Leadership
Get to Know Our Leadership Team, Board of Directors & Advisory Council
Leadership
Ellen Hammerle, Ph.D, LMFT
Dr. Ellen Hammerle joined Catholic Charities in 1998 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in July 2022 after serving as Vice President of Client Services where she oversaw all Catholic Charities programs and services. During her tenure at the agency, she has been instrumental in supporting the financial and program operations to ensure the sustainability of Catholic Charities programs and services.
Dr. Hammerle is a social justice champion and has dedicated her life and career to those that are underserved, impoverished, experiencing homelessness, marginalized, and racially and culturally diverse in San Francisco. A 25-year veteran of Catholic Charities, she has developed, overseen, and monitored Catholic Charities programs and the implementation of agency-wide policies and procedures for staff and systems best practices. Having held a number of roles of increasing responsibility at Catholic Charities, Dr. Hammerle has the insight, breadth, depth, and understanding of client, staff, program, and partner needs vital to the agency’s longevity, impact, growth, and success. She has played a pivotal role in securing funding for the agency and will continue to help drive the diversification of revenue sources.
Education: Ph.D., Clinical Psychology and JD and MA, Clinical Psychology
Certificate: San Francisco Theological Seminary, Trauma: Spirituality and Psychology
Thomas
Bowen
Catholic Charities San Francisco is pleased to announce the hiring of Tom Bowen as Chief Philanthropy Officer. Tom has long supported philanthropic efforts involving broad-based significant public and charitable endeavors. He was responsible for all regional outreach on behalf of the 49ers Foundation linked to NFL charities. He developed the comprehensive planned giving program for the University of California, Berkeley, athletic department. And he held adjunct professorships and lecturer posts at
the University of Memphis, the University of San Francisco, San Jose State University and Saint Mary’s College of California, where he was Director of Foundations and Corporate Relations. “Every day for me is a faith-filled moment working with our programs, donors and community,” Thomas said.
Cheryl Ewers,
MBA
Cheryl W. Ewers joined Catholic Charities as Chief Financial Officer in 2019. She has over two decades of strategic financial leadership experience across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors leading teams in Financial Planning & Analysis, Divisional Finance, and Product Development support.
As Chief Financial Officer, Cheryl is responsible for leading the organization’s long-term financial sustainability and ensuring strong financial stewardship of the agency’s assets.
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Economics, University of Michigan; MBA, Corporate and International Finance, University of Michigan.
Dennis P.
Garcia
Dennis P. Garcia joined Catholic Charities in March of 2018. He has over 25 years of Information Technology experience in distributed infrastructure operations leading support areas for Network, Desktop Computing, Email, Collaboration, and Help Desk Services. In addition to these areas, he led technology projects building multiple data centers and campuses for a global financial services company.
As Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, Dennis is responsible for championing an organization and human services agency that leverages technology and partnerships for innovative solutions that provide essential community services.
Education: BS, Business Administration, Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont CA
Patty Clement
Patty Clement is a Catholic Charities Director of Client Services and an aging expert. She has more than 32 years of experience working in the field of Gerontology and has been with Catholic Charities for the past 28 years. A Certified Activities Coordinator specializing in Dementia Care, Patty supervises Catholic Charities aging programs, including Adult Day Care in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, Alzheimer’s Day Care Resource Center, Case Management, and Community Services for the OMI Senior Center.
Patty is a Commissioner for the San Mateo County Commission on Aging and a member of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council in San Francisco.
Patty serves as Chair of the Coalition of Agencies Serving the Elderly (CASE) a role she has had for nine years and advocates for services for seniors and adults with disabilities. She is also an advisory member of the CLF Advisory Board.
As an active member of the OMI Community Collaboration, Patty serves on the Steering Committee of this community-based collaborative that partners with other organizations and residents of the OMI Community that works to enhance and advocate for the needs of this diverse and underserved part of San Francisco.
Patty played an invaluable role on the sub-committees that created and that are now implementing San Francisco’s Strategy for Excellence in Dementia Care. She also served as a Co-Chair of the Long-term Care Integration (LTCI) Service Delivery Subcommittee, and as a member of the LTCI Finance Subcommittee.
Patty served on the Board of Directors of the California Association of Adult Day Services (CAADS) for six years, working at the state and federal level advocating for the need to continue Adult Day Care Programs.
Patty is certified by the Red Cross in First Aid and CPR, as well as a nationally Certified Program Assistant by the National Council on Aging. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco.
Jane Ferguson Flout, D.Min.
Jane joined Catholic Charities in 2009. She has more than 20 years of experience in volunteer and community engagement at parishes and in the nonprofit social services sector. Previous to her current position at Catholic Charities, Jane was Director of Pastoral Care and Community Ministry at a 2,000-member parish in Silicon Valley. Before that, she worked in rural community development as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Benin, West Africa and then served as Associate Director for the Peace Corps in the Eastern Caribbean. Jane’s other experience includes a career as a journalist. She has written articles and led workshops on the subject of contemplative spirituality and health.
Education
- Bachelor of Arts, English Literature, UC Berkeley
- Master of Divinity, Master of Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary
- Doctor of Ministry, Pacific School of Religion, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley
William Froning
Bill joined Catholic Charities in 2018 as Controller with over 25 years of financial leadership experience. He has 10 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, most significantly as the Senior VP/CFO for the Bakersfield ARC, serving adults with developmental disabilities. Froning also has 20 years of experience in the Telecom industry.
He is a graduate of California State University East Bay, where he also obtained his MBA. An East Bay native, Froning has held positions in the Bay Area, Bakersfield, CA, and Seattle WA.
Peter P. Meringolo
Peter P. Meringolo joined Catholic Charities as Chief General Counsel in 2023. Peter has over two decades of experience as an attorney, having advised and successfully handled complex and high-stakes cases involving insurance, business, and financial disputes, representing clients across various sectors and industries. Peter is also a seasoned leader, having managed successful law firms and served on the boards of several non-profit organizations.
As the Chief General Counsel at Catholic Charities CYO of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Peter oversees the legal affairs of the organization and provides strategic advice and guidance on a range of issues, such as HR, contracts, litigation, and risk management.
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Notre Dame; JD, University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.
Steve Grant
Steve joined Catholic charities in 1994. He has been involved in construction, project management, project development, and property management for more than 35 years. As Director of Facilities, he oversees and is hands-on at buildings and properties that Catholic Charities owns and occupies. He is responsible for Capital improvements, building management, property management, and maintenance. Steve is a licensed General Engineer and General Contractor.
Community and Professional Development
- Volunteer fireman (rank: Captain) in his community for 25 years
- California disaster inspector for 8 years
Michelle Pommier
Michelle is an experienced Human Resources Professional with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit, corporate, and education industries. She has over 17 years of experience in Human Resources and since April 2021 has held progressive positions in the People & Culture (PAC) department at Catholic Charities.
Colleen McCarthy
Colleen McCarthy is the Director of Contracts and Grants for Catholic Charities CYO of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. She has been with the agency for more than 32 years and 22 years of Accounting experience. With her deep commitment to clients, Ms. McCarthy represents the heart of the agency. She has a genuine understanding of Catholic Charities’ history and significance. Ms. McCarthy has served in a myriad of agency roles in programs and finance. As Director of Contracts and Grants since 2018, Colleen is responsible for applications, negotiations, compliance, and reporting on over $50M in Government Contracts and Grants along with Private and Corporate Foundation revenue each year. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Marty Rea
Marty joined Catholic Charities in 1989. He has more than 35 years of experience in the school bus transportation industry. He began his role as a school bus driver during college and assumed increasing responsibility through the years including roles as a dispatcher, state-certified school bus instructor, assistant director, and director. He has served for the last nine years in his current role as General Manager of CCCYO Transportation.
Marty is considered an expert in School Bus Transportation and has been frequently interviewed and asked to provide information on social entrepreneurship by operating a transportation function in a nonprofit agency.
Community and Professional Involvement
- Member, California Association of School Transportation Officials (CASTO)
- Member, California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO)
Education
- BA, Business Administration, San Francisco State University
Erick Brown
Erick Brown joined Catholic Charities in 2000 and brings more than 35 years of experience serving at-risk individuals and families impacted by health issues, substance use disorders, and homelessness in San Francisco. He serves as a member of the San Francisco Local Homeless Coordinating Board and the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT). He is a Certified Community Health Outreach Worker (CHOW) and certified Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspector.
Education
- B.A., Humanities emphasis Social Justice, New College of California
- Graduate of the Association of School and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for HIV Prevention Leadership, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Institute
- Graduate Leadership Equity and Opportunity (LEO) Program, RISE Together Institute
Jochen van der Muehlen
Jochen joined Catholic Charities with over 25 years of Information Technology experience leading client computing and operational support areas across Network, Voice, Desktop/Laptop Computing, Email, Collaboration (TEAMS), and Help Desk services. In his role as IT Operations Director, Jochen provides day-to day oversight for IT infrastructure support. His primary focus is to keep network and computer services running optimally, while making meaningful process and cost improvements.
Kathie Autumn
Kathie Autumn has built and managed the Treasure Island Child Development Center since 2011. She has worked with children for more than 40 years. She received her BA in Child Psychology from Oneonta State in New York, and all of her Child Development coursework at City College of San Francisco. Kathie previously occupied Seat 7 for the Office of Early Care and Education’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee and is a Director Mentor through the California Early Childhood Mentor Program. Kathie is an ardent advocate for all children. In her spare time she enjoys walking, live music, playing guitar, surfing, and continually learning new things.
Jose Cartagena
As Senior Program Director of Catholic Charities Homelessness & Housing Services, Jose Cartagena continues his more than 30 years at the agency, providing vital guidance and support to countless San Franciscans in peril of or experiencing homelessness. He has held a wealth of positions within Catholic Charities including his first assignment as a housing advocate for the Central American community in 1987, a position created for him due to: his harrowing experience fleeing EL Salvador in 1980 and passionate community activism for Central American Refugees; his understanding of the challenges people and families without shelter face; and his ongoing advocacy for those experiencing hardship and instability in our community. Centered on housing, Jose’s other Catholic Charities positions have included Housing Case Manager, Housing Specialist, Program Manager, and most recently, Program Director for the Homelessness Prevention and SF HOME Programs. As a pivotal member of our Homelessness & Housing Services for more than 30 years, Jose has helped grow our Homelessness Prevention Program.
Jose has been instrumental in developing partnerships with funders, community nonprofits, and across the City of San Francisco for the benefit of clients and Catholic Charities. He brings extensive experience in client service, team management, safety, regulatory compliance, community organizing, advocacy, and strategic planning in a dynamic and fluid environment.
Jose an active member of his community and has held a number of Board and civic positions including with the Romero Foundation, 7th Street McClymonds Corridor Neighborhood Improvement Initiative, Season of Sharing Review Committee, Central American Refugee Committee, and the No Human Being is Illegal Campaign.
He has won a number of awards including:
- Season of Sharing Award, October 2017
- Telly Award 2009, Catholic Charities CYO 2008 CPA Family Eviction Prevention Collaborative
- Mutual of America Community Partnership, National Award Winner 2008
- CLEAR (Community Leadership Academy and Emergency Response Project), Visionary Award 2008
- Mutual of America Community Partnership, Community Partnership Award 2008
- Neighborhood Improvement Initiative Award (William and Flora Hewlett Foundation) 2000
Kevin Fauteux, Ph.D, MSW
Dr. Fauteux joined Catholic Charities in 2003. He has worked for more than two decades in the psychotherapeutic and social services field, specializing in working with clients who face major anger issues. Dr. Fauteux was previously a Director for Lutheran Social Services and was responsible for overseeing five programs that included housing, money management, and integrated services.
Dr. Fauteux has published two books, including Defusing Angry People: Practical Tools for Handling Bullying, Threats, and Violence, which outlines how to identify the levels of a person’s anger and employ the appropriate techniques to defuse it. In addition, he regularly contributes to several psychology and religious journals.
Education
- BA, Fairfield University
- Master’s of Divinity, Yale University
- MSW, University of Connecticut
- Ph.D. Psychology, Graduate Theological Union in conjunction with UC Berkeley
Ricardo Garcia
Rick Garcia rejoined the Catholic Charities as the Catholic Charities CCCYO Camp and Retreat Center Director in August 2015. Prior to Rick’s return to CCCYO Camp, he worked for the American Camp Association where he held the role of Membership and Accreditation Manager for the ACA Southern California/Hawaii field office. In addition, he was a member of the 24-hour ACA camp crisis hotline which is available to all ACA camps nationwide, 365 days a year. From 2007 to 2012, Rick was the Associate Director at Catholic Charities CYO Camp. Prior to 2007, Rick was the Executive Director for the Graton Day Labor Center in west Sonoma County. From 1999 to 2007, he was the Director for the Society of St. Vincent De Paul Council of Los Angeles / Circle V Ranch Camp in Santa Barbara which serves underprivileged children from throughout Southern California.
Stephanie J. Godt, Esq.
Stephanie joined Catholic Charities in 1999. She has served the agency in a variety of positions, including Housing Specialist for Assisted Housing and Health Programs (AHHP), Case Manager for Rita da Cascia Community, Program Director for Leland House, Senior Program Director for Rita da Cascia Community and AHHP, and as Assistant Deputy Director for Housing Support Services. She has dedicated her career to serving the marginally housed and homeless populations in San Francisco, particularly those with HIV/AIDS and those who are dually or triply diagnosed.
Community and Professional Involvement:
- Member, State Bar of California
- Executive Member, HIV/AIDS Provider Network (HAPN)
- Member, Professional Association of Social Workers in HIV/AIDS (PASWHA)
Education:
- Juris Doctor, New College of California
- Bachelor of Arts, San Francisco State University
Rosa Mendez, MA
A native of Palermo Sicily, Rosa immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of five. Raised in San Francisco, she embraced the American lifestyle, learned the English language and adapted to her new surroundings. Rosa’s strong sense of family and community has increased her passion to make a difference in the life of others, leading her towards the counseling and social service field for over 30 years. She joined Catholic Charities Aging Support Services in 2006 as a case manager and soon after was hired to assist with the Community Living Fund (CLF) pilot program where she remained for over six years as intensive case manager. Currently as program director, Rosa, supervises Catholic Charities Aging Case Management, Aging Disability Resource Center services, and Catholic Charities OMI Senior Center.
Education
- MA, Counseling Psychology with emphasis on Marriage, Family and Child Counseling Services, University of San Francisco
- BA, Clinical Psychology with Psychological Services minor, San Francisco State University
Carmen Santoni
A Californian by choice, Carmen fell in love with the uniqueness of San Francisco during a tour of duty while serving as a commissioned naval officer for 11 years. Stirred by the plight of many of the city’s homeless, she soon developed an interest in human services, but went on to pursue a career in human resources after leaving the military.
When caring for her mother, who suffered from blindness as well as onset Alzheimer’s and dementia, Carmen gained firsthand knowledge and insight of the devastation afflicted elderly can bring to entire families. This deep respect led to her experience in nonprofit case management. Since 2007, Carmen has provided much needed support to homeless veterans in San Francisco and neighboring cities. Addressing the needs of the homeless population ultimately prepared her for meeting the basic needs of an increasing aging population.
Carmen has been a resident of San Mateo County since 1985 and has been committed to human services and social justice organizations since she chose the Bay Area as her home away from her native Puerto Rico.
Community and Professional Involvement
- Member, Women Veterans Professional Network, San Francisco, CA
- Member, Women Veterans Connect, San Francisco, CA
Education
- MBA, Human Resources Management, University of Phoenix, San Francisco, CA
- BA, Education, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
Kurlene Smith-Cambridge
Kurlene Smith-Cambridge joined Catholic Charities in 2022. She has worked for more than a decade in the social services field. Kurlene was previously a Director for a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) in New York State and was instrumental in developing the entire program from the ground up. She implemented core services such as case management, case assistance, health care assistance, health care management, and evidence based programs to promote independence and healthy aging. Older adults were able to combat isolation and depression since they were connected to various programs and vital services.
Kurlene finds joy in enriching the lives of others by providing quality program and services that aims to combat loneliness, depression and isolation. Her favorite quote is “ Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Education:
BS, Berkeley College
Master’s of Criminal Justice , Boston University
Certified Mediator, Life Coach, Anti-human trafficking Advocate and Human rights advocate
Board of Directors
Officers
Most Reverend Salvatore Cordileone
Archbishop Cordileoni became the Chairman of the Catholic Charities Board of Directors in 2012. On July 27, 2012, he was appointed the Archbishop of San Francisco and was installed on October 4, 2012, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. As the new Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province of San Francisco, Archbishop Cordileone received the pallium from Pope Francis in Rome on June 29, 2013. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees, Catholic University of America; the Governing Board of the International Theological Institute; and the Subcommission on the Liturgy for the Anglican Ordinariates.
Dr. Ellen Hammerle, Ph.D., LMFT
Dr. Ellen Hammerle joined Catholic Charities in 1998 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in July 2022 after serving as Vice President of Client Services where she oversaw all Catholic Charities programs and services. During her tenure at the agency, she has been instrumental in supporting the financial and program operations to ensure the sustainability of Catholic Charities programs and services.
Dr. Hammerle is a social justice champion and has dedicated her life and career to those that are underserved, impoverished, experiencing homelessness, marginalized, and racially and culturally diverse in San Francisco. A 25-year veteran of Catholic Charities, she has developed, overseen, and monitored Catholic Charities programs and the implementation of agency-wide policies and procedures for staff and systems best practices. Having held a number of roles of increasing responsibility at Catholic Charities, Dr. Hammerle has the insight, breadth, depth, and understanding of client, staff, program, and partner needs vital to the agency’s longevity, impact, growth, and success. She has played a pivotal role in securing funding for the agency and will continue to help drive the diversification of revenue sources.
Education: Ph.D., Clinical Psychology and JD and MA, Clinical Psychology
Certificate: San Francisco Theological Seminary, Trauma: Spirituality and Psychology
Joe
Boerio
Joe Boerio joined the Board in 2015. He is Executive Vice President, Chief Risk & Transformation Officer at Franklin Templeton Investments. Prior to joining Franklin Templeton, Joe began his professional career as an information technology professional with Mariners Systems Inc. who provided technology solutions to the transportation industry.
Joe attended Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco and received his B.S in Information Systems Management from the University of San Francisco. He also completed the School of Pastoral Leadership within the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 2000 and served as Core Committee members for St. Charles Renew 2000 program.
Ted
Borromeo
Theodore (Ted) joined the Board in 2015 and was Catholic Charities Interim Chief Executive Officer from November 2021 – July 2022. Ted served as Assistant General Counsel, Employment and Benefits Law at McKesson Corporation. Before joining McKesson, Ted was Vice President, Employment and Benefits Law Group at Sun Microsystems Inc. He also served as Labor Counsel at Lockheed Missiles and Space as well as at Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation.
Ted received his law degree at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and his undergraduate degree at San Francisco State University. He is a Fellow at the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and he serves on several independent committees, including the Employers Group, the Bar Association of San Francisco, and the Association of Corporate Counsel.
Kathleen A. Grogan, CPA
Kathy Grogan, CPA is an audit and advisory partner at Hood & Strong LLP, one of Northern California’s most respected public accounting firms that provides audit, business advisory, and tax services to nonprofit organizations, individuals and privately held businesses throughout the United States. Kathy oversees the Firm’s Not-For-Profit Industry Group and her practice is focused on education and social service entities. She serves on the boards of Archbishop Riordan High School, Archdiocese of San Francisco Capital Assets Support Corporation, and the San Francisco Youth Gaelic Athletic Association.
Members
Dr. Diana I. Bojorquez
Diana joined the board on June 6, 2019. She has served as a physician since 2006 at Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco, presently as the Assistant Physician in Chief in the Department of Pediatrics. Diana’s volunteer work includes working at the Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers Clinic in Farmington, Connecticut. A cum laude graduate of Yale University School of Medicine, Diana received her B.S. in Biological Sciences with a Minor in Chemistry from California State University, Fullerton. Her post-graduate education and training includes Harvard Business School Executive Leadership Training for Kaiser Permanente.
Philip Clark
Adriana Dahik
Adriana Dahik is a Partner and Managing Director at the Boston Consulting Group in the San Francisco Office. She works primarily with clients in the technology space as well as with clients in the public sector focusing on strategy and large scale transformations. Previously, Adriana worked for CEMEX in Mexico and Costa Rica. In her last role there, she led business intelligence, marketing, media relations, and corporate social responsibility for their Costa Rican operation.
She is actively engaged in social impact efforts for the Bay Area community, including collaborations with SFMOMA, as well as several initiatives in education. She is an active member of the St. Dominic’s Parish in San Francisco where she is a Faith Formation Catechist.
Adriana holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a B.A. in Economics from ITESM in Monterrey, Mexico.
Susie O'Brien Frimel
A Bay Area native, Susie attended Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton. She graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in history. She began her career working in new home sales for Summerhill Homes as a licensed California Real Estate Salesperson and transitioned to marketing. Susie became marketing director for O’Brien Homes and part of a talented team who designed, built, marketed, and sold homes throughout the Bay Area ranging from high density, infill housing to luxury single-family homes. Since 2015, her focus has been on custom home building on the Peninsula.
Susie has been actively involved as a community volunteer in multiple organizations including Life Moves, Young Men’s Service League, St. Francis of Assisi Youth Club, and Sacred Heart Schools Atherton. She is currently board president of The Child and Family Institute in Menlo Park.
Michael M. Ghilotti
With more than 40 years of experience in the construction industry, Mike Ghilotti is a third-generation President of Ghilotti Bros. Inc., (GBI), a family-owned and operated engineering construction company that has been in business in San Rafael since 1914. Mike is considered a partnering frontrunner within the industry and has been actively engaged in all phases of partnering with owners, contractors, and related city, county, and federal agencies, and private entities. Mike is a strong advocate of alternative project delivery methods. He focuses on the continuous improvement of GBI’s culture, operational efficiencies, and effectiveness.
Mike has been heavily involved in local community service and sponsors numerous organizations and events that support youth education and athletic pursuits and military, to name a few. He is past president of the Central Marin Chargers Youth Football and Cheer organization in Marin; and former CYO Basketball Coach.
Professional Affiliations
Member of the Executive Board of the Caltrans Construction Partnering Steering Committee (CCPSC), and Co-Chair of the Caltrans SBE/DBE Subcommittee
Member and Co-Chair of the UCON/CT/SCCA (United Contractors/Caltrans/Southern California Contractors Association) Industry Liaison Committee
Member of SFCPSC, San Francisco Collaborative Partnering Steering Committee
Executive Board Member of California Alliance for Jobs (CAJ)
Founding Member and on the Board of Advisors of the International Partnering Institute (IPI)
UCON Member, former Board Member, and 2013 President of United Contractors, (UCON);
Member, Mission San Rafael Rotary
Member, Sonoma County Trail Blazers (SCTB)
Eleanor Gonzalez
Eleanor joined the board on September 3, 2020. She serves as Senior Audit Manager of Miller Kaplan in San Francisco. Prior to joining Miller Kaplan, Eleanor was the Senior Audit Manager for more than 14 years at Marcum LLP. She has also served as Treasurer of the League of Women Voters in California as well as the League of Women Voters in San Francisco. Eleanor attended University of the East in Manila, Philippines.
Jay Paul Leupp
Jay Leupp is Portfolio Manager/Analyst and leader of Lazard’s Global Real Estate Securities team. He began working in the investment field in 1989. Prior to joining Lazard in 2011, Jay was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Grubb & Ellis Alesco Global Advisors and served as the Senior Portfolio Manager for its mutual funds. Jay founded Alesco in 2006 and had been its President and Chief Executive Officer since its inception. Prior to founding Alesco, Jay served as Managing Director of Real Estate Equity Research at RBC Capital Markets, an investment-banking group of the Royal Bank of Canada, where he oversaw a five-person equity research team. Prior to joining RBC, Jay served as Managing Director of Real Estate Equity Research at Robertson Stephens & Co. Inc., an investment-banking firm where he founded the Real Estate Equity Research group in 1994. From 1991 to 1994, Jay was a vice president of the Staubach Company, specializing in the leasing, acquisition and financing of commercial real estate. From 1989 to 1991, he was a development manager with Trammell Crow Residential, the nation’s largest developer of multifamily housing. Jay holds an MBA from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University. Jay serves on the Board of Directors of G.W. Williams Company and United American Bank of San Mateo, CA. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Chaminade College Preparatory (Los Angeles) and is a Policy Board Member of the Fisher Center for Real Estate at the University of California, Berkeley. Jay is Past Chair (2007-2009) and Regent Emeritus of the Santa Clara University Board of Regents.
Lisa Ikeda
Lisa joined the board in 2018. A fifth-generation San Franciscan married to Clyde Ikeda, a Japanese immigrant, Lisa currently is a stay-at-home mom to three children as well as an “accidental” farmer and gardener. She previously served for 10 years as Director of Construction and Rehabilitation for the San Francisco Housing Authority, helping to transform public housing to mixed-income, mixed-used residences with retail. Before that, she was Assistant to the San Francisco Mayor in the city’s Office of Community Services, helping vulnerable residents displaced from their homes by the Loma Prieta Earthquake, as well as assisting residents experiencing homelessness in the Tenderloin and Haight Ashbury. She is a member of St. Brendan’s Parish.
Lori P. Mirek
Lori Mirek, is the chairperson of the St. Raymond Church Pastoral Council and also currently serves as a Trustee of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology where she is on the Advancement Committee, as a Trustee of the Harvard Business School Association’s Northern California chapter where she is on the Nominating Committee, and as a Trustee of the World Affairs Council where she is on the Marketing Committee. She has previously served on the board of directors of the United Nations Association for the United States of America, Cantabile Youth Singers, and TechNet among others.
A longtime technology executive, Lori founded Currenex, Inc., and served as its CEO positioning the firm as a pioneering independent facilitator of online multi-bank money markets and foreign currency exchange transactions. She was a Senior Vice President for America Online/Netscape guiding their strategic efforts in the business-to-business eCommerce sphere, President at Ameritech’s Health Connections, and ran Oracle’s Americas Marketing, among other high tech positions.
Reverend Daniel Nascimento
Reverend Dan Nascimento is the current Pastor of St. Anne of the Sunset Church. As the former Pastor of St. Brendan’s, a large parish in San Francisco, demonstrated a passion for wanting his parishioners to be engaged in service to the community.
Jack Pohlman
Reverend Raymund Reyes
Reverend Raymund Reyes was ordained a priest on December 8, 1988 for the Archdiocese of San Fernando, in Pampanga. In 1998, he immigrated to the United States with his family, a privilege granted to his family after his father’s naturalization as an American citizen for fighting alongside U.S. troops during World War II.
Reverent Reyes has been serving the Archdiocese of San Francisco since 1998 when he was assigned to serve as a parochial vicar of St. Patrick’s Church in the South of Market District. He has continued his dedication to the Bay Area at St. Isabella Church in San Rafael and St. Anne of the Sunset and St. Augustine Churches in San Francisco.
Reverend Reyes has also served on the following Archdocedian Boards and Councils:
College of Consultors
Personnel Board (Chair)
Priests Retirement Board
Real Support Property Corporation (Treasurer)
Council of Priests
St. Patrick’s Seminary and University Board of Trustees Catholic Charismatic Renewal (Liaison)
Knights of Columbus (Chapter Chaplain)
Member of the National Advisory Council of the USCCB (Current)
Lisa Cullinane
I have managed my family’s Real Estate for over 30 years. I am active in running the management of
SC Properties, a family owned Real Estate Brokerage.
I am a leader at my parish for the Gabriel Project an outreach program for distressed women who
are pregnant.
I volunteer at Compassionate Friends, a non-profit organization that provides counseling for parents
who have lost children.
My husband and I are volunteers and fund raisers for The Boy’s and Girl’s Club on the Peninsula, The
San Mateo Police Activities League, Saint Vincent de Paul, and HIP Housing.
I am a volunteer at The Lourdes Pilgrimage with the San Francisco Order of Malta.
Jim Sangiacomo
Jim is principal of Trinity Management Services, part of a family-run real estate enterprise started by his late father, Angelo Sangiacomo. He serves on the Board of Central Market Community Benefit Corporation, the University of San Francisco, and Holy Name Day Home. Jim is president of the Board of Museo Italo Americano, and a Knight with the Order of Malta. Longtime philanthropists in San Francisco, Jim and his wife Gerry Sangiacomo help oversee gifts from the Yvonne and Angelo Sangiacomo Foundation. They have four grown children. A native San Franciscan, Jim attended Notre Dame des Victories Elementary School and St. Ignatius College Preparatory. He is a graduate of Gonzaga University.
Barbara Smith
An ardent champion of San Franciso and its diverse residents, Barbara Smith has over 45 years of public service experience in the City.
Patrick Woody
Most recently, Patrick Woody worked on a range of public policy issues and led several critical international partnerships and programs at Twitter. Prior to joining Twitter, Woody served as the President’s Daily Briefer to multiple White House Chiefs of Staff and other senior White House officials. He was also a senior analyst in the CIA, the National Counterterrorism Center, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Before entering public service, Woody worked in public policy and business development at the One Economy Corporation which harnessed the power of technology to connect underserved, low-income communities around the world to vital online information and resources.
Woody holds a B.A. in History and Political Science, an M.A. in Government and Politics, and is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science.
Philip Kearney
Phil joined the board in 2020. He currently practices as Senior Trial Counsel with the San Francisco litigation firm Murphy, Pearson, Bradley, and Feeney, following a distinguished career in public service as an Assistant District Attorney, Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of California, and as a United Nations International War Crimes Prosecutor in the courtrooms of the Former Yugoslavia and The Hague, Netherlands. Phil is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco, the Irish American Bar Association, and the Saint Thomas More Society. He is a fourth-generation San Franciscan whose father and grandfather both served as firefighters in the City. Phil attended the University of California at Davis and earned his doctorate in law at UC Hastings.
Scott Landis
Scott Landis serves as Chairman of the Board, President & CEO of VOX Network Solutions. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, VOX Network Solutions is a leading provider of converged voice and data solutions and services that implement, enable and support effective, performance-enhancing business communications capabilities. Prior to VOX, Landis co-founded United Telecom in 1997. United Telecom experienced tremendous growth and was sold to NetVersant Solutions in December of 2000. Landis was the President of Telephony for NetVersant from 2000-2005. Prior to forming United Telecom, Landis worked for six years in sales and sales management at Nortel Communications Systems. Landis received a BS in Business Administration, Marketing from San Diego State University.
Nicole Cuadro
Nicole joined the board on June 1, 2023.
Hugo Kostelni, Jr.
Hugo joined the board on June 1, 2023.
John Saia
John joined the board on June 1, 2023.
Christine Whelan
Christine joined the board on June 1, 2023
Marc Aquino
Marc has worked in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years at companies such as Gilead Sciences, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, and Procter & Gamble. He has experience in various roles in marketing, sales management, market research, operations, and data analytics. The overarching purpose of his work is educating health care providers and patients about the importance of diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. He holds a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from UCLA and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Marc is fulfilled by opportunities to serve God and serve others, particularly through ministry. He is an active parishioner at St. Charles (San Carlos) and has volunteered at St. Matthias (Redwood City) and St. Augustine (South SF). He is currently in formation as a candidate for the permanent diaconate in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Marc is grateful to serve in this role as a Board Member of Catholic Charities SF.
Thank you to our former board members for your generous contributions to Catholic Charities and our community.
*denotes Directors Emeritus
Dr. J. Juan Alcedo
Sharon McCarthy Allen*
Carlos Alvarez*
Nicholas Andrade*
Reverend Paul Arnoult
Frank M. Avalos
Louis E. Bartolini
Barbara Kay Benz
Steven G. Borden
Dennis P. Bouey
James F. Buckley, Jr.
John R. Burgis
Elizabeth Byas
John E. Cahill, Jr.*
Dr. Luis Calingo
Kathleen H. Cardinal*
Gloria P. Carlos
Donna Miller Casey
Dr. Sophia Chang
Sister Petra Chavez, RSM
Mark W. Cleary
Victoria Coe
Louis S. Coloia, Ph.D.
Franz Cristiani
Most Reverend Thomas A. Daly
Deborah Ann Dasovich
Felicito Desuasido
Michael Driscoll
Sister Betty-Marie Dunkel, DC
Reverend Eduardo Dura
Jeffrey J. Fenton*
John J. Fitzpatrick*
Herbert W. Foedisch, Jr.
Reverend Charles R. Gagan, SJ*
Alison Morey Garrett †
Bernard P. Hagan, Sr. †*
Steven Kane*
Hugo Kostelni
Greg Bullian*
Paula Hagan Bennett
Timothy Conners
William Gaus
Martha Brigham
Jerilyn Gelt*
Mary Lou Goeke
Lawrence G. Gray
Reverend Thomas J. Hayes, OP
Cecilia H. Herbert*
Douglas T. Hickey
Bill Ong Hing
Albert Horn
Sister Maria Hsu, FdCC
Jean Collier Hurley
Bert Keane
Walter Kentzler
Jack Knight
His Eminence William Cardinal Levada†
Annette E. Lomont
Daniel James Mahoney
John S. Malone
James M. McCabe
Suzanne McCarthy
Kathleen McEligot
Most Reverend Robert W. McElroy
Robert McGrath
Most Reverend Patrick J. McGrath
Robert A. McLalan
Don F. McLaughlin
Marina Miller
Nanette Lee Miller*
Robert B. Morris III
Katherine A. Munter
Martin D. Murphy
Michael W. Murray
Terence R. Oertel
Mark Okashima
Siobhán O’Malley
Christopher M. Owen
Jane Crowley Pardini
Kathryn Parish-Reese
Paul Regan
Michael D. Selfridge
Simon Manning*
Maura Markus
Stephen Molinelli*
Dr. Pierre Theodore
Michael Pautler*
Maureen O’Brien Sullivan*
Ellen Butler Patterson
Reverend David M. Pettingill
Janice L. Przybylski
Tim Rea
Clinton Reilly*
William T. Ring*
Rev. Msgr. Jose A. Rodriguez
Reverend Paul J. Rossi
John Salazar
Mary M. Schembri
Rita R. Semel*
Most Reverend Carlos A. Sevilla
Allen V. Shirley
Kristine Silva*
Timothy Alan Simon
Deacon Eugene B. Smith
Nancy E. Smith
Maureen O’Brien Sullivan*
George Sundby*
Joseph E. Sweeney
Brian G. Swift
Suzanne Swift
Rev. Msgr. John J. Talesfore
Jenny Hsui Theleen
Helena Lau Ting, Ph.D.
Burl A. Toler, Jr.
Sister Susan Vickers, RSM
Reverend Milton T. Walsh
Most Reverend Ignatius C. Wang
Tormey L. Ward
Reverend Dr. Kenneth M. Weare*
Most Reverend John C. Wester
Most Reverend Kenneth Westray †*
Lori Whitney
Michael W. Wilsey*
Jacqueline Woodford
Henry N. Yudice
Peter Wilch
CEO Advisory Council
Simon Manning
Director Emeritus, Catholic Charities
Nanette Lee Miller
Director Emeritus, Catholic Charities
Carlos Monje
Director of Public Policy and Philanthropy, Twitter
Clint Reilly
Director Emeritus, Catholic Charities
Stephen Revetria
Senior Vice President, San Francisco Giants
Mike Selfridge
Chief Banking Officer, First Republic Bank
Brian Swift
Director Emeritus, Catholic Charities
Suzanne Swift
Director Emeritus, Catholic Charities
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