Sacramento CASA Logo

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gregory Hayes - President

Greg Hayes combines his political and business background to provide advocacy and public affairs counsel for Fortune 500 companies and leading voices in the technology sector doing business in California. Before becoming an advocate for businesses on state and local policy issues, Greg served as the communications director for then state Sen. Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), who later served as Senate president pro tempore. He helped direct office strategy and was the senator’s chief speechwriter penning op-eds printed in major publications across the country. Greg also served as an energy advisor and was a key player in the development of Proposition 39.

Prior to his work in the California Legislature, Greg co-founded a bioenergy company and held executive positions in the financial services industry. This work with startups gives Greg insight into all aspects of business and the risks and challenges companies face. When combined with his tenure in the California Legislator, Greg has the unique vantage point of being able to translate how businesses can navigate government relations in Sacramento.

Greg’s diverse communications background includes serving as managing director for international public relations firm Hill and Knowlton, senior account manager with the Sacramento-based public relations and advertising firm Runyon Saltzman & Einhorn and as a legislative aide and press secretary to four state senators in California. 

Greg currently serves as the managing director of the firm’s Sacramento office, which has more than doubled in size under his leadership.

Kimio Bazett - Vice President

After nearly twenty years dedicated entirely to the restaurant business, Kimio decided he needed a change, and a new challenge.

Like so many others, the Pandemic caused Kimio to reevaluate the direction of his professional life, though not in the way that one might expect. He realized that his passions for customer/client service, relationship building, mentorship, and the community around him were stronger than ever. What he never imagined was that during unimaginable hardship, he was able to lead his businesses from survival, to sustainability, and ultimately see them grow and thrive.

He hopes to infuse every client relationship with the same level of service, strength, communication, and perseverance that has carried him to this point. Kimio prides himself on operating with the highest level of integrity and character at all times.

Within the Turton Team, Kimio carries the unique perspective of a small business owner, restaurateur, and multiple-time lessee, SBA borrower, and a personal guarantor. He can expertly counsel clients on the start-to-finish process of opening a business and create value by helping them to avoid the pitfalls that result in lost time and money.

Kimio’s community involvement includes 10+ years on the Midtown Association Board of Directors + Executive Committee + Midtown Central Chair, Region Restaurants Board, Responsible Hospitality Institute – Sacramento Delegation, and CASA Board of directors + External Relations Committee.

Kimio lives in Downtown Sacramento with his fiancé, Alina, and their dog, Eli. In his free time he enjoys riding and racing bicycles of all types, traveling, cooking, dining out, and growing friendships, both old and new.

Jeannie Benoist - Secretary

Jeannie Benoist brings over twenty years’ experience and a passion for leading business transformation initiatives through leadership development, organizational change management (OCM) and project management. She also motivates professionals to achieve their full potential as an affiliate instructor with both CSUS College of Continuing Education and UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education.

Jeannie is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and is certified in the Change Management process in accordance with Prosci® methodologies and tools.

Jeannie is dedicated to giving back to her community. Previously she spent six years volunteering as a Mentor with People Reaching Out, mentoring two at risk high school students through their graduation. She also served on the board of directors for the Junior League of Sacramento and the National Charity League, El Dorado Hills Chapter. Most importantly, Jeannie previously served six years on the Sacramento CASA board, including serving as President. Jeannie is grateful to have another opportunity to support this phenomenal organization. The positive impact CASA has had on the children in the foster care system, giving them a voice when they didn’t have one, will make a difference for generations to come.

Barbara Flanigan - Treasurer

Barbara Flanigan is a retired Certified Public Accountant, who was the owner of her own public accounting firm, Flanigan & Company, for over 25 years. The firm specialized in tax and accounting issues for small businesses and their owners, as well as estates and trusts and their administrators. The firm’s clients included corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, sole proprietorships and non-profit organizations. Prior to establishing the firm, she was a Tax Manager at Sacramento’s largest local CPA firm. She holds a Master of Business Administration Degree, Concentration in Accounting from San Diego State University, where she graduated with honors.

Barbara has served on the board of Family Promise of Sacramento for several years and is a former board member of the Sacramento Estate Planning Council. She served for two years as a CASA Volunteer to a youth in the foster system and is a member of the CASA Finance Committee.

Dr. Michèle Evans

Michèle Evans is a physician leader dedicated to strengthening the relationships and systems essential to helping children and families be healthy and safe. Dr. Evans provides front-line clinical insights to guide policy development and system design to support children and families.  She works with medical providers, child welfare agencies, community organizations, law enforcement, and policymakers to support children and families, prevent abuse and neglect, and provide a coordinated, effective response when needed.  Dr. Evans is currently serving as a Trustee for the California Medical Association, Chair of the Very Large Group Practice Forum and on the board of the Sierra Foothills Medical Society. She is also a member of Child Safety Forward Sacramento, Sacramento County and Placer County Child Death Review Teams, and Placer County Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Team.

Stephen Hansen

Steve Hansen is the Managing Partner of Lighthouse Public Affairs. He has almost twenty years of experience navigating the complexities of state and local government policy making and politics. Steve served on the Sacramento City Council from 2012-2020. Before joining Lighthouse Public Affairs, Steve served as Director of the Capital Center for Law & Policy at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, where he developed strategic initiatives, created an innovative social media campaign, and managed student and alumni public policy advocacy programs. Steve got his start as an Executive Fellow in the Secretary of the California State and Consumer Services Agency in the Davis Administration working on issues related to insurance, contracting, environmental stewardship, economic development, and the rights of crime victims.

Steve was honored in 2010 by the Sacramento Business Journal as one of the “40 Under 40” for his community service and business work. Additionally, Steve has previously been involved in a variety of different organizations, including Secretary of the board of directors for CARES, a primary care clinic for people with HIV/AIDS, Secretary of the board of directors for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, a public-private partnership focused on improving Sacramento’s downtown community and business district, and service on the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund’s Campaign Board, which works to increase the diversity of elected officials at all levels of government.

Steve has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Gonzaga University, a Juris Doctorate from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law with a certificate in Health Law & Public Policy, and is a member of the California Bar. He grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Dr. Harold Jackson

[Bio coming soon]

Jaclyn Kirkwood

Jaclyn “Jackie” Kirkwood is an accomplished operations executive, career military veteran, and community leader with more than two decades of experience driving strategic programs, operational excellence, and mission-aligned growth across healthcare, nonprofit, government, and business sectors.

Jackie began her career in the United States Marine Corps, enlisting at age 17 and retiring as a Gunnery Sergeant in 2015. Her service included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, where she led logistics and operations missions in high-pressure environments. She earned more than 40 military honors and developed a leadership style grounded in resilience, accountability, and performance under pressure.

Following her military service, Jackie applied her operational expertise to social impact work, serving vulnerable communities through nonprofit leadership roles, including Executive Administrative Manager for The Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento. In the private sector, she has held senior leadership roles overseeing complex program implementation, workforce development, and cross-functional collaboration. She is also the founder of Kirkwood Holdings LLC, a California-based business she has led since 2021.

A dedicated advocate for veterans and women leaders, Jackie is actively involved in civic and nonprofit organizations, including the Rotary Club of Sacramento and the FBI Citizens Academy. She has served in leadership roles with the Women Veterans Alliance and Women Veterans Giving, Inc., and her leadership and community impact have been recognized with honors including a 40 Under 40 award.

Jackie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business, a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership, and an MBA from the University of Southern California. She lives in Northern California with her husband, Brent Meyer, and their two yorkies, Daisy and Cody. Outside of work, they enjoy traveling together, attending events at The Sutter Club, and relaxing in their backyard.

Benush Venugopal, MBA, ME

Benush is a Principal with Deloitte and serves as lead partner of Deloitte’s California and Washington strategic accounts. He specializes in large scale technology enabled government transformation initiatives and is instrumental in delivering a number of award winning and successful client engagements. He is passionate about programs that support vulnerable children and has led a number of events to raise money to support at-risk kids.

Benush holds an MBA and a Masters in Economics. He lives in Sacramento with his wife and two daughters.

Tiffany Sickler, PhD

With over 30 years of experience in children and family services, Tiffany brings a wealth of knowledge, compassion, and vision to her role as CEO of CASA Sacramento. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, a Master’s degree in Psychology, a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, and is a licensed Clinical Psychologist. Tiffany also serves on the board of the California Children’s Caucus.

Tiffany’s passion for supporting foster youth and families shines through in every aspect of her work. Since 2005, she has fostered 13 children and youth, ranging in age from 9 months to 20 years old. In 2012, she adopted two teen sisters from foster care—an act that speaks volumes about her heart for youth and her lived understanding of the child welfare system.

SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES

Sign up to our email list to support CASA Sacramento.
Sign Up
Skip to content