Legal Aid of Sonoma County Board of Directors
Officers
President, Chris Grabill
General Contractor
Chris Grabill is a Santa Rosa Native raised by a high school history teacher and Farm worker rights/housing rights attorney. He left high school a semester early and moved to the mountains of Chiapas Mexico for a year to work in Zapatista rebel communities, building autonomous infrastructure, communications, farming, and potable water systems.
Continued to work in Chiapas throughout college, he took two semesters off from UC Berkeley to do this work internationally. Chris studied urban planning, international development, architecture, and interdisciplinary theory at UC Berkeley.
After graduation he became a general building contractor and master finish carpenter, while continuing to travel to work internationally in support of social causes. Chris brings his lifelong advocacy for Social Justice, equitable housing and tenants’ rights, immigrant rights, human rights, and strong environmental policy, locally and globally, to the LASC board.
Vice President, Jennifer E. Douglas
Attorney
Jennifer E. Douglas is a partner at the law firm of Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty. She has been a lawyer for 25 years with extensive experience in all manner of employment issues including wage and hour, discrimination, reasonable accommodation, leaves of absence, and implementing state and federal regulations. She often analyzes legal risks associated with hiring, disciplining and firing in order to counsel clients with these employment decisions. Although counseling is the key to DP&F’s employment practice, Jennifer is a trained and experienced litigator who protects her clients’ interests when litigation becomes necessary. Jennifer received her JD from the University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco.
Secretary, Jacquelynne Ocaña
Private Fiduciary, Specialized Services for Law Firms
Jacquelynne Ocaña is a licensed Private Fiduciary and National Certified Guardian. She is a Junior Partner at Specialized Services for Law Firms in Santa Rosa, specializing in trust and estate administration, conservatorships, and special needs trusts. Jacquelynne is a passionate advocate for the elderly, the disabled, and other marginalized communities, as well as an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the legal and fiduciary fields.
She is bilingual in English and Spanish and serves on several leadership committees focused on improving the civil rights of her clients. Jacquelynne received her Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Latin American Studies at University of California Los Angeles, UCLA and is currently studying for her Master’s in Business Administration.
Treasurer, Ann Hudson
Chief Administrative Officer, Exchange Bank
Ms. Hudson, born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, has lived with her family in Sonoma County for over 22 years. She is currently Chief Administrative Officer at Exchange Bank. Before joining Exchange Bank, Ms. Hudson held senior leadership roles with several banks, including JPMChase and WaMu.
She has been honored as an NBBJ Women in Business award recipient. An active member of the Sonoma County community, she is board treasurer for Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. In addition, she is a past board member of Becoming Independent and is well known for her involvement with local nonprofits.
Past President, Glenn Smith
Smith Dollar PC
Glenn M. Smith has a broad range of experience with legal issues pertaining to business, real estate, commercial disputes, complex litigation and transactional work for public, private and nonprofit organizations as well as individuals. Mr. Smith is general counsel to many companies, organizations and industry associations, some of which he serves as a director. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from Western State University where he graduated with honors.
He is admitted to practice before all state courts within California, as well as U.S. District Courts. He is a member of the American, California and Sonoma County Bar Associations. He sits as a Judge Pro Tem for the Sonoma County Superior Court and is the past president of the Sonoma County Bar Association. He is active in many community organizations and has served for the boards of Empire College School of Law, American Subcontractors Association, North Coast Builders Exchange, and Blood Bank of the Redwoods.
Directors
Fernando Carillo, CPFA
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Fernando J Carrillo has been assisting families, individuals and small businesses with their finances since 1998. He joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management as a Financial Advisor in 2016.
Originally from Ecuador, Fernando moved to the U.S. 20 years ago after finishing his BS in Business Administration at the Army Polytechnic in Quito. A big soccer fan, enjoys hiking in nature and spending time with his two boys Antonio and Mateo, and his life partner, Samashti.
Devina Douglas
Attorney
Devina Douglas is a Sonoma County-based attorney who primarily practices general criminal defense, but also routinely handles Restraining Orders and DMV-related issues. Devina attended the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO), earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology before attending law school at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctorate with great distinction.
There, she was inducted into the Order of the Coif (recognizing academic excellence in the law). During her studies at McGeorge she was editor of the McGeorge Law Review, and a founding member of the McGeorge Chapters of both the Criminal Law Society and Federal Bar Association. While she began her law practice with the Li & Lozada Law Group, she has been in solo practice since April 2017. Devina is a Bay Area native, growing up on the Peninsula, but relocating to Sonoma County in 2011.
John “Jack” M. Sanford
Attorney, Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery
Jack Sanford is a personal injury attorney at the law firm of Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery in Santa Rosa. Jack has extensive experience handling all types of personal injury cases, including automobile and bicycle accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, defective products, and civil rights. Jack has litigated cases in both federal and state court. Jack has successfully taken cases to jury trial and arbitration.
Jack received his Bachelor’s degree from University of Colorado Boulder and his Juris Doctorate degree from University of San Francisco. Jack is a member of the American Inns of Court, Sonoma County and Marin County Bar Associations, and Rotary Club. Jack enjoys mountain biking, surfing, and spending time with his wife and two young sons.
Chris Smith
Retired Columnist
Chris Smith worked 45 years as a newspaper reporter and columnist, for nearly of that time at what he considered a dream job at The Press Democrat. He treasured most meeting and writing about all sorts of people, and about this region’s gift for community involvement and stepping up for people in need of a hand.
In retirement, he is doing some writing, taking on some long avoided home projects, spending more time with his Australian shepherd, Maisie, and endeavoring to stay engaged. He is married to longtime PD colleague Diane Peterson. Their son, Max, is a native of Sonoma County who works as a physical therapist in Santa Rosa.
Legal Aid of Sonoma County Wants You!
Qualified individuals who would like to make a real difference in the community are invited to submit their names for consideration for open positions on our Board of Directors. Contact the Executive Director, Ronit Rubinoff by email at rrubinoff@legalaidsc.com or call the Business Manager at 707-542-6664 for more information on the Board of Directors.