Meet The Board
From our Staff to our Board of Directors, Big Brothers Big Sisters has a compassionate and dedicated group of individuals
who are willing to do whatever it takes to help change children’s lives for the better.
Jessica Lenth
President
Assistant Director of Finance, Planning and General Operations at the UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology
Elected November 2019
Jessica Lenth is a Santa Cruz native happy to return to her town to join the Board of Big Brothers Big Sister Santa Cruz. She is currently working for the YMCA of Silicon Valley as the Director of Administrative Services at the Camp Campbell location in Boulder Creek.
Jessica's background includes working with organizations throughout the Bay Area focused on youth development. She spent three years working for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County, developing new curriculums and programs and overseeing program quality and worked for Playworks in the East Bay and Silicon Valley overseeing AmeriCorps finding and program operations.
Jessica earned her Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts with an Art History Concentration from the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies at Sonoma State University and her Master's Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from the University of Southern California.
She joined the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters because she is passionate about ensuring all children and youth have positive and caring role models in their lives.
Art Crumpler
Vice President
Retired
Elected October 2018
Art Crumpler is enjoying retirement after four decades of working in Silicon Valley. He has a broad range of experience including Assistant Controller at Motorola-Computer Product Division, Director of Contracts at BT Tymnet, and Senior Contracts Manager at Quantum and Brocade Communications. Art attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
Art has been a long-term volunteer with the Day on the Monterey Bay Regatta which benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters. He looks forward to giving back to the community though volunteering and deepening his support of youth mentoring programs. Art also stays active through swimming, playing basketball, and traveling.
Maria Barranco
Secretary
Program Manager, Monarch Services
Elected September 2019
Maria Barranco is a first-generation immigrant born from Oaxaca, Mexico's indigenous roots and deep immigrant community in Santa Cruz County( Davenport). She has dedicated her professional career and life to issues of social justice and equity.
Maria has over 25 years of experience working in the field of social service and social justice. She has a clear understanding and experience working with violence survivors through domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Maria has worked with Monarch Services for over 19 years in different capacities. She currently oversees the agency's 24-hour crisis response program, the confidential shelter, sexual assault program, and prevention program. In her role, Maria oversees over 25 Advocates. Maria enjoys mentoring and supporting volunteers and staff. Additionally, in her position, Maria provides state-certified training to new staff and volunteers to ensure they are well equipped and ready to provide services to survivors.
Maria has served on the Santa Cruz Women's Commission and currently serves on the Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Maria graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a Bachelors's degree in sociology and psychology as an undocumented student; she completed her school and was the fourth in her family to graduate with a college degree. She was raised, lives, and works in Santa Cruz County.
Maria joined the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization in 2019 because of her passion and love for her community and wanting to make a difference.
Geoff Boraston
Member
VP Organizational Development, Granite Construction
Elected October 2019
Geoff is the VP Organizational Development for Granite in Watsonville where he leads a team of professionals focused on building talent and leadership capabilities in the business. Geoff has been with Granite since 1995 and has over 30 years of experience working in industry. He has served in various leadership roles on industry associations and was previously on the board for the Santa Cruz Red Cross Chapter. He is a registered chemical engineer with an MBA.
Geoff is an avid sailor and skier and is a member of the Santa Cruz Yacht Club. He believes that outdoor activities and social connections are the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. He joined the Board of Big Brother Big Sister because he sees the opportunity for the organization and its volunteers to help kids in the community live better lives.
Karen Jackson
Member
Non Profit Event Specialist, Envision this Productions!
Elected June 2019
For the past decade, Karen has devoted her career path to the non-profit industry as a highly motivated, resourceful, and energetic Development Professional. Early on in her non-profit life, she realized how darn good she is at coordinating, planning and launching successful fundraising events. Unlike most from this industry, Karen love to plan these events and takes pride in a job well done.
Karen brings over 35 years of sales, marketing, management and nonprofit development experience, including expertise in wholesale and retail markets working for major companies to independent organizations. Together with her team, Karen prides herself on her outstanding communication skills, unfailing dependability, a flawless reputation for high ethical standards and honesty, and the ability to connect with a diverse population across a variety of market segments.
DEANDRE JAMES
Elected December 2021
DeAndre James is the Executive Director for the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley.
DeAndre has been with the Community Health Trust since February 2019. Before coming to CHT, he was the Chief Operating Officer at San Mateo Medical Center as well as the Executive Director of Dignity Health Medical Group – Dominican. He has always had a passion and mission for serving the underserved through his 20+ years in healthcare. He began his career in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman serving as EMT, Sick-call screener, and Operating Room Technician.
He received an Honorable discharge from the US Navy, earned his undergraduate education in Healthcare Management from Southern Illinois University, his master’s degree in Health System Management from Rush University, and his Lean Certification from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.
He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Santa Cruz, Big Brother Big Sisters, Health Improvement Partnership, and the Oral Health Access Committee
KAREN ZAPATA
Elected August 2021
Karen Zapata is a native of Salinas Valley and has worked in Santa Cruz county for the past 10 years. Karen is the Director of Global Logistics and Trade Compliance for Superior Foods International in Watsonville, Ca. Karen’s career has been spent across several segments of the Agri-business community for the past 30 years. She is an active member of the Port of Oakland Efficiency Task Force, Agriculture Transportation Coalition and Transportation Logistics Council. She has been advocate for BBBS inside Superior Foods International for the last several years. She serves on SFI’s BSR (Beyond Social Responsibility) team. The team focuses on placing emphasis on underserved segments of our global communities
EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERS
CHUCK HEWITT
Member Emeritus
Retired
Elected August 2004
Chuck and his wife retired to Hilton Head, SC, and he continues to work part-time as an independent insurance claims consultant and expert witness.
Chuck was born in the Bronx, New York City, where he enjoyed body surfing at the New Jersey Shore every summer. Moving to California, he graduated with a BA in Economics from San Jose State.
Richard Branson
Member Emeritus
Retired
Elected January 2006
Richard Branson was the President of Pacific Ingredient Exchange, which he co-founded in 1985. He retired in 2016. Prior to this he was Marketing Manager for Sun Maid, Sunsweet and Diamond Walnut. He has an MBA in marketing. A native of Northern California, Richard was born in Ukiah, and lived in Sacramento, Davis, and Stockton before moving to Aptos in 1996. When he was younger, Richard liked to play seasonal sports with his two brothers and neighborhood kids. Rather than marketing, Richard thought about becoming an astronaut when he was growing up.Richard understands the importance of Big Brothers Big Sisters, thanks to his brothers, who were his mentors and the people he looked up to in his youth. Richard was motivated to become a Board Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County because of the life-changing outcomes that occur through the matching of children in need of a positive role model with caring volunteer mentors. Says Richard, "Seeing youth grow into mature members of our community is inspiring."
Omid Aminifard
Member Emeritus
Vice President of Operations
Santa Cruz Seaside Company
Elected August 2005
Omid Aminfard is the Vice President of Operations for the Santa Cruz Seaside Company. He has spent most of his professional career working in the amusement industry. He previously worked for Sea World in San Diego and Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas. He joined the Santa Cruz Seaside Company in 2000. Omid knows first hand the power of youth mentoring, as he was a Big Brother.