Who We Are
ERICA MOHAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In September of 2008, Erica began volunteering with School on Wheels, an organization that has been tutoring homeless children in the Greater Los Angeles Area since 1993. In Spring of 2010, Erica began working full time for School on Wheels in their Downtown Learning Center. She was keen, though, to return "home" to the San Francisco Bay Area. Understanding the critical need to academically support children experiencing homelessness and realizing that the Bay Area lacked an organization specifically dedicated to providing such support, Erica founded Community Education Partnerships. Erica holds an MEd and a PhD in Education from the University of British Columbia in Canada.
BETH MILLER, PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Beth comes to CEP with over a decade of nonprofit and education experience. Most recently she led a daytime literacy intervention and after school literacy and social emotional learning program at several Title I schools in East Oakland. Before joining CEP as Program Director, Beth served as the Lead Volunteer for the Homework and Summer Reading Clubs at CEP’s partner site in Richmond, a position she continues to hold.
A passionate advocate for equity in education, Beth believes that all children deserve the support and love they need to flourish. She is looking forward to growing CEP’s presence in Contra Costa County and ensuring students facing housing insecurity are able to thrive academically.
A passionate advocate for equity in education, Beth believes that all children deserve the support and love they need to flourish. She is looking forward to growing CEP’s presence in Contra Costa County and ensuring students facing housing insecurity are able to thrive academically.
RYAN NAKANO, PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Ryan found a love for youth education work back in 2016 after serving as a teacher for a nonprofit after-school arts program. Since then he has worked in several youth-education based nonprofit organizations specifically focused on literacy, critical thinking and social emotional learning. Before joining CEP as a Program Coordinator, Ryan was living in Portland, OR and working as a Program Manager for the Journalistic Learning Initiative, where he helped develop and deliver curriculum to empower student voice and improve academic outcomes through the pedagogy of journalism.
Excited to be part of the CEP team, Ryan hopes to bring his experience as a youth worker, creative writer and program manager to elevate the kinds of learning experiences that youth and families can expect in addition to CEP’s one-on-one tutoring. Working at the Family Matters Shelter Site, Ryan hopes to create a supportive learning environment built on the principles of accessibility, agency and personal accountability.
Excited to be part of the CEP team, Ryan hopes to bring his experience as a youth worker, creative writer and program manager to elevate the kinds of learning experiences that youth and families can expect in addition to CEP’s one-on-one tutoring. Working at the Family Matters Shelter Site, Ryan hopes to create a supportive learning environment built on the principles of accessibility, agency and personal accountability.
Board of Directors
SARAH CHAVEZ, SCHAVEZ CONSULTING
Sarah is the owner of SChavez Consulting, providing Community Outreach, Government Relations & Communications consulting in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sarah most recently served as the Executive Director of the East Oakland Boxing Association, a non-profit, community-based organization that provides education, enrichment, and health programs for children and youth. Sarah also previously worked as a constituent liaison for Oakland City Council Member Larry Reid. Sarah was born and raised in Oakland; she is a graduate of Castlemont High School. Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Masters degree in Public Administration, both from California State University, East Bay. Sarah also serves on the board of directors of Lighthouse Community Charter Schools.
LEAH FALLON, ELEVEN ELEVEN CREATIVE
Leah G. Fallon is the founder and chief creative officer of Eleven Eleven, an Oakland-based provider of Creative and Strategy for Experience Design. Leah’s job is to design an experience that shares vital information and makes a lasting impression, whether it’s a digital training module or live, large-scale conferences. She provides best-in-class “big ideas” and insights to experiential marketing agencies from the East Bay to the East Coast, in activations that take place across the globe.
Before Eleven Eleven, Leah served as the Director of Creative Services at GO! Experience Design in New York City, where she lived for 11 years. Her clients range from non-profits and small businesses to Fortune 500 leaders in the consumer, technology, financial and pharmaceutical industries, and her work has garnered both industry awards and an Emmy nomination.
Leah holds a Highest Honors BA in Comparative Literature from Smith College. She remains active with the college’s alumnae association, serving as President of her class from 2011-2016 and as a guest presenter for continued alunmae education. Her hobbies include foreign languages, DIY and handicraft projects, inventive cooking, and writing in its many forms. In both work and life, Leah is most enthusiastic when she is working with passionate people and learning something new.
Before Eleven Eleven, Leah served as the Director of Creative Services at GO! Experience Design in New York City, where she lived for 11 years. Her clients range from non-profits and small businesses to Fortune 500 leaders in the consumer, technology, financial and pharmaceutical industries, and her work has garnered both industry awards and an Emmy nomination.
Leah holds a Highest Honors BA in Comparative Literature from Smith College. She remains active with the college’s alumnae association, serving as President of her class from 2011-2016 and as a guest presenter for continued alunmae education. Her hobbies include foreign languages, DIY and handicraft projects, inventive cooking, and writing in its many forms. In both work and life, Leah is most enthusiastic when she is working with passionate people and learning something new.
CATHERINE JARETT, GRIFOLS DIAGNOSTICS SOLUTIONS INC
Catherine Jarett is an attorney at Grifols Diagnostics Solutions Inc (formerly Novartis Diagnostics). Catherine is educated as a chemical engineer, receiving a B.S. from Cornell University and an M.S. from the University of California, Berkeley. She received a J.D. from Concord Law School and was admitted to the California Bar in 2010. She has spent most of her career (other than the Mad Science years) working in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries in a variety of roles.
Catherine has been interested in education since establishing Mad Science of Mt. Diablo in 1996. Mad Science sent instructors to schools around the East Bay who offered enrichment science classes and workshops to elementary and preschool children. Catherine was particularly moved by the eagerness to learn, and the lack of educational resources available to, students in the lower income communities around the Bay Area. Working with these students turned out to be one of the most personally rewarding aspects of her Mad Science experience.
Catherine has also served on a variety of non-profit and corporate boards, including the Society of Women Engineers, Diablo Valley Quilters, and Entrust New Direction IRA. She has helped organize national conventions, steered organizations out of financial difficulty, and understands how to start and organize a business. She also volunteers regularly at the Bay Area Crisis Nursery.
Catherine has been interested in education since establishing Mad Science of Mt. Diablo in 1996. Mad Science sent instructors to schools around the East Bay who offered enrichment science classes and workshops to elementary and preschool children. Catherine was particularly moved by the eagerness to learn, and the lack of educational resources available to, students in the lower income communities around the Bay Area. Working with these students turned out to be one of the most personally rewarding aspects of her Mad Science experience.
Catherine has also served on a variety of non-profit and corporate boards, including the Society of Women Engineers, Diablo Valley Quilters, and Entrust New Direction IRA. She has helped organize national conventions, steered organizations out of financial difficulty, and understands how to start and organize a business. She also volunteers regularly at the Bay Area Crisis Nursery.
NATALIA KERMODE, MOVINGIMAGE EVP INC
Natalia recently was hired by movingimage EVP, a Berlin-headquartered enterprise video platform, whose focus is data protection, security and integration with existing enterprise applications. Natalia joined May 1 as the first US employee, as the organization focuses on its international expansion. Prior to movingimage EVP, Natalia managed strategic initiatives and sales in the Western US, Asia, and South America for Kaltura, an open-source digital asset management platform that enables organizations to deploy applications that involve video creation, publishing, management, and analysis. Natalia was with Kaltura for 7 years and saw the start up grow from 40 employees to its current 425. She contributed to that growth by securing top cornerstone accounts such as SAP, Honeywell, Oracle, Mayo Clinic and Target.
Before joining Kaltura, Natalia worked at several large corporations including Morgan Stanley Co., Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the New York Times Company in business development and sales roles. Natalia was previously a board member of Planned Parenthood Northern California and the Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund. She served on those boards from 2008-2015 and served as Board Development Chair and Board Secretary for the 501(c)3 organization during her tenure. Additionally, during her spare time, she volunteers for the NorCal Boxer Rescue Organization. Natalia holds a dual B.A. in Social Welfare and Mass Communications from U.C. Berkeley where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta women’s sorority, the women’s Division 1 lacrosse team and women’s Division 1 crew team. She resides in Martinez with her husband, Gavin, daughter Reese, and their three boxers.
Before joining Kaltura, Natalia worked at several large corporations including Morgan Stanley Co., Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the New York Times Company in business development and sales roles. Natalia was previously a board member of Planned Parenthood Northern California and the Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund. She served on those boards from 2008-2015 and served as Board Development Chair and Board Secretary for the 501(c)3 organization during her tenure. Additionally, during her spare time, she volunteers for the NorCal Boxer Rescue Organization. Natalia holds a dual B.A. in Social Welfare and Mass Communications from U.C. Berkeley where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta women’s sorority, the women’s Division 1 lacrosse team and women’s Division 1 crew team. She resides in Martinez with her husband, Gavin, daughter Reese, and their three boxers.
RANDALL SAKAMOTO, ROSEN CONSULTING GROUP
Randall Sakamoto is Executive Vice President and Director of Research for Rosen Consulting Group, a leading real estate economics consulting firm located in Berkeley. Randall oversees the firm’s operations, and provides leadership for the delivery of strategic services to clients and business development. He is the team lead for real estate capital fundraising consulting, and has been involved with several of the largest successful public and private real estate capital raises in recent years. His fields of expertise include economic analysis, evaluation of strategic market opportunities, investment strategy and real estate market research.
Previously, Randall was Assistant Director of Research Services at Cushman & Wakefield of California, Inc. There, he led a multi-office research team and was awarded several corporate commendations for developing and implementing new research initiatives. Prior to this, he held several leadership and management positions and began his career as a municipal English teacher in Japan.
Since relocating to the East Bay, Randall has been activity involved in mentoring and fundraising programs for several youth-oriented organizations. Randall received a dual B.A. in Economics and International Relations from Claremont McKenna College.
Previously, Randall was Assistant Director of Research Services at Cushman & Wakefield of California, Inc. There, he led a multi-office research team and was awarded several corporate commendations for developing and implementing new research initiatives. Prior to this, he held several leadership and management positions and began his career as a municipal English teacher in Japan.
Since relocating to the East Bay, Randall has been activity involved in mentoring and fundraising programs for several youth-oriented organizations. Randall received a dual B.A. in Economics and International Relations from Claremont McKenna College.
SONALI SOI, OAKLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Sonali Soi is the director of the offices of Charter Schools and Student Enrollment with the Oakland Unified School District. Previously, she held several roles with the New York City Department of Education: she led their Enrollment Research and Policy team, which used research and data to promote access to high-quality school choices for all families in NYC, and prior to that role she led the NYC DOE school accountability policy team. Before her time in NYC, she worked on issues related to the economics of education at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and conducted research at the Center for the Advanced Study of India. Sonali received her B.A. from Stanford University and an M.A. in Applied Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. She resides in the East Bay with her husband and son.
MICK STORM, ADOBE
Mick Storm is a Senior Design Engineer at Adobe. He currently works on the Adobe Design team building the Spectrum design system, which provides components and tools to help product teams work more efficiently and make Adobe's applications more cohesive. Prior to Adobe, Mick held leadership roles in design, prototyping, engineering and user research at a variety of companies, including Intuit and Medallia.
Mick developed a deep commitment to increasing access to learning opportunities for historically marginalized youth early on in his career through roles he held at government and educational institutions. At College of the Redwoods and Humboldt State University, Mick created multimedia for online courseware. Mick brought this passion for educational equity to his role at NASA Ames Research Center, where he built online experiences for education outreach programs for Astrobiology and other space science programs.
Mick lives in Oakland with his wife Sarah, their two dogs, and two cats. His hobbies include painting, creating 3D visual art, music, and gardening.
Mick developed a deep commitment to increasing access to learning opportunities for historically marginalized youth early on in his career through roles he held at government and educational institutions. At College of the Redwoods and Humboldt State University, Mick created multimedia for online courseware. Mick brought this passion for educational equity to his role at NASA Ames Research Center, where he built online experiences for education outreach programs for Astrobiology and other space science programs.
Mick lives in Oakland with his wife Sarah, their two dogs, and two cats. His hobbies include painting, creating 3D visual art, music, and gardening.
EMILY WEIGAND, TIVO
Emily Weigand is a Finance and Operations Executive in Silicon Valley. Currently, she is Vice President of Sales Operations for Tivo Corporation, a leader in digital home entertainment technology. She is a trusted advisor to the CEO, CRO, CFO and COO, responsible for driving business process improvement, enhancing business performance and supporting top line growth and profitability.
Before joining TiVo, Emily worked at several high tech companies including Anaplan, Rovi Corporation and McAfee where she drove the Finance function of the business including the integration of several large-scale corporate acquisitions. She is a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice in California. Emily graduated from Santa Clara University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting. She resides in the South Bay with Jon, her husband and two children, Drew and Max.
Before joining TiVo, Emily worked at several high tech companies including Anaplan, Rovi Corporation and McAfee where she drove the Finance function of the business including the integration of several large-scale corporate acquisitions. She is a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice in California. Emily graduated from Santa Clara University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting. She resides in the South Bay with Jon, her husband and two children, Drew and Max.
