her mind and what has led her to do the work that she does. In her childhood, she saw people she knew entering the criminal justice system and not have the means to access programs that would assist in the healing, restoration, diversion, or recidivism to make a change. She has always had a love for the law and vowed to do what she could to bring about change.
Elaine spent several years mentoring students as a way of supporting youth to reach for their highest potential regardless of any barriers that may have been placed in their way. Elaine is also the founder of the Santa Cruz County Neighborhood Courts Program, a diversion program that serves participants throughout Santa Cruz County. Elaine has worked in the fields of juvenile dependency, Community and Divorce mediation, criminal law, and has extensive experience working in collaboration in Santa Cruz County in restorative justice, housing, mentoring programs, (Santa Cruz County High School Mock Trail and Elementary Law program). Elaine is committed to her continued work with community leaders of all levels throughout the County of Santa Cruz.
Elaine holds a bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University in Political Science and a Juris Doctorate from Monterey College of Law. Elaine is a certified mediator and currently serves on several boards, which includes Encompass Community Services, Monarch Services, and Your Future Is Our Business. She is Past President of Women Lawyers of Santa Cruz County, a Member of Rise Together Coalition, serves on the Santa Cruz Police Chief Advisory team, and is a member of the Santa Cruz County Bar Association. Elaine served on the Executive Committee of the NAACP Santa Cruz County Branch, as a board member at Inner Light Ministries, and has been a member of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Advisory Team.
Elaine enjoys singing gospel music, and lives in Live Oak with her partner Shinehah.
Oriana Nolan, At-Large
Oriana is a public health practitioner working in medical education at Natividad Family Medicine Residency and community health programs with Access Support Network. Her work has centered on community-led responses to health issues, including HIV, Hepatitis C, harm reduction, access to care, mental health research, and domestic violence prevention. Oriana grew up in Santa Cruz and studied biology and public health at UC Berkeley. She learned Spanish while living in Mexico and Ecuador, where she worked in capacity building and community development in both rural and urban areas. Oriana returned to Santa Cruz in 2015, where she has been involved in syringe exchange services, Hepatitis C treatment access, and collaboration across institutions to improve care for marginalized groups. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, skiing, and exploring the wilderness with her partner and two children.
Myra Rodriguez, Vice-Chairperson
Myra was born and raised in Watsonville, California. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 2010. Her career trajectory reflects her deep commitment to extending access and building thriving communities. Myra became a Deputy Probation Officer in 2012 with the Santa Cruz County Probation Department and developed expertise in pre-sentence investigations and issues regarding domestic violence. She has dedicated her career to the principles of restorative justice, where there is compassion and healing for victims as well as offenders.
As a probation officer, Myra works with adults in challenging circumstances and has prior experience working in the classroom with children with developmental disabilities.
Myra is delighted to continue contributing to the Santa Cruz community in promoting well-being and social change by serving on the Encompass Board of Directors.
Suzanne Willis, At-Large
Suzanne Willis is currently the Public Defender's Administrative Analyst. She is working to find additional sources of funding and supporting the PDO with budgeting, processes, and data collection. Prior to joining the Public Defender, Suzanne was the Chief Development and Marketing Officer for Second Harvest Food Bank and has extensive experience in fundraising for both universities and private non-profits. She has her Masters of Public Administration from the Monterey Institute of International Studies (now known as Middlebury Institute) and is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Suzanne is so honored to be a newly elected board member for Encompass, an organization working so hard to make Santa Cruz County a healthier and more vibrant community. She tutors English for Santa Cruz County's Volunteer Center and in her free time, you can find her at a ranch in Soquel riding an old roping horse named Red.