Our Board

Cathryn Couch is the founder and CEO for Ceres Community Project, a food as medicine non-profit founded in 2007 and based in Sonoma County, California. Through direct service programs, scaling our model, and state and federal work to drive policy and system change, Ceres works to create a healthy, caring, just and sustainable future in which all people have access to the food they need to live a healthy, productive life.

Ceres provides 200,000+ organic medically tailored meals annually to low-income people struggling because of a health challenge. Youth volunteers grow food and prepare the meals as part of a youth development, culinary and food system education program. Ceres has trained a dozen communities across the United States and in Denmark to replicate our model. The organization also supports policy change at the state and federal level to integrate medically tailored food into health care as a covered benefit and to advance organic/regenerative and just food systems.

Cathryn is proud to serve on/support the following coalitions and organizations that are working to advance food as medicine and a just and equitable food and health care system: CEO Advisory Board for the Food is Medicine Coalition, California Food is Medicine Coalition, Food & Society at Aspen Institute, Partnership HealthPlan Board of Commissions, California Food and Farming Network, Health Action Together board of directors, Hearts of Sonoma County Leadership Team, Marin Food Policy Council, Marin HEAL, COAD and VOAD.

Evette was born and raised in Los Angeles, California until she graduated from high school and made the move to Sonoma County. She planted roots in Sonoma County in 1992 to go to Sonoma State University, in which, she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

In 1997 she moved from Rohnert Park to Santa Rosa where she currently resides with her husband and four young adult children.

Evette is an active community engager. She has held several positions in different school districts as an employee, as well as, a heavily involved parent volunteer. She currently works with 7th & 8th graders teaching them about community engagement. Evette is involved in community groups, boards, commissions, and committees for Santa Rosa City and Sonoma County. She stands for advocacy, equity, navigation of services and knowledge, and communication.

She believes in being fair, having equality and equitable services provided to all within our community, and finally giving voice to those that is not at the table.

In her role as manager of Health Policy, Planning, and Equity in the Department of Health Services, Nora leads a team dedicated to strengthening collaboration and partnerships to create shared community health improvement strategies that address historic and contemporary inequities. Her other primary role is mommy to three young children who she and her husband hope will share their love of the outdoors, music, good food, and traveling the world.

Óscar Chávez is the President and CEO of Community Foundation Sonoma County. With over 25 years of experience as a community leader, Óscar demonstrates a profound understanding of Sonoma County and a proven ability to convene diverse groups to find solutions to local issues. He is passionate about building strong and resilient communities and enhancing the lives of vulnerable individuals in Sonoma County.

Óscar spearheads the foundation's community leadership initiatives, such as the Sonoma County Resilience Fund. This fund has granted more than $19 million for disaster relief since 2017, addressing significant events like wildfires, floods, and the pandemic. Beyond disaster response, Community Foundation Sonoma County offers local expertise and legacy inspiration and planning to Sonoma County’s most generous donors, guiding them to become more impactful philanthropists.

Throughout his extensive career in community leadership, Óscar has held notable positions including a decade at the Sonoma County Department of Human Services as Assistant Director, and six years as the Executive Director for Community Action Partnership Sonoma County.

As a first-generation Mexican-American who hails from California’s Central Valley, Óscar earned his BA in Political Science from California State University, Bakersfield. Outside of his professional life, Óscar enjoys taking on DIY projects and spending quality time with his wife and four sons at their home in Windsor.

Becky Ennis is the Executive Director of SOS Community Counseling and Director of Resilient Cloverdale (formerly Cloverdale Health Action Chapter). Becky has worked in the nonprofit sector for 25 years, predominantly in the area of mental health/health wellness.

Becky is an advocate for those who are under resourced and treated unfairly because of their innate characteritics. Becky is also passionate about physical/mental health because positive mental health is a human right.

Becky enjoys stand-up comedy, reading books, and learning about new topics. She practices daily meditation an enjoys bluegrass music, among many other kinds. Becky is a single mother of a bi-racial child who humbles her daily.