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A Nonprofit Organization
Carquinez Village is a 501(c)3 (EIN: 47-4133336) charitable nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

Led by a Governing Board
Carquinez Village is guided by a Governing Board of community leaders each of whom serves for a minimum of one two-year term. The Board is responsible for: 1) overseeing and implementing the activities and services of the Village; 2) establishing the policies that guide the Village; 3) assuming financial oversight; and 4) ensuring that the Village operates according to the standards and requirements of 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations.

With occasional exceptions, Board meetings are open to the public and held on the first Wednesday of the month from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m at the Benicia Chamber of Commerce, 601 First Street in Benicia or the Benicia Community Center, 370 East L Street. Visitors are encouraged and welcomed to attend. To confirm date, time and location, RSVP by emailing info@carquinezvillage.org or visit the events calendar.

Guided by Working Committees
Carquinez Village is a volunteer organization that depends on the commitment, talents, and spirit of volunteers who manage the planning, organization, and delivery of the administrative work of the Village. (Many other volunteers deliver the supportive services that the Village offers.) The working committees are as follows:

  • Marketing: Conducts outreach, promotes awareness and understanding of Carquinez Village.
  • Finance: Oversees sound fiscal management of Carquinez Village.
  • Governance: Ensures strong leadership and legal compliance of Carquinez Village.
  • Member Services:  Promotes services that produce high-quality member experiences.
  • Programs/Activities: Delivers programs and activities that connect and stimulate members.
  • Volunteer Services: Attracts, trains, and supports volunteers to meet Village needs.
  • Virtual Office Services: Manages the technology-driven systems of Carquinez Village.

If you would like to learn about volunteering on a committee, call (707) 297-2472 or email volunteer@carquinezvillage.org. It’s a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with others to make a difference in people’s lives.

Carquinez Village wishes to express ongoing gratitude to our co-founders, Lois Requist and the late Judie Donaldson, whose vision, enthusiasm, and leadership for several years were vital to our Village becoming a reality in April of 2016.

For general inquiries about the village, email us at: info@carquinezvillage.org or call us at (707) 297-2472.


Jennifer Hanley, Executive Director

Jennifer Hanley, a Benicia resident for 34 years and a graduate of Benicia High School, embarked on a dynamic and successful career path after her studies at Chico State University. She brings with her over 25 years of experience in communications, marketing and executive administration. 

After dedicating nearly a decade in public service as a 911 Dispatcher and Training Officer with the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Jennifer made a pivotal decision to transition into the private sector where she has since held positions in finance, C-level executive office administration, program coordination with Solano Transportation Authority and political campaign management. She is also an avid community volunteer for various programs and projects.

Ms. Hanley serves on the Board of Directors for the Village to Village Network, a national nonprofit organization that supports the development and management of nearly 300 Villages nationwide.

Contact Jennifer via email at jhanley@carquinezvillage.org or via her direct line (707) 742-3376.

Jane Keene, President & Volunteer Services Co-Chair

Jane Keene, a native of Leicester, England, underwent a transatlantic relocation to the United States in 1968 and has been a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area since 1980.

Possessing a Master of Science degree in Human Resources and Organizational Development from the University of San Francisco, Jane is also a graduate of the Lynn Andrews Center for Sacred Arts and Training. She holds the esteemed titles of ordained Minister and Life Coach, demonstrating her commitment to spiritual and personal development.

Contact Jane directly via email at jane@carquinezvillage.org

 

 

Barbara Engdahl, Vice President

Barbara is a native-born Californian who grew up in San Mateo.  After earning an AA degree, she spent almost a year hitchhiking and hosteling in Europe.  She returned to complete her BA at the University of Nevada and soon received an East-West Center scholarship to study Asian philosophy at the University of Hawaii.  There followed a year working in the Philippines capped with her marriage to a fellow EWC grantee. They had two boys, the second of whom arrived while they were working with the Peace Corps in Kathmandu, Nepal!  Coming back to Hawaii and more practical with increasing age, she earned an MSW and began a career in medical social work. For 19 years, she owned an employment agency finding helpers for seniors needing assistance at home.  After she retired, in amongst worldwide travels, she volunteered as a counselor for Compassion and Choices helping pass California's right-to-die law. Altogether she has spent over 40 years working with seniors.  Her work with Carquinez Village extends that commitment.

Diane Delaney photo

Diane Delaney, Secretary

Diane is a native Californian and has lived in Benicia for 32 years. She has a BA in English Lit from UC Berkeley. Diane retired from the Berkeley Police Department as a Police Lieutenant after 30 years of service. She was a member of the department’s BSHNT- Barricaded Subject Hostage Negotiation Team (SWAT) where she served as a tactical team leader. She is a firearms and tactics instructor and continues to consult and teach for a security firm in Oakland. Diane is a volunteer for the American Red Cross as well as the Carquinez Village, where she serves as Board secretary, as a member of the Membership Committee, and as a direct services provider. Diane is married and has two adult children She is an avid outdoor enthusiast, enjoying hiking, backpacking, snow, and wakeboarding.

Gerald Forcier photo

Gerry Forcier, Treasurer

Gerry worked as the executive director of The Arc-Solano, an organization that serves people with developmental/intellectual disabilities, for thirty-nine years. During this time, he was also an active volunteer with a number of organizations. Gerry was a board member of the Affordable Housing Affiliation in Benicia, serving Housing Coalition (NBHC), also in the position of Treasurer. (NBHC serves people with developmental/intellectual disabilities by accessing affordable housing in the Napa, Sonoma, and Solano county catchment areas.) Additionally, Gerry served as the financial secretary of the church council of Benicia’s Community Congregational Church.

Linda Chandler photo

Linda Chandler, Outreach Ambassador

Linda Chandler began her career as an educator following the completion of her degree and credentialing at UC Irvine. She holds an MBA from JFK University and provided consulting for the Small Business Centers (SBDC) in Contra Costa and Solano counties while also teaching as an adjunct professor for Golden Gate University, Saint Mary’s, and the California Maritime Academy. Employed by Contra Costa County, she served as a strategic planner for Contra Costa’s Workforce Investment Board, she headed up the development of EASTBAY Works, a partnership that services all the East Bay. Linda spearheaded design and technology delivery linkage for fourteen centers, acknowledged for national innovation. She led aggressive grant development and expanded partnerships with industry resulting in millions of new dollars targeted retrain youth and adults. Her present interest is building partnerships and ongoing support for the goals of Carquinez Village.

Contact Linda via email at tiffally@sbcglobal.net

Jeanne Elkdahl photo

Jeanne Ekdahl, Virtual Office Manager, and Operations Coordinator

Jeanne Ekdahl taught critical thinking and writing at CSU East Bay and served as Director of Testing and the University Writing Assessment Program. In addition, she developed a mentoring program for graduate students and worked with the Online Teaching and Learning Program.  She was on the board of the Contra Costa Office of Education AVID program and worked with local high schools to develop articulation agreements with colleges. Jeanne also taught business college and was a management trainer and volunteer coordinator for Planned Parenthood. Currently, she serves on the board of Families in Transition of Benicia.

Cynthia Hellmuth

Cynthia Hellmuth, Programs Chair

A University in San Francisco R.N. in Nursing degree formed the foundation for a 40-year career for Cynthia Hellmuth. Cynthia began as a Labor and Delivery nurse, moved on to Newborn and Nursery nursing, and finally shifted into increasingly responsible management positions. Cynthia worked in both public and private hospitals in three counties: San Francisco, Contra Costa, and Solano.  She ended her career in 2016 at Contra Costa Medical Center in Martinez.

Janice Manger photo

Janice Magner, Member Services Chair

Janice Magner is a woman who knew what she wanted at an early age.  She has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University and two graduate degrees­, one in Psychology and another in Transpersonal Psychology, from John F. Kennedy University. She obtained her credential in Marriage and Family Therapy in 1986, has had a private practice since that time, and has served as a part-time counselor at Contra Costa Medical Center. Janice continues to lead a women’s group that has been meeting for 43 years.  In her spare time, she is an Arabic drummer.

 

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Susan Neuhaus, Membership Development Chair

Susan Neuhaus, who is a nurse by training, spent over 30 years in healthcare management and leadership, primarily with Kaiser. Her roles included nursing administration, working to advance healthcare policy, and serving as a Continuing Care Leader with oversight for four medical centers. A key to Susan’s success is her passion for learning and change. Despite her workplace demands, she found time to walk three marathons––in Chicago, Alaska, and Hawaii––and complete innumerable half-marathons. Her volunteer service includes commitments to Sustainable Solano, Benicia Public Library, League of Women Voters, AAUW, and Carquinez Village. She also finds time to provide tax preparation assistance and Medicare counseling. Susan and her husband, Mark, moved to Benicia in 2012.

Contact Susan via email at susan@carquinezvillage.org 

Helen Hughes

Helen Hughes, Board Member

Helen Hughes has had a rich experience living and learning around the world. She lived and taught English in Australia, India, and Spain. She holds a TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) certificate. In India, Helen established a preschool for children of ex-pats. When she returned to the United States, she operated an Airbnb.


Kathy Monroe, Volunteer Services Co-Chair

Kathy is a native New Englander who moved to Benicia in 2016 after 30 years in New Jersey. She decided in junior high school that she wanted a career understanding and helping others, and that shaped her educational decisions to get a BA in Social Psychology from Boston University, an M. Ed. in Counseling from Harvard, and an MSW in Clinical Social Work from Rutgers. Although she worked with all age groups in a number of mental health settings, her two specialties were teenagers and older adults. Since retiring as a clinical therapist from Carrier Foundation in NJ, she has mentored girls at Liberty High, served on the Board at her church, plays in a Bell choir, volunteers as Membership Chair at Benicia Yacht Club, and walks her dog all over town. She is the current Poet Laureate of Benicia organizing a variety of programs for the Bay Area; her poetry has been published in anthologies, chap books and journals, winning several prizes. 

Contact Kathy and the Volunteer Services Team via email at volunteer@carquinezvillage.org