Our Dedicated Team
Leadership Team
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James Walker is a powerful equity broker with over 29 years' experience establishing equitable practices by engaging stakeholders to re-imagine the possibilities for the future. He considers himself a “bridge-builder” who facilitates new collaborations and strengthens existing partnerships within the communities he serves. He has produced enduring results for a diverse group of clients including corporations, non-profits, foundations, and governmental agencies.
As a Bay Area native, James is committed to dismantling systemic oppression and structural racism, by advocating for change and creating innovative programs within the education, workforce, health, and housing systems. He is committed to creating inclusive environments that nurture individuality and create a true sense of belonging for all. James believes that to establish lasting change, it must be a collective effort, driven by those most impacted. His direct activities with the justice, education and health systems have resulted in increased access to essential resources within under-served communities across the United States. James is determined to leave a legacy in which building inclusive and empowering communities is no longer the exception, but the rule.
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Welcome Gwendolyn Smith, our new Field Operations Director to SFCC! Gwen has worked for SFCC in the past! Starting as a supervisor and working their way up to event coordination. During her time there she managed CM’s on the zero waste side- and attended CaLRecycle conferences where she learned technical trainings and workshops around tire, oil and e-waste recycling processes. She built relationships with local hospitals and community residents to organize e-waste events. Her career started in zero waste with Recology for over 13 years- where she held many hats but specialized in event managements, recycling education and more. We are so lucky to have someone so knowledgeable joining our team at SFCC.
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Alex has more than 25 years of experience leading operations and finance teams in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Before joining SFCC, Alex worked at Hidden Villa, a non-profit that promotes environmental education, the TJX Companies, a Fortune 100 company, and Marriott International. While at TJX, Alex developed store productivity standards for the HomeGoods division which resulted in the company saving more than a $million in expenses per year.
Alex is originally from Chicago and has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years and counting. His professional career has also taken him to live in Mexico, Aruba, and the Boston area. Alex earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and has an MBA from the University of Massachusetts. He continues to be an avid supporter of Stanford sports.
Managers
Fatima Ortiz, Natural Resources Manager
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Calvin Drake, Training Manager
Coordinators
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Franklin was raised in San Francisco and attended high school in the Bayview district. He graduated from San Francisco State University, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and completed his Google Data Analytics certification. Franklin is passionate about data and enjoys bridging the gap in technology to help the community achieve its goals. With his knowledge of data analysis, he hopes to create a functional database to track the progress of the Corpsmembers and ensure the success of each member. Previously Franklin was an intern at Feasible, where he gained his technical skills to work with data. He firmly believes in the impact of non-profit organizations and is excited to be part of SFCC.
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Yancy was born and raised in San Francisco. Yancy is an experienced Program Coordinator with over 26 years of experience in case management. She is an effective leader with 11 years of managerial and supervisory experience. Yancy is a true San Franciscan and loves the city by the Bay, from its parks to the food, diverse history and community, to its beautiful landscapes.
Yancy loves the work she does in the community. She often says that “being part of someone's journey to Independence is a present that keeps on giving.” She is a natural nurturer in that she offers encouragement to everyone she interacts with, whether in her personal or professional life.
Yancy is a positive influence in the workplace; her superpowers are a positive attitude, timeless energy, the ability to think outside the box, and her love for the community; this is often confirmed throughout her daily interactions. Yancy will be the first to say, “You must work hard to succeed.” That being said, Yancy has continually demonstrated her willingness to help anyone succeed.
Yancy is a life learner and successfully gained her B.A. in 2022 in Interdisciplinary Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Yancy has two daughters and one son. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. Yancy is always available to her family, but when she gets time to herself, she likes to watch a good movie
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Thuy has been with SFCC since 2022, having earned her first Bachelor of Arts in Japanese studies. Before relocating to the United States from Japan, she worked for Japanese firms in Marketing and Product Research & Development, gaining experience in global project management. Thuy is fluent in Japanese, Vietnamese, and English. She received her Master of Science in Project Management at the University of the Cumberlands.
In her role as a Business Development and Placement Coordinator at SFCC, Thuy facilitates connections between Corpsmembers and Community Partners, Employers for jobs opportunities and assists them in pursuing educational training.
During her free time, Thuy enjoys hiking, biking, and exploring the sights of the Bay Area.
Case Workers
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Angela was born in Seattle, WA, but Potrero Hill, San Francisco has always been her home. A proud graduate of SFUSD, Angela has dedicated herself to serving her community, particularly youth, throughout her career. With a decade of experience in community service and education, including roles as an Americorp Alumni and former Paraprofessional for San Francisco Unified School District, Angela brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her work. She is committed to mentoring, advocating for resources, and making a positive impact on youths' lives.
Accounting
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Stephen has worked with SFCC since 2019 and is an invaluable part of our accounting department as our lead payroll accountant. He has over six years of accounting experience in accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Payroll, and Bank Reconciliation, over eight years of investment and stocks trading experience, both long term and short term, and over three years of experience filing tax returns for low-income families and individuals.
