Board of Directors
Guided by Compassion and Commitment
Our Board of Directors brings together a dedicated group of leaders who share a deep belief in the mission of Partnership for Children. With diverse expertise and a shared heart for service, they help guide our vision, strengthen our impact, and ensure we remain focused on what matters most — the children and families we serve.
Cori Gerlach, President
Cori was a volunteer champion for CHPCC for several years and was pleased to join the board in 2014 and in 2016 transitioned to remain on the board of the newly independent Partnership for Children organization. Cori is passionate about end of life care having witnessed her grandmother’s passing as a young adult and one of eight female relatives surrounding her bed with song while she took her last breath. Cori’s exposure to children’s hospice came as a member of a playgroup formed when her second daughter was born in 2000. One of the babies in the group was diagnosed with a terminal illness at two months old. The group of mothers rallied for the family and provided much needed support and care over six months and to this day all remain especially tight and connected over the experience.
Cori Gerlach is a California native born and raised in Southern California moving to Santa Cruz in 1985 to attend UC Santa Cruz where she received her BA in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. After completion of college, she worked for a couple years as a Criminalist with the San Francisco Police Department Crime Lab and enjoyed the challenge and opportunity to collaborate with all departments and defend lab results with in-court testimony. In 1992-1993, Cori spent a year traveling around the world via bicycle riding over 10,000 miles with her boyfriend Matthew, now her husband of over twenty years. All this time spent together living on the same corner a block from the beach in Santa Cruz ended up being the perfect location to raise their two daughters.
Cori became interested in small business accounting and management in 1994 when she and Matthew wrote a business plan to open a small microbrewery. The venture did not work out, but Cori learned much about starting a business, processing payroll and producing financial reports. Cori has spent the last 21 years working in accounting positions for various businesses. Since June 2016, she has worked exclusively as an independent consultant, most recently focused on Venture Capital and early stage start-ups.
Tim Louis, Treasurer
Tim is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Community Human Services helping the agency provide quality substance use disorder, mental health and homelessness services to residents across Monterey County. Tim brings over 25 years’ professional experience in finance and accounting, including eight years as the Director of Finance at Build Change, an international nonprofit based out of Denver. Prior to that, Tim worked for 10 years as a financial consultant for Navigant Consulting, three years at Technology Finance Partners, and five years at Verizon Business, all in San Francisco. Originally from the Midwest, Tim received his undergraduate degree from Miami University in Ohio and his MBA from the University of Chicago.
Everett Sivils, Secretary
Everett Sivils is a Behavior Specialist in the Special Education Department for Monterey County Office of Education. In the past 24 years he has worked with students with severely disabling conditions from age five to age twenty and has assisted in the implementation of functional academic, social, communication, vocational and life skills for students with cognitive impairment, orthopedic impairment, visual impairment, hearing impairment, disorders of language and speech, emotional disturbance and autism.
Everett is a certified instructor of the Handle With Care Behavior Management System. He is a cadre member with the Positive Environment Network of Trainers (PENT) through the California Department of Education and Diagnostic Center. He is also pursuing a Bachelor of Liberal Studies Degree with an emphasis in Culture and Media Studies.
Everett is an active member of the California School Employees Association and is the chapter’s 2nd Vice-President. He serves on the board of directors for the Partnership for Children and is the chairman of the Monterey County Community Action Partnership. He is an active member in the Monterey Peninsula Rotary Club.
Everett is a veteran of the United States Army. He lives in Salinas, California with his wife. When not working Everett likes to read, ride motorcycles and most of all, spend time with his family and pets.
Angela Chesnut, Board Member
Angela has lived in the community for over 20 years, and has served most recently as a prolific fundraiser and community organizer for a myriad of non-profit organizations, helping most notably with the Tannery Arts Center, Save our Shores, and the Museum of Art and History (MAH). Angela also has an extensive public sector history serving with the Department of Justice combating human trafficking in Washington, DC and the mid-Atlantic as well as ensuring trust and safety for victims of cybercrime at eBay, Inc. in Silicon Valley. She was able to further her collaborative work amongst the public and private sectors in our community by serving on Supervisor Leopold’s staff in the First Supervisorial District. Angela is currently the Chief Development Officer at Janus of Santa Cruz.
Dr. Donna Smith, Board Member
Dr. Donna Smith serves Monterey County schools and communities as the Director of Program Integration and Support and Program Coordinator for the Homeless Children and Youth Services Program. She brings decades of experience in education, having begun her career as an elementary school teacher in the Bay Area and continuing her work across Monterey County since 1994 as a teacher, principal, and district administrator. Her leadership has included new teacher programs, school safety, special education, and special projects.
Dr. Smith holds a Master’s Degree and Administrative Credential from San Francisco State University and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne. She is deeply passionate about helping children and youth discover their voice, purpose, and joy, while supporting schools and organizations in creating environments where every child can thrive. She values strong collaboration with community partners and works to build meaningful connections between families, organizations, and schools to ensure comprehensive support for children and youth.
Outside of her professional work, Dr. Smith is the proud biological mother of two children and stepmother to three. She has a strong passion for environmental stewardship and animal welfare, and she enjoys exploring new places—interests that further inform her commitment to building a more compassionate and connected community.