Staff
F5VC Staff Directory
Parents and caregivers – if you have specific questions about our Neighborhoods for Learning or PACT classes, or are looking for resources, please email NfL@first5ventura.org or call 805-869-1317.
For general administrative questions please email assistant@first5ventura.org or call at 805-648-9990.
We are currently offering in-person PACT classes and activities. Our next session will begin in March 2026 , to enroll please complete our online Enrollment Form here.
Lauren Arzu, MPA
Executive Director
For inquiries related to organizational leadership , community investments, strategic direction, and funding opportunities, please email Lauren Arzu.
My favorite childhood book is Miss Spider’s Tea Party by David Kirk!
Program, Evaluation, and Community Initiatives
Sharon Elmensdorp, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Director of Early Childhood Programs
If you have questions about training, technical assistance, and capacity-building strategies for early identification and intervention, please email Sharon Elmensdorp.
My favorite childhood book is De Avonturen van Pinkeltje (The Adventures of Pinkeltje) by Dick Laan!
Christina Laubacher, MSW
Senior Program Manager
If you have questions about Cross-Systems Collaboration or Prenatal Program Development, please email Christina Laubacher.
My favorite childhood book is Love You Forever by Robert Munsch!
Sky Limón
Program Manager
If you have questions about Parent Leadership and Cross-Systems Collaboration, please email Sky Limón.
My favorite childhood book is Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall!
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.
My favorite childhood book is Best Word Book Ever by Richard Scarry!
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.
My favorite childhood book is The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister!
Courtney Pyle
Program Manager
If you have questions about Community Health Workers, Home Visitation, or Cross-Systems Collaboration, please email Courtney Pyle.
My favorite childhood book is May You Love and Be Loved by Cleo Wade!
Mario Rodriguez, MBA
Program Manager
If you have questions about Neighborhoods for Learning, Welcome Every Baby, or Parent and Child Together classes, please email Mario Rodriguez.
My favorite childhood book is Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss!
Administration, Finance, and Operations
John Anderson
Operations Manager
If you have questions about Contracts, Amendments, or Progress Reporting, please email John Anderson.
My favorite childhood book is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak!
Marisol Hernández
Human Resources Manager
If you have questions about Human Resources or Recruiting, please email Marisol Hernández.
My favorite childhood book is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom written by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault!
Jennifer Johnson
Director of Finance and Administration
If you have questions about Finance or Administration, please email Jennifer Johnson.
My favorite childhood book is Elmer by David McKee!
Jina Jue
Program & Office Coordinator
If you have questions such as accessing Neighborhoods for Learning services, Requesting Community Outreach Materials, or would like to Schedule an In-Person Appointment, please email Jina Jue.
My favorite childhood lullaby is “Arirang“ (Korean)
William Recinos
Fiscal Administrator
fiscaladministrator @first5ventura.org
If you have questions about vendor invoices and payments, please email William Recinos.
My favorite childhood book is El Silabario by Adrian Dufflocq
Christina Saenz
Senior Fiscal Administrator
fiscaladministrator2@
first5ventura.org
If you have questions about Employee-related payments, please email Christina Saenz.
My favorite childhood book is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff!
Lysa Urban
Communications Manager
If you have questions about Communications, Marketing, Branding, Media Relations, Press Inquiries, or Advocacy, please email Lysa Urban.
My favorite childhood book is Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester!
Sharene Lloyd, M.S.
Executive Assistant
If you have any questions about our Commission meetings, or would like to schedule an in-person appointment with our Executive Director, please email Sharene Lloyd.
My favorite childhood book is One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss!
Neighborhoods for Learning
If you have questions about the strategic direction of the Neighborhoods for Learning program or general questions about the Parent and Child Together classes, please email NfL@first5ventura.org.
We are currently offering in-person PACT classes. Our next cohort will begin in March 2026, to enroll please complete our online Enrollment Form here. If you have specific questions about our PACT classes, please send our NfL specialists an email. If you need to meet in person, you may schedule an office visit by emailing NfL@first5ventura.org.
Call or text 805-869-1317 for more information.
Jhoelle Aspuria-Arca
NfL Administrator
My favorite childhood book is King Midas and the Golden Touch retold by Freya Littledale!
Shelby Ferns, M.A.
Help Me Grow Program Manager
My favorite childhood activities are sensory games including water play!
Lilia Gurrola
NfL Program Manager
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is La Cama de Mama/Mommy’s Bed by Joi Freed-Garrod and Joi Carlin!
Tami Schupferling
NfL Operations & Purchasing Administrator
If you have questions about purchasing and operations related specifically to the NfL sites, please email Tami Schupferling.
My favorite childhood book is Oh, the Places You Will Go by Dr. Seuss!
Sandra Diaz
Quality Improvement & Technical Assistance Administrator
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin!
Desiree Campos
Senior Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
My favorite childhood activity is going on nature walks!
Hope DeMoss
Senior Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
My favorite childhood book is The Kindness Book by Todd Parr!
Rocio Contreras
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff!
Veronica Contreras
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin!
Estefani Diaz
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is Un Sillón Para Mi Mamá by Vera B. Williams!
Maria Olivia Espinola
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual
My favorite childhood song is “Naranja Dulce”!
Christina Espinoza
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist, Home Visitor
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle!
Laura Flores
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book series is Clifford The Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell!
Maria Galicia
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson!
Lesly Gomez
Teacher’s Aide
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow!
Esbeyda Jimenez
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual
My favorite childhood activities were finger painting and making cloud dough!
Erika Martinez
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual
My favorite activities as a child were painting on easel, dancing, and listening to music!
Yvette Martinez
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg!
Blanca Morales
Early Childhood Coordinator
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is The Little Red Hen by Lucinda McQueen!
Melissa Munoz
Teacher’s Aide
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss!
Shaylee Quezada
Teacher’s Aide
My favorite childhood book is The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister!
Veronica Reynoso
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual
My favorite childhood lullaby is “Los Pollitos Dicen Pio Pio” by Musica Infantil!
Melissa Rodriguez
Teacher’s Aide
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff!
Marilyn Rincon
Care Coordinator
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is La Oruga Muy Hambrienta/The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle!
Brenda Sanchez
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is Children Just Like Me by Anabel Kindersley!
Margarita Valadez
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is Snuggle Puppy, A Little Love Song by Sandra Boynton!
Chelsea Ventura
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual (Tagalog)
My favorite childhood book is The Monkey and the Turtle by Jose P. Rizal!
Carmen Victoria
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff!
Leslie Zarate
Early Childhood Family Support Specialist
Bilingual
My favorite childhood book is Love You Forever by Robert Munsh!