OUR STAFF AT SONOMA FAMILY MEAL

Our dedicated staff at Sonoma Family Meal comprises of a diverse group of individuals who are deeply committed to helping people in the community through the power of nourishing food.

Whitney Reuling, Executive Director

Whitney Reuling is a native of Sonoma County, raised in Forestville on a small farm and vineyard. Prior to joining SFM, Whitney spent over a decade in New York City, developing and managing impactful programs providing nutrition and culinary education, healthy foods access, and job training. Whitney holds a sociology degree from Boston University, a culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, a Masters in Food Studies from NYU, and she was part of the 2020 class of the NYC Food Policy Center 40 under 40.

In her free time, Whitney loves to host dinner parties and enjoy the beauty and bounty of Sonoma County.

Heather AMES, Executive chef

Chef Heather comes from a varied background, having been everything from a glaciologist to a lunch lady to serving A-list celebrities at Skywalker Ranch. And that’s what we love so much about her because Chef Heather is always ready to pitch in with a mop or make perfect appetizers for an event. She worked for 9 years at San Francisco’s epic Farallon restaurant, opened Nick’s Cove with her husband, Matt Weinberger and has been a cornerstone of SFM’s vision of chef-made meals created with love and dignity since 2018.

Heather is a calm presence in our kitchen, a patient teacher and always makes fresh chocolate chip cookies when sh!t really hits the fan.

Leslie Gonzalez, Program MAnager

As the Program Manager, Leslie is the go-to person for all matters related to activities taking place in the kitchen. Born and raised in the heart of Sonoma Valley, she has devoted 4 years to the nonprofit industry. She is a graduate of Sonoma State University and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Social Work. Leslie is deeply passionate about giving back to the community and lending a helping hand in our kitchen. During her leisure time, she enjoys visiting the dog park with her two beloved dogs, Luna and Dog, exploring new places in the valley, and learning new recipes. Her favorite aspect of her new role is "giving back to the community."

Siriwan Sadompruek, ASSISTANT CHEF

Originally from the Isan region of Thailand, Siriwan Sadompruek is a passionate cook with experience in pastry and much more. She lives in Rohnert Park with her ten-year-old son, and in her free time, she prepares the dishes of her homeland, like chicken over rice and noodle soup. As the kitchen assistant Siriwan assists with the kitchen’s day-to-day operations, her favorite part of the role is "cooking for the community."

Zaira Rojas, Assistant chef

Introducing Zaira, the latest member of our kitchen team! Zaira was one of our top students from our 2023 Culinary Job Training Program and we were thrilled to have her working in our kitchen. Zaira is from Tijuana, Mexico and enjoys cooking and learning about Mexican food, especially tacos! Zaira joined us from McDowell Adult School in Petaluma and is currently enrolled in English classes while pursuing her GED.

Elias cisneros, Chef Instructor

With a passion for food and a desire to create unique and delicious meals, Chef Elias has built a successful career as a chef. Born and raised in the California Central Valley, he built his skills at the esteemed Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Sacramento and honed those skills at some of the most renowned Michelin-starred restaurants in the Bay Area, including Dio Deka, Alexander's Steakhouse, and Naschmarkt.

Chef Elias brings his expertise and experience of over sixteen years to Sonoma Family Meal. As the chef instructor, he will be leading our Culinary Training Program and connecting participants to meaningful work in the local culinary industry.

Jose Torres, ASSISTANT CHEF

Jose's love for food and culinary arts has been a driving force throughout his life. Having been a participant in our inaugural Culinary Job Training program, Jose attests to the profound impact it has had on his professional journey. He credits the program not only for honing his culinary skills but also for imparting invaluable lessons in teamwork and communication, qualities that have become pillars of his work ethos. What truly resonates with Jose is the opportunity to contribute to the community through his culinary expertise. His fervor for creating meals that enrich and benefit the local populace makes him an invaluable member of the Sonoma Family team.