Our Team

Rob Izzo, Ph.D., serves as CEO of Circuit Rider Community Services, where he leads innovative, community-based programs focused on youth stabilization, workforce development, and ecological restoration. His work centers on supporting at-risk youth and strengthening the families and systems that surround them. Under his leadership, Circuit Rider has expanded its impact across Sonoma County through youth upstream programming, workforce-aligned mentorship, new senior transportation services, and community-based environmental stewardship initiatives.

Rob brings more than two decades of experience in education, leadership development, and systems change. He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and has dedicated his career to addressing structural inequities affecting young people who have been failed by traditional institutions. His work is grounded in the belief that stability, opportunity, and belonging are foundational to long-term success.

In addition to his executive leadership role, Rob serves as District 2’s representative to the Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights, is a member of the Sonoma County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, and serves on the Petaluma Groundwater Sustainability Advisory Committee. These roles reflect his commitment to advancing equity, public accountability, and sustainable resource stewardship across the county.

Rob is particularly passionate about working with youth who are justice-involved or at risk of system involvement. He believes that early intervention, culturally responsive mentorship, and meaningful workforce pathways can fundamentally alter life trajectories. At the same time, he is deeply committed to environmental stewardship and views ecological restoration as both workforce opportunity and community resilience strategy. Through Circuit Rider’s restoration crews and youth engagement programs, Rob works to connect young people to the land, to meaningful employment, and to a broader sense of responsibility to place.

His leadership is rooted in collaboration, cross-sector partnership, and the conviction that communities thrive when we invest in both people and the environments they inhabit.

Juan Avila-Perez has been a cornerstone of Circuit Rider Community Services for more than eighteen years and has served since the inception of Vista Academy. Few individuals embody the spirit and mission of Circuit Rider more fully than Juan. His work reflects an unwavering commitment to Sonoma County’s most at-risk youth and their families — particularly those navigating justice involvement, economic instability, and systemic barriers.

Juan’s leadership is grounded in relational trust, cultural humility, and relentless consistency. He believes that no young person is beyond reach and approaches each youth with patience, accountability, and deep respect. Over nearly two decades, he has mentored hundreds of young people, many of whom entered programs labeled “difficult” or “high risk.” Juan’s approach is simple but powerful: show up consistently, refuse to give up, and meet families where they are. His steady presence has altered life trajectories and strengthened families across Sonoma County.

As a bilingual and bicultural leader, Juan is a trusted figure within the Latino community and across youth-serving systems. Families often see him not only as a program leader but as an advocate and bridge-builder — someone who understands both institutional expectations and lived community realities. His credibility within the justice system, schools, and community-based networks has been built through years of direct service and principled leadership.

Juan is a graduate of Leadership Santa Rosa and continues to extend his impact beyond Circuit Rider through ongoing legacy projects and mentorship that support other nonprofit organizations throughout the county. True to his character, his leadership does not end with a program or title; it continues in service to the broader community.

Juan’s commitment is tireless, his presence steady, and his passion for serving Sonoma County’s most vulnerable youth both evident and enduring. Circuit Rider’s work reflects his dedication — and he, in turn, reflects the heart of Circuit Rider’s mission.

Favian Flores is a dedicated and hardworking individual with a passion for environmental impact. Favian is pursuing licenses and certifications in contracting and arboriculture to contribute to sustainability efforts. Joining Circuit Rider Community Services, Favian brought a fresh perspective and eagerness to learn. Favian's journey at Circuit Rider Community Services started as a Crew Member in 2020, where he quickly excelled and was promoted to a Crew Leader position. His commitment and skills were further recognized, leading to another promotion into the Ecological Programs Coordinator role. His love for nature has fueled his professional journey, where he skillfully uses a chainsaw to nurture green spaces. Outside of work, Favian finds inspiration in nature, spending time at the beach and hiking. With his dedication and skills, Favian strives to make a positive difference in the world.

Karina Zappa is a Sonoma County native and holds a B.A. from Hampshire College in Massachusetts. She first joined Circuit Rider (then The Center for Social and Environmental Stewardship) as the SonomaWORKS Employment Specialist from 2018–2021 and previously coordinated the Windsor Wheels Senior Volunteer Driving Program. She returned to Circuit Rider in 2024.

Karina brings a strong background in human services, having worked with individuals across the lifespan — including adults and seniors living with severe and persistent mental illness and youth with autism. Her experience reflects a steady commitment to supporting individuals navigating complex systems with care and dignity.

At Circuit Rider, Karina plays a central role in strengthening the organization’s internal infrastructure. She oversees much of the agency’s human resources systems and supports multiple administrative functions, helping to build a stable, compliant, and mission-aligned team. She is also leading the expansion of Windsor Wheels through the development of Conexión Cloverdale, an initiative designed to ensure volunteer driver transportation access for at-risk seniors throughout northern Sonoma County.

Dave Koressel has over 30 years’ experience as CFO for non-profit social service agencies in Sonoma and Santa Cruz Counties, and has a BS in Business Management. Dave’s objective is to demystify accounting concepts and make financial reports easy to understand.  He is into yoga and likes to hike, garden, and kayak on calm water. 

Christopher Gonzalez is a dedicated youth program facilitator at Circuit Rider, where he supports and mentors at-risk and justice-involved youth through daily programming and evidence-based interventions. Drawing from his background in communication and community engagement, Christopher co-facilitates psychoeducational and skills-based groups, adapting curriculum like Aggression Replacement Training (ART) to meet the developmental and emotional needs of young people from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Christopher’s work is grounded in empathy, cultural responsiveness, and a belief in the transformative power of supportive relationships. He advocates for youth goals, fosters prosocial communication and conflict resolution, and collaborates with multidisciplinary staff to identify barriers and adjust interventions that promote positive outcomes. He is currently preparing to pursue his Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology (Marriage & Family Therapy) at the University of San Francisco, furthering his commitment to serving individuals, families, and underserved communities. Outside of work, Christopher is passionate about promoting mental wellness, expanding access to community resources, and integrating reflective practice with outdoor and community-based initiatives.

Karime joined us in January 2026

Kelly joined us in January 2026