Meet Our Team

A Group Dedicated to Improving Health Outcomes

Our people are what makes IHS special. Our collective academic background, professional experience, network of contacts, and passion for health and wellness. Each team member works with passion, commitment, and resiliency. We are invested and committed to the cause, both as an organization and personally for each employee.

This is a passion for us!

The IHS team has broad expertise/experience in healthcare, nutrition, policy, agriculture, and fundraising. We understand the landscape (policy, players, models, and systems) to make healthy change.

Norma

Dr. Norma Rodriguez de Lisenko

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Norma Rodriguez de Lisenko has been leading Innovative Health Solutions (IHS), formerly known as Healthy Cooking with Kids, Inc., since 2008. Our non-profit organization aims to bring public and private entities together to create collective policy, systems, and environmental changes that benefit the community.

With over twenty years of experience in public health advocacy, Dr. Lisenko has developed extensive expertise in funding development, organizational management, team building, contract management, program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation. My work has played a prominent role in creating joint policy, systems, and environmental changes between public and private organizations.In addition to being the CEO, I also serve as the Principal Investigator at IHS. My research is focused on Trauma Informed Nutrition Intervention for perinatal women of color. My research on this topic has been published in renowned academic journals.

Shawna West

Shawna West

Administrator

Shawna is a seasoned professional with nearly 20 years of experience in Public Healthcare Administration, specializing in HR compliance, regulatory standards, and team leadership. Throughout her career, Shawna has successfully managed public healthcare operations, ensuring compliance with health regulations while fostering collaborative environments that support both team well-being and high-quality patient care. She holds an HR Management Certification, which has enhanced her ability to lead diverse teams and navigate the complexities of human resources in health settings.

Before transitioning into public healthcare administration, Shawna was self-employed as a Certified Massage Therapist, gaining valuable hands-on experience in patient care and holistic health.

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Tess Lapira

Fiscal Administrator

Tess Lapira served as the Chief Financial Officer for Solano County's Health and Social Services Department. She was responsible for leading a team of fiscal managers and analysts in managing the department's $425 million budget, financial reporting and general accounting, oversight of federal and state grants, and contracts with various non-profit organizations. She retired from the County in May 2023. Tess has always wanted to support non-profits within our community in areas of fiscal management, accounting, and grant reporting. In February 2024, she joined Innovative Health Solutions as a Fiscal Administrator.

Gio

Gio Miramontes, MA

Programs Manager

Gio is a health educator, fitness trainer, and nature lover. In her role at IHS, she helps develop tools and resources for the community, IHS partners, and other groups and organizations. Physical fitness is a passion for Gio, and she has dedicated much of her career to helping others improve their health and wellness. A certified strength and conditioning coach and performance enhancement specialist, Gio manages Fall Prevention classes and other fitness training programs, and she has also worked as an elementary physical education teacher.

Denise

Denise Kirnig

Special Project Advisor 
 

Denise Kirnig retired from Solano County with 30 years of service with the Solano County Health and Social Services Department, Public Health Division. Denise was the Senior Health Services Manager/Nutrition Services Bureau Chief and oversaw the WIC Program, Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program, and the CalFresh Healthy Living Program for 28 years.  During her 28 years with the Nutrition Service Bureau she worked on several initiatives including a Clinical Nutrition Team, a Dental Health project, Baby Behavior research with UC Davis, SolanoWORKS, Children and Weight Coalition, Food and Nutrition Network of Solano County, Motivational Interviewing Mentorship Project, nutrition team in the Vallejo City Unified School District, Communities of Excellence in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention, Eat Fresh, Buy Local, Stay Healthy program and the Solano County Employee Wellness Program.  Denise served as the President of the California Conference of Local Health Department Nutritionists, on the California WIC Association Board, WIC Task Force, and California WIC Healthy Habits Begins at Birth Committee.

During her last two years with Solano County, Denise worked in Public Health Administration and managed the Epidemiology Team and the Whole Person Care project. She is a Registered Dietitian and has a master’s in health science.

Christine

Christine Katzenmeyer, RD

Registered Dietitian 
 

Christine is a Registered Dietitian with Innovative Health Solutions. She is working with a team to provide medically tailored meals. Her priority is to create plans to cater to individual health needs for patients facing medical conditions and would benefit from a "food as medicine" approach to improving long term health goals. As a part of IHS, Christine advocates for equitable access to nutrias food, recognizing the systematic barriers that prevent many from obtaining proper nourishment. Her goal is to address social determinants of health and collaborating with community organizations, she strives to make nutrition available to all. Christine also works with the local health department to expand and improve prenatal care options for perinatal Black women while collaborating with local organizations, local chefs, local farmers and doulas. She also works with the CalFresh Program to provide Healthy Cooking With Kids in the Solano County schools. 

Wendy

Wendy Tobiasson

Data Analyst

As a data analysis specialist, Wendy Tobiasson believes in the power of numbers, the stories they can tell, and how data can drive positive changes in public health and wellness. Wendy is personally and professionally committed to improving local food systems and infrastructures. Her entire career has focused on sustainable, climate-positive initiates and she has spent many years designing, implementing, and evaluating energy efficiency programs across the US and around the globe. Wendy joined IHS after collaborating with the organization as part of the Marin Food Policy Council, and brings her expertise in data analysis, program planning, and collective impact to the IHS team.

Janet

Janet Miramontes, MS

Programs Assistant

Janet came to IHS as an intern in Fall 2021, focusing on communications with the HealthRx program and collecting and organizing all data for reporting. After six months of working with IHS, Janet was promoted to Programs Assistant displaying her strong skills in communications, marketing, and data reporting. She brings a bright and lively spirit to the team, ready to accomplish any task presented before her.  When she’s not working, Janet is the Head Coach for Carondelet High School’s Rugby Team.

Juliana

Juliana Biggs, BA

Health Educator and License Trainer

Juliana is a Health Educator and Licensed trainer at IHS. She currently teaches cooking classes with kids and exercises classes with adults. She strives to provide a fun, engaging approach to nutrition and health to help people of all ages reflect on how they are nourishing their bodies with food and exercise. After returning home to the Bay during the pandemic, she became invested in serving the community she grew up in and interned at Solano Public Health. The work of public health swept her away and she has been a part of it ever since. She is passionate about addressing the root causes of health inequities in our communities and she hopes to further her education by pursuing a master’s degree.

Skyler

Skyler Lacey

Program Support and Communications Specialist

Skyler joined Innovative Health Solutions as an Intern in August of 2023, assisting with teaching Healthy Cooking for Kids and both internal and external communications. Skyler's passion is developing engaging messaging on social media and strategizing the best ways to reach out to local communities. She believes the best way to invoke growth within communities is investing time and resources into them, drawing her interest to the programming and classes IHS creates. 

Janene

Janene Biggs

Bingocize Instructor

Janene is a Bingocize instructor for four facilities in the Solano/Napa area. Bingocize is a program designed for older adults together them out of the house, socialize, do some low-key exercises, and have some fun. She enjoys interacting with her die-hard regulars and seeing how far they have come along, and she welcomes newbies.

Trish

Trish Barnes, MS

Program Analyst

Trish is a dedicated professional with a passion for public health, nutrition and wellness. With over a decade of experience as a Regional WIC Nutritionist at the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Western Regional Office in San Francisco, Trish served as a crucial link between state and federal agencies, providing technical assistance and ensuring the effective delivery of WIC nutrition services. Trish started her career as a Registered Dietitian working for the WIC Program in Kern County, then transitioned to the Solano County Health and Social Services Department. As a Supervising Public Health Nutritionist, Trish oversaw clinic operations and counseled clients in the Solano WIC and Comprehensive Perinatal Services Programs.

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Monique Scott, MPH

Assistant Researcher and Evaluator

Monique is a health equity-focused Public Health practitioner and researcher. Growing up in the East Bay, she has witnessed her community being affected by structural and systematic food insecurity and chronic disease disparities. This encouraged her to get her MPH to study how the built environment contributes to adverse health outcomes of environmental injustices such as respiratory illness, chronic conditions, and food insecurity among marginalized communities.

Liv

Liv Rangel

Health Educator

Liv is an Instructor and Health Educator. Born in Mexico City, her passion is helping others and her family.

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Maricela Seronio

Program Assistant

Maricela is a Program Assistant who began as an Intern. Maricela graduated from San Francisco State University with her Bachelors in Public Health and a minor in Women’s Health. Maricela provides support in Congregate Meals, Wiser Dining, Healthy Cooking with Kids, and various classes.

Juliana Valencia

Juliana Valencia

Program Assistant

Juliana supports food access and community engagement for older adults in the Congregate Meals program. With over six years of working experience, Juliana has dedicated her career to building partnerships, delivering essential services, and connecting with her community.