Amanda Baker

Amanda started as an intern in March 2008. She has since been hired as the Public Policy Assistant.

Amanda graduated with her degree in Political at San Jose State University. She will begin the Masters in Public Administration in the fall.  She is interested in social welfare, juvenile justice and issues of nonprofit public policy.

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Interns

SVCN utilizes interns in our organization. Interns work on a variety of projects such as public policy, research, data, government relations and more. We are seeking college students in at least their junior year. Stipends may be available. If you are interested please contact our office.

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Dana Bunnett
Director
Kids in Common
www.kidsincommon.org

"By advocating for those organizations working hard to improve children's lives, SVCN is an important advocate for children."

Dana Bunnett has been Executive Director of Kids in Common since 2001 and has worked in the non-profit sector all of her adult life. Kids in Common champions policies, programs and investments that improve children's lives. It does this by promoting cross sector collaboration, identifying and supporting systems change and advocating for non-partisan public policy and effective investments.

Spheres of influence:

• FIRST 5
• Social Services Agency
• Department of Family and Children's Services
• Board of Supervisors

Angie Briones

Angie has more than 25 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations in the areas of planning, program development, fund development, management and administration. Before joining The Health Trust, Angie served as Director of Contracts and Fund Development at the Center for Employment Training in San Jose. Prior to that, she was Executive Director of the El Paso Collaborative for Community and Economic Development where she successfully replicated three national programs and secured over $2 million in funding for local housing and homeownership projects. From 1990-97, Angie worked for the Levi Strauss Foundation where she carried out corporate grantmaking activities in the tri-state region of Texas, New Mexico and Nevada. Her responsibilities included government/community relations, proposal evaluation, monitoring and due diligence, and identifying strategic grantmaking opportunities in the areas of health promotion/disease prevention, HIV/AIDS and community economic development. During her years as a stay-at-home mom, Angie worked as an independent consultant, providing technical assistance, program development and grantwriting services to numerous nonprofits and helping them to secure over $3 million in funding for a variety of programs and services, including child development, family support services, homeless shelters, job training/employment, literacy/basic education, homeownership counseling, affordable housing development, business/economic development ventures, and teen pregnancy prevention programs. Angie has devoted her career to improving the lives of low-income people through community organizing, advocacy/public policy, and fundraising in both paid and volunteer positions. She has served on several boards at the local, state, and national level and is an experienced federal proposal reviewer. Angie received her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Stanford University and has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from San Jose State University.

Randy Okamura

Randy Okamura brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. Randy Okamura currently holds the position of Area Manager, External Affairs for AT&T. His contributions made at the community level, through teaching and leadership has impacted the lives of many employees and a greater impact on future generations. Along with a position with SVCN, Okamura serves on several Board and Advisory Council Memberships including San José/Evergreen Community College District Board of Trustees Presi, Santa Clara Metro YMCA, 2006 – present, Asian Americans for Community involvement, 2006 – present, Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute

Marilou Cristina
Director
Older Adult Services Division
www.ccsj.org

"SVCN is a true champion of the nonprofit sector. With passion, boldness, and a keen sense of organizing, they advocate for funding for services and slash the tangle of red tape."

Marilou represents our membership in these systems of influence
City of San Jose Community Centers
HNVF
CDBG
Mental Health
Multi Services
Seniors

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Aila Malik
Acting Executive Director

Fresh Lifelines for Youth. www.flyprogram.org

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Naomi Nakano Matsumoto
Executive Director
Cupertino Community Services
www.cupertinocommunityservices.org

Naomi represents our membership in these systems of influence
FIRST 5
New Executive
Safety Net Services
Small to Mid Size Organizations

"SVCN has provided leadership and a unified voice to effect change for the non-profit community in Santa Clara County"

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Jenny Niklaus
Director Senior Community Services
Catholic Charities

Jenny represents our membership in these systems of influence
Older Adults
Social Services
HNVF
City of San Jose
Santa Clara County
Multi Services
jniklaus@ccsj.org

www.ccsj.org

Through my work with nonprofit organizations I have come to realize that my foremost passion is to bring a meaningful voice to the complex needs of the community. I believe that by working with community members to assess their needs and then, in partnership, to develop, implement, fund, and evaluate innovative services we can create effective strategies and sustainable change. My objective is to bring my energy, expertise and enthusiasm to identifying and securing sustainable funding streams for critical safety net programs as well as to develop the operational infrastructure to support growth and innovation.

Accomplishments

Former Chair of the Santa Clara County Child Abuse Council (2 years)
Vice Chair Santa Clara County Social Services Commission
Voting Member of Santa Clara County Housing Collaborative
Member Silicon Valley Council Nonprofits SSA Leadership Team
Certified Family Wellness Instructor
Community Leadership San Jose Silicon Valley Graduate
Member of California Association of Marriage Family Therapists

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Michael Pritchard
Board of Directors

Pathway Society

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Craig Wolfe, MS, MFT

Craig represents our membership in the following areas of influence:

Mental Health

Social Services

Craig is the Regional Vice President of Clinical Services at EMQ Children & Family Services. Craig is currently responsible for regional administration and leadership of Clinical Programs for Santa Clara County, as well as counties in northern and central California. He is responsible for external relationships to enhance the organizations policy and service development at the local and state levels. Prior to becoming a Clinical Director at EMQ in 1997, Craig worked for 10 years with the Santa Clara County Department of Mental Health performing in leadership roles in a variety of clinical settings. He has 20 years of experience in the field of mental health across the developmental lifespan from children and adolescents to adults and older adults. He has worked in a variety of settings including group homes for adolescents, psychiatric settings and outpatient treatment programs for all age groups. His graduate degree was in Clinical Psychology from San Jose State University. Craig was in private practice for sixteen years since his licensure in 1987 with specialties in sexual abuse treatment and couple/family therapy for clients with eating disorders.

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Pam works for PRX. She is known as the “Media Maven”.  Prior to PRX she worked as the marketing and event planner for the Camera Theaters in San Jose.  Currently she oversees media development and events with PRX. PRX is a marketing and public relations company led by Brenna Bolger. This company has a long history working with nonprofits and health care groups. They believe a PR campaign should be energetic, creative and built on sound principles of communications and marketing. PRX has a division called philanthropic management that offers a broad range of services including strategic planning in marketing and fund development with major gifts from individuals (members), corporations and/or charitable foundations. Clients include Valley Health Plan, Children’s Health Initiative, Jewish Federation of San Jose, and others.

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Diane Ford
Sobrato Family Foundation
Executive Director

Diane has 20 years of professional work as a management executive and then grantmaker span the private, public and nonprofit sectors.

Her career started in arts administration and expanded more broadly to civic engagement. She has served as a Development Director and Executive Director of three Silicon Valley nonprofits. She also served as a national corporate grantmaker before joining the Sobrato Foundation as Executive Director in 2000.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals, Silicon Valley Chapter, has honored Diane for her outstanding work and contribution to philanthropy as an individual and the Sobrato Foundation received the 2003 Silicon Valley Outstanding Foundation Grantmaker award under Diane's leadership.

Diane serves as a panelist at many local, regional and national foundation workshops/conferences and has been quoted in Stanford Social Innovation Review. In a volunteer capacity, Diane serves on the Boards of CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits and Northern California Grantmakers. She is a 2004 graduate of the Center for Excellence in Nonprofits Leaders Instituteand a 2005 graduate of Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Education Program for Philanthropy Leaders.

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Alette recently retired as the Executive Administrator for the CALWORKS Program which she ran for 10 years. Through her leadership in the CALWORKS Program she was a strong nonprofit advocate particularly in programs of employment, child care, refugee, safety net, ethnic specific and related services. Alette is a long time community leader and activist and is well respected. She has extensive leadership experience. She has been an active advocate at the State and Federal level. Her previous work experience includes Executive Administrator at the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency; Manager at the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency; Instructor at both San Jose State University and De Anza College. She has served nonprofit boards in the past including Sunnyvale Community Services, Planned Parenthood, Career Closet, Center for Living with Dying, AACI, Next Door and others. 

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Wes Mukoyama
Yu-Ai Kai-Japanese American Community Seniors Services

Executive Director

Mr. Mukoyama has been a familiar face to Yu-Ai Kai serving as board member and as President. Mr. Mukoyama worked as a therapist in mental health as a psychiatric social worker and was the coordinator for the Community Care Program. After retiring from the Department of Veteran's Affair in 1975, he returned to the Peace Corps a Country Director in the Solomon Islands.

Mr. Mukoyama graduated with a degree in social work from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa and completed his master's degree in social administration from the University of Chicago. He began his life of service in the Peace Corps in 1965 in Tanzania, East Africa. A 30- year veteran of federal service.

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Vonza Thompson
ALLIANCE for Community Care

President & Chief Executive Officer

ALLIANCE for Comunity Care is the largest nonprofit provider of adult mental health services in Silicon Valley. Vonza is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and holds a master's degree in counseling psychology from Santa Clara University and a bachelor's degree in education from Western Oregon University. She has also served as Chief Operations Officer and Director of Clinical Services with ALLIANCE.

She received the 2000 TWIN Award, honoring executive women in leadership roles. Vonza serves on the Board of Directors of the California Council of Community Mental Health Agencies, is a Past President of the Mental Health Contractors Association. She is a member of the California Mental Health Directors Association and the Rotary Club of San Jose.

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Edie Kirkwood

Mrs. Kirkwood has served on various community boards since retiring from her role as Executive Director of the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce in 1991. Prior to the Chamber, Edie was the Executive Vice President of the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group where she coordinated the Golden Triangle Task Force, an effort of governments and industry to generate agreements on job growth, housing policies and transportation in the County. She is a founding board member of the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits and has been instrumental in securing the support of the Packard Foundation and both the Peninsula Community and Silicon Valley Community Foundations. She currently serves on the Board of the Smuin Balley and the Advisory Board of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.

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Margo Leathers Sidener
Executive Director, BREATHE California

Margo Leathers Sidener has a Master of Science Degree in Health Education and is a Certified Health Education Specialist.

Margo has served on numerous state and national-level committees and task forces. Margo is current President of the ALA of California's Council of Executives, and serves on the statewide Government Relations Committee.

Locally, she chairs the Policy Committee of the Santa Clara County Tobacco Control Coalition, and is co-chair of the Tuberculosis Prevention Partnership. Margo is active in the Downtown San Jose branch of Rotary Club International, and Willow Glen United Methodist Church.

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Matt Osment
Almaden Valley Counseling Center
Nonprofit Leader

Matt is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has a Master's in Public Administration from Sonoma State University. He has worked in a wide variety of settings in both Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol for the past 18 years. From the seclusion room on a locked ward, to a group home in the country, thousands of clients and patients have felt the compassion that he brings with him to work every day.

Matt twice served as Chairman of the Santa Clara County Alcohol and Drug Contractors Association (ADCA) and was on their Executive Committee for over four years. Under his term as ADCA Chair, Matt became active with the SVCN Advocacy Voice project and has helped to bring the messages of the nonprofit community to the County Board of Supervisors and to the public at large.

In 2005, Matt became Executive Director of the Almaden Valley Counseling Service (AVCS). AVCS is a small agency that fills a need for low-cost counseling and operates solely on funds generated from within the local community. In this role, Matt brings a voice to the SVCN Board of Directors for small nonprofits that operate independently without governmental contracts.

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Don Krajewski
Gilbert and Sullivan Society

Mr. Krajewski is a member of the original steering group, which established the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits, and has served on the Board since it's inception in the Treasurer's chair. Don belonged to the Nonprofit Development Center Board of Directors in the mid 1990's. He retired from Lockheed Martin in 1997 after 37 years as aerospace engineering manager. Mr. Krajewski has been active in the administration and technical aspects of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of San Jose since 1984.

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Jeanne Labozetta
Senior Consultant
Realize Consulting Group

Jeanne has a MBA and MA from Santa Clara University and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Jeanne servers as senior consultant for Realize consulting group which promotes the adoption of strategies and practices that enhance the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations to increase the number of organizations capable of improving their communities.  She has over 30 years of nonprofit experience in Santa Clara County.  Jeanne was President and CEO of Family and Children Services from 1993 to 2006 and led the agency through a merger between Family Service Mid-Penninsula and Adult and Child Guidance Center.  Prior to that, she was Individual and Family Development Division Director for Catholic Charities of San Jose.

Santa Clara University honored Jeanne in 1993 as the Outstanding Alumna for establishing unique community-based services for the mentally ill and school-based counseling programs for children.  Jeanne serves as a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum.  She has an extensive history of serving on many nonprofit boards and community activities.

www.realizeconsulting.com

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Olivia Mendiola
Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA)
Chief Executive Officer

Since 1975 Olivia Sosa-Mendiola has dedicated her career to nonprofit work. Olivia has worked at MACSA for 19 years where she began as Program Specialist tutoring children after school and is currently the agency's Chief Executive Officer. Her mission is to empower and contribute to the well being of the under-represented, under-served, and at-risk community members. Some of her professional affiliations include American Leadership Forum, Gilroy Leadership Alumni, and Latina Coalition of South County (1978-present).

Awards she is most proud of include Unity in Diversity Award - County of Santa Clara (1999), Inspirational Leader Award - Latina Coalition (1998) and Si Se Puede Award - Latina Coalition (1993).

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Clark brings in depth experience on both the nonprofit sector and government. He is skilled at fundraising and community development. His previous work experiences include working as a Nonprofit Management Consultant for nonprofits such as Horizons Foundation, Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center, California Office of AIDS, Tri-City Health Center (TCHC), Community Health Partnership, The Health Trust, Combined Addicts and Professionals Services (CAPS), Emergency Housing Consortium (EHC) and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department; Health Care Program Manager  for the Santa Clara County Public Health Department-HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Program/The Crane Center; Executive Director for You Are Never Alone (YANA), Incorporated.

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