Rashelle Casillas
Rashelle was born and raised in Sacramento. After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, she attended Cal Poly Pomona for her teaching credential and then received her Master’s degree in Teacher Leadership from St. Mary’s College. Rashelle says she joined the CRC Board of Directors because she believes that “literacy at a young age is very important and children should be provided with multiple opportunities to express themselves through art, dance, movement, song and especially through play.” Rashelle has 23 years of experience teaching Kindergarten through 3rd grade. She has lived in Napa since 2003 and in her spare time enjoys reading, hiking, and cooking with her son.
Megan Conroy
Megan Conroy was born in Beaufort, South Carolina and grew up in Atlanta Georgia. She has lived in Napa for the past four years and has three children: Katie, Jack, and Molly. Megan has taught for nineteen years in both public and independent schools in South Carolina and in California. Her teaching experiences range from Kindergarten through grade 8. While in college, Megan volunteered in the family day care center and spent some summer vacations working in centers in San Francisco. Through this experience, and having three children of her own, she has always had a deep interest and respect for the importance of quality childcare. Megan holds a BA in Humanities from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of San Francisco.
Katherine “Kit” Gilbert
Kit was born and raised in rural Vermont, later spending formative years studying in Quebec, Canada, the University of Vermont, and at a performing arts conservatory in both New York City and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. After discovering a passion for wine while working in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, Kit moved to the Napa Valley in 2010 to learn about winegrowing first-hand. Now nearly a decade and a half in the industry, Kit has had the privilege of working with some of the finest winemakers, vintners, and executives in California at ADAMVS, Paul Hobbs Wines, Dana Estates, and Constellation Brands. She is currently the President of Simon Family Estate. As a working mother of two (Hendrix, 9, and Ophelia, 4) Kit and her husband Eddie have experienced first-hand the stress and worry that go along with seeking and retaining high quality childcare and has witnessed friends, employees and colleagues experience these struggles. Kit is passionate about the CRC’s work and proliferating their message throughout the Napa Valley. She believes that the children of the Napa Valley deserve access to high quality care, and their parents and caregivers deserve our support and all the enrichment and encouragement that our community can provide.
Victoria C. Morgese, MD
Victoria had been practicing pediatric medicine in the Napa Valley since 1993, up until her recent retirement in June of 2021. She attended medical school at Loma Linda University followed by her specialty training in Pediatrics. She is Board Certified in Pediatrics, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a member of the Napa County Medical Society and of the California Medical Association. Victoria has been active in multiple committees in the past including, but not limited to, the School Health Committee (Co-Chair 2001 to 2017), Napa Valley Breastfeeding Coalition, Children’s Mobile Health Advisory Committee, Childhood Obesity Treatment Program Steering Committee, Medical Executive Committee, QVMC and Napa Operations Committee, Meritage Medical Network. She has also been committee Chairman for the Obstetrics/Newborn/Pediatric Department at QVMC twice over the past 20 years. Victoria is married with two children who were born and raised in the Napa Valley. She herself went to CRC as a young working mother seeking help with daycare and had a very positive experience. She would like to encourage and assist with advancing child care options and support for families in the Napa Valley, including education and awareness for early childhood behavioral and developmental needs.
Gabriela Narvaez
Gabriela “Gaby” Narvaez, born and raised in Napa, is an experienced childcare provider with a diverse professional background. She discovered her passion for caring for children through babysitting jobs and pursued a career in child development and nursing. Gaby dedicated ten years to ophthalmology before deciding to become a stay-at-home parent. During the COVID pandemic, she expanded her family to three children. Motivated by her love for children, Gaby embarked on the journey of opening her own childcare home, aiming to provide a nurturing and educational environment for all children. CRC has played a crucial role in supporting her through becoming a licensed childcare provider and with the resources since. Gaby recognizes the immense value of early childcare education and is passionate about providing a nurturing environment that promotes the growth and development of young children. With dedication, compassion, and a genuine commitment to children’s well-being, Gaby Narvaez creates a warm and loving space for their growth.
RYAN PIO RODA
Ryan’s experience includes more than 17 years of progressive growth and meaningful contributions in operations, finance and accounting roles with broad industry knowledge of finance, technology, insurance, and the wine industry. Ryan is currently the Founder and CEO of Nth Level Finance Corp. He has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco and is a CPA in the state of California. Ryan and his family are actively involved in various community efforts and charitable events throughout the Bay Area.
HEATHER RUIZ
Heather Ruiz is the Director of Human Resources for the City of Napa, and has been with the City Since March 2021. She has 23 years of public sector Human Resources experience. Prior to joining the City of Napa, Heather was the Director of Human Resources with the City of Vallejo for almost 3 years. She moved to Napa in 2010, and served in Human Resources at the County of Napa for eight years. Heather completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and went on to earn a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) degree from California State University, Hayward. In addition to her professional career, Heather is the mom of two boys, ages 16 and 22. Both boys attended NVLA, Harvest and Napa High Schools, with her youngest now at Vintage High. Heather has been involved in youth sports in Napa, as both boys played soccer, baseball, and basketball. As a full-time working mother, Heather understands the challenges of childcare and has a passion for helping children and families. Heather is a graduate of Class 35 with Leadership Napa Valley, and now serves as a Board Member for LNV, continuing to contribute to growing current and future leaders in Napa County.
MEGAN ZACCARIA
Megan is a CPA with a diverse professional background in accounting, banking and the wine industry. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor’s degree in Business with a concentration in Accounting. Megan began her career with Grant Thornton, LLP providing tax services to various clients leading to her transition to the banking industry where she spent six years at Heritage Oaks Bank in SEC Reporting and Financial Analysis. In 2017, Megan and her family relocated to the Napa Valley where she joined Crimson Wine Group as their SEC Reporting Manager steering her to take on Controller roles at Fior di Sole and her current position as Controller of Sequoia Grove Winery and Vineyards. Her attention to detail, analytical skills and ability to navigate complex financial regulations has made her a crucial asset to financial teams. Megan enjoys living in Napa with her husband, Marc, and two children Jackson and Avery and admires the community of child care providers and supporters in the valley.
