Board Members
Paula Handelman
Chair
Paula currently serves as Chair of Forget Me Not Children Services Board, and previously served as treasurer. She is also part of the leadership team at the Redwood Empire Food Bank employed as their Director of Finances.
Tonisa Smith
Board Secretary
Tonisa currently serves as Board Secretary for Forget Me Not Farm Children Services. Tonisa first became acquainted with Forget Me Not Farm at five years old, as one of the numerous at-risk children at the heart of the program's mission. Throughout her youth, the farm became a place of healing and opportunity, and as an adult she began volunteering her own time to it. In May 2021, Tonisa was nominated to join the board of directors and serve with her unique perspective as the very youth Forget Me Not Farm has so tirelessly served since its inception in 1992. Since joining the board, she has committed to bolstering support for the farm, its services, and its reach throughout the community.
As a Native American person indigenous to Sonoma County, it and its community are of particular importance to Tonisa. Over the last decade, she has supported our community in numerous ways. Including her incredibly varied work with Forget Me Not Farm, Kid Street Charter School, and Food For Thought. It is with great enthusiasm that she serves her community and intends to lifelong.
Lisa Carreño
Treasurer
A longtime community leader, Lisa Carreño, is the CEO and president of United Way of the Wine Country, the first woman and Latino to head the organization in its 50-year history.
Lisa lives in Forestville, she brings more than two decades of nonprofit and community leadership experience to the Santa Rosa nonprofit, which seeks to improve the education, financial stability and health of residents in a five-county region of Northern California stretching north to the Oregon border. Prior to this Lisa was the Regional Director 10,000 Degrees in Sonoma County. In September 2013, Lisa became the first Latina to chair the Board for Directors for the Sonoma County Fair and Events Center in its 78-year history. In February 2014, Lisa was the first member of the community appointed to serve on the Editorial Board for the Press Democrat.
Lisa currently serves as treasurer of the board, and is a previous chair. Lisa also serves as Community Benefit Committee for St. Joseph Health, Sonoma County Health Action Partnership Council, Congressman Mike Thompson’s Immigration Advisory Group, Los Cien Sonoma County Board of Directors, Sonoma County Coalition for Foster Youth, Sonoma County LGBTQI Giving Circle Steering Committee and the Community Foundation Sonoma County Board of Directors.
Odessa Gunn
Board Member
I was born on a salty rock in the north atlantic and started exploring the World at 18. After seeing much of it I decided Sonoma County was the most amazing place I'd had the pleasure to explore. In my lifelong quest to help animals I decided the Forget Me Not Farm was the most brilliant rescue model I had seen, prevent the abuse from happening in the first place.
Initially, I had no idea what the farm was about but I quickly fell in love with the kids, staff, volunteers and animals. Eight years later I cannot wait to get to the farm every week. It is the most magical place I have ever been and I'm filled with gratitude every time I'm there with the kids and animals. It is such an honor to be part of this organization.
Marty Stein
Board Member
Martin Stein has spent most of his career in Banking and Technology and was a Vice-Chairman at Bank of America. Currently, he is a partner in RSA Ventures, a technology investment group and on the Board of Bank of Hawaii. Marty is a member of other non-profit Boards such as The Jewish Home, The BOH Foundation, and Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation. He has previously been on boards such as The Philadelphia Stock Exchange, the New York Clearing House, 724 Systems, and Sequent Computers. He was also a member of President Clinton's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). His educational background includes a B.A. and honorary doctorate from St. John's University. Marty has lived in Santa Rosa for 18 years with his wife, Marlene and their 62 animals.
Siobhan Griffin
Board Member
Siobhan Griffin is a Portfolio Manager for Umpqua Bank, where she works with companies to provide strategic banking solutions to help clients achieve their financial goals. Prior to that Siobhan worked at Bank of America as the AVP, Portfolio Management Officer. During her time with Bank of America she was also the Chairperson for their Northbay Community Volunteers, which lead her to becoming a board member with the Farm.