Meet the Team
Staff
Our staff is passionate about serving our community and our surviors.
Ashley Chesney
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
Ashley Chesney is a Survivor Leader, author, and advocate in the Anti-Trafficking Movement. She is an inspiring speaker, an expert trainer, and the Executive Director at SFMB. Additionally, Ashley serves as an alumni member of the CSEC (Commercially Sexually Exploited Children) Advisory Board through the National Center of Youth Law. It is through her own journey, she has found healing that she wants to share with others. Ashley is the author of the memoir “From the Ashes” and she believes that advocacy, connection, and hope are key in guiding other survivors on a path to reclaim their lives after exploitation. She graduated summa cum laude from Cal State University Monterey Bay with her B.A. in Collaborative Health and Human Services from an interdisciplinary program that held emphasis on nonprofit management and social work. Ashley is a sex trafficking survivor turned thriver.
Amber Van Hoose
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Amber came to Set Free Monterey Bay as a volunteer. Her passion for the mission of SFMB came long before being on staff. While serving in ministry, she grew a love for kingdom work. Amber is currently part of the core leadership team at Venture Church and was a part of the church plant launch team. She’s an amazing leader and currently oversees children ministries at Venture. Amber is a first-generation believer. She knows what it is like to experience deep loss, what it looks like to have nothing, and have God turn it all around, bring hope, and come out on the other side, living in freedom. Amber is known for her contagious spirit, passion for life, and crazy love for Jesus. She has a way of speaking life into people and pointing them to Jesus. Amber’s favorite title is mom.
Andrea Blanco
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Andrea Blanco, native Californian grew up in Monterey Bay, where she spends most of her time walking on the beach, reading, and hosting friends and family. She is a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend to many. Whose passion is for encouraging others to prosper and be their healthiest self.
She holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies and a Multiple Subject teaching credential from CSU Monterey Bay. Currently pursuing an Alcohol and other Drug Counseling Certification from Hartnell College. Came from a 12-year career in Student Affairs in Housing at CSU Monterey Bay, serving as a Community Director in Housing and Office manager working in upper division graduate and family housing. Where she was inspired working with students to develop life skills, decision-making abilities and mentorship. Also serves on the online prayer Dream Team with Seacoast Church where she gets to serve globally. In addition has served 2 years as an International Bible Study Fellowship leader, facilitating yearly bible studies. One of her favorite things about serving in this capacity is coming alongside women who are walking with Jesus.
She loves hot chocolate, any coastal village, ocean, concerts, enjoys long drives, fields of flowers, and would love to have a hydrangea garden for days!!
Through prayer and God’s guidance it has led her to work with the SFMB Team! Her passion for working and coming alongside others to champion has propelled her to work in this field.
Lisa Morales
Spiritual Formation Chaplain
Lisa comes to Set Free Monterey Bay after 14 years on staff at Compass Church in Salinas, 10 of which were spent as the Women’s Ministry Director. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Biology from Loyola Marymount University.
She was raised Catholic but began a personal relationship with Jesus later in life on the heels of intense struggle and deliverance. Now she studies the Bible fervently and shares its message of hope and healing with great enthusiasm.
Lisa is honored to be the mother of four adult kids: two adopted from foster care and twin boys. Her journey has been paved with faith over fear, and she is undone in gratitude for God’s unrelenting presence. This includes the opportunity to work with SFMB.
Antionette Ramirez
ASSISTANT HOUSE MANAGER
Antoinette is a proud mother of four amazing kids who are the light of her life. Her heart of gold and love for others is infectious, her willingness to serve and help those in need is a true testament in what God has done in her life. Her creativity is a true gift, and she loves sharing it with others. She’s part of the First Impression Team at Venture Church, and she enjoys greeting everyone who walks through the doors with a great big smile! She’s a first-generation believer who knows the hardships of life, growing up in a underserved community. She has impacted and changed so many lives and hopes to impact so many more to come.
Ashley Krenke
RESIDENT MENTOR
Ashley first came to Set Free as a resident and ended up our first graduate! As SFMB alumni she is now taking on the role of Assistant House Manager. Welcome to the team Ash!
Ashley is blessed enough to have 4 years in recovery. Recovery is very important to her as she takes N.A. and sponsorship very seriously. All of this is great but it was nothing compared to finding Jesus! Jesus came into Ashley’s life during her stay at SFMB. Ashley is a first-generation believer and we could not be more proud of her! Ashley loves her family and friends. She is a lover of hot Cheetos and if you ever need somebody to lean on she is always around. If you have had the pleasure of meeting Ashley you will see just how resilient she truly is!
Ashley Thompson
RESIDENT ASSISTANT
Ashley Thompson is a blessed wife and mother, whose passion is to see people enter a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She is a thoughtful artist and the author with a B.A in Biblical studies from Charis Bible college and two A.A’s with honors in English and Humanities from MPC. Ashley is a certified Life Breakthrough coach and a certified in New Testament Leadership from Impact International School of Ministry. She particularly enjoyed the specialty addictions counseling classes during her certification process which she believes helped prepare her to work at SFMB. She is an effervescent worship dancer and often uses her streamer and flags to express her adoration to God. Since 2022, she is the Bible teacher for a private Christian school. She loves candles, flowy dresses, vibrant flowers, big glitter earrings, chai lattes, Christmas lights, the deep, azure water of the Pacific Ocean and chocolate. She eats peanut butter from the jar and her favorite season is Autumn. To find more about Ashley visit: www.NourishmentThroughWords.com.
Sulwen Ma
INTERN
Sulwen is a student at Northwestern University pursuing a B.S. in Learning and Organizational Change & International Studies in the School of Education and Social Policy. Her past experiences include working with various nonprofits, assisting in different roles that advance community-focused missions. Sulwen is dedicated to continually learning and applying her skills to support vulnerable communities, and is committed to making a meaningful impact through her work at Set Free Monterey Bay.
Felicia George
AMBASSADOR: EDUCATION & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Felicia lives in Watsonville, CA with her husband, Chris. They have 4 children. She and her husband own a Primerica office which provides financial solutions to families and businesses. In 2013, Felicia started her work as an abolitionist when she started meeting with friends and community members to discuss the realities of human trafficking. This led to her starting her outreach in middle and high schools in 2014. Felicia knew that our youth were being targeted and needed additional resources to protect themselves and their friends. To date, Felicia has spoken to over 8,000 youth and community members in the tri-county area and beyond. Felicia is a founding board member of Set Free Monterey Bay and now serves with our education, outreach and volunteer coordination.
Abby Fitzgerald
INTAKE COORDINATOR
Abby serves as the intake coordinator for both our co-laborers Eden’s Glory and SFMB, and we love working with her! Abby first heard about human trafficking from the Eden's Glory staff during a workshop several years ago. She felt convicted by the Lord to raise awareness of human trafficking where she lived at the time in Decatur, IL. While leading a Set Free team for 5 1/2 years, she organized numerous trainings, community forums, and fundraisers. In 2018, Abby received a Master's degree in counseling from the University of Illinois-Springfield and has counseled clients of all ages in various settings such as a community clinic, foster care agency, and an elementary school. She passionately cares about the marginalized and those that serve them.
Are you interested in working with us at Set Free Monterey Bay? We are looking for passionate and qualified individuals to join us in the mission to fight human trafficking and create new futures here in Monterey Bay. Check out our open positions available today!
Board of Directors
As board members at SFMB, we are honored to be working alongside a skilled and motivated staff to further anti-trafficking efforts here in Monterey County.
Jeanine Staton
BOARD PRESIDENT
Jeanine Staton joined the SFMB board in 2020 and took on the role of board president in 2023. She joined the anti-trafficking movement by teaching a class at the YWCA safe house in 2017. She is currently on staff at Calvary Monterey as the Adult Ministries Director. Prior to working at Calvary, she spent over 10 years working in education administration, primarily in admissions & student services, focusing on student leadership and program development. In 2021, Jeanine launched the SFMB Ambassador Program, allowing volunteers to apply for greater responsibility within the organization. She earned her Bachelor's from Syracuse University and her Master of Educational Leadership degree from Gateway Seminary.
Michael Gilmartin
BOARD TREASURER
Michael has over thirty-seven years of experience as an educator at the community college level. This includes twelve years as an instructor at West Hills Community College in Coalinga, California; eight years there as an associate dean; and seventeen years as a dean at Monterey Peninsula College. He is now retired, lives in Monterey, and volunteers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium among other activities. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology and a Master’s Degree in Biology from San Diego State University.
Maddie Noseworthy
BOARD SECRETARY
Maddie Noseworthy has led a variety of ministries including trauma counseling in Uganda, relief work in Haiti, and church planting with All Things New church in Monterey. She currently works as an electronic medical record analyst for Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System. She has two amazing kids and loves to garden.
Molly Lorenzi
EXECUTIVE TEAM MEMBER
Molly Lorenzi is a licensed California attorney with an independent practice that brings corporate compliance tools to small businesses and nonprofits, and she is the co-founder of a human resources consulting agency. Molly is passionate about her community and the opportunity to help restore lives and faith by advancing SFMB's mission.
Molly’s personal life is filled with her toddler Stella, husband Luis, and bernedoodle Matilda.
Matthew Ronconi
BOARD MEMBER
Matthew Ronconi is a Set Free Monterey board member and an Orthodontist in Salinas, CA. He received his bachelor’s degree in Food Science from UC Davis, his doctorate degree in dental surgery from UCLA, and his orthodontic specialty certificate from Montefiore Hospital, the teaching Hospital of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He is the president elect for the Monterey Bay Dental Society and raises puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Jim Swallow
BOARD MEMBER
Jim Swallow is a real estate broker with Compass. He is an experienced business professional with a track record of exceeding client expectations. He prides himself on his honesty, integrity, ethics and analytical skills. He has been a partner in a global management consulting company, A.T. Kearney, where he lived in Sweden for two years and worked in most European countries. He also had his own consulting firm. He has a wealth of experience in solving complex business problems, listening and making a difference. He is active in the Carmel-by-the Sea Rotary club and has been managing their Donor Advised Fund. Jim views service to the community as one of the most important uses of his time. He graduated with a BS in engineering from the Air Force Academy and an MBA from California State University, Sacramento. Jim and his wife Sharon have lived on the Monterey Peninsula for 25 years. They have two daughters, one a naturopathic physician in Boise, Idaho and the other a virtual school founder in San Diego, California.