Board

Kris Waller, Board President

Email: kriswaller@benitolink.com

Kris Waller grew up in Hollister and attended local schools including San Benito High and Gavilan College where she served as the editor for both of the school newspapers. She finished her education at San Jose State in Graphic Arts and worked at FreeLance Printing until opening her own graphic design business which she operated for 10 years. During this time, she served on the Chamber of Commerce and the Hollister Downtown Association Boards. After selling her business, she changed career paths to the corporate world, working for Thomson and Wadsworth Publishing printing college textbooks followed by 8 years at HSBC Bank/Capital One managing the print buying team for marketing materials and promotional items. Her last career change was working for Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation where she got her experience running a non-profit organization. She served four years as Associate and two years as Director before retiring in 2020.
She and her husband, Danny, have two grown sons in the wine business so they are enjoying retirement together with events usually involving wine tasting. She is still active as a member of Gabilan Chapter Seneca (formerly Kinship Center) where she has volunteered for several decades and has chaired the annual Wine & Food Tasting fundraisers many times.

Shawn P. Herrera, Board Vice-President

Email: shawnherrera@benitolink.com

Serial Entrepreneur, Non-Profit Board Member, and Educational Philanthropist, Shawn is a native to the Silicon Valley and has now come back to family origins to set deeps roots in San Benito County. Shawn has 20+ years of successful business and technology leadership experience which encompasses strategy, operations, sales and marketing, and product and business development.  Shawn has led several world’s first product innovations and built business ventures in the Compute/IT, Real Estate, and Entertainment industries.  He has received industry recognitions and has co-authored multiple patents.
Shawn is also chairman of the board of the Shawn P. Herrera Foundation, founded to provide support for deserving students in STEM achievement. Through donations to academic and supplementary programs, as well as University Scholarships, Shawn seeks to provide prosperous futures for those students willing to take responsibility to the highest level.
Shawn is also an active member of the LULAC council where he has committed his time to helping serve the LULAC youth as well as the community at large. He is an Executive Board member of the San Benito County Business Council. Shawn is further committed to assuring the success of San Benito County business and how it serves the greater good.

Heather Callens, Board Treasurer

Email: heathercallens@benitolink.com

Heather was raised in a 3rd generation ranching family in Santa Clara County.  She graduated from UC Davis with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics.  She is currently the Underwriting & Credit Delivery Executive for American AgCredit, which specializes in providing financial services to agricultural customers throughout the West and Midwest.  Heather joined the BenitoLink board in 2021.  She has also been involved in the San Benito County Cattlewomen, San Benito County Farm Day, and Ag Against Hunger.  Heather resides in Paicines with her husband, Ed, where they run a commercial cow-calf operation.

AnnMarie Barragan, Board Member

Email: annmariebarragan@benitolink.com

AnnMarie Barragan, a Gilroy native, moved to Hollister in 1986. She attended California State University, Chico, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government. She began her career in Silicon Valley, but at her father’s urging, she joined the family business—Golden Memorial Insurance Services in 1991.

AnnMarie is a dedicated philanthropist and a past president of the Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation, widely recognized for her unwavering commitment to giving back to her community. In 2024, she was honored as Philanthropist of the Year in Santa Clara County by the Latino Family Fund—a testament to her impactful contributions and generous spirit.

She has made a lasting difference through her support of local schools, offering scholarships and sponsorships that empower high school students to pursue higher education. In addition to her educational initiatives, AnnMarie has volunteered with organizations such as the Hollister Tremors youth soccer program and Sacred Heart School, demonstrating her strong commitment to youth development and education.

A passionate mentor, Barragan is devoted to empowering women in business and fostering a culture of inclusivity both in the workplace and at home. Outside of her professional life, she cherishes time with her family. Her hobbies include extensive travel—especially to her favorite destination, New Zealand—staying active through fitness, supporting charitable causes, and attending professional sporting and cultural events with her loved ones.

Chang So, Board Member

Email: changso@benitolink.com

After attending UC Berkeley, Chang was curious about the internet and decided to join the technology industry. The startup that he was a part of was quickly acquired by Yahoo! and he spent 6+ years at Yahoo! in the design and usability group. Looking to slow down and raise his family, he turned back to San Benito County and joined his father to operate the family business, Hollister Super. Chang So joined the board of BenitoLink in late 2020. He found that the grassroots campaign to get local news out to the community to be fascinating and was honored to be asked initially to serve on one of the committees. Chang has served as a board member of various groups and organizations one of which is the Community Foundation for San Benito County. Chang believes, “Giving back is how we build a strong community.” 

Dave Wright, Board Member

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Dave Wright’s family moved to Hollister in 1946. He attended local schools and was in the first graduating class of Gavilan College in 1964. Dave married in 1965 and got a job working at Hansen Labs – High Energy Physics at Stanford University. It was here that he learned the welding and fabricating trade in which he has been engaged for the last sixty years. After commuting to Palo Alto for seven years, he decided to create his own business at home in Hollister and give up the long drive which took three hours of his life every day. This was the beginning of Wright Bros & Sheet Metal which has served the community for fifty-three years.
In those ensuing years Dave has participated in a number of community organizations, from helping to create the World’s Largest Pizza with the local Elk’s Lodge, serving on the Workforce Investment Board, the Community Services Development Board, the board of Go-Kids, a provider of care services for low income children, a Vocational Advisory Board for Hollister High School and as a member of the Friends of the Library Expansion Committee. In 2004 Dave earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Career and Technical Studies. Dave has taught apprentice machining classes for the National Tooling & Machining Association and tech-prep glasses at Gavilan College. Giving is more than just repaying a debt to the community, it is a privilege.

Mike Graves, Board Member

Email: mikegraves@benitolink.com

Mike Graves is a fifth-generation resident of San Benito County. Growing up in Hollister, he attended Sacred Heart, San Benito High School, and Gavilan College. He holds a BA in Political Science from San José State University.
Mike was a Hollister Firefighter before he was elected to the San Benito County Board of Supervisors in 1984. As a supervisor, Mike served on several boards in Monterey, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties. In addition, Mike was active in the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and in 1995 elected President by his peers of County Supervisors. In 1996 Mike was hired as an executive with CSAC as the corporate relations manager, acting as a direct liaison with the Fortune 50 corporations doing business with California counties.
In 2005 Mike became a consultant to several California corporations, dealing with broad issues, including mobile homes, real estate development, and the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee.
Today, when the truth matters more than ever, Mike considers it an honor to be asked to serve on the BenitoLink Board and can think of no better way to give back to our community.

Phil Esparza, Board Member

Email: philesparza@benitolink.com

Phil Esparza has over 50 years of experience in the performing arts as an actor, technical director, media production specialist and producer.  He is a founding member of El Teatro Campesino and has worked closely with director/ playwright/ filmmaker, Luis Valdez. Phil retired after 25 years as the Operations Manager of California State University Monterey Bay World Theater.  He serves on the Board of Directors of El Teatro Campesino and has served as a board member of the Western Alliance of Arts Administrators, the California Association of Local Arts Agencies, the California Theater Council and the Pacific Peoples Theater Festival. Phil has served on various grant making panels for local, state, national and international theater and film agencies and foundations. He also serves as Board President of the Digital Media Foundation (Salinas, CA), Board Member of BenitoLink (San Benito County), California Presenters and Chairperson of the Access Committee of the San Juan Bautista Rotary.  

Rohit Sharma, Board Member

Email: rohitsharma@benitolink.com

Rohit joined the BenitoLink team in 2015, serving as Board President since 2016, the year BenitoLink was incorporated as a 501c(3).  He stepped down as president in 2025. It was an opportunity of a lifetime, building upon what the founders envisioned–a hyperlocal news and information website serving San Benito County.  What drives Rohit to serve is the dedication and passion of our team to deliver the kind of stories that matter to our county. He has a B.A. in Psychology from UCSB and a Master’s in Business Administration with an emphasis in Global Management.  As a real estate property manager,  he handles investments in a  four-county region.  As a second-generation immigrant and having lived all over the globe, he has called San Benito County home since 1996. 

In Memoriam: Lois Locci, Founding Board Member

Email: loislocci@benitolink.com

A Hollisterian since 1999 (and a Silicon Valley escapee), Dr. Locci taught English and Intercultural Communication at De Anza College in Cupertino for years before adding a second career as chair of the education department of UC Extension, providing professional training in four counties and three countries. Also at UC, Dr. Locci led the development of Advanced Placement® and honors courses for the University of California College Prep Online until retiring in 2012. She served a four-year term as Trustee for Gavilan Joint Community College District and resides in “Southside Valley” with her extended family.

JOIN US!

Add meaning to your life and help strengthen San Benito County; become a BenitoLink board or committee member.

The BenitoLink board meets monthly and strives to have a business-oriented board with a representative mix of members reflecting the variety and character of San Benito County. Please feel free to contact a BenitoLink team member or board member and learn more about contributing as a committee or board member.

Contact: Leslie David-  lesliedavid@benitolink.com or Kris Waller- kriswaller@benitolink.com