Team
The Consero Solutions team is passionate about developing solutions for tough problems through collaborative processes and with a commitment to delivering exceptional services. We are continuous learners who enjoy asking questions and embracing new ways of thinking and doing. Our open and honest communication with each other, our clients, and the public builds trust and allows us to be flexible and responsiveness while we work toward achieving outstanding outcomes.
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Petrea Marchand
Founder and President
Danaka DeBow
Senior Consultant
Petrea Marchand founded Consero Solutions in Davis, California after more than a decade working at all three levels of government—local, state, and federal. Her public policy specialty areas include natural resources, agriculture, transportation, regulatory reform, water supply and quality, and flood management.
Prior to starting Consero Solutions, Petrea served as the Manager of Intergovernmental Affairs for Yolo County, responsible for furthering the county's state and federal legislative and fiscal priorities. She also served as the county's first Water Resources Coordinator. During her tenure with Yolo County, she helped secure millions of dollars from the state and federal government for key County projects and changes to state laws and policies to improve County operations and increase revenue.
Before Petrea joined Yolo County, she worked on land use, agriculture, and environmental issues in the state Legislature, at a think tank, and in President Clinton’s Office of Management and Budget. She also worked for an economic consulting firm on issues related to the agricultural and telecommunications industries and for a nonprofit environmental law firm.
Marchand has a master's degree in Public Policy and a master's degree in Environmental Management from Duke University, as well as a bachelor's degree from Pomona College. Her training is in resource economics and water resources management, as well as government administration. She is a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program.
Ella Manashil
Associate Consultant
As an Associate Consultant, Ella supports Consero’s project managers by completing tasks and managing timelines to keep projects moving forward. She provides redundancy in Consero’s project management process to ensure work products meet Consero’s high standards for quality and no tasks crucial to a project’s success fall through the cracks.
Prior to joining Consero, Ella served as a Program Coordinator with the Yolo Food Bank, where she oversaw the planning and implementation of a large-scale food distribution program. Her background in project management, administrative support, and communications helps Consero ensure projects are running smoothly and effectively.
Ella graduated from Whitman College with degrees in Psychology and Sociology. With a passion for improving public wellbeing through community action, her academic and professional work have largely focused on social justice, advocacy, and policy change. Ella is thrilled to continue making a positive impact on her community through her work at Consero.
As a Senior Consultant, Danaka works with clients to achieve their unique policy and project goals from concept to completion. Prior to her time at Consero, Danaka worked in the environmental consulting field specializing in communicating science-based technical information related to environmental policy implementation to local stakeholders and members of the public.
Danaka graduated Magna Cum Laude with bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Human Development from the University of California, Davis and with a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California's Sol Price School of Public Policy’s in Sacramento where she earned the Dean's Certificate of Merit for being in the top 5% of her class.
Danaka grew up in Tucson, Arizona and the San Fernando Valley, and is now proud to call Sacramento home. She particularly appreciates the area’s many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and especially likes biking, hiking, and rock climbing.
Sara Simmons
Communications Specialist
Sara is the Communications Specialist at Consero Solutions where she works to maintain and expand the firm’s consistent and effective communication with clients and communities. She also serves in a support role on project management, policy development, and grant writing and management. Before joining the Consero team, Sara worked in local government, supporting an elected official, and in education as a professor of communication studies.
Sara earned a Master of Arts in Human Communication and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies at California State University, Chico where she also spent many years as an instructor and an academic advisor. The highlights of Sara’s educational and professional journeys have largely occurred in environments that invite and celebrate diversity. Sara loves learning about people—their cultures, families, successes, and challenges—and believes that connecting with others in collaborative, curious ways is essential to living a healthy, peaceful, growth-focused life.
As a mother, Sara works hard to build a values-centered home that focuses on a respect for community connection, building relationships with our neighbors, investment in our youth and their education, commitment to physical and mental well-being, creating space for innovation, failure, and growth, and cultivating an alliance with our land, food, and water. Sara and her family are proud to live in the City of Winters. Some of Sara’s favorite things to do include reading, working in the yard, thrifting, sewing, and traveling.
Alumni
Jenn McKenzie
Operations and Strategy Manager
As Operations Manager, Jenn focused on the consistent and effective achievement of Consero Solutions’ mission to empower local governments to enrich their communities. Jen managed daily operations to maximize Consero’s efficiency while also collaborating with clients to determine public policy, funding, and project priorities.
Aquilla Sellew
Associate Consultant
As an Associate Consultant, Aquilla researched and compiled information for clients, assisted with meetings, and supported her colleagues on various aspects all projects. She also worked with many of Consero's pro bono clients, which included financial and organizational assistance to non-profits and coordinating fundraising opportunities with local community partners.
Tara Morin
Chief of Staff
As Chief of Staff, Tara managed office efficiency and provided assistance with client relations. Her work included management of human resources processes, execution and maintenance of all client contracts, correspondence with clients and elected officials, and coordination of meetings and events. Tara also assisted with financial management of over $1 million in grant reimbursements and organizational budgets on behalf of clients.
Jen Metes
Senior Associate Consultant
As a Senior Associate Consultant, Jen advised clients on project development, researched new funding opportunities, and worked with clients to prepare and submit funding proposals. Jen also assisted with project management tasks and collaborated with the rest of the Consero Solutions team on how to best help clients achieve their public policy goals.
Marissa Eng
Associate Consultant
As an Associate Consultant, Marissa provided support with project management and grant applications, researched funding opportunities and policy changes, and synthesized information into briefing documents. She also helped ensure the completion of client projects in an efficient, timely manner.
Gabrielle Fuerst
Research Associate
As a Research Associate with Consero Solutions, Gabrielle worked with clients to develop sustainable project plans, identify and evaluate funding opportunities, and apply for funding from governmental and private entities. She also helped manage organization budgets and worked to ensure client project tasks
are completed in an efficient, timely manner.
Amy Gabriel
Senior Associate
As a Senior Associate with Consero Solutions, Amy worked with clients to determine public policy, funding, and project priorities and helped put these priorities into action. She conducted extensive research on potential funding sources, compiled findings into strategic planning documents, and helped clients prepare proposals for submission to administering agencies. Amy also assisted with project management, which included contract execution, budget revision, and correspondence with administering agencies.
Julian Ruzzier-Gaul
Research Associate
As a Research Associate with Consero Solutions, Julian assisted with client project development, researched and compiled client funding opportunities, and worked with clients to develop funding opportunity proposals. He also helped manage organization budgets and collaborated with Amy and Petrea on how to best aid clients in their pursuit and achievement of public policy goals.
