Dan Jones (Board President):
As a founding partner at Ahatis, Dan provides innovative solutions to his clients utilizing a mix of strategy and technology. Prior to Ahatis, Dan was Vice President of Technology & Strategy at Conagra Brands in Los Angeles, Omaha, and Chicago. Dan started his career working for Accenture in Los Angeles. Dan received his MBA from the Claremont Graduate University and his Finance Degree from Brigham Young University (BYU). Dan serves on the Board of Directors of the BYU Alumni Association. He enjoys spending time with his family, golfing with friends, and officiating high school football for the CCFOA. He has mentored/coached youth throughout his life in various roles within his church and the local community.
Anna Green (Board Secretary):
Anna earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish Language from Tulane University and has been in the greater Bay Area ever since her graduation in 2004.. She has a MA in Educational Leadership and her CA single-subject teaching credential. Anna came to Pittsburg as a teacher at Black Diamond High School and has been there for the last decade, teaching all levels of Art, English, and Student Leadership. Prior to her role in PUSD, she worked as an administrator in Richmond, California.
Adithi Ramesh (Treasurer):
Adithi has 6 years of experience in public accounting and specializes in the not-for-profit industry. She is currently a manager at Baker Tilly in the San Francisco office. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis in 2016, and has been living and working in the Bay Area since then. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and playing with her dog, Comet!
Thad Ferre (Board Member):
After graduating from UC San Diego with a BA in Quantitative Economics, Thad started his career over 30 years ago in International trade and logistics. Currently, Thad is a Vice President of Sales for Paramount Export Company, an International Produce Trading company selling to over 40 countries Worldwide. His leadership skills range from not only being one of the owners of Paramount, but from being a coach in various sports, along with team captains on his baseball teams thru college, to earning the Eagle Scout rank the age of 17. He is from Oakland, living in Danville and is proficient in the Spanish language.
Andrea Zarate (STUDENT ADVISOR/Non-voting member):
Andrea Zarate is our youngest board member, a PHS graduate, and most notably, a PWC alumnus. Although Andrea has met many obstacles and personal trauma in the two-decades of her life so far, she is admirable in her maturity and her positivity in all contexts. She is a current student at Los Medanos College and she brings with her the vital youth perspective.
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ABOUT OUR FOUNDERS
Veronica Pope (Program Director: Non-Voting Member):
She has served students throughout the east bay area in both in-school and after-school capacities. The bulk of her career was as a mental health intervention specialist working with high, middle, and elementary school children in Alameda and Contra Costa counties public school systems. She founded People Who Care Children Association (PWC) and since has continued to support at-risk youth and their families. She is a recipient of a Jefferson Award for public service. Veronica encourages young people and adults to get involved in mentoring programs.
Constance Russell (Executive Director: Non-Voting Member):
Connie is the executive director at PWC and has been with the organization since its inception. Connie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business, emphasis in Management from San Francisco State University, and has over 30 years of business and contracting experience. She retired from the federal government, the General Services Administration (GSA) in San Francisco. Connie has a Certificate in Project Management from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a member of the National Contract Management Association. Her commitment to social justice and equal opportunities continues to motivate her work with PWC.