Leadership Team |
Jennifer Romanek, Facilities Manager / Community Living Case Manager
Jennifer Romanek has been at Moving Forward since 1999 and came to us with a lifetime of experience working with individuals with disabilities. Jennifer is an accomplished artist and has a degree in graphic art from Platt Graphic Art and Design in San Francisco. Jennifer was instrumental in creating our art program at Moving Forward and teaches Advanced Art. She loves gardening and has award winning dahlias.
Barbara Montaldo, Community Resource Specialist
Barbara Montaldo advocates for our residents to create life-long independence through vocational employment programs. She is our liaison with the Department of Rehabilitation, North Bay Regional Center, with employers, and in coordinating work groups for volunteer sites. Barbara utilizes optimistic and positive redirection to assist our clients in reaching their goals during their job search, when coaching, and in teaching our Job Readiness course. Prior to joining the Moving Forward team in 2011, Barbara worked as a behavior aide with school aged children in Napa, Solano, and Sonoma for eight years, and previous to that as a mental health worker in a psychiatric facility. Barbara has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Sacramento State University.
Jennifer Attridge, Office Manager
Jennifer Attridge joined Moving Forward in June 2021 as the Office Manager. After 4 years in the US Army, Jennifer graduated from the University of California, at Davis with a degree in Organizational Studies and spent 12 years living and working overseas. With over 38 years working in administrative roles, the last 11 years with non-profit organizations, she brings a wealth of experience in finance, human resources, and training to her role.
Case Management Team
Michael Runas, Community Living Case Manager
Michael Runas works with residents in Community Living, the third phase of our program. He joined Moving Forward in 2008 with over 7 years of experience working in the Human Services field. Previously he worked at a Day Program that served adults with developmental disabilities and as a Therapeutic Behavior Specialist with foster children. Michael holds a B.A. in Sociology, and a A.A. degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences. When he is not at Moving Forward, Michael enjoys working part time as a Real Estate Agent, and spending time with his wife and children, in addition to playing sports and gardening.
Cathryn Cirby, Transitional Living Case Manager
Cathryn joined the Moving Forward team in March of 2019. She started as support staff and job coach and recently became Case Manager in our 1st phase of transitional living for residents. Cathryn is a strong advocate for people with disabilities. She brings to Moving Forward years of experience in management and supervision and uses these skills to support and teach our residents life skills, work skills and time management, to help our residents become independent, strong and productive individuals to succeed out in our community. Cathryn loves spending time with her family and friends and is a mother of three boys. She has a great love for animals, and always looks forward to getting away to her happy places in San Francisco, the beach and the Redwoods.
Dale Gorr, Transitional Living Case Manager
Dale Gorr joined Moving Forward as a Case Manager in July 2020. He has spent over 26 years in the field, with various agencies, working with people with developmental disabilities. He also graduated from Napa Valley Cooking School in 2014. This has enhanced his job and given him new opportunities to assist his clients. He enjoys spending time with friends and family, loves playing the guitar and listening to music, traveling, and cooking. Dale is really jazzed to be part of Moving Forward
Jillian Lagman, Community Living Case Manager
Jillian joined the Moving Forward team in June of 2018. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from California State University, East Bay. She focused her studies on law enforcement and economics. Jillian has been a job coach and support staff (for Moving Forward for 9 months before initially becoming a Community Living Case Manager). She has years of experience as an administrative assistant and in community involvement by volunteering for her local church. She has volunteered working at food banks, serving food to the homeless, assisting seniors at a senior living center, and tutoring elementary and high school students. Jillian enjoys playing video games, watching movies, cuddling with her corgi, and cooking. After a brief hiatus from working at Moving Forward, Jillian has returned and has resumed a role as a Community Living Case Manager in 2021.
Mark Goodenough, Individual Living Skills Case Manager
Mark joined Moving Forward in October of 2021 as an Individual Living Skills Case Manager. He has a degree in English Education from the University of Georgia and taught in high schools in Georgia and the Bay Area, as well as a high school for individuals on the autism spectrum. Additionally, he has worked with private clients on executive function and organizational skills, coached academic time management and work execution, and led a work development and social skills summer program at Cal-Berkely’s Blue Camp. A fascination with discovering how people execute their personal organizational approach and offering options that might enhance these approaches has endured through his work with uniquely-abled people since 2005. In his spare time, Mark enjoys reading, Farmer’s Markets, and music.
Julie Baewer, Case Manager
Julie joined Moving Forward in November 2021 as a Case Manager. Julie attended Texas State University and received her BS in Education with a minor in mathematics. She also attended Contra Costa College where she received her AA in Nursing. She has worked with students and patients with Autism. Julie was passionate about advocating for her students and helped to ensure that her students did not fall behind academically during the school shutdown due to COVID. She was dedicated to her students and their families making sure they had all essential hardware and were safe. Julie was diligent with assisting families in the transition to learning at home. Julie also volunteered her time with private tutoring to maintain learning and assisted many families with the social emotional aspect of distant learning as well as the transition back to the classroom. Julie is excited about utilizing her talents and skills at MFTI. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting and spending time with her family.
Support Staff
Renee Brambila, Personal Trainer / Support Staff
Renee Brambila is an AFAA Certified Personal Trainer. Renee’s areas of expertise are full-body and flexibility training. Renee began working with the Moving Forward residents individually as a Personal Trainer eleven years ago. In 2009 Renee came on board with Moving Forward as Support Staff, and today Renee leads a walking group Monday through Friday, and teaches Yoga along with other Sports related outdoor activities at Moving Forward. In addition, she continues to take on work as a Personal Trainer with individual clients.
Board Members
Lisa Sondin, Board President
Lisa brings a wealth of experience in managing staff and building programs in a school setting. Olive, a community living resident, is Lisa’s daughter and has been at the program for around seven years. Lisa co-founded Step One preschool in Berkeley and developed the long-term staff, as well as setting direction for the program. Lisa is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 25 years of experience. In her practice, Lisa works with children (as young as two), adolescents, young adults, and parents and families.
Bryan Daniels, Board Vice President
Bryan Daniels has more than 40 years of proven senior management experience and is a graduate of Saint Mary’s College where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration. He began his career in 1979 as founder of PDI Systems, a firm that provided out-sourced services for a number of large retail auto dealerships throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. From 1993-94 Bryan was General Manager of Vertical Technologies, which developed and maintained large scale networks and computer systems for clients that included Pacific Bell and Bank of Walnut Creek. Following his time at Vertical Technologies, Bryan was the COO of Distrivision Development Corporation from 1994-96, a pioneer in catalogue management and procurement for manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers and one of the first companies to implement real-time business to business transactional technology. Bryan went on to be one of three founders of Commerce One, where he was instrumental to the company’s initial growth and long-term success. Commerce One went public in 1999 enabling Bryan to retire in 2002. He then went on to help create a biotechnology company - Xenotope Diagnostics, where he currently sits on the board. Bryan has also served as the president of his homeowner’s association. Bryan enjoys spending time with his two sons, Kyle and Drew in Lake Almanor where they enjoy golfing, sailing, boating, swimming, waterskiing and wake surfing. As a lifelong sailor, Bryan captained his crew to a third-place finish in the 2007 Transpac race from Long Beach, CA to Hawaii. Most recently he and Kris enjoy traveling the U.S. in their Airstream
Daphne O' Regan, Boardmember
Daphne O'Regan is married with two sons, one of whom has been at Moving Forward for four years. She is a clinical law professor at Michigan State University and has an M.A. and Ph.D. from Cornell University. She is co-founder and board member of Lansing Inclusive Communities, Inc., an organization serving developmentally disabled adults and their families in the area of Lansing Michigan. She served on the East Lansing School Board for four years and is currently on the East Lansing Transportation Commission.
Erica Conway, Boardmember
Erica Conway, D.D.S. Has lived and worked in Napa for over 23 years. She grew up in Fremont, CA and received her B.S. in Biology from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA in 1992. She received her doctor of dental surgery degree in 1995 from University of the Pacific Dental School and has been in private practice ever since. She is so proud to say that many of the Moving Forward clients are some of her favorite patients. She has three left handed daughters- Grace 18, Gretchen 15, and Samantha 12. She enjoys being involved in the community and making a difference in people’s lives. Her daughter, Gretchen, has Down syndrome and has been fully included in school thus far. She brings a local perspective for marketing and fundraising to the board. Her interests include travel, cycling, swimming and helping people with disabilities live happy independent lives.
Marita Musante, Boardmember
Marita is family and community minded. She believes our residents need a program that is fiscally sound and will be in existence for the duration of their lifetimes. Marita brings a deep knowledge of community outreach to our board. She seeks both recognition and support within the Napa Community. Marita’s previous community outreach experience includes Volunteer service in the schools (PTA, GATE,
SDC classes, fundraising committees, and others), Board Member then President or Campfire Boys and Girls, Volunteer St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, Vestry at Christ Episcopal Church, Soroptimist International of Humboldt Bay, instructor/coordinator Foster Friday Music and Arts Program, Coach, Fundraising committee member then Chair of Humboldt County Special Olympics. Since moving to the Bay Area and joining the faculty of CSMA, Marita has volunteered on the Social Justice Task Force and Curriculum Committee. She currently teaches live and remote classes through CSMA for Morgan Autism Center and AbilityPath.
SDC classes, fundraising committees, and others), Board Member then President or Campfire Boys and Girls, Volunteer St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, Vestry at Christ Episcopal Church, Soroptimist International of Humboldt Bay, instructor/coordinator Foster Friday Music and Arts Program, Coach, Fundraising committee member then Chair of Humboldt County Special Olympics. Since moving to the Bay Area and joining the faculty of CSMA, Marita has volunteered on the Social Justice Task Force and Curriculum Committee. She currently teaches live and remote classes through CSMA for Morgan Autism Center and AbilityPath.
Tim Ennis, Boardmember
Tim is motivated by being involved in the community and helping people. Tim brings his experience and success at fundraising, planning events, and getting things done. Tim brings his energy to reach out to our community and use his friendships and business relationships throughout Napa Valley. Tim is well-versed in leveraging social media for advertising & fundraising purposes. Tim has owned and managed numerous fitness centers and have worked with hundreds of people and groups of all ages and backgrounds. I was Senior Vice President for Landworks Solutions, a professional sports sponsorship company. I write and play music on a professional level throughout the US, Mexico, and Canada. Tim has managed three different wineries in Napa.
Abigail Shaw, President of the Family Association
Abigail Shaw is a voting member of the board who acts as a liaison between the board and the Family Association. She leads the Family Association meetings, currently held as needed via Zoom. Claire Heinzelman and Loring Lynch are the other Family Association Officers, serving as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. The Family Association collaborates using an online discussion board. Its members actively support the Moving Forward program. The FA raises money for Staff birthday and holiday gifts and for Staff training. Abigail is the mom of two adult daughters, one of whom, Elaine, is a Community Living resident. Abigail lives in Alameda with her husband David. She has been a public speaker throughout her career, which has included technology consulting services, information architecture, and UX project management.
