Nancy Swift
JEDI Executive Director
As a founder of JEDI, Nancy is profoundly committed to developing prosperity for all. She currently manages the JEDI team, develops programs and funding streams, and ensures regulatory compliance. She has built the organization to be responsive to community needs, meet its promises, and perform at a level that gains it the respect of its peers. Ms. Swift helped design the Women’s Business Center at JEDI. Nancy is a former small business owner.
nswift@e-jedi.org :: 530-926-6670, x12
Joy Taylor
Director of Women’s Business Center
Joy Taylor has more than 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur, trainer and adjunct faculty at COS. Through consultations, training and executive coaching, her goal is to help WBC clients create robust, prosperous businesses. She teaches the It’s Your Business entrepreneurial development class, manages the webinar and program schedule and designs and facilitates the advanced business development Programs.
The WBC at JEDI inspires me because of the passion and commitment of the clients who are following their visions, and offering solutions through business.
When I’m not working, I’m re-creating in nature with my sweetheart and two dogs. We swim, paddle board, hike, bike and ski. When it’s raining … I’m renewing with writing, reading, watching a good movie, enjoying friends, or preparing amazing food.
joy.taylor@e-jedi.org :: 530-926-6670, x16
Jenny Payton
WBC Program Associate
Not only is Jenny Payton the voice of the WBC and JEDI on the phone, she’s the customer service and marketing manager. Jenny manages the computer lab, scheduling, program, and marketing support. She is also a former small business owner.
I enjoy the enthusiasm of new and existing clients for their business or business idea. Assisting them on the path to getting started and overcoming the frustrations of lack of knowledge or a skill necessary to create a successful business is rewarding. When not at JEDI, I’m often gardening, walking with my dog, bird watching or reading. Depending on the season I also enjoy kayaking and visiting the lake and mountain.
jpayton@e-jedi.org :: 530-926-6670, x10
Renee Getreu
Prosperity Asset Building Manager and WBC Consultant
Renee Getreu is one of the founders of JEDI, and has benefited clients as the instructor of the financial awareness class Making Your Money Work For You for over 10 years. She also manages the matching-savings and an asset-building program called Prosperity Asset Building (PAB). An entrepreneur herself, she has lived in Siskiyou County since 1982.
What inspires me most about working with JEDI are the courageous people who work with JEDI, both staff and clients working to develop strong business and financial skills so we can help our communities thrive and remain locally self-determined.
What I most love to do when I am not working with JEDI is to further my Master’s thesis on the tremendous healing power of raw food, and to see others begin to feel so much better as they incorporate more raw food and related healing power into their lives.
r.getreu@e-jedi.org :: 530-938-1658
Nina Gibbs
Business Development Consultant & Loan Specialist
Nina has over 15 years of experience in business development, marketing strategy, and supply chain planning while working for key clients in the technology, food and agriculture, manufacturing, and defense sectors. Leveraging her leadership experience with corporations like HP, Sony, Boeing, and Jack in the Box, as well as with the U.S. SBA’s Small Business Development Center program, she applies her extensive knowledge of doing business in the U.S. to guide entrepreneurs and business owners from around the world through the process of planning, starting, and expanding their business visions. Fluent in English, Spanish and Italian.
Nina.Gibbs@e-JEDI.org
Jim Wood
Technology & Database Manager
Jim Wood is our Technology and Database Manager. Jim helps JEDI and its clients put technology to work for them. He is also responsible for our extensive reporting systems including VistaShare Outcome Tracker, NeoSerra and EDMIS. He is a musician and a small business owner.
Paj Kane
JEDI Special Projects Manager
Paj Kane is a business development specialist, a certified tax preparer and a Certified Enrollment Counselor for Covered California (health insurance). Since 2002, she has helped small businesses with their bookkeeping systems, payroll, taxes, cash flow, business plans and loan applications. She also manages JEDI’s free VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) tax preparation site. Paj was the owner of the former and famous Pasta Shop in Mt. Shasta.
Has 13 years’ experience as a small business owner, 15 years’ experience as a Business Counselor specializing in bookkeeping systems, business plans for loans, individual taxes, and general business startup. She is a self-employed part-time bookkeeper, avid outdoor recreationist and active mother, grandmother and family member.
pkane@e-jedi.org :: 530-926-6670, x11
Amanda Lynne
Creative Marketing Specialist
Amanda’s e-commerce background consists of senior technical sales and assistant sales management at one of America’s largest off-grid solar suppliers. After shipping panels around the world from downtown Mt. Shasta, she went on to assist two of Hawaii’s largest installers make the switch from grid-tie to off-grid while simultaneously launching a non-profit, off-grid eco-village on Kauai.
As a successful freelancer since 2013, she’s now a Creative & Spiritual Director offering training, creative expression support and private practice. Her graduate work in Transpersonal Psychology included certificates in Spiritual Psychology, Eco-Psychology & Creative Expression–central to her mission to integrate spirituality, ecology & creativity in a unified field. She’s currently a full-time Pastoral Counseling doctoral student.
amanda.lynne@e-jedi.org
Linda Lingo
Business Consultant
Linda decided to embark on a career as a Financial Advisor eleven years ago when a male financial advisor said: “investments and retirement planning are too difficult for women to understand, just take my advice and not ask any questions”!!! Needless to say, this did NOT sit well with her.
Linda is now a CPA with an MBA in Finance and has held several corporate positions, including CPA for an international CPA Firm; Regional Controller for a Fortune 500 company; Commercial Loan Officer for one of the largest US Banks; and Financial Advisor for two large US Financial Institutions. She is now a business and wealth coach.
Linda.Lingo@e-jedi.org
Cassandra Tobey
Business Consultant
Cassandra Tobey is a serial entrepreneur. Considering that both of her parents were business owners, it is not surprising that she had her first successful business at the age of 12. As a business coach, over the last 10 years she has specialized in sales & marketing, organizational development, business planning and non-profit management. As the newest member of the JEDI team she is looking forward to instructing and working one-on-one with clients. She is currently the owner of Tobey Totes.
The thing that inspires me most about working at JEDI are the clients. Entrepreneurs are so creative, so resilient, and have such determination. How can one not be inspired?
When I’m not working one of my favorite things to do is read; fantasy, historical adventure, young adult horror, business books, or craft magazines. Some provide inspiration and others offer a fun escape.
ctobey@e-jedi.org
Robin Fator
Financial Manager
Robin Fator is a consultant and trainer specializing in Etsy, e-commerce, social media marketing, branding, web design, and business mentorship. She is a Northern California native who enjoys: spending time with her family, fashion, art, and trips to the beach.
Kristen Stroud
Trainer
Specializing in mind-body solutions, Kristen Stroud, M.A. provides practical tools for enhancing effectiveness, satisfaction and success. She applies the neuroscience of mindfulness and self-directed change to enhanc performance, resilience, and self-leadership. She offers body-based strategies including brain training with NeurOptimal neurofeedback –The technology of peak performance, happiness and well-being, and TRE Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises – A powerful technique for relieving stress and tension.
As a Certified Hakomi Practitioner, — An internationally recognized mindfulness-based self-discovery process, Kristen assists clients to move beyond outdated habitual patterns and access greater freedom, satisfaction and wellbeing. An experienced trainer, Kristen authored a national training manual for the US Forest Service in Washington, D.C., and a handbook, Communicating Effectively with Visitors for use on Mount Shasta. She can also be reached for writing, editing and proofreading services.
kristen.stroud@e-jedi.org
Kirk Danilson
Business Consultant
Kirk Danilson, BSEE, MS is a successful business development executive with over 25 years of experience with HP, Cisco, Oracle, and SAP where he held executive leadership positions in achieving success with selling multimillion dollar deals. He developed innovative, forward thinking, outcome based strategies that resulted in consistently achieving successful outcomes. Kirk’s wide range of industry experience includes Fortune 500, nonprofit, government, hi-tech, direct sales and education. He has recently become a certified executive business coach. This has provided him a deeper understanding of people and how to empower them to breakthrough blockages that lead to success in all aspects of their lives.
Kirk.Danilson@e-jedi.org
Cassandra Soars
Business Consultant
Cassandra Soars is an entrepreneur and author who has published various national magazine articles on a wide range of topics, including her first book Love Like Fire: The Story of Heidi Baker. She has a master of fine arts in creative writing from the University of Pittsburgh. She also earned a master’s degree in international development from the University of London’s prestigious School of Oriental and African Studies. Cassandra is the CEO of a startup called iHeartUs, an app for couples to strengthen and develop their relationships.
I have always been passionate about seeing women fulfill their highest potential. I think it’s essential for them to have all the resources they need in order to do so, and I would be thrilled to use my experience and expertise to help them succeed.
Cassandra.Soars@e-jedi.org
Linda Fitzgerald
Business Consultant
Linda Fitzgerald is a Certified High Performance coach, a personal growth trainer and a speaker. She is a graduate of Santa Clara University with a business degree in Management. She has spent 30 years in the corporate world, private sector, start-up arena and as an entrepreneur. Linda spent 7 years at Microsoft, 7 years in the private sector as a computer trainer for Simpson Timber Company, 9 years at NComputing in Redding, and the last 3 years as an entrepreneur running her business BetterOn. Linda’s skills, coaching and experience provide insights and time saving tools to help you “Get Your Better On.”
Linda.Fitzgerald@e-jedi.org
