SVCN and Community Technology Alliance have partnered to present an exciting new technology program to nonprofits.HandsOn Tech Silicon Valley is dedicated to promoting efficient and effective technology use to enhance the success of nonprofits and the communities they serve.
Meet our Hands On Tech Specialists
Kris Thornton
Kris has served in both the public as well as private sector and has been
heavily involved in technology innovation. He is a founder of several tech
start ups including Aevoe. He championed the early adoption of various
technologies including getting camera modules into cell phones with Apple,
Siemens, and Motorola. He also served as a technology analyst for ING Barings.
Kris was a staff member for Santa Cruz County Judge Jeff Almquist when he was a County Supervisor. Working in Los Gatos, he coordinated and was a lead writer for the Los Gatos Boulevard Study and Los Gatos Athletic Field Study which helped shape Los Gatos today. Kristopher Thornton was a long time board member of the Viet Arts Association and has a Masters in Public Administration from San Jose State University.
Lohrie Arruiza
Ms. Arruiza is a 2012 – 2013 AmeriCorps VISA. Her primary
task is to expand SVCN’s education program to include technology. With the help
of SVCN and other organizations, she will do this by creating a sustainable
technology training program for local nonprofit organizations. This program
will be lead by volunteers from around Silicon Valley in the hopes that it will
help nonprofits achieve their missions and goals more effectively.
As a public relations graduate from San Jose State University, Ms. Arruiza has lent her skills to corporate and nonprofit social campaigns and causes. One campaign she is proud of was a United Way Corporate Giving Campaign for NUMMI Motors. She hopes her year of service will give her numerous opportunities to help her local community.
Brian Mattos
Brian is a recent graduate of the Pennsylvania State
University with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations/Advertising and minors
in Business and Communication Arts and Sciences. Bay Area born, with an east
coast upbringing, he has returned to serve the bay as an Americorps VISTA with
the Hands on Tech program. While at Penn State he became heavily involved in
the nonprofit sector through his work with Habitat for Humanity. He served as
the president of the campus chapter of as well as served on the board of the
local Greater Centre County affiliate concurrently. A love of people,
technology, nonprofits and how they interact and influence each another is what
keeps him motivated and looking forward to the year ahead.
Claire Lewis
Claire is a recent graduate of
UC Irvine, with a dual degree in Behavioral Psychology and Dance. While in
college, Claire gained a wide array of experience in the nonprofit sector. As
the social market intern for the American Heart Association, Claire helped to
plan and market for the annual Go Red For Women Luncheon. While interning for
the Center For Living Peace, she updated social media pages for the center, and
wrote copy for the monthly newsletter. Currently, Claire continues to serve the
community by way of the HandsOn Tech program- a program which hosts free
technology trainings and assistance to local NPOs.
