Winn Ellis, Co-Chair

Certified Life Coach & MFT

Winn is a certified life coach and licensed therapist by day and proud Outward Bound California Board member and loyal supporter the rest of the time. She's an alum of Hurricane Island Outward Bound School as are both of her daughters. Winn's husband, David Mahoney does his part by currently holding the a "top fundraiser award" at the OBCA City Skyline Challenge rappelling event. Winn serves as Co-Chair and has been on the board since 2008.

Current areas of learning and interest include animal welfare, climate change, voting rights/democracy, and connecting deeply with friends and family, particularly the next generation.

"Ever since I survived my 26-day Outward Bound sailing course as a teenager off the coast of Maine, I became a firm believer in the value of personal challenge and the magic of what the outdoors can teach us. Even at 19, I knew that what I had accomplished there would serve me for many years to come. And now, as our organization continues to grow and change with the times, what draws me to the work everyday is that OBCA consistently makes a difference in so many lives on every level."

Ed Colloton, Co-Chair

Managing Partner & COO

Natalie McCullough, Secretary

President and Chief Commercial Officer

"Outward Bound had a life changing impact on me personally and my desire is to see that impact given to as many young people as possible, regardless of circumstance." - Natalie

Greg Yap, Treasurer

Partner

Greg is a partner at Menlo Ventures, where he invests in teams trying to solve major problems in life science and healthcare. Greg previously spent 20+ years in senior executive and entrepreneurial roles in life science and digital health. He was CEO and co-founder of two startups: Biodesy (now BlueLight Therapeutics) and PyrAmes. At Roche/Ventana, Greg led a global market-leading cancer diagnostic assay business, serving 20 million patients and delivering $500 million revenue per year. Greg's experience also includes roles at Illumina Ventures, GE, Affymetrix, and McKinsey. Greg received his bachelor's degree in molecular biology (summa cum laude) from Princeton and his MBA from Stanford. He is an Aspen Health Innovators Fellow and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Greg is a Bay Area native and has lived in 11 cities in the area. He loves all manner of outdoor activities with his family, including backpacking and snowboarding. His favorite sport is basketball.

"I joined OBCA because I believe many lessons about leadership, grit and self can be learned in the wilderness more deeply than they can be learned in any other classroom."

Jorge Gutierrez Luthe, Equity Committee Chair

Chief of Staff

Steve Hagler, Program & Safety Committee Chair

Director

Steve is a life-long educator and nonprofit manager. He is currently the executive director of LearnUp Centers, a nonprofit on a mission to change how we teach all types and ages of kids to read. Steve began his career as a high school classroom educator in the San Francisco Unified School District. As a teacher, he created outdoor and experiential programs for students at-risk of dropping out of school. Steve served as executive director of the Foundation for Youth Investment (now called Justice Outside), where he guided over $13 million in funding to get youth connected to the outdoors, help reduce the barriers that keep kids from going into nature, and worked to change the face of outdoor instruction.

Steve holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a secondary education credential and master's degree in Education from San Francisco State University.

Alan Nguyen, Finance Committee Chair

Senior Manager

Alan Nguyen is a San Francisco Bay Area native and grew up exploring California's outdoors. When he learned about Outward Bound's mission that involved two of his passions, youth development, and leadership with the outdoors, he was excited to get involved. He looks forward to continue supporting OBCA through these transformative times and push the organization outside of the usual comfort zone and build new connections in the community.

At PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Alan is a part of the National Cyber, Risk, & Regulatory consulting practice, leading digital and finance transformation programs for Private and Public, Fortune 500 companies. Alan also leads PwC's Bay Area & Northwest Pan Asian Inclusion Network, working to support professionals in advancing PwC's Diversity & Inclusion strategy at the firm and in the community.

Alan is a big Bay Area Sports fan (49ers, Raiders, Warriors, and Oakland A's) and is a beach lover who can never see himself living more than an hour's drive away from the water.

Alan grew up with an appreciation and love for the outdoors and believes in OBCA's mission to provide equitable, experiential learning opportunities to our community's youth through challenging adventures in the wilderness. California's natural beauty provides the perfect setting to build character, develop leadership skills, and service the community.

Topher Solmssen, Development Committee Chair

Sales Manager

Topher Solmssen is a San Francisco based Sales Manger at RBC Capital Markets. He has been an OBCA board member for over a decade, and currently Chairs the Development Committee. Topher has been inspired by the organization since participating in a month long Maine Challenge course (sailing, hiking, canoeing) at Hurricane Island in 1984. He engages in many outdoor activities with his wife Courtney, 3 kids, family, and friends around the Bay Area.

"I'm on the Outward Bound board because I believe in the transformative power of outdoor adventures, and making these accessible to all young people. Kurt Hahn's motto, 'to serve to strive and not to yield,' is fundamental to my approach to life."

Emily Ketchen

Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President for the Intelligent Devices Group (IDG) and International Sales Organization (ISO) at Lenovo

Emily believes that nature has the power to change people - to challenge us physically and mentally and come out of those experiences more resilient. At 16, Emily took her own Outward Bound based course, which changed her outlook on life.

The idea of the course was monumentally scary for her at the time because she felt like she would be the slow one, and she felt like an outcast in her school. During the course, Emily found she was able to keep up, and that she was strong. She did her part. But the group still didn’t accept her. On the final night, her instructor gave her the encouragement to face them and call her group in. She asked them about their experience with her versus the stories they were believing. Each student had to reckon with their assumptions, and they were able to see they were wrong about her, she had done her part. And then something amazing happened - each student apologized to Emily. This encounter changed the trajectory of her life - she realized the power of truth.

“The magical piece of an Outward Bound course is that you assume that it’s only a physical experience, and for me it was about how to deal with people you're stuck with. For the other kids too, because they became much more empathetic and inclined to not judge a book by its cover.”

In her career, she leads a global team that develops and drives marketing campaigns, oversees brand marketing, customer insights and creative direction across all business segments in IDG. She resides in San Francisco with her husband and their two children.

Claudia Lewis

Community Member & Former Attorney

Claudia is a big believer in the power of challenging outdoor adventures which open our eyes to what we can achieve. She saw the transformative effect of Outward Bound when her two children returned from OB wilderness adventures as more confident, resilient teenagers. But it was participating in OBCA’s City Skyline Challenge (CSC) where she started to feel the power of it herself. Afraid of heights, Claudia didn’t know if she could make herself rappel off the 46th floor of the San Francisco Hilton Union Square. With her colleague, she went over the edge, successfully navigating her way (and her nerves) all the way down, even as the wind began to twirl her away from the building. Going over the edge was the challenge of a lifetime!

Claudia’s family has deep roots with Outward Bound. Beyond her childrens’ experiences, her husband, Woody Scal, is an alum, co-founded Outward Bound Bay Area (OBCA’s predecessor), and served as board chair. Together, they have supported OBCA’s growth, including the building of the ropes course in McLaren Park that serves hundreds of adolescents from the city’s public schools each year. “I believe that both the one day Ropes Challenge Course and longer wilderness trips have the potential to transform lives.”

Claudia is a former attorney who has spent the last 20 years working to better nonprofits, neighborhoods and school communities.

Alicia Light

Principal at Ares Real Estate

Growing up in Southern California, Alicia actively participated in a wide range of outdoor pursuits, including triathlons, hiking, running, skiing, cycling, climbing, and swimming. These mentally and physically demanding experiences have had a lasting impact on her life, motivating her to assist others in discovering their own resilience.

Alicia perceives physical challenges as opportunities for personal growth in various ways. "Engaging in outdoor activities allows you to meet diverse people of all ages and exposes you to different situations presented by nature. By facing and overcoming challenges, you develop improved strategies for future endeavors, expanding your comfort zone along the way."

Alicia Light has over 30 years of experience as a commercial real estate professional, specializing in property management, operations, and leasing. She derives immense satisfaction from mentoring junior team members, aiding in their confidence and personal growth. Additionally, she volunteers as an assistant coach and referee, working with individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Eric Boales

SVP/Division Manager

Tristam Brown

CHAIRMAN & CEO

Tris is responsible for the overall strategic direction and management of LSA Global. He has over 30 years of consulting and management experience with executive teams. Other than family, skiing, mountain biking, and surfing, Tris is passionate about helping leaders to take their teams and companies to the next level through meaningful, impactful, and practical solutions for their unique situation.

Prior to joining LSA Global, he served as Vice President of Organizational Strategies at Proxicom, an e-business consulting and development company, where he ran Human Resources, Organizational Development, Recruiting, Training, and Internal Communications when the company grew from 50 employees to over 2,500 employees in three years and went public.

Previously he served as Chairman of the National Outward Bound Professional Committee and Director of Outward Bound Professional for the West Coast where he ran the corporate leadership training and consulting division for Fortune 1000 Corporations.

Paul Danielsen

Managing Director

Paul is a Retired Sports Marketing Executive turned Utility Scale Solar Developer and Financer. He began to serve on the Outward Bound California board because he believes that exposure to the Great Outdoors and all the enrichment that nature provides is critical to a rich life.

Kendra Frisbie

Head of Commerce & Merchandising

Kendra has a passion for innovation, education and supporting our youth through discovery. Known for her entrepreneurial leadership delivering operational impact and effective change, her career has spanned over 20 years in product, marketing, business development and technology with a focus on luxury home.

"I can't think of anything better than to change lives through challenge and discovery, the foundation of OBCA. It feels like the idea of education through enterprising curiosity, indefatigable spirit and compassion feels as relevant today as it was upon the founding of Outward Bound 80 years ago."

Brendon Kraham

Vice President, Search Global Ads Solutions

Brendon leads global commercialization and go-to-market strategy for Google's Search, Travel, Retail, and Commerce products. Prior to his current role, he came to Google through the acquisition of AdMob in 2009, where he led the Performance Sales team, and helped build and scale what is now a multi billion dollar product suite.

As a member of the Google Business Organization, his team engages directly with both Product Management and Sales to bring feedback from the market to product and bring products to market.

Brendon has 3 kids, loves the outdoors, and lives in Marin County, California.

"I'm a former alumnus (Outward Bound in Maine), and a firm believer in the value of outdoor experiential education. My own Outward Bound experience set me down a lifelong path of passion & appreciation for the outdoors & outdoor pursuits in general. And the lessons learned have stuck with me to this day. For me, passing on these experiences to those that don't have the same access and opportunities is important and an honor to be part of."

Jonathan Schmidt

Assistant District Attorney

Jonathan is an Assistant District Attorney in San Francisco specializing in sexual assault and child abuse cases. He has worked as counsel at Ropes & Gray LLP, and as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of California.

Jonathan is an avid white-water kayaker and cyclist. He has run white-water rafting trips for the Sierra Club's Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO) and Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC). In 1991 he founded and ran Breakaway a summer program that took underserved youth on three-week long self-supported bicycle trips up the Maine Coast.

"I am on the OBCA Board because I believe in Outdoor Education, especially when it combines physical and emotional challenges in a majestic outdoor setting. One consistent part of my life has been challenging myself in the outdoors. Anyone who has summited a peak, conquered a challenging ski run, or simply braved the elements on an afternoon hike knows the alchemy of the outdoors and physical challenges. The combination of the grandeur of the outdoors, and physical exertion transforms people, often leaving them more confident in themselves, more courageous about their life goals, and more compassionate about theirs and other's weaknesses."

Abraham Simmons

Federal Prosecutor and Spokesperson

Abraham joined the Board in 2014. Before joining the Board, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Wiley Manuel Foundation, he was a Big Brother in the Big Brother/Big Sister Foundation, and he taught teenagers who attended Court School and who were ordered to attend classes as a condition of court-imposed probation. Abraham is a federal prosecutor and spokesperson for the Office of the US Attorney for Northern District of California. Before joining the U.S. Attorney's Office in 1999, he practiced commercial law in San Francisco.

"Outward Bound has one of the best programs for developing an understanding of our capabilities while simultaneously developing a sense of compassion for others. I am particularly interested in spreading Outward Bound's teaching to youth, and especially in the Bay Area."

Fernando Sucre

Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Sucre oversees the operations and financial reporting of C.M. Capital Corporation and its wholly-owned affiliated Registered Investment Advisor, C.M. Capital Advisors. Mr. Sucre has over 25 years of accounting and operations experience in the investment management industry. Prior to joining C.M. Capital Corporation, he was the Managing Director of Finance and Chief Compliance Officer of Capricorn Investment Group, LLC. Additionally, he spent ten years at Deloitte & Touche, rising to the level of Senior Manager and serving a variety of investment management, venture capital, hedge fund, and public and private technology companies. Mr. Sucre earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles where he graduated Cum Laude, and is a Certified Public Accountant. He has previously served on the Board of Directors of CalCPA, CalCPA's State Finance Committee, and as Chairman of the AICPA's Investment Committee.

"I believe the outdoors not only provides an opportunity for people to challenge themselves and build their confidence through trying to achieve those challenges, but it is also the antidote to stress and other negative aspects that affect our overall mental health. That is why it is "church" for our family. This is specially important for young people. Outward Bound provides this opportunity to many that would otherwise not have the access to the outdoors, and that inspires me to contribute my time to help promote this cause."