Meet the Team
Meet the dedicated volunteers of YHAA's Board of Directors, and its hard-working team of staff.

"I welcome the opportunity as a Board member to meet community challenges through building strong relationships, leveraging existing resources in new ways, and to support our aging residents as vibrant, thriving, and integrated members of our community."
Chair
Pat Leary
Pat has lived in Yolo County for two decades, most recently serving as a Chief Deputy Director for the California Department of Social Services. Prior to that role, she was the Assistant County Administrator for Yolo County for 6 years. Pat also had the privilege of working in the Legislature as a staff to the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services where aging issues were heard and supported. On a personal level, Pat served as the caregiver for her mother for seven years. Pat understand that the services and supports for this population have not grown commensurately with their increase as a share of the population, and although access to services has improved, for many, help remains out of reach. Innovation, collaboration and creativity are critical at the local level to ensure to meet their current and future needs. Pat welcomes the opportunity to assist as a Board member in meeting those challenges, supporting our aging residents as vibrant, thriving and integrated members of our community.
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Quote coming soon!
Vice Chair
Kelli Villanueva
Kelli is a Davis native (now resides in Winters) and owns WeCare4Yolo, a non-medical in-home care company, as well as WeCare4Yolo SLS which supports adults with disabilities. While attending Davis High School, Kelli realized she wanted to be an entrepreneur and has been working for herself ever since. She attended Woodland Community College and finished her BA at Sacramento State University. She started the company six years ago when the growing requests she received as a private caregiver revealed an unmet need in her community. WeCare4Yolo now serves the elderly community and people recovering from surgery in Davis and the surrounding areas. They provide in-home careservices such as companionship, meal preparation, errands, and personal care. Kelli’s service orientation and dedication to this area is in part inspired by her Uncle Ralph Villanueva, who served Davis as a teacher, coach and counselor for many decades. Shewas drawn to the work of YHAA because of they work they due especially around collaboration. She has been a part of YHAA for the last 6 years.

"YHAA does critical work for seniors in Yolo County that no other organization does. After 30 years of aging and MediCal services at the state level, I'm happy to join the efforts of YHAA and more directly impact my own community."
Board Member
Denise Peach
Denise serves as chair of the YHAA Advocacy Committee and the Development/Fundraising Committee and is playing a key role in the planning of the Davis Adult Day Program and expansion of the Yolo Adult Day Health Center. As the former Chief of the Community-Based Adult Services at the California Department of Aging, Denise developed and implemented legislation and policy focused on the needs of and services for the elderly and disabled adults. Denise was the 2016 recipient of the Senator John Heinz Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Adult Day Services (awarded by the National Adult Day Services Association [NADSA]). Denise is an avid organic gardener and loves to cook for family and friends using local, seasonal ingredients.

“Aging services have been my passion for my entire career. As a social worker, I know well that system change requires advocacy, coordination, and education, and this is exactly what YHAA provides."
Board Member
Dawn Myers
Dawn Myers has been the Program Director of Woodland Healthcare’s Yolo Adult Day Health Center since 1996. Before joining YADHC, Dawn was a Program Manager for the Area 4 Agency on Aging for two years, providing oversight to over 15 social service programs serving older adults. Dawn also serves on the board of the California Association of Adult Day Services after completing her term as statewide Board President. She is an appointee to the CA Dept. of HHS Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders Committee, a 2005 graduate of the Sierra Health Foundation Health Leadership Program, a longtime member of the Yolo County Adult and Aging Commission, and was recognized as the 2011 Woman of the Year.

"As a YHAA Board member, I am learning from hundreds of experts on aging issues while contributing and connection to our aging community.
Board Member
Patti Huston
Patti has lived in Yolo County for 20 years and served the State of California for 40 years in policy and legislative roles for the Department of Social Services and Department of Health Care Services. She served as the Deputy Director for legislation at Social Services for 11 years, overseeing the analysis of hundreds of bills annually affecting programs and policies for aging and disabled populations, families, and children. Since retiring in 2015, Patti has been an active aging participant in the community, immersing herself in educational, creative, and health-centered activities to promote healthy aging. As a board member, Patti seeks to use her energy and experience to engage and enhance the well-being of our growing aging population.

"I am thankful for the opportunity to help the aging population of Yolo County by joining such a great organization."
Board Member
Larry Hiatt
Larry was born and raised in Davis, California and graduated from Sacramento State University with a degree in Business Administration (Accountancy). For the past seven years he has worked at Carbahal & Company in Davis as a Certified Public Accountant. By joining the board of directors for the Yolo Healthy Aging Alliance, Larry hopes to use his accounting and finance background to help the YHAA serve the community as effectively as possible.

I am so happy to return to Yolo Healthy Aging this time as a board member. YHAA provides vital information, programs and services and voice for older adult in Yolo County and I am proud to be a part of its next chapter.
Board Member
Sheila Allen
Dr. Sheila Allen is the Yolo County Supervisor representing District 4. She was elected in 2024 and began serving in January of 2025. She is a nurse with a PhD in Nursing with a focus on public health and public policy. She was the founding Executive Director of Yolo Healthy Aging Alliance serving from its creation in 2010 to 2022. She previously served two terms on the Davis School Board and has chaired and been appointed to a variety of city, county and non-profit boards. She is the proud Mom of 3 grown children and loves being grandma to little boys.
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Quote coming soon!
Board Member
Vicki Vandergriff
Bio coming soon
STAFF

NANCY GIFFORD
Program Director / Case Manager
“I believe in the person-centered care approach to care that respects and values the uniqueness of the individual, and seeks to maintain, even restore, the personhood of individuals through the creation of a psychological, social, and physical care environment that promotes personal worth, social confidence, and hope.”
Nancy Gifford obtained a Gerontology BS with honors from Sacramento State. She worked as a Social Services Coordinator for several years, with responsibilities including annual assessments, care planning, one-on-one counseling, and providing resources for 90-104 residents in independent low-income housing. She also completed an internship with the Medical Social Worker at Yolo County Adult Day Center and volunteered at Eskaton Live Well, Eskaton at Carmichael, and Chateau at Rivers Edge. She was Vice President of the Gerontology Club at Sacramento State, providing Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for low-income residents in the community.

Julie Martin
Senior Advisor / Consultant
"YHAA is plays a critical role in connecting people that provide much needed services to older adults in this area. I am pleased to support our mission and advance our important work.
Julie brings expertise in nonprofit leadership and operations. She holds a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Stanford University and bachelor’s degrees in hydrology and economics from UC Davis. She is also a professional coach and holds an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) Credential from the International Coaching Federation.

Brandie O'Leary
Community Outreach Specialist
"I believe in honoring the dignity, strengths, and individuality of every older adult and supporting their ability to live fully within their communities. My work is grounded in social work values and a commitment to expanding access and improving supports today, while helping leave our systems of aging care better than we found them.”
Brandie works with Yolo Healthy Aging Alliance programs, supporting community outreach, resource coordination, and case management services as needed. She is actively involved in the Ride & Thrive Transportation Program and the Grab Bar Program, both designed to improve safety, mobility, and access for older adults in Yolo County.
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Brandie brings a strong passion for building and strengthening resources available to the aging population, with particular focus on expanding service access and developing collaborative partnerships that enhance community-based support.
She is an active member of the Guardian Scholars Program and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Through both her academic and professional work, Brandie remains committed to advancing dignity, independence, and equitable systems of care for underserved older adults.
