Department: Board of Directors

Julissa Peña

Julissa is the Executive Director of the County Immigrant Legal Defense Center. She also serves on the Center for Refugee and Gender Studies Immigration Advocates Network and is a member of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. Julissa is associated with the Fund for Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Foundation, and the Hutton Parker Foundation. Bringing… Read more »

Sonia Kroth

Sonia is the Community Relations Manager with the County of Ventura Human Services Agency and serves on the boards of the Partnership for Safe Families and Communities of Ventura County. A Thomas J. Watson Fellow, she has been recognized for her studies of cultural and biological diversity. Sonia brings extensive expertise working for low-income and… Read more »

Hazel Davalos

Hazel is the Co-Executive Director at the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), leading social, economic, and environmental justice work in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. She was raised in Santa Maria and graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Women’s Studies. Hazel has been organizing since… Read more »

Kevin Clerici

Kevin has served over a decade as the Executive Director of Downtown Ventura Partners, which is dedicated to cleanliness, safety and vitality of Ventura’s historic downtown. In addition, he sits on the Board of the Ventura Community Partners Foundation, the Ventura County Behavioral Health Advisory Board, and the Ventura County Continuum of Care. Kevin is… Read more »

Nick Tompkins

A fifth generation Central Coast native and Fresno State University graduate, Nick brings more than 40 years of entrepreneurial experience to PSHH. As the founder of Apio, Inc. in 1979, Nick, together with his partner, grew the business into the largest manufacturer and marketer of pre-cut vegetables in the country. Now the owner of NKT… Read more »

Karol Schulkin

Now a retired human services professional, Karol spent her long career dedicated to numerous agencies in both Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties. This experience included board membership with the Eleos Foundation, Housing Works, and the Ventura County Homeless and Housing Coalition. Karol has also supported United Way of Ventura County, the Community Impact… Read more »

Paula Johnson

Paula brings to her board service deep experience in the Santa Barbara County community through her previous contributions to the Goleta Valley Housing Committee and Starfish Housing Committee. As a retired bookkeeper, she brings oversight and professional understanding of financial stewardship to the organization. A strong advocate for the ‘Housing First’ approach to addressing homelessness,… Read more »

Shelly Higginbotham

Shelly, former three-term Mayor of the City of Pismo Beach, is retired and serves as the Board Chair for PSHH. She has been associated with the League of California Cities, League of Women Voters, the 5 Cities Homeless Coalition, the Child Development Resource Center, the Children’s Resource Network, and the Women’s Legacy Fund through the… Read more »

Vito Gioiello

Vito serves as a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Wealth Management. Prior to joining the bank in 2023, he provided his expertise to many financial institutions including First Republic Bank, Manchester Capital Management, and Northern Trust & City National Investment Advisors in Los Angeles. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Cal… Read more »

Jose Flores

Jose is a general contractor and longtime member of the Lompoc community. A former Sunday School Teacher, bringing his building expertise, Jose continues serving as an engaged volunteer with his church. Jose joined the board in 2010 and resides with his wife in Lompoc.