Kate Mitchell | Principal and HR Consultant

About: Kate brings over 30 years of corporate human resources experience to her work as the founder of Mariposa Partners. She specializes in partnering with CEOs and small to mid-sized business owners to develop and implement HR strategies that are closely aligned with their business goals. Recognizing that HR can be overwhelming when you're focused on the broader vision of running a business, Kate excels at simplifying complex HR issues, allowing leaders to concentrate on growth and innovation. With a strong results-driven approach, she takes pride in helping business owners gain peace of mind, knowing their HR operations are not only in order but also thriving.

Specialties: Kate takes pride in being a genuine, supportive, and approachable partner for all things human resources. Whether working with businesses to create a comprehensive employee handbook, navigating complex employee relations issues, or stepping in as a fractional or interim HR leader, Kate is committed to delivering tailored solutions that meet her clients' unique needs. With extensive experience in recruitment across a variety of industries, she is well-equipped to handle individual hiring needs or build out an entire recruiting function from the ground up. Kate's hands-on, collaborative approach ensures that HR strategies are not only effective but also aligned with the broader goals of the business.

Quote: “Even in a small or mid sized business, your employees are your most valuable and costly asset, so investing in dedicated HR support is like investing in your company's future - it ensures you're nurturing your talent, maximizing productivity, and navigating compliance with ease.”

Connect: Contact Kate at kate@mariposa-partners.com or at (805) 252-1660, or visit her website below!

MEMBER SINCE November 2024

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Bibi Moezzi | S.V.P., Director of Commercial Banking

PACIFIC PREMIER BANK | WWW.PPBI.COM
BMOEZZI@PPBI.COM | (805) 453-1150

About: Bibi Moezzi is Senior Vice President and Director of Commercial Banking at Pacific Premier Bank. As Director, she leads a team in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties to provide custom banking solutions and strengthen existing relationships. She has built a 25-year banking career in the Santa Barbara area.

Ms. Moezzi, was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, she moved to the United States to continue her education. Her introduction to the banking industry started when she had a temporary job at a bank as a loan processor.

Actively involved in the Santa Barbara community, Bibi serves on the Boards of the nonprofits Unity Shoppe, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and AHA! as well as the United Boys and Girls Club finance committee. She has also served on the board of the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, Old Spanish Days Fiesta, Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara. Moezzi received the “Extra Step Award” from Congresswoman Lois Capps and the Santa Barbara Police Department, and she was a recipient of the Pacific Coast Business Times’ 40 Under 40 Award and Top 50 Women in Business.

Bibi and her husband, Bill, have an 11-year-old son, Sam. They enjoy participating in all his athletic actives.

Specialties: Bibi's specialty is providing personal service to her clients' banking needs. She loves finding solutions and connecting with people.

Quote: "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary" — Vince Lombardi

Connect: Contact Bibi at bmoezzi@ppbi.com or at (805) 453-1150, or visit her website below!

MEMBER SINCE May 2024

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Stephanie Reussner | Benefits Broker

About: Stephanie joined the insurance field after working for several fortune 500 companies. She was tired of being just another clog in the giant machine and wanted to be seen as a real person, a woman, a mother. She found this when joining State Street insurance in 2009 with long time insurance veteran of 30 years, Diana Lewallen Higgins. Commissions on a sale are the last worry in this office. Taking care of each client as if there were a member of the family is how Diana has built this business. This was a huge breath of fresh air for Stephanie. They have now grown to an office of 4 working mothers with high attention to detail, service and the best client experience.

Specialties: Stephanie's primary focus at State Street Insurance is health, dental, vision. life and disability benefits for small business clients. Finding the the most robust, but fiscally responsible plan is her aim. She tends to work with employers with 2 up to 100 employees, with the majority falling around 20 employees. A great joy in her work is when employees leave an enrollment meeting knowing exactly what they have, how to use it and how to make the most of their employee benefits plans.

Quote: "The first bud of spring sings the other seeds into joining her uprising." — Amanda Gorman
“It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

Connect: Contact Stephanie at stephanie@statestreetinsurancesb.com or at (805) 966-4040 or visit her website below!


MEMBER SINCE JANUARY 2021
 

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Shawna Robins | Founder and CEO

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About: Shawna Robins is an international best-selling author of 2 books - Powerful Sleep – Rest Deeply, Repair Your Brain and Restore Your Life, and Irresistibly Healthy – Simple Strategies to Feel Vibrant, Alive, Healthy and Full of Energy Again, a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, a sleep expert, hormone health expert and a certified Miracle-Minded coach with Marianne Williamson.

In her early 30’s, Shawna was diagnosed with cancer. After her recovery, she embarked on a journey of healing through education, research and self-discovery. She now shares her deep knowledge of disease prevention and healing with others.

After years of helping executive and C-Suite women optimize their sleep and improve their overall health, Shawna decided to embark on a B2C offering called Third Spark. As founder and CEO, Shawna has created a successful online wellness hub for women who want to reset their sleep, create healthier habits and change their lives.

She is a keynote speaker for organizations such as GOOP, Lumen, Zayo and Women In Tech in Silicon Valley. She has been featured on many podcasts including Dr. Mindy Pelz’s “The Resetter Podcast” and in Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, and The Huffington Post.

Shawna is passionate about the power of travel for women and leads women-only wellness retreats for executive women over age 45 who want to experience a shared adventure to reset their body, mind and spirit. In 2024, she will be leading two private groups - one group to Morocco and one group to Fiji.

Shawna enjoys taking sunset beach walks, hiking in nature with friends and cooking at home with her family. Shawna lives with her husband, three kids and three fur babies in Santa Barbara, CA.

For more information on Shawna’s signature program and her latest book, check out her free book download at: https://thirdsparkhealth.com/powerful-sleep/

You can follow her on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Specialties: Shawna specializes in helping women ages 45-60 improve their sleep, diet, nutrition, and stress management skills so they can live their second half of life with vitality, energy, passion, and joy.

Quote: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ― Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles"

Connect: Contact Shawna at shawna@thirdsparkhealth.com or at (805) 886-9839, or visit her website below!

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Casey Rogers | Founder and CEO

About:Casey Rogers is a seasoned philanthropic leader and the Founder and CEO of Telea Insights, a consulting firm specializing in strategy, coalition-building, and advocacy at the intersection of women, climate, and social justice—particularly across Africa. Her work includes advising donors and nonprofit leaders, designing global grant programs, and facilitating retreats, strategic plans, and multi-stakeholder engagements.
Previously, Casey served as Executive Director of the Ellen Fund, where she partnered with Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi to lead conservation efforts and elevate women’s leadership in storytelling and wildlife protection. As a philanthropic consultant, she conducted in-depth program evaluations and advised on governance, strategy, and organizational culture for global foundations.
Her early career includes roles with Janis Milton Consulting and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, where she managed international grant portfolios exceeding $85 million. A deep commitment to grassroots education and leadership development began with her service in Namibia through Harvard’s WorldTeach Program and as a founding board member of the Deep Roots International Scholarship Fund.
Casey holds a B.A. cum laude from William Smith College, with additional studies at Gallaudet University and the University of Copenhagen.
What she enjoys most about her work is the opportunity to help people live out their ultimate purpose through philanthropy and to collaborate across cultures and sectors to drive bold, systemic change—particularly where women and the natural world are at the center.

Specialties: Casey Rogers specializes in philanthropic advising at the intersection of gender equity, climate, and global development. She brings deep expertise in strategic planning, coalition building, and program design for donors and nonprofit leaders. Casey excels at facilitating participatory processes, aligning values with impact, and guiding transformative funding strategies. Integrating the next generation into philanthropy has been a throughline of Casey’s career.

Quote: "We all have more potential than we typically know, so I want to inspire as many people as possible about our potential to build a world for all to thrive. It’s possible."

Connect: Contact Casey at casey@teleainsights.com or at (310)948-3490, or visit her LinkedIn profile below!

member since october 2025

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Kelsey Samuel | Owner, Co-Founder With Senior Relocation Services

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About: With a strong background in logistics, Kelsey is a proven problem solver. Witnessing the issues seniors were facing when attempting to downsize and move, was a perfect problem for her to solve. Kelsey has had a wealth of experience in large-scale special event management, auction coordination, and real estate maintenance- all of which are skills very helpful to assisting seniors move from their homes. While she does hold a Master of Business, it is her empathetic skillset that allows her to successfully connect and comfort her clients. She and her wife (who manages the Real Estate services for their clients), founded SB SOS LLC to assist Santa Barbara seniors and their families with navigating the challenges of relocation and moving on to "the next chapter".

Specialties: Concierge senior relocation- SB SOS LLC offers all-inclusive personal services to assist with the relocation process. Downsizing. Set-up. Estate Sales. Clean-outs.

Quote: Give what you can and express gratitude daily. You will always be fulfilled.

Connect: Contact Kelsey at kelsey@sbsos.care or at (805) 896-8301, or visit her website below!

member since August 2023

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Jessica Sierra | President

sierra managed accounting service  | WWW.SIERRAMAS.COM
JESSICA@SIERRAMAS.COM | (805) 676-0806

About: As a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and a native of the California Central Valley; Jessica began her professional career in the finance and management department of a boutique home health agency. After several years in Home Health Management and Ownership, she saw a need in the Small Business community for Back Office Accounting support. Shortly after having her first child, she started her own company, providing bookkeeping  support to small businesses and individuals. Today, the company has grown beyond traditional bookkeeping support, and provides personalized consulting on various levels; a testament to the personal approach she takes with each client. Jessica is a proud wife and mom of two young boys.

Specialties: Jessica's clients are typically closely or privately held companies who are in need of Accounting and Back Office support. She works with clients to determine the appropriate level of service. Some companies need to hand off Accounting functions all together, while others are looking for specific or interim bookkeeping support. With her customized, boutique approach, clients are able to improve business efficiencies by turning over as little or as much to her team.

Quote: “Accounting is the language of business” – Warrant Buffet

Connect: Contact Jessica at jessica@sierramas.com or at (805) 676-0806, or visit her website below!

member since November 2017

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Sonja Smith | Founder, Lead HR Consultant

About: HR realist, culture builder, and someone who believes work only works when we’re honest about the human side of it.

Sonja Smith is a strategic HR leader and People & Culture advisor with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations build strong teams, scalable systems, and healthy workplace cultures. 

Sonja’s work focuses on helping organizations align their people strategy with how the business actually operates, recognizing that every organization—and every leader—starts from a different place. Rather than applying one-size-fits-all solutions, she works alongside leaders to understand their challenges, their teams, and the realities of their workplace.

Originally from the UK and now based in California, she has worked across startups, growing organizations, and complex workplaces where people strategy plays a critical role in business success.

Sonja is known for her practical, grounded approach to HR—partnering with leaders to navigate change, build trust, and create environments where employees can do their best work. She specializes in building HR foundations from early-stage companies figuring things out as they grow, to established organizations looking to evolve.

Outside of her consulting work, Sonja mentors HR professionals, contributes to the local HR community, and writes about the real, often unspoken side of working in HR. She’s also a writer, an avid reader, and a collector of succulents that may or may not be slowly taking over her garden.

Specialties: Sonja’s specializes in helping organizations align their people strategy with how the business actually operates. She takes a practical, hands-on approach—rolling up her sleeves and working alongside leaders rather than simply advising from the sidelines.

Her experience spans strategic HR leadership, organizational design, leadership coaching, employee relations, and building HR infrastructure for growing companies. Sonja partners closely with leadership teams to navigate complex employee dynamics, strengthen workplace culture, and put practical HR processes in place that support the day-to-day realities of the organization.

Much of her work involves translating business goals into clear, workable people strategies—helping leaders build stronger teams, create structure where it’s needed, and develop workplaces that can grow and adapt over time.

Quote: "Great organizations are built by great teams. When leaders invest in their people, clarity, trust, and performance follow. Culture is shaped by how leaders show up every day."

Connect: Contact Sonja at sonja@arterahr.com or at (805) 570 8773, or visit her website below!

MEMBER SINCE SEPTEMBER 2025

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Cynthia Torocsik | Account Executive Staffing Specalist

APPLEONE | WWW.APPLEONE.COM
CTOROCSIK@APPLEONE.COM | (818)324-1356

About: Cynthia Torocsik, MBA is a dynamic recruiting and business development professional with a strong background in talent acquisition, client partnership, and workforce strategy. She currently serves as an Account Executive with AppleOne Employment Services, where she specializes in connecting top talent with organizations across a variety of industries. Cynthia is known for her relationship-driven approach, strategic mindset, and ability to align hiring solutions with long-term business goals.

With an MBA and a foundation in sales, operations, and recruiting, Cynthia brings both business acumen and emotional intelligence to her work. She has successfully partnered with companies to support direct hire and contract staffing needs, while guiding candidates through meaningful career transitions. Her accomplishments include building strong client portfolios, improving hiring processes, and consistently delivering high-quality talent solutions that drive organizational growth.

Cynthia thrives in the fast-paced world of recruiting because of the human impact behind every placement. What she enjoys most about her industry is the opportunity to build lasting relationships, empower professionals to reach their goals, and help businesses grow through thoughtful, strategic hiring. She believes that recruiting is not just about filling roles , it’s about creating alignment, fostering opportunity, and making a lasting difference for both individuals and organizations.

Specialties: Within her field, Cynthia specializes in finance and accounting recruitment, partnering closely with nonprofits, startups, and small to mid-sized businesses to build strong financial foundations. She has extensive experience placing professionals ranging from staff accountants and financial analysts to controllers, CFOs, and other executive leadership roles. Cynthia understands the unique challenges growing organizations face and takes a consultative approach to align talent strategy with operational goals. Her expertise in executive search allows her to identify high-impact leaders who drive stability, scalability, and long-term success for mission-driven and growth-focused organizations alike.

Quote: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill

Connect: Contact Cynthia at ctorocsik@appleone.com or at (818) 324-1356, or visit her website below!

MEMBER SINCE February 2026

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Kelly L. Weiser | Managing Partner

Kelly Weiser - Kelly Weiser - Santa Barbara.jpg

About: Kelly is passionate about helping clients create wealth for their future through insurance. A natural-born planner, she believes that a thoughtfully prepared insurance portfolio gives clients the opportunity to live life to the fullest while knowing that they’re fully protected in case of the unexpected.

Kelly graduated Cum Laude from the University of Puget Sound with honors in Business. Upon graduation, she quickly returned to her home state of California to participate in the prestigious Coro Fellowship. After completing the Fellowship, Kelly served as the Director of Business Development for three years at Coro Southern California before choosing to work for Farmers Insurance Group at its corporate headquarters in Los Angeles. It was there that she met her now husband and business partner, Nick. After quickly rising through the ranks in Marketing for Kelly and Government Affairs for Nick, the two chose to leave corporate to open an insurance agency of their own.

In 2015, the Weisers acquired a thriving local agency from Dale Watson who retired after 37 successful years in business. Kelly oversees all new business development for the Agency as well as all Finance and Marketing Operations. She is deeply committed to giving back locally and is actively involved in the Junior League, Dream Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association, Women’s Economic Ventures, Santa Barbara Chamber Ambassadors, and Partners in Education.

Specialties: Kelly specializes in solving complex insurance problems for everyone from first-time homebuyers to high-net worth individuals with properties in multiple states and multiple counties. She has a reputation for coming up with creative insurance solutions for properties deemed to be "uninsurable" by others either due to value, size, or proximity to perceived wildfire risk.

Quote: "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." — Scott Adams

Connect: Contact Kelly at Kelly@TheWeiserAgency.com or at (805) 984-3777, or visit her website below!

member since SEPTEMBER 2021

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Natalie White | AmeriFlex Premier Concierge

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About: Natalie double majored at UC Santa Barbara in Communication and Art History. She was driven to the communication major because of the many situations she experienced in which she believed the outcome could have been improved with clear and genuine communication. Enhancing communication in the workplace and with clients is the primary motivation for her active application of the skills she learned, as well as her continuing research in the field. Natalie also studied art history because of her lifelong passion for the arts. She is knowledgeable in a variety of artistic practices with a focus on contemporary and fiber art. Natalie won an excellence in writing award for her work on the generational quilting traditions of African Americans communities.

Natalie now works works at The AmeriFlex Group as a part of the AmeriFlex Premier Concierge team.

Specialties: Natalie is a communication specialist with experience in interpersonal communication, group communication, corporate social responsibility, as well as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Her goal is to make communication effective and efficient in all facets of her life.

Quote: “I had something I was trying to say and sometimes the message is an easy transmission and sometimes it's a difficult one but I love the power of saying it so I'm gonna do it whether it's hard or easy.” —Faith Ringgold

Connect: Contact Natalie at natalie.white@ameriflex.com or at (805) 770-1457 today!


MEMBER SINCE SEPTEMBER 2021

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Natalie White is an assistant to Hannah Buschbom who offers securities offered through SagePoint Financial, Inc. (SPF) member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through The AmeriFlex® Group, an Independent Registered Investment Advisor. SPF is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of SPF. Insurance is offered independent of SPF.