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
Trish Funk
Director of Women’s Business Center
Trisha Funk has 18 years experience as an entrepreneur in various industries but her small business background goes well beyond that; She grew up in the family business working alongside her father and grandmother. She spent ten years as a registered rep and insurance agent before turning her financial business into a consulting and coaching practice that also focused on financial literacy education. From 2002 until 2017 she also played a cornerstone role in the family used car, truck and RV dealership. In 2016 she founded Pennies On Purpose, Youth Financial Literacy Non-Profit where she is passionate about ensuring that our youth in the public school system gain the skills and knowledge to make positive financial decisions for their future.
tfunk@e-jedi.org :: 530-515-3155
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.
r.getreu@e-jedi.org :: 530-938-1658
Nina Gibbs
Business Development Consultant & Loan Specialist
With over 15 years of experience in business planning and development, and a business owner herself, Nina is looking forward to applying her extensive knowledge to guide entrepreneurs and business owners through the process of planning, starting, and expanding their business visions. Based in Redding, Nina provides our clients with access to a wide network of funding resources and assists clients in producing formal business plans and financial projections for loan and grant applications. Nina obtained her Master’s Degree from the School of Global Policy & Strategy at UC San Diego and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian.
ngibbs@e-jedi.org
Michael Hough
Business Development Consultant & QuickBooks Specialist
Michael Hough is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor and has over 15 years of experience working with Businesses in Shasta County. Holding a BS in Accountancy, and an MBA, Michael has held various managerial and executive positions in the greater Redding area. Michael has been involved, in an administrative capacity, in all of the various stages of business development cycle, from Startup & Acquisition to Sale & Liquidation. Based in Redding, Michael is ready to assist entrepreneurs and business owners alike with their Bookkeeping & Accounting, Payroll, Cash Flow Management, Tax Planning, and General Startup, or other Business Development Needs.
Mhough@e-jedi.org
Colleen Shelly
Administrative Assistant
Colleen assists the JEDI staff with office-related tasks and provides support on various projects. She enjoys the rich diversity of the
entrepreneurs and business owners that come to JEDI and the WBC for professional development. Colleen works at JEDI part-time so that she can also do some substitute teaching, and pick up her kids after school.
cshelly@e-jedi // Ext 10
Joy Taylor
Online Learning Specialist
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 Businessentrepreneurial 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.
joy.taylor@e-jedi.org
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.
pkane@e-jedi.org :: 530-926-6670, x11
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.
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. 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?
ctobey@e-jedi.org
Robin Fator
Business Consultant
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.
Robin.Fator@e-JEDI.org
Kristen Stroud
Trainer
Long-time trainer Kristen Stroud, M.A. provides practical tools for enhancing personal and professional effectiveness, satisfaction and success. She applies the neuroscience of mindfulness, positive psychology, emotional intelligence and self-directed change to enhance performance, stress resilience, conflict prevention, empowered communication, compassion and self-leadership with a wide variety of audiences. In private practice as a Certified Hakomi Practitioner, – an internationally recognized mindfulness-based self-discovery process, Kristen offers 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.
kristen.stroud@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
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
