BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rose Mary Rahn
Director
Kings County Department of Public Health
Rose Mary Rahn is the Director of the Kings County Department of Public Health. Born and raised in Hanford, Rose Mary attended local schools and the College of Sequoias in Visalia before finishing her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Mount Saint Mary's University in Los Angeles. She has over 36 years of experience as a Registered Nurse, with 24 of those years being in Public Health. Rose started her public health career in Kings County working the women's reproductive health clinic, from there she worked for 5 years for the Santa Barbara Department of Public Health in communicable disease, tuberculosis prevention and home visitation services. Most recently Rose Mary served as the Public Health Nursing and Maternal Child Health Director at the Fresno County Department of Public Health where she had been for 16 years. She returned home to Kings County in February 2022 to take on the role as Director and is enjoying being home and working in the community that raised her. Rose Mary is passionate about improving the lives of others through prevention and establishing systems and policies that promote equitable health for all. Rose Mary is married to her husband Keith and enjoys spending time with him and their dog Sailor.
Vince Velo
Program Manager
Kings County Job Training Office
Vince Velo is a Program Manager for the Kings County Job Training Office (KCJTO). He oversees the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult, Dislocated Worker, Justice-Involved, and Special Grant programs. In 1993, Vince received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resource Management. He has worked for Kings County since 1999. The KCJTO is a career services provider under WIOA and assists individuals with vocational training, finding employment, and services to businesses. Vocational training services include sponsorships, supportive services, and required items for successful completion of training. Business services include funding for subsidized work experience or on the job training, hosting recruitments, and several other support functions. Vince appreciates the opportunity to assist the Kings County residents, businesses, and the community with workforce development services.
Stephanie Bealer
Forensic Clinical Program Manager
Kings County Probation
Stephanie Bealer is the Clinical Director for the Secure Youth Treatment Facility at Kings County Probation. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from CSU Fresno in Psychology, a Master’s Degree from Brandman University in Psychology (Emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy), and is currently a full-time doctoral student at Pacifica Graduate Institute working on her Ph. D. in Clinical Psychology (Emphasis in Depth Psychology). Stephanie is also a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. She grew up in Kings County, the daughter of a Naval Flight Officer, and served herself in the United States Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer. Stephanie is proud to serve Kings County and considers herself an advocate for the mental health community.
Jeff March
Community Engagement Coordinator.
Episcopal Church of the Saviour
Jeff was born in New Castle, PA and grew up in Tonawanda, NY. He is a six-year U.S. Navy veteran and he worked for 24 more years as a Civil Service employee at NAS Lemoore, finally retiring as the NASL Information Technology Director. Jeff currently volunteers as the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Episcopal Church of the Saviour and Soup Kitchen in Hanford after serving as Church Administrator for six years. He is very active in the Episcopal Church and is in leadership positions at both the local and diocesan level. The Episcopal Church believes in living their Baptismal Covenant, the last line being “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” In addition to his participation in KPFP, Jeff is involved in numerous other community organizations focusing on meeting the needs of those less fortunate and on the margins of society. Jeff has lived in Kings County for over 45 years and is married to the Rev. Terry March, who is the Deacon at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Visalia.
Zara Sims
Director of H.O.P.E
West Hills College Lemoore
Zara Sims is the Director of the Having Opportunity and Purpose through Education (H.O.P.E.) Initiative at West Hills College Lemoore. She has over 15 years of helping people through career, educational, and life coaching. Her trauma-informed practices and compassionate leadership style enable her to create dynamic partnerships with organizations and other leaders to support our most vulnerable and disenfranchised members of society. Zara earned a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA, and a Master’s of Education from Wilmington University in Wilmington, DE. Her experience includes previously working as a Workforce Development and Reentry Program Manager with various Nonprofits in Philadelphia and through her own coaching and consulting company, Train, Learn, Coach, LLC. Having recently moved to Hanford, CA, from Philadelphia, Zara is excited to connect to like-minded people to innovatively help the residents of Kings County.
Glenda Stephens
Deputy Executive Director
Kings Community Action Organization
Glenda Stephens is the Deputy Executive Director for Kings Community Action Organization in Hanford, CA (KCAO). Glenda has been employed with KCAO for 41 years, having the opportunity to grow and expand her knowledge of the agency and community they serve. Glenda's personal mission and the agency’s mission are in complete alignment as they strive to provide the best programs and services possible to move people forward with the end goal of helping them get out of poverty. During Glenda's tenure with KCAO, she's held multiple positions, including Head Start Teacher, Child Care Coordinator, Infant Toddler Family Child Care Coordinator, Home Base Coordinator, Early Head Start Program Manager, and Head Start Director. In her current position, Glenda works with program directors and provides oversight of program operations. Glenda's goal in working with her team is to inspire, encourage, and support. While employed with KCAO, Glenda received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from California State University Fresno and a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies from Fresno Pacific University. Glenda was born in Shreveport, LA, moved with her family to Flagstaff, AZ, as a pre-teen, and eventually settled in Hanford, CA as an adult. Glenda has two adult daughters and two adult grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two Shih Tzus, watching black and white sitcoms, comedic movies, puzzles, and, most recently, coloring.
Leana Cantrell
Executive Assistant
Kings County Office of Education
Leana Cantrell works with the Kings County Office of Education; she currently serves as the Executive Assistant to the Kings County Superintendent of Schools. Prior to this position, she spent seven years as the Events Technician coordinating the county-wide student events and special programs. She has also assisted with grant oversight and program planning for the ASES Afterschool Programs run by the Kings County Office of Education. She was born and raised in the Central Valley. She attended K-8th on the Naval Base in Lemoore and is a graduate of Hanford High School and West Hills College. After attending West Hills, she moved on to Fresno Pacific University to study Organization Leadership. Leana is a bug advocate for supporting local businesses and strongly values giving back to the community that raised her.
Jessika Schneider
Outpatient Program Manager
Champions Recovery Alternative Programs, Inc.
Jessika Schneider has been an Outpatient Program Manager for Substance Use Disorders at Champions Recovery Alternative Programs Inc. for two years; however, Jessika has been in the field of Substance Use Disorders for 11 years. Aside from Administrative duties, Jessika's overall day-to-day entails helping people, which happens to be her passion. Jessika gets to work, learn, and grow with an awesome team to assess, place, and link individuals struggling with Substance Use into our services as well as services within the community. Jessika completed High School in 2006 and continued her education at the University of Phoenix, where she earned a Bachelor’s in Human Services and a Master's in Business Administration. Jessika has been with her rock (aka her husband) for 13 years and has two amazing kiddos who keep their life full of unexpected surprises. Inside the normal Monday through Friday home life schedule, some of the things Jessika enjoys include working out, catching up on shows, and staying involved with her kid’s school activities as well as community events. Outside the normal Monday through Friday home life schedule, she spends a lot of time with her family and friends. They love their lake days, camping, and traveling when they can.
Robert Thayer
Undersheriff
Kings County Sheriff's Office
Undersheriff Robert Thayer is a 34-year Veteran of the Kings County Sheriff's Office. Having worked a multitude of assignments throughout his career, he was ultimately promoted to the Sheriff's Management team in 2008 as a Division Commander. In 2011, he was promoted to Assistant Sheriff and then to Undersheriff in April 2023. His primary role is to support the Office of Sheriff David Robinson, which includes Patrol Operations, Detectives, Criminal Task Forces, Coroner's Office, Civil, Records, Animal Services, Jail, Court Services, Communications, Air Supports Units, S.W.A.T, S.E.R.T, K-9 and Water Rescue Unit.
Jill Johnson
Community Member
Jill Johnson currently serves as the Public Relations/Manager at Sensory Rock in Hanford. Jill was born in Southern California in a city called Whittier, California. In 1997, Jill graduated with a Bachelor's in Social Work from Whittier College, a 4-Year Private Liberal Arts College. Jill's mission and goals in life are to be an amazing wife to her husband, be a supportive stepmother, and be a kind human. In Jill's free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves to travel, dance, and give lots of love to her two dogs!
Valeria Alvarez
Director of Community Integration
Adventist Health Central Valley Network
Valerie Alvarez is the Director of Community Integration for Adventist Health Central Valley Network. She has been part of the Adventist Health family for 15 years. During this time, she has developed community programs such as the Mobile Care Clinic, Adopt-A-Family Program, and Inspire Hope. These programs help serve the mission of Adventist Health to live God’s mission to inspire health, wholeness, and hope. Valerie is also the chair of the South Valley Chapter of Make A Wish. Valerie was born and raised in Corcoran, CA. Coming from a small town helps her strive to provide the resources needed in rural areas that are not easily accessible. In her spare time, she enjoys spending as much time with her daughter Brielle, playing co-ed softball with her family, traveling with her sister and brother-in-law, and entering BBQ competitions with her boyfriend. Serving the community in as many ways as she can to better the life of the community she lives in is her personal mission.