First 5 Solano Commission, October 2019

Neely McElroy, Chair
(Term: May 05, 2022 - December 15, 2024)

Neely McElroy was born in Des Moines, Iowa and grew up moving every few years throughout her childhood to states like Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Once she visited California and experienced its grandeur (and warmth), she knew she had to relocate and has been settled in the Bay Area since 1990. She currently resides in Concord, California with her husband. They have two young adult children, one a rising college Junior and the other a rising freshman. She credits the outstanding Montessori preschool education they received for their love for learning.

Neely serves as the Deputy Director of Child Welfare Services in Solano County. Neely is a social worker by profession, receiving her Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in Human Development and Social Policy and her Master’s in Social Worker from UC Berkeley. In addition to her 25 years working in Child Welfare for Santa Barbara, Contra Costa and Solano Counties, she has experience in foster care, adoptions, and child care.

Neely strives to create a trauma-responsive organization that serves the children and families of Solano County with respect, dedication and empathy.


Erin Hannigan
(Term: January 1, 2022- December 31, 2022)
Erin is a life-long resident of Solano County. She was raised in Fairfield where her passion for volunteer work was fostered. As newlyweds, Erin and her husband Randall made Vallejo their home and soon became an active member of the community, joining the Vallejo Architectural Heritage Neighborhood Association and fundraising for the St. Basil School Parents Club while her children Connor and Hannah attended the school. As a mother, Erin understands the importance of the health and well-being of families. She is seeking solutions to ensure those in need in our community are connected to essential services.

As a businesswoman, Erin understands the value of having good paying jobs in her community, and she is focused on growing the opportunities of local employment for residents. In 2004, Erin facilitated relocating the call center of a national insurance company and 220 jobs to the Vallejo Waterfront. She has served on the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Board. Through her involvement in the Vallejo Education and Business Alliance, Erin is focused on improving the graduation rates from Vallejo’s high schools. As a County Supervisor, Erin is continuing her work to retain our existing employers, attract new businesses and industry, and connect employers with job seekers who have the right skills for a vibrant economy.

Erin’s public service career began when she served on the Vallejo Community Development Commission, distributing Community Development Block Grant funds to neighborhoods and organizations in Vallejo. In 2007, Erin was elected to the Vallejo City Council and led Vallejo through extremely tough economic times. She supported a balanced approach to the budget deficit, striving to provide necessary services. She was influential in creating a citywide communication strategy, which gave the employees and the community transparency on the important information facing Vallejo’s leaders. Erin also worked to develop SolTrans, the consolidated bus system for Vallejo and Benicia, which has been a reliable and convenient mode of transportation since its inception.




Tyffany Wanberg
(Term: September 24, 2019 - September 22, 2023)
Tyffany was raised throughout California as a child of a US Navy veteran. Tyffany’s family has deep ties to Solano County through their decades of work at Travis Air Force Base, Mare Island and California Medical Facility. Tyffany graduated from Will C. Wood High School in Vacaville and went on to receive an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Solano Community College, a Bachelors Degree from Brigham Young University in Sociology and a Masters in Psychology from Chapman University.

Tyffany has worked in Social Services for almost 20 years throughout Solano County. Tyffany and her husband of 15 years are the parents of 3 boys, all of whom are adopted. She is a Resource (foster/adoptive) parent and a caregiver for her special needs child. Tyffany currently uses her education and experience to provide trainings for the Foster Kinship Care Education Program-Solano & Los Medanos Community Colleges and as a Triple P Parent Education Coach.





Lisette Estrella-Henderson, Vice Chair
(Term: February 26, 2019 - March 2, 2023)
Lisette was raised in Solano County having come here as a child in a military family stationed at Travis Air Force Base. She now lives in Vacaville with her husband of nearly 30 years and her daughter who is a senior in college. Lisette has served as an Educator in Solano County for over 31 years. Her career began in the Dixon Unified School District where she worked for over 20 years in a variety of capacities including bilingual classroom teacher, English Learner Program Coordinator, Reading Specialist, Mentor Teacher, site Principal, and Director of Interventions.

Lisette has taken on the role of Superintendent of Schools with the Solano County Office of Education (SCOE), her previous position being Associate Superintendent of Student Programs and Educational Services. Lisette led the Special Education Programs for students with moderate to severe disabilities and directed a diverse array of educational services such as professional development, district and school support, school readiness, youth development, programs serving foster and homeless youth, and Juvenile Court and Community School Programs at SCOE’s Fairfield campus and the Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility.

Lisette’s broad knowledge, experience, and leadership abilities have gained statewide respect, and she proudly represents Solano County public education as an active member of several leading educational and community organizations.

Lisette earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis, and a Master’s degree in Education from the California State University, Sacramento. In addition to her California Teaching Credential, she also holds her Bilingual Specialist and Administrative Services Credentials and is a certified leadership coach.




  Tiffanee Jones
(Term: August 3, 2021 - August 3, 2025)

Tiffanee Jones is a lifelong Vallejo resident who attended Vallejo public schools. She is a graduate of  Dr. James J. Hogan Senior High School.
She received her Bachelor's degree from Morris Brown College in Atlanta Georgia where she majored in Business Administration-Organizational
Management and  minored in Education. She holds certifications in Dropout Prevention, Restorative Justice and  Kimochis S.E.L.

Miss Jones is a former Correctional Officer and Probation Officer with the State of Georgia turned Educator. For the last 14 years,
she has served in various roles of student support in the cities of Oakland and Vallejo. She is currently an Academic Support Provider
with the Vallejo City Unified School District and the current Associate Director of the Willie B. Adkins Scholars Program formerly known
as the Tanner Project.

Miss Jones serves actively in the community. She is currently one of the Directors of the

Community Democratic Club of Vallejo and serves as the clubs alternate on the Solano County

Democratic Central Committee. She is a member of California Democratic Parties African

American Caucus,Children’s Caucus, LGBT Caucus, BWOPA (Black Women Organized for Political Action) Napa Solano Chapter and the
Solano County Black Chamber of Commerce Executive Board.

Tiffanee has dedicated time and resources to ensure that students and families thrive no matter what their circumstances are. Her favorite
quote is “Children are the message we send to a future we shall not see”. Her life’s work is to continue to send positive messages through our youth to the future. “Commitment, Community, Collaboration”


  Nimat Shakoor-Grantham 
(Term: October 05, 2021 - October 05, 2025)

Nimat Shakoor-Grantham was born in Nashville, Tennessee and grew up in East Palo Alto, California. She obtained a Bachelor's degree in Urban Studies, a Master's degree in Public Administration, and a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology. Nimat worked for 30 years for local governments, and now works as a Therapeutic Behavioral Clinician working with traumatized youth and their families in Oakland, California. Nimat is the co-founder of Benicia Black Lives Matter, and NAACP member, and a member of the City of Benicia's Committee for Unity and Racial Equity (CURE). She has been a resident of Benicia for 20 years.



   Roger Robinson
(Term: March 04, 2024 - March 03, 2028)

Roger Robinson is currently the Assistant Director for Health & Social Services in Solano County. Roger came to California from Florida and Nebraska where he has a vast experience in Social Services. He graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s in Criminology, a Bachelor’s in Sociology and a Master’s in Applied Social Research and Statistics at the age of 22. Roger worked for the Department of Children and Families for 11 years in leadership roles, and he assisted Florida in redesigning their Child Welfare System of Care. He implemented many Statewide Initiatives, and he is a Subject Matter Expert in many different components of Social Services. After leaving the Department of Children and Families, Roger worked for One Hope United as a Director of Operations II. Roger oversaw Diversion Services, Dependency Case Management, Independent Living, Adoptions, Wendy's Wonderful Kids, Foster Home Licensing and Baby Court for Orange and Osceola County in Central Florida. For two years Roger served as the Executive Director for the Child Advocacy Center, Child Protection Team and Sexual Assault Center for Broward County Government in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Roger was the Chair for the Circuit Child Abuse Death Review Committee, and he lead workgroups in the state to create training curriculums for Child Protection Teams Statewide. Roger served as the Deputy Director of Programs and Services for Children and Family Services and he had oversight over all programs and services for Economic Assistance, Child Support and Protection and Safety. Roger worked closely with Children and Family Services federal partners on program guidance and funding for the State of Nebraska, managing a billion-dollar budget. Roger is dedicated to servicing the community and providing a solid foundation for individuals and children and families in Solano County.


 

Nikila Walker-Gibson
(Term: June 06, 2023 - May 31, 2027)

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Fairfield, California, since the age of 4, Nikila Walker has a strong connection to the community she serves. She studied Early Childhood Development and owned a preschool/daycare for 10 years that focused on holistic child and family development while promoting environmental stewardship. An entrepreneur at heart, Nikila has successfully launched and managed multiple businesses, including ventures in strategic marketing and community engagement.

Her dedication to nurturing young minds and supporting families aligns with her broader commitment to equitable economic development and environmental justice. As a Solano First Five Commissioner, Nikila is passionate about fostering a thriving and inclusive community for children and families throughout Solano County.

 












See a list of past Commissioners