Simón Salinas

Simón Salinas is a former Salinas City councilmember, Monterey County supervisor representing Salinas and South County and a former state assemblymember. Before his public service career, he was a professor at Hartnell College and a sixth-grade teacher. In 1989, Salinas was elected as the first Mexican American to serve on the Salinas City Council. During his tenure, he served as mayor pro tem and was elected to represent District One on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, where he became the first Mexican American to serve on the board in over 100 years.

In 2000, he was elected to the California State Assembly as the representative of the 28^th District. His impressive record in the Assembly included passing legislation that addressed public safety, affordable housing, agriculture, healthcare, government transparency, education, transportation and local government. Raised on the Central Coast, Salinas understands the unique challenges the agricultural community members face. Salinas has one son, and advocates for all children to have access to first-class public education from kindergarten through college.

Sonia M. De La Rosa

Sonia M. De La Rosa stepped into the CAO position in January 2023 following a long-standing career with the County of Fresno, where her hard work brought forward many improvements to services which have enhanced the lives of the residents there. She has extensive experience working with challenging issues such as homelessness, supporting victims of crime and law enforcement. The first Latina County of Monterey CAO, De La Rosa was raised in Monterey County and has maintained her roots in the community. She is the product of parents who worked in the fields of the Salinas Valley who instilled in her a deep value of hard work and dedication. De La Rosa has a track record of strong leadership both inside and outside of government and brings her love of public service to her role. She received a dual Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology and Chicano Latino Studies from the California State University Fresno in 1998.

Jaqueline Cruz, Ed.D.

Bio Coming Soon…

Marcia V. Atkinson, CPA, MST

For over 23 years, Marcia Atkinson has been a CPA and shareholder with Jeffrey Wriedt & Co., a local company with a concentration in accounting and tax services for small businesses, individuals and non-profits. Marcia 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, California Society of Certified Public Accountants, and Cal Society of CPAs as technical reviewer of educational materials. Marcia has an exemplary record of volunteer service to our community. Her current community service includes Entre Nous Society, Gathering for Women, Loaves and Fishes, San Carlos Cathedral and SpectorDance.

Nancy Buscher

Nancy Buscher is Interim Chief Executive Officer at Natividad. Mrs. Buscher previously served as CNO/Vice President of Patient Care at Three Rivers Health in Three Rivers, Michigan, was Interim Director of Telemetry and IMCU at Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, and Interim Director of multiple units at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, California. She also was a member of the Adjunct Faculty in the Doctorate of Healthcare Administration at the University of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. Mrs. Buscher received a Doctorate Degree in Nursing Leadership from Rush University in Chicago, Illinois, a Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Nazareth College in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Sandra D’Arrigo

For more than 35 years, Sandra D’Arrigo has served as a contributor and shareholder of D’Arrigo Brothers Company of California, a family-owned agricultural business specializing in growing, packing, cooling, and shipping fresh produce. She earned an MBA from Golden Gate University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management and Business Management from Kent State University. Having lived in seven states, she ultimately raised her family in California. Sandra has been deeply involved in community service, including volunteering in local schools, serving on church finance committees, supporting major capital campaigns, and providing fresh vegetables to the homeless through the San Carlos Cathedral Loaves and Fishes program since 2007. She and her husband, John, have three adult sons—Christopher, Michael, and Matthew—and two grandsons.

Elizabeth “Libby” Downey

Elizabeth “Libby” Downey, a retired nurse with a long history of public service in Monterey County, has joined Natividad’s Board of Trustees. Downey has been deeply involved in the community for more than 50 years. She brings a lifetime of experience as a public health nurse, business professional and community advocate to Natividad’s Board of Trustees. Downey is from North Carolina, where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1960. After moving to Monterey in 1963, Downey spent much of her career in hospital nursing, public health, nursing school instruction, the Child Health, and Disability Program, and served as a Conservator of the Person appointed by the Superior Court. Downey is an avid volunteer and served on boards across Monterey County including Planned Parenthood, the Visiting Nurse Association, Rotary Club of Monterey, Hospice Foundation for the Central Coast and the Monterey County Grand Jury. She also served as a Monterey City Council Member from 2004 to 2016. Downey and her husband Wayne have lived in Monterey for 56 years. They have three adult children, Scott, Heath and Paige, and seven grandchildren.

Chris Lopez

Chris Lopez is the Supervisor to the constituents of the Third District of the County of Monterey. Lopez replaces the Trustee position previously held by longtime supervisor Simon Salinas, who retired last year. Lopez was a staff member for Salinas’ office before being elected in June 2018. Supervisor Lopez was born and raised in southern Monterey County. An alum of Claremont McKenna College, he has a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Economics. After starting as an intern with Supervisor Salinas’ office, Lopez was promoted to Board Aide and then to Chief of Staff, a position he held for more than seven years before being elected to the District 3 seat when Salinas retired. Lopez has served on the boards of Youth Orchestra Salinas, Hartnell College Foundation, the Arts Council for Monterey County, the Redevelopment Oversight Boards of the cities of King City, Greenfield, Soledad, and Gonzales among many others. He currently lives in Greenfield with his wife Jazmin.

Manuel Osorio

Manuel Osorio has dedicated most of his life to public service. Committed to further enhancing community college education programs, Osorio spent 34 years serving Cabrillo Community College. There, he served as the vice president/assistant superintendent of student services, dean of student services, and as a counselor. Osorio holds a bachelor’s in psychology from UCSC and master’s in counseling education from San Jose State University. His passion, combined with his extensive experience, has given him a deep understanding of the needs of the students, staff, and community members. Osorio has served on numerous educational boards, most recently the Hartnell Community College Board of Trustees and previously the North Monterey County Unified School District and Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees; as well as on the community boards of United Way, Cultural Council, YMCA, Rotary Club and North County LULAC.

Dr. Kartheek Reddy