Board of Directors
The Larkfield Resilience Fund is managed by a 7 member Board of Directors who are all members of the community that lost their homes in the Tubbs Fire.
Shawn & Christine Ratliff
President & Secretary
Shawn and Christine were driven by a strong sense of community when they founded Larkfield Resilience Fund. They were originally drawn to the mature tree-lined streets and established neighborhood of Larkfield Estates when they were looking for a place to call home. Since moving there in 2012 they have welcomed home 2 daughters, Madeline and Elowen and shared countless memories while undertaking a complete home remodel.
Shawn and Christine had over 25 years combined experience in the medical field before taking ownership of a small family business in Calistoga in 2011. They aim to use their desire to help people and their knowledge of business management to lead the community in reestablishing the trees and neighborhoods to their pre-fire glory. The Ratliffs will be rebuilding their family home in Larkfield Estates and are anxious to break ground in spring of 2019.
Brad Sherwood
Vice President
Brad and his family have resided in Larkfield Estates since 2013. Professionally, Brad manages the community and government affairs division at Sonoma Water, formerly known as the Sonoma County Water Agency. As a community advocate, Brad serves as a trustee on the Mark West Union School District Board of Trustees and is a member of the Mark West Citizen Advisory Council. Brad brings his public policy, communications and government relations experience to the Board of Directors of the Larkfield Resilience Fund.
Haley Skerrett
Director
As an involved member of her community, Haley jumped right in after the fires to help her neighborhood rebuild. Along with a handful of others, Haley joined James Gore(4th District County Supervisor) and his team for weekly Block Captain meetings to address concerns from neighbors and get direct answers.
Haley has been involved in various committees over the years such as a founding member of the Patient Advisory Committee for Kaiser Permanente, John B. Riebli PTA, Pacific Union Community Fund. Haley joined the Larkfield Resilience Fund with a passion to help her community through fundraising to replace trees lost in the Tubbs Fire in 2017.
Haley was raised in Bishop, CA and graduated from Cal Poly SLO with a degree in Business Finance. She has been a local real estate agent in Sonoma County for the last 13 years. Her husband and 2 young boys can't wait to move home once their home is rebuilt in early 2019.
Lisa Newman
Director
Lifelong Sonoma County Resident, Lisa Newman was raised in the hills surrounding Larkfield. Lisa and her husband Aaron purchased their home in Larkfield Estates in 2011. With two young boys, they desired a neighborhood with simple charm and strong community. The Newman family has begun their rebuild and excitedly awaits their return home.
Lisa spent ten years in the auto industry and became a stay at home mom when she and Aaron welcomed their first son in 2009. Lisa also runs her small business from their home. She enjoys the flexibility her professional and home life lend to her community involvement. As her children became school-aged, Lisa became actively involved in those communities. She served as President and Vice President on the Board of Directors of Franklin Park Cooperative Preschool. Currently, Lisa sits on the Membership Committee of the John B. Riebli PTA, and volunteers weekly at the school. Lisa is excited about the opportunity to serve the Larkfield/Wikiup community through the Larkfield Resilience Fund.
Katrina Lassen
Director
Katrina Lassen was born and raised in Sonoma County and always knew it was where she wanted to raise a family someday. In 2006, she met her husband Danny, who thankfully shared that same desire. In 2012 they moved into his childhood home in Larkfield Estates with their two children, Kaiden and Makenna.
Katrina has worked in the auto industry for the last 15 years specializing in finance. She has a passion for helping others, so when the offer to join the Larkfield Resilience Fund board was presented, she quickly jumped at the opportunity to help the community she loves.
Katrina contributes a positive spirit, creativity and her sense of humor to her team. She also brings a strong desire to make Larkfield even better than it was before, for her kids and the future generations.
Gena Jacob
Director
Gena and her wife, Sheri were drawn to the beautiful small community of Larkfield when they purchased their home with their daughter, Ashley in 1999. The local school district was a huge priority and the education Ashley received did not disappoint. It has prepared her for college where she pursues her dreams as a Marine Biologist. As Gena and Sheri adjusted to being empty nesters in 2017 the unthinkable Tubbs Fire incinerated their beautiful family home and the community they cherished for 18 years. They knew immediately they would rebuild so they secured a builder the very next day. However, Gena was concerned about the impact and age of their 50+ year old septic system and she started the mission to help her community build back better, stronger, more sustainable. Her main priority was to make sewer services available to the rebuilding community of Larkfield Estates. Gena was nominated as neighborhood sewer block captain where she collaborated with the Sonoma County Water Agency, Board of Supervisors, Supervisor James Gore, block captains and homeowners on the details of the project. The sewer plan encountered many obstacles and negative feedback, but Gena continued to pursue a win-win project for everyone which included voluntary homeowner connection and financing options. The Larkfield Estates sewer project was completed in 2020 and Gena says “it was a privilege to be a part of this initiative.”
Gena has been in the Mortgage Banking profession for 30+ years educating people on the importance of building wealth through homeownership and the commitment it takes to protect that investment. From 2010-2014 she had a once in a lifetime opportunity to be the Senior Marketing Director opening the very first LGBTQ & Ally Retirement Community in Santa Rosa, CA. She commented “it was an honor to serve, represent, support and to give back to the Gen Silent LGBTQ seniors as they were the unseen trailblazers that are still a part of my life.”