The Alchemist Team
The work of Alchemist CDC — connecting communities to land, food, and opportunity — is accomplished through the collaboration of many people. Together, our staff, Board of Directors, volunteers, donors, funders, and community partners help to make every neighborhood in the Sacramento region health, equitable, vibrant, and diverse.
Below, you will find more information on our staff and board. If you are interested in joining our staff, you can keep an eye on our job openings and sign up to be notified when new positions are created.
Please note: We do not list every staff member on this page. If you are performing an employment verification, please contact humanresources@alchemistcdc.org
Staff
Executive and Administrative
The members of the Executive and Administrative department work across all programs and departments, supporting the important work being accomplished by both the Inclusive Economic Development and Food Access departments.
Sam Greenlee, Chief Executive Officer, He/Him/His
Sam joined the Alchemist team in May 2020, after six years in the professional food safety industry and several years in community organizing as a co-founder of the Oak Park Fix-it Cafe. He serves as a member of the California Jobs First (formerly CERF) – Capital Region Leadership Council and as a Steering Committee member for the California Alliance of Farmers’ Markets and the Sacramento Food Policy Council. Sam is passionate about building strong equitable communities where our most vulnerable neighbors can flourish. He is a resident of the Oak Park neighborhood and can be found spending his free time gardening, taking evening walks with his spouse, and enjoying time with his children.
Davida Douglas, Chief Compliance Officer, She/Her/Hers
Davida was Alchemist’s first employee. She manages the day-to-day operations of the organization, including HR, bookkeeping, contracts and compliance, and budgets/financials, as well as providing assistance to Program Managers for improving program efficiencies and excellence. She has over 20 years of experience working in the non-profit sector, including implementing healthy food access projects in the Sacramento region for 11 years. Additional experience includes three years with a private community outreach firm, and seven years of business management experience. She is originally from rural Missouri, and has been a Sacramento resident for over two decades, currently residing in the Oak Park neighborhood where many of Alchemist CDC’s Neighborhood Empowerment projects are focused. When not working, Davida enjoys teaching English as a foreign language, gardening, bird watching and baking.
Shannin Stein, Director of Advancement, She/Her/Hers
Shannin’s work with Alchemist includes serving as the Construction Project Manager for the Oak Park Art Garden and as Alchemist’s lead manager and coordinator on the construction of the Alchemist Public Market. She is a proud, fourth-generation Sacramentan. Her love for this region and passion for food led to a successful, 20-year career in restaurant and agricultural management and activism. After opening Empress Tavern in 2015, Shannin decided to turn her attention to giving back to Sacramento in a more tangible way and joined the team at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento, where she was instrumental in the creation of the organization’s Home Preservation program and neighborhood investment event, Rock the Block. These days, when not working on projects with the team at Alchemist, Shannin can usually be found spending time with her husband, Shannon (yep, you read that right) and her rescue Boxers, Maz and Elsbeth, or slowly turning her once finely-landscaped suburban yard into an edible paradise.
Ginger Brammer, Bookkeeper
In joining the Alchemist team, Ginger brings over 25 years of accounting experience with a passion to help others with an entrepreneurial spirit successfully start their own business. Growing up in rural Placer County, gardening and raising livestock was a way of life. Today happiness is found by searching for adventure, fishing, and enjoying time with family and friends.
Monica Figuerosa, HR Coordinator, She/They
Monica joined our team at the tail end of 2024, bringing thirteen years of diverse professional experience to their role as HR coordinator. They worked as an HR generalist and recruiter prior to joining Alchemist, and hold a certificate in Human Resource Management from UC Davis and an aPHR certification from the HR Certification Institute. Monica believes food is a cornerstone of community and culturally-significant; sentiments deeply rooted in their upbringing as a first-generation Filipino-American. To Monica, Alchemist’s mission is close to the heart and feels like a natural extension of their heritage and traditions. They spend most of their off-time bustling around in their home bakery, making bread and baked goods to sell at the Rancho Cordova Certified Farmers’ market, practicing yoga or meditation, volunteering, or relaxing with their spouse and their dogs, Ilu and Freddy.
Wally Sheahan Harmon, Administrative Assistant, He/Him/His
In his role as Administrative Assistant, Wally provides organizational support to the team at Alchemist and its many programs. As a Sacramento native and UC Davis graduate with a BA in Political Science, he has a lifelong connection to the region that drives his commitment to improving it. Outside of work, Wally can usually be found hanging out at McKinley Park or somewhere along the American River.
Alexia (Lexi) Dietrich, Accounts Payable Specialist
Lexi is Alchemist CDC’s Accounts Payable Specialist, where she applies her strong attention to detail and passion for financial accuracy to support the organization’s mission. With extensive experience in preparing financial statements, processing payments, and maintaining compliant financial records, she brings both technical skill and dedication to her role. Outside of work, she is a devoted animal lover and advocate, always eager to support causes that care for furry friends and the communities they live in.
Inclusive Economic Development
Inclusive economic development “contributes to productive and decent employment and income-generating activities for all by creating employment and livelihoods, strengthening capacity and supporting local entrepreneurship, investing in the local economy and providing quality tourism that benefits local communities.” (UNESCO World Heritage Convention)
Alchemist CDC’s Inclusive Economic Development department contributes to this work in the greater Sacramento region primarily through the Alchemist Kitchen food entrepreneurship program. This program will soon be joined by Alchemist Public Market and the Alchemist Workforce Academy, both of which are in development to launch in 2026.
Alchemist Kitchen
Jacob Sacks, Alchemist Kitchen Program Manager, He/Him/His
Since beginning at Alchemist CDC in 2016, Jacob has played a pivotal role bringing the Alchemist Kitchen project from concept to reality. As program manager, he co-facilitates the Alchemist Microenterprise Academy program and works with businesses in the Incubator Program. Jacob loves to work with entrepreneurs, see their creative business concepts and eat their delicious creations. Outside of work, Jacob is passionate about Red Sox baseball, cooking and travel.
Damorio Rayford, Commercial Kitchen Coordinator
Damorio joins Alchemist with over 20 years of experience in production kitchens. Damorio is a Chef, Certified Dietary Manager, and has a degree in Hospitality Management/Culinary Arts from American River College. A foodie at heart, Damorio enjoys travel, music, art and meeting new people. When he’s not in the Alchemist Kitchen, Damorio can be found tending to his front yard garden, spending time with his family/friends or cheering on his favorite football team, the Oakland (Las Vegas) Raiders.
Julie Liebenbaum, Alchemist Kitchen Program Coordinator
Julie joins Alchemist with more than 30 years of diverse food industry experience. Most recently she spent over 18 years running her own restaurant in rural Mendocino County, which she grew from a stand at a local farmers market selling pastry into a successful, seven-day-a-week, brick-and-mortar enterprise. She is thrilled to have found a place at Alchemist where she can work with entrepreneurs in the incubator program and help them navigate the challenges of the food world. Julie is an advocate of food access equality, a passionate DIYer, and self-proclaimed “food nerd” who loves diving deep into all things culinary.
Julie Anne Silva Oliver, Alchemist Kitchen Program Coordinator
Julie Anne comes to Alchemist with 25 years of food industry and nonprofit experience. After several years working in front of house positions, she decided to follow her love of cooking and enrolled in the Hospitality Management/Culinary Arts program at American River College. As a Yuba City farmer’s daughter, she grew up with knowledge and appreciation for local farm fresh produce. This love was reflected in her first business endeavor in Sacramento, a catering business specializing in vegetarian cuisine. Her passion for food access led her to managing the Nutritious Meal Program at Wellspring Women’s Center for 9 years. Her role with Alchemist Kitchen finds her once again in Oak Park with the idea that food is not just sustenance, but also celebration, love, and community.
Food Access
Food Access is a broad term related to the ability of individuals and households in a community to provide themselves with enough nutritious food without compromising other basic needs. The USDA notes that food access is impacted by “travel time to shopping, availability of healthy foods, and food prices. Some people and places, especially those with low income, may face greater barriers in accessing healthy and affordable food retailers, which may negatively affect diet and food security.”
Alchemist CDC’s Food Access work promotes healthy food access by operating farmers’ markets, facilitating the use of CalFresh/EBT benefits at farmers’ markets, providing the Market Match nutrition incentive at local farmers’ markets and farm stands, distributing free groceries to the most vulnerable student households in the Sacramento City Unified School District, and managing community gardens.
Joe Robustelli, Director of Food Access, He/Him/His
Joe joined Alchemist in 2021 with over 25 years of nonprofit experience with the YMCA and several animal welfare organizations where he was responsible for bringing programs to underserved communities. He is also the owner/founder of a small urban nursery in downtown. Joe served as Alchemist’s Neighborhood Empowerment Program Manager through 2024. As the new Director of Food Access, Joe oversees and assists our food access programs including farmers’ market operations, CalFresh access at farmers’ markets, Community Food Connections, community gardens, and more. Outside of work he enjoys gardening, volunteering for Front Street Animal Shelter, and watching sports.
Neighborhood Empowerment
Alejandro Gomez, Community Food Connections Specialist, He/Him/His
Alejandro joins Alchemist to offer wider and nutritional food access to vulnerable families in Sacramento through the Community Food Connections (CFC) program. He is passionate about community development towards food sovereignty, environmental conservation and supporting small and mid size farmers.
After several years of experience in business in the private sector, Alejandro decided to follow his passion by completing an Urban Agroecology academic program in the Bay Area, leading projects that invited students and faculty to enjoy and respect nature, enhancing the compost system at the student farm to strengthen the offer of nutritional food for the community and to green the waste management practices on campus.
He is an urban biker. He loves discovering culturally relevant foods, languages, green spaces in urban areas and landscapes while hiking.
CalFresh at Farmers’ Markets
Alma Wilcox, CalFresh at Farmers’ Markets Program Manager, She/Her/Hers
In joining the Alchemist team, Alma brings over 4 years of diverse experience in local food systems and agricultural policy and advocacy as well as 2 years of experience working as a produce vendor in Sacramento, Davis and Bay Area farmers’ markets. Following her completion of a M.S. in Environmental Policy and Management from UC Davis, she is thrilled to continue advocating for community food accessibility and the success of local farmers’ markets. Alma oversees the CDSS Fruit and Vegetable Pilot project, the People to Produce accessibility project, College Corps Fellowships, Market Match partnerships with farmers’ markets and farmstands in the region, and 8 CalFresh Access booths at Sacramento County farmers’ markets. Outside of work Alma enjoys music, hiking, gardening and spending time with her friends, family and Leo, her cat.
Adriana, CalFresh at Farmers’ Markets Program Assistant
Adriana is a California State University of Chico alumni with a Bachelors of Science in Public Health. She has over 5 years of involvement in social movements including student justice organizations and mutual aid efforts with Chico and Sacramento communities. She enjoys reconnecting to her roots and ancestry through herbal medicine, polyculture farming, and metalsmithing. Her shared passion for food sovereignty, sustainability, and autonomy fuels her creatively along with her love for hanging with nature and being a forever student of life. She is excited to work alongside farmers and create a welcoming environment for Calfresh recipients to find joy in participating in their local food system with the perk of being able to buy the best tasting fruits and vegetables in Northern California.
Farmers’ Market Operations
Danielle, Florin Certified Farmers’ Market Manager
Danielle has been a part of the local Certified Farmers’ Markets for most of her life. She is committed to the cause of supporting hardworking farmers as they provide affordable California-grown food to the community. In her role with Alchemist, Danielle is the lead market manager for the Florin Certified Farmers’ Market in south Sacramento. Her other interests include photography and hiking. If you see Danielle at the Florin Certified Farmers’ Market be sure to stop by and have a chat. She loves talking about food and helping to inform customers about what’s in season and how the market is going.
Hope, Rancho Cordova Certified Farmers’ Market Manager, She/Her/Hers
Hope has worked in the world of farmer’s markets for nearly a decade, with experience ranging from market management to selling produce as a vendor. Now with Alchemist, Hope is the market manager for the Rancho Cordova Certified Farmers’ Market in Rancho Cordova and the assistant manager for the forthcoming Meadowview Certified Farmers’ Market. She is actively pursuing a degree in Agricultural Business at Colorado State University Online. Hope loves food and small-scale farms and is passionate about bringing the community together. Her hobbies include watching live sports and traveling to other states and cities and visiting their local farmer’s markets.
Saoirse, Meadowview Certified Farmers’ Market Manager, She/Her/Hers
Saoirse (pronounced “sear-sha”) joins Alchemist with a rich background in the food industry, from fine dining service to managing farmers’ markets and leading food equity programs. Raised on a small farm in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, she has a deep appreciation for the time, intention, and labor that goes into growing food. She is particularly passionate about farmers’ markets and their power to serve diverse community needs—connecting people, supporting local economies, improving health, and increasing food access. Saoirse looks forward to bringing her community-building skills and Spanish language experience to the Meadowview Certified Farmers’ Market. When she’s not at work, you can find Saoirse at the climbing gym, in her garden, adventuring outdoors with her dog, cooking, writing, or working on film photography projects.
Board of Directors
,Sarah Dillon, President, She/Her/Hers
Sarah is a non-profit consultant and former Interim Executive Director for Alchemist CDC. She has previously worked in development, nonprofit marketing, and field organizing for political campaigns. Holding a B.A. in Urban Studies & Planning from UC San Diego and a Masters in Food Systems & Society from Marylhurst University, her passion for health, food justice, and livable urban spaces brought her to Alchemist. She can also be found hiking, doing yoga, painting, at trivia nights, and camping with her second cousins.
Roxana Garcia-Ochoa, Vice President
Roxana is Director of Health Access Programs with the Health Education Council, a public health non-profit organization serving the Greater Sacramento region. She earned both a B.A. in Sociology and a Master of Public Health from the University of California, Davis. Roxana always puts others first both personally and professionally in her line of work that aims to identify the root causes of inequities faced by our most vulnerable communities. She loves to meet new people, is an avid thrift shopper, enjoys listening to upbeat music and spending time with her two four-legged children.
Matthew Joy, Treasurer
Matthew is the Fair Lending Officer at Tri Counties Bank. Prior to working in banking, Matthew worked with nonprofits, including The International Rescue Committee, focusing on refugee placement and employment in the Sacramento area. In addition to serving Alchemist’s board, he serves on the Board of Trustees with NeighborWorks Sacramento. When not working, Matthew is riding his road bike, camping, playing board games, and visiting the many local playgrounds with his son.
Sneha Chand, She/Her/Hers, Secretary
Sneha works as a Food Access Program Coordinator for Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, facilitating logistics for various SFBFS programs and maintaining community/partner agency relationships. Sneha earned her Bachelors of Science in Public Health, concentrating in Community Health Education, from California State University, Sacramento. She was previously an Alchemist intern and Calfresh Farmers’ Market Associate at the Midtown Market! In her free time, she loves to indulge in life’s simple pleasures: diversifying her palate, reading a good book, and best of all, retail therapy.
Anna Tolle
Anna is an Assistant Planner for the City of Lafayette, CA. Originally from Wisconsin, she holds a B.S. in Community & Nonprofit Leadership, Environmental Studies, and Spanish from UW-Madison. She previously worked at the Center for Land-Based Learning, in food service, and served on the board of Three Gaits, a therapeutic horsemanship organization in Stoughton, WI. In her free time, Anna enjoys hiking, gardening, bicycling, and spending time with her two dogs.
Shawn Mainville, He/Him/His
Shawn is a Staff Services Manager I – CalWORKs Engagement with the California Department of Social Services. He has worked in his time at CDSS with county partners, Community Based Organizations, and advocates to implement policies that increase employment. A Sacramento native, Shawn received a Bachelor of General Studies from Arkansas State University in 1999, and was a member of the 2013 cohort of the Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute, facilitated by the Sacramento Housing Alliance. Shawn lives in Tahoe Park with his daughter, a rabid teen fiction fan, Violette. In his free time he enjoys fishing and riding with the 2nd California Cavalry, a civil war living history group.
Emma Burke, MPA, She/Her
Emma is a Public Outreach Analyst with the City of Sacramento and is a former Alchemist employee and CalFresh policy analyst for the Department of Social Services. Emma started her career with Alchemist in 2017 and managed the CalFresh at Farmers’ Markets program for six years. In this time she grew the program’s scope to include more farmers’ market sites, bring on more CalFresh and Market Match partners, and develop the program’s infrastructure. She was a steering committee member for the California Alliance of Farmers’ Markets, an elected member of CDFA’s Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee, and an active participant in Sacramento’s Food Policy Council. Emma still regularly volunteers at the farmers’ market CalFresh booths and spends her free time hiking with her dog, paddle boarding, and camping.
Todd Aquilina
Todd is the Trust Regional Director for Columbia Trust Company, which is a division of Umpqua Bank. Todd has been committed to helping business owners in Northern California and Nevada for more than 20 years. As the Trust Regional Director for Northern California and Nevada, he provides customized financial solutions designed to grow, preserve and transition wealth for his clients. He supports the communities he serves through several board roles, including past President of The Sacramento Children’s Home, Chairman of The California State Railroad Museum Foundation, and Treasurer of the Sierra Oaks Neighborhood Association. Todd is a graduate of California State University Sacramento and holds a Certified Exit Planning Advisor designation from the Exit Planning Institute.
Peter Weber
Peter is Staff Counsel for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, where he advises on regulatory, legal, and policy matters impacting California’s agricultural community. He brings over 20 years of experience in the food processing industry and is the founder of Potter’s Crackers, a sustainable food company he built and successfully sold. Peter holds a B.S. in Food Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, an MBA from UC Davis, and a J.D. from McGeorge School of Law. He is passionate about advancing food systems that are sustainable, just, and entrepreneurial. In his spare time, Peter enjoys camping and biking the trails around California.