Board of Directors
Rosa Davis | President of Board
Melanie Kauffman | Vice President
Stephanie Castleman-Blume | Secretary
Michael Holley | Treasurer
Leticia Aguilar | Director
Carmen Carr | Director
James T. Conley | Director
Eileen Driscoll | Director
Trish Foley | Director
Reini Jensen M.D. | Director
Earleen Norris | Director
Advisory/Honorary Board
Helen Cavanaugh | Nevada County Superior Court, Public Law Center Director
Richard Anderson | Town of Truckee Town Council
Ted Owens | Fifth District Nevada County Supervisor, representing Truckee
Board of Directors
As per the FRC of Truckee by-laws, the Board of Director’s shall have a minimum of seven (7) directors, with the ability to seat up to fifteen (15) directors. The BOD may also designate honorary “non-voting” directors. Each director shall hold office for a period of two or three years and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies. Each director may extend his or her term for another two-year period with the vote of the Board of Directors. The BOD meets monthly (12) with additional fundraising meetings and a yearly retreat.
Currently we have ten board members, and one pending new board member. We also have three honorary “non-voting” directors who provided support in the development of the FRC as a 501(c) (3) organization; Ted Owens, Fifth District Nevada County Supervisor, Helen Cavanaugh Stauts, Nevada County Superior Court, Public Law Center and Richard Anderson, Town of Truckee Council.
Rosa Davis –Chair
I am a lifelong California resident and was born in Pleasanton. I have had a longstanding interest in working with children. Throughout my high school years, I was a teacher aide in the special education classroom. I realized I had a passion for teaching children with disabilities. During the time I was a teacher, I worked with all types of children in an educational setting, including those with disabilities. I spent ten of those years working primarily with non-verbal children who used facilitated communication. I often had to be very creative to help a child to be successful in their school environment. One of my proudest achievements has been to successfully mainstream my students with positive peer interaction. It has been rewarding to educate other children that a person with disabilities is just like you and me. I have been living in Truckee now for four years as a full time resident. When I was with one of my students, I met my husband on Lake Tahoe in 2001. We were married in 2005, and had our first child in 2007 and just gave birth to our second child. I am very grateful for being asked to be involved with the FRC and look forward to serving on its Board. I hope my experience in education will help the FRC to continue to grow and reach the needs of everyone in our community.
MELANIE KAUFFMAN- VICE CHAIR
I grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles, CA and have lived in Truckee for the past 13 years with my husband and two sons. When we moved to Truckee to raise our children (now 17 and 20), I was immediately impressed with the community spirit and mountain environment. My professional background includes several years in the banking industry, and 15 years in non-profit management with a focus on grant acquisition, program services and organizational development. My interest in community health began when I served as the Grants Compliance Officer for the Plumas County Department of Health Services in 1996. Since this time I have served as the Director for three non-profits in the Tahoe-Truckee region, including Tahoe Women’s Services, Arts For the Schools, and the start-up non-profit Sierra Senior Services. I currently provide grant consulting services, and earned my credential as a Certified Grant Professional from the Grant Professionals Certification Institute. My core interest is in building community resources, services and cultural opportunities which will improve the health and overall quality oflife for children, families and adults. I consider it a privilege to be a member of the FRC Board, and I hope my service will help its growth and long term success.
AFFILIATIONS – American Association of Grant Professionals, Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee, Truckee Excellence in Music Parents Organization, Women’s Fund Grants Committee – Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation, Nevada County Adult & Family Services Commission – 5th District Representative, 2002-07.
Stephanie Castleman-Blume – Secretary
I began my journey in education early on by working with “at-risk” youth within an outdoor education setting. This experience inspired me to receive my teaching credential and eventually to working within the public and private school setting. My passion for education and programs that serve children and families later lead me to become a Head Start Supervisor where I found I could work more closely with children and families. My desire to write grants and to bring supportive programs into our community that could effectively serve children and families led me into my current role as Regional Director for Sierra Nevada Children’s Services. I have recently completed my Masters in Teaching with an emphasis in early childhood development. I have lived in Truckee for 13 years and share my passion for learning with both my husband Mark and my 3 year old son Kael.
Michael Holley - Treasurer
I was born in the city of San Bernardino in southern California. I have been married for 26 years and have six children, three of whom are adopted. In my professional life, I am the General Manager of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District (PUD), which is the local water and power provider for the greater Truckee area. This year, through a cooperative venture between the FRC of Truckee and the PUD, we were able to develop out first ever low income assistance program at the PUD. By working with the FRC of Truckee on this program, I learned of the depth of the services that the FRC of Truckee provides to our community. I strongly believe that families are the core of our society and children are our greatest resources. Serving on the Board of the FRC of Truckee allows me to assist families in meaningful and sustainable way. Family Resource Center of Truckee 37 S. H. Cowell Grant Proposal
AFFILIATIONS – Truckee Noon Rotary, Truckee Donner Railroad Society and the American Water Works Association.
Leticia Aguilar - Member
I was born in a very small town in Jalisco, Mexico, the 6th youngest of 18 children. We lived in poverty and we were often hungry, not only for food, but for our mother’s love. She was so busy having babies and trying to survive that parenting was left to older siblings. I did not want to live the life my mother lived so I left Mexico for the United States when I was 14. I moved to Sacramento where one of my sisters lived to help her with her 5 children, ages 1-5 years old. I did this for 9 years. Once again babies surrounded me and I knew I could do something bigger in my life. During this time I met my husband-to-be and we moved together to Truckee. We had 3 children and I started a licensed family childcare home business. The business became very successful, but I wanted to learn more, earn a professional degree and open a preschool. Seven years ago, I started my education and this past June, I graduated from Sierra College with an A.A. degree in Human Development. I now run a dual language immersion preschool. I want to serve on the FRC Board to help others receive the opportunities that I have had for a better life for themselves and their children. I have always volunteered in the community and helped people, sharing information about resources, tutoring and counseling them and encouraging them to complete their educations, but through the FRC Board, I can share my knowledge and experience and have a greater impact on more people. Through volunteering, I have made many contacts within the Latino community and through my business I have made many contacts in the larger community. In speaking with one of my preschool parents recently about the FRC Board, she was very interested in what the FRC does and she would like to come to the next Board meeting. Through my work on the FRC Board, I am looking forward to sharing the vision of the FRC with the whole community.
Carmen Carr – Member
Carmen, originally from Germany, has enjoyed the seasons of our beautiful mountain community since 1986. Carmen sells real estate in Truckee, the North & West shore of Lake Tahoe as well as Donner Summit. As a local resident, she is grateful for the abundance of opportunity this stunning area has to offer. She enjoys her involvement in our wonderful local community, from being the president at Jibboomstreet Toastmasters to the founder of Mountain High BNI and sitting on the board at the Family Resource Center of Truckee. To her giving back to the community is rewarding and contributes to the success of our town.
AFFILIATIONS- Tahoe Sierra Board of Realtors, President of Mountain HIGH BNI Networking Group, and Area 25 Governor of Division B of Toastmasters International.
James T. Conley – Member
Eileen Driscoll – Member
Eileen is the bi-lingual community liaison at Truckee Elementary School. Prior to that she worked at the North Tahoe Family Resource Center in Kings Beach as Advocate Support Supervisor, and she was in private practice as a chiropractor. She lives in Truckee with her husband and very large black Labrador. She enjoys hiking, skiing and has a passion for the education and achievement of Latino children in our community.
TRISH FOLEY – MEMBER
I was born and raised in the small town of Quincy, CA and moved to Davis in 1987 to attend college. I worked for the UC Davis Medical Center for 15 years as a Clinical Research Coordinator. I am also a licensed Marriage Family Therapist, and have worked with school districts and counseling agencies fostering growth and assistance for families, children, and teenagers. My love of the mountains and a small town environment brought me to Truckee in 2007. I currently work at the Tahoe Forest Cancer Center as a Research Coordinator. I enjoy the outdoors; hiking, camping, and skipping rocks at Donner Lake. I feel fortunate to be involved with FRC and have the opportunity to contribute to the community.
AFFILIATIONS- Jibboom Street Toastmasters, Humane Society.
Reini Jensen, M.D. - Member
I am a Family Medicine Physician in Truckee and have lived here for 5 years. I was raised in the small town of Bishop, CA and as soon as I finished my training in the SF area (Stanford Medical School, residency at UCSF/SF General Hospital), my husband and I moved here specifically to join a small community. We've always loved this area and now love the people who make up the community. My professional interests include children and adolescent healthcare, family planning, substance abuse, women's health, and international health. I also have a strong interest in and commitment to public and community health, especially concerning under-served groups. I was thrilled to be able to join the FRC Board. I am fluent in Spanish and see many Latino families (as well as low-income Caucasian families) in my clinic and in the hospital. Beyond health care needs (of which there are many), the FRC is a place that can address many more fundamental needs, such as housing, education, employment, legal rights, and safety that are critical for people to become self-sufficient, empowered members of our community. We have many motivated people in this community that want to help others and many very challenged low-income, under-served people who need help and resources; the FRC can be just the place to help facilitate building a supportive, integrated community. I also have a 2-year-old son, making my commitment to helping this community even more personal and poignant.
AFFILIATIONS- Tahoe Forest Hospital Medical Staff, Truckee Tahoe Medical Group, Adventure Risk Challenge Advisory Counsel, One HEART Medical Advisory Board, Center for Health and Sports Performance, Medical Advisory Board, American Board of Family Practice, American Association of Family Practitioners, California Association of Family Practitioners, Stanford Medical Alumni Association, Dartmouth Alumni Association.
Earleen Norris – MEMBER
