Our Staff
Nina Machado, Executive Director
Nina has resided in Amador County since 1990. Nina was hired as the Executive Director of First 5 Amador in March 2002. Prior to this, she worked in the area of Public Health for ten years. For five of those years, Nina assisted Amador County Public Health Nursing with the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program and eventually moved into a health education position with Tobacco Reduction of Amador County. Nina worked closely with the community and local governments to gain policies and ordinances regarding youth access to tobacco and environmental tobacco smoke. Nina has two grown children and serves as a board member of a local non-profit that provides support to cancer patients and their families.
Tassie Earnest, Family Engagement Coordinator
Tassie grew up on a farm in Kentucky with her 9 siblings and parents that loved reading, learning and the land. She moved to Amador County in the spring of 2015 with her family. Tassie enjoys the beautiful landscape and agriculture of the area. She has a Bachelors of Science degree in Health Promotion with a lifelong love of children and education. With a variety of work experiences with children and families, including her own 5 children, she thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to know and support the families in our community through the Welcome Baby program, First 5 events, and community collaboration.
Gina Whitaker, Family Engagement & Child Abuse Prevention Coordinator
Gina moved to Amador County in 2012 with her husband and three children. While homeschooling her children for over a decade, she opened a licensed family childcare, where she continued to fulfill her passion of working with children. Through years of working with children in a variety of settings, including foster care, as well as college courses and workshops, Gina has developed an array of skills relating to Early Childhood Education, child-rearing, and parenting (especially those with trauma). She is a certified CPST (Child Passenger Safety Technician) and loves to speak on car seat safety. Gina is happy to be working in and with her community to assess needs and connect people to resources within the county where she lives and works.
Rachael Marie, Fiscal Administrator
Rachael moved to Amador County with her husband and two kids in October 2022 to build a house and live off the grid sustainably. She is currently going to college pursuing a Bachelor's in Business and Accounting. Previously, Rachael had managed a Chapter in a Non-Profit organization where she found her passion for working with and giving back to the community and local congregations. Rachael loves teaching and helping children reach new milestones to help build their confidence.
