Board Of Directors
We are a community that does not give up and are more excited than ever to embrace the potential, the opportunities and the change that awaits us.
Judy Chynoweth
Chair
Judy, a resident of Chester part or full time since 1997, has served on several area non-profit boards including the ABC Center, Plumas Rural Services and Plumas Arts. Her skills in facilitation, board training, strategic planning and results accountability have been a huge asset to The Almanor Foundation.
Susan Bryner
Vice Chair
Susan’s family has lived in the Lake Almanor area since the 1970’s. She moved to the family home full time in 2003 opening a bookstore in Chester and becoming active in the Lake Almanor Area Chamber of Commerce. She has twice served as President of the Chamber this last term from 2018 – 2022. She is the co-owner of Coldwell Banker Kehr/O’Brien Real Estate and is a founding director of the Feather River Tourism Association, currently serving as Vice Chair, and as an Elk, and serves on the Elk’s scholarship committee.
Susan’s background in psychology has served her well over the years, as a college teacher, business woman and in her community service work. She has 4 children and 9 grandchildren and when not visiting them, enjoys golf and traveling with her husband Tim O’Brien.
Julie Childers
Treasurer
Julie moved to Lake Almanor in 2001. She has over 30 years of accounting experience retiring as controller of Collins Pine and has served on the board of directors of the ABC Center in Chester as well as Plumas Rural Services and the Lassen Association at Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Josh Huddleston
Secretary
Josh is a long-time resident, businessman, and community leader from Greenville, California. He ran a successful retail store for 22 years, assisted the Greenville Streetscape project to completion, served 18 years on The Indan Valley Chamber of Commerce, served on the Lake Almanor Community Foundation board for 5 years, held a leadership role in the Chester Community Chorus, and has over 25 years experience in the creation and design of jewelry, and appraisal, certified by the Gemological Institute of America.
Tom Greely
Director
Dr. Thomas E. Greely, a family medicine doctor, has been in practice for more than 20 years. He has been affiliated with multiple hospitals in the Bay Area, including John Muir Health-Concord Medical Center and John Muir Health-Walnut Creek Medical Center. Tom and partner Cliff, long time second home owners in the Almanor Basin, recently moved full time to the area in semi retirement.
Katherine Sansone
Director
Katherine, a new local, having moved to Lake Almanor full-time in 2019, has been coming to the lake since she was a child. As the founder and principal of SANSONE+ PR & MARKETING since 1986, Katherine remains busy with clients while participating and contributing to her new community.
She volunteers on the development committee for the Town Plaza and is Chair of the Lake Almanor Community Foundation for the LACC community.
Mark Pecotich
Director
Mark has been supporting Plumas and Sierra Counties for over 10-years previously as a Marketing and Strategic Business Consultant for Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship promoting their non-profit mission and the Connected Communities project. He first came to the area in 1992 enjoying Downieville’s mountain biking trails and finally had the opportunity to move to Quincy in 2021 following the Dixie Fire to help support fire recovery efforts. Mark is the Director of Government Programs for Delta Dental, overseeing business development and servicing for their military, Veteran and Medicaid dental insurance programs.
The company enables him to work remotely which also allows him to support community philanthropic work with his free time. He was a Board Member for the Lost Sierra/Eastern Plumas Chamber of Commerce and is currently a Board Member for the Quincy Chamber of Commerce in addition to serving on the TAF Board.
Our Staff & Consultants
The Almanor Foundation is powered by a passionate team of staff and consultants who are committed to fostering growth in Plumas County. With diverse expertise in community development, marketing and fundraising our team works with other organizations to create and implement solutions for local challenges and issues. Each member brings a unique perspective, united by a shared dedication to supporting our community and building a brighter future. Together, we ensure that The Almanor Foundation continues to serve as a trusted resource and advocate for positive change.
Melissa Lopez, Staff
Director of Operations
Melissa Lopez was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area before moving to Monterey to attend CSU Monterey Bay majoring in Social and Behavioral Sciences with a minor in atypical human development. Melissa began her professional career in the Special Education field before switching to the nonprofit sector.
Before leaving Monterey, Melissa was the Program Director of MEarth, an environmental education nonprofit where she started an internship program for high school and middle school youth, led several fundraising events a year, and grew and managed youth programming.
Melissa moved to Plumas County with her two children and husband in 2020. She worked as the Program Manager of Plumas CASA for two years, before becoming the Operations Manager for the Almanor Foundation. She is also President of the Feather River Food Co-op and an active member of Mountain Valley Parents Club in Indian Valley.
Katherine Sansone, Principal
Sansone+ PR & Marketing
SANSONE+ PR & MARKETING was founded by principal Katherine Sansone in Oakland, California after leaving the corporate arena. Katherine combines her creativity and zest for success to gain dramatic results for her clients and remains tireless in that goal.
Choosing to be a “generalist,” Katherine has extensive know-how in a wide variety of industries. She has built a network of professionals, media and business contacts and assorted vendors that allow her to get the maximum exposure and gain the best opportunities for each client.
The company has garnered media coverage from local, regional and national outlets as well as developed and art directed advertising campaigns, collateral materials, tradeshow booths and packaging. Her writing skills include press releases, advertising copy, brochures and catalogs as well as ghost writing five books.
Her clients enjoy and look forward to working with Katherine because of her integrity, work ethic, fiscal responsibility and professionalism. They immediately recognize her energy, enthusiasm, commitment and persistence in “making it happen!”
Samantha Schwartz Lenhart, President
Blissbranding Agency
Blissbranding Agency was founded by President Samantha Schwartz Lenhart, a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for helping businesses thrive through innovative marketing and branding strategies. After gaining extensive experience in the corporate and creative sectors, Samantha launched Blissbranding to deliver personalized, results-driven solutions for her clients. Her dedication to excellence and unwavering drive to achieve measurable success have become the hallmarks of the agency.
Samantha’s expertise spans a wide range of industries, where she has developed innovative marketing campaigns, social media strategies, and brand identities that resonate with audiences and build lasting connections. Over the years, she has cultivated an expansive network of media contacts, creative professionals, and business partners, ensuring every client receives tailored strategies with maximum impact.
Blissbranding Agency’s services include branding, digital marketing, content creation, and web development, with an emphasis on storytelling that brings each brand’s unique vision to life. Samantha’s clients value her integrity, creativity, and hands-on approach, appreciating her ability to listen deeply, adapt quickly, and deliver exceptional results.
Known for her energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to excellence, Samantha leads Blissbranding with a singular focus: empowering businesses to shine in a competitive marketplace while creating meaningful, authentic connections with their audiences.
