Chief Executive Officer

Lisa is Chief Executive Officer of the Sonoma County Alliance, a coalition of business, agriculture, labor and individuals organized to protect private property rights, to encourage a healthy economy, to maintain a sound environment, and to promote a responsive political process. Lisa works with organizati0ns such as the SCOE, the Sonoma County EDB and the Business Consortium of Executive Directors to promote economic development in Sonoma County for the Alliance. In 2010, the Alliance joined with NCBE and NBLC to start the North Bay Jobs and Prosperity Project, a voter educatio and jobs focused website. The program is managed by the Lisa and the other CEO's of the partner organizations.

Lisa Wittke Schaffner was born and raised in Healdsburg, California. She graduated from California State University Sacramento in 1991 with degrees in Government and Journalism.

In 1999 Lisa was elected to Healdsburg City Council. She was Vice-Mayor from December 2002 until December 2003 and again in 2007. She became Mayor of Healdsburg in December of 2003 and again in December 2007, retiring from Council at the end of 2008. In 2010, Lisa as appointed to the Council to serve out an existing vacant term and stepped down in November.

As a City Councilmember she was responsible for housing, public safety, public concerns, park and recreation, infrastructure. As Mayor her responsibilities included chairing all meetings of the City Council and Redevelopment Agency, management of the airport and as Public Utilities Chairperson for the Healdsburg Electric Utility Department. Lisa also works closely with legislative staff and elected officials on a State and Federal level to convey Healdsburg's needs and positions.

In 2003 Lisa was appointed by Sonoma County Mayors & Councilmember's Association to the Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO), where she reviewed proposals for the formation of new local government agencies and changes of organization to new policies recently leaving the commission after serving as vice chair. Lisa was Vice Chair of the Sonoma County Transportation Authority, a member of the Indian Gaming Local Benefit Committee, a board member of the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce. In 2007, Lisa was named to the "Top 40 under 40" list and in 2008 named Woman in Business Award winner for Economic Development. In 2009, Lisa was appointed to the Sonoma County Planning Commission and in 2010 the Sonoma County Fair Board.

The City Council retirement put more focus on the Sonoma County Innovation Action Council and an appointee to the Health Action Council.

She also is the owner and director of Simplified Productions, an event planning and fundraising company that caters to government, non-profit agencies and business.

Prior to her work in local government, Lisa was Regional Director of Specialized Markets for MCI from 1994 to 1997. There she received the President's Award for achieving the goal of being the top 1% of all sales personnel throughout the world of MCI.

Lisa's community service further includes; Chairperson for Women at Ground Zero, where she planned all facets of a five day event that raised $140,000, Secretary for the Healdsburg Youth Soccer League, School Council member for St John School in Healdsburg, Retired Founding Board Member of the Sonoma County Community Foundation- Healdsburg Affiliate Fund, Regional Member of the High School Programs Committee and Soroptimist International of Healdsburg. Lisa is also President of the newly formed H-Town Youth Theatre.

Lisa is a 41 year old mother of two children a daughter McKenzie, 14 and son Malloy, 11.

Lisa Wittke Schaffner
707-484-7805