Northern California Leadership Forum
Participant Profiles
Mitchell Kapor, Chair, Open Source Applications Foundation, Keynote Speaker
Mitchell Kapor is Chair of the Open Source Applications Foundation, a non-profit organization
he founded in 2001 to promote the development and acceptance of high-quality application
software developed and distributed using open source methods. He is widely known as
founder of Lotus Development Corporation and the designer of Lotus 1-2-3, the "killer
application" which made the personal computer ubiquitous in the business world in the 1980's.
He has been at the forefront of the information technology revolution for a generation as an
entrepreneur, investor, social activist, and philanthropist. He received a B.A. from Yale College
in 1971 and studied psychology, linguistics, and computer science as part of an interdisciplinary
major in Cybernetics. He received a Master's degree in counseling psychology from Beacon
College. He founded Lotus Development Corp. in 1982 and with Jonathan Sachs, who was
responsible for technical architecture and implementation, created Lotus 1-2-3. He served as the
President (later Chairman) and Chief Executive Officer of Lotus from 1982 to 1986 and as a
Director until 1987. In 1983, Lotus' first year of operations, the company achieved revenues of
$53,000,000 and had a successful public offering. The number of employees grew to over a
thousand by 1985. For almost 20 years, Kapor has been an investor in high-technology start-up
companies (through Kapor Enterprises, Inc.) and an advisor to entrepreneurs. He was a
founding investor of UUNET, Real Networks, and Linden Research (the creator of the Second
Life). In addition to becoming a Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, Kapor is a
trustee of the Level Playing Field Institute, a San Francisco-based non-profit research
organization, whose mission is to enhance equal opportunity in the workplace and support the
values of an inclusive society. Mitchell will give the keynote remarks and speak on the panel, How
Technology is Reshaping Democratic Institutions: Open Source Government.
John Hart, Founder & CEO, American Democracy Institute, Presenter
John Hart is the founder of the American Democracy Institute. Previously, John served as
Director of Policy Implementation for the James B. Hunt Institute for Educational Leadership
and Policy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he managed operations and
program. Before joining the Hunt Institute, he served as Vice Preesident for Strategic Initiatives
and Government Affairs for Ovations, a division of United Health Group, focusing on
improving public, private and non-profit sector partnerships in health care. Under Attorney
General Janet Reno, John was appointed as Principal Deputy Director at the United States
Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). John also
served four years at the White House as Deputy Assistant to President Clinton and Deputy
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. In that capacity, he served as President Clinton’s
representative to state and local elected officials on federal-state policy, and acted as the
President’s liaison to the Catholic community. John will give welcoming and closing remarks.
Jose Caballer, Co-Founder and CEO, The GROOP, Presenter
Jose Caballer is Co-Founder and CEO of The GROOP. Growing up in Puerto Rico and the
Dominican Republic, Jose developed his visual acumen at an early age (he handcrafted a race
track and cars out of river clay and cardboard shoe boxes). He quickly developed an appetite
for entrepreneurism as well, selling Star-Wars replica space ships made out of chipboard, foam
and paper to his 6th and 7th grade classmates (Darth Vader's Imperial Transport was his top
seller). He figures that's why he gravitated to a career in digital media because of the blinking
lights, sounds and visuals that it combines. Throughout his career he has had the opportunity
to collaborate with clients such as Sega, Microsoft, Wieden + Kennedy, WK Tokyo Lab, Sony
Music, Warner Music, Art Center College of Design, Nike and Live Earth. While Jose is much
more driven by results than awards, he's taken home his share of hardware too, including Art
Directors Club Young Guns 2004, HOW Magazine's, Interactive Best of Show 2003, American
Center for Design Web 100, and he has work in the permanent collection of the San Francisco
Museum of Modern Art. When he's not producing results for clients or running a
contemporary art gallery called Bank that he co-owns, he spends his time teaching as a
professor of digital media and design at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Here he
provides students with an insider's look into the ever-changing methodologies that are used to
create engaging digital experiences. Jose will contribute to the discussion, Leadership through
Enterprise: Philanthropy and Social Enterprise.
Aaron (Ronnie) Chatterji, Assistant Professor, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University,
Presenter
Aaron Chatterji’s research interests include entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility,
and the intersection between business and public policy. Currently, he is a faculty affiliate at the
Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, The Health Sector Management Program, and the
Corporate Sustainability Initiative at Duke University. His work has been cited in various
publications including The Wall Street Journal, CNN Money, and The New Republic. He also
has been a respected and invited guest speaker at universities around the world, for
governmental as well as non-governmental organizations including the Department of State
and the Center for American Progress. Chatterji has received numerous grants and awards for
his outstanding work as a student, as well as for his research and teaching. He graduated with
distinction from Cornell University with an undergraduate degree in Economics with a
concentration in International Relations and received his masters and Ph D. from the University
of California, Berkeley in Business Administration with a concentration in Business and Public
Policy. He has previously worked at Goldman Sachs & Company, The Harvard Institute for
International Development, Merrill Lynch, and the Office of Congressman Eliot Engel. Aaron
will speak on the panel, How Social Networks are Reshaping Electoral Participation: I Vote You Vote.
Garrett Graff, Author, The First Campaign: Globalization, The Web and the Race of the White House,
Presenter
Garrett M. Graff is editor-at-large at Washingtonian magazine, where he covers media and
politics, edits the Capital Comment section, and serves as internet director. His first book, "The
First Campaign: Globalization, the Web, and the Race for the White House," was published in
December 2007. He teaches internet and social media at Georgetown University. He was the
founding editor of mediaBistro.com's Fishbowl D.C., a popular blog that covers the media and
journalism in Washington, and was co-founder of EchoDitto, Inc., a multi-million-dollar
Washington, D.C.-based internet consulting firm. A Vermont native, he served as deputy
national press secretary on Howard Dean's presidential campaign and, beginning in 1997, was
then Governor Dean's first webmaster. As the first blogger admitted to cover a White House
press briefing, he is a frequent speaker on blogging and the intersection of politics and
technology. He has appeared on Good Morning America, Fox News, CNN, CNN Headline
News, CNN International, CNBC, MSNBC, and various NPR programs, as well as local and
regional television and radio channels. He has spoken at the John F. Kennedy Presidential
Library, the National Press Club, and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, as well as
companies, trade groups, and to overseas audiences at the invitation of the U.S. State
Department. Garett will speak on the panel, How Technology is Reshaping Democratic Institutions:
Open Source Government.
Liz Heller, CEO, Buzztone, Presenter
Liz Heller, founder and CEO of Buzztone, a marketing company that combines online and off-
line word-of-mouth marketing techniques in the world of film, music and entertainment, is
viewed as the most active media executives in Hollywood. After receiving her BA from
University of California, Los Angeles, she earned high level positions at Capital Records, Island
Visual Arts, and MCA Records before founding and operating her current company. She is the
chief visionary of creative content, strategy, operations and funding. Known as a new media
pioneer, she used her influence in the media world to launch and promote through her own
company’s website the (PRODUCT) RED and Stop Global Warming’s Virtual March. uWink,
Inc., a popular publicly held digital entertainment company that develops interactive
entertainment in the restaurant business, recently included Heller on its Board of Directors. Liz
will speak on the panel, How Social Networks are Reshaping Electoral Participation: I Vote You Vote.
Chris Kelly, Chief Privacy Officer & Head of Global Public Policy, Facebook, Presenter
Chris Kelly is Chief Privacy Officer and Head of Global Public Policy for Facebook, a social
technology company based in Palo Alto. Chris brings more than a decade of business,
information privacy, public policy, and legal experience to the Facebook management team. He
previously created the Chief Privacy Officer position at broadband Internet service provider
Excite@Home, digital marketing company Kendara (which was sold to Excite@Home), and
professional connection management company Spoke Software. Through his in-house work
and service at international law firm Baker & McKenzie and technology law firm Wilson
Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Chris has advised major Internet and media clients on the increasing
challenges of online business, intellectual property, and privacy protection in the digital age.
Prior to his time in legal practice, he served as an advisor to the Clinton Administration's White
House Domestic Policy Council and the U.S. Department of Education. Chris holds a B.A. from
Georgetown University, an M.A. from Yale University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. At
Harvard, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Journal of Law & Technology and was
part of the founding team for the Berkman Center for Internet & Society.
Blake Mycoskie, Founder, TOMS Shoes, Presenter
Blake Mycoskie is a dynamic entrepreneur that has started six successful businesses from the
ground up. With two successful companies already under his belt, Blake plunged himself into
the world of reality television. Teaming up with his sister, Paige, Blake competed on the second
season of CBS’ hit show, The Amazing Race, coming just four minutes away from the $1 million
dollar grand prize. In Los Angeles, Mycoskie teamed up with the creators of TrafficSchool.com
to create DriversEdDirect, a behind-the-wheel training school featuring Hybrid cars and hip
instructors. To help promote DriversEdDirect, Blake created Closer Marketing Group - a Santa
Monica based marketing firm specializing in brand development and viral marketing.
While vacationing in South America in 2006, Mycoskie discovered the Alpargata, a traditional
rope-soled shoe that has been worn by Argentina farmers for the last 100 years. At the same
time, Blake was struck by the terrible poverty that he saw: too poor to afford shoes, children
developed cuts and scrapes on their feet that led to serious infections. Blake returned to Los
Angeles with 200 pairs of shoes in his duffel bag and the idea for a new company, TOMS Shoes.
The motto for TOMS is “Make life more comfortable.” Mycoskie accomplishes this goal with a
unique Argentine-inspired shoe and a one-for-one commitment to match each pair sold with a
donated pair to a child in need. After selling 10,000 pairs of shoes from his apartment in Venice,
Mycoskie returned to Argentina with friends, family and his new TOMS’ Family to hand-
deliver 10,000 pairs of shoes to kids in need. The trip was filmed by filmmaker Ken Kokin (co-
producer of the Academy Award Winning Usual Suspects and is currently being turned into a
documentary for entry into the Tribeca Film Festival.
Since the Argentine Shoe Drop, TOMS has moved from Blake’s studio in Venice to a 6000
square foot studio in Santa Monica. The company includes 18 full-time employees focusing on
sales, public relations, logistics, production, and graphic design. Mycoskie recently returned
from South Africa where he hand-delivered 50,000 pairs of shoes to children in need. He is 31
years old and lives on a boat in Los Angeles. Blake will contribute to the discussion, Leadership
through Enterprise: Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship.
Barrett Reiff, Vice President, The GROOP, Presenter
Barrett Reiff is Vice President of The GROOP, an award-winning, multi-disciplinary design firm
that specializes in brand strategy, identity design and user interface design for innovative
online product ventures, ecommerce and advertisers. Reiff earned his BA from USC in
Accounting and Information systems and graduated from the University of Southern
California's MBA program with an emphasis in New Venture Development as well as
Marketing. Prior to returning to USC for his MBA, Barrett spent several years in public
consulting with Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young. The GROOP collaborates with their
clients to create dynamic user experiences that help them better communicate, engage and
transact with their customers. Barrett will speak on the panel, How Social Networks are Reshaping
Electoral Participation: I Vote You Vote.
Darnell Strom, Millennium Network Director, William J. Clinton Foundation, Presenter
Darnell Strom's career has focused on politics and non-profit work. In 2003, Darnell served as
Director of the Chair's office at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. In this role he
focused on political outreach. At the conclusion of the Democratic Convention, Darnell became
one of the youngest Senior Staff members in a battleground state as the Florida Director of
Operations for John Kerry's Presidential campaign. In March of 2005, Darnell relocated to New
York City after accepting a position as an Aide to President Bill Clinton. In this role Darnell
coordinated over 200 business trips and traveled on select visits with Former President Clinton.
Darnell served in this position until December 2006 when he was asked to create a program that
reflected President Clinton's vision of engaging the next generation of leaders and
philanthropists in the work of the Clinton Foundation. In April of 2007 Darnell launched the
Clinton Foundation Millennium Network. In less than a year the Millennium Network has
attracted over 4,000 leaders age 45 and under, has raised over $475,000, and has been
recognized by President Clinton as an essential fundraising component of the future of the
Clinton Foundation. Darnell was born and raised in San Jose, CA and received a B.S. in Political
Science from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, FL. Darnell will contribute to the discussion,
Leadership through Enterprise: Philanthropy and Social Enterprise.
Angela Sun, Correspondent & Producer, Current TV, Presenter
Angela Sun is a studio host and correspondent for Al Gore’s Emmy Award-winning Current
TV. Angela produces, shoots and writes stories. In summer of 2005 Angela left to shoot a three
part documentary series for Current TV about Underground Christian Missionaries in China
that won her a Telly Award. She has worked on the international level in the Philippines,
Australia, China, and Guatemala. She has researched women’s societal status in China,
investigated coffee as a commodity, looked into terrorism’s affect on tourism in the Philippines
and counterfeited goods in Shanghai. Angela also reports for ESPN.com during the X Games
and appeared on X Center and has served as a correspondent on several sports programs. She
is a proud UCLA Bruin fan and graduate and an active member of the Asian American
Journalists Association. She has traveled to over 28 countries and studied abroad in Australia at
the University of New South Wales. This native Californian has over 18 years of snowboarding,
surfing, and skateboarding experience. Angela will be introducing Mitch Kapor.
David Weekly, CEO, Founder and Chairman, PBwiki, Presenter
David Weekly, 29, is a computer engineer, helicopter pilot, rescue scuba diver, world traveler,
party host, and entrepreneur. Born to an engineer, David started programming at the age of 5
on an Apple II/c. He was a President Scholar in Computer Science at Stanford University and
programmed anti-matter simulations for Harvard Physics Labs, wrote pattern recognition
systems for the Department of Defense at MIT Lincoln Labs, and optimized 3D alignments of
laser rangefinder data for Stanford's Digital Michelangelo Project. As a freshman at Stanford,
David wrote the first layman's level description of the MP3 format, held the first MP3 dance
party west of the Mississippi, and was the subject of a Fortune cover story on innovation at
Stanford. In 2001, David founded the California Community Colocation Project (CCCP), a non-
profit dedicated to donation-based, free speech hosting for individuals, non-profits, and open
source projects. At its peak in 2005, the project was home to over 130 servers and had sister
projects spawned in Toronto, Seattle, and Chicago. In 2005, David co-founded
SuperHappyDevHouse, a monthly get-together where~150 programmers bring over laptops
and ideas for a Saturday from 1pm to 1am and work on projects and discuss new concepts.
DevHouse has since been replicated in Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand, Boston and Texas.
It was from the first "DevHouse" that PBwiki sprang, the first version coded by David in seven
hours - between 1 and 8 in the morning. PBwiki - short for "Peanut Butter Wiki" - is the world's
easiest-to-use wiki. With setup taking no longer than the time it takes to make a peanut butter
sandwich and a fully scalable, secure backend, PBwiki is home to some 400,000 communities,
more than a third of the Fortune 500, the United Nations and Utah legislature, three presidential
campaigns, and hosts more pages of user content than Wikipedia. PBwiki, a privately held
Delaware C corporation, has eleven employees and has its offices in San Mateo, CA. PBwiki is
backed by Mohr Davidow Ventures, Ron Conway, and other private investors. David will speak
on the panel, How Technology is Reshaping Democratic Institutions: Open Source Government.
Judith Zarin, Board Member, American Democracy Institute, Presenter
Judith Zarin is a champion of women’s rights, serving as a board member of the National Naral
Pro-Choice America Foundation and a member and supporter of the Democratic National
Committee Women’s Leadership Forum and Emily’s List, a political network for pro-choice
Democratic women. A supporter of the Eleanor Roosevelt Girls’ Leadership Workshop, Zarin
helped create a New York mentorship program which exposes girls to strong female role
models working in New York City. From 1988 through 1995, Zarin was a member of the Board
of Trustees of The Calhoun School in Manhattan. From 1998 through 2005, she was a member of
the Board of Trustees of the Horace Mann School in Riverdale, New York, having served on the
Finance committee as well as the Education committee. Along with her husband, Gerald
Rosenfeld, CEO of Rothschild North America, Zarin has established the first two undergraduate
scholarships at The Stern School of Business at New York University specifically dedicated to
New York minority women. In addition, they have also established the first scholarship
dedicated to female rabbinical students at The Jewish Theological Seminary. Zarin holds a PhD
in Psychology from the Graduate Center of the New School for Social Research and a J.D. from
the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law. Judith will moderate the discussion, Leadership through
Enterprise: Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship.
Janelle Abriani, Graduate Student - Master’s in Public Health, San Jose State University
Janelle Abriani is a graduate student at San Jose State University pursuing her master’s degree
in Public Health. She has a philanthropic background and has worked in Washington DC for
the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, a non-profit prostate cancer organization. She headed a
national mobile prostate cancer screening program and traveled around the country managing
the clinic.
Cesar Anda, Field Representative, Assemblyman Joe Coto
Cesar Anda is a field representative for Assemblymember Joe Coto. He has worked as a field
director for the Voter Education and Registration Fund and has also worked with Speaker
Fabian Nuñez. He is a Richard G. Polanco Public Policy Fellow and received his degree in
History and Ethic Studies from Berkeley. He currently serves as a board member for the
Charities Housing Development Corporation and consults for the Latino Caucus.
Murat Armbruster, Partner, Atlas Capital Investments, LP
Murat Armbruster builds organizations that make a positive impact on society and the
environment in the financial, political, charitable, and corporate realms. Currently, Murat is a
Founding Partner of the sustainable technology hedge fund, Atlas Capital Investments.
Additionally, he is the Managing Partner of Solaris Venture Partners, a renewable energy
financing company. He serves as an advisor to and/or member of the board of directors of the
Genesis Fund, Broadworlds Ventures, Arico Foods, and Pharmacopia. Murat has pursued his
positive society and environmental impact values as a chief-level executive of companies such
as the health-conscious beverage company, Adina For Life, Inc., the first K-12 eLearning
website, GlobaLearn/Edtopia.com, Inc., and Baptiste Enterprises, Inc., a health and wellness
institute.
Murat served as Deputy Executive Officer for General Wesley K. Clark during his bid for the
Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Other political activities have included his election
as a Delegate for the Massachusetts Democratic State Convention as well as Treasurer and
Member of the Executive Committee of the Somerville Democratic Committee. Murat is a
fellow of the Explorers Club, the Royal Society of Arts, a member of the Social Venture
Network, the Threshold Foundation, and life member of Shotokan Karate of America, in which
he holds a black belt. He graduated from the University of Michigan with High Honors in
History and Asian studies. He resides in San Francisco, California.
Sam Arons, Green Business and Operations Strategy Associate, Google, Inc.
Sam Arons holds a master’s degree from UC Berkeley in Energy and Resources, where he
studied plug-in hybrid vehicles as a policy tool for achieving cost-effective greenhouse gas
emission reductions. He works at Google on the company’s Green Business Strategy team,
where he focuses on renewable energy and Google’s carbon footprint. Passionate about the
environment, Sam hopes to pioneer innovative environmental solutions that can be widely
adopted in the business community.
Saderia Badgett
Sederia Badgett has a strong background in program management, recruitment, relationship
building, and services to youth. Sederia’s passion for student achievement and her
fundamental belief in equity is why she enthusiastically joined New Leaders for New Schools.
Sederia has worked as a summer intern with the California Youth Authority; there she aided
with pre-release presentations and worked with female parolees to identify and pursue
academic and career goals. In addition, as a former Camp Director with the Downtown
Oakland YMCA Sederia planned and directed academic and recreational curriculum
development for youth ages eight to fifteen. While attending Oberlin College, Sederia served as
President of the Shule Program, an after school program which matches volunteer college
students with minority students from the community. After graduating from Oberlin, where
she also worked with the Lorraine County Boys & Girls Club, Sederia joined the University of
California San Francisco as a Program Coordinator and Analyst on Special Projects within the
Office of the Provost. There, she supported the development and implementation of a campus-
wide faculty diversity program, and was instrumental in propelling the program from its pilot
phase to a fully developed and functional program. Sederia was recognized for her work as a
UCSF Champion of Diversity among a select group of staff and faculty. Sederia is quite active
in the Oakland community, where she serves on a board of directors for a neighborhood
revitalization organization and has served on various neighborhood committees in West
Oakland. Sederia is also a mentor within the faith-based community and has a vested interest
in improving the lives of underserved youth because it is her belief that everyone should be
committed to transforming the lives of young people.
Bonnie Barclay, Executive Director, Gaia Foundation
Bonnie Barclay serves as the Executive Director of the Gaia Foundation. Born and raised in
Massachusetts, she graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with bachelor's
degrees in both Environmental Science and Wildlife Conservation. Bonnie has lived and
traveled throughout the United States. For the last 10 years, Bonnie has been involved in
fundraising and organizational management with NGOs and in the academic world. She has
worked on campaigns involving clean air, human rights, endangered species, integrated pest
management, open space preservation, sustainability, energy security and student activism.
Bonnie currently sits on the steering committee of the American Democracy Institute. She has
worked for The Fund for Public Interest Research, the Safer Pest Control Project, the UCLA
Institute of the Environment and the Transformative Action Institute.
Frankie Bevins, Deputy Program Manager – Global Health, Clinton Global Initiative University
Frankki Bevins is currently serving as the Deputy Program Manager for Global Health for the
upcoming Clinton Global Initiative University conference. The focus of the conference will be
to gather university students to discuss pressing issues in the areas of global health, poverty,
human rights, and climate change, while developing ways for the students to actively commit
to making a positive change in one or more of the four areas. Frankki Bevins will begin as an
associate with McKinsey and Company in their government practice within the DC office in
March. Frankki has worked with the WHO in the Health and Technologies practice to develop
technologies aimed at identifying and halting the production of counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
She also worked with the Malaria Vaccine Initiative to map the value chain and strategize about
the organization's position in the path toward vaccine development. Frankki was a Fulbright
Scholar in Spain, conducting research on undocumented immigrants' health care in Spain, as
well as writing pieces on Spain's plan for childhood obesity reduction and tobacco laws.
Frankki also worked as an analyst with Cornerstone Research in San Francisco. Frankki
received a BA in Economics and Spanish from Dartmouth College and a Masters in Public
Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University.
Pooja Bhatia, Strategic Planner, Apple Inc.
Pooja Bhatia graduated from Northwestern University and relocated to San Francisco to begin
her career at Apple, Inc. as a Strategic Planner in the Marketing Communications department.
She helps analyze consumer trends, behaviors and attitudes that aid in Apple’s communication
efforts to various consumer segments. When Pooja isn’t riding her bike around the city or
planning an event, she can usually be found at a coffee shop in the Mission planning her next
trip abroad. The Office, Taco Bell, and social entrepreneurship are a few of her favorite things.
Adam Borelli, Team Coordinator, Climate & Energy Initiatives, Google, Inc
Adam Borelli is the Team Coordinator for Climate & Energy Initiatives at Google.org. As the
Team Coordinator, Adam works on the RechargeIT.org project and RE
Google, Adam worked as a Research Manager for Tiburon Strategic Advisors, a boutique
financial services strategy consulting firm in Tiburon, California. After graduating from UC
Berkeley in May 2006 with a BA in Political Economy of Industrial Societies, Adam worked for
We the People, Inc., a political nonprofit raising awareness about corruption in Congress.
Adam worked in California and in New Mexico during the campaign season. Beyond his work
life Adam has extensive experience in political and nonprofit work, including the Young
Democrats, Generation Dean, and now serves as the voluntary Executive Director of New
Leaders Council, a national nonprofit that cultivates emerging progressive leaders.
Jennifer Burns, Assistant Professor, University of Virginia
Jennifer Burns is an Assistant Professor of Modern American History at the University of
Virginia. She received her undergraduate degree in American history from Harvard University,
and a Ph.D. in History from the University of California, Berkeley. Jennifer’s academic interests
focus on the history of American conservatism, and she is writing a book about the libertarian
philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand.
Nora Camstock, President & CEO, Las Comadres Para Las Americas
Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Ph.D. is President and CEO of the non-profit organization Las
Comadres Para Las Americas. She is credited with blending the face-to-face gatherings which
became known as "comadrazos" with email connectivity. She has started these informal groups
throughout the country and Puerto Rico: over 10,000 comadres in 22 states. The purpose is to
celebrate and preserve culture, promote understanding and pride, share information and
provide more opportunities to further Latino advancement in all areas and to build healthy,
empowered Latino communities.
Cynthia Caporizzo, Policy Advisor, Children’s and Family Services, City of San Francisco
Cynthia Caporrizo works with the City Attorney’s Office and the San Francisco Department of
Human Services to develop and implement child welfare policy. Previously, Cynthia held
management and policy positions at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of
California and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. Before working in San Francisco, Cynthia
was an Assistant Director for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing
Services Office (COPS).
Saherose Charania, Director of Global Marketing, JAJAH
Shaherose Charania is at Sequoia-backed Jajah disrupting the telco world as a Marketing
Director. She also moonlights with a stealth mode startup on consumer experience. In
addition, she co-founded Women 2.0 an organization dedicated to growing the number of
women entrepreneurs. Prior, she was at TiE overseeing governance, strategy and operations of
40+ entrepreneurship centers in places like the US, Canada, India, the UAE, and Malaysia while
whipping up specs for TiE’s online community and internal apps. She aspires to pour her
entrepreneurial spirit into launching tech solutions for the developing world.
Nick Cizek, Ph.D. Candidate, Stanford University
Nick is a Ph.D. candidate in Mark Kasevich’s Atomic Interferometry group in the Physics and
Applied Physics departments at Stanford University. He is working to create, observe, and
manipulate dilute gases of ultracold atomic lithium (billionths of a degree above absolute zero).
Nick is interested in developing long-term sustainable solutions to the coupled energy,
population, and environment problem. He is specifically interested in learning how to
encourage top-down policy changes and bottom-up community efforts that will enable a
positive resolution of this problem.
Adam Conner, Washington DC Associate, Facebook
Adam Conner is the Washington DC Associate for the Privacy and Global Public Policy
Division at Facebook, where he focuses on privacy and regulatory issues, political outreach and
partnerships. Prior to Facebook, Adam served as the Director of Online Communications for the
Chairwoman of the Committee on Rules in the House of Representatives and as the Deputy
Director of Online Communications for Former Virginia Governor Mark Warner's presidential
exploratory committee Foward Together. Adam is a veteran of numerous campaigns, a
speechwriter, and a blogger. Adam holds a bachelor’s degree from the George Washington
University.
Jamir Couch, President, Knowles Hall Consulting, Inc.
Jamir R. Couch is the President and Founder of Knowles Hall Consulting Inc. Knowles Hall’s
primary focus is to assist financial firms with their business development efforts before various
entities. Jamir currently represents private equity, real estate and hedge funds managers, many
of whom are “emerging managers.” Prior to starting Knowles Hall, she served as a vice
president at M.R. Beal & Company in its corporate finance and institutional sales departments.
Immediately before joining M.R. Beal she served as senior counsel in the Washington, D.C.
office of Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone. Before returning to private law practice, Jamir served
as the first executive director of the Wall Street Project (WSP) an initiative of RPC. She also
served in the previous Clinton Administration at Treasury and HUD. She is a graduate of Yale
and Georgetown Law School.
Roberto Delgado, President, ChispaKids
Roberto Delgado is President and Founder of ChispaKids, an online platform geared at children
twelve and under. ChispaKids educates through online activities and celebrates cultural
awareness and diversity. Roberto holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business and is a
Marketing Executive for Ghirardelli Associates, an engineering firm based in Oakland. He
serves as an officer for the Federation of Guanajuatenses, an organization that promotes bi-
national trade while educating and encouraging political participation among expatriates from
Guanajuato residing in the US. He also serves as a board member for the Chamber of
Commerce of COFEM, which develops bi-national business relations between Mexico and the
US. Roberto is passionate about children’s education and corporate social responsibility.
Rachel Diamond, Executive Director, Minerva Awards
Rachel Diamond graduated from New York University with honors and began her career in
entertainment at The Daily Show and then moved to D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles, Procter
and Gamble Productions. Rachel then embraced the challenge of working with Fox Searchlight
Pictures as independent films started growing and helped promote films such as "The Full
Monty" and "Boys Don't Cry." Rachel left her job as Manager of East Coast Marketing for Fox
Searchlight Pictures and headed west where she worked with Maria Shriver to help create the
foundation for the Minerva Awards. Rachel served as the Executive Director of the Minerva
Awards which are now bestowed annually at the California Governor and First Lady's
Conference on Women. Rachel is currently serving as a consultant while continuing to work
with the Minerva Leadership Program which honors young women who have performed
significant community service and demonstrate exceptional leadership skills so that they are
inspired to continue their work.
Rachel Dowd, Deputy Editor, The Advocate
Rachel Dowd works as the Deputy Editor of The Advocate, a leading national gay and lesbian
publication. She worked as a medical editor at a nonprofit cancer institute and began a lifestyle
magazine for the entertainment industry. Rachel has also written extensively about natural
health.
Rahim Fazal, CEO & Co-Founder, RapOuts, Inc.
Rahim Fazal is CEO and Co-Founder of RapOuts, Inc., a platform that allows you to quickly
and effectively create and track an action-oriented marketing campaign on social networks like
Facebook. Rahim developed an online business while still in high school, negotiated its sale
while writing his Grade 12 final exams, and then spent two years establishing a publicly traded
company while playing an active role in his community. Rahim completed his MBA at
Canada's top management school, the Richard Ivey School of Business. Because of his
achievements, he was the youngest student in the school's 80 year history accepted without a
prerequisite university degree. A frequent and popular speaker, Rahim's life planning
program, “Gettin’ It”, provides alternately hilarious and sobering education to youths on how
to truly get what they want out of life. Rahim is an advisor to the Extreme Entrepreneurship
Education Corporation in New York City, an organization helping young people realize the
value of pursuing entrepreneurship through education and outreach. Rahim lives in Palo Alto,
California and is working on his third start-up.
Christina Foushee, PhD Candidate, University of California San Francisco
Christina Foushee is currently a clinical research nurse and graduate student at the University
of California San Francisco working toward her doctorate in environmental health policy. Her
masters and doctoral studies have focused on environmental and public health issues related to
chemicals policy in the health care sector. Christina’s academic research and political interests
have included the areas of reduction of environmental mercury and dioxin due to health care
waste incineration, support for biomonitoring and environmental health tracking policies, and
investigation of health care purchasing policies as an avenue for increasing demand for green
chemistry products. Christina was an intern in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Washington DC office
in 2004 and a Nurse In Washington Internship scholarship awardee in 2006. She is currently a
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health traineeship awardee.
Ben Geyerahhn, Principal, Hudson TG
Ben Geyerahhn is a political and communications strategist with over 10 years of experience in
government, politics, and law while serving as field director and consultant on national and
state-level campaigns. Ben’s recent accomplishments include serving as the President of Blue
Tiger Group, which invests in and launches progressive ventures, including businesses that
used the leverage of group buying to reduce the cost of heating oil, insurance, and other
necessities to consumers. With HudsonTG, Ben guides a Rockefeller Foundation-supported
project exploring ways to finance the rising cost of health care expenses paid by the insured and
uninsured. Previously, he served as Director for the New Democrat Network in New York and
was Executive Director of Blue Tiger Democrats, which launched a successful Michigan pilot
project that is a case study in party-building utilizing service politics. In 2003-2004, he
consulted for the Kerry-Edwards presidential campaign in New York and Pennsylvania, John
Edwards’ presidential campaign, and the Savino for Senate New York State Senate campaign.
In 2004, he managed the national theatrical distribution of the award-winning feature-length
documentary Paperclips.
Maggie Grace, Actor, Film & Television
Maggie Grace has over eight years of experience in the television and film industry. She got her
start in films in 2002 with Murder in Greenwich and Shop Club. She has also starred on the hit
ABC island-survival drama Lost and Smallville. Maggie has a strong interest in developing
projects to raise global consciousness and was recently involved in TOMS Shoes shoe drop, in
Argentina.
Brad Greiner, Director of Athlete Outreach, Team Darfur
Brad Greiner is the Co-Founder and Director of Athlete Outreach for Team Darfur, an
international coalition of Olympic and professional athletes that raise funds and awareness for
the people of Darfur, Sudan. While attending UCLA, Brad also worked for Apple Computers.
Paula Groves-Hawthorne, Founding Partner, 4Front Partners
Paula Groves-Hawthorne is a founding partner of 4Front Development Ventures, a fund-in-
formation focused on Northern California companies. 4Front also consults with small
businesses. Previously, Paula co-founded Axxon Capital, a $50 million venture fund. She was
also a partner with Triumph Capital where she completed more than $115 million in
investments. As an industry veteran, her experience includes working with start-up companies,
firms interested in acquisition strategies and businesses seeking growth and buy-out financing.
Ms. Groves-Hawthorne is currently a board member of the Little Jim Club of San Francisco and
the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Paula has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA
from Stanford University.
Gary Guseinov, CEO & Chairman of the Board, CyberDefender Corporation
Gary Guseinov currently serves as the CEO and Chairman of the Board of the CyberDefender
Corporation. CyberDefender is a public company (CYDE) which develops collaborative
internet security applications that protects consumers and small businesses against spyware,
viruses and identity theft. Prior to CyberDefender Gary served as the President of Synergy, an
online marketing agency which he founded in 1995. Gary participates in numerous non-profit
organization activities.
Hala K. Hijazi, Founder, Professionals VIP West
Hala K. Hijazi, a Muslim American, has for over 10 years held various Project Management
positions at the City and County of San Francisco, including serving as one of Mayor Willie
Brown’s Special Assistants for 7 years. Additionally, Hala has created Professionals VIP West, a
business network of over 2500 individuals, engaging the under 40 in political, civic, and
philanthropic affairs. Hala, through her networks, has raised over $60,000 for the Clinton
Foundation in 2007 and has raised at least $10K for several democratic candidates. Hala is an
active participant on various boards, including Emerge California.
Lauren Hole, Deputy Chief of Staff, Contra Costa County Supervisor Susan Bonilla
Lauren is the staff liaison for Pacheco and Pleasant Hill and is responsible for the Supervisor's
communication with the media, community outreach and advising the Supervisor on issues
involving veterans, housing, public safety, emergency preparedness and the environment.
Lauren previously worked as a Congressional Aide for Congressman George Miller on media
outreach and advised him on issues including education, immigration, military and veterans.
Lauren graduated from the University of Arizona with undergraduate degrees in Political
Science and Communication.
Andrew Hoppin, Communities Ambassador, NASA Ames Research Center
Andrew Hoppin co-founded the NASA CoLab project at NASA Ames Research Center, which
builds online and offline partnerships between NASA and external communities of practice
such as the entrepreneurial technology community of the San Francisco Bay Area, the global
open-source software movement, and space advocates in the virtual world of “Second Life.” As
an entrepreneur, Andrew has co-founded and directed business development for GoodStorm, a
progressive eCommerce venture that helps organizations raise money to support themselves,
and Trellon, a leading open-source software consulting firm for online community building,
and MoonFront, an aerospace design consulting firm.
As a grassroots political organizer, in 2003, Andrew founded the largest local group in the Draft
Clark movement, New York for Clark, and later joined the Wesley Clark for President campaign
staff to help manage the campaign’s voter data and the nation’s first open-source campaign
software volunteer program. He also co-created the “RootsCamp” political meeting series in
Second Life in 2006, and the Yearly Kos “virtual convention” in Second Life in 2007. Andrew
serves on the Advisory Boards of Netroots Nation (formerly Yearly Kos), the Space Generation
Foundation, Yenza and the New Organizing Institute. Andrew is a graduate of the NASA
Academy and the International Space University and holds bachelors and masters degrees from
Brown University and UC Berkeley in Planetary Sciences and in Environmental Science, Policy,
and Management, respectively.
Kevin Iwashina, President, The General Media Company
Kevin Iwashina is the President of The General Media Company, a media advisory and
investment company based in Los Angeles. He most recently acquired the Men's Division of
IMG Models. The company will launch in New York as Public Image Worldwide with one of
the strongest Men's Boards in the Fashion Business. Kevin is also an advisor to internet start
ups CozmoTV and Indie911.Prior to his founding of The General Media Company, he spent 10
years at the Creative Artists Agency as a Motion Picture Agent. He was responsible for
arranging the financing and distribution for projects such as the Academy Awards winning
CRASH as well as the recent Toronto Film Festival entry, THEN SHE FOUND ME, written
directed and starring Helen Hunt. He also represented director and actors including John
Waters, David Lachapelle, Gil Kenan (MONSTER HOUSE), Gabriele Muccino (THE PURSUIT
OF HAPPYNESS), Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel and Emmanuelle Seinger. While at CAA,
Iwashina also advised companies such as Netflix and the production house Killer Films on
overall business strategy. Kevin is a native of Los Angeles and graduated U.C.L.A. with a B.A.
in English Literature with a Minor in French Language and Culture. He is active in politics and
causes and currently serves on the board of Outfest.
Adam Klaus, Politics 2.0 Manager, CREDO Mobile / Working Assets
Adam Klaus has been working professionally in community, national, and electoral groups for
over eight years. As a member of the Politics Team at CREDO Mobile (formerly Working
Assets), a San Francisco based wireless phone company and social change organization, he
manages key civic engagement projects, including an online voter registration Widget and API
that is powering an unprecedented drive to register young voters leading up to the 2008
election. Adam has also served as Wisconsin State Director of the Young Voter Alliance (2004),
headed the training department of the U.S. Student Association from 2001 to 2003, and was a
staffer on Tammy Baldwin's successful congressional campaign. He has consulted for ACORN,
the League of Young Voters, and Music for America.
Matt Lockshin, Founder, Say No to Pombo
Matt Lockshin was the founder of the Say No to Pombo and was the principal author of the
blog since its inception in October 2005 until June 2006. He managed a successful grassroots
campaign for the Peralta College Board against a popular two-term incumbent and has
volunteered on numerous other campaigns. Currently, Matt works in online communications
for a healthcare coalition in California.
Thomas J. Mackell, Jr., Chairman of Board of Directors, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Dr. Thomas J. Mackell is an advisor and consultant in the employee benefits field in the private
and public sectors with broad experience in the maritime, transportation, and steel industries
and in health care, public safety, and financial services. He earned a bachelor’s degree from
Seton Hall University and attended St. John’s University School of Law. He earned a master’s
degree from Long Island University and a doctorate from Rutgers University. Thomas is
Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Benefits and Pension Services, Inc., and is
president of the Association of Benefit Administrators and editor of its newsletter, Insights. He
is a member of the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Dialogue and a director of the
Foundation for Fiduciary Studies. He was a White House appointee to the ERISA Advisory
Council to the Secretary of Labor in 1997 through 1999. Thomas spent 14 years with the Marine
Engineers Beneficial Association as Administrator of their jointly-administered trust funds and
has spent the last 26 years in the investment management business working with Taft-Hartley,
public and corporate pension funds and endowments and foundations on asset allocation and
corporate governance issues. In addition, Thomas was a professor at C.W. Post Center, Long
Island University’s School of Health and Public Affairs, and adjunct professor at the New York
Institute of Technology Graduate Center for Labor and Industrial Relations School of
Management, where he was also a member of the institution’s advisory board.
Nicco Mele, Founder & President, EchoDitto
Nicco Mele is the founder and president of EchoDitto, a leading internet strategy consulting
company with offices in Washington DC, New York, and Boston. EchoDitto’s clients include
the Clinton Foundation, Blackberry, Rosie O’Donnell, and SEIU. Born in West Africa to Foreign
Service parents, Nicco has broad experience working with NGOs and non-profits. As the
Internet Operations Director of Governor Dean’s presidential campaign, Nicco managed all
technical, functional and design aspects of Dean’s national web presence. In December of 2003,
he was named one of America‘s “best and brightest” by Esquire magazine. Nicco teaches in the
Johns Hopkins University graduate communications program.
Uduak Ntuk, Petroleum Engineer, Chevron USA Inc.
Uduak Ntuk is a full time petroleum engineer with Chevron North America Exploration &
Production and part time graduate student at the University of Southern California in the
Petroleum Engineering Masters Program. He is an alumnus of California State University, Long
Beach where he earned a bachelors degree in chemical engineering and minored in
entrepreneurship & chemistry. During his college career, he studied abroad in China and
worked four engineering internships with General Electric, Tyco, and Chevron. Additionally,
Uduak held volunteer leadership positions in the National Society of Black Engineers, Society of
Petroleum Engineers, Tau Beta Pi, and Student Government. In 2007, he was awarded the
American Chemical Society's YCC Leadership Development Award and the NSBE National
Alumni Leadership Award. Mr. Ntuk is a graduate of both the UCLA Anderson School of
Management "Riordan Fellows" Program and the Wake Forest University "It's All About
Business" Program.
Andrea Olson, California Finance Deputy, John Edwards for President
Andrea Olson, California Finance Deputy, John Edwards for President Andrea Olson has
worked with the John Edwards for President Campaign since December 2006. She studies
political science at UC Berkeley and is involved with various organizations at the university.
Her primary interest is the study of International Relations, particularly in the countries of
Africa and the Middle East. Andrea had the opportunity to facilitate an undergraduate course
at Berkeley in the fall of 2007 called 'The Conflict in Northern Uganda: Invisible Children.'
Additionally, she has worked with and interned at the offices of Congressman Dennis Cardoza
(D-Modesto), Assemblyman Mark Leno (D- San Francisco), and Congresswoman Barbara Lee
(D-Oakland).
Josh Pasek, PhD Candidate, Stanford University
Josh Pasek is a native of Philadelphia and has been involved in political organizations since
childhood. He has worked on political media and helped manage campaigns on both coasts.
Josh is the former National Committeeman for Pennsylvania Young Democrats and the former
Communications Director for California Young Democrats. He also serves on the Young
Democrats of America Executive committee as the Chair of the Young Democrats of America
Jewish Caucus. Additionally, Josh is a founding board member of the Jewish Social Policy
Action Network, a nonprofit organization that serves as a progressive voice within the
Philadelphia Jewish community. Josh has also won a Gold Addy Award for best new digital
media for his work in creating a CD-ROM for the 2002 Liberty Medal presentation in
Philadelphia.
Marc Payne, Business Development Manager, Chevron Corporation
Marc is a Business Development Manager in the Global Gas division of Chevron Corporation
based in San Ramon, CA. Marc's primary focus is to assist in the commercial development of
Chevron's major natural gas, pipeline, LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) and GTL (Gas to
Liquids) projects around the world. Regions covered include Australia, West Africa, Europe,
Eurasia and South America. Prior to his current position, he has held various business
development, finance and technical positions in the energy industry, and lived seven years
internationally in Asia and Europe. Marc has a Mechanical Engineering degree from Penn State
University and an MBA from Tulane University.
Kathleen Pessolano, Associate, O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Kathleen Pessolano is a regulatory attorney in the Washington, DC office of Los
Angeles-based O’Melveny & Myers LLP. Kathleen’s practice focuses on regulatory matters in
antitrust and consumer protection, particularly in mergers and acquisitions, advertising and
marketing practices, including environmental marketing of carbon offsets and other green
power products, as well as Internet privacy, data security, and other concerns of online
transactions, new media, and technology applications. She provides regulatory counseling,
client representation, and public policy advocacy in proceedings before federal agencies,
especially the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice, as well as U.S.
Congress. In addition to experience in regulatory law and public policy, she is very interested
in philanthropy and nonprofits, through pro bono work as well as volunteering.
Samantha Piell, Associate Consultant, Hay Group
Samantha Piell is an Associate Consultant at Hay Group, a global business consulting firm that
focuses in Human Resources. In this role, she works on various aspects of projects relating to
compensation and leadership development. She has been with Hay Group for 3 years. Outside
of work, Samantha is active in pursuing issues of environmental and economic justice. She
hopes to one day pursue these interests in a professional capacity.
Rahul Prakash, Vice President – Strategic Growth & Development, Spock
Rahul Prakash is Vice President of Growth & Strategic Development at Spock; the leading
Internet people search application. Rahul was responsible for building Spock’s entire team
nearly from scratch, while also leading a team focusing on core marketing initiatives, public
relations, and product evangelism. As a result, Spock has been hailed as one of the hottest start-
ups in Silicon Valley and been named one of the top 10 startups to watch in 2008 by Wired
Magazine and The Washington Times, and is also well known for having one of the most
talented teams in Silicon Valley. Spock has also been featured in Business Week, The Wall
Street Journal, Time Magazine, and CNBC. In 2005, Rahul was one of 64 nationally awarded the
Coro Foundation Fellowship.
Rahul served as Communications Director & Press Secretary to New York State Representative
and 2006 Democratic State Attorney General Candidate Michael Gianaris. Rahul was
instrumental in creating legislation to establish an independent commission to reapportion New
York’s legislative districts, a measure which was later endorsed by the New York Times
Editorial Board. At New Yorkers for Gianaris, Rahul managed a communications operation
that included outreach to national, regional and specialty media outlets, and rapid response.
Candidate Gianaris became the front-runner of the 2006 race and raised $4 million dollars
nationally. Rahul serves on the Board of Trustees at The Junior Statesmen Foundation,
promoting participatory democracy in high schools across the nation since 1935. He is also on
the Board of Directors at the Coro Foundation in San Francisco. Prakash is a member of the
Full Circle Fund, an alliance of emerging business leaders who help solve public problems
through engaged philanthropy and public policy advocacy. Rahul also founded and directs
the Millennium Network for Share Our Strength, working since 1984 to end childhood hunger.
Rahul actively advises and consults for cause-oriented organizations in marketing and product
capacities, leveraging his extensive campaign & communication strategy experience. Rahul is a
graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he started The Advantix Group, a marketing
consulting firm.
Brian Richardson, MBA Candidate, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
Brian Richardson is a second-year student at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley
concentrating in public and nonprofit leadership. Prior to attending Haas, Brian was Press
Secretary to U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, where he focused on rebuilding the Gulf
Coast following Hurricane Katrina. Before working on Capitol Hill, Brian directed the
Democratic National Committee’s Office of Specialty Media serving as the official party
spokesperson for community based median during the 2004 Presidential election. Brian also
spent two years as a high school teacher in New Orleans with Teach for America. Born and
raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Brian received his Bachelors from the University of Chicago
where he concentrated in Geography. This autumn he was the lead organizer of Reaching Out,
the international recruiting, education, and networking conference for LGBT MBA students and
business professionals.
Geronimo Rodriguez, VP of Diversity and Community Outreach, Seton Family of Hospitals
Geronimo M. Rodriguez Jr. currently serves as Vice President of Diversity and Community
Outreach with Seton Family of Hospitals in Austin, Texas. From 2001 to 2006, he served as
Board Member, Shareholder, and Vice President with Leonard Frost Levin Van Court & Marsh,
P.C. in Austin, Texas. Geronimo concurrently serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at St.
Edward’s University. He served in the White House Office of Congressional Affairs where he
helped in legislative preparations for the Seattle Round of the World Trade Organization. In
addition, he served as Deputy Associate Director and later Acting Associate Director in the
White House Office of Presidential Personnel. Geronimo is a National Advisory Board Member
for the American Democracy Institute, a Texas Advisory Board Member for Environmental
Defense, and a Board Member of Leadership Austin, Skillpoint Alliance, the Texas Democracy
Foundation (Texas Observer), and the Hispanic Bar Association of Austin (HBAA) Foundation.
He also serves on the KLRU Hispanic Network of Advisors and as a Director of the Texas
Lyceum. In May 2007, he was chosen as one of 25 Young Americans to participate in the
American Swiss Foundation Young Leaders Conference in Thun, Switzerland. As a child, Mr.
Rodriguez spent eight months of each year as a migrant farmworker traveling with his parents
from South Texas to the Northwest United States following the harvest seasons. His parents are
currently working in Oregon harvesting seasonal crops. Geronimo, a native of Alamo, Texas,
graduated from St. Edward’s University with a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, where he
received a four year academic scholarship and a College Assistance Migrant Program
Scholarship. Geronimo also attended the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at
Syracuse University as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and received his law degree from the
University Of Texas School Of Law.
Rebecca Rogers, Partner & Senior Art Director
Rebecca Rogers was the founding Creative Director of Altnet/Kazaa, the world's largest
licensed media distribution network online and first legitimate Peer to Peer network; started by
the creators of Skype. In 2000-02, Rebecca wrote and directed the first 3-D interactive, animated
music videos and PSA’s for the web. Her critically acclaimed music video for Hip-Hop artist
‘DMX’, "Who We Be", was nominated for two MTV Music Video Awards, Best Rap Video and
Breakthrough Video. She modeled a 3-D animated head of Cameron Diaz for an internet
campaign, ‘Imagine’,for the NRDC. The campaign became the most successful web campaign
ever prepared for a non-profit organization. Rebecca's independent animations have screened
in the Museum of Contemporary Art - Los Angeles (MOCA) and as Official Selection in several
international festivals. She has an MFA in Film, Animation and Digital Arts from The
University of Southern California.
Michael Silberman, Partner, EchoDitto
Michael Silberman is a Partner at EchoDitto, a strategic online communications and technology
firm dedicated to building vibrant communities online and empowering people through the
creative use of emerging technologies. EchoDitto works with its clients to leverage social media
and connected technologies as a vehicle for affecting positive social and environmental change.
Recent work includes exciting projects with the William J. Clinton Foundation, Seventh
Generation, Rosie O’Donnell, and Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection. Prior to co-
founding EchoDitto, Silberman served as the National Meetup Director for Howard Dean’s
presidential run in 2004, where he managed the grassroots field organizing and leadership
development programs for Dean’s renowned activist base. He speaks frequently on the effective
use of technology for converting online activity into real-world action. Silberman graduated on
skis from Middlebury College.
Kai Stinchcombe, Founder & Former Executive Director, Roosevelt Institution
Kai Stinchcombe is a PhD Candidate studying political science at Stanford University. His
dissertation will highlight California’s budget process. Kai was Founder and Executive Director
of the Roosevelt Institution, a national network of student policy think tanks. He also founded
the Center for Independent Journalism, an organization created to support and promote
independent political bloggers. Kai is a former staff member at the Rockridge Institute, a think
tank that focuses on framing issues. He is President of Peninsula Young Democrats and
consults numerous bay area nonprofits including Saga Foundation, Face AIDS and the
Commonweal Institute.
Lilia Tamm, Field Director, The Greenlining Institute
Lilia Tamm is a Field Director for the Greenlining Institute and longtime activist whose past
projects include work for MoveOn.org, SEIU, and Americans Against Escalation in Iraq.
Dana Textoris, Associate Director of Development, NARAL Pro-Choice California
Dana Textoris is the Associate Director of Development for NARAL Pro-Choice California, the
political leader of the pro-choice movement, where she directs the organization’s statewide
fundraising initiatives in major gifts, grant seeking, membership, and special events. She served
previously as the Interim Development Director at Fred Finch Youth Center and the Education
and Communications Coordinator for the ACLU of Ohio. She is a founding board member of
Good Ol’ Girls, a social and professional network for progressive women in the Bay Area, and a
board member of the Development Executives Roundtable. Dana holds a BA in Women’s
Studies from The Ohio State University.
Paul Van Dyke, Chief of Staff, Office of California Assemblywoman Nell Soto
Paul Van Dyke has been the Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for California Senator and
Assemblywoman Nell Soto since 1998. Paul is also the Campaign Coordinator for California
Wildlife Protection Coalition and Oregon Bear and Cougar Coalition and the Senior Account
Executive for a Los Angeles-based Environmental Public Affairs firm. Regional Director,
Campaign California. He received an MA in Organization Management from Antioch
University Los Angeles and a BA in Economics from CSU, Chico.
Allison Wagner, US Olympian, Team Darfur
Allison Wagner is currently pursuing a position in the 2008 Olympic Swimming Team. She
represents Team Darfur, a group of athletes dedicated to raising awareness about the crisis in
Darfur, Sudan. Allison also teaches swim clinics to various groups across the country and was
previously a Special Olympics and recreation coordinator for a treatment center housing
developmentally disabled people. She is also involved with OLAS (Organization for Learning
through Art and Sports) and is a participant in the Art of the Olympians tour. She graduated
from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado with a degree in Buddhist Psychology. Allison
pursues studies in medical intuition and various healing modalities and is passionate about the
health of this planet and the people that inhabit it. The New York Times highlighted her
contributions and her comeback to the sport in 2007.
Michelle Wasserman, Director of Mentorship, New Leaders Council
Michelle Wasserman is a student at UC Berkeley, where she studies political science with an
emphasis on political behavior and modern American politics and institutions. Michelle has
long been active in Democratic politics; she formerly served as the President of Cal Berkeley
Democrats and the Northern California Vice President of California College Democrats, and is
currently an Associate of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee and member of
various other Democratic clubs. After returning to her native San Francisco following a stint at
Columbia University, Michelle became the Director of Mentorship of New Leaders Council, an
organization dedicated to training the next generation of progressive leaders.
Tracey Webb, President, Tracey Elizabeth Webb Associates
Tracey Webb has been an active member of the San Francisco Bay Area business community
since her days as a student at Stanford University, where she began a market research business.
Her practice provided market profiles of the Pacific Rim primarily for small high-tech or
engineering firms beginning in 1980. Upon graduation with a B.A. in International Relations
with Departmental Honors from Stanford University in 1982, Tracey attended Harvard Law
School from 1982-1984. Tracey returned to the Bay Area and continued her consultancy
practice, Tracey Elizabeth Webb Associates. Currently, Ms. Webb runs Tracey Elizabeth Webb
Associates, an organizational effectiveness consultancy. She focuses on executive development,
team development, and sales process development and strategy. Ms. Webb is active in the San
Francisco Bay Area philanthropic community. She has been a volunteer teacher with Junior
Achievement, served on the Board of the San Francisco YMCA, spoken on numerous panels
and on PBS, and she currently serves as President of the Northern California Stanford Black
Alumni Association.
Emily Williams, Interactive Account Executive, MSHC Partners
Emily Williams has been a member of the MSHC Interactive Marketing Team since November
2005. As an account executive, she handles the implementation and management of Interactive
programs and campaigns for a wide range of clients including the American Cancer Society, the
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Media Matters for America. A native of
Boston, Massachusetts, Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Columbia
University.
Dawn Woollen, Chief of Staff, Office of Laurie David/Stopglobalwarming.org
Dawn Woollen began her career in politics at the age of 15 while interning at the Democratic
National Committee in 1991 & 1992. Dawn dedicated her spare time during her senior year in
high to school to working in Senator Edward Kennedy’s office. After graduating from NYU she
moved back to Washington DC where she worked in the White House under the Clinton
Administration for almost four years. In 2002, Dawn moved to the west coast where she took a
break from politics and worked in investment management at the Capital Group Companies. In
2005, she started working with Laurie David and StopGlobalWarming.org. Her work with
Laurie has put her at the forefront of the green movement working on television specials and
films about global warming, including the Academy Award winning documentary “An
Inconvenient Truth.”
Mircalla Wozniak, Associate, Staton Hughes
Mircalla Wozniak is a native San Franciscan who prides herself on having gone door-to-door in
such diverse locations as Huron, SD New Iberia, LA, and Reading, PA – just to name a few. As
an associate with Staton Hughes, Mircalla does research, strategy, and message development
for candidates and progressive organizations. Prior to returning to California, she produced
Democratic candidate television and radio spots at Murphy Putnam Media. In the 2003 cycle,
Mircalla managed two state races, one in Bayonne, New Jersey, another in Woodbridge,
Virginia. She’s also managed PAC events for the American Council of Engineering Companies,
worked at Struble Oppel Eichenbaum coordinating dozens of campaigns’ media buys, was a
field organizer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and tweaked voter and finance databases at
Aristotle, Inc. Mircalla has a BA in Political Communication from The George Washington
University. She is a founder and co-chair of the Good Ol’ Girls – a women’s political and social
networking group, sits on the Board of San Francisco Women’s Political Committee and is a San
Francisco Urban and Planning Association member. Mircalla has been a guest lecturer for the
Junior Statesmen of America and mentors younger political operatives through the New
Leadership Council. She lives with her husband in the Mission district, has just taken up
knitting, enjoys yoga and black jack and can’t ever imagine living in a place without decent
tacquerias again.
Surya Yalamanchili, Director of Marketing, LinkedIn
Surya Yallamanchili is currently Director of Marketing at LinkedIn, and is authoring a soon to
be released book on politics and America's youth. Surya's broad interests have led to interesting
experiences across entrepreneurship, the corporate world, politics, and even reality TV. In 1996,
during the early days of the Internet, Surya started a successful e-commerce consulting firm at
the age of 15. Subsequently, while attending Rutgers University, Surya worked full-time as
Director of Marketing at Diversity Inc, before graduating with honors in 2003 having also
served as class president and commencement speaker. After graduation, Surya joined Procter &
Gamble, and by age 24, became one of the youngest Brand Managers in company history. In
2006, he was chosen from over a million applicants, to "compete" on national TV on The
Apprentice. In 2007 he was honored by Advertising Age as a selection for the annual "40 under
40" list. His first book, due to be released in Spring 2008, discusses the younger generations'
relationship to American politics and the resulting impact on America's future. He blogs at
suryasays.com and currently resides in San Francisco.