AB 1234 Ethics Certificate for all Trustees and Executives

Cities, counties and special districts in California are required by law (AB 1234, Chapter 700, Stats. of 2005) to provide ethics training to their local officials.  The Association of California Healthcare Districts requires that healthcare districts post AB 1234 ethics certificates for all trustees and executives on their website to demonstrate the District’s commitments to ethical standards.  

Ramona Faith

MSN, RN - CEO

rfaith@phcd.org

Ramona Faith is a healthcare executive with over 25 years of healthcare leadership experience. She has served Southern Sonoma County as Chief Nursing Officer and Administrator for Petaluma Valley Hospital and as a healthcare consultant in the areas of hospital operations, quality and risk. She joined the Petaluma Health Care District as CEO in April 2011, whose mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of the residents of Southern Sonoma County. As CEO, Ramona leads and oversees District operations and convenes and fosters community partnerships to improve community health outcomes. Ramona is committed to improving healthcare delivery and ensuring residents of Southern Sonoma County area have access to affordable, quality healthcare services and wellness programs that focus on health promotion and illness prevention. As a fourth generation, her commitment to the Petaluma community has never wavered. Ramona is currently a member of Sonoma County Health Action 2020, Petaluma Chamber of Commerce, Health Community Consortium Board, Association of California Health Care District (ACHD), Alpha Fund Board, and the Association of Nurse Executives. Ramona obtained her Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from Chico State University in 1977 and her Master's Degree from Sonoma State University in 1997. She has been an adjunct nursing faculty member for Santa Rosa Junior College, Dominican University and Sonoma State University.

Faith - AB 1234 Ethics Training Certificate

Crista (Chelemedos) Nelson

President

cnelson@phcd.org

Crista Nelson brings to the board 25 years of experience in community health nonprofit positions. She is executive director of Senior Advocacy Services, an agency providing activism, educational services and collaborative resources for aging populations. Prior to this role, she served as business manager for the Family Life Center, a youth treatment facility, and finance director of Senior Access, which cares for individuals afflicted with dementia. In addition to her new role on PHCD’s board, Nelson serves as board president of the state association CA Long Term Care Ombudsman and is a board member for the Congress of CA Seniors.

Nelson - AB 1234 Ethics Training Certificates

Term dates: 2018 - 2022

Elece Hempel

Vice-President

ehempel@phcd.org

A 20-year Petaluma resident, Elece joined Petaluma People Service Center in the spring of 2004 as Community Resource Manager, in 2006 served as Associate Executive Director, and in 2011 as Executive Director a position she currently holds. She has enjoyed a rich career creating new business while growing and restructuring established business. Prior to joining PPSC, Elece served as Chief of Staff for a venture capital firm in San Francisco. She has an extensive background in sales, marketing and general management gained from over fifteen years of experience in the software and services industry. Elece was on the lecture circuit and spoke at universities and colleges nationwide before moving to the Bay Area. While at PPSC she served on the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 2005-2011, was President in 2009, and is active on the Chamber's Economic Development and Government Affairs Committees.

She is a member of Sonoma County ad-hoc committee for Upstream Investments Initiatives, and was appointed by Supervisor Rabbitt in 2010-2011 to the Community Development Committee. She is a member of the Healthy Community Consortium board, represents Petaluma People Services Center on the Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking, has served for many years on the City of Petaluma Transit Committee and has years of experience on various boards in the community; KJHS, PTSA, Little League and other community based organizations.

Hempel - AB 1234 Ethics Training Certificate
Term dates: 2020 - 2024

Cheryl Negrin, NP

Member

cnegrin@phcd.org

Member-at-Large

Cheryl Negrin has been involved in women's health services and family practice services since 1968. She started at the Haight Free Clinic in San Francisco, volunteering as a reproductive health and drug abuse counselor. She also volunteered at Planned Parenthood in a similar capacity. Cheryl was one of the founders of the Petaluma Free Clinic and continued to coordinate it for 10 years. After the Petaluma Free Clinic closed in 2002, Cheryl opened the Phoenix Teen Clinic to meet the community's need. She is a family nurse practitioner, a physician's assistant, has a masters of science in nursing, and is a certified public health nurse. She is the volunteer director of the Phoenix Teen Clinic and mentors teens to operate the clinic as health care workers and reproductive health educators.

Negrin - AB1234 Ethics Training Certificate

Term dates: 2022 - 2026

Jeffrey Tobias MD

Treasurer

jtobias@phcd.org

Jeff Tobias has dedicated his 35+ year career as a physician to improving human health, including 10 years in clinical and academic medicine in the areas of internal medicine, pulmonary medicine and critical care medicine, and 26 years in the biopharmaceutical industry as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. He is skilled at finding innovative solutions to complex problems in a highly regulated environment and in building teams focused on achieving excellence.

Since retiring and moving to Petaluma in 2015, Dr. Tobias has been interested in finding ways to contribute to the community. He welcomes this opportunity to help support and promote the health and well-being of our community.

Tobias - AB 1234 Ethics Training Certification

Term dates: 2020 - 2024

Brian Dufour

Director-at-Large

bdufour@phcd.org

Brian Dufour spent 17 years in the financial services industry, working in leadership roles for Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and Fidelity Investments. In 2016, Brian stepped away to refocus his professional life on service to his community. 
  
Brian graduated from Trinity College with a BA in English Literature, received his AS in Dietetics from Santa Rosa Junior College, and is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Health from California State University at Northridge.  He became a Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR) and began his work in Sonoma County schools as Assistant Health and Wellness Coordinator for the Roseland School District. He served as Tobacco Education and Prevention Program Coordinator at Petaluma City Schools before the pandemic and is currently the COVID-19 Coordinator for the school district. 
  
Brian is also a board member for the North California Center for Well Being and has been a member of CHIPA since 2013.  He lives in Penngrove with his wife and two children.   

Dufour - AB 1234 Ethics Training Certification

Term dates: 2020 - 2024