At GRID Alternatives, our Board of Directors is a crucial part of being a success in the Central Valley and what better person than a homegrown candidate for the position.
Janine Medina is a Central Valley native that was born in Exeter, lived in Woodlake at a young age and grew up in Visalia. She graduated from Fresno State with a degree in Liberal Studies, with the intent to work as an elementary school teacher, then had a change of heart after graduating and instead found a job at a community-based organization, Proteus, Inc. She started her career working as an analyst for the Operations Department and over the 16 years with Proteus, she transitioned into the Chief Academic Officer responsible for all adult education programs. This is where she fell in love with community service and adult education and where she had my first experience working with GRID Alternatives Central Valley as partners in the solar training program. In 2018, She went to work for the Sequoias Adult Education Consortium as the Advanced Manufacturing Navigator and in February of 2021, began working for Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo as a Grants and Special Programs Coordinator. Janine is currently living in Morro Bay with her husband Jason, their daughter Mia, who is 11 and their chihuahua, Chip. They also have a daughter, Hannah, who is 22 and living in Eugene, Oregon.
Right now, her hope for the future is that a recovery can begin from the pandemic and everyone can work together as neighbors, friends, family, coworkers, and the community to unite and resolve the many issues that have resulted from COVID-19. The pandemic has created so many new challenges for all of us, but there are also lessons that can be learned and opportunities for positive change that she hopes we can take advantage of as we emerge out of our homes and back out into our communities.
Now that she is living in a new environment that has encouraged her to be outdoors more often, she loves to find new trails to explore with her daughter along the central coast. She also loves puzzles and collectibles, especially the horror genre and 80's movie memorabilia.
Janine is an asset to our Central Valley team, and we look forward to many years of collaboration and teamwork with her expertise and hopes helping to guide our regional office to be successful and a shining light in the GRID Alternatives organization.