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, an affiliated company of the California Farm Bureau, since 2009. In that role, Bryan oversees FELS’ activities assisting California agricultural employers with legal and regulatory compliance, implementation of best employment practices, development and implementation of products and services for agricultural employers, and development and dissemination of information to help California agricultural employers be employers of choice in their communities. Bryan also serves as Senior Director, Policy Advocacy for California Farm Bureau, representing Farm Bureau members on legislative, congressional and regulatory issues involving employment and human resources policy. Bryan serves on the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Personnel Management Association, and as an employer representative to the Governing Committee of the Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California. Bryan if frequently interviewed by electronic, social and print media on a variety of topics related to agricultural employment and employees. 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, Bryan 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
SENIOR COUNSEL, CAFB & FELS
Carl Borden has been a key member of the FELS team 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.
Gabriel Riojas
LABOR MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Gabriel is FELS' longest-serving and most experienced Labor Management Consultant, joining FELS' team in 2008. Gabriel resides in North San Diego County and works with clients throughout Southern California and the Desert and coastal areas. 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 resides in Fresno and works with clients in the Central 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. Like all FELS Labor Management Consultants, Sergio is bi-lingual and bi-cultural and has a strong understanding of the needs of both agricultural employees and farm employers.
Gilbert Altamirano
LABOR MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Gilbert returns to the FELS team after four years as Training Manager for Fowler Packing, managing safety, on-boarding, and other aspects of ag personnel management. Before Fowler Packing, Gilbert was a FELS Labor Management Consultant for three years, bringing with him valuable experience as Human Resources Manager for Family Tree Farms.
