Career Day

Claire Blocker is the principal and co-founder of Parc Studio, a full-service, boutique interior design team serving California. She is committed to developing customized designs for her clients, and works closely with them to create timeless spaces that will inspire. Claire takes great pleasure in being involved with every studio project and developing personal relationships with each client.

I look back at my time at SFHS as one of discovery and empowerment. My teachers nurtured my intellectual and cultural curiosity which eventually lead me to UC Berkeley, Venice Italy, then NYC to pursue a career in textiles. Over many years honing my design and business skills, I became an entrepreneur, teacher, and influencer. Known as the Trim Queen, I chronicle and share how the design community uses trimmings as a powerful tool in fashion, decor and DIY.

Hannah Gonzales is currently a Project Manager at McMaster-Carr, an ecommerce and industrial supplies company based near Chicago, IL. Her work is focused on business operations and people management, aimed at helping shape the hundred-year-old company’s continued growth and evolution. Previously, she spent three years in Washington, DC, working in the research & consulting and tech startup spaces at Quadrant Strategies and most recently, Morning Consult.

Tooka Zokaie is a Certified Public Health Professional and the Manager for Fluoridation and Preventive Health Activities at the American Dental Association. Her work includes educating and collaborating with community leaders on public health topics including community water fluoridation, tobacco cessation, school-based oral health, interprofessional collaboration, and nutrition. Her work integrates the importance of oral health when addressing total health questions.

Elizabeth is a higher education professional specializing in career and internship advising, program and curriculum development, and event planning. Throughout college at the University of Oregon, Elizabeth worked in the University Housing Office and was involved with the St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center through the student leadership team. After majoring in English and minoring in French and Business, she moved to France for a year to teach English through the Teaching Assistant Program in France. In Normandy, she lived in a house with six French roommates.

Selena Shannon has been a part of the UTA Inclusion & Human Resources team since September 2019. She helps to manage the company’s employee inclusion groups, inclusion trainings and speakers, and helps to facilitate HBCU and HACU engagements.

She previously worked at Circle of Confusion, a Management & Production company in Culver City. There she managed the internship program and social media accounts while establishing HR processes for the smaller-sized company.

After graduating from SFHS, I spent two years at Sacramento City College and received my AS in Science, Math & Engineering. I then transferred to UCDavis. While attending classes at UCDavis I worked as a technician at AT&T. I graduated with a BS Degree in Environmental Biology & Management. I stayed with AT&T for several years but the world of environmental issues was calling to me.

I was born and raised in Sacramento along the American River Parkway – it was there that I developed my love and affinity for the outside world. During my college years at CSUS I was drawn to the work of NGO’s that focused on environmental and EJ issues abroad – it was these interests that ignited my passion to help those with little to no voice (indigenous peoples, threatened ecosystems, endangered animals, the planet). These concerns ultimately guided my choice of major: BA in Environmental Studies w/a minor in Communications.

Katie Lucas is a visual artist and animator working in the video gaming industry. She graduated from SFHS in 2010, and received her bachelors in animation from Loyala Marymount University in 2014.

Katie has worked on all sides of the game development pipeline - including testing, design, marketing and production. As a game designer at Nix Hydra she developed interfaces and mechanics for multiple mobile titles.

Jill Miller is an impact driven leader with over 20 years of experience in global development. She developed her passion for innovation, learning and strategic talent development while leading and advising democracy and governance, education, gender and youth development programs around the world and seeing how strong strategies and learning approaches lead to innovation, talent development and ultimately greater impact.

Prior to starting a career in State government, Sandra Sanders has a professional history of 26 years as a political consultant for former Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi and former Senator Cathleen Galgiani. Most recently in the State Senate, Sandra has worked as a Legislative Aide managing Senator Galgiani’s bill priorities for over two years. Currently, Sandra is a Committee Assistant for the Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee.

Elena Fricke is a Registered Dietitian (RD). Originally from Sacramento, she graduated from SFHS in 2014. She then attended the University of Alabama where she completed her dietetic internship and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nutrition. She currently works as a Clinical Dietitian at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where she specializes in providing medical nutrition therapy to hospitalized patients. She is especially interested in nutrition support for critical illness, surgery, and gastrointestinal disorders.

Lindsay Trottier, DACM L.Ac. is a board-certified acupuncturist and doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine practicing in San Diego, CA.
Dr. Trottier first entered the profession of health and wellness as a certified personal trainer and then as a receptionist in an acupuncture clinic. As a competitive student-athlete, Dr Trottier has always been interested in functional movement and healthy recovery. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, she was inspired to begin her training in acupuncture and herbal medicine.

Leena Riggs is a hospitality and tourism professional. Past employers include the Sacramento Kings, Universal Orlando Resort, and Walt Disney World Resort.

Chelsea Shannon has five years of experience as a journalist and is a three-time Emmy award winner. She currently writes and researches news stories for ABC10 in Sacramento. This past year, Chelsea focused on informing people in Sacramento about the latest coronavirus pandemic updates.

Chelsea was raised here in Sacramento, went to the University of Portland, and graduated from Arizona State University. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Digital Audience Strategy.

1LT Amanda Black joined the New Mexico Army National Guard in 2017. She signed her initial contract using the “Basic to BOLC” program. She received her commission through the Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Benning, Georgia after completing Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Allison graduated from St. Francis in 2017 (go Stitch!) and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with minors in Ecology & Environmental Sciences and Pre-Law from Dominican University of California, graduating in December 2020. She recently took a job with the Bay Area based non-profit, SHE-CAN. Allison works with mentors, volunteers, and universities to help young women from post conflict countries win scholarships to U.S. colleges and return home to be leaders. In college, Allison interned with the Marin County Board of Supervisors and then U.S.

Hi! I’m Stephanie, and I am a Bay Area based international associate sales manager at Chronicle Books, a book and gift publishing company. I have a BA in English Lit from Humboldt State and a Masters in Publishing Studies for University of Stirling in Scotland. While studying in Scotland, I interned for a small publishing company called Canongate Books. Once I graduated, I took a position at Chronicle Books in international sales. I have always loved books and travel, and this job gives me the best of both worlds.

Over the years, my varying experience has led me to some wonderful experiences, with amazing people. I have a passion for turning around underperforming businesses, streamlining operations, hiring and developing talent, and creating customer-centric environments. I have a keen understanding of how new technology and a changing economy keep businesses in constant evolution and that to survive, an organization must focus on making the customer experience as easy and timely as possible.