• July 2009 Newsletter
• Employment
• Staff
• History
• Background and Mission
• Board of Directors and Local Advisory Boards
• BUILD Newsletter Archives

Staff

BUILD Headquarters

Suzanne McKechnie Klahr: CEO and Founder

Suzanne McKechnie Klahr founded BUILD in 1999 with a public service fellowship from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Under Suzanne's leadership, BUILD has grown from an initial four students to serve more than six hundred students from twelve partner public high schools. BUILD currently operates two San Francisco Bay Area sites, one site in Washington, DC, and has plans for national expansion. BUILD maintains an incredible track record with 100 percent of its seniors having applied to and gone onto college.

For her accomplishments with BUILD, Suzanne has received numerous awards and been asked to speak nationally on such topics as education, social entrepreneurship, venture philanthropy, new models of providing legal services to the poor, and poverty alleviation strategies. In 2006 she was inducted as a lifetime member of Ashoka, a global fellowship of leading social entrepreneurs. In 2007, she was honored by CBS's Jefferson Award on television, on radio, and in print. In 2008, Suzanne was elected to the San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame and in 2009, she was named as one of Silicon Valley’s Most Influential Women by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Times.

Suzanne serves as a trustee of the Skadden Fellowship Foundation and as a board member of the Bay Area Community Equity Fund, the Glow Scholarship Foundation, and is an Honorary Board Member of the Until There's A Cure Foundation. For the past six years, she has served as faculty adjunct at Stanford Law School teaching "Social Entrepreneurship," the first class of its kind at a Law School in the United States. She earned a dual degree from Brown University and a JD from Stanford Law School, and she has successfully completed the Harvard Business School’s Executive Education program in Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management.

Christa Roth: Managing Director

In partnership with the CEO, Christa provides organizational leadership in program development and management, site support, finances and operations at BUILD. Christa brings 25 years of nonprofit management experience to this opportunity. Prior to coming to BUILD, Christa has worked in various leadership capacities with youth and educational nonprofits including Breakthrough Collaborative, Partners In School Innovation. In 1993, Christa created and managed Hands on Atlanta’s school-based programs, placing 75 AmeriCorps members and volunteers into six urban schools. Christa managed direct affiliate relationships at Hands on Network (formerly CityCares), supporting affiliates’ efforts to grow and deepen their impact by providing coaching staff and boards of 35 affiliates. Christa has a track record of leading through a dynamic period of expansion of programs, services and organizational capacity. Christa spent the first 8 years of her career working in marketing and finance in the financial services sector. Christa earned her B.S. in Marketing & Finance from the University of Oregon. When Christa is not working, she spends time taking advantage of all the Bay Area has to offer with her son, Miles.

Elizabeth Gardner: Director of Individual Giving

Elizabeth Gardner brings extensive experience as a fundraiser for youth-oriented organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area to the development team at BUILD. Previously, Elizabeth served as Director of Capital Planning and Special Gifts at the YMCA of San Francisco, Director of Individual Giving with the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco, Individual Gifts Manager with Habitat for Humanity, East Bay and Associate Director, Annual Fund with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. Elizabeth holds a BA degree in English from Tufts University in Somerville, MA.

Michelle Heath: Human Resources Manager

As BUILD’s Human Resources Manager, Michelle manages all aspects of HR including staffing, benefits, employee relations and legal compliance. Prior to joining BUILD, Michelle worked in the Biotechnology industry where she learned the importance of a customer service approach to HR. Through this approach, Michelle plans to partner with all members of the BUILD team to ensure a positive and rewarding work environment. Michelle holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Belle Burnett:  Development Associate

Belle handles special projects relating to development, including the logistical aspects of the organization's expansion into Washington, DC, and Boston, and directly supports the Director of Development.  Prior to joining BUILD, Belle worked at JPMorgan in San Francisco, as well as for Federal and local government agencies in D.C.  

Larisa Marinas: Executive Assistant to the CEO

Larisa handles the day-to-day correspondence, scheduling, tasks and overall support to BUILD's CEO & Founder as well as assistance with special projects relating to all areas of BUILD. Prior to joining BUILD, Larisa had a long career with Robert Half International in the Bay Area. Her motivation to join BUILD was an overwhelming desire to contribute to the community, serve students and join an organization with strong principles.

BUILD Peninsula

Rey Faustino: Peninsula Site Director

Rey oversees all of BUILD's activities in the Peninsula region of the Bay Area, which serves the communities of East Palo Alto, East Menlo Park, and Redwood City. He is responsible for leading the BUILD Peninsula site to achieve results, managing school district and community partnerships, and overseeing the management of BUILD program staff and site operations. Rey previously served as BUILD Peninsula’s incubator manager from August 2005 to July 2008. While in college, Rey was the co-executive director for the non-profit USC Troy Camp which takes 3rd through 5th graders from inner city Los Angeles to camp each summer. Under Rey's tenure, the program exposed over 800 children to nature, team and self-esteem building activities, and positive role models throughout the entire school year. Prior to BUILD, Rey worked as a site director for the for-profit educational company Mad Science, helped start up the family home-building and design firm business, ReyCo Designs, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and taught English in Tokyo, Japan. In his spare time in the summer, Rey volunteers as a youth facilitator / rap director for the non-profit College Summit, helping increase the enrollment rate of low incoming high school students across the country. Rey graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship.

Amber Bundy: Incubator Manager

Amber Bundy is from East Palo Alto, CA. and a member of BUILD’s 2003 class. She was the founder of Khinde and Ndosi Fashion Consulting, winning first in the 2001 BUILD Business Plan Competition. She recently graduated from The University of California Berkeley with a degree in Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies. While at Cal she was an IDEAL scholar and received many other scholarships for stellar grades and community service. During her time at Berkeley, she served as the Executive Internal Director of the Black Recruitment and Retention Center, as well as the Activities Coordinator of African American Student Development Office and the vice-president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Rho Chapter. She was also active in NCNW. Amber’s long term career goal is to direct musicals on Broadway. She would also like to give youth the opportunity to gain exposure to theatre through her own theatre arts program. She likes performing, working with children, and decorating.

Sarah Bloem: Academic Program Manager

As the Peninsula Academic Program Manager, Sarah brings enthusiasm about entrepreneurship, education, and great experiences working with high school youth. She works to get the students to not only see themselves as interested in their business skills, but also to see how valuable and uniquely gifted they are for contributing great things to society with their futures. Sarah especially wants to see the students connecting their business success and what they learn about entrepreneurship to their academics. Making this connection is a unique and powerful way that BUILD, in particular, helps them have more confidence in themselves, do better in their classes, and be excited about lifelong learning. Sarah went to Baylor University for her Bachelor degree and recently finished up her Master in Social Work Degree at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, focusing on macro-level advocacy, policy, program development, and administration. It was in her MSW program that she fell in love with social entrepreneurship and high school students who struggled academically, behaviorally, and emotionally. In her internship at the Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership, she laid the groundwork for a not-for-profit organization that now enables university students and faculty across campus to implement their own social entrepreneurship ventures and projects both locally and around the world.

Nicole Oppenheim: Entrepreneurs 1 Program Manager

As Peninsula E1 Program Manger, Nicole is responsible for ensuring that first year Peninsula BUILD students, E1 teachers and E1 mentors have a positive and successful first year experience with BUILD. Nicole holds a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and a BA in Psychology, both earned at the University of Michigan. Nicole most recently worked as a Program Director/Projects Manager at a non-profit agency, Migrant Health Promotion. In that role, Nicole directed programs with migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Michigan and with women living in the border region of South Texas-Mexico. Additionally, Nicole developed a curriculum which was certified by the State of Texas to train Community Health Workers to serve as leaders and advocates within their communities. Prior to working at Migrant Health Promotion, Nicole taught high school students at The Clonlara School in Ann Arbor for two years. During both of these prior experiences, Nicole developed expertise in Popular Education, a method of teaching that empowers learners to become community leaders. Originally from metro-Detroit, Michigan, Nicole enjoys gardening and cooking.

Ethan Giang: Entrepreneurs 1 Program Assistant

Ethan comes to BUILD through the Public Allies AmeriCorps Program. As an E1 Program Assistant, Ethan’s goal is to successfully support the E1 Program mentors, students, and teachers to have a rewarding experience. Being the first generation to go to college, he understands the value of an education and that is why he is passionate about working with the youth to see them achieve their goals and to graduate high school and go on to college. In addition, he is interested in advocacy and policy, emphasizing on education and healthcare because he believes that they are the basic essential needs in life. Prior to BUILD, Ethan worked part-time in the field of education for five years, including being a student services assistant at Mission College’s Admission & Records in Santa Clara and a college mentor and tutor for East Bay Consortium at middle and high schools in Oakland. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Biology and Sociology from University of California, Berkeley.

Lori McCormick: College Advisor

Lori has devoted her professional life to post-secondary education, career counseling, and professional development. Her philosophy is to provide tools for students to build their path toward academic, vocational, and personal success. Lori began her professional career working for two private post-secondary companies as an Educational Consultant. Years later, she moved into a corporate setting where she spent several years working for a medical device company in Marketing, Organizational Development, and Training. Ultimately she knew she wanted to devote herself to students and refocused her career path. This led her to Notre Dame de Namur University where she worked with transfer students through their degree completion process. Most recently, she worked as an Independent College Counselor with local area teens guiding them through the college applications process. She concurrently worked at San Jose State University in the Career Center assisting students with resume development, job and internship placement, and general career counseling. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Psychology with an emphasis on Career Counseling from Antioch University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from University of California, Santa Barbara. She holds professional memberships with HECA (Higher Education Consultants Association), NACAC (National Association for College Admissions Counseling), WACAC (Western Association for College Admissions Counseling), and NCDA (National Career Development Association).

BUILD Oakland

Laura Congdon: Oakland Site Director

Laura has been leading, operating and growing social purpose enterprises and programs that focus on youth and other marginalized populations since 1996 when she started her career in the non-profit sector at Juma Ventures as the General Manager of their Ben & Jerry’s Partnershops in San Francisco. Most recently Laura had an interim role as Director of Program Services at the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco and was formally the Director of Business Enterprises at Community Vocational Enterprises (CVE, Inc.) from 2005-2008 overseeing three social enterprises that provide employment opportunities and job training to adults and youth with behavioral health disabilities.

Annie Pellegrini: Entrepreneurs 1 Program Manager

As Oakland E1 Program Manger, Annie is responsible for ensuring that first year Oakland BUILD students, E1 teachers and E1 mentors have a positive and successful first year experience with BUILD. Prior to joining BUILD, Annie taught Spanish for three years at Skyline High School in Oakland. Annie has led students on cultural exchange programs to Colombia, has taught English in Spain, and has studied in several countries in Latin America.  Prior to her career in education, Annie was a recruiter in the corporate and non-profit sectors. Annie holds a BA in International Studies and Spanish from San Francisco State University.

Lyndsey Ballinger: Incubator Manager

Lyndsey Ballinger is the Business Incubator Manager at the North Oakland BUILD site. She came to BUILD in 2007 as an Americorps VISTA Volunteer, where she worked as the E1 Program Assistant. She then transitioned into the role of Academic & Business Program Manager in East Oakland. Lyndsey graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a B.A. in Criminology & Criminal Justice, after which she was commissioned with the Air Force and served as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. She is currently a Traditional Reservist at Travis Air Force Base in California.

Adriana Garcia: College Advisor 

Adriana joined the BUILD team in 2006 and worked as BUILD Oakland’s first Academic/Business Program Manager. She then transitioned as Oakland’s Business Incubator Manager and guided over 15 student-led businesses through the start-up phase. As of July 2009, Adriana has been the College Advisor and is guiding BUILD Oakland’s senior class through the college application process. Prior to joining BUILD, Adriana was a recruitment director for Teach For America and led four marketing campaigns at different universities in Southern California. In addition, she taught second grade for two years in New Orleans, LA, as a Teach For America corps member. Adriana was named Teacher of the Year for the 2004-2005 school year. In her spare time during the spring, she is an interviewer for the Oakland Teaching Fellows program and enjoys welcoming the new wave of amazing teachers into the Oakland Unified School District. Adriana graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Business.

Colin Jones: Americorps*VISTA Volunteer Coordinator, Program Associate

Colin comes to BUILD through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. He is a 2008 graduate of Oberlin College where he received his degree in Political Science. He served as a finance associate for the U.S Senate campaign of former Congressman and NAACP Director Kweisi Mfume and as an intern in the office of Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee. While at Oberlin College, Colin was elected to the Oberlin College Student Senate for 3 full terms, and served on the Student Finance Committee for 2 years. For three years he helped to lead student volunteer efforts in Katrina relief efforts in the Gulf Coast region. Colin is originally from Amherst, Massachusetts.

Brandelyn Castine: Academic Program Manager

Brandelyn is a southern California native, but has now claimed permanent residence in Oakland. Brandelyn earned her Associate of Arts Degree from Citrus College in Glendora, CA, before attending The University of California, Berkeley, and obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. Brandelyn is a professional writer, having published three books, Everybody Plays the Fool, a novel; Spoken Silence: Life in Four Parts, a volume of poetry; and her latest novel U.G.L.Y. As a first generation college graduate, helping students accomplish their goals is something Brandelyn is passionate about. She was fortunate to be a contributing author in the Gumbo for the Soul Anthology, a literary project that was created to raise funds to support literacy programs for high school students in the Bay Area. In addition, Brandelyn is currently working as a freelance writer for Leather, Empress and Vapors Magazines. Prior to working at BUILD, Brandelyn worked as a contractor for OUSD as a Conflict Mediation coordinator.

Hannah Groce: Academic and Business Program Manager

Hannah is the Academic and Business Program Manager for East Oakland. Having grown up in the small island city of Alameda, CA, she appreciates the opportunity to engage her local community through her work with BUILD. Hannah takes joy in being able to foster the academic and professional development of such a dynamic group of students, and encouraging them in their pursuit of entrepreneurial success and academic excellence. She recently returned to the Bay Area after several years on the East Coast, which she spent pursuing a B.A. in Ancient Greek at Howard University as well graduating from Mount Holyoke College with a B.A. in African American Studies. Her areas of interest include Ancient Greek culture and Spanish language and literature.

BUILD Northern California

Kamba Tshionyi: Regional Executive Director, Bay Area

Kamba is BUILD's first Regional Executive Director, overseeing the Oakland and Peninsula site programs to ensure program excellence and impact. In addition, he works closely with the Local Advisory Board members and other supporters. Before joining BUILD, Kamba was founding executive director at Summer Search Silicon Valley, a leadership development program for low-income high school students. He helped expand the San Jose-based office from serving 18 students to 103 students in four years. Prior to that he was a Peace Corps health education volunteer in the central African country of Gabon, as well as later working with an information technology company in London for two years. Kamba received an AB in Human Biology from Stanford University, where he played basketball and was captain of the Final Four team his senior year. He also has an MSc in Social Policy from the London School of Economics.

Hillary Aitken Fernandes: Volunteer Coordinator

Hillary is the Volunteer Coordinator for BUILD, responsible for recruiting and ensuring a rewarding experience for all of the mentors for the East Palo Alto and Oakland offices. Prior to serving as Volunteer Coordinator, Hillary served as the Site Director for the Palo Alto office. Prior to joining BUILD, Hillary worked as a Campus Director for InsideTrack, coaching college students to be academically successful and graduate. Hillary also spent time at the Princeton Review as Director of Graduate Programs, overseeing all aspects of course operations and teacher management. Hillary holds a BA in English from the University of Oregon, and an MA in Education from Stanford.

BUILD Metro D.C.

Ajuah Helton: East Coast Regional Program Director

Ajuah Helton began her career with BUILD in 2001 as entrepreneurship instructor. Though she relocated to Philadelphia in 2002 to pursue graduate studies in education, Ajuah stayed connected with BUILD as an advisor, mentor educator and facilitator and served as interim Director of Education in 2004. Ajuah has since rejoined the organization to spearhead BUILD’s expansion to the East Coast, beginning in Washington, DC. Prior to joining BUILD, Ajuah managed youth entrepreneurship programs at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and at The Enterprise Center in Philadelphia, where she was later promoted to Chief of Staff. Ajuah is a Certified Entrepreneurship Instructor through the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). She is also an alumna of Teach For America and taught two years in the Greater New Orleans area. Ajuah holds a BA in Psychology from Clark Atlanta University and did her graduate work in Education at the University of Pennsylvania.

Maria Meredith: Entrepreneurs 1 Program Manager

As BUILD Metro DC’s 9th-Grade Program Manager, Maria is responsible for ensuring that first-year Metro DC students, teachers, and mentors have a positive and successful experience with BUILD. Maria has a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Indiana University and a Master’s degree in educational leadership from Georgia State University. She taught elementary and middle school for five years in the Atlanta area and developed curriculum and taught English to elementary, middle, and high school students at Raul Pavon Bilingue School in Otavalo, Ecuador. For the last five years, Maria has enjoyed living and working in DC. Prior to working with BUILD, Maria was Parent Involvement Coordinator at the National PTA and has also served as a summer and after-school program manager in the Anacostia area of DC. Her volunteer activities include co-founding Supporting Our Sisters, a young women’s empowerment program and serving on the steering committee for an annual arts festival at Howard University.

Vishnu Dzidzienyo: Incubator Manager

Vishnu Dzidzienyo joined BUILD in October 2008 as an Entrepreneurs 1 instructor at Maya Angelou Public Charter School, BUILD Metro DC’s inaugural school partner, and has since been promoted to Academic/Incubator Program Manager. Vishnu was born, reared and educated in Washington, DC, graduating from Howard University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. While at Howard, Vishnu began his work in education, ultimately working with DC-area youth in kindergarten through high school as a tutor, mentor, site coordinator, environmental-education instructor and resident counselor. He then moved to Orlando, Florida to attend the University of Central Florida, where he would earn Master’s degrees in both Business Administration and Sport Management. Prior to BUILD, Vishnu continued his work with young people as an Account Executive for the Washington Mystics, coordinating fund raisers and company outings for non-profits, schools and summer programs serving under-resourced children.