Shannon Douglass
PRESIDENT
Shannon Douglass is President of Farm Employers Labor Service. Shannon was elected as president of the California Farm Bureau in December 2023. She previously served three terms as first vice president, having been elected in 2017, 2019 and 2021. She is an owner of Douglass Ranch, which raises beef cattle, walnuts, sunflowers, pumpkins, corn, and forage crops in Orland. Additionally, she co-founded CalAgJobs, an online listing of employment opportunities in California agriculture. Douglass serves on the Glenn County Fair Board of Directors and the advisory board for the Hamilton City FFA chapter. She is a former director of the Glenn County Resource Conservation District. Her previous experience includes serving as a consultant on ag career awareness, talent recruitment, social media, and communications for agricultural clients, lecturing on agricultural topics at both Butte College and California State University, Chico. Douglass earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture with a minor in ag business and a master’s degree focused on agricultural policy, each from CSU Chico.
C. Bryan Little
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Bryan is an employment policy specialist with extensive experience in both government and agriculture who has served as the Chief Operating Officer of Farm Employers Labor Service since 2009. Bryan also serves as Senior Director, Policy Advocacy for California Farm Bureau Federation, representing Farm Bureau members on legislative, congressional and regulatory issues involving employment and human resources policy. Bryan served with the U.S. Department of Labor from December 2001 to May 2008, first as a Congressional Relations Officer, later as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health. Prior to joining DOL, Little was Senior Director for Governmental Affairs for American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington, D.C., specializing in employment and human resources issues, transportation policy, and regulatory reform. Bryan earned a bachelor's degree in political science and public administration from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. and resides with his wife, Ellen, in Fair Oaks, Ca.
Martha Daniel-Peña
OFFICE MANAGER & CERTIFIED TRANSLATOR
FELS Office Manager, Certified Translator. Since 1985 Martha has managed FELS projects, account receivables and payables, and Spanish translations. Martha’s translations have received high praise and acclaim from educators and agricultural employers. Coming from a farm worker background she is able to incorporate her insights into the safety and human resource materials produced by FELS.
Carl G. Borden
ASSOCIATE COUNCIL, CFBF & FELS
Carl Borden: Associate Counsel, CFBF & FELS, since 1979. Carl Borden advises FELS on labor- and employment-law issues, co-edits the FELS Monthly Newsletter, and drafts and revises other materials for FELS. He has conducted many seminars for agricultural employers. He received a B.A. degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1975 and a J.D. degree from Golden Gate University School of Law in 1979. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1979.
Rigo De La Cerda
LABOR MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Rigo resides in the central San Joaquin Valley and works with clients throughout the region. He has more than 30 years of experience in agricultural labor management. He has worked in the workers' compensation insurance industry and holds a Private Detective license enabling him to perform HR surveys for companies. His experience includes work in labor management relations, human resources, supervisor training, ALRA/NLRA elections, safety training and safety program development.
Santos Martinez
LABOR MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Santos resides in the Salinas Valley works with clients in the Salad Bowl, coastal California, and the Central Valley. Santos has more than 25 years of experience in agricultural labor management. Santos has worked for a variety of agricultural employers including row crop harvesting & farming operations. His experience includes work in labor management relations, human resources, supervisor training, safety training and safety program development.
Gabriel Riojas
LABOR MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Gabriel resides in North San Diego County and works with clients throughout Southern California and the Desert and coastal areas. Gabriel has more than 30 years of experience in agricultural labor management. Gabriel has worked for a variety of agricultural employers including nurseries & farming operations. His experience includes work in labor management relations, human resources, supervisor training, safety training and safety program development.
Sergio Parra
LABOR MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Sergio is the newest member of the FELS team. He resides in Fresno and works with clients in the Valley, Wine Country and the Williamette Valley of Oregon. Sergio comes to us from Cederquist Farms, where he managed a 750 acre pistachio production operation, from the day-to-day farming operations to farm personnel management. Sergio is bi-lingual and bi-cultural and has a strong understanding of the needs of both agricultural employees and farm employers. Sergio’s strong work ethic, reliability and flexibility all make him a strong, all-around player on Team FELS! Add Sergio to your team today! Sergio can handle your employee safety training needs, management consulting for your crew leaders, supervisors and managers and be an early-warning system to help you learn about employee problems before they start to cost you money!
