Advisory Council
School Garden Network has convened a dynamic Advisory Council comprised of local leaders and experts to inform and strengthen our programs and impacts. Our council of professionals support the organization in program implementation, strategic direction, and content development.

Jon Backus
Native Plants & Habitat Design
Growing up in Sonoma County, Jon's passion for ecological restoration sparked in high school when his environmental science class worked to restore a riparian habitat at a local park. He holds a BS in Conservation and Resource Studies from the University of California, a Masters in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Washington, a CERP certification from the Society for Ecological Restoration, and is also a licensed C27 landscaping contractor. He has developed and implemented over a dozen large-scale habitat restoration projects around the SF Bay Area through his role as the Restoration Program Manager at Save the Bay, and in 2020 founded West Coast Wild Ecological Restoration in Sebastopol, which specializes in native habitat planning, consulting, plant growing, and installation. Jon serves as a native habitat advisor for SGN's Schoolyard Habitat Program.

Carmen Snyder
Farming & Food Systems
Carmen is the Executive Director of Sonoma County Farm Trails, a nonprofit started by farmers in 1973 to bring awareness to the importance of local food, to promote agritourism, and to facilitate direct sales. Inspired by Sonoma County’s thriving, diverse agricultural community, Carmen is passionate about supporting local farmers and working to preserve farms forever. She oversees Farm Trails operations and events (from budgets to band selection!) and is most interested in cultivating community, bridging gaps, building resilience, and fulfilling Farm Trails' mission to instill an appreciation of agriculture as a vital part of our lifestyle. Carmen sits on the advisory board of Colorado State University’s Western US Agritourism Project. She also serves as a member of the Sonoma County Food System Alliance—a County-based coalition of stakeholders and leaders working to improve our food system through community engagement and collective action.

Carol Ann Soltz
Grant Writing
Carol Ann Soltz is the owner of The Write Intention, a non-profit consulting and grant writing company. For more than 20 years she has supported non-profit organizations in identifying grant prospects and securing funding. Over the course of her grantwriting career, Carol Ann has successfully developed strategic fundraising plans, crafted proposals, and managed projects, generating funding for a range of organizations that focus on education, healthcare, and restorative and environmental justice.
Carol Ann began writing grants with School Garden Network in 2022, being drawn to SGN’s mission-driven programming. She writes with passion and purpose to support SGN in growing their organizational capacity and program expansion, to ultimately increase access to the myriad of gardening benefits for students in Sonoma County.

Carisa White
Human Resources & Organizational Development
Carisa White is the Director of Human Resources at EUV Tech, where she leads HR strategy, employee relations, and organizational development initiatives. She also runs her own HR consulting business, supporting organizations with strategic planning, compliance, and talent development. Previously, she held senior HR roles at several organizations, overseeing core HR functions and guiding companies through transitions and workforce planning. She began her career in social services, managing a residential treatment program for children in Sonoma County. Carisa holds a Master’s in Human Resources Management and Development from New York University and a Bachelor’s in Sociology from Sonoma State University.

Mary-Sheila Gonnella, NC, BCHN
Nutrition
Mary-Sheila is a Board Certified Holistic Nutritionist who brings almost 20 years of experience in the nutrition, health, and wellness world. She is a clinical expert in GI health, hormonal harmony, blood sugar balance, and diabetes education, and does work combining holistic nutrition, clinical Ayurveda, adrenal support, and amino acid therapy. She was a teacher at Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition and Culinary arts for 7 years, was on the faculty at the dhyana Center in Sebastopol, and now runs Occidental Nutrition.