|
|
HOME > ABOUT > PRESS > OTHER TOP NONPROFIT LEADERS
Article published - October 6, 2008
Credit: NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL
Other top nonprofit leaders whose agencies’ 2007 revenues were below $5 million
BY D. ASHLEY FURNESS
Tom Bieri
Social Advocates for Youth, 3440 Airway Drive, Ste. E, Santa Rosa 95403, 707-544-3299, www.socialadvocatesforyouth.org
Social Advocates for Youth Executive Director Tom Bieri began his leadership with the organization in 2001, quickly moving up the ranks to director in October 2005. He moved to the North Bay from Kansas in 1995 to work as a youth counselor for SAY, which he did for six years.
He received his bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Florida, paying his way through with a business he created when he was 16. He received his master’s in counseling psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies.
“My favorite part of my job is being part of programs that help turn kids’ lives around. Just last week, I was visiting with a young man who had been in serious trouble with the law before becoming involved with our programs. He is now going to college and is a loving and supportive parent,” he said.
SAY has an operating budget of $2.6 million, according to Mr. Bieri.
Walter Collins
United Way of the Wine Country, 751 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 95404, 707-528-4485, www.uwsml.org
United Way of the Wine Country President and Chief Executive Officer Water Collins began his career in the nonprofit sector managing symphony orchestras. He joined the United Way about two years ago after working as executive director for the Redlands Symphony Orchestra.
He received his bachelor’s in political science from U.C. Berkeley and oversees 12 full-time employees and revenues of about $4.3 million, according to Mr. Collins.
He said his favorite thing about his job is the people and working in the world’s most beautiful spot. Someday he hopes to open a restaurant in Santa Rosa specifically to employ “those who need it most.”
Nancy Dobbs
KRCB Television & Radio; Rural California Broadcasting Corp.; PBS Television Network affiliate, 5850 LaBath Ave., Rohnert Park 94928, 707-584-2000, www.krcb.org
Nancy Dobbs has worked as chief executive officer and president of KRCB Television & Radio, Rural California Broadcasting Corp. since its founding in 1981. She is an 1998 distinguished alumnae of Sonoma State University in political science.
She also sits on several boards and in governing positions with a list of organizations, including California Public Television, Friends House, GreenTreks Inc., Headlands Institute, North Bay Leadership Council, North Coast Integrated Health, Palm Drive Hospital and several others.
She also worked as a consultant to the assembly health committee of the California legislature and as a gubernatorial appointee to the board of statewide health planning and development.
Corey Hudson
Canine Companions for Independence, P.O. Box 446, Santa Rosa 95402, 800-572-2275, www.cci.org
Canine Companions for Independence Chief Executive Officer Corey Hudson first moved to Sonoma County from Hollywood when he was stationed at Skaggs Island U.S. Naval Intelligence Security Base. He said he’s dedicated his life to working to help people with disabilities and has been with Canine Companions for about 18 years.
Previous to taking that position, he worked as a hospital administrator for Agnews State Hospital and Development Center in San Jose, which is a 1,200-bed facility for developmentally disabled children and adults. He received his bachelor’s in political science from California State University Northridge and a second in elementary, secondary, administrative and special education from Sonoma State University. He received his master’s in education from California State University.
He is the president of the Assistance Dog International Association of North America and secretary of the Assistance International board of directors.
Deborah Levy
Lifehouse, 100 Smith Ranch Road, Ste. 309, San Rafael 94903, 415-472-2373, www.lifehouseagency.org
Lifehouse agency President and Chief Executive Officer Deborah Levy has served in that position for close to 20 years. She also serves on the organization’s board.
She previously worked as executive director of the Northern California chapter of the National MS Society and has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 30 years. During her tenure with Lifehouse, she has stabilized finances and completed two strategic business plans, which included a name change and the inception of several new programs. The group is also the convener for the Marin Autism Committee, a group dedicated to developing programs for individuals with autism.
Ms. Levy is on the board of directors for the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin and the Dominican University advisory board for special education.
Kim Mazzuca
Marin Education Fund, 781 Lincoln Ave., Ste. 140, San Rafael 94901, 415-459-4240, www.marineducationfund.org
Marin Education Fund President Kim Mazzuca has helped to double the organization’s annual budget during her nine year tenure. Scholarship output has also increased by 100 percent in her time as well as increased fundraising of more than 400 percent.
“My absolute proudest achievement is that 90 percent of [Marin County] students graduate from college,” she said.
The San Francisco native moved to the North Bay 20 years ago after receiving her undergraduate and graduate degrees from San Francisco State University. She was also a fellow at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, focusing on executive nonprofit leadership.
She has spent her entire career in the nonprofit sector, but she said she began volunteering as early as seven years old, helping seniors in her neighborhood.
Nancy Oswald
Redwood Community Health Coalition, 1180 Fourth St., Ste. B, Santa Rosa 95404, 707-542-7242, www.rchc.net
Redwood Community Health Coalition Executive Director Nancy Oswald has more than 23 years experience in health care, beginning with work in a New York public hospital system.
RCHC represents 16 federally qualified health centers in four North Bay counties, serving approximately 150,000 low-income and uninsured patients.
Ms. Oswald came to California in 1994 to serve as president of the National IPA Coalition. She then worked as a consultant for five years before joining RCHC in 2005. She received her doctorate from the Union Institute in community health systems development.
Joseph “Joe” Peatman
Peter & Vernice Gasser Foundation, 433 Soscol Ave., Ste. A-120, Napa 94559, 707-255-1646
Joseph “Joe” Peatman became president and chief executive officer of the Peter & Vernice Gasser Foundation in January 2001, but he has served as a trustee since its inception in 1989. Born in Los Angeles, he moved to Napa after eight years with the U.S. army, where he served eight months of active duty.
He received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University in 1956 and his J.D. in 1958. He ran a solo practice in Napa until 1964 when he helped create the Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty law firm. He practiced with the group until he retired from practice in 2000.
He is also a director of Charter Oak Bank and chairman of the board of trustees for Copia. In the past he served as president of the first Napa Valley Unified School District, and he is a former Napa County supervisor.
Alan Silow
Santa Rosa Symphony, 50 Santa Rosa Ave., Ste. 410, Santa Rosa 95404, 707-546-7097, www.santarosasymphony.com
Since taking over as executive director in 2002, Alan Silow has returned the organization to fiscal stability, even producing surpluses. He plays a leadership role in the public/private partnership with Sonoma State University to build a new symphony hall that is expected open in fall 2010. He also sits on the board of the Santa Rosa Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Prior to working with the Santa Rosa symphony he worked three years as executive director for ProMusica Chamber Orchestra in Columbus, Ohio. He also worked as a director of marketing and public relations for the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and as executive director for the Santa Fe Convention & Visitors Bureau. He graduated with an undergraduate degree in economics with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s in public administration from Princeton University.
Mary Kay Sweeney
Homeward Bound of Marin, 199 Greenfield Ave., San Rafael 94901, 415-457-2114, www.hbofm.org
Homeward Bound of Marin Executive Director Mary Kay Sweeney said she has always focused her career in the nonprofit sector. She’s held her current position for the last eight years but has worked in other capacities with Homeward for about 15 years.
She worked previously with the Canal Alliance and the Seva Foundation. She has a master’s in counseling and a doctorate in social psychology, higher education and social change.
She received the Heart of Marin award for excellence and the Marin Economic Commission award. Homeward Bound provides services for homeless youth and families and employs about 50 full-time staff. It has revenues of about $4 million, according to Ms. Sweeney.
“The people I work with, from staff to residents to board to volunteers, all make my life richer. I feel blessed to be here,” she said.
Eunice Valentine
Volunteer Center of Sonoma County, 153 Stony Cir., Ste. 100, Santa Rosa 95401, 707-573-3399, www.volunteernow.org
Volunteer Center of Sonoma County Executive Director Eunice Valentine has spent almost her entire career with nonprofit organizations, joining the Volunteer Center in April 2006.
She received her bachelor’s in psychology and sociology from George Fox University in New England and her master’s in social work from Ohio State University. She also received a master’s in fine art writing, literature and publishing from Emerson College.
After graduating she spent two years in a children’s hospital for refugee children in Vietnam. She has also worked as executive director for the Lindsay Wildlife Museum, the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin, the YWCA of San Francisco & Marin, Rides for Bay Area Commuters and the United Way of San Francisco and Cincinnati, Ohio.
Shirlee Zane
Council on Aging, 30 Kawana Springs Road, Santa Rosa 95404, 707-525-0143, www.councilonaging.com
Council on Aging Chief Executive Officer Shirlee Zane has been with the group for more than a decade. She received her master’s in theology and cross cultural communication from Chicago Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and also a master’s in family counseling from Sonoma State University.
She helped raise about $3.5 million for a new community kitchen and emergency disaster kitchen for the group, and she has more than 25 years experience in the health and human services field, including as a family therapist, minister, hospital chaplain, special education educator and inner city social worker.
She has worked abroad in Caracas, Venezuela, and received the Community Services Award in education from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She also received a 2005 Leadership Award from the Sonoma County Medical Association and an award from the California Transportation Foundation.
Ms. Zane said The Council on Aging has revenues of about $4 million and provides 12 services for seniors including providing meals, legal services, mental health services and social and financial services.
|
