IV Food Bank welcomes three new board members
IMPERIAL – Imperial Valley Food Bank recently welcomed three new board members to bring a fresh perspective, increase the various areas of expertise of its members, and ensure its board is diverse and reflective of its community.
According to a press release from the Imperial Valley Food Bank, Martin Gonzalez, court referee of the Imperial County Superior Court; Liz M. Gonzales, Agency Principal of Hart Insurance Center; and Juan Cruz, Superintendent of Heber Elementary School District, expanded the once 12-member board to its full 15-member potential.
“We have an excellent board, one of the best in the Valley. To keep a full contingency as a board with as many representations of our community as possible, we added new members to produce new ideas and perspectives,” Sara Griffen, executive director of Imperial Valley Food Bank said in the release.
MARTIN GONZALEZ
Born and raised in Northern California, Gonzalez attended Sonoma State University and graduated with a degree in Economics. After college, he attended the University of San Francisco School of Law and met his wife, an Imperial native. After graduating from law school and passing the California bar exam in 2009, Martin moved to Imperial County and began his legal career with the El Centro law firm Walker & Driskill. He then joined the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office in 2017, where he prosecuted narcotics and violent felony cases. In 2022, the Imperial County Superior Court chose Martin to serve as a Court Referee, and he presides over small claims and traffic cases. Martin lives in Imperial with his wife and two children. He enjoys watching his kids play soccer and dance, outdoor cooking, 49er games, and any fun activity with his family.
LIZ M. GONZALES
Gonzales’s professional agency career spans more than 40 years. It began in 1984 when she accepted a full-time job offer at Jack Hart Jr.’s insurance agency after graduating high school. Then, in 1985, after preparing for the state exam in Hartford, Connecticut,
Gonzales became licensed to sell insurance at 20 years old. In 1988, she was promoted to
Jack Hart Jr.’s personal lines insurance department manager and later acquired the agency in 2006. She named it Hart Insurance Center after Jack Hart Jr., her mentor and predecessor. Gonzales is also an active community member and was awarded the prestigious Branding Iron Award for her community service in Brawley in 2016. She serves on the Brawley Stockmen’s Club board and is a past president. She is also a former Brawley Chamber of Commerce president and has chaired the Brawley Chili Cook- Off Annual event. Residing in Brawley, Gonzales has been married to her husband David for 32 years; together, they have a 25-year-old daughter who teaches transitional kindergarten in San Diego and twins (boy and girl) who are freshmen at California Baptist University in Riverside, California.
JUAN CRUZ
With over 27 years of distinguished experience in education, Cruz’s career commenced in 1993 as a teacher. His formal journey into higher education began in 1996 as an adjunct faculty member at San Diego State University–Imperial Valley Campus. By 2001, Cruz had ascended to the principal role in various schools. This set the stage for his significant contributions to the Imperial County Office of Education in 2010, where Cruz held several pivotal positions, including Senior Curriculum Director, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, and Chief Student Services Officer. He was later appointed Heber Elementary School District Office superintendent in 2016. Beyond his professional achievements, Cruz is a devoted husband to his wife Stefanie and a loving father to their children. Active in his community, Cruz currently serves as the chairman of the board at Sun Community FCU, treasurer of the Heber Community Foundation, a member of Kiwanis International El Centro, and music minister of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
“We welcome these new members, who complement our existing members. Their different skill sets, expertise, and years of leadership in their various roles in the Valley will help IVFB continue to be led by excellent governors,” said Griffen.