California Steward Leader Award recipients, along with CA FWD Board Members past and present and California Stewardship Network partners
By Ish Herrera and Deblina Pakhira
On November 19th in Manhattan Beach, CA FWD and the California Stewardship Network (CSN) celebrated the 2025 California Steward Leader Award recipients. Since 2015, the California Steward Leader Awards have honored outstanding individuals who exemplify collaborative leadership across public, private, and civic sectors to build an economy that is resilient, sustainable, and inclusive.
While these awards have historically been presented at the California Economic Summit, this year, we chose to have a dedicated celebration for the awards—and the celebration did not disappoint! Joined by current and former CA FWD Board of Directors, CSN members, and partners from across the state, five inspiring individuals were honored for their contributions in advancing innovative, cross-sectoral solutions to the state’s most pressing challenges. Their speeches resonated deeply, offering powerful messages of courage, inspiration, and hope.
We are honored to share more about each of the recipients:
Ignasio Castillo – California Young Leader Award
Ilaria Pesco, Ignasio Castillo, and Daisy Alamillo
Ignasio Castillo, a first-generation Latino college graduate from CSU Bakersfield, was honored with the California Young Leader Award. Ignasio is recognized for his significant advocacy and leadership efforts, which include spearheading strong lobby efforts on higher education issues, securing $80 million for CSUB’s Energy Innovation Center, and serving in key student government roles. Castillo’s professional experience includes political organizing for the California Democratic Party and serving as a Bakersfield City Hall Fellow.
“Ignasio made advocacy a cornerstone of his legacy during his time in ASI. He successfully advocated for critical legislation that improved student lives, including AB 367 (menstrual equity), AB 1460 (Ethnic Studies), and AB 2881 (Student Parent Priority registration). He harnessed student stories to secure these changes.” — Ilaria Pesco, Director of Campus Recreation and Well Being, CSU Bakersfield
Lily Bui – California Regional Steward Leader Award
Kate Gordon, CEO, CA FWD; Lily Bui; Karla Mercado, Vice President, Public Policy & Government Relations, Philanthropy CA; and Ish Herrera, Executive Director, California Stewardship Network
Dr. Lily Bui was honored with the California Regional Steward Leader Award. Lily is a leading expert in climate, disaster preparedness, and resilience, currently serving as the Director at SoCal Grantmakers (part of Philanthropy California). Her academic work and professional roles, which include serving as a disaster management specialist at the Pacific Disaster Center, are centered on using data and technology, like early warning systems and sensor data, to help communities prepare for and recover from natural hazards globally.
“Lily has been a central leader in the aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires, navigating complexity to bring together public, philanthropic, and private sector partners in service of community recovery. Her deep commitment to ensuring that philanthropic and public institutions are holding survivors’ needs central in the work to rebuild the communities of Altadena, Malibu, and the Pacific Palisades has resulted in millions of dollars in investment that has reached nonprofits, businesses, individuals, academic institutions, and more.” — Katie Oran, Climate and Disaster Resilience Manager, Northern California Grantmakers
Steve Frisch – California Regional Steward Leader Award
Evan Schmidt, CEO, Valley Vision and Steve Frisch
Steve Frisch was honored with the California Regional Steward Leader Award for his contributions in advancing cross-sectoral solutions to the state’s most pressing challenges. He is the President of the Sierra Business Council and an At-Large Member of the CSN, focusing on promoting sustainable economic, environmental, and social prosperity in the Sierra Nevada region. His achievements include helping initiate the Placer Legacy Open Space Program, and playing a key role in the legislative effort that established the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
“[Steve] is the founder of the 30-year old Sierra Business Council, which has catalyzed significant investment into the Sierra region of California and he is a steadfast advocate for rural and working lands.” — Evan Schmidt, CEO, Valley Vision
Arnie Sowell, Jr. – California Steward Leader Award
Ish Herrera, Arnie Sowell, and Kate Gordon
Arnie Sowell was honored with the California Steward Leader Award for his leadership and work that advances economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental sustainability. He is the Executive Director of NextGen Policy, a Black-led progressive nonprofit focused on advancing policy solutions for a more equitable, prosperous, and climate-resilient California. He spent over two decades in the California State Assembly, serving as the Policy Director for five Assembly Speakers. He has also been recognized by the Sacramento Bee’s Equity Lab as one of the Top 20 Black Change Makers in the Capitol Region and has been featured on Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 list of political and public policy influencers.
“Arnie leads NextGen in its mission is to drive systems change for marginalized communities in five priority areas—climate, workforce development, higher education, food insecurity, and digital equity. Arnie and the NextGen team have helped pass more than 250 laws and secure more than $60 billion in budget funding on behalf of historically marginalized populations statewide.” — Adriana Sanchez Ochoa, Chief Deputy Director, NextGen Policy
Lenny Mendonca – California Steward Legacy Award
Lenny Mendonca joining the festivities virtually
Lenny Mendonca was honored with the California Steward Legacy Award for his extensive civic leadership, including his instrumental roles as the Co-Chair of CA FWD, former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom, and Chair of the California High Speed Rail Authority. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School.
“Lenny has been a founding member of CA FWD, and has given back to our state in so many ways as a private citizen and public servant serving as senior advisor in Newsom admin at GO-Biz. He also supported the design of prop 50 as a time limited solution to maintaining democracy in our country.” — Caroline Whistler, CEO, Third Sector
Congratulations to this year’s California Steward Leader Awardees—thank you for your dedication to our beautiful state. And, thank you to all who joined us in Manhattan Beach to honor this year’s recipients!
