I am struck by the sheer aptitude and panache of certain leaders. Leaders who put themselves out in front, uncomfortably at times, who fix the unfixable with a resilient intensity that shifts the direction of a nonprofit.
While untold examples of strong, results oriented leaders can be found in each corner of our county, a few do stand-out. Their mutual clarion voice is reinforced by similar characteristics: goal oriented, results focused and investors of their teams.
At a time when our some of our own local nonprofits have been either shuttered or stagnant due to federal government influences, be it SNAP benefits being well snapped from families, to pending HR1 influences, or the “ugly” “Big Beautiful Bill,” these nonprofit champions are leaders whose actions were primed to fix what is broken.
We know that managing a nonprofit is a messy and tricky business. The daily work involves a combination of heartfelt commitment, administrative tasks and the unending search for unrestricted funds. Serving as a head of state of a nonprofit is not for the faint of heart. A CEO who can fix a formerly unsustainable agency with both deep bench business management, big picture thinking combined with drive and dedication is priceless.
We have four such leaders in Stockton whose drive and determination are second to none in resurrecting old systems and creating greater nonprofits whose impact is off the charts invaluable.
But Stockton is fortunate. We are home to many strong and competent nonprofit leaders.
Just last month, Kay Ruhstaller, CEO of the Family Resource Center (FRC) was recognized as the ATHENA recipient for her contributions to advancing the health and welfare of children and launching the 2-1-1 program over 10 years ago. Her flagship brand is “because kids” and because of Kay we can all sleep at night knowing our kids are safe.
Jose Rodriguez is a more than 25-year stalwart and trusted champion of the Latinx community. As Chief Executive Officer of El Concilio of California, he leads one of the largest nonprofits with over 272 employees and a charter school with 52. Jose’s tight affiliation with UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization, have brought meaningful national attention to Stockton. Just last month, UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía convened a roundtable in Stockton to listen to and learn from both recognized leaders and community residents about the pressing challenges facing the Latinx community.
It is no surprise that under Jose’s leadership, El Concilio of California has emerged as one of the preeminent community-based nonprofit and social service providers in Central California. His strong linkages to national organizations, including CalNonprofits, where he serves as Vice Chair the Board of Directors, have yielded tangible dividends for both San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.
Both Kay and Jose have given decades of service to their agencies, and to their communities from a place of uncertainty to award winning regional prominence amassing hundreds of thousands of people they have impacted during that time.
And as we enter into a time of political uncertantiy which has challenged nonprofit operations, we need to be reminded of the virtue of unselfish and strategic leadership that has lifted and fortified essential nonprofits..
A few examples of exemplary nonprofit “fixers” come to mind. Leaders who have a keen eye for change, are unconventional thinkers whose own whose passion and business acumen have both saved, resurrected or executed major changes and shifts to that agency this past year.
Their CEO playbooks include deep strategic redirection of the nonprofit’s goals or vision, reinvigoration of personnel and cultural alignment for the better, and knowing that there is no mission without money. They listen, learn and stick to a plan that drives the right amount of push to foster impact.
As we turned toward 2026, here is a short list of a few gladiator, knights in shining armor nonprofit CEOs who have salvaged and demonstrate this credo of change.
Leonard O. Hansen, a former executive with Food 4 Less, turned nonprofit CEO, assumed the lead of the Emergency Food Bank (EFB) over 5 years ago at a time when the EFB has a revolving door of prior administrators. He has turned around the EFB during a time where over 10.8% of SJC residents are food insecure, that is 83,690 residents. This year alone, the EFB has served over 73,589, 88% of those residents. And their outreach via food pantries, the 18-year-old Mobile Farmer’s Market with 84 sites, and the new Food-Is-Medicine Program hit a hundred or more sites each month.
Not only does Leonard think of the here and now, he thinks of the future. His new capital campaign to build a new 17,400 square foot warehouse to supplement the old facility has his team and community leaders kicking off a major capital campaign so in the future, more families can be fed. He is not daunted by the long lines that often reach over 600 cars that form in front of EFB; instead he is energizing by the scenario and driven to shift the tide of hunger in new ways never thought possible.
Or Krista Fiser, the new CEO of St. Mary’s Community Services, formerly CEO of Prevail-at the time of hiring only a few short months ago, Krista adopted a major capital expansion of the 77-year-old site to rebuild the former Stockton Shelter and launch a navigation center-both riddled with bureaucratic tape and false starts. It was a massive undertaking of both capital and staff expansion unlike any other time in the history of the agency. In addition to the existing new shelter beds and navigation center a new Pathways program will open in 2026 opening beautiful “tiny” units for individuals and couples, and a dedicated recuperative care section. She builds into each element of her vision to provide case management and substance abuse use treatment all leading towards sustainable and permanent housing. Her dream, that every client heads into a self ustainable future
Krista dove in quickly to reorganize what is now the largest emergency low barrier shelter in the state. Her own background and experiences with homelessness combined with her risk adverse yet judicious and strategic leadership style and a penchant for analytical accounting, Krista has already demonstrated significant shifts in St. Mary’s operations for the better.
Co-located a block from each other, Leonard and Krista personify transformative leadership.
John Alita, the new CEO of the Pride Center of San Joaquin County which just opened its new 5,000 sq ft. of offices prominently positioned in downtown Stockton, took a major leap to realigned the mission and operations of the Pride Center this past year.
As the former Assistant City Manager he has applied that experience in changing the face of support to the LBGTQ+ community and creating spaces for unique identities to thrive. He has brought warranted stability to an agency that was unsteady through an effort to build staff cohesion, grab significant grant funding and in being an advocate for his community.
These are the nonprofit CEOs and teams who do not turn away from the hardest problems — hunger, homelessness, poverty, violence, and inequity — but run directly toward them with courage, compassion, and strategy.
Their work does not make headlines every day, but it changes lives every day.
So, if you Mind what Matter, let us do more than celebrate a the new. year.
Let us honor the people who ensure that every family has a seat at the table — through shelter, through nourishment, through safety, through belonging.