OUR TEAM
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MEET THE STAFF
Each one of our staff members brings to the table various insights, passions, and talents. We work together well, utilizing one another’s strengths to execute quality work. We love El Dorado County as much as you do. This is our home and at the end of the day, we are grateful to be working together to make positive impacts where we live.
Amy Pooley
Executive Director
Graduating from Sacramento State with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and a concentration in Human Resources, Amy pairs her business mindset with her passion for community service. Her 16 year career in community philanthropy & development includes service to many local organizations including Women’s Fund El Dorado, El Dorado County Office of Education, and CASA El Dorado, as well as serving as a volunteer and board member for many organizations within our region. When she’s not working or volunteering, Amy enjoys health and fitness and spending time with her family.
Sharyn Balentine
Financial Associate
Sharyn joined the team in 2022. She was born and raised in San Diego, where she received her diploma in Graphic Design from Platt College. She has a background in office administration, and graphic design, where she held positions in accounting, publishing, education, and insurance. Over the years, she thoroughly enjoyed working as a parent volunteer and visual arts teacher to the students. Sharyn enjoys painting, photography, exploring nature, and swimming with her family. Sharyn, her husband Ian, and her two daughters, Kylie and Amanda, have lived in El Dorado County since 2010 and love being a part of the community.
Kathy Haven
Community Impact Officer
Kathy joined the team in the Spring of 2020. Having graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a Bachelor’s in Biology and a Master’s in Education, Kathy spent the first decade of her career as a math and science teacher in South Lake Tahoe. For the past 15 years, after marrying her husband, Nick in 2001, Kathy has been a stay-at-home mom of 3 and volunteer extraordinaire. She has served the community through the inception of the Two-Way Immersion Program in South Lake Tahoe and as a founder & board member of many non-profits, like the Tahoe Women’s Community Fund, the FEET Fund, the CAPP Fund, and Tahoe Magic. Kathy has been volunteering on competitive grant cabinets for the Foundation for the past 5 years and a grant writer for the past 15 years. Kathy aims to improve the lives of those in EDC community and help nonprofits better serve the needs in our community.
Sakina Madraswala
CPA
Sakina joined us in June 2015. She hails from India where she graduated from college with a degree in Business Management. Sakina previously worked for multiple financial and event management companies, including Goldman Sachs as a Financial Analyst. Sakina is a CPA and lives in Folsom with her husband, Ali, and her two children.
Hilary Mulligan
Donor Services Coordinator
Hilary joined the Foundation team in April 2021. Having graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a degree in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, Hilary has held positions with the U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Fish and Game, Sierra Club, and The Trust for Public Land. Her nonprofit career includes volunteer leadership development, environmental advocacy, and grassroots community-based initiative training. Hilary developed and managed The Trust for Public Land’s highly successful major donor travel program from 2000 – 2018. She has served on the Board of Directors of the American River Conservancy and enjoys volunteering for the El Dorado County Peace and Justice Community and Days for Girls. She lives with her husband Jeff and their two children in Placerville.
Chris Ringnes
PR & Communications Coordinator
Webmaster
Chris joined the Foundation in July 2018. He is an El Dorado County native who grew up engaged in outdoor activities throughout the Sierras. Chris graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the University of the Pacific and comes from a sales and marketing background in the small business sector. Chris has a passion for animal welfare and the natural world. He and wife Khrista enjoy hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities.
Pat Ekelund
Volunteer
Pat has been volunteering with the El Dorado Community Foundation since 2021, answering our call for help during the Caldor Fire. Pat was invaluable during that time answering phones, managing foot traffic, and helping the office run smoothly in a million different ways. Pat has continued coming in once a week since then, assisting the Foundation in day-to-day operations, allowing us to focus on the needs of community more effectively than ever before.
