Team
Rosa Gonzalez, MPH
Executive Director
Rosa Gonzalez is a dedicated Public Health Professional with 10+ years of experience on the front lines of serving her community--managing programs initiatives and community engagement functions. As a first generation daughter of immigrants from Mexico, she left the comfort and stability of her family home to earn her Bachelors of Science degree in Human Development at UC Davis. Always curious and with an insatiable appetite for knowledge, Rosa took her education to the next level and headed to New Haven, where she received her Master of Public Health in Social & Behavioral Sciences with a concentration in US Health & Justice from the Yale School of Public Health. Whether as a student or professionally, she galvanized teams and movements to address health and equity issues at the institutional level.
She had served on the Farm to Pantry Board of Directors for nearly 7 years, and when she returned home to Sonoma County after graduating from Yale, she was brought back into the Farm to Pantry fold, during a leadership transition. Farm to Pantry saw how driven Rosa was and how she displayed an incredible work ethic, even in a temporary role. She rose to the top of the candidates for a permanent Executive Director position and was formally announced at the 2024 Summer Supper as Farm to Pantry's new Executive Director.
Kelly Conrad
Community Outreach & Development Director
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Kelly Conrad stayed in the Northwest to attain her undergraduate degree. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration & Marketing with a minor in English & Professional Writing from the University of Puget Sound in Washington state. After completing the Wine Marketing post-graduate program at Cal Poly, Kelly went on to work for such wineries as EOS Estate Winery in Paso Robles, Cambria Winery & Vineyard in Santa Maria, Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery in Sonoma and E&J Gallo Winery in Healdsburg, as well as several other domestic and international wineries.
As a devoted member of her community, Conrad is involved in fundraising for Healdsburg public schools and volunteers for various outreach organizations, government surplus distributions and food banks. At one time, she even volunteered as a “cat-cuddler.” Kelly says that proves she will do anything to help her community because she is not a big fan of cats, and apparently, the feeling is mutual, as evidenced by scratches and blood loss post volunteer stints.
After a 20-year public relations and marketing career in the wine industry, Conrad felt compelled to apply her professional talents to the nonprofit sector. She commented, "I have always loved what I do but felt life nudging me in a different direction. I was yearning to apply what I do to help make some real change in the place I live and raise my children.” Farm to Pantry was looking to expand their offered services in 2020 for obvious reasons, so Kelly threw her hat into the ring, hoping her communications and media expertise could help increase visibility and enrich their food justice work. “I have always held Farm to Pantry in high regard and respected their board leadership; having a chance to tell their story and elevate their profile as they were spreading their wings felt like such a natural fit,” Conrad adds.
Kelly enjoys being active but can often be caught curled up in a quiet place with a book or playing cards with her son and daughter. She is a self-proclaimed culinary hedonist, who is painfully aware that she cannot cook but also loves food and exploring flavors, aromas and textures, with deep appreciation for every bite. She gets downright giddy when she has the opportunity to dine out and cherishes the experience. She gets even more giddy at the thought of everyone in the world having full bellies and feeling nourished from our earth’s bounty. Archived Career Press Release
Abril Inocencio
Director of Operations
A Sonoma County native, I graduated with a B.S. in Financial Management from Sonoma State. I was part of the student-run Morgan Stanley Investment Fund, where I sharpened my skills in investment strategy and teamwork while working with investment bankers and financial advisors. Over the past three years, I worked remotely at a values-driven private wealth firm, collaborating with clients and advisors nationwide on financial planning and investment management. This experience helped me develop a keen understanding of diverse financial needs and allowed me to fine-tune my skills in personalized financial planning. I also served as treasurer for a Santa Rosa City Council candidate in 2020, gaining community-focused financial insights. Although I have always been passionate about my work, with clients I felt a growing desire to make a direct impact in my community. I am now dedicated to applying my financial expertise and systematic work style to foster meaningful change while supporting Farm to Pantry’s wonderful mission.
In my downtime, I enjoy budgeting, kayaking, cooking and watching shows like Survivor with my dog
Riley Reed
Kids Farms Connection & Special Projects Coordinator
Riley holds an Associate's degree in Sustainable Agriculture from Santa Rosa Junior College, and is currently serving as the special projects coordinator for Farm to Pantry. She is deeply passionate about farming and educating others on the importance of connecting with local agriculture. Coming from Orange County, CA, Riley is very appreciative of the redwood forests and beautiful river and coastal landscapes that Sonoma County has to offer. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, dancing, socializing, camping, and spending time exploring outdoors as much as possible.
Nicolas Quijano
Growing the Table Coordinator
Nicolas has such a breadth of experience. From pastry-baking to banking and customer service to manual labor, he shows competency in a wide range of areas. He was born and raised in Sonoma and is a first generation college student from a Latino family (Mexican and Nicaraguan). Nicolas makes it a priority to give back to his community and frequently volunteers at events hosted by North Bay Organizing Project, Mecha of Santa Rosa Junior College, Lideres del Futuro and more.
He was drawn to Farm to Pantry because our mission really resonated with him, in addition to the opportunity to uplift and interact with the community. When Nicolas is not working, he likes to read, bake, go stargazing, go on walks and hang out with friends and family. Ultimately, he would like to find work as an astrophysicist, but we hope he stays a member of family for quite a while before then!
Samantha Arenas
Logistics & Distribution Manager
Samantha is a Sonoma County local and a recent Sonoma State graduate. Arenas earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography, Environment & Planning and Spanish. During the past two years, Samantha has been interning at a nonprofit farm in Petaluma, learning about food resilience and community outreach.
“Sam is a really grounding touchstone for this incredibly dynamic and busy team; she does a fantastic job of keeping us organized,” Kelly Conrad said. They are passionate about sustainable farming and food justice. Samantha enjoys being outdoors, reading and spending time with family and friends.
Claudia de la Pena
Equity Gardens Manager
Claudia’s career has been rooted in gardening and service from the very start. With her experience at Green String Institute, Oak Hill Farm, Growing Together Farm and Petaluma Seed Bank, she has designed, planted and maintained sustainable gardens, worked with and educated children & adults with developmental disabilities in gardens and farms and has been a valuable resource and consultant for farming practices and gardening inquiries.
Claudia has conducted school tours, education sessions and workshops for farm maintenance and is a dedicated Sonoma County Black Forum volunteer. Her greenhouse management skills, farming expertise and friendly disposition are prized and valued in her position at Farm to Pantry.
When she is not engaged in serving her community, you can find Claudia visiting local bookstores, hiking or taking in a movie at the local theaters.
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Azucena Carlos Montes
Glean Leader
Azucena is passionate about building connections and supporting her community. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology, with minors in Spanish and Chicano Latino Studies, from Sonoma State University. Her background in the nonprofit sector, education and financial services has shaped her ability to work with diverse communities and provide thoughtful support.
She is deeply committed to creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds to experience and enjoy the outdoors. Whether she’s guiding community members through multi-faceted tasks or simply offering a listening ear, she’s dedicated to creating a welcoming and supportive experience. Outside of work hours, Azucena enjoys spending her time reading, crafting, exploring new places and embracing her love for languages and cultures. She values the power of community and believes in creating welcoming spaces where people feel seen, heard and supported.
We believe her genuine warm nature and good humor will make her a wonderful Glean Leader, hosting many memorable and meaningful gleans for our volunteers. We hope you get a chance to get to know the latest flower in the Farm to Pantry bouquet!
Maddy Johnson
GrizzlyCorps Member
We are lucky enough to have Maddy as our GrizzlyCorps Fellow for a few months. GrizzlyCorps is an AmeriCorps fellowship administered through UC Berkeley and California Volunteers. She is helping us with Program Development, specifically our "Grow A Row" Program, as well as supporting our Kids Farm Connection and assisting us with day-to-day operations.
Moving between California and Colorado throughout her childhood, she is excited to be back in California. She studied Sociology at Colorado College, working with food justice and other community-based organizations. Before this, she was a Permaculture Intern at a sustainability education nonprofit in Oregon. These experiences have fostered her passion for health equity, food sovereignty, mutual aid and connecting with nature. In this role, she hopes to help build a more equitable, regenerative food system while cultivating reciprocal relationships with all the beings in our ecosystem. Maddy is already well-loved by the team and is highly-regarded for her ability to put creative visions into action.
When she is not looking for delicious recipes to tempt elementary students to try kale, you will likely find her frolicking in the snow (she loves to ski), painting with watercolors or crafting. We are hoping to put her aspiring folk herbalist tendencies to work with the installation of a medicinal learning garden at our Mason Street "Empowerment Plot" Garden!
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Daisy Farella
AmeriCorps VIP Member
Daisy Farella is our latest AmeriCorps VIP (Volunteer Infrastructure Program) member. She was Davis-born but grew up in Napa. After graduating from New Tech High School, she relocated to Corvallis to be an Oregon State Beaver and study Environmental Science. She has always been an "outdoorsy" girl, curious about the world around her and passionate about caring for it. Her positive attitude and engaging demeanor has already made her feel like family.
Daisy's involvement with California Climate Action Corps, conducting climate resiliency actions and community outreach and engagement, inspired her to get involved with AmeriCorps, which ultimately and fortunately led her to us. She will be helping us with our Volunteer Program, making everyone who helps and supports Farm to Pantry feel special and appreciated. When she is not cultivating and nurturing our volunteers, she can be found reading, enjoying the outdoors and going on walks!
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