Commission &
Staff
F5VC Staff Directory
Staff is working remotely in response to the pandemic. To contact staff members, please send them an email. If you need to meet in person, you may schedule an office visit by emailing assistant@first5ventura.org.
Call 805-648-9990 to leave a message in the general mailbox.
Petra Puls, MPA
Executive Director
If you have questions about the strategic direction of First 5 Ventura, please email Petra Puls.
Program, Evaluation, and Community Initiatives
Tyla Adams, MPH, CHES
Program Manager
If you have questions about First 5’s communications, outreach, or advocacy efforts, please email Tyla Adams.
Sharon Elmensdorp, PhD, BCBA-D
Program Manager
If you have questions about Help Me Grow Ventura County, ASQ Online ® in Ventura County, or ACEs Aware Ventura County, please email Sharon Elmensdorp.
Heather Guerrero, M.A, IF-ECMHP
Director of Neighborhoods for Learning
If you have questions about Neighborhoods for Learning, Parent and Child Together classes, or Parent Engagement, please email Heather Guerrero.
Jimena Hernandez
Quality & Technical Assistance Coordinator
If you have questions about Parent Engagement or Storytime, please email Jimena Hernandez.
Andrew Huizar
Program Manager
If you have questions about Neighborhoods for Learning or Parent and Child Together classes, please email Andrew Huizar.
Sam McCoy
Director of Program and Evaluation
If you have questions about First 5 Placed-Based Initiatives, Evaluation and Data Systems, please email Sam McCoy.
Grace Montejano
Care Coordinator
If you have questions about the Help Me Grow Ventura County telephone help line or parent navigation services, please email Grace Montejano.
Nani Oesterle, MS, MA
Program Manager
If you have questions about preschool, QRIS, 2-1-1, or Oral Health, please email Nani Oesterle.
Administration, Finance, and Operations
John Anderson
Operations Manager
If you have questions about contracts, amendments, or Persimmony reporting, please email John Anderson.
Lauren Arzu, MPA
Director of Human Resources and Operations
If you have questions about Human Resources, Policy and Advocacy, or Communications, please email Lauren Arzu.
Fahim S. Farag
Office Coordinator
If you have questions about Commission Meetings, enrolling your child in services, requesting community outreach materials, or general inquiries, please email Fahim S. Farag.
Teresa Gutierrez
Fiscal Administrator
fiscaladministrator@
first5ventura.org
If you have questions about accounts payable or receivable, please email Teresa Gutierrez.
Jennifer Johnson
Director of Finance and Administration
If you have questions about Finance or Administration, please email Jennifer Johnson.
F5VC Commissioners
A nine-member volunteer commission appointed by the Board of Supervisors governs First 5 Ventura County. Commissioners bring knowledge in health, human services, government, and education and are united by a desire to make Ventura County the best it can be for young children and families.
Standing committees in Administration and Finance, Program and best practices committees in health, early learning, and family strengthening bring Commission and community members together to support the decision-making process.
Barbara Marquez-O’Neill, Chair
Independent Consultant
Bruce Stenslie, Vice-Chair
President/CEO, Economic Development Collaborative
Rachel Champagne
Senior Program Director, Catalyst Kids
Michael Gollub, MD, FAAP
Pediatrician, Retired
Matt LaVere
Ventura County Supervisor, District 1
Robert Levin, MD
Health Officer/Medical Director, Ventura County Public Health
Cesar Morales, PhD
Superintendent, Ventura County Office of Education
Christine Walker, EdD
Superintendent, Hueneme Elementary School District
Barry Zimmerman
Director, Ventura County Health Care Agency
Commission Meetings
The First 5 Ventura County Commission meets monthly, usually on the third Thursday of the month from 1–3 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and the agendas are posted in advance. View our most recent agenda.
You will also find schedules, agendas, meeting materials, and minutes from previous meetings here:
Commission Meetings
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