Our Staff

Kim Mercier

Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Mercier is a proven leader who is known for her compassion, vision, and significant accomplishments. Kim brings to the Club a wealth of skills and expertise gained over the course of 20 years in an exemplary career with nonprofit management, as well as a decade of working in the judicial system as a former Magistrate for the State of Maryland and a Juvenile Officer and Court Referee for the state of Michigan.

Kim has built her career around helping others. She speaks openly and passionately about her commitment to empowering youth in systematically disadvantaged communities. Mercier’s role in leading the Club is grounded in the belief that everyone has unique potential, and our call is to help one another find it. Kim appreciates that this work of inspiring and igniting young people to step into their most full potential is best served by challenging herself and the staff to do the same.

“I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to serve as CEO for this incredible organization,” says Mercier. “I am humbled to step into this role and look forward to working with the board, staff, and our community to grow upon the impact we can make amongst our youth in Ukiah"
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 Susan Kalantarian   Bookkeeper/Administration
Susie has been with Boys & Girls Club of Ukiah since November 2010.  Her bookkeeping career began in Southern California working at an accounting firm in Los Angeles for 13 years.   Susie moved to Ukiah in December 2000 and continued with bookkeeping then adding realtor's assistant to her many skills. Branching out with her own bookkeeping business, Susie enjoyed training new organizations to use QuickBook and increasing her skill set before joining the BGCU team in 2010.

Susie says "I enjoy the challenge and the variety of tasks working for BGCU. When my eyes need a break from numbers and spreadsheets, I simply peek my head around the corner and observe Club Members doing something cute that makes me smile. I love my job!"
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Vanessa Curl
Program Staff

At the age of seventeen, the Boys & Girls Club of Ukiah (BGCU) became my second home and thereby made a powerful impact on my life. It was my first introduction to child development and elementary education. Since then, remnants of the BGCU have been sprinkled throughout my entire career. 

 After university I became a nomad. I spent the past seven years of my life teaching and living all over the world. I gave to many communities, except my own. And so, amid this crazy pandemic, I chose to return to my own community. More importantly, I chose to return to the place that gave me my start, the Boys & Girls Club of Ukiah. I work with an amazing team and every person here works towards the same goals, to enable all children of our community, especially those who are marginalized, to become academically successful, and to become strong individuals who will take agency over their own education and outcomes.

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Edith Wise-Andrews

Program Staff


My name is Edith, I have been with Boys & Girls Club of Ukiah since Oct 2006. I started as a board member and volunteer. A few years later I became a staff member.


I have had the privilege to work in almost every role from newbee staff to Interim Program Coordinator. I have enjoyed being part of Boys & Girls Club because I have had the honor to watch our members grow from wee little ones into adulthood and be a positive part of our community. This process is amazing, our members are amazing.


In my free time I enjoy walking and hiking; moving and creating; and exploring ways to fix things or make things better. I am blessed to have my family, my husband, three children, son-in-law, and grandson.


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Yesenia Ceja-Valencia

Summer Program Staff


My name is Yesenia Ceja-Valencia. I am 22 years old and I am majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Sacramento State and minoring in Spanish.


My goal is to become a Speech Language Pathologist focused on working with children. I have always enjoyed working with children and working at the Boys & Girls Club this summer is the perfect opportunity to gain more experience with children of various ages and backgrounds.


In my free time I enjoy reading and writing poetry. I also love cooking and baking and I am hoping to integrate my hobbies to activities with the kids here at Boys  & Girls Club. I look forward to getting to know everyone this summer!


Lori MacDonald

Program Staff


Hi, I'm Lori MacDonald I have had the pleasure of working for BGCU since April of 2019.


I am the third grade power hour teacher and I love working and playing with our kids. Outside of work I enjoy camping, fishing and driving my race car on the weekends.

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Adan Ortega
Program Staff
Hello, my name is Adan Ortega and I am a staff at Boys & Girls Club of Ukiah.  As someone who enjoys learning about history it has been great assisting the growth of the future that these kids will create. 

Everything can be a learning experience and I think it is very important to remind everyone how we can grow and learn together. 

Outside of Club I do my best to enjoy my time with friends and family while putting time to read and learn more about history and major events.

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Sadie Andrews,

First Impressions Coordinator


2005 Club Alumni 

2020 BGCU Staff Member 


Hi my name is Sadie and I have been with the Boys & Girls Club since 1st grade. I have always wanted to help with every event; my first event was an Annual Crab Feast and I kept going from there. 


As a 1st -3rd grader I couldn't help with much because I was small and felt very clumsy ( all the staff members knew it too and helped me work through that stage of my life) but even that didn't stop me from helping. 


As I got older I was able to help with much more. I worked my way from being a Club member to LIT (Leader in Training) to becoming a volunteer, then becoming a Jr. Staff - now I am a full blown Staff Member. 


I am proud to be a Staff Member because I remember past staff members that helped through-out my time here at the Club when I was a member, which has helped me become who I am now. I want to do and be there for current members just like the past staff did for me.

 


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