New leadership at Sonoma Valley Education Foundation

Deb Garber takes helm and welcomes new board chair, members...|

At the midway point in the school year, the Sonoma Valley Unified School District’s largest benefactor – the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation – is undergoing major management changes.

Deb Garber, longtime foundation board member and its most recent chair, has been hired for the paid position of executive director, replacing Laura Zimmerman. Board member Tim Wallace has been named chairman, and five new board members have been added – bringing the foundation board total to 17, plus school district Superintendent Louann Carlomagno and Garber, who are also voting members of the board.

The Education Foundation was founded in 1993 by a group of concerned parents and community leaders, following a fundraising model used by many other school districts across the country. Since its founding, SVEF has raised more than $12 million for Sonoma Valley public schools. Operating out of offices across the parking lot from the school district headquarters on Railroad Avenue, the foundation currently funds programs in science, art, engineering and technology, math, reading, gardening, teacher support and preschool. Its funding comes from both its well-attended annual Red & White Ball and from individual and corporate donations and federal, state and local grants.

Garber says she had found the transition to executive director to be a smooth one.

“We have a fantastic board of incredibly accomplished professionals who really care about making a difference in Sonoma schools,” said Garber.

Garber has more than 25 years experience managing finance, operations, human resources, marketing and sales for both for-profit and nonprofit, startup, educational and media oriented companies.

She says that she grew up hearing and learning firsthand about the trials and tribulations of California’s public education system from her father, the former superintendent of schools in Salinas.

Tim Wallace has assumed Garber’s post as chair of the SVEF board. He has been a Valley resident for the past 25 years and was formerly president of Benziger Family Winery. He and his wife, Patsy, have three children, all graduates of Sonoma Valley High.

The new board members added by SVEF in 2017 are Graham Smith, Rich Henley, Joe Capriola, Laura Stanfield and former executive director Laura Zimmerman.

Smith was CFO of Salesforce until 2014 and, previously, CFO of Advent Software.

Henley owns LGES Executive Search and formerly was founder and CEO of the Hawthorne Group, a financial services company; chief marketing officer for the Indy Car Racing League; and head of marketing at Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

Capriola is president of Silverado Contractors, the company responsible for the demolition of the Bay Bridge and Candlestick Park.

A former technology executive and small business owner, Stanfield was instrumental in the Sonoma Valley High School “I Choose” campaign and she’s the mother of three SVHS graduates and one current student.

Zimmerman, a former newscaster at KTVU Channel 2, retired from the executive director post on Jan. 1, but has stayed on the board.

“Deb and I worked very closely together over the past few years,” Zimmerman says about Garber. “She is very talented, experienced and dedicated to our schools.”

Other board members who are continuing in their roles this year include Charles Young, who served as chancellor of UCLA for almost 30 years; former Intel exec and local philanthropist Les Vadasz; City of Sonoma attorney Jeffrey Walter; former NFL player and SVHS alum Tony Moll; Snipz Hair Salon and Chasing Grace apparel company co-founder Stacie Elkhoury; SVHS parent and Stand By Me Alliance mentor Kathy Murphy; former communications executive Gemma Gallovich; Bank of Marin branch manager Tara Johnson; former First Capital CEO Keith Hughes; Renee Dellar; Kiverstadt real estate development executive Tom Angstadt; and Zimmerman, who had served as executive director for SVEF for six years.

Garber is determined to continue the momentum and good work of the organization.

“We are working hard to bring our community closer to our schools,” she said. “We want to help the district to raise student achievement and enhance teacher performance through strong and effective programs, all the way from early childhood literacy to college and career readiness.”

Email Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.