2025 Leaders of the North Bay Winners

Managers, Sebastiani Theatre

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.The historic Sebastiani Theatre on the Sonoma Plaza was built in 1933 with good bones and a solid foundation that could withstand an earthquake, but maintaining a single-screen movie house in a small town would require a feat of magic no ordinary businessperson would attempt to tackle.  

Fortunately, in 1992, amateur magician Roger Rhoten and his wife Diana took over management of the theatre and in the decades since have established the Sebastiani as Sonoma’s most treasured gathering place for entertainment and community events.

Among the activities on the theatre’s proscenium stage have been children's programs, puppeteers and Christmas shows. They’ve also hosted productions of the Sonoma Ballet Conservatory, San Francisco Mime Troupe, Reduced Shakespeare Company, Broadway Bound Kids, Sonoma City Opera and Backyard Kids theater troupe. And of course, each year Diana dons her green makeup as emcee with a cast of dozens of Valley children for the Witchie-Poo Halloween spectacular.

The Rhoten’s community impact extends well beyond the confines of the Sebastiani Theatre.  Under Diana’s leadership the Rhotens have brought hundreds of young people into the outdoors each year through their Nature Camps. And for 35 years they have operated the Challenge Ropes Course in the Glen Ellen redwood forest, hosting everyone from corporate groups, first responders and a variety of Bay Area organizations working with at-risk youth.

And of course, the Sonoma 4th of July parade cannot start until Roger rolls out onto the Plaza atop his vintage penny farthing bicycle.

Now Roger and Diana are leading an effort to restore and update the Sebastiani Theatre to preserve this wonderful resource for decades to come.

The spirit and fabric of a community are shaped by leaders like Roger and Diana Rhoten who have served, educated and entertained generations of Sonoma Valley residents and their families.

Executive Director, Transportation Authority of Marin

As the Executive Director, Anne Richman is the fearless leader of TAM. TAM is the county transportation agency providing countywide transportation planning, and administering the expenditure plans for Measure AA and Measure B. TAM coordinates the diverse mix of projects and programs that are necessary for improving overall mobility, including roads, highways, sidewalks, Safe Routes to School, bicycle lanes, transit and alternative commute options.

Anne oversees the funding, delivery, and coordination of many critical transportation planning efforts including the recent completion of Marin’s first ever Countywide Transportation Plan and a solution oriented Sea Level Rise study; programs including the beloved Safe Routes to Schools program, and Marin Commutes; and critical infrastructure projects including the Marin-Sonoma Narrows project, local road and multiuse path improvements, the 101-580 multimodal and local access improvement project, and State Route 37.

Anne is instrumental in coordinating with Marin cities, towns and the county as well as regional, state and federal transportation agencies and she works persistently to obtain funding for priority projects in Marin.

Kaiser Permanente San Rafael is a pioneer in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within healthcare, fostering an environment that embraces all backgrounds and improves health outcomes for the community. With a deep commitment to equitable care, the medical center has integrated DEI principles across its services, workforce, and community partnerships, ensuring these values are embedded in every aspect of patient care and organizational culture.

At the heart of these efforts is the Kaiser Permanente San Rafael DEI Council, a dedicated group of staff from various departments working collaboratively to promote a culture of inclusion. The council plays a vital role in developing initiatives that address the unique needs of diverse patient populations. Through culturally tailored healthcare resources, language access services, and targeted community outreach programs. Kaiser Permanente San Rafael actively removes barriers to care and fosters a welcoming, inclusive environment.

Through its pioneering DEI initiatives, Kaiser Permanente San Rafael continues to set the standard for inclusive, patient-centered care, ensuring that every individual—regardless of background or language—receives the quality healthcare they deserve.

Bank of America exemplifies extraordinary leadership across the North Bay by going beyond lending and investing through its comprehensive approach to strengthening local communities via strategic philanthropy, employee volunteerism, and innovative programs that create lasting positive impact. With over a century presence in the region, Bank of America has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering economic mobility while maintaining deep connections to its local roots.

Bank of America's leadership in community building is characterized by its ability to leverage multiple resources to create sustainable positive change, including financial, human capital, and expertise. Their approach combines immediate assistance with long-term capacity building, ensuring that their community impact continues to grow and evolve with the changing needs of the North Bay region.

For the past decade, Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) has led the charge in environmental stewardship across the North Bay, demonstrating that bold leadership, innovative clean energy solutions, and strong community engagement can drive real progress in the fight against climate change. As the community-owned public power provider for Sonoma and Mendocino counties, SCP supplies renewable electricity—sourced from geothermal, solar, and wind—to 87% of all homes and businesses in its service territory. 

Established in 2014 to give customers a choice in their energy provider, SCP became California’s second Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) and has since grown into a statewide leader, serving as a model for more than 25 operational CCAs. With an unwavering commitment to sustainability and a community-first approach, SCP is reshaping how the North Bay powers its homes, businesses, and municipal operations—ensuring clean, affordable, and accessible energy for all.

As SCP enters its second decade, its focus remains on bold climate action, equitable energy solutions, and building a healthier, more resilient North Bay. Through cutting-edge programs, community-driven initiatives, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability, Sonoma Clean Power isn’t just “painting the community green”—it’s redefining what a truly climate-conscious energy provider can achieve.

Generation Housing’s mission is to champion opportunities to increase the supply, affordability, and diversity of homes throughout the North Bay. They promote effective policy, sustainable funding resources, and collaborative efforts to create an equitable, healthy, and resilient community for everyone. In just five years, Generation Housing has shown that creative thinking, broad coalition building, and relentless advocacy can unlock real solutions. Generation Housing’s impact fee reform advocacy was a breakthrough in housing policy, demonstrating how bold, entrepreneurial leadership can turn local government from a bystander into a problem-solver. Amid skyrocketing interest rates, rising construction costs, and a stalled housing production pipeline, they recognized a critical opportunity: local governments have tremendous power to remove local barriers to housing production.

Their approach was innovative, not just in policy but in strategy. Rather than working behind closed doors, they built a broad, cross-sector coalition, bringing together over 60 organizations across hospitality, healthcare, small business, affordable and market-rate housing development, local media, and environmental groups. They secured 600 petition signatures and mobilized over 70 public comments—many from first-time participants in civic advocacy. By framing impact fee reform as an economic necessity, they shifted the political landscape and proved that local action can overcome external pressures.

Jonathan Sayago Gonzalez comes from a loving family of five who has motivated him and pushed him towards his goals. He is a senior at Maria Carrillo High school and this fall, he plans to attend Sonoma State University to major in business finance. His long-term goal is to work in finance as an investment banker or a financial advisor. The dexterities and knowledge developed throughout his academic and professional experiences have served as a template to create resources for the community on financial stability. 

For the past two years, he has interned with Latino Service Providers where the value of community engagement and the impact of fostering meaningful connections within the community is personified. He also volunteered with California Human Development, helping connect day laborers with daily work opportunities. This experience furthered his comprehension of the obstacles impoverished individuals encounter which deepened his commitment to giving back to his community. 

Additionally, he has participated in the Luther Burbank Center for the Art’s mariachi program as a guitarist. Performing in front of audiences helped him build confidence and created lasting memories for both him and those attending the events. During his free time, he enjoys playing the guitar, spending time with his family and being outdoors as it helps him relax and live in the moment.

Noble Peter-Frank is a senior at Archie Williams High School. He is a self-described “club junkie,” having participated in eight school clubs, two of which he started. He is also deeply involved in theater, track and field, and volunteering at his local food bank. Whether engaged in skills development, service, or cultural exchange, Noble is an eager gatherer of people who always looks to make things fun.

As a biracial person, Noble strongly believes that different peoples and cultures can (and should) get along. He abhors unkind exclusion and wants no one to feel left out. Paradoxically, he loves being an outsider as a way to learn about the world and break down social barriers. He is one of just a few males in his school’s Period Project Club, one of a few neurotypicals in the PALS Club and Tea Club, and one of a few non-Jews in the Jewish Culture Club. As a lone regular food bank from his high school, he recruited friends to join him (and the other adult volunteers) to serve his community’s most vulnerable. 

As a catalyst for positive change, Noble welcomes leadership opportunities. In 10th grade, he founded his school’s Debate Club to explore and share his love of arguing and performing. In this leadership role, he learned that it is more satisfying to help others find their voice than to win debates himself. Similarly, the Trivia Club he created last fall is not about winning games, but about facilitating fun with his fellow Jeopardy! fans as he plays quizmaster. Noble has come to see leadership not as an imposition of his will on people but as a means of helping others achieve their goals and, in the process, build community together.

In all of his activities, Noble has not pursued a grand plan to build communities, but has simply followed his heart. His instincts impel him to bring people together, ensure everyone feels included, help people when possible, and always find a way to make things fun. And in the process he has made his communities stronger.