Lisa moved to Sonoma in 1979 and dedicated herself to advocating for marginalized communities, beginning her career at the Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC), where she worked as a historian and later as an advocate for residents, helping them gain independence and dignity. She transitioned into social work, where she was sponsored by SDC to earn her LCSW and became a Program Director, co-developing a facility-wide advocacy and oversight program. Lisa later worked for Sonoma County Mental Health as a Crisis Worker and for Napa County as their Quality Assurance Assistant Manager, overseeing auditing programs and clinical documentation. After retiring from the county in 2020, Lisa became a private consultant for counties, assisting with documentation audits for substance use disorder programs. In 2022, Lisa joined Wake Up Sonoma, where she advocates for a more inclusive community. She is passionate about supporting LGBTQI+ youth in Sonoma Valley, particularly through developing positive programs, and she has actively supported her son, who transitioned at 19. Lisa is married to Joanie Bourg, and together they have three children, two dogs, and a cat. She enjoys gardening, spending time with family and friends, and is writing her memoir about her journey toward coming out at 42.

Josette graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 1979 and moved to Hollywood, aiming to break into the movie industry as a fashion designer. After facing challenges in Hollywood, she transitioned into the world of electronic banking, working her way up in startups and creating ATM and debit card programs for small banks and credit unions. In 1989, Josette moved to San Francisco to work for Visa, where she became deeply involved in credit and debit card processing. In 1996, she left Visa to start Lavender Floral Design, a shop near Ghirardelli Square, which later evolved into a wedding and event design studio when she and David moved to Sonoma in 2002. In Sonoma, Josette became actively involved in local issues, such as growth, the environment, cannabis, and law enforcement oversight, eventually joining Wake Up Sonoma to address concerns about a proposed county-private partnership for a plaza and parking garage in the Springs. She also writes a column for The Sun called "Personal/Political," focusing on local news and issues.

David graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, which sparked his career in programming. After working for four years at IBM, he joined two former IBM colleagues in their own company, specializing in credit card processing and playing a key role in the early development of PIN processing and chip cards for credit and debit transactions. David’s professional journey continued to shape his expertise in the payment card industry, where he met his wife, Josette. The couple lived in the Castro district of San Francisco for 10 years before relocating to Sonoma Valley in 2002. Since then, David has become actively involved in local issues, advocating on matters such as affordable housing, workers' rights, police oversight, and the environment before the Sonoma planning commission, city council, and county board of supervisors. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys hiking the trails of Sonoma Valley with Josette. David has 3 daughters and 2 grandchildren.

Martín Gobbée is a bilingual and bicultural Argentinian who has a strong community presence as the General Manager at The Beacon Bar and formerly the Taub Family Outpost in Sonoma for the past 5 years. He has as a work history as a restaurant manager and leader in the industry, has a BA in History and a Master of Fine arts in acting from Brandeis University. Martin will be leading our work in immigration and Business Liaison.

Gary Saperstein made the move from New York to Sonoma over 25 years ago and has never looked back. Originally in the restaurant business he left that behind to start Out In The Vineyard and LGBTQ+ tour and event company here in Sonoma. 

Gary has been engaged in the Sonoma Community as a board member of the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau and Sonoma County Tourism. Being involved in community is important to Gary as he cares about the future of the Sonoma Valley region that he calls home. 

Matthew Long is a design strategist based in Sonoma, California. He helps businesses bring clarity to their communications, brands, and designs by grounding strategy in meaningful insights. Matt works closely with clients to articulate their value and build brands that are well-positioned, engaging, and respected by their audience. With a background spanning branding, product design, and marketing, he approaches every project with a holistic perspective. Beyond his professional work, Matt is a co-founder of Sonoma Valley Pride—a passion project that reflects his deep commitment to community. He lives in Sonoma with his partner, Chef Kyle, and their dog, Stella. At the core of his work is a mission: to help others uncover their unique voice and amplify it, giving them the resources and confidence to share it for the betterment of society.

John Staley is a writer and essayist based in Sonoma. Committed to a cultural of creativity and curiosity. He is originally from Las Vegas, NV and that explains a lot.  

Jocelyn Simone Rhude is a creative strategist, marketing director, and music industry consultant with deep roots in Sonoma and over a decade of experience in brand building, live event production, and media. After years working in New York City with artists, companies, and cultural institutions, she returned home to Sonoma to launch Rhude 360°, bringing big-picture strategy and creative execution to local businesses and non-profits. Her work is driven by a belief in collaboration, clarity, and building brands that last.