CEN's Building Representative Boards 
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​Cohort III

Learn more about the program

Shilpa Agrawal

About Shilpa:
I grew up in India. Professionally I am a CA from Indian and got my CPA and MBA in states. I have worked for start ups and publicly traded companies and currently am a finance manager at Amazon. I am interested in exploring nonprofit board service and participating in Building Representative Boards so I can help, learn from and support the community I am a part of.
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Why BRB?
I want to be able to make a difference at places where decisions are made for non profits and help situations be equitable using my experience as an immigrant woman of color.

Maricruz Aguilara

About Maricruz:
Maricruz Aguilar, Born and raised in Mexico Puebla. I migrated to this country at nine and have never returned. This migration process allows me to connect directly with the Latinx undocumented community. As a young child, I have always wanted to help those suffering in silence because of language obstacles. I have been allowed to form a part of this board FTA, and I look forward to diving in and empowering our Latinx FAMILIAS...
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​Why BRB?
I have been invited to form a part of a board, and I have yet to gain experience whatsoever, and I hope to obtain the knowledge from CEN to fulfill the mission and vision of this nonprofit organization. I would love to be a part of an org that positively impacts our community.

Tracy Brown

About Tracy:
Tracy Brown, MA - Is an Independent Curator, Artivist, sculptor, installation artist, photographer, public presenter, guest lecturer and Capacity Building Consultant. As a result of her work, Tracy was able to compel the world's largest purchasing body, the General Services Administration (GSA), to remove the rubber Black man from their catalog. Tracy also contributed significantly to the efforts to eradicate the availability of flavored tobacco. Today, Tracy serves as a Workshop Leader with the Center for Artistic Activism and independent creative consultant.

​Why BRB?
I would like to know the proper procedures and process for participating as a member of a non-profit board. I want to understand all of the roles so that I do a good job of laying a framework for my own board. I would also like to prepare myself to participate in future boards.

Pancho Chang

About Pancho:
Pancho Chang retired in 2019 after having worked as a health care administrator and as a foundation executive. Trained as a lawyer, he has held legal services, Pew, Kellogg and Fulbright fellowships. Currently he is a stakeholder reviewer for the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute and a board member of Channing House, a local continuing care retirement community.
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​Why BRB? 
I am interested in exploring board service through the CEN BRB program to understand and apply CEN's IDEAL principles to board membership.

Davion Chism

About Davion:
Davion originally hails from Los Angeles, CA. Davion Chism is a Senior Associate at Hall Capital Partners LLC and a member of the firm’s Portfolio Management practice in San Francisco. She is responsible for developing investment management strategy and constructing, monitoring, and rebalancing investment portfolios. Prior to joining the firm in 2022, Ms. Chism was an Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Previously, she was a director of a charter school in Brooklyn, New York.  Ms. Chism started her career as an Analyst in Morgan Stanley’s Sales & Trading group in New York. Ms. Chism also served previously in the Navy Reserves.

As a first generation “everything” in her family, she continues to advocate for space for others.
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​Why BRB?
This organization is about representation and education and I'm appreciative of the importance of both in serving a community.

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Claudia Damiani

About Claudia:
Originally from Peru, I am passionate about working on creating sustainable and decentralized solutions for food, education, and health for all communities. Particularly low-income communities.
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​Why BRB?
I believe it is important to bring different voices and perspectives to spaces of leadership.

Suzette De La Cruz

About Suzette De La Cruz:
First generation Latina with a drive for change in our community. Working in banking for the past 4 years and community banking for the past year, I'm looking to join a board and make an impact in our community, one step at a time.
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​Why BRB?
I am looking to explore board service through CEN because I want to be prepared for any obstacles I might be faced with. I also want to make sure the Non-Profit, like myself, are a good fit for eachother and can reach our full potential.

Shawn Ewbank

About Shawn:
Shawn Ewbank holds a BBA in Finance from the McCombs School, University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Architecture and Ecological Design from the San Francisco Institute of Architecture, and a Master of Public Affairs from the Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley, where he focused on climate change, artificial intelligence, and national security.
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​Why BRB?
I'm looking forward to developing a practical understanding of service through nonprofit board membership and best practices to ensure diverse opinions and leaders are heard in meaningful ways.

Lekeshia Hicks

About Lekeshia:
Lekeshia Hicks is a seasoned professional passionate about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) issues in the workplace. With over 21 years of experience working in HR in the federal government and having retired from the United States Army as a Major, Lekeshia deeply understands the federal sector and its unique challenges.
Lekeshia has a wide range of experience in conducting qualitative analysis and research on DEIA issues, conducting focus groups and interviews, developing recommendations and action plans to mitigate
barriers, recommending policy changes, and developing training programs, if needed, and has consulted for or worked with organizations including Fortune 500, nonprofit organizations, and the federal government on DEIA matters. In addition, she is skilled in root cause barrier analysis, ensuring compliance with federal and agency laws, regulations, and guidance, and performing quality control on
qualitative deliverables.
Lekeshia holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Columbia College and a Master of Arts in Psychology from Northcentral University.
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​Why BRB?
I am interested in exploring board service through the CEN Building Representative Boards Program because I believe that diversity and inclusion are essential for effective nonprofit governance. I am committed to using my skills and experience to help build stronger, more equitable organizations that are better able to serve their communities.

Allison Lam

About Allison:
Allison Lam is a Registered Nurse (RN), and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), earned her nursing license from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and her Master’s degree in Health Leadership from Western Governors University. She is also a Certified Case Manager and certified Person-Centered Thinking (PCT) Trainer through The Learning Community for Person Centered Practices.
Allison currently works as the Director of Healthcare Management Services at Anthem, supporting our CA Medi-Cal population. Her roots come from the non-profit sector, where she was a certified Sexual Assault Counselor for San Francisco Women Against Rape, lead coordinator for UCSF’s Annual Domestic Violence conference, and has been a panel speaker for the National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence hosted by Futures Without Violence. Her work in the non-profit space continues to inform and complement the clinical work she does today.
Allison is also a wife and mother - she’s been married to her husband for 12 years, has three children, and a dog. You’ll find her with her family on hiking trails and at local parks when the weather permits.
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​Why BRB?
I am interested in CEN's Building Representative Boards program to learn more about the role and responsbilities of a board member, learn from the important work that our community-based organizations do, and integrate my experiences in the health sector to work towards common goals.

Steve Lee

About Steve:
Steve brings nearly two decades of professional work experience, and his background in investment banking, consulting and being an entrepreneur combined with his demonstrated leadership ability, positions him well to successfully lead and run a company.
Steve is the CEO of Kiva Capital Partners, leading a fund to allow a successful exit and stable succession for small business owners.Steve also was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley and has 7+ years as a management consultant advising clients in M&A, growth strategies, and organizational transformations, and AI/RPA tech modernization across Tech, Healthcare, B2B Services, Consumers, and Industrial sectors. Steve has advised many top-tier organizations including Amex, Genentech, Pfizer, BofA, Prudential, Salesforce, Sterling, Cornerstone on Demand. Lastly, Steve has founded, operated and/or advised several companies within EdTech, Real Estate, DTC fashion, and B2B audio services.
Steve earned a BS with honors from Pennsylvania State University and his MBA from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. Steve currently lives in San Francisco with his wife Connie (Steve's better half), who spends her working hours as an ICU nurse at SF General. Outside of work, Steve enjoys the outdoors and is an avid hiker and skier. Steve also enjoys golfing, biking, diving, rooting for Philadelphia sports teams, traveling and playing the saxophone.
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​Why BRB? 
I believe that diverse and representative boards are crucial. They bring varied perspectives, experiences, and voices to the table, leading to better decision-making and more inclusive actions. I want to be part of this shift towards more equitable governance in the nonprofit sector. I'm  interested in exploring board service through the CEN Building Representative Boards Program because of its reputation for providing comprehensive training and its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The program's focus on building competencies and connecting potential board members with organizations that can benefit from their unique perspectives is precisely the kind of preparation and alignment I'm looking for. Additionally, I view this as an incredible opportunity for personal and professional growth. I'm excited about the chance to learn from experienced board members, understand the intricacies of nonprofit governance, and apply my skills in new and challenging contexts.

Carol Liu

About Carol:
Carol Liu is an immersive experience creator, filmmaker and entrepreneur working in the fields of film, VR and NFTs. She is building the Art Standard, an immersive experiences ecosystem which tells the stories of art and human heritage while leveraging the tools of web3, XR and AI. Carol serves on the board of the Children's Creativity Museum and the San Francisco Opera Guild.
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​Why BRB?
To be able to generate greater impact.

Iliana Madrigal-Hooper

About Iliana:
Iliana Madrigal is from San Bernardino, CA. She lived in different parts of México during her childhood and embraced her Mexican heritage and culture in her daily life.
Iliana has a Master’s Degree in Urban and Public Affairs from the University of San Francisco. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in International Relations. Iliana also attended College of the Desert, a Southern California Community College, and earned an Associate’s Degree in Political Science.
Her professional experience has included working as a bilingual intake patient advocate, a district scheduler for Congressman Jared Huffman, a program manager for a family resource center, a Covid Command Center Media Team intern in the City and County of San Francisco, and former Friends of the Petaluma River’s Communications Director. Iliana is currently an associate with North Bay Labor Council - AFL-CIO focusing on political research and public policy.
Iliana is devoted to advocating for language, social, and environmental justice for our county’s communities of color. As a former ESL student, she understands how vital it is to have access to information in a person’s native language.
Iliana has a history of volunteerism including service on the City of Petaluma’s Youth Commission, Petaluma People Services Center’s Board of Directors, the Sonoma County's Nurse-Family Partnership Advisory Board, several local Climate Action groups, the City of Petaluma’s General Plan Advisory Committee, Wine Country Young Democrats, and the Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee.
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Why BRB?
I believe CEN is a crucial training for young women of color who are involved in the community and need the tools to be a self-confident advocate when the room does not look like us.

Leticia Marquez

About Leticia:
I am Mexican and I emigrated about 25 years ago. I am married, I have three daughters, I am a preschool teacher and I have been supporting the Familias Tomando Acción for about 7 years

Why BRB?
I want to learn more about how the structures of the non profit organizations are built, I want to know how to maintain a organization for a long time with out making mistakes.

Deirdre McGinley-Gieser

About Deirdre:
Deirdre McGinley-Gieser is the Executive Vice President of the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), the global authority on the link between cancer risk and diet, nutrition, and physical activity. For more than 25 years, McGinley-Gieser has driven AICR’s work championing scientific research from around the world on cancer prevention and survival.
McGinley-Gieser is at the forefront of national and international cancer prevention and survivorship research, communications, education and policy. She oversees AICR’s advocacy for federal policies that support cancer prevention and research, contribute to legislative and regulatory efforts to make the healthy option the easy option, and help Americans lead healthier lifestyles by empowering them to make informed choices about their health.
Prior to serving as EVP of AICR, McGinley-Gieser worked at AICR’s international affiliate, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), in London, as its Director of International Operations, and on all three of WCRF/AICR’s Expert Reports, which have been used to develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughters and dog.
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Why BRB?
I don't feel I have the most engaged board currently and am not sure how to rebuild it.  I have just joined a Board and have no experience in working with other Board members in this way.

Joy Oche

About Joy:
Joy is an Engineering professional with over sixteen years of experience in the public and private sectors, in the United Kingdom, the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa.
She has a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Newcastle University, United Kingdom. She is also a certified Project Management & Sustainability Professional, and recently ventured into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In her career journey, she has provided technical guidance, reinforced environmental performance, and spearheaded employee engagements to address business risks and deliver projects in a profitable, safe and resource efficient manner.
Joy is a Senior Fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program and is constantly seeking ways to develop herself. She and has attended several leadership and professional programs, including a Harvard Business School Executive Business program “Launching New Ventures”, the John Maxwell Leadership certification, International Summer School Program on “Regulation of Local Public Services” in Torino, Italy, and a “Clean Technologies for Economic Development” program, organized by the Weitz Center for Sustainable Development, Israel.
Joy loves to travel and explore diverse cultures and has been to over fifteen nations & 17 U.S States (and still counting :)! She has interests in coaching and promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), in young people and volunteering for the City of Palo Alto as a Commissioner for Parks and Recreation.

Why BRB?
As a Woman of color, the CEN Building Representatives Boards programs tick all the boxes, as a great opportunity to learn how to be a better Board Member, gain knowledge, skills and network/interact/share ideas with fellow professionals like myself.

Susan Stenman

About Susan:
With a professional expertise in musculoskeletal disorders and amputations, Ms. Stenman has combined healthcare with technology, critical thinking, problem-solving, and advocacy. Her dedication to community health has taken form through collaborative programs for limb-difference individuals, emphasizing peer engagement. She led diverse rehabilitation teams, enabling functional prosthetic control at the Bay Area Fitness for Life Clinics which she jointly conceived and implemented. These clinics extended peer mentorship via sports engagement, yielding positive lifestyle shifts and potential for higher athletic achievements. Partnerships with local businesses introduced diverse opportunities for integration into the community. Outside of her work, she has served on numerous boards for schools, including schools in Ann Arbor, MI, and the Los Gatos Music Boosters. I also play music in a band with my husband, serve at City Team, Grace SouthBay, and as a Type 2 person, mountain bikes and hikes with her dog throughout the region.. After decades as a clinician and while raising three children, Ms. Stenman has recently taken a sabbatical to care for her mother-in-law with dementia and to support her own mother in hospice care while consulting and volunteering on individual projects.

Why BRB?
Although I have served on a few small Non-Profit boards in the past and have served in numerous non-profit organizations, I wish to become more directly involved in local non-profit organizations. I am collaborative by nature and feel that bringing organizations and ideas together, can help strengthen the social network in our community. Supporting the underserved in our communities is something I care deeply about and I would like to gain insight into how to best serve these groups to help them achieve their goals.

Vanessa Torres

About Vanessa:
Vanessa Torres is the Associate Director of Social Justice at YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley in San Jose, CA. Overseeing a department focused on sexual and interpersonal violence prevention education in youth and adult community spaces, Vanessa is dedicated to working towards liberation from oppression. With extensive nonprofit program management experience in economic opportunity and gender-based violence prevention, she brings forth expertise, passion, and her intersectional identity as a proud Chicana in to her work. Vanessa is the mom of 4 children and 2 cats as well as the wife of an awesome teacher. In her free time, she loves going to the beach with her family, reading, and growing her gel pen collection.

Why BRB?
Vanessa understands the importance boards bring to organizations, especially when board members are rooted in mission. She aims to provide thoughtful board service using her professional experiences and understanding of IDEAL culture to support the mission, vision, and values of an organization. She hopes to learn how to be a hands on, board member in an effort to not only serve her community but to also make space for historically marginalized identities to have a seat at the table.

Shreya Vora

About Shreya: Shreya is a practicing lawyer with over 10 years of experience in the privacy space. Shreya focuses her advising on cloud computing, generative AI, privacy compliance, M&A, and security issues. Before Google, Shreya worked in the legal department at Salesforce, and during her legal career has focused efforts on building out DEI, internship, and also pro bono programs. Shreya graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law and received her B.S. in Finance, with a minor in English Literature, from the University of Southern California.

Why BRB?
I am really focused on expanding my understanding of what it means to serve on a non profit board, including to understand the types of roles and responsibilities available for people with my professional and personal background. In particular, I am focused on understanding how to increase equity and representation as it relates to the individuals who gain seats on those boards, and what it could mean to use my voice in such a capacity. I'm really looking forward to this learning experience.

Emily Yao

About Emily:
Emily (she/her) was born and raised in Palo Alto, California, where she was an avid student journalist and mental health advocate. She finds fulfillment through immersive community service engagement, notably as a peer leader at Youth Community Service, where she fostered stronger community relationships through workshops spanning local and national platforms. Emily aspires to leverage her voice to illuminate challenges and provide support for youth social issues. Emily is currently a second-year Cognitive Science student at Columbia University in New York City.

Why BRB?
I deeply connect with CEN's mission to integrate IDEAL principles into leadership spaces. I am excited at the opportunity to meet and learn from seasoned board members and mentors, and hope to acquire the essential skills to effectively represent and advocate for people within my nonprofit engagements.