Our Team

Bryan Neider, CEO, joined AbilityPath (formerly Gatepath) after serving on the Board of Directors for nearly 15 years. As a Board Member, Bryan served as Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair and became a strong advocate for AbilityPath’s Employment Services. Prior to joining AbilityPath, Bryan was a Senior Vice President within Electronic Arts’ (EA) Global Publishing and Marketing organization. Bryan spent over 25 years with EA and oversaw initiatives aimed at improving operating efficiency, product quality, business innovation and overall business performance. During his tenure at EA he served in a number of different roles, including managing EA’s global business development efforts, managing EA Partners, corporate finance, CFO and COO for EA.com, CFO of Worldwide Studios, COO for EA’s global development organization and most recently as head of EA’s Global Operations team.

Paitra began her tenure at Stanford University in January of 2014 where she supports faculty and community partners to work together to address societal needs. In her role she works with the Haas Center for Public Service and the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education to support Cardinal Service - a bold, university-wide initiative to elevate and expand service as a distinctive feature of a Stanford education. Paitra has been actively involved in education equity for the past decade. Prior to starting her work at Stanford, she served the youth in our community at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, as a School Site Director and more recently as the Director of Partnerships and Volunteer Services. Through these roles she supported volunteers and partners to make an impact on the lives of our local youth, helping build connections and opportunities. Paitra received her Master's in Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies from Stanford's Graduate School of Education at Stanford in 2008 and her Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and Planning Public Policies and Management from the University of Oregon.

Cari is a local community builder and creative problem-solver who has worked with nonprofit and philanthropic organizations throughout the Bay Areaand Hawai`i for more than 30 years. She was the first Executive Director of Thrive - The Alliance of Nonprofits for San Mateo County and served as Associate Director of Rebuilding Together Peninsula before joining The Forestry & Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP) in 2021. She is on the Koshland Committee for the San Francisco Foundation, President of the Sterling Downs Neighborhood Association in Belmont, and volunteers with Samaritan House and The Domini Hoskins Black History Museum & Learning Center. She has a BA in Urban Studies - Community Organizations and MA in Education - Policy Analysis & Evaluation from Stanford University.

Eric is a senior executive with 20+ years of experience in nonprofit leadership, business development, and community partnerships. As SVP, Nonprofit Relationship Manager at Heritage Bank of Commerce, Eric specializes in cultivating strategic relationships with nonprofit organizations that drive a lasting impact across the Bay Area.

Previously, Eric was Executive Director of Urban Vibrancy Institute in San Jose, where he led safety and revitalization projects and organized hundreds of local events that boosted sales for local businesses. He also grew a community stakeholder group of more than 200 members that met regularly to collaborate and focus on a vibrant San Jose. Additionally, Eric co-founded San Jose Ship Kits, which delivered essential supplies to 125,000+ people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With a business development background, Eric has built partnerships with major institutions like Amnesty International and American Express. He holds an MBA from Vanderbilt University and a BA from UCLA.

Outside of work, Eric enjoys live music, outdoor activities with his family/friends, and local volunteer efforts.

Rita Mancera Hernandez, born in Mexico City and raised in Baja California Sur, began her non-profit journey in her teens, inspired by her parents' values of education, hard work, and community involvement. Early experiences with the YMCA of Mexico and the Latin American and Caribbean Alliance of YMCAs exposed her to social justice issues and economic inequities across Latin America, while nearly 20 years in Pescadero deepened her understanding of immigration and the unique challenges of rural life on the South Coast.

Since joining Puente in 2006, Rita has advanced from home-visiting families to leading initiatives in immigration legal services, community building, adult education, and youth leadership and economic development. As Executive Director since January 2016, she collaborates with her dedicated team and board to shape the organization’s strategic vision and operational priorities. Her professional goals focus on expanding educational opportunities, cultivating local leadership, creating pathways to lasting economic and social well-being, and promoting affordable housing. Rita holds a master’s degree in Education from Universidad YMCA in Mexico City, is a fellow of the American Leadership Fellowship Education Class of XVIII, and volunteers on local boards and advisory councils in the Bay Area.

Margi is the Co-Founder and Co-President of Leadership Council San Mateo County and has a passion for leadership development, strategic planning, and connecting a diverse group of people. After graduating from Bowdoin College, Margi taught in the charter corps of Teach For America, which sparked a lifelong passion for public education reform. After obtaining a Master’s in Educational Policy from Stanford University, Margi worked in education software development and later served as a nonprofit leader for several local organizations while raising her two daughters. She was elected to the school board in Hillsborough for two terms, serving a total of nine years, and served as the Executive Director of Leadership San Mateo, Foster City, Burlingame, and Hillsborough for four years. During her tenure, she worked with the Advisory Board, the Curriculum Committee and her colleague, Kaarin Hardy, to raise funds for program expansion, improve the overall curriculum, and increase demand for the program. Margi enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family.

Rolland currently serves as the CEO of the Silicon Valley Urban Debate League. While attending and after graduating from Brown University, Rolland volunteered and taught at a preschool in Providence, Rhode Island. He later earned his Masters Degree in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. During his time in Boston, Rolland was the Associate Director of Teacher Development at Jumpstart for Young Children, as well as the Director of Playmaker Operations at Life is Good Playmakers. Prior to joining SVUDL, Rolland served as the Chief Operating Officer at World Savvy. He is a Board member with SV2 and a Senior Fellow faculty member with the Institute of Nonprofit Practice. In his spare time, Rolland enjoys running, cooking, and exploring the Bay Area with his wife and two boys.