Butte College Foundation

"Tod Kimmelshue is a family farmer, retired ag finance/banking advisor and lifelong community volunteer. He attended Butte College from 1977-1979, and transferred to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where he earned a degree in ag business. He worked in the agricultural finance and banking industry for more than 35 years. He’s served on a number of community boards. He was elected Butte County Supervisor in 2021 and is presently the chair."

"Rigoberto Sanchez grew up in Hamilton City and attended Butte College from 2012-2015, while playing on the football team. He later transferred to the University of Hawaii on a football scholarship. In 2017, Rigoberto signed with the Indianapolis Colts. He remains committed to serving his community by hosting a free youth camp in partnership with the Indianapolis Colts and Hamilton City High School. He also has assisted with meals distributions for low-income families and participated in community service events in Indianapolis and his hometown."

"Dale Ott is the president and owner of Vitil Solutions Inc., a firm providing compliant desktop services for government and education clients. He attended Butte College in 1977 while working graveyard shifts to pay for his education. He earned his associate's degree in electronics in 1979 followed by his bachelor's and master's degree. Dale received an offer to work for IBM and has spent over 40 years in the industry. He credits his early success to his Butte College instructors and mentors."

"Dr. Laurel Hammang and Joel Belben are honored as a couple, which is fitting since they met while attending Butte College as members of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. Both attended Butte in 2008 and transferred to 4-year universities. After earning her associate's degree in biology, Dr. Hammang earned a bachelor's degree and MBA. She graduated with her Doctorate of Optometry and completed her residency at UC Berkeley. She owns an optometry practice in Chico. Joel is a senior manager at Ernst & Young, and works in environment, health, safety and sustainability consulting, in-process improvement and digital enablement."

"Dr. Erek Helseth specializes in general neurology, spinal disorder and vascular neurology. Dr. Helseth began his higher education at Butte College at the age of 15 after being homeschooled. He said Butte College provided the perfect pathway between his non-traditional schooling and four-year university, setting him up for success. He earned his medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 2003 and has practiced for more than 17 years. "

"Dr. Veronica Hooper is the Physician Executive for Multicare in Tacoma Washington. Veronica grew up in Durham and became the first in her family to attend college when she enrolled at Butte in 1992. Although her parents had not completed high school, they stressed the importance of higher education and Veronica says she knew by the 7th grade that she wanted to become a doctor. Veronica says Butte College helped her gain her confidence as she served as an orientation leader and was active in student government. Veronica transferred to UC Davis where she earned a bachelor of science degree in genetics in 1996. She attended Western University of Health Sciences Pomona and became a doctor of osteopathic medicine in 2000.

Veronica has three children and resides in Gig Harbor, Washington."

"Marisa and Travis MacKenzie are the first alumni to be honored together, which is fitting since they met at Butte College. Marisa said her Butte family changed her life by helping her learn to trust herself and gave her confidence in her abilities. Marisa transferred to UC Davis, earning a bachelor of science in exercise biology and she competed in track & field. She later enrolled in the UC Davis Physician Assistant Program and is a Physician Assistant for Shasta Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. Travis MacKenzie came to Butte College by way of British Columbia, Canada to play football in 2001. Travis says he chose Butte College for its football program and his experience was “extraordinary.” Travis planned to major in English but discovered athletic training. He earned a scholarship to NorthWest Missouri State University and later attended Saint Georges University, School of Medicine. Travis is the Director of Emergency Services, Trauma, Sepsis, Chest Pain & Stroke at Abilene Regional Medical Center in Texas. Marisa and Travis have two children with one on the way, and reside in Redding, CA."

Berton Bertagna has a strong family background in agriculture that dates back four generations. Growing up in Chico, Bertagna attended Butte College and earned a degree in agriculture business, graduating in 1993.

Berton owns several agricultural businesses including Bertagna Orchards, Bertagna Son Kissed Vineyards, and Almendra Winery and Distillery. Giving back to the community for more than 20 years is very important to Berton. He has been active with the California Wine Institute, Butte College Wine/Viticulture Committee, North Valley Hockey, Chico High agriculture, local FFA and 4H.

Student athlete Nate Parks attended Butte College from 1991 to 1994 and led the Roadrunners to several championships and two bowl game wins. He transferred to Stanford University where he played football for three years and graduated with a degree in economics and minor in sociology.

He was a 7th round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs and played for two years, later played in NFL Europe, and played three years with the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers. Upon retiring from the NFL, Nate worked in the financial field and then went to work in his family business as the vice president with ProPacific Fresh produce company. He later purchased the company with his brother and has worked to grow the family-owned business, which has received a number of awards.

Arnoldo Avalos is the youngest of seven children who worked as migrant farm workers across the Northwest while growing up in Gridley. Avolos attended Butte from 1986-1991 while enrolled at Gridley High School, and went on to earn a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and a Master's Degree from Harvard University. Avalos enjoyed a successful career in management, working for companies such as Cisco Systems, Google, and Facebook.

In 2013 he co-founded the Avalos Foundation with his wife. The private foundation aims to provide scholarships and mentorship to students from the upper Sacramento Valley who lack the resources to help them succeed. Arnoldo is also a member of the Latino Community Foundation Board of Trustees and a founding member of Hermanos Unidos in 1989. In 2014, he was appointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors by Governor Jerry Brown, where he helps oversee 113 community colleges.

Student athlete and honors student, Kory Honea received his law enforcement training in the 81st Basic Law Enforcement Academy at Butte College and earned his AA Degree in Social Science in 1991.

He joined the Butte County Sheriff's Office in 1993 when he was hired as a Deputy Sheriff. Climbing the ranks, Sheriff Kory Honea became the 31st Sheriff of Butte County in 2014. Ho-NEE also holds a Juris Doctorate from Taft School of Law and is a member of the State Bar of California.

Alex DuBose, owner of Rental Guys in Chico attended Butte College beginning in the Fall of 1990, taking business and agriculture classes. At the age of 21, DuBose took over the daily operations of Rental Guys in Chico from his father.

Rental Guys has been a family-owned business since 1972. Over the last 23 years, DuBose has expanded the business from the single store into a chain with locations in Chico, Gridley, Red Bluff, Redding, and Susanville. In 2012, Alex was awarded the Small Business of the Year by State Assemblyman Dan Logue, 3rd District. A long-time resident of Butte County, DuBose was honored for his business success and ability to grow a business with 30 employees, during a tough economy.

Jerry Smith's journey with the Butte County Sheriff's Office has spanned 36 years. Smith attended the 12th Butte College Law Enforcement Academy in 1977 and started with the Sheriff's Office as a reserve at 19 years old.

He was hired full time a year later. Jerry advanced through the ranks of deputy, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and sheriff and was instrumental in developing the Sheriff's Aviation Program – now known as one of the best law enforcement aviation programs in Northern California. Smith became the County's 30th sheriff on Dec. 31, 2009, when appointed by the Butte County Supervisors.

He later ran unopposed and retired from the Butte County Sheriff's Office in 2014. Smith has had a diverse law enforcement career, holding nearly every assignment available from corrections to investigations"

Butte College alumna and entrepreneur Mary Mooney attended Butte College from 1982-1984 and transferred to earn her bachelor's degree from Chico State. Mooney Farms, founded in 1987, was a family-owned kiwi farming operation and Mary was instrumental in growing the business with her sales and marketing expertise.

Today, Mooney Farms is home to 50 full time employees, processes 10 million pounds of sun-dried tomatoes annually, and ships product around the world. The Chico-based, quarter-century-old company has catapulted sun-dried tomatoes into a culinary staple, and produces 75 percent of the sun-dried tomatoes consumed in the nation. From the time Mooney Farms began, Mary performed many of the daily functions of operations and administration. With their move to Chico and large growth, Mary's main focus became sales and marketing, tradeshows, key corporate sales, and expanding international business.