Christina is a Vallejo native who attended Pennycook and Beverly Hills Elementaries, Springstowne Junior High and is a graduate of Hogan High School, Solano College (AA) and California State University, Hayward (BA, MPA).  Her 30-year career in public service began as an Eligibility Worker in Solano County.  She served in Contra Costa County’s Social Service Department and County Administrator’s Office for 22 years, with time out in 1998-99 as the Social Services Director in Nevada County, CA

Christina’s love of and dedication to children and family services includes work on programs to reduce young children’s exposure to violence, build bridges for families from welfare dependence to self-sufficiency, increase fathers’ involvement in their children’s lives and create new systems of collaboration across health and human services, education, law and justice, business and community/faith organizations, resulting in measurable improvements over time in the health and well-being of children and families.  Her deep appreciation for the synergy that develops when communities come together for children keeps her excited and optimistic about going to work every day.  Christina loves movies, theater and books, her large family (she’s one of six siblings and a devoted aunt), exploring the greater Bay Area and coast and spending time with friends.  You may reach Mrs. Arrostuto at (707) 784-1340 or clarrostuto@solanocounty.com.

Michele was born and raised in Vallejo. After high school, she moved to Sonoma County to attend college, and graduated with a BS degree in Business Administration/ Business Economics from Sonoma State University. Michele brings to the Commission over 10 years experience in financial analysis, budget development and monitoring, and contract and program management. Most recently, she worked for an Environmental Consulting firm, and was responsible for the overall coordination, supervision, management and operation of their Federal Contracts Program, with contracts valued at over $30 million. 

She has also performed financial, budgetary and administrative analysis, conducted extensive research and analysis of financial data, prepared monthly and annual financial reports, projected future revenues and expenditures, and conducted historical, risk, and demographic trend analysis. After 10 years away, the lure of family and community was too strong, so she returned home to Solano County.  Michele is a newlywed and lives in Cordelia, where she enjoys spending time with her three nephews, Nick, Byron and Graeson and newborn niece, Emma. You may reach Mrs. Harris at (707) 784-1335 or at mdharris@solanocounty.com.

Chris Shipman has extensive experience in the health arena. She has provided effective leadership in managing rehab programs and hospital departments, working closely with medical chairs/directors of clinical laboratories, radiology, pediatrics, emergency care and clinics.

Over the years, Chris has worked closely with the entire spectrum of pediatrics and adult health care programs, preventive care, professional medical service, ancillary and support hospital departments.

Chris is not new to the First 5 community. Prior to joining First 5 Solano, Chris worked with an evaluation and data management company that included First 5 California and other counties.

As a community leader, Chris is a graduate of the Sacramento’s City Management Academy, a comprehensive hands-on learning experience that gives residents an opportunity to interact with City management staff and learn about the challenges facing municipal government today.  The program is offered by the City Manager's Office, and has been recognized by the Ford Foundation and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University as being one of the "top 100 innovative ideas in the USA."  Chris also hails as a graduate of the Sacramento County’s District Attorney’s Citizen’s Academy.  This program helps to foster improved communication and relations between communities and the criminal justice system and enhance multicultural and multi-ethnic sensitivity in the criminal justice community.

Chris is past chair of the Sacramento County Children’s Coalition and serves on several Community Boards.  She regularly volunteers at Loaves and Fishes, a program to feed the homeless and provides shelter to homeless moms and kids.  Chris was very instrumental in gathering community support to have a charter engineering and science high school built in the community.  She has spoken before local School Boards and is more than an occasional speaker at city council meetings.

Chris holds a Master’s Degree in health administration from Columbia University, New York. You may reach Ms. Shipman at (707) 784-1339 or cshipman@solanocounty.com.

Lynn was born in Grants Pass, Oregon and was raised in Stockton, CA. She also resided in the Bay Area for over six years to earn a B.A. in Psychology with a focus in Child Development and an M.S.W with a focus in Management and Planning, both degrees from UC Berkeley. (Go Bears!) Lynn has since moved back to the Central Valley to be close to her niece, age 10, and to play a key role in the formative years of her Goddaughter, age 4.

For over 10 years, Lynn has been an effectual leader, community organizer, teacher and advocate for children. Her previous work spans from a 2-year AmeriCorps participant, where she created and managed a tutoring program for inner-city youth and contributed many hours devoted to community improvement and serving in food banks, to a 5-year child development researcher and laboratory coordinator at the Institute of Human Development, UC Berkeley. In addition, Lynn worked with a Bay Area Assemblywoman supporting the creation of a pre-apprenticeship program for high school students in Richmond and also worked with California Health and Human Services Agency recommending positions on bills to the Governor and reviewing Child Welfare budgets and policy and providing preliminary analysis for submitted MHSA county proposals. Lynn also bring 5 years of teaching experience in community organizing, social psychology and ethics.

Lynn believes children are a cause for which to fight and has dedicated her education and career in Solano County to building resources and becoming the bridge that connects families to the available resources. She also believes that every child deserves to be healthy, supported and prepared for school. Lynn is passionate about this vision and is dedicated to working to make it reality by working in partnership with community organizations, families and their surrounding communities to embrace each child and to provide the resources needed for children to be successful. Lynn is also passionate about her life outside of work, which includes spending time with her family and friends, dancing, going to the theater, traveling and listening to music. You may reach Ms. Guest at (707) 784-1338 or lmguest@solanocounty.com.

Venis Jones Boyd
Contracts and Program Specialist - Family Support

A resident of Solano County for over 40 years and graduate of Vanden High School, Saint Mary's College Paralegal Certificate Program and Saint Mary's College Management Degree Program (BA).  She has been with the Commission seven years and looks forward to her new role of assisting programs for children prenatal to five years of age in the family support arena.  She spent 16 years with Tosco Refining Company as the Environmental Department office manager.  Venis and husband Jerry reside in Vacaville.  You may reach Mrs. Boyd at (707) 784-1337 or vjboyd@solanocounty.com.



Cherelyn Ellington
Contracts and Program Specialist- Community Programs

You may reach Ms. Ellington at (707) 784-1334 or ccellington@solanocounty.com.


Heather Devaney
Administrative Secretary

Mrs. Devaney grew up in Cordelia, then moved to Vacaville in 2001. The daughter of a policeman and a pediatrics nurse, Heather was raised to be aware of the importance of giving back to the community.  Heather began her career with Solano County in January 2001 as an Office Assistant II working in the Vallejo Records department. In 2002, Heather was promoted to Office Assistant III in the office of the Deputy Director for Employment & Eligibility Services

In January 2004, Heather and her husband Butch had their son, Aidan. Heather transferred to the Vacaville office as a CalWORKs unit assistant to be closer to home. In this role, she provided clerical support for a unit of ten CalWORKs workers, a lead worker and a supervisor. Heather was nominated for the 2006 Employee of the Year award in the Health and Social Services Department, for her outstanding work and willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty to accomplish departmental goals.

Heather promoted to Administrative Secretary for First 5 Solano in April 2007. She has found this to be one of the most exciting and challenging roles in her life, second only to motherhood. Heather truly enjoys knowing that the work done at First 5 Solano supports the local community and enriches the lives of children ages 0-5. You may reach Mrs. Devaney at (707) 784-1336 or hcdevaney@solanocounty.com.

Minda is a California native. She worked for five years in Sutter County in the Health and Human Services Department as an Office Assistant II, working in both the Child Protective Services and Welfare units.  Minda then went to Yolo County Unified Family Court as a Legal Process Clerk, before transitioning to the Solano County District Attorney’s Office as a Legal Procedures Clerk.

In her spare time, Minda enjoys cooking with her husband, going to movies and traveling. She is the proud Grandmother to Jason and Jacob and plays an active role as a volunteer with Foster a Dream, which provides programs and resources that build the hopes, dreams and futures of Bay Area foster children. 

Minda wants to make a difference in the lives of children and is happy to be working with organizations that share her goals and values. You may reach Mrs. Krueger at (707) 784-1341 or mlkrueger@solanocounty.com.