Board Member

Former Santa Rosa mayor, councilman, and retired police lieutenant Ernesto Olivares-Martinez joined the Buckelew Board of Directors in 2023, driven by a deep commitment to supporting vulnerable communities. As a Mexican immigrant who grew up in poverty as a migrant farmworker, he understands the stigma surrounding mental health. Ernesto lost his father to suicide, which he believes could have been prevented if his family had access to services like those offered by Buckelew.

As a Santa Rosa Police lieutenant, Ernesto led the department’s Crisis Response Team. He helped launch the city’s first community-wide violence prevention program, bringing together law enforcement, social services, and schools to create solutions beyond enforcement. Now a community safety consultant, Ernesto helps community partners develop comprehensive, public health-based violence prevention strategies that address root causes such as poverty, trauma, housing instability, and access to healthcare.

Ernesto has served on numerous nonprofit boards. He lives in Santa Rosa with his wife and enjoys spending time with their three daughters and grandchildren.

Board Member

Jack Scott, a fine arts instructor at the College of Marin, first joined the Buckelew Board of Directors in 2005. His longstanding commitment to Buckelew is deeply personal, as his sister lives with a severe mental illness and benefits from Buckelew’s supported housing services. His deep knowledge of the art world played a key role in MarinScapes, the popular annual art exhibition and sale benefiting Buckelew Programs. The long-running event’s grand finale was in 2020.

Board Member

Linda Tavaszi joined the Buckelew Board of Directors in 2024. With a distinguished career in healthcare leadership, Linda has dedicated her life to supporting the less fortunate and helping community organizations thrive. Linda is perhaps best known as the former CEO of Marin Community Clinics, which she transformed into the key healthcare safety net for Marin County’s low-income population.

Her extensive career includes leadership roles as COO of Marin General Hospital, CEO of Kentfield Rehabilitation Hospital, and the Ritter Center’s executive director. She also led an American-owned hospital in Spain, co-founded the Bank of Marin, and has a background in clinical social work. Recognized for her impact, Linda was inducted into the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in the Bronx, Linda moved to California in the late 1960s with her husband. A longtime Marin County resident, she now lives in the East Bay.