Emmanuel Jougounoux, Président

Born in Aix-en-Provence, Emmanuel came to California in 2016 by way of China for half a year, followed by Brasov, Romania for six years, and finally settling in Sonoma County where he now works for French company PELLENC, maker of machinery, equipment and tools for vineyards and wineries.

With a masters in mechanical engineering, Emmanuel manages the winery division.  He often encounters fellow French nationals and Francophones in his industry, and sees many opportunities to extend AFSR’s reach into the wine industry/community. He also wants to help Americans develop a greater appreciation for the “real France, the French culture and world view”.

Emmanuel lives in Santa Rosa with his young family, and is raising his children tri-lingually in English, Romanian and French. What he loves most about America is encountering very diverse landscapes and interacting with locals throughout his travels. Lastly, he has great admiration for the American mindset of not being afraid of trying new things, and not letting failures daunt their can-do spirit!

Favorite French word:  écureuil

Laura Whiting, Vice Président

Laura was surprised to discover she had a strong desire to learn French when traveling to meet up with her daughter in Europe. Since then, she has been a member of the Alliance Française de Santa Rosa and joined the Board in 2019.

Laura co-owned a high-end textile manufacturing business for 10 years and later managed a commercial property investment enterprise. Prior to that she worked in the tourism and hospitality sector for 15 years as the Executive Director of the Santa Rosa Convention a Visitors Bureau, Director of Sales and Marketing for Fountaingrove Inn and owner of Results Marketing, a firm specializing in hospitality consulting.

Laura is currently a Board Member of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center and serves at the Chairperson for an HOA in Oakmont. She holds a BS in Business/Accounting from Cal Poly/Humboldt and post baccalaureate teaching credential from Dominican University of California. Loves all things French: cooking, eating, learning about wine, listening to French music and being anywhere in France especially Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Favorite French word:  saladier

Lee Alderman, Trésorier

Lee started classes at AFSR in 2003. He enjoys French wines, food, and cycling through the French countryside. He particularly enjoys climbing Le Mont Ventoux in Provence. In August of 2017, Lee joined the Club des Cinglés du Mont Ventoux, riding his bicycle up this mythical mountain three times in one day.

Lee is retired from Redwood Credit Union and currently serves on the Career Technical Education Foundation Board. Lee currently lives in Santa Rosa with his wife, Sherry.

Lee sits on the Executive Committee of the AFSR.

Favorite French word:  vélo

Carol Kronberg

AFSR member for more than five years, Carol attends classes and causeries. She also administers Membership and AFSR’s Culturethèque program.

Carol is a nutritionist and retired WIC Program Manager for County of Sonoma Department of Public Health. WIC is a federal supplementary food and nutrition educational program for families, for which she now does state-wide training.  She has also served on boards of Sonoma County Sol Soccer Club, SR United Youth Soccer Club, Oak Park Otters Swim Team, and Redwood Empire Food Bank.

Favorite French word:  sac à dos

Kim Clement

Kim is a retired trial attorney whose previous positions included: Assistant US Attorney for the Northern District of California, Chief Trial Deputy for the City and County of San Francisco, Santa Rosa law firm partner and Sonoma County Deputy DA. She has worked in the areas of criminal, medical malpractice, employment, devastating injury tort defense and police excessive force. Her DA job focused on domestic violence.

Kim studied French in high school and college and then renewed her interest in the language for a 2003 five-month sabbatical in Paris, where she attended the Alliance Française school. COVID was another opportunity to reactivate French, this time with AF Santa Rosa, where she has been taking classes since 2020. Kim has found that Alliance Française is the go-to expert on French language and culture and is proud to be a member of its excellent Board.

Favorite French word: parapluie

Peter Zingg

As an elementary school student in New York City, Peter was subjected to 12 years of hard labor in French class, and though he may not have relished it at the time, he is very happy that at least some of that knowledge has actually been retained over the ensuing 50 years. He has always loved French literature, film, food, wine, architecture and yes, language study.

Peter was trained as an architect at UCLA and practiced architecture in Southern and Northern California. After settling in Marin County with his wife and two sons, Peter pursued a second career in computer technology, He held the position of Chief Technology Officer for a consumer software company in Novato, and ended up as the Technology Director for the Kentfield School District until his retirement in 2018. For several years, Peter served on the board of Pacific Primary School in San Francisco.

During the pandemic, Peter discovered the Alliance Française of Santa Rosa and its wonderful instructors. After a few years of taking classes at AFSR, his French fluency is steadily coming back, and he happily joined the Alliance’s board of directors in the summer of 2022. He is excited to work with the Alliance’s dedicated and inspirational team to extend the Alliance’s services as we work through the pandemic and beyond.

Favorite French word: guinguette

Marie Lamothe

Marie’s life journey is full of international experiences that have shaped her into a true global citizen. Born in Paris, her family’s journey took them from the vibrant streets of the French capital to the sun-soaked landscapes of southern France in Montpellier, where her early years were spent.

However, at the age of 10, Marie’s world expanded drastically as her family embarked on an adventure to Asia, specifically Indonesia. Here, she immersed herself in a full English-speaking environment, interacting with children from around the globe. The multicultural playground served as the stage for the beginning of Marie’s mission to promote not only the French language but also a celebration of various languages and cultures. Her involvement in sharing simple yet meaningful gestures like singing “happy birthday” in diverse languages reflected her innate curiosity for fostering cross-cultural connections.

A new chapter began when Marie’s family relocated to Lisbon, Portugal, when she was 14. This move marked a turning point as Marie pursued her education at the Lycée Français of Lisbon, earning her French Baccalauréat. Her dedication to language and education continued as she engaged with the Alliance Française of Lisbon, where she recorded French lessons on tapes, contributing to the promotion of French language learning.

Marie’s story takes yet another exciting twist as she crosses paths with her American husband while in Germany. This encounter eventually led her to the sunny shores of California, where she established a life with her family.

Beyond her globe-trotting experiences, Marie’s intellectual pursuits have culminated in becoming a licensed attorney in both France and California. Specializing in privacy laws, she has served for nearly a decade as in-house counsel for technology companies, where she navigates the intricate legal landscape of the digital age.

While Marie’s life story has been painted across the canvas of the world, her French cultural roots remain deeply ingrained. Her fondness for Cassoulet, a traditional French dish, underscores her enduring attachment to her heritage.

Favorite French word: Aurore

Sarah Finnigan

Sarah lives and works in Sonoma County, where she has lived since 2013, after her return from living abroad in Paris. She earned a master’s degree in public policy and international affairs from the American University of Paris (AUP). While at university, she dedicated her studies to international humanitarian response and evaluated best practices for bridging the gap between response and recovery. Her emergency management career continued back in the US when she started work with the American Red Cross. In October of 2017, she began working for the CA Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), serving Californians as a Senior Emergency Services Coordinator. In March of 2024, Sarah accepted the position of Care and Shelter Program Manager for the County of Sonoma and is responsible for directing emergency shelter operations during any disaster response.

She loves big band jazz, swing dancing, and just about anything vintage. She joined the Alliance Francaise to continue to work towards French proficiency as well as to meet others who enjoy speaking and sharing a love of French culture. She has served on her university’s President’s Alumni Advisory Council (PAAC) since 2014 and now serves as a member of the AUP PAAC Transitional Board. She and her son are members of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and the CA State Railroad Museum. Sarah enjoys spending time out and about with her young son, traveling by train or plane to historic places, seeking out live music, or exploring new destinations.

Favorite word in French: sérénité

Andrew Leonard

Andrew began learning French in high school and graduated from UC Davis with a double major in French and Psychology in 2008. He is especially fascinated with the theories of second language acquisition. His mother, who studied French herself, took him on his first trip to Paris when he was 11 years old.

Having worked as an «Assistant de Langue» in Paris and an EFL teacher in Incheon, South Korea, Andrew particularly enjoys language instruction and values cultural enrichment through learning new languages.

Andrew wraps up nine years of service on the Sonoma County Board of Education in December, 2024; he previously served on the AFSR board from 2018 to 2020.

Currently, Andrew works in the electric vehicle industry helping to educate the public on the ins and outs of buying, charging and driving EVs. He lives with his wife Catherine and their pets in Santa Rosa.

Favorite French word: perruche