Board of Directors

The Board of Directors has monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of each month. If you are interested in becoming a Board Member, please contact (916) 868-7820, or send an e-mail to info@my-sisters-house.org.

Officers

President
Darrel “H” Woo, Esq.
CA Department of Insurance
        
        Darrel Woo is a Senior Attorney at the  California Department   
        of Insurance. An active member in the Sacramento community, Darrel
        serves as a member of the Sacramento City Planning Commission, 
        past president of the Asian Bar Association of Sacramento, and General
        Counsel of the Organization of Chinese Americans. Darrel is also an
        Adjunct Professor at Lincoln Law School of Sacramento and is an avid
        runner and rower.

President Elect
Perla Ramos
Frank Fats Properties
        
        Perla Ramos has had a long career working with the California     
        Department of Education, the Legislature, and Frank Fats Properties.         
        She has served as a past board president of Asian Pacific Community     
        Counseling and volunteers with other API organizations. Perla is         
        currently the Office Manager/owner of Frank Fats Properties.

Vice President
Monica Hart
The Marketing Coach

Monica Hart is also known as the Marketing Coach. A small business owner, Monica has had vast experience working in corporations, education, and non-profits. Monica started as a consultant assisting My Sister's House with our first volunteer appreciation dinner in 2003. She has been a dedicated volunteer ever since.

 

Secretary
Moira Sharma, Psy.D
Kaiser Permanente

        Dr. Moira Sharma is a psychologist with an expertise in domestic     
        violence, and currently works for Kaiser Permanente at the     
        Outpatient Psychiatry  Department in South Sacramento. She was the     
        assistant clinical director of a batterer intervention program in the     
        midwest, and has worked with victims of domestic violence throughout     
        her professional career. Moira also serves on the Healthcare Domestic     
        Violence Network for Sacramento County.

Treasurer
Greg Asher 
Top Spin
        
        Greg Asher is a owner of Folsom Tennis Store, Top Spin.  Greg has been
        Community Development Officer at Umpqua Bank and was formerly     
        Community Development Specialist at Mercy Housing California where
        Greg assisted in securing the financing and managing the rehab of a
        Central Valley domestic violence shelter.

Members

Laura Bennett
Verizon Communications
        Laura Bennett is currently the Goverment and External Affairs
        Public Policy Manager for Verizon Communications.  A
        graduate of Lincoln Law School, Laura has also been actively 
        involved with Eppie's great race.  Laura is involed with My     
        Sister's House because she recognizes that domestic violence     
        is a community issue that doesn't receive the necessary         
        attention to assist battered women and their children. 
        

Elaine T. Chiao
Cooperative Personnel Services

Elaine Chiao has been involved with My Sister's House since its inception in 1999.   She is retired from State government, but is currently a consultant with Cooperative Personnel Services, providing human resources services to State agencies, local governments and non-profits.  Elaine has been active in numerous Asian / Pacific Islander organizations including Asian / Pacific State Employees Association and Asian Community Center. 

Priscilla Enriquez
Sacramento Regional Community Foundation

      Priscilla Enriquez serves as the Chief Giving Officer at     
        the Sacramento Regional Community Foundation.  Priscilla     
        has a long history of work in the violence prevention field,     
        from youth to domestic violence.  She helped establish the     
        first domestic violence shelter for for battered pregnant teens     
        in San Francisco.
 
        In addition to her broad perspective of domestic violence as a     
        public health issue, Priscilla understands the “taboo” nature     
        to discuss mental health and violence from a 
        cultural sensitive perspective.

Ligaya Hattari, Ph.D.
California Indian Manpower Consortium, Inc.

Dr. Ligaya Hattari promotes social justice for Native American and Asian/Pacific Islander community members through her work at California Indian Manpower Consortium and volunteer activities at My Sister’s House. As adjunct faculty in the Anthropology Department at California State University, Sacramento, she encourages students to reflect on their own internalized oppressions regarding US cultural diversity. She is a proud single mother to an accomplished young college freshman.

Wayne K. Kitade
Elk Grove Police Department

Wayne Kitade is a Lieutenant with the Elk Grove Police Department and a resident of Elk Grove. Before joining the Elk Grove Police Department, Wayne worked with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department for over 20 years. Wayne is currently board president of the Asian Police Officers Association.

Angela Lai, Esq.
California Dept. of Managed Health Care

        Angela is currently an attorney with the California Dept. of     
        Managed Health Care.  Previously, she worked with the law     
        firm of Nossaman, Guthner, and Knox.  Her interest in domestic 
        violence began with her work with the Wisconin District     
        Attorney's office.  An accomplished artist, Angela is also         
        active with the Organization of Chinese Americans     
        and Women Lawyers of Sacramento.  

Mona Pasquil
Office of Lt. John Garamendi

Mona is currently chief of staff of the Office of Lt. John Garamendi.  Mona is former Vice President of MSHC Partners and Senior Consultant to IBM. Long active with the Democratic Party and the Filipino community, Mona is excited to be able to make a positive contribution to support battered Filipina and other Asian and Pacific Islander women and children. 

Gloria M. Ochoa, Esq.
Senate Judiciary Committee

        Gloria Megino Ochoa is the Deputy Chief Counsel to the     
        California Senate Judiciary Committee. She has been involved     
        in the drafting of legislation on domestic violence prevention and     
        shelter funding since the 1970’s, when she graduated from UC Davis     
        Law School. She has served in various capacities in local, state and     
        federal government, and has maintained a private law practice     
        over the years. Gloria has also served on the governing boards of     
        many nonprofit community organizations. Gloria has three sons and     
        two granddaughters.

Advisory Director
Captain Brian Louie
Sacramento Police Department

        Captain Brian Louie is a 24-year veteran of the Sacramento Police     
        Department. He is currently assigned to the Metro Division, which is     
        responsible for providing public safety at large events that occur in    
        the city. Brian is one of the founding members of the Asian Peace     
        Officers Association and is currently serving on its Board of Directors.

Staff

Executive Director
Nilda Guanzon Valmores

Nilda Valmores has had the honor of operating My Sister's House, the Central Valley's only shelter for battered Asian/Pacific Islander women and children since September 2004. Prior to joining My Sister's House, Nilda served as the Community Development Director for Mercy Housing California for 5 years. For more than 15 years, Nilda has worked with non-profit organizations on a statewide level addressing issues affecting children and the poor in the education, social services, and housing arenas.

Other Staff:

My Sister's House paid staff also includes a Shelter Manager, a Program Manager for the Women-to-Work program, an Outreach Advocate and a Financial Officer,

                    To support its efforts, My Sister's House relies on its 
                    wonderful volunteers.