Our Staff & Board
Our Staff
Jennifer L. Williams-Carpenter, M.A., CFRE
President & CEO
Ms. Williams joined the Foundation staff as Director of Development in 2002. Born and raised in Ohio, she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH, as well as a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA.
Ms. Williams has worked in hospital settings since the age of 15 when she first joined the Volunteer Auxiliary at her local city hospital. She has written, secured and managed more than $15 million in federal and state grants for Natividad. She has worked with more than 125 foundations that have donated millions of dollars to support critical programs at the hospital. Ms. Williams also has extensive experience in nonprofit management and governance.
Ms. Williams currently serves on the Executive Committee as Vice Chair of Government Relations for the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, board member and Finance Committee and Basic Needs Task Force member for Hartnell College Foundation and board member and South County Advisory Committee member for Girls, Inc. of the Central Coast. She is the former President of the Board of Directors for the Central Coast Center for Independent Living and previously served as Vice President of Communications for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Monterey Bay Chapter.
Lisa Rico, MPH
Director of Development
Ms. Rico is responsible for managing all grants and operations for Natividad Foundation. She received her Master of Public Health from California State University, Fullerton and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of California, Davis.
Born at Natividad, Ms. Rico is a native of Monterey County. She has worked with Natividad Foundation since 2014 in various roles, including as Health Educator for our 5 Steps to Prevent Diabetes© program. She began her career with Natividad in 2002 as a volunteer while attending college, in 2006 as Health Educator and then as Outpatient Services Manager until 2014. Ms. Rico is a proven project manager with experience in program management, implementation, progress reporting and fiscal management. Ms. Rico enjoys traveling, the outdoors and spending quality time with her family.
Lori Grimes
Bookkeeper
Lori joined Natividad Foundation in 2011. She brings more than 30 years of experience in accounting working with various not-for-profit organizations.
She currently lives in Aromas with her husband, and enjoys spending time with her sons and granddaughter. In her spare time she enjoys photography, and uses her skills to run the not-for-profit business “Photos from the Heart” which raises money for local charities.
Karen DeWitt
Executive Assistant
Ms. Powell serves as the Executive Assistant and the Foundation’s Donor Database Administrator and is responsible for integrity, and security of donor and prospect information systems to support donor cultivation and prospect research.
Beginning at the age of 13, Ms. Powell started volunteering and has continued over the years from candy striper in a convalescent home to foster care parenting, Catholic Charities as a driver for seniors, Birthright in Santa Cruz, Secretary of PTA for her children’s schools, Girl Scout Leader, to NorCal Boxer Rescue. In her spare time, Ms. Powell enjoys traveling and spending time with her 4 daughters and 6 grandchildren.
Yadira Hobby, MBA
Director of Annual Programs
Yadira Hobby joined Natividad Foundation in 2022 as a Director of Annual Programs. Her most recent work was as a Development Coordinator with Big Sur Land Trust, where she was responsible for managing donor relations and events.
A proud Salinas native, Yadira is dedicated to improving the status of children, youth and families throughout Monterey County. Feeling an obligation to her community, she started volunteering in 2009 with Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and remained an active advocate for five years. Over the years, Yadira has continued volunteering in leadership roles with organizations such as Hijos del Sol, Nonprofit Alliance of Monterey County (NAMC), Monterey County Veterans Parade, and Salinas Hometown Hero Banner Program.
Yadira is a veteran who served in the U.S. Navy, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, and a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA). Seeking to improve her personal and professional growth further, she is working on attaining her CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive).
She also believes that spending time hiking in the mountains, or just being outside can lead to thriving, healthy lives. Yadira herself, spends time practicing yoga, hiking and enjoying the company of family and friends.
Our Board of Directors
Jeffrey Bass, M.D.
Chair of Natividad Foundation
Emergency Medicine, Vituity
Jeffrey Bass, M.D., is double Boarded in Emergency and Internal Medicine. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of California, Los Angeles, and his Emergency Medicine training at the University of Mississippi, where he was chief resident. Prior to assuming his duties as Regional Director of California Emergency Physicians, he was the Medical Director for the Emergency Department at Natividad.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, Dr. Bass served as a physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and before moving to Salinas, he worked tirelessly as an Emergency Physician during Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Dr. Bass enjoys playing team sports, spending time with his young family, coaching his son’s little league baseball team, and traveling.
Ted Lorono
Vice Chair of Natividad Foundation
Pinnacle Bank, VP Client Services
Mr. Lorono is a Vice President, Client Service Manager with Pinnacle Bank in their Salinas location. Ted has over 25 years in banking, working in Salinas and other communities in the area. Ted’s primary focus is assisting businesses and individuals to achieve their financial goals.
Ted was born and raised in Salinas, California and attended Salinas High School. He also obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
In 2019 Ted was awarded Rotarian of the year for his achievements in the Salinas Alisal Rotary Club. Mr. Lorono is very active in the community in which he serves and has volunteered many hours for community organizations such as, the American Cancer Society, Salinas Rodeo, Salinas Airshow and many other non-profit groups. Mr. Lorono also serves on the Board for the Salinas Police Foundation.
Mr. Lorono enjoys spending time with Family, Friends, and also enjoys cooking, hiking, biking, and traveling.
Sheri Cline
Treasurer of Natividad Foundation, Pinnacle Bank, Vice President
Ms. Cline is Vice President with Pinnacle Bank in Salinas. Sheri has over 40 years working only with community banks in Salinas.
Sheri’s most pleasant experience in the banking industry is taking care and assisting her clients with all financial needs.
Sheri is giving back to our community by serving on several boards such as American Cancer Society, Monterey County Free Libraries, California Airshow, Salinas Rodeo, Legal Services for Seniors, Salinas Police foundation and Monterey County Sheriff’s Advisory Board.
Sheri enjoys spending time with Family, Friends and attending social events in our community.
Craig Walls, MD
Secretary of California Emergency Physicians Natividad
Specializing in emergency medicine, Dr. Walls treats patients suffering from a wide range of acute illnesses and injuries at Natividad’s Emergency Department.
He earned his medical degree in 2001 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before completing a residency in emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Walls also has a BA in History and Political Science. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Monterey County Medical Society.
Charles Harris, MD
CEO, Natividad
Dr. Chad Harris is the CEO at Natividad. He has served as Chief Medical Officer – Quality Assurance at Natividad, Chief Medical Information Officer and Chief of Staff. He is a family medicine hospitalist and an HIV clinic provider.
Dr. Harris is board certified by both the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Preventive Medicine in Clinical Informatics. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University and completed his family medicine internship and residency at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center.
Jennifer Hollingsworth
Director of Development, The Carmel Foundation
Jen spent almost 30 years in the banking industry but recently decided to pursue a more fulfilling career. She is now the Director of Development for The Carmel Foundation – an organization that serves seniors in our community. Prior to starting her job there, she served on the board of The Carmel Foundation for 3 consecutive terms over a 9-year period.
She was named Vice Chair of the Development Committee and served on many ad-hoc committees as well. She has a genuine passion for supporting her community.
Jen has lived on the Monterey Peninsula since 1971. She has been happily married to her husband, Paul, for 26 years and together they raised two beautiful daughters, Haley and Hannah, who are now in college.
Now empty nesters, Jen and her husband have taken up pickleball and play 3-4 times a week. When they’re not on the court, they enjoy spending time with friends and family.
Marcia Atkinson
CPA Owner, Marcia V. Atkinson, CPA, Inc.
Marcia Atkinson is the owner of Marcia V. Atkinson, CPA, Inc., a public accounting practice with a concentration in accounting and tax services for small businesses and individuals. She previously served Monterey County as a shareholder with Jeffrey Wriedt & Co., CPAs for over 28 years.
Atkinson received her Master of Science degree in Taxation from San Jose State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with an Accountancy Option, from California State University, Fresno. Her professional affiliations include memberships in the California State Board of Accountancy, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and California Society of Certified Public Accountants. Atkinson also served as a technical reviewer of education materials for the Cal Society of CPAs. She has an exemplary record of volunteer service to our community. Atkinson’s past community service includes Entre Nous Society, Gathering for Women, Loaves and Fishes, San Carlos Cathedral, Boys and Girls Club of the Salinas Valley and SpectorDance.
Minerva Perez-Lopez, MD
Family Medicine Natividad
Dr. Perez-Lopez, a Salinas native who graduated from Alisal High School, is distinguished with honors, scholarships, and academic recognitions. She received her medical degree from Brown University School of Medicine in Providence, Rhode Island.
She completed her residency at the Family Medicine Residency Program at Natividad, where she was named Chief Resident in 2005 and was awarded the department’s Hannon-Lauderdale Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance in Residency. She then completed an Obstetrical Fellowship at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, California. Dr. Perez-Lopez says her educational background offered outstanding opportunities, but her goal was always to return to the community she knows and loves to be a family physician. Dr. Perez-Lopez is fluent in English and Spanish.
Patricia Rodriguez
Patricia was born in Watsonville and grew up farming with her migrant parents, in addition to her part time job at a local French bakery. In 1991 Patricia and her husband started their own farming business, and continue to fully manage and operate it to this day.
Patricia was also a social worker in Santa Cruz County for 12 years, working with both Adult Protective Services and Child Protective Services. During this time she also helped local residents gain access to food stamps. After her time working at the County, she opened her own French bakery in Prunedale, which she owned and operated for 9 years. In 2009 she transitioned and started a farmers/flea market at various locations with her husband. The farmers/flea market has served as an incubator for many local business in Salinas to gain popularity and be able to grow into successful businesses of their own. She received recognition and was named “Business Woman of the Year” in 2020 by the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce. Shortly after, she joined the board and was a member for 3 years. During this time she consulted with local businesses in Salinas and mentored aspiring entrepreneurs from local schools. She is also starting her 4th year as a board member for the Salinas Airshow. In 2023 she was promoted to Director of Concessions. Throughout her time as a social worker and her successful business ventures, Patricia has stayed close to her roots and farming community. She is always looking for ways to give back to the community that provided so much opportunity to her, and she is excited to expand her reach by joining the Natividad Board.
