Board & Advisors – Skills of Life

Molly Turner – Founder & Executive Director

Molly Turner is a licensed Occupational Therapist with over 25 years of experience supporting individuals with diverse learning and physical needs. Since beginning her practice in 1997, she has worked extensively in the school setting, helping youth with special and unique learning profiles build independence, confidence, and life skills.

In addition to her educational work, Molly has dedicated more than two decades to her local hospital, where she provides rehabilitation to patients recovering from cardiac and neurological injuries. Her dual experience in both clinical and educational environments has shaped her holistic approach to fostering growth, capability, and inclusion across all abilities.

Motivated by a growing need for meaningful employment opportunities for neurodiverse young adults, Molly founded Skills of Life Café, a nonprofit job training program that blends hands-on learning with community engagement. The café empowers teens and young adults with mild disabilities to gain practical work experience, strengthen social skills, and prepare for future employment in an inclusive, supportive environment.

James Russell – President

James Russell is a native Santa Cruzan who has over two decades of experience in behavioral health, crisis response, and community engagement, primarily in the government sectors. A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, he has led innovative crisis services across Santa Cruz County, including the implementation of 24/7 mobile crisis teams and non-law enforcement behavioral health responses. James recently retired from government employment as the Director of Access and Crisis Services, where he centered on supporting vulnerable populations with dignity and purpose. He continues to work part time in the crisis field and also volunteers with the SPCA. As Board President, James is committed to advancing the Cafe’s mission of empowerment, healing, and life skills development for all.

Cameron Haste – Vice President

Cameron Haste is the Executive Vice President/COO at Bay Federal Credit Union, the largest locally owned financial institution serving Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties. In this role, he provides leadership and oversight across operations, ensuring the organization’s strategy and priorities remain aligned.

He is committed to fostering a collaborative culture and guiding teams toward solutions that strengthen the credit union’s mission and improve the financial well-being of its members. He currently serves as Board Chair for Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County, board member for Hope Services, is a member of the SLVUSD Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (Measure S) and has served multiple terms as President of the San Lorenzo Valley Rotary Club.

Rachel Firpo – Secretary

Rachel is a prospective Occupational Therapy student with a BA in Psychology who has worked as an Equestrian OT Aide and is a Returned Youth and Development Specialist with Peace Corps Morocco. After creating independent-living video libraries for autistic young adults and parents of autistic teens in Santa Cruz County for four years, she is now glad to be working directly with community members, fostering self-confidence and independence.

Axel Loelhoeffel – Treasurer

Axel moved from Germany to Santa Cruz in 2011 and brings over 20 years of experience as a business operations and finance leader in the enterprise software industry. He has held senior roles in FP&A, business strategy, and product management, where he led global teams and managed large-scale budgets. Today, Axel supports local companies and nonprofits with financial planning and operational expertise, bridging strategy and execution to help organizations achieve their goals. Outside of work, he enjoys sailing on the Bay, gardening, and taking extended road trips in his camper van.

Colleen Martin-Garcia – Board Member

Colleen Martin-Garcia is a CPA and holds a BS degree in Economics from UC Santa Cruz and a Master’s in Accounting from San Jose State University. Colleen is an experienced financial leader with over 25 years of experience in Accounting and Finance. Colleen is currently serving as the Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer at CareDx, Inc. Prior to this role, Colleen was Senior Vice President of Finance and Sales Operations at Carbon, Inc., a 3D printing technology company, VP Corporate Controller at Polycom, the Corporate Controller at Plantronics, and spent nearly 10 years in the audit practice at KPMG LLP. Colleen also sits on the Board of the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County as the Board Treasurer. Colleen is a long-time resident in Santa Cruz County, first falling in love with the area while attending UCSC and ultimately relocating back to the area to raise her two children, which is her connection to Skills of Life Cafe because she met Molly through their children, and supporting our youth is one of her passions. In her free time, Colleen enjoys staying active, cooking, reading, and traveling.

MAKE A REAL IMPACT!

We’re seeking passionate, hands-on leaders to join our working board and help guide the growth of our nonprofit café that provides job training and employment for neurodivergent youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities in Santa Cruz County.

As a working board member, you’ll contribute your time, skills, and voice to support operations, fundraising, community outreach, and strategic direction. If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and help build inclusive employment opportunities – we’d love to connect with you!

PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND

Help keep our program strong and community united.

BECOME A VOLUNTEER