Alumni Council Update

BY STEVE DODGE (49), ALUMNI COUNCIL CHAIR

After a year of remote calls and virtual planning, the Alumni Council (AC) is looking forward to getting back to inperson meetings. The October meeting in Clovis will be our first time bringing the group together since February 2020. With Ag Leadership’s new strategic plan set in motion, the AC is ready to do what it can to help the vision become a reality. We will be meeting throughout the next few months, culminating with a retreat in November.

We are so grateful for all of the hard work of the past regional directors and executive team during the uncertain times at the beginning of the pandemic. Thank you to Rachelle Antinetti (42) and Bill Van Skike (32) for their servant leadership and support. Thank you also to Chase Hurley (35) for his leadership by guiding and supporting the exchange programs over the past decade.

I am so excited for the new team members joining us and the energy everyone is putting forward to begin a new normal. As a team, we are excited to create more engagement and inclusivity to alumni across the state. Look to your email, social media and mailboxes as we send out information about the new opportunities. As COVID-19 taught us all, it truly takes a village.

Upwards and beyond!

Bill Van Skike (32), Board Liaison

Bill served on the AC for many years as a regional director, sergeant-at-arms, vice chair, chair and finally as board liaison. He was also a part of strategic planning in 2002, strategic alignment in 2015-2016 and a D.C. Exchange supporter and volunteer.

THANK YOU TO OUTGOING ALUMNI COUNCIL LEADERS

THANK YOU TO OUR OUTGOING REGIONAL DIRECTORS FOR THEIR SERVANT LEADERSHIP. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE FOUNDATION AND OUR ALUMNI.

Rachelle Antinetti (42), Vice Chair

Rachelle served on the AC as a regional director and vice chair and supported the policy and procedure revision project. She also helped the AC set in place the structure and many of the processes used today. As a servant leader, she helped to provide many lifelong learning opportunities to alumni and was instrumental in helping to guide AC transitions over the years. In 2019 she traveled with Class 49 fellows on their international seminar to Russia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Manpreet Bains (43), Region 3 Director

Manpreet will now be stepping into her new role as CALF Education Team liaison.

Rob Goff (45), Region 8 Director

Rob will now begin his role as a member of CALF’s board of directors.

Ted Grether (47), Region 9 Director

Ted will continue to serve as a regional director until October.

NEW REGIONAL DIRECTORS SELECTED

In March we began our process of identifying new AC regional directors for Regions 3, 8 and 9. Following a request for nominations, AC Chair Steve Dodge (49) personally reached out to all who had been nominated to discuss the position and to share his appreciation to everyone for stepping up. Due to there being no contest for any of the positions, the AC approved the placement of all three nominated alumni as directors in their respective regions.

Tom Merwin (44), Region 3

Tom is a seventh-generation farmer in the Sacramento Valley. He manages the day-to-day operations of his family farm and vineyards in Clarksburg, where they specialize in growing wine grapes. Tom earned his Bachelor of Arts in international relations from UC Davis. He currently serves as president of the Clarksburg Wine Growers and Vintners Association. In 2014, Tom founded Ogilvie Merwin Vintners, a wine company that focuses on crafting quality wines from the Clarksburg region.

“I look forward to serving as a sounding board for local alumni to give feedback about the foundation and program and deliver said feedback to the Alumni Council. To me, part of being a regional director is communicating what is going on in the region to the Alumni Council, as well as communicating important information regarding news, updates and/or requests that pertain to the foundation.”

Lucas Espericueta (45), Region 8

Lucas has worked at Farm Credit West for 10 years and is a vice president for the agricultural lender. He comes from a family of farmers and custom harvesters in Kern County. He serves on the Kern County Fair’s board of directors and is treasurer of the Kern County Farm Bureau. After graduating from the program, Lucas participated in D.C. Exchange for two years—traveling to Washington, D.C. for the interview process each time. Lucas and his wife, Candice, have two sons (Owen, 7 and Luke, 20 months) and are expecting another child in August.

“I love agriculture—the virtue of the pursuit of growing food/fiber, the hard work, the people, the heritage and the finances of it all. I enjoy meeting people and getting buy-in to further the interest of agriculture by those in the industry.”

Luis Calderon (49), Region 9

Luis works for Reiter Affiliated Companies, where he has served in several roles, including human resources specialist, workers’ compensation specialist and as a farming operations manager. He graduated from California Lutheran University (CLU) with a Bachelor of Science in small business/ entrepreneurship. He also attained a master’s degree in business administration at CLU. In October, he was elected to serve on the board of directors for the Ventura County Farm Bureau. Lucas and his wife, Lupe, have two sons, Alfredo and Owen. Luis will step into his new role fully in October 2021.

“As a recent graduate of the California Ag Leadership Program, my goal is to stay involved and connected. During the program I learned, saw and appreciated all the work that went on behind the scenes and the support given by alumni. This inspired me to give back.”

ALUMNI COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Chair: Steve Dodge (49) Vice Chair: Heather Mulholland (44) Board Liaison: Jason Cole (42)

REGIONAL DIRECTORS

Region 1: Kelly Mora (48) Region 2: Taylor Serres (49) Region 3: Tom Merwin (44) Region 4: Matt Toste (41) Region 5: James Ewart (49) Region 6: Ian LeMay (48) Region 7: Anthony Bozzano (43) Region 8: Lucas Espericueta (45) Region 9: Outgoing, Ted Grether (47) / Incoming, Luis Calderon (49) (will transition in October) Region 10: John Dmytriw (49) Region 11: Ellen Way (28)

EDUCATION TEAM LIAISONS

Sal Parra Jr. (46) Manpreet Bains (43)

STAFF

Alumni Engagement Manager : Deanna van Klaveren (32)

“BE OF SERVICE. WHETHER YOU MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE TO A FRIEND OR CO-WORKER, OR YOU MAKE TIME EVERY MONTH TO DO VOLUNTEER WORK, THERE IS NOTHING THAT HARVESTS MORE OF A FEELING OF EMPOWERMENT THAN BEING OF SERVICE TO SOMEONE IN NEED.” -GILLIAN ANDERSON