Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors
Jake Mangas has been the president and Chief Executive Officer of the Redding (CA) Chamber of Commerce and its Forward Redding Foundation since January of 2016. Over his 7 years leading the Chamber, Jake has re-energized the organization and grown its impact in the community. He has developed a reputation as a trusted, inclusive community leader.
In addition to being the founding Chairman of the Board for College & Career Options, Inc., Jake is a current Board Member of the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.), and is an active member of various local workforce development collaboratives. In 2003, he earned the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Communication Design from California State University Chico. He is also a graduate of the W.A.C.E. Academy program, demonstrating his experience, acumen, and commitment as a Chamber of Commerce professional.
Before leading the Chamber, Jake spent 10 years as the Director of Development and Legacy Giving for Northern Valley Catholic Social Service and held the designation of a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).
He has been married to his beautiful wife, Janet, for 18 years. The couple has 3 children: Joe (22) USAF Active Duty, Coby (12), and Siena (10).
Dennis was born in Weed, California. Partially raised in Weed and later in his teens in the bay area. He attended CSU Sacramento on a Football scholarship, double majoring in Business and Experimental Psychology. Started working for Levi Strauss while in college and continued with Levi’s after graduation for 15 years. Left Levi’s in 1986 to start Canteca Foods Inc. in Redding. In 1994 Canteca was recognized as Business of the Year by Redding Chamber of Commerce. Sold Canteca in 1996.
In addition to serving on several non-profit boards in Shasta County, Dennis established the 501c3 non-profit C.A.R.E. Inc. in 1996. (Career Association with Resources for Education). The focus was on career development and financial aid for high school students. He established offices in Redding, Phoenix and Las Vegas.
In 2004 He began his work with College Options. He served as Director of Financial Aid services and later as Director of Career Development services. After retiring from College Options in 2019 he remains as a board member of our revised brand, “Career and College Options”.
Most importantly he married his high school Sweetheart, Debbie, while still in college and recently celebrated their 50 year wedding anniversary. Debbie, two sons, their brides, five beautiful grandsons and Zeke his Yellow Lab are his main focus today.
Marie Caldwell has worked both in education and as a community builder across the region for over 30 years. She is a graduate of Montague Elementary, Yreka High School, received her BA at University of California, Santa Barbara and completed her graduate work at Simpson University. She has held both nonprofit and education agency positions in Siskiyou County: teacher, principal, superintendent, and most recently as a Director of the SiskiyouWorks Collective Impact project.
She has and will continue to bring dollars, expertise, & programs into our County & Region to support helping students make the connection to a life long learning and the ability to succeed in multiple careers.
Ashli is an attorney with +10 years’ experience working in legal roles that include Benefit Cosmetics, Western Digital, Tory Burch, and Louis Vuitton. Ashli spends her free time mentoring tech companies through 500 Startups (largest global tech accelerator program) and advising as a member of Chief (private network of women executives). She’s regularly featured in globally recognized publications, with her most recent being The Guardian and NBC News.
Ashli grew up in Jones Valley, attended Bella Vista and graduated from Bishop Quinn. She serves as a Board Member and is the Secretary for College & Career Options.
Christy Davis is the VP, Relationship Banking Manager for Golden Valley Bank at their Redding office and has been there for 5 years and in the banking industry for 27 years. Born and raised in Shasta County, she is a 1995 graduate of West Valley High School and attended 2 years at Shasta College; and a proud 2009 graduate of Leadership Redding.
Christy lives in Cottonwood, CA with her husband Monnie of 23 years and they have 2 daughters; McKenzye 22, who lives in Anderson with her new husband and Rylee Rose, 19 who recently graduated from Shasta College and will be attending Chico State.
Christy loves getting involved with community events & activities and giving back to those she serves in her local community!
Christy serves as the new incoming 2023 Chair for the Redding Chamber of Commerce Board of Directions; she’s an active member of Redding West Rotary as well as the Secretary for their Board; she serves as the VP for the North State Cancer League; and is the Treasurer for College & Career Options Board of Directors.
Bob was born in Marysville, CA and raised in the North Sacramento area. He attended Chico State College majoring in Business Administration with minors in Economics and Physical Education. He played four years on the Wildcat basketball team and was a member of the Far Western Conference Championship tennis team his junior year!
Bob began his career in education in 1972 as a business teacher/basketball coach at Central Valley High School. Six years later he transferred to Shasta High School where he assumed the same duties for the next eight years. In 1986, after earning his Master’s Degree and Administrative Credential, he became the Work Experience/ROP Coordinator in the Shasta Union High School District Office. Later Bob would become the Director of Career and Technical Education and Special Projects for the district until his retirement in 2006. During eight of those years, in addition to his above duties, Bob also served as Co-Director of a federally funded School to Career grant for Shasta, Tehama and Trinity Counties.
He remains active in retirement having served as a Special Consultant for Shasta College developing articulation agreements and establishing dual enrollment classes in CTE between local high schools and Shasta College. He currently serves as Sponsorship Co-Chair for the Nor Cal Retired Coaches Association in addition to his role as a Board member for College and Career Options. He remains passionate about advocating for and promoting programs that offer relevant educational opportunities that equip them with the skills necessary to be successful in the workplace and their chosen career.
Bob is happily married to his college sweetheart and bride of 52 years, Jann, who is a Redding native and descendant of a pioneer family. Together they have two loving and beautiful daughters, Lyndsey and Lauren, and are the proud grandparents of Macray, 21; Katelyn, 8; and Makenna, 5.
Chad Scott is a Redding native dedicated to the enrichment of the North State area. After graduating from Shasta High School and completing a year abroad in Italy as a Rotary International exchange student, Chad began his college career at Shasta College before transferring to SDSU to study International Security and Conflict Resolution, with a minor in Italian. After returning to Redding, he joined the Shasta Builders Exchange and was promoted by the board to the position of Executive Director in 2018.
Under his leadership, the Shasta Builders Exchange Community Fund served as the fiscal agent for the community’s 2018 Carr Fire reconstruction efforts and helped over 50 families rebuild their homes. Dedicated to the success of the North State’s small businesses, Chad has secured both state and federal funds to help local employers train and retain promising employees and trade professionals and continues to engage with local partners to develop economic opportunities in northern California.
In addition to his work responsibilities, he regularly volunteers at local events and devotes time as a board member for a number of local organizations including, one of his favorites, College and Career Options!
Chad continues to seek personal and professional growth opportunities, recently graduating from Leadership Redding and being selected as the club president of Redding West Rotary for 2024.