BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Amy brings a rare blend of strategic leadership, public service experience, and maker-driven care to her role as Board Chair of Sierra Care Collaborative. Now living in Gardnerville and working across the Sierra–Tahoe Region, her leadership is shaped by decades of engagement at the intersection of policy, philanthropy, and community response -- particularly in moments when timely, thoughtful support can make a meaningful difference.

With over two decades of experience working in and around California’s State Capitol and the state’s nonprofit and public-interest sectors, Amy has dedicated her career to advancing mission-driven initiatives, strengthening organizational capacity, and securing resources for causes rooted in service, resilience, and the public good. 

Her background spans public policy, communications, fund development, and the design and management of mission-driven programming, bringing both strategic insight and practical execution to the Collaborative’s leadership. For more than 20 years, she served as Legislative Director for California Professional Firefighters, and later as Director of Development for the California Fire Foundation, where her work focused on institutional giving, disaster assistance, community resiliency, and securing resources to support both immediate and long-term recovery efforts.

As Board Chair, Amy provides strategic direction and governance leadership, supporting fiduciary oversight, organizational accountability, and alignment between the Collaborative’s mission, programs, and long-term sustainability.

In 2019, Amy joined Howard | Impact as a principal consultant, partnering with her sister and fellow Board member, Sarah Howard, to provide fund development, grant management, and strategic advisory services to mission-driven organizations. In 2024, she launched 395 Naturals as an extension of a decade-long maker practice rooted in care for friends, family, and neighbors. What began as small-batch, handcrafted self-care products evolved into a values-driven model now fully housed within Sierra Care Collaborative -- pairing thoughtfully made essentials with responsive programming that supports individuals and families during and after crisis.

Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from California State University, Sacramento.

Sarah serves as Secretary–Treasurer of Sierra Care Collaborative, bringing more than two decades of nonprofit leadership in operations, budgeting, fundraising, and financial stewardship.

She has been a driving force behind mission-focused organizations advancing equity, resilience, and community care, and she founded Howard | Impact, a consulting firm that partners with national and local nonprofits to strengthen strategy, philanthropy, and impact. Her work emphasizes responsible governance and values-aligned resource management -- ensuring programs are both impactful and sustainable.

Her recent professional experience includes serving as Director of Philanthropy for the California Fire Foundation and Director of Administration for the Asset Funders Network, where she provided leadership across applied research, donor cultivation, fundraising, program design, and grantmaking. She has also contributed as an editor on multiple publications, including the Wildfire Needs Assessment Brief, and supported fundraising and operations efforts for MomsRising.

A veteran of the United States Army, Sarah served as a Medic -- an experience that continues to inform her deep commitment to care, service, and trauma-informed approaches to community support.

In addition to her nonprofit leadership, Sarah is a maker and ceramic artist, grounding her work in creative practice and the belief that thoughtfully made objects can foster connection, reflection, and healing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in counseling psychology with a specialization in art therapy.

Sarah lives in Santa Barbara, California, where her work continues to bridge creativity, compassion, and community-centered service.

Jenine brings a deep commitment to community service and long-standing professional experience to her role on the Board of Directors of Sierra Care Collaborative. 

Raised in Sacramento, she has spent decades building relationships, navigating complex needs, and supporting individuals and families through her work as a full-time Realtor since 1996.

Jenine has a strong history of community involvement, including volunteer service with Ronald McDonald House. Her dedication to giving back reflects a shared belief in care rooted in presence, reliability, and compassion.

With personal and professional ties to South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County -- one of Sierra Care Collaborative’s core service areas -- Jenine brings valuable regional insight and a strong sense of place to the organization’s work. She is especially drawn to efforts that support families, stability, and community resilience during times of need.

Jenine is married to her husband, Ron, and is a proud mother to her son, Caden. She enjoys travel, the arts, and cheering on her son at sporting events -- grounding influences that reinforce her appreciation for connection, balance, and community.

Professional affiliation: GUIDE Real Estate

Maryliz brings creativity, care, and steady leadership to her role on the Board of Directors of Sierra Care Collaborative. An artist and writer -- and the devoted mother of five -- her life and work reflect a thoughtful balance of imagination, discipline, and deep commitment to community.

A longtime business owner now living and working in Gardnerville, Maryliz has spent more than 35 years applying her strengths as an administrator and organizer across both for-profit and nonprofit settings. Her work supports a wide range of missions, from creative enterprises to community-centered initiatives, and is grounded in clarity, reliability, and thoughtful execution.

With ties across the Tahoe Region -- including Douglas and Washoe Counties and Carson City in Nevada, and El Dorado and Alpine Counties in California, a primary area of the Collaborative’s service footprint -- Maryliz offers a grounded perspective shaped by local connections and regional relationships.

She approaches leadership with heart and intention, weaving her artistic perspective together with strong organizational skills to help ensure care is delivered in ways that are both effective and deeply human.

Professional affiliation: Artworks 42

Steve brings hands-on operational expertise, steady leadership, and a strong commitment to safety and reliability to his role on the Board of Directors of Sierra Care Collaborative. With a career grounded in commercial construction, facilities maintenance, and logistics, he offers a practical, solutions-oriented perspective shaped by service, accountability, and real-world experience.

Over the course of his career, Steve has supervised crews and led more than 100 commercial and industrial projects from initiation through completion. His work has included managing budgets and schedules, optimizing workflows, coordinating logistics, and ensuring quality control across complex job sites. He is known for his ability to troubleshoot challenges in dynamic environments, adapt quickly to changing priorities, and deliver results efficiently and within scope.

Steve has extensive experience supporting critical infrastructure and operations for government, public-sector, educational, healthcare, and corporate clients, including federal and state agencies, universities, and industrial facilities. His background includes coordinating maintenance and repairs, overseeing equipment operation and material transport, and responding to urgent, time-sensitive needs -- experience that directly informs his thoughtful stewardship and operational insight for the Collaborative.

A strong advocate for workplace safety and preparedness, Steve is OSHA-10 certified, CPR/AED trained, and has advanced technical training in carpentry and structural welding. His approach emphasizes compliance, preparedness, and care for the people and communities served.

Most recently, Steve co-managed 395 Naturals alongside fellow Board member Amy Howard, his spouse, helping guide a small-batch, maker-led operation through a period of significant growth while maintaining a strong focus on craftsmanship, quality, and responsiveness. This experience reinforces Sierra Care Collaborative’s emphasis on integrity, follow-through, and dependable care -- particularly in moments of heightened need.

Just prior to his work with 395 Naturals, Steve built a strong foundation as a finish carpenter and millworker, contributing to a range of commercial projects across the region, including Edgewood Tahoe’s Golf Pro Shop and Brooks’ Bar, as well as projects at Reno’s Atlantis and Silver Legacy Casinos.

Laurie brings more than three decades of legislative and public policy experience to her role on the Board of Directors of Sierra Care Collaborative. Her career reflects a deep commitment to advancing systems that support community well-being, public service, and access to essential resources.

Laurie began her career in Sacramento as a legislative staffer and has since worked across a wide range of policy and advocacy roles, including serving as Deputy Director of Governmental Affairs for a statewide healthcare association, where she advocated on behalf of California’s community clinics, health centers, and the patients they serve. She has also represented multiple California counties as a lobbyist and supported local government finance initiatives through her work with the California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors.

Her experience includes serving as a Legislative Analyst for Platinum Advisors, where she supported more than 60 clients, and as Legislative Director for members of legislative leadership, overseeing the staffing of dozens of bills and committees focused on local government, agriculture, and utilities. Over more than a decade with JEA & Associates, Laurie helped secure significant budget appropriations and advance successful legislative and budget proposals addressing priority community needs.

Today, Laurie is President of her own firm, continuing to shape local government policy across California, with a focus on protecting and strengthening the social safety net, including social services and the healthcare workforce that communities rely on most. 

She holds a Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Chico, and brings strategic insight, policy expertise, and a steady commitment to public good to the Collaborative’s board.
 

Professional affiliation: LJ Consulting & Advocacy