Master Plan for Aging

The Local Master Plan for Aging (MPA) is an initiative to create a Sonoma County plan to promote healthy aging throughout the lifespan. The local MPA will be aligned with the California Master Plan for Aging—the state’s blueprint to prepare for the demographic changes underway and continue its leadership in aging, disability and equity. More about the CA MPA can be found here.

Twenty four community members representing sectors in housing, healthcare, wellness, equity, caregiving and economic security make up a steering committee who will help develop a local plan. Individuals were selected through a formal application and review process. In addition, each Supervisor from the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors appointed one person from their respective District who also serves on the Area Agency on Aging’s (AAA) Advisory Committee.

The 24-member Local MPA Steering Committee includes the following individuals:

Member Bios:

Bonnie Petty Co-Chair, CA Alliance for Retired Americans Bonnie retired after 12 years of working with the Sonoma County Library. She is now the Co-Chair of the Sonoma County Chapter of the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA). She is a Board Member of the statewide CARA organization. Bonnie is active in organizations that support housing, where she advocates for fair wages and quality of life issues.

Cathryn Couch Chief Executive Officer, Ceres Community Project Cathryn is the Chief Executive Officer of Ceres Community Project, which provides medically tailored meals, groceries, produce “prescriptions” and nutrition consults to individuals with serious and chronic health conditions in Sonoma and Marin counties. She is a board member of Partnership HealthPlan of California, the California Food is Medicine Coalition, Health Action Together, and the National Food is Medicine Coalition.

Christie Brandmeyer Substitute Teacher, Petaluma School District Christie has extensive experience in education, from teaching health to high schoolers, teaching classes in natural foods cooking, and training adults in multiple corporations on technology programs. She also owns a Mobile Notary business specializing in Trust and Estate documents that serves Marin and Sonoma counties. She served on the Novato Housing and Services Committee in the early 2000s. Christie was also part of the team that created the International Internal Help Desk for Intel in the 1990s. She is passionate about improving the lives of the people around her.

Cynthia Scarborough Executive Director (Retired), Vintage House Senior Center Cynthia (Cindy) served as Executive Director for Vintage House (senior center) for nearly 20 years before retiring in 2017. Currently, she volunteers with local Sonoma Valley organizations working on housing and food security issues. Cindy serves as the Steering Committee Chair for the Sonoma Valley Collaborative and is involved in initiatives such as Coordinated Entry with Homeless Action Sonoma and Food Recovery with Meals on Wheels of Sonoma and Sonoma Overnight Support.

David Anderson Geriatrician (Retired), Healdsburg Hospital David practiced as a geriatrician for nearly 40 years in Healdsburg. Over the years, he has been involved in community efforts, including serving as a Chairperson of the North Sonoma County Healthcare District and the North Sonoma County Healthcare Foundation. He was also responsible for getting the city of Healdsburg to ban the sale of tobacco products to those under 21, the first community in California to enact this. This initiative was followed by other counties and is now a statewide policy.

Deanna Shaat AAA Advisory Council Member Deanna has over 17 years of experience in senior living and skilled nursing, serving in various roles, including RCFE Administrator, Marketing Director, Elder Care Advisor, Social Worker/Discharge Planner, Case Worker, and Placement Consultant. She is an Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council member. She is also involved with the Alzheimer’s Association and Petaluma Women in Business. She is also a 6th generation Petaluman.

Drake Cunningham Executive Director, Rebuilding Together Petaluma Drake has several years of experience as a general contractor building homes. With a strong desire to give back, he became involved as Board President for Rebuilding Together Petaluma, until becoming the Executive Director. Rebuilding Together Petaluma provides home repairs and modifications for older adults.

Erick Larson Founding Executive Director, Village of Sonoma Valley Erick has experience as a director of senior residential communities that provide housing, services, and activities for older adults. He was also Regional Director of Operations for a Home Care Organization, providing in-home care in Marin, Sonoma, and Napa Counties. He is now the Executive Director of Village of Sonoma Valley, which is focused on transforming the experience of aging through community-based solutions. Erick is a Board Member of Village Movement California.

Jenny Helman AAA Advisory Council Member After a long career in the Sonoma County wine industry, Jenny studied to become a holistic nutrition consultant and spent 5 years educating older adults on healthy eating and lifestyle choices. Jenny retired in 2021. She has served as a member of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council for 7 years.

Jim Wallen Director of Housing Development, PEP Housing Jim is a 4th generation Sonoma County resident and is dedicated to improving the community by providing housing to those less fortunate. He is the Director of Housing Development for PEP Housing, which is a nonprofit developer that provides affordable housing and supportive services to older adults.

Joshua Rymer Trustee / Board Chair, Sonoma Valley Healthcare District Joshua was the CEO of a software firm, and executive at Charles Schwab and partner at the Boston Consulting Group, an international management consulting firm. He became involved in planning and delivery of healthcare while serving as Trustee and Board Chair for the Sonoma Valley Healthcare District. Joshua has an interest in “aging in place” programs.

Kimberly (Kimi) Barbosa, (she/they) Executive Director, Positive Images. Kimi is the Executive Director for Positive Images, an LGBTQIA+ Community Center that supports Sonoma County’s LGBTQIA+ population. She is a DEIB practitioner specializing in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. She has over a decade of experience serving youth and communities of color, focusing on advocating for inclusive policies and practices.

Liz DeRouen Executive Director, Indian Child and Family Preservation Program Liz is the Executive Director for the Indian Child and Family Preservation Program, an Indian Tribal nonprofit corporation and a consortium of tribes formed to provide Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) advocacy. She has been an Indian Child Welfare Act Court Advocate for over 35 years and, in the past, has served as tribal chairperson for the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians Tribe. She is passionate about advocating for, training, and mentoring tribal communities.

Michael Tinoco Program Planning and Evaluation Analyst, Department of Health Services Michael is a Program Planning and Evaluation Analyst for Sonoma County Department of Health Services, where he has experience working with community groups that are focused on health and community wellness. Michael has experience as a caregiver for his grandfather and now his mother.

Nelly Schuler Realtor and Veteran. Nelly is a realtor and independent business owner from Santa Rosa. She is bilingual in English and Spanish, with over 30 years of experience in real estate in northern California. Nelly has vast knowledge of non-profit structure business models and is skilled in developing and maintaining business relationships

Ranjana Shardha Owner - HomeWatch CareGivers of Santa Rosa Ranjana was born and raised in India and has lived in multiple countries across the globe. She has used her unique cultural insight, her passion for serving older adults, and past homecare experience to develop and grow her home care agency. She is also a Quality Improvement Manager for the Alameda Health System, where she utilizes her educational background and experience in health informatics, Lean Six Sigma, and computer engineering.

Rena Morabe Former Peer Support Specialist for West County Community Services Rena is a former Peer Support Specialist for West County Community Services. She has previous experience being a caregiver for IHSS, a Peer Support Aid, and has worked and lived among elders with severe developmental and mental disabilities. Rena lives with chronic mental health challenges and is currently experiencing homelessness. She is eager to advocate for Sonoma County residents with disabilities, people who are unhoused, and people dealing with mental health challenges who want to continue living in Sonoma County.

Rick Baum AAA Advisory Council Member Rick has lived in Sonoma for 10 years and previously served as Chief Deputy Insurance Commissioner for the State of California and as Executive Director of the California Commission for Economic Development. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the San Francisco Jewish Home for the Aged and as managing partner of Castle Vista Senior Duplex Community in Atwater CA. He has been a member of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council for many years.

Rubin Scott is the former Santa Rosa–Sonoma County Chapter NAACP President and current Executive Director of the Community Equity Foundation. He is an Oakland native who moved to Santa Rosa when he was thirteen and spent much of his early career devoted to social services and helping children in need. Rubin’s commitment to uplift all people, not just NAACP members or the Black community, separates him as a leader. He is a prominent figure in efforts to address systemic racism.

Susan Idell Board Member, Sonoma Valley Healthcare District Susan has had a long career as a social gerontologist and experience developing curricula for health professionals in the aging field. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Sonoma Valley Healthcare District. Susan is also a former member of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council.

Terry Kelley AAA Advisory Council Member Terry worked in the non-profit sector for 34 years. Terry worked for the Boy Scouts of America in various locations and roles and then as the Executive Director of the Sebastopol Area Senior Center for 12 years. He has been part of the Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council for the past 11 years and is a member of the California Senior Legislature, serving as the Senior Senator for Sonoma County.

Trayce Beards AAA Advisory Council Member Trayce retired after 20 years working with the County and non-profit social services, which included working with the Area Agency on Aging of Lake and Mendocino Counties. She is interested in strengthening the safety net for older adults and their caregivers and increasing public awareness of available services. She is a member of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council.

Wanda Tapia Former Executive Director, Latino Service Providers Sonoma County Wanda retired from being Executive Director of Latino Service Providers Sonoma County in 2018, an organization working with community partners to engage, collaborate, and promote development within the Latinx community. She is a retiree from the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE), where she served for 29 years in the Family Nutrition & Consumer Sciences, Horticultural, and 4-H Departments. Wanda is a board member of the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Sonoma County.

Wynnelana C. Canio Geriatrician, Psychiatrist, Kaiser Permanente Wynn is a physician (geriatrician, internist, and psychiatrist) that cares for older adults and caregivers in Sonoma and Marin counties. As the Chief of Geriatrics, she is involved in strategic planning, implementation, training, and collaboration with community organizations. Wynn is a subject matter expert in geriatric models of care and dementia care programs and is actively involved in aging matters at the local and state levels. She was appointed by the Governor to participate in the CA Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness Task Force and participates in multiple other committees.

Interested in contributing to the Local MPA?

We encourage you to consider attending or applying for the AAA Advisory Council. The Council advises the Board of Supervisors on issues and concerns impacting older adults and people with disabilities in Sonoma County.

How can I learn more?

Call us at (707) 565-5930

Email us at AAA@schsd.org