Stephanie Allen
Program Manager, African American Community Service Agency
Stephanie Allen is a dedicated public service professional with over a decade of experience supporting children, families, and communities. As a Program Manager at the African American Community Service Agency, she leads family-centered programs, community partnerships, and initiatives focused on early childhood development, family well-being, and equitable access to resources. Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development from San José State University and is pursuing a Master of Public Administration at the University of Southern California. She is passionate about advancing equitable policies and systems that strengthen families and create opportunities for children and communities to thrive.
When not working: Stephanie enjoys spending quality time with her son, exploring new places, and creating meaningful memories with family and friends. She also enjoys finding new restaurants, attending community events, and making time for experiences that bring joy, connection, and a little adventure to everyday life.
Ofelia Bello
Executive Director/Program Director (dual role), Pahali CLT & EPACANDO
Ofelia is the Executive Director of PAHALI Community Land Trust and holds a dual role as Program Director of Community Owned Real Estate with EPACANDO in her hometown of East Palo Alto. She has a passion for housing justice, youth development, and social movement work, bringing 10 years of experience in tenant rights organizing and public policy to her professional roles. Anchored by her firm commitment to social justice causes, Ofelia is guided by a politic of love and an unshakeable belief that our communities deserve to live dignified, healthy, and joyful lives.
When not working: Ofelia loves volunteering, exploring the Bay Area, trying a new restaurant, park, history museum, or spending time with her family and pets. And when responsibilities allow, she loves to travel to a warm beach and try a spicy dish in a new place.
Shelby Bustria
Education & Engagement Program Director, Fresh Approach
Shelby is the Education & Engagement Program Director at Fresh Approach, where she leads the organization’s community engagement and outreach initiatives, including nutrition education programs. Since 2018, Shelby has developed community engagement work and created opportunities for leadership development and meaningful community connections through a collaborative approach. Shelby holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice and a master’s degree in Transformative Leadership. She hopes to deepen her practice of community-driven leadership in creating solutions for lasting change. She brings creativity, compassion and a commitment to lifelong learning to everything she does.
When not working: You can find Shelby on a trail, cooking and baking for the people she loves, crafting, nurturing her little garden, and singing karaoke. She loves adventure travel and finding connections in the world around her.
Jennifer Ford
Vice President of Finance and Operations, Raising a Reader
Jennifer is a daughter of immigrants, a mother to two school-age sons, and a nonprofit leader passionate about social justice and building stronger communities. As Vice President of Finance and Operations at Raising a Reader, she leads budgeting, financial planning, audit oversight, risk management, and cross-functional operations spanning warehouse, technology, and HR. She partners closely with organizational leadership to align financial strategy with mission and sustainability, so as to serve even more children and families. Jennifer holds an MBA from Santa Clara University and a BA in Sociology from the University of Michigan.
When not working: Jennifer loves exploring the Bay Area with her husband, children, and pup, biking through neighborhoods and finding new favorite spots. She also enjoys baking and is proud to serve on the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy board, giving back to a space her community treasures.
Alicia Garcia
Chief Operating Officer, WeHOPE
Alicia Garcia joined WeHOPE in 2012 after a career in education. At WeHOPE, Alicia oversees all programs and services and works to ensure the needs of staff and clients are met. Previously, she spent more than 10 years at Patten University, where she worked as the Assistant Dean of Student Services. Alicia has an MA in Education with an emphasis on Organizational Leadership, has a BA in music from Patten University, ECE Certification from Penn Foster College, and is a licensed event planner. She is the author of Overcoming Obstacles – The Journey of Project WeHOPE and The Nonprofit’s Guide to Making it Rain.
When not working: Alicia enjoys going on cruises, seeing the world, reading, watching movies, cooking, baking, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.
Charles Hansen
Chief Operating Officer, Peninsula Family Service
Dr. Charles Hansen is Chief Operating Officer at Peninsula Family Service in San Mateo, where he leads a $27 million portfolio of 45 programs across early learning, workforce development, financial empowerment, and community health, serving thousands of families each year. Over more than two decades, he has served as CEO of two multi-facility YMCA associations and Executive Director of the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, where he raised a record $3 million in operational funding. He holds a Doctor of Social Work and an MBA, and was recently named a Koshland Fellow, leading a $300,000 five-year community investment in San Mateo County.
When not working: Charles enjoys spending time at the park with his family, staying active through workouts and sporting events, cooking, reading, and traveling. He also stays involved in his community through his work on the Koshland Fellowship and various county commissions he serves on.
Maria Vazquez Mata
Chief Operating Officer, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
Maria Vazquez Mata, a proud East Palo Alto native and first-generation Mexican American, is committed to improving the lives of children, families, and communities like her own. A graduate of UC Law San Francisco, she began her career in public benefits and immigration law and now serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Law Foundation, where she leads operations and initiatives that strengthen nonprofit organizations. Grounded in humility and a spirit of service, Maria’s work is guided by a lifelong commitment to giving back and ensuring that organizations serving vulnerable communities are equipped to make a meaningful, lasting impact.
When not working: Maria loves cooking Mexican recipes and is constantly learning new ones to share with family and friends. She also enjoys crafting hands-on creative projects, exploring local community events, and finding quiet moments to relax and catch up with loved ones.
Mariana Munoz
Program Coordinator, Learning Home Volunteers
Mariana is a nonprofit professional who grew up in Mexico City where she studied International Business at Instituto Politecnico Nacional and Supply Chain Management at Tecnologico de Monterrey. She brings more than a decade of experience across the private and nonprofit sectors, managing teams in fashion, design, and supply chain. She has served as Program Coordinator at Learning Home Volunteers since 2023, where she recruits and supports families, facilitates parent education programs, coordinates volunteer engagement, and builds community partnerships with organizations supporting early learning. Mariana is committed to empowering parents to become their children’s first and most influential teachers.
When not working: Mariana enjoys running and exploring new routes and trails throughout the Bay Area. She also loves discovering new foods and finding new music to add to her playlists.
Eddy Navarro
Chief Operating Officer, Youth Alliance
Eddy Navarro is Chief Operating Officer of Youth Alliance, leading operations, development, impact and cross-agency collaboration to expand opportunities for youth and families. A proud Hollister native and son of immigrant parents, Eddy brings a deeply personal commitment to equity, service, and community transformation. Eddy currently serves as Vice Chair of the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce and previously served as an appointed county planning commissioner. Before returning to Youth Alliance, where he began as an intern in 2016, he taught abroad in France. He holds an M.A. in Latin American History and dual bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and French from UCLA. His leadership is grounded in collaboration, thoughtful strategy, and community.
When not working: Eddy enjoys playing volleyball, traveling, learning new languages, and exploring new places and cultures. He loves spending time with his puppies Milo and Rambo as well as hanging out with friends and family, catching a good movie and finding opportunities to recharge, reflect, and enjoy new experiences.
Adam Ramirez
Post Secondary Coach Supervisor, Pivotal
Adam is the Post-Secondary Coach Supervisor at Pivotal, a non-profit that specializes in Coaching, Access, and other support services for young people in and from the Foster Care System. He oversees Post-Secondary Coaches, manages the Post-Secondary Program that serves more than 150 students, and cultivates relationships with campus and community partners. He is interested in community service-oriented work, access programs for opportunity youth and at-risk populations, non-profit leadership, business management, and education.
When not working: Adam enjoys serving in the community, reading, nature through hikes, speakeasies, and family time.
Hector Romero
Director of Housing Programs, Abode Services
Hector Romero is the Director of Housing at Abode, where he has worked since 2014, beginning his career as a Compliance Specialist. Drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience, he has advanced through leadership roles focused on affordable housing, program operations, and community development. Hector has managed multimillion-dollar housing programs, collaborated with public and private partners, and helped expand access to affordable housing solutions for underserved communities. He is committed to advancing equitable housing opportunities and developing innovative solutions that create lasting housing stability.
When not working: Hector enjoys traveling, exploring hiking trails, and cheering on his favorite football team during the NFL season. Go Bears!
Kelcie Wong
Chief Program Officer, Jewish Vocational Service Bay Area
Kelcie Wong is Chief Program Officer of JVS Bay Area, where she has led the organization’s full program arc since 2017 from direct service and partnerships to strategy, design, and evaluation. With over a decade in nonprofit management and workforce development, she’s driven by a commitment to equitable outcomes for the communities JVS serves. She thrives in a field where structure is balanced by creativity. Workforce development offers daily opportunities to follow rules and also break them. Doing what’s right, and helping others find their path through systems and growth points, is what challenges her and gives her work meaning.
When not working: Kelcie is a hooper, a birder, a mom. She loves specialty coffee, nudibranchs, board games, and Sunday family dinners. On the weekends, she’s usually occupied trying to get her kids interested in something she loves, which is delightful for three minutes and annoying for the rest of it.
Facilitators
Curtis Chang
Founder and Co-Director of Silicon Valley Next
Curtis leads Consulting Within Reach, a firm serving nonprofits and government in strategic planning, marketing, fundraising, and other consulting services. Clients have included multiple MacArthur “Genius Grant” winners, the U.S. State Department, Stanford University, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and hundreds of community based nonprofits. Curtis has won national recognition from the Obama White House for innovative work in the social sector. He is an adjunct professor at American University in Washington D.C. Curtis graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. summa cum laude in Government, and is a past winner of a Rockefeller Fellowship. In 2025, Curtis was named by the Washington Post as one of the “Next 50” most influential leaders shaping the future of our country.
When not working: Curtis enjoys hosting parties with his wife Jody, doing crossword puzzles, playing pickleball, and learning to play the piano in his middle age (as repentance for short-sightedly resisting lessons when he was 9 years old).
Jody Chang
Co-Director of Silicon Valley Next
Jody Chang oversees SV2’s internal operations and supports SV2’s hands-on, collaborative impact investing and immersive learning programs. She guides SV2 Donor Partners in their engagement with SV2’s programming, designed to transform their personal giving and investing through deep learning about power, privilege, racial justice, and equity. Jody is also a Managing Director of The Campbell Foundation, a family foundation which makes grants focused on education equity. She holds a BA in History and Literature from Harvard University.
When not working: When not at work, Jody enjoys hiking, gathering groups of friends to connect over shared meals (and cocktails!), escaping to other worlds through novels and TV shows, eating at farm to table restaurants, and taking weekend getaways.
Brad Jung
Executive Coach for Silicon Valley Next
Brad helps clients maximize their programmatic impact and their marketing appeal. He is an expert in empowering organizations to grasp their underlying message and their various audiences, and then to devise the best strategy to make the connection.Brad leads product strategy for Decision Counsel – a marketing and sales consulting firm in Silicon Valley. He has served as the CEO of Resonate, a provider of application performance management solutions. He has also held senior management positions at Purisma, Diffusion, Compaq and Borland. Brad’s nonprofit experience includes serving as the president of the School-Force Education Foundation of Belmont-Redwood Shores.
When not working: Brad enjoys spending time with family and friends (he has grandkids!), serving in his church and being in the great outdoors. He’s also a sci-fi geek.
Kevin Friesen
Executive Coach for Silicon Valley Next
Kevin is a sought-after ambassador of Duarte and their vision to transform people and organizations through unparalleled communication. For 20 years, Kevin worked in the social sector developing people and programs to serve their communities.
Since joining Duarte in 2011, Kevin has influenced thinking and promoted change, leading over 800 workshops for thousands of individuals across the world. He helps awaken natural talents and builds confidence in communicators.
Kevin has a BA in Music and a Masters in Conducting from Golden Gate Seminary. He also completed the Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurialism from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
When not working: Kevin and his wife love to host and entertain in their home. They embrace any kind of travel or adventure, especially those involving their kids and grandkids. And he enjoys the simple pleasures of food and wine and conversation…as well as the not so simple pleasure of playing golf.
Jen Randle
Executive Coach for Silicon Valley Next
Jen has advised executives and organizations spanning global brands like Nike, Starbucks, Pinterest, and The Clinton Foundation, as well as key local Bay Area nonprofits like Puente de la Costa Sur and Coastside Hope. Jen is especially gifted in equipping leaders to step into new roles, build trust, and manage change. She is also a guest lecturer and public speaker. Jen holds a BA from Howard University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. Jen lives on the mid-coast of Northern California and is deeply committed to her community. She serves on the boards of both public agencies and private nonprofits.
When not working: Jen is usually out on the coast with her two dogs, Eli and Matilda. She loves to gather people, to travel and chase a new adventure, and to lose an afternoon to good food and a long conversation.