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Second Harvest Board
On mission in our community
Board of Trustees
Cameron Haste, Board Chair
Bay Federal Credit Union
Cameron Haste is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Bay Federal Credit Union, the largest locally owned financial institution in Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties. As a key member of the Executive Team, Cameron partners closely with the Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Leadership Team, and the credit union’s Board of Directors to ensure the seamless alignment of strategy, objectives, and priorities. Cameron is dedicated to fostering a creative and collaborative work environment to consistently achieve results and deliver excellent service to members. A graduate of California State University, Dominguez Hills, with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business, Cameron has also completed the Credit Union Executives Society CEO Institute and holds the designation of Certified Credit Union Executive. He is a graduate of the Leadership Santa Cruz and Monterey County programs. Outside of work, Cameron enjoys adventure travel experiences.
Alexander Pedersen, Vice Chair
Santa Cruz Small Business Development Center
Alexander Pedersen is a dedicated community leader and small business advocate, currently serving as the Interim Director of the Santa Cruz Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and a City Council Member of Capitola. With a diverse background in small business development, economic growth, and community leadership, Alexander is committed to addressing the needs of Santa Cruz County and fostering a thriving, inclusive community. Outside of his professional life, Alexander is an active volunteer in his community, serving on the board of directors for several nonprofit organizations and is dedicated to promoting community wellness through leadership and economic development. In his free time, Alexander enjoys engaging in community activities, travel, and outdoor sports.
Silvia Diaz, Treasurer
City of Watsonville
Silvia has over 22 years of experience working for non-profits. Throughout her career, Silvia has worked in agencies that work to improve the quality of life of the residents in her community. She was the Finance Manager for the Legal Aid Society and the CFO for Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance and currently works as Senior Financial Analyst with the City of Watsonville.
Silvia has served in many local organizations, including the Women's Crisis Support, The Measure L Bond Oversight Committee, and the City of Watsonville Personnel Commission. She is honored to serve on the Board of Trustees of an organization that brings essential services to the community.
Andrea Carlos Willy, Corporate Secretary
Pajaro Valley Unified School District
Andrea Carlos Willy’s personal and professional life has been dedicated to facilitating positive changes in health and education domains that support fragile populations and future generations. Her largely non-profit work experience has spanned the fields of human rights, bioethics, education and healthcare. Andrea is currently the District Grant Writer for Pajaro Valley Unified School District. As an active community volunteer she serves on the boards of both the MAIA Foundation and CASA of Santa Cruz County. Over the past two years she has been a member of Second Harvest’s Pajaro Valley Engagement Committee. Andrea looks forward to sharing her professional skills and passion for equity to further the important work of Second Harvest. Her family roots in Watsonville date back to the mid 1800s.
Bob Norton, Past Board Chair
Community Member
Bob Norton served on the Aptos Chamber Board for ten years and Above the Line for eight years. He has extensive management and organizational experience in nearly every aspect of the grocery industry and a strong desire to give back to the community. Bob is a part of the fabric of the food bank.
Alysia Johnson
Car Connectivity Consortium
Alysia Johnson is President of the Car Connectivity Consortium, a cross-industry organization advancing technologies for smart device-to-vehicle connectivity solutions for users around the globe. She is an accomplished strategist and enjoys leading teams to achieve outstanding results in organizational growth and operations. Alysia is consistently recognized as an exemplar servant leader, with a strong ability to engage and inspire. A dedicated team leader and visionary, she is focused on building financial strength, operating efficiency, fostering trusted relationships and making meaningful impact. Alysia is a committed community volunteer who also enjoys time with family and friends, beach walks and kitchen adventures.
Cesario Ruiz
My Mom's Mole
Cesario created My Mom's Mole in 2013 as a retail product for specialty markets. The brand has since grown rapidly to incorporate catering events, foodservice, and education into its business model.
Cesario currently manages a non-profit organization based in Watsonville that offers no-cost technical assistance to local entrepreneurs developing their own food products and brands. He believes fundamentally that the best way to create stronger connections between people is to share anything you excel at - pay it forward.
Josaphine Stevenson
California Certified Organic Farmers
Josaphine Stevenson has dedicated her career to organizational development and promoting equitable food systems. Her work experience and leadership demonstrate a deep commitment to cultivating positive social change. Growing up, Josaphine’s family relied on food banks to make ends meet and she learned first-hand the vital role that they play in the lives of the people they serve. She is currently the Director of People Services for California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). She has a diverse background in food policy, hunger alleviation, public health, grantmaking, human resources, leadership, and organizational development and business management. Josaphine has deep roots in Santa Cruz, where she was raised and where she returned to raise her son. She has master’s degree in applied anthropology and was selected for several leadership programs including CDC’s National Leadership Program for the Public’s Health, the San Francisco Foundation’s Multi-Cultural Fellowship Program and the Greenlining Institute’s Community Health Policy Fellowship. Josaphine’s life and work experience solidified her deep commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to affordable, healthy food. In her free time, Josaphine enjoys baking and gardening with her son, hiking, swimming in our lovely bay, and finding a sunny spot to read a book.
Paul A. Carlson
Legal Executive
Paul worked for HP (previously named Plantronics) in Santa Cruz since October 2016 as Associate General Counsel and was responsible for a variety of legal areas and strategic initiatives. Before joining HP, he was Deputy General Counsel at Seagate Technology where he led a team of lawyers and legal staff for Seagate’s cloud systems group. As a resident of Aptos and Santa Cruz County for the past 12 years, Paul is active in local organizations, including Second Harvest, where he is a member of the Finance Committee. Paul enjoys training for and participating in triathlons as a member of the Santa Cruz Triathlon Association in his free time.
Dean Austin
Pacific Valley Bank
Dean Austin serves as SVP/Market President for Pacific Valley Bank, Santa Cruz County where he focuses on addressing the community's financial needs and fostering local economic growth.
A native of Santa Cruz, Dean values community involvement and actively participates in local nonprofit organizations and events. He is a graduate of the Leadership Santa Cruz program and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Hospice of Santa Cruz County.
Dean's expertise in financial management, community engagement, and dedication to the local community supports Second Harvest’s mission and enhances its positive impact. Outside of work, Dean enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.
Matko Vranjes
Watsonville Community Hospital
Matko embarked on his healthcare journey at Watsonville Community Hospital (WCH) in 1991. Over the following three decades, he progressed through diverse roles in hospital administration, including materials management, facilities management, emergency management, compliance, and safety. Currently, he holds the esteemed position of Chief Operating Officer at WCH. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Matko is deeply engaged in community service. He actively contributes to Salud Para La Gente and the Watsonville Hospital Foundation as a board member, having previously chaired the Watsonville Community Hospital Credit Union. His volunteerism extends to educational institutions like Moreland Notre Dame School and St. Francis High School, where he has made significant contributions. Additionally, Matko has coached in various sports, notably with the Little League Challenger program, supporting children with physical and intellectual challenges.
Tracy MacKenna
Gensler
Tracy’s community and professional work is committed to new ideas that will broaden awareness and assist organizations through current and future development phases. She currently serves as Immediate Past President of the Board of Directors for Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center. She previously served as Chair of the Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women in Santa Cruz in addition to twenty years of community stewardship and Board leadership for local and regional nonprofit and advocacy organizations.
Advisory Board
- Bruce McPherson, Chair
- Jeremy Lezin, Vice Chair
- Jess Brown
- Rebecca Garcia
- Ken Kannappan
- Edward J. Kelly III
- John Laird
- Marq Lipton
- Gayle Ortiz
- William Ow
- Miles Reiter
- Manny Solano
- Mary Solari
- Steve Spragens