Board Members

Visalia Leadership Class of 2025-2026

A life long Central Valley community member, sister, mother, wife and retired from being an Accounts Payable Specialist at Suncrest Bank.

A proud Central Valley native, I was born and raised in Delano, CA, and have called Visalia home for the past 17 years. Inspired by my mother’s leadership—serving on Delano’s city council for over 12 years and as mayor for four terms—I’ve always felt a strong pull toward community involvement.

I earned my B.A. in Art from Fresno State in 1994 and began my design career in Sacramento, starting with Tower Records and then joining Government Technology (now e.Republic), a media company connecting tech leaders with the public sector.

In 2001, I launched my freelance graphic design business, working with clients like the United Spirit Association and E2k Entertainment, contributing to projects for the 49er and Charger Girls. After moving to Visalia in 2007 to raise my family, I continued freelancing and later joined Visalia Unified School District in 2015. I now serve as a full-time graphic designer for VUSD, supporting schools with everything from branding to site beautification.

My primary community volunteer work is centered around Arts
Visalia, including fundraising for children's art classes and gallery
exhibits. 
Other community projects with which I been active recently
include “Art on Fire”, the recruiting and selecting of local artists to
creatively ‘theme-paint” 25 fire hydrants the length of Main Street
in downtown Visalia.
As a member of Visalia’s Breakfast Lions Club, I’ve been an
active helper of many of our community events and fundraisers
aimed at finding more ways to promote and give back to our
community.
Here is a list of my current board responsibilities:
 Vice President, Arts Visalia
 Member of the Visalia Breakfast Lions Club
 Advisory Board member for Salvation Army
 Vice President, Arts Consortium
I am also an active Pickleball player. As the fastest growing sport
over last few years, with all age groups, I feel that there is a huge
opportunity for Visalia to get our community members active and
moving. I challenge you to try it!

Samira’s journey to Visalia has been anything but ordinary. A proud Fresno
State graduate, she originally hails from the sun-soaked landscapes of
Phoenix, Arizona, later trading desert skies for the rhythmic bustle of the
Bay Area before finally finding her home in the Central Valley about six years
ago. With three older sisters and a younger brother, she grew up in a lively,
love-filled swirl of personalities that helped shape her adventurous spirit.
Drawn to wide open spaces and the serenity of the outdoors, Samira feels
most herself on a hiking trail, surrounded by fresh air, towering trees, and
the quiet wisdom of nature. Her love for the land is exactly what makes
working with Sequoia Riverlands Trust feel less like a job and more like a
calling—an opportunity to protect and celebrate the landscapes that inspire
her.When she’s not immersed in her work, you’ll likely find Samira throwing
down at CrossFit or competing in her coed city softball league, where her
competitive streak shines. While she’s not married and doesn’t have
children, she is wholeheartedly focused on growing her career, expanding
her expertise in the development world, and embracing every opportunity
that comes her way.

Elena is a devoted wife and mother of one daughter who is passionate
about strengthening parks and building connected communities. Highly
organized and hardworking, Elena brings a strong sense of care and
reliability to everything she does. During the week, she helps care for a baby,
reflecting her nurturing spirit and desire to support others. She is active in
the local sports community and understands the importance of safe,
accessible parks and shared spaces for families to gather, play, and grow.
Family is at the heart of everything Elena does, and she is proud to support
initiatives that enhance community spaces and bring people together.

Katia has been a resident of Visalia and Tulare County since immigrating from Mexico to the United
States in 1975.
She is currently the Co-Founder and Secretary of HATCH, the Secretary for the PFLAG Tulare/Kings
board, and was a founding Board Member (2016-2022) and past Board Chair (2018-2020) of The Source
LGBT+ Center. She also serves on the Audit Committee for The Source LGBT+ Center and was a
Founding Member and past Volunteer Coordinator for The Central Valley Mutual Aid Fund (March
2020-October 2020).
Katia works as an HR Manager for WiseIn HR, an HR consulting firm that helps small businesses and
non-profits comply with state and federal laws.
Her dedication to Tulare County has earned her the Volunteer of the Year Award from ACT for Women
and Girls in 2016 and the Heart of a Lion Award from Visalia Pride Lions in 2019.
In her free time, Katia enjoys spending time with her family, embroidery, crocheting, and community
service.

I have served on the Visalia Community Enhancement Foundation Board since 2017, holding roles as Secretary, Vice Chair, and currently Chairman/President. I am a passionate community advocate, and brings years of leadership and volunteer experience to support local parks and recreation efforts. I am dedicated to enhancing quality of life in Visalia through strategic partnerships and creative programming.

My name is Amy Wong, I was born and raised in the Bay Area but recently
moved to Visalia to be closer to family. In my professional career I worked a
few years as an Elementary School Teacher, 8 years as a Fashion Designer,
and 15-20 years as an Office Manager and Executive Administrative Assistant
(current role). My passion is helping people, which I found out through my
professional career as an assistant and
teacher. So when I’m not working I like to help and give back to the
community by volunteering. A few organizations I have helped out were
Second Harvest Food Bank, The Special Olympics, The Visalia Friendship
House, Wine and Wags Gala, and some sporting events. Volunteering is very
rewarding. In my spare time I like to spend time with family and friends,
workout, hike, read, and be creative.

Victoria Balderas is a seasoned Human Resources professional with over 10 years of dedicated experience in the field. A proud native of the Central Valley, Victoria is deeply committed to fostering learning opportunities and promoting growth among individuals. Her passion for community involvement is evident through her active role as a member of the Visalia Leadership Steering Committee and as an Alumnus of the 2023-2024 Leadership Visalia Class.
Victoria finds immense fulfillment in contributing to her community, which she describes as essential to her sense of purpose. Alongside her high school sweetheart, Victoria is a devoted parent to four children. When she's not immersed in her professional endeavors, Victoria enjoys traveling with her family to support her children in competitive sports, cherishing these moments as valuable family time.

Born and raised in Denver Colorado, I worked in the corporate world until I stopped to raise my children. We moved to Visalia in 2015 because of my husband's work. I have done a lot of volunteering, primarily the League of Women Voters of Tulare County. Green Acres Little Theater.

Our longest serving member, is the Owner / Operator at IS&T Consulting . Kris has graciously supported our foundation through time and hands on work.

My name is Melanie Genanatti, to most kids, I’m known as Ms. Mel. I am an outdoor enthusiast, wife and mother of two. I'm a homeschool teacher who loves parks, sports, educating, mentoring and event planning for kids.

Melissa Lopez is the Catering and Events Director at Revel Venues and Co- Owner of The Collective Catering. She has helped build the organization since 2019, which includes four event venues, multiple hospitality staff, Full service catering, and bar services. Melissa is a 2023-2024 Leadership Visalia graduate and a 2024-2025 Steering committee member. Prior to her current position, Melissa lived in New York for over 20 years where she managed large dental teams. Dentistry was always a passion, but her love for serving others allowed Melissa to flourish in the hospitality industry quickly. When not working, Melissa enjoys true crime and mystery shows, and is a huge Disney fan.

My name is Griselda Morgan, I am 43 years old and I have been running a senior in-home care company for the last 9 years. I started caregiving at the age of 19 in the year 2000 while I attended Fresno State University as a pre-med student. I worked for a few in home care companies and assisted living for disabled adults as a caregiver and scheduling coordinator since then, until I opened my business in March of 2006. My business provides assistance with all activities of Daily Living as well as assistance with hospice care. I realized very early that I loved caregiving and was fulfilled by helping the seniors that most needed it and making a difference in their lives,Keeping them safe and comfortable in their home is one of the most important aspects of my business. building friendships with those that I cared for that eventually turned into almost family. I love to listen to music and visit with friends and family. I have an Autistic child that helps keep me grounded and spend most of my free time with him. I love to help people and be a lending hand in their time of need.