I’m excited to announce the appointment of two new board members to The James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors: Brenna Butler Garcia of Stockton and Teresa Matsui of Salinas will begin their terms in January 2022.

Brenna is the Vice President of Community Relations for A.G. Spanos Companies, and Teresa is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Matsui Nursery, Inc., as well as head of the Matsui Foundation.

Both leaders have an impressive track record of working to better their communities, and their expertise and dedication will surely benefit Irvine and the people of California. Importantly, they also hail from cities in the Foundation’s Priority Communities.

In Stockton, Brenna works with regional nonprofits, elected officials, and community leaders to support the philanthropic and community goals of A.G. Spanos Companies, a family-owned builder of multi-family housing and master planned communities that is committed to enhancing and supporting the communities where they build.

Teresa heads Matsui Nursery, Inc., a $30 million potted orchid producer founded by her father. She also leads Matsui Foundation, a private foundation that has disbursed over $8 million in scholarships to local underserved students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and vocational programs in the Salinas Valley and Monterey County.

Brenna and Teresa will serve four-year terms, with the opportunity for up to two additional terms.

I’m grateful they are joining Irvine’s board and encourage you to read more about their perspectives here.