Campaign for a New TKP Kitchen!

Teen Kitchen Project logo with teal cooking pot and orange heart-shaped steam.

Our Board of Directors

Dena Loijos-Edwards, Board President

Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, Santa Cruz Community Health

Dena Loijos, MPH, serves as a dedicated board president of the Teen Kitchen Project (TKP), bringing over three decades of public health experience to support the organization’s vital mission of “building healthier, more connected communities by engaging teens and providing nourishing food to individuals living with serious illnesses.”
 
As a long-time Santa Cruz resident and public health advocate, Dena‘s involvement with TKP stems from her deep-rooted commitment to community wellness and her belief in the transformative power of intergenerational engagement. Her extensive background in health education, prevention programs, and health equity initiatives provides valuable insights that help guide TKP’s strategic direction and program development.
 
In her role on the TKP board, Dena leverages her expertise as the Chief Strategy and Impact Officer at Santa Cruz Community Health (SCCH) to enhance the organization’s effectiveness and reach. Her understanding of social determinants of health and experience in addressing health disparities in Santa Cruz County contributes significantly to TKP’s efforts to support both teens and individuals facing serious illnesses.
 
Dena‘s passion for youth empowerment and nutrition education aligns perfectly with TKP’s innovative approach. She actively supports the organization’s dual focus on engaging teens in meaningful community service while simultaneously addressing the nutritional needs of vulnerable community members.
 
As a board member, Dena is committed to expanding TKP’s impact, fostering partnerships within the community, and ensuring that the organization continues to meet the evolving needs of both the teens it serves and the individuals who receive nourishing meals. Her vision for a healthier, more connected Santa Cruz drives her dedication to TKP’s mission and her ongoing efforts to strengthen the organization’s role in the community.

Wendy Jacoby, Treasurer

Risk Management Specialist, Retired

For the past 12 years Wendy has devoted her time to a number of nonprofit organizations as a volunteer and as a board member. She has held positions as Board Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.  Prior to that she spent 30 years as an account executive for a major insurance broker managing insurance and risk finance programs for Fortune 1000 companies.  
 
 
Wendy uses her knowledge of the nonprofit sector to assist with organization structure, management, finance, and board development.  She first contacted TKP in March 2020 to volunteer in the kitchen.  With her love of teenagers and cooking, it would be a good fit.  However, the pandemic prevented that opportunity so instead she has enjoyed being Delivery Angel for the past 4 ½ years.  In  her spare time she enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

Lisa Krigsman, Secretary

Founder & CEO, Start Here

Research Biologist, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary/Southwest Fisheries Science Center (NMFS)

Lisa is the founder of Start Here, a photo management and professional organizing company, and a federal fisheries biologist. She obtained her bachelor’s in marine biology at U.C. Santa Cruz and her masters from San Francisco State University. Her educational aspirations are what brought Lisa to Santa Cruz in 1994 and her connection to the community is what keeps her here.

As an active Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotarian, Lisa has supported Teen Kitchen Project in various ways, including a 3-day, 200 mile bike ride. Lisa has also assisted other non-profit organizations achieve their fundraising goals through her communication and development skills. When she is not counting fish, deep-sea corals, and sponges, she is on the beach walking with her dogs and husband. Lisa is an avid reader, bike rider, runner, and hiker.

Brenda Ávila, Director

Human Resources Director, Santa Cruz Community Health

Brenda’s unwavering commitment to empowering underserved communities has been the driving force behind her career in the nonprofit sector. Brenda serves as the Human Resources Director at Santa Cruz Community Health, a prominent nonprofit organization committed to providing high-quality, affordable, and comprehensive healthcare services. In her role, Brenda spearheads the organization’s benefits administration initiatives, champions staff rewards and recognition programs, and promotes employee wellness initiatives. She also provides oversight for all other HR processes, systems, and services within the department.

Brenda is a trailblazing first-generation Latina college graduate who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz and a Master of Business Administration from Cal State Monterey Bay. Her journey reflects not only her personal achievements but also her deep commitment to making a positive impact within the nonprofit healthcare sector and her dedication to fostering inclusivity and excellence in her organization’s workforce.

Tim Carl, Director

The Carl Group, Retired

Tim graduated from UCSB with a double major in History and Political Science.  He received a Masters degree in History from UCLA.  He also has earned Community College and Secondary School teaching credentials.
 
Tim began his teaching career in San Jose at Santa Teresa High School, where he taught US History and coached boys and girls basketball.  He also taught US History and Government at Evergreen Valley College and San Jose City College. He also taught graduate classes in Technical Writing at the College of Notre Dame in Belmont.
 
His teaching career spanned 11 years.  Upon leaving teaching Tim embarked on a career in Technical Training and Writing in Silicon Valley.  He started The Carl Group, Inc., a technical documentation and training company, in 1985.  His clients included Hewlett Packard, Apple, Intel, Sun Microsystems, SONY and other major technology companies.  Tim also served as President of the Society for Technical Documentation, a professional non-profit, for 2 years.
 
Upon moving to Santa Cruz in 1998, he began volunteer work for Second Harvest Food Bank where he served on the Capital Campaign Committee, the Board of Directors, the Emeritus Board, and the Donor Relations Board from 2003 to 2024.
 
Tim has always believed that everyone has a right to have access to nutritious food.  Much to the  delight of his wife Joan, he is an avid cook.  Teen Kitchen is an exciting opportunity for Tim to use his experience with Teens, Non-profits, and Food.

Len Finocchio, Director

Health Policy Consultant

Len has been dedicated to improving the community health and the health care safety net for over 25 years. He has held positions at UC San Francisco, Children Now, Mathematica Policy Research and Manatt Health. He also served as the associate director of the Medi-Cal program as an appointee of Governor Jerry Brown during the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. He currently works as an independent consultant on health policy research and consulting projects.

Len has been in love with food and cooking since eating street food while living in Bangkok as a teenager. Before his health policy career, Len cooked for a living in New York and Berkeley. He spends a lot of time cooking with his son and trying to make the perfect risotto!

Len noticed the Teen Kitchen Project when he first moved to Santa Cruz several years ago and is happy to be making a contribution to the community as a board member. Len received a bachelor’s degree from UC Davis, a master’s of public health from UCLA, and a Doctor Public Health degree the University of Michigan.

Kathleen McCarthy, Director

Principal and Founder, Kathleen McCarthy Consulting

Kathleen is the founder of an independent consulting practice that partners with social sector organizations dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of underserved communities.  With over 20 years of experience in various health sectors, including Medi-Cal Managed Care and philanthropy, Kathleen provides strategy development, program development, and project management services to non-profits, foundations, Medi-Cal managed care plans, and other public agencies.

In her prior role at the Central California Alliance for Health, Kathleen was introduced to the impactful work of Teen Kitchen Project (TKP). Kathleen was excited to join the TKP Board to help advance its important mission.

Kathleen holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration, with an emphasis in Non-Profit Administration from San Francisco State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Community Studies from the University of California – Santa Cruz.  Kathleen lives with her husband and two teenagers in Santa Cruz, where she enjoys running and hiking on local trails and beaches.

Matt Payne, Director

 

Matt Payne brings over a decade of leadership in strategic planning and operational oversight to the Teen Kitchen Project. Having served on several nonprofit boards across the Central Coast and Monterey Bay areas, Matt has an established track record of helping community-focused initiatives scale their impact and build sustainable systems.

Matt’s approach to board service is rooted in a commitment to community building and creating resilient infrastructure. He is particularly inspired by the Teen Kitchen Project’s “food as medicine” philosophy and its dual mission of providing critical nutrition to those in need while empowering local youth with lifelong skills.

An alumnus of the University of California system with a background in information systems and physical sciences, Matt applies an analytical, curiosity-driven mindset to complex community challenges. In his free time, he is an avid lifelong learner who enjoys intellectual deep-dives into a wide range of niche topics—from nutritional science and engineering to behavioral, societal, and economic disciplines.

A dedicated dog parent and enthusiast of strategic board games, Matt travels frequently for exploration. He prioritizes opportunities to study regional geological history and learn about the unique local cultures and traditions of the places he visits.

Learn more about joining our Board of Directors 

Download Information on Roles and Responsibilities of TKP Board Members
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