Responsibilities
The board has the responsibility for governing the entire organization, setting policy and monitoring the implementation of that policy.
Board members share responsibilities in the following key areas:
Leadership/Human Resources
- Board membership, which includes recruiting and ensuring that board members are oriented, trained, evaluated and recognized to strengthen board service.
- Selecting and supporting the Executive Director, including reviewing performance regularly and providing on-going assistance as requested by the Executive Director.
- Oversee the establishment of personnel policies which include setting policy regarding salaries, benefits and grievance procedures.
- Ensuring volunteer involvement, which includes setting policy regarding how the organization treats, recognizes and celebrates its volunteers.
- Contribute in-kind services as appropriate.
Strategic Planning
- Set and review the organization’s goals, strategies and actions on an annual basis.
- Plan for the organization’s future, on a long-term and short-term basis.
- Evaluate the organization’s programs and operations on a regular basis.
Financial Management
- Ensure financial accountability of the organization.
- Oversee ongoing process of budget development, approval and review.
- Oversee administration of the organization’s assets.
Fundraising
- Ensure adequate resources to achieve the organization’s mission, and implement the organization’s programs and projects.
- Participate in fundraising activities based on the individual’s skills and background.
- Provide leadership in the development and execution of major fundraising campaigns, including major donor annual campaigns and capital campaigns.
- Annually contribute financially to the trust.
Community Relations
- Ensure that the organization’s programs and services appropriately address community/constituents needs.
- Promote the organization to the general public, serving as a link between the trust, its members and the community at large.
- Partner with other organizations, including activities and occasions when the organization should take part in coalitions, joint fundraising, etc.
Operations
- Ensure that the organization’s administrative systems are adequate and appropriate.
- Ensure that the board’s operations are adequate and appropriate.
- Ensure that the organizational and legal structure is adequate and appropriate.
- Ensure that the organization and its board members meet all applicable legal requirements.
The Board recognizes its ultimate responsibility for all aspects of the organization’s activity, but also chooses to delegate management responsibilities to staff, including program planning and implementation, membership development, proposal writing and administration. The Board retains all responsibility for financial accountability, leadership development and governance.
Jeani Ferrari has lived in the Central Valley of California her entire life. She and her husband John farm peaches, almonds and walnuts on their farmland in Stanislaus and Merced counties. She was a founding member of the Stanislaus Farmland Trust and has served on the Yosemite Fund Council and the Board of the Yosemite Association. Jeani is currently serving on the board of the Farmland Working Group, a non-profit educational organization and the Blueprint Advisory Committee for the Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley. She has been active in her local community of Turlock, having served on the Committee for the Revitalization of the Downtown for the City of Turlock and currently serving on the Advisory Committee for the Carnegie Arts Center Foundation. Jeani and John are active in Legacy Circle at Emanuel Medical Center where Jeani also volunteers.
Ken Oneto resides in Elk Grove where he grows artichokes, cherries, dry beans, tomatoes and grapes on the family farm. He is a graduate of the California Ag Resources Training Program Cart Class #1 and the Ag Leadership Program Class #25. He was a founding member of the Sacramento Valley Ag Land Conservancy, and currently serves as President of the Sacramento County Farm Bureau.
Markus Bokisch is a vineyard owner and manager in the Lodi area. He immigrated to the United States from Europe with his family in 1966, and grew up in New York and California. In 1992, Markus and his wife, Elizabeth, moved to Spain where he worked with two prominent wine industry companies in Catalunya, Raimat, and Junyent. When he returned to the United States, Markus worked as a consultant for Duarte Nursery, Inc., consulting with clients on site analysis, vineyard development, winery negotiations, and wine quality enhancement. In 1997 Markus began Bokisch Ranches, LLC, a vineyard management company. Today, Bokisch Ranches farms approximately 1,500 acres of vineyard. In 2000 Markus began Bokisch Vineyards, a boutique winery focusing exclusively on Spanish varieties. He is also active as a director of several commissions and associations.
Maxwell Norton is a UC Farm Advisor in Merced County. His specialties are tree fruit, winegrapes and land use policy. He is a past president of the Merced County Chamber of Commerce, past president of CA Association of Farm Advisors & Specialists, and past chair of the Merced County Economic Development Task Force. He is a native of Stanislaus County and has lived in Merced County since 1979.
Michael Van Horn resides in Atwater with his wife, Denise. He was raised on a cattle ranch in the Central California Coast area and graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a BS degree in Farm Management. He is employed by Bank of America, as a rural-agribusiness real estate appraisal procurement officer and review appraiser at the national level. Michael is also involved with portfolio risk analysis including economic price forecasting, water studies, etc. He has the Accredited Rural Appraiser (ARA) designation with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, is a member of the Merced County Council and serves as Chairperson of their Technical Committee. Mike’s hobbies include horses and snow skiing.
Monica Bianchi resides in Linden with her daughter Audrey and her husband Ed who is the field operations manager for Craig Custom Agriculture, a custom farming service. She is a marketing and agricultural program director for a pest service company. Prior to her current position, Monica successfully managed a large sales territory for an agricultural chemical distribution company. Monica was born and raised in Marin County and attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo earning both a Bachelors of Science degree in Agricultural Business with a focus in marketing and a second degree in Wine and Viticulture. She is currently President of the San Joaquin Chapter of California Women for Agriculture and a member of Lambda Theta Phi, a philanthropic sorority in Stockton.
Robin Flournoy currently resides in Modesto and was raised in a family cattle and horse breeding business headquartered in Central California. She is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Batchelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business Management and received her MBA with a concentration in Agricultural Finance from Santa Clara University, Institute of Agribusiness. Her career has been in agricultural lending. She currently is a Vice President & Senior Relationship Manager for Bank of the West in their Agribusiness Division; serving ag clients throughout California and Nevada. Robin is a graduate of Class 29 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. She is Past President of the Merced County Chamber of Commerce and of the Fellows Council of the California Agricultural Leadership Alumni. Robin has served on numerous boards and currently serves on the Audit Committee for the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation. Her hobbies include showing working cow horses on a national level, snow skiing, gardening and travel.
Tim Byrd is Associate General Counsel for E. & J. Gallo Winery in his hometown of Modesto, California. He was the founding president of the Stanislaus Farmland Trust, and is a member of Blue Diamond Growers and the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. Tim has served on advisory committees to the US EPA, California Air Resources Board and the San Joaquin Valley Air District, and chaired the Air Quality and Public Policy Committees of the Manufacturers Council of the Central Valley. At the local level, he served as a commissioner of the Stanislaus County Planning Commission, a director of the East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District, a board member and President of the Heart-Ransom School Board, and President of Modesto High School Boosters Club.
