Meet Our Board Of Directors
Bonnie Kelly Board President: is the founder of Bonnie Kelly & Associates; a personal development academy that helps people get out of their way & on with their lives. In 2010, Bonnie launched her Coaching business after being a top Real Estate Agent for almost a decade. Currently residing in Roseville, California, Bonnie has worked in the Placer County & Sacramento County areas for over 13 years, while traveling all over the country helping others. With thousands of personal & group coaching experience, Bonnie has gained the reputation as a Core Energy Coach, who helps you get to the ROOT of your blocks locked deep in your subconscious mind for permanent removal. Bonnie was asked to join the Board of Directors in 2012.
Sherry Graham retired from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in October 2010, where she held various positions including Chief of Staff to the Security Organization’s Director, Protocol Manager, and Principal Administrator during her 20-year career at LLNL. As such, Sherry offers a diverse set of skills in business operations, human resources, budget, and organizing and coordinating large multi-disciplinary events.
Sherry’s husband, Bill, who also retired from a 39-year career at LLNL, became a volunteer caseworker and mentor with the Placer County Child Advocates (CASA) Program in 2011. It was through the CASA network that Sherry learned of Lisa Peat’s need for someone to assist with various bookkeeping duties when she started up the Taylor House in 2012. Sherry volunteered to help and has been doing so ever since.
At Lisa’s request, Sherry assisted a former foster young woman with writing a resume in 2012. This interaction kindled an ongoing friendship and mentoring relationship between the two of them. This young woman is in her second semester at Cal State Sacramento (majoring in Social Work) and doing well. It’s truly amazing how small gifts of time can make a difference in the lives of those in need.
Sherry admires Lisa’s dedication and commitment to the mission of the Taylor House and finds personal satisfaction in contributing to Lisa’s success, which ultimately contributes to the success of the many young women who benefit from their residency at the Taylor House. Sherry joined the Board of Directors and assumed the role of Treasurer in April 2014.
Sherry’s husband, Bill, who also retired from a 39-year career at LLNL, became a volunteer caseworker and mentor with the Placer County Child Advocates (CASA) Program in 2011. It was through the CASA network that Sherry learned of Lisa Peat’s need for someone to assist with various bookkeeping duties when she started up the Taylor House in 2012. Sherry volunteered to help and has been doing so ever since.
At Lisa’s request, Sherry assisted a former foster young woman with writing a resume in 2012. This interaction kindled an ongoing friendship and mentoring relationship between the two of them. This young woman is in her second semester at Cal State Sacramento (majoring in Social Work) and doing well. It’s truly amazing how small gifts of time can make a difference in the lives of those in need.
Sherry admires Lisa’s dedication and commitment to the mission of the Taylor House and finds personal satisfaction in contributing to Lisa’s success, which ultimately contributes to the success of the many young women who benefit from their residency at the Taylor House. Sherry joined the Board of Directors and assumed the role of Treasurer in April 2014.
Lance Gannett
A former grocery industry executive and current sales representative in the building industry, has been a volunteer for The Taylor House since 2011.
Lance learned about the mission and vision of The Taylor House while volunteering as a court appointed special advocate (CASA) for Child Advocates of Placer County. Taylor House founder Lisa Peat was Lance’s CASA trainer and, along the way, shared The Taylor House story.
As a father of two girls, Lance was already sympathetic to the challenges young women often face. What he saw in court, and what he heard about The Taylor House, made him anxious to get involved.
It didn’t take long for Lance to begin volunteering during the remodel of the property. He also supports the nonprofit at its various fundraisers and continues to act as the unofficial handyman at The Taylor House. Lance became a member of the board of directors in December 2014
A former grocery industry executive and current sales representative in the building industry, has been a volunteer for The Taylor House since 2011.
Lance learned about the mission and vision of The Taylor House while volunteering as a court appointed special advocate (CASA) for Child Advocates of Placer County. Taylor House founder Lisa Peat was Lance’s CASA trainer and, along the way, shared The Taylor House story.
As a father of two girls, Lance was already sympathetic to the challenges young women often face. What he saw in court, and what he heard about The Taylor House, made him anxious to get involved.
It didn’t take long for Lance to begin volunteering during the remodel of the property. He also supports the nonprofit at its various fundraisers and continues to act as the unofficial handyman at The Taylor House. Lance became a member of the board of directors in December 2014
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Cassandra Sullivan
Cassandra joined The Taylor House board in 2016 and since has become a vital member of our team. “Within the past few years I have learned not only how to love myself but also acquire a deep understanding of the power of forgiveness. I have made my fair share of mistakes in my past and carried the shame & guilt for years. After a lot of self reflection and hard work, I finally felt a heavy burden lifted from my shoulders. Now a member of Taylor House board, I help other young women get the healing they truly deserve.” |
Rick Stalker; A Sacramento Native Who Re-Invented His Career
My background is in the sporting goods business – if you’ve lived in this area for some time, you might
remember the Ski Stalker ski shops. I’ve been an avid skiier for at least 50 years, so what would you
expect?
I come from a second-generation Sacramento family. My father, Glenn, grew up in a very poor farming
community in Kansas during the Great Depression. However, he managed to go on to attend Washburn
University in Topeka and three-letter athlete including induction into Washburn's Football
Hall of Fame. My mother, Gladys, a Jay Hawk, just recently moved from the home I grew up in. Gladys is
an inspiration to everyone who meets her with her vitality and positive attitude.
My journey into business began when I was attending Sacramento State and I joined my brother to
partner and run a sportswear manufacturing company. I’ve always loved the outdoors – skiing, boating,
SCUBA diving—you name it. It was such an incredible opportunity to co-own and manage a business in
my early twenties. After several successful years in the manufacturing business, I had a desire to be
more involved in the retail trade so I went to work in our ski stores here in Sacramento and then
Northstar at Tahoe. With historic high interest rates and numerous horrible snow years, that
business came to an end and I took a position in Los Angeles as a manufacturer marketing sales rep.
I represented more than 20 companies and was vice president of the sales and marketing group, but
that company was bought out. After 10 successful years, I was offered an opportunity to run a company
in the youth action sports area and that company was sold. Then I was an e-tech publishing sales
manager until that company was also sold. I really wondered what I was going to do for a career. I was
in my 50s and there weren’t a lot of opportunities to re-invent yourself at that age. Or so I thought.
Donna inspired me to try real estate – we just said, “Why not do this together?”
It’s the best choice I could have made. It excites me every day to know I can make a
difference in people’s lives. I compare helping clients buy or sell a home to teaching
SCUBA diving or learning a new sport. It’s not an easy process, you have to put a lot of
work into it, but once you tackle it and get certified, you consider it one of the biggest
accomplishments in your life.
Nicki Bruno
Nicki Bruno is the owner of Bruno Cellars, a boutique winery located in Loomis, California.
Prior to opening the winery, she worked in the banking and telecommunications industry
for nineteen years. She has served on several local boards and fundraising committees.
She is married with three children, one granddaughter and a grandson due December 2016.
Nicki Bruno is the owner of Bruno Cellars, a boutique winery located in Loomis, California.
Prior to opening the winery, she worked in the banking and telecommunications industry
for nineteen years. She has served on several local boards and fundraising committees.
She is married with three children, one granddaughter and a grandson due December 2016.
Meet Our Taylor House Team
Lisa Peat Founder of The Taylor House, retired from Washington Mutual Bank in 2004, where she worked as a Senior Account Executive in The San Francisco Bay area for 10 years. Upon retiring, Lisa returned to Placer County where she built a home and enjoys spending time with her grown daughter and animals.
In 2007 after years of volunteering at several, local, non-profit organizations such as the Sacramento Aids Foundation, Meals on Wheels and Gold Country Wildlife, Lisa joined the CASA organization and became a court appointed Special Advocate in Placer County. Out of her passion for advocating for teen girls in foster care, Lisa realized that there was a housing need for emancipating foster youth and out of that passion the Taylor House vision came to life.
In 2011 Lisa bought a run down 7 bedroom 2 bath home in downtown Roseville for the purpose of allowing former foster girls to come live in a safe environment where they can learn, live, grow, make mistakes and launch into their true independence. Lisa's vision is to allow the girls to get a first hand experience of the "Real World" learning valuable life skills, such as job and College paths, what it means to pay timely rent and being a productive part of their community.
In 2007 after years of volunteering at several, local, non-profit organizations such as the Sacramento Aids Foundation, Meals on Wheels and Gold Country Wildlife, Lisa joined the CASA organization and became a court appointed Special Advocate in Placer County. Out of her passion for advocating for teen girls in foster care, Lisa realized that there was a housing need for emancipating foster youth and out of that passion the Taylor House vision came to life.
In 2011 Lisa bought a run down 7 bedroom 2 bath home in downtown Roseville for the purpose of allowing former foster girls to come live in a safe environment where they can learn, live, grow, make mistakes and launch into their true independence. Lisa's vision is to allow the girls to get a first hand experience of the "Real World" learning valuable life skills, such as job and College paths, what it means to pay timely rent and being a productive part of their community.
Linda King joined the Taylor House as Program Manager in the latter part of last year (2016) with a background ‘taylor-made’ for supporting our residents in all aspects of their development. She possesses and nurtures a philosophy for thinking outside the box and utilizing ingenious resources to create a fun and productive daily environment where the girls can continue to expand pride in themselves and their home while developing their unique and special excellence. The opportunity to pay forward a lifetime of blessings and experience to the youth who are supported by the well-developed foundation and program the Taylor House has to offer was an ideal discovery and mutually beneficial association. Linda enthusiastically encourages visitors to join her on a tour of the Taylor House home and cross the threshold to her office, dubbed “Solution Central”, where the girls know a solution to anything is possible!
Meet Our Trusted Advisors
Kathryn Matthews
As the CASA Program Director, Ms. Mathews oversees the day-to-day activities of the CASA program. Prior to joining Child Advocates, Ms. Mathews spent 15 years with high tech companies, where she progressed from Customer Service in Sales to Director of Business Operations for Global Services at HP.
As such, she brings a wealth of experience in sales, marketing and operations. Kathryn attended University of Phoenix focusing on completing her BA in Business Management. She has also been a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, Ombudsman and Adoption Support Services and is a past Santa Clara County.
As the CASA Program Director, Ms. Mathews oversees the day-to-day activities of the CASA program. Prior to joining Child Advocates, Ms. Mathews spent 15 years with high tech companies, where she progressed from Customer Service in Sales to Director of Business Operations for Global Services at HP.
As such, she brings a wealth of experience in sales, marketing and operations. Kathryn attended University of Phoenix focusing on completing her BA in Business Management. She has also been a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, Ombudsman and Adoption Support Services and is a past Santa Clara County.
