President | Bryan Neider, CEO, Abilitypath

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.

Secretary | Paitra Houts, Director of Community Engaged Learning - Education, Stanford University

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.

Treasurer | Rolland Janairo, Executive Director, Silicon Valley Urban Debate League

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.

Margi Power, Co-Founder and Co-President of Leadership Council San Mateo County

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.

Cari pang chen, community builder

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 Glader, Senior Vice President, Heritage Bank of Commerce

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, Executive Director, Puente de la Costa Sur

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.

Georgia D. Farooq, Chief Executive Officer, THRIVE ALLIANCE

Georgia is a passionate nonprofit executive with experience leading bold change throughout all life cycles of an organization. She has served as Executive Director of Thrive Alliance since 2016, where she leads a cross-sector network of nonprofit, public sector, and private sector leaders working together to strengthen the San Mateo County and the broader region. Her previous roles include CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of the Coastside, Director of Education & Training and Senior Consultant for the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership, and Director of the Center for Nonprofit Management at Stonehill College. She began her career in nonprofits working in development and grantmaking at the Newton Schools Foundation.

Georgia serves as a board member for the Palo Alto Community Fund and as a founding board member for Leadership Council San Mateo County. She is on the Advisory Council for AbilityPath, an advisor for the SF Urban Film Festival, and a graduate of Leadership San Mateo. Georgia is an American Leadership Forum (ALF) Senior Fellow and a graduate of ALF Class XLI.

Back East, Georgia was a founding board member for the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, a trustee for the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation, and a board member for the Boys & Girls Club of Brockton. Georgia has her M.B.A. from Boston University and a B.A. from Wellesley College.

Irma ZOEPf, Chief Operating Officer, THRIVE ALLIANCE

Irma is a bilingual strategic leader passionate about driving impactful change through leadership development, equity and belonging strategies, and cultural transformation. She is the founder of The Z Bridge, a consulting firm specializing in these areas. Among her varied responsibilities, Irma coordinated the Nonprofit REDI Hub, a collaboration between SVCN and Thrive, to advance racial equity, diversity, and inclusion (REDI) in the nonprofit sector across San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. In recognition of this work, Irma was the recipient of SVCN’s Nonprofit Ally Award 2024, along with Packard Foundation and Applied Materials. 

Irma holds a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering and an MBA in Business Strategy, along with certifications in Lean/Six Sigma, Diversity Executive, Coaching, and Compassion Training. Her expertise in design science, culture design, and a diverse background spanning engineering, HR, and organizational management allows her to lead with a comprehensive approach to organizational growth and transformation.

Deeply committed to equity, Irma founded the Latinas in San Mateo County and Women in Silicon Valley Lean In groups. She also serves on the Commission on the Status of Women in San Mateo County, furthering her impact in advancing social justice where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Irma proudly served on Thrive Alliance’s board from 2019 through 2024, and is excited to now serve as the organization’s first Chief Operating Officer.

Yajaira Ortega, Senior Manager, Policy and equity, Thrive ALLIANCE

Yajaira is passionate about bringing innovative social change to her community. In the last couple years she received her bachelor's degree and completed a year in the Coro Fellow Program in Public Affairs, a full-time, graduate-level, experiential leadership program focused on building effective leadership through 6-week consulting projects in government, nonprofit, labor, and business. She is excited about the opportunity of continuing her growth and development with Thrive. Yajaira works on Civic Engagement & Redistricting Initiatives for communities of the Peninsula.

Betty Nen, Community Resilience Manager, THRIVE ALLIANCE

Betty Nen is a recent Master of Public Policy graduate from the University of Michigan with a particular interest in how climate change disparately impacts vulnerable communities around the world. Prior to her graduate degree, she worked as an Individual and Community Preparedness Specialist with FEMA, supporting communities across the country with educational resources and preparedness training materials. Betty has spent over a year studying and researching in the Asia-Pacific region, and with family roots in the South Pacific, she enjoys bringing a cross-cultural perspective to her work in empowering climate-resilient communities. 

Nicole nash, Programs and Operations Manager, THRIVE ALLIANCE

Nicole Nash is a seasoned nonprofit administrative professional with nearly three decades of experience in operations, finance, events planning, project management, development, and communications. She has worked for a wide variety of mission-driven organizations, including in the areas of education, human services, health insurance, and philanthropy.  Prior to coming to Thrive, Nicole served on the national operations team at Arabella Advisors.  Her previous employers include Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Duke University, and Catholic Charities.  Nicole has also served on and supported several nonprofit boards.

A native of Iowa and with work experience in Washington, DC and Chicago, Nicole recently relocated from the Research Triangle area of North Carolina with her husband, two children, and adorable lemon beagle, and she is eager to contribute to a vibrant, thriving nonprofit sector in the Bay Area!

Brenda Ortega, Marketing Associate, Thrive ALLIANCE

Brenda graduated from San José State University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Marketing, where she gained valuable insights into the role of analytics and social media in marketing. She has experience in social media marketing, content creation, and website design. Brenda is passionate about marketing and its potential to help organizations achieve their goals.

Cindy Barker, Capacity Building & Partnerships Specialist, THRIVE ALLIANCE

As a Bay Area native, Cindy is committed to uplifting local nonprofits and enhancing community impact in San Mateo County. With extensive experience volunteering and consulting nonprofits across various sectors, Cindy has developed skills in fundraising, brand development, and strategic planning. Cindy is eager to advance nonprofit coalition building and amplify the relationships with Silicon Valley leaders. Cindy graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Masters in Nonprofit Administration as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Education. As a Division I student-athlete in rowing, Cindy leverages her team player and can-do mentality at Thrive.

Skye Hathaway, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, THRIVE ALLIANCE

Skye Hathaway (they/them) is a Stanford University graduate with a B.A. in Anthropology who is applying to MSW programs in the Fall 2026 cycle. Skye's research and studies in anthropology have left them with a deep understanding of culture and power as both productive and reductive forces; they seek to develop emergent forms of social relation where compassionate care is the ultimate goal of political action. Skye is committed to social justice and critical political engagement, with organizing and activism experience at Stanford and beyond. As someone who grew up in Section 8 housing and studied homelessness in undergraduate research, affordable housing advocacy is particularly close to heart.

As the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Skye is responsible for maintaining Thrive's Policy and Advocacy projects: The P&A Newsletter, The Policy Affinity Group, and the Advocacy Series with SVCN. Skye also coordinates the Translation Services Hub, connecting nonprofits with free interpretation and translation services, and supports website and marketing development.

In their free time, Skye plays and coaches volleyball. As both a player and a coach they find that joy and commitment to excellence are two sides of the same coin, and they try to bring that energy to the Thrive team.

John Harrington, Programs & Operations Intern, Thrive Alliance

John earned his B.A. in American History from the University of Vermont, where he first developed a passion for supporting local nonprofits. After graduation, he spent two years serving as a Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA. His second year brought him to the Bay Area, where he worked with Thrive Alliance and Stanford University’s Haas Center for Public Service. In this role, he focused on initiatives related to children and education, while gaining hands-on experience in San Mateo County’s dynamic nonprofit sector.

Since completing his term in August 2025, John has begun pursuing a Master of Public Administration at San Francisco State University. He is excited to support Thrive’s work as the Programs & Operations Intern and looks forward to deepening his skills for a future in nonprofit leadership.

Hadley Stevick, Americorps VISTA, Thrive Alliance

Hadley is a recent graduate of Gonzaga University, where she earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies. Her interdisciplinary study also included Spanish and business.

During her undergraduate years, Hadley was deeply involved in peer mentorship and youth after-school tutoring. Hadley is looking forward to serving her local community and advancing Thrive Alliance’s mission. Outside of her AmeriCorps VISTA service, she enjoys running, hiking, and cooking.