Personnel

David Gross

President, Member of Board of Directors since 2009

Associate Attorney, Janin, Morgan & Brenner, P.C.

David Gross is an attorney with the law firm of Janin, Morgan and Brenner, with over six years of experience representing individuals and small businesses in real estate and general business matters. In addition to his legal expertise, Mr. Gross holds a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature, and he has taught English and Latin at the University of Southern California and University of Arkansas. As a new father with a lifelong love of literature and reading, he is especially interested in promoting children’s literacy and early childhood development through reading.
Christina Quiroz

Vice President, Member of Board of Directors since 1998

Art Coordinator, Starr King Elementary School

Ms. Quiroz brings 40 years of publishing experience to CBP. Her experience includes independent bookselling, sales and marketing, and book wholesaling. She has also been a librarian at Starr King Elementary, serving some of the city’s most underserved children. She has served on the Small Press Distribution Board, and currently sits on the Council of Neighborhood Libraries fundraising committee for the Portrero Hill Public Library. Now retired from the school district, Ms. Quiroz continues to bring books to the children of Portrero Hill, and volunteers at Starr King Elementary.
Ron Chan

Treasurer, Member of Board of Directors since 2009

Senior Accountant, Satellite Housing, Inc.

Mr. Chan brings his expertise in comprehensive financial accounting and budgeting systems in both public and private industries. His expertise includes knowledge of specialized non-profit systems and related regulatory fiscal structure. He is currently employed with Satellite Housing, a non-profit affordable housing company that provides shelter and resident services to seniors and low-income families in the San Francisco Bay Area. Having received an undergraduate degree from California State University, Hayward, Mr. Chan values the importance of promoting literacy for the younger generation.

Working for non-profit organizations is the most memorable work in my career. I strongly believe my time and effort will make a difference in the society. Having two children in my household, reading becomes a significant component that bonds our relationship.
Jennifer J. Quinn

Secretary, Member of Board of Directors since 2009

EVP/CFO/CAO, Mission National Bank

Ms. Quinn brings her expertise in corporate finance and accounting, and all aspects of banking and investments. She is currently EVP/CFO/CAO for Mission National Bank, a local community bank specializing in commercial real estate to minority business owners and other underserved markets. Ms. Quinn was previously a volunteer school board member and an advisor to many CFO councils and professional organizations in the area. Ms. Quinn has a Masters iin Business Administration from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. She lives in Belmont and has two teenage sons and an 8-year-old daughter.
Michele Ashley

Member of Board of Directors since 2009

Assistant Vice President, Regional Communications, Wells Fargo

Ms. Ashley brings her expertise in media relations strategy and communications to the Board. In her capacity as Assistant Vice President with Wells Fargo, she is a member of their Communications Counsel supporting internal communications for team members and business line partners of the Greater Bay Area and San Francisco Bay Area Region. Ms. Ashley provides proactive media relations, serves as a contact for reporters in the Bay Area, identifies news opportunities to support regional initiatives, and coordinates news media interviews for executives of the region. Ms. Ashley has been with Wells Fargo since November 2004. She is a recognized Wells Fargo Ambassador and acknowledged for her community volunteerism. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Michele was a journalist working with Bay Area television stations, including NBC11 as a producer and writer. Subsequently Michele earned an Emmy nomination from the National Television Academy. Michele has a B.A. in communications from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles and is a proud parent of a son and daughter.

Patricia Zendejas

Nurse Practitioner (UCSF ’10)

Development Consultant

Ms. Zendejas has worked for a variety of non-profit organizations since the mid-1990s. She worked with Children's Book Press in different capacities from 2003-09, most recently as Development Consultant. She has advocated for immigrant rights and young people in the Central Coast, worked to improve literacy skills in children throughout the country, secured funding for youth services for thousands of young people in New York City, trained high school students to become peer advocates in San Francisco, and has mentored young people throughout her career. Patricia has a Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University and a BA in Political Science and Latin American Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is currently attending the Nursing Practitioner masters program at the University of California, San Francisco.
Charles Thor

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Inc.

Global Relationship Manager

Mr. Thor is currently based in Singapore as the Global Relationship Manager at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Inc. Previously, he was a corporate account officer at Union Bank of California, and also worked in residential real estate and small business analysis in Southern California. Mr. Thor holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. The son of two educators, Mr. Thor deeply values the promotion of literacy for all children.
Gloria Corral

First 5 San Francisco

Deputy Director

Ms. Corral currently oversees First 5 San Francisco’s Preschool For All program. Previously, she was the Director of Policy and Outreach for Preschool California. Gloria was also the Regional Manager for the West at Educational Testing Service, and worked for the United States Department of Education and United States Congress. She holds undergraduate degrees in Political Science and English Literature and an MA from the Graduate School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.
Carlos A. García

San Francisco Unified School District

Superintendent

Carlos A. García has served in a range of leadership roles within the realm of education. Most recently, he was the vice president of Urban Advisory Resource for McGraw Hill Education, the premier provider of teaching and learning materials for the pre-K through 12th grade, higher education, and professional markets. For five years, he was the Superintendent of the Clark County School District, in Las Vegas, Nevada, the 5th largest and fastest growing school district in the nation. Under his leadership, the district grew by over 12,000 students a year and he opened an average of one school every month. Prior to Las Vegas, Mr. García worked in California as a teacher in both La Puente and Ontario, and went on to work as a principal in the Pajaro Valley, Watsonville, and San Francisco Unified School Districts. In San Francisco, Mr. García had the privilege of serving as the principal of a National Blue Ribbon School, Horace Mann Academic Middle School. He also served as superintendent of Fresno Unified School District. Mr. García was raised in Los Angeles, and is proud to be a product of the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Rose Guilbault

AAA of Northern California

Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Publishing

Rose Guilbault is Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Publishing for AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah and is the publisher of VIA Magazine. She sits on a range of boards that span the University, county, and state levels. Ms. Guilbault was named one of the 25 Most Influential Hispanics in the Bay Area in 2005 and 2006. She is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir Farmworker’s Daughter: Growing Up Mexican in America. Among her many honors, Ms. Guilbault received the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award from the San Francisco United Nations Association; was inducted into the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame; and was named a “Woman Who Could Be President” by the San Francisco League of Women Voters. In 1991, she was appointed to a Presidential Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. Ms. Guilbault has also served as editorial and public affairs director for KGO TV in San Francisco. In 1978, she was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Specials.
Chris Iglesias

San Francisco Human Rights Commission

Executive Director

Chris Iglesias brings an impressive record of public sector leadership and service over the last 20 years. Mr. Iglesias is currently Executive Director of San Francisco’s Human Rights Commission. Previously, he implemented CityBuild, a groundbreaking effort in linking public policy, workforce programming, economic development, and civic engagement. Prior to joining the Mayor’s Office, he worked for the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, and held senior affirmative action and compliance positions with the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and City of Oakland. Mr. Iglesias is a graduate of San Jose State University, with a major in Business Administration. He is former Vice President of the Bay Area Compliance Officers Association (BACCOA) and an active member of ACCA and several local Chambers of Commerce. A recipient of San Francisco’s Public Managerial Excellence Award (2006), Mr. Iglesias has also received the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce’s Minority Business Advocate Award (2001).
Jewelle Gomez

The Horizons Foundation

Director of Grants and Community Initiatives

Jewelle Gomez is a poet and novelist who has worked in public and private philanthropy for 20 years, most recently as Director of the Cultural Equity Grants Program of the San Francisco Arts Commission. She was a founding member of the Astraea National Lesbian Foundation and the James C. Hormel Endowment Committee, and is currently a member of the San Francisco Library Commission. Ms. Gomez has taught at colleges across the country, including Hunter College and San Francisco State University. The former director of the Literature Program at the New York State Council on the Arts, she’s authored seven books including the double Lambda Literary Award-winning novel The Gilda Stories
Raul Vazquez

Walmart.com

President & CEO

Since early 2007, Raul Vazquez has overseen the online development and operations of the world’s largest retailer. Previously, Mr. Vazquez served as chief marketing officer of Walmart.com, responsible for all consumer marketing and customer-facing site functionality. He managed teams across a variety of marketing and creative functions including online, email and in-store marketing, consumer insights, category and brand marketing, corporate communications, editorial, design, imagery and information architecture. Mr. Vazquez also spent several years at startup companies such as Ventro and Onsale; worked at a boutique consulting firm specializing in competitive strategy for Fortune 100 firms; and was an industrial engineer at Baxter Healthcare. Mr. Vazquez is a graduate of the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, and also received BA and MA degrees in industrial engineering from Stanford University.
Lorne Needle

United Way of the Bay Area

Vice President, Community Development

Lorne Needle is lead staff in grant making, programs and initiatives, and partnerships for San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties. Former work experience includes: Independent Consultant, Youth Advocacy Services (Bay Area and nationally); Vice President, Youth Leadership Institute, Marin, San Mateo and San Francisco counties; Instructor, Stanford University; Director, San Francisco Peer Resources; and Associate Consultant, American Practice Management. Lorne has written and authored several publications. His community involvement includes Leadership San Francisco, Class of 2000; Board Member, Community Network for Youth Development and Advocacy Committee leading statewide legislative campaign for peer program funding. Needle received his MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and B.A. in Public Policy also from Stanford University. He serves on the San Francisco Children’s Fund Citizens’ Advisory Committee.
Art Torres

Senator (Ret.)

Senator Torres served 20 years in the California State Legislature, 8 as an Assembly member and 12 as a State Senator. Having served on a range of legislative committees, his successes include creating the most effective anti-high school dropout law in California’s history. Senator Torres also co-authored legislation creating the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, as well as the California Clean Drinking Water Act. Senator Torres was the first Latino to receive his Party’s nomination for statewide office when he ran for Insurance Commissioner in 1994. He has been a leader in the Latino community, fighting for better representation and more rights for the state’s large Latino/Chicano population, including Latino immigrants and their families.
Ileana Winterhalter

AT&T Foundation

Associate Director for Constituency Relations

“The AT&T Foundation is pleased to renew a relationship with Children’s Book Press. CBP is one of those rare non-profit organizations with a unique niche mission focused on increasing literacy needs by bringing forth a multicultural reading experience to our most diverse populations. Local, national and international artists’ works are published in-language and in English, side by side in the children’s books. The distribution network of the CBP is impressive and AT&T is proud to support CBP in its efforts to expand distribution networks via an increased technology platform. We are honored to support CBP once again.”

–– Ileana Winterhalter
Patricia Madrigal, Ph.D.

First 5 Santa Barbara County

Community Affairs Program Officer

In her current position, Dr. Madigal is involved in the development and coordination of responsive community awareness and education projects. Dr. Madrigal is also the public policy advocate and liaison for the Commission. Prior to working with the Commission, she was involved in research and program development in early childhood education with a focus on early language and literacy. Dr. Madrigal earned a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California where she conducted extensive research for local and federal projects. Her concerns about low literacy skills of children has lead to a personal focus ensuring families have access to literary resources that provide opportunity for language and literacy-rich experiences that reflect their lives.
David Perry

David Perry & Associates, Inc.

Founder & Principle

For over 25 years, Mr. Perry has specialized in publicity and communications work with nonprofits, the arts community, and small business. He is also a frequent lecturer on subjects such as technology and ethics in public relations. Mr. Perry was previously Advertising Manager for San Francisco Opera, Communications Director for Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and Media Manager for the San Francisco Partnership. In 2006, his firm was honored by San Francisco's Business Arts Council as an Exceptional Arts Related Business. He has also worked with the Mayor’s office on public projects and events. Mr. Perry works closely with the Board of Governors for the SF / Northern California Chapter of the National Association of Television Arts & Sciences and is a regular business partner with the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau. He is on the board of directors for the nonprofit Market Street Railway. Mr. Perry lives in San Francisco with his husband, Alfredo Casuso, Creative Director for DP&A, Inc. and an Internet Strategist.

Lorraine García-Nakata

Publisher & Executive Director

A recognized leader in local, national, and international arts and culture, Ms. García-Nakata brings over thirty years of experience developing and implementing progressive models in the field of arts and culture. Her areas of professional expertise include: cross-discipline philanthropy; arts and cultural policy; program development and evaluation; comprehensive non-profit management; museum management; multi-professional writing; educational and cultural publications; Mexico/California arts and cultural trade missions/exchanges; Latino/a advocacy; youth and elder community empowerment; economic development; fund development; building design and construction projects; as well as strategic collaborations between institutions of higher learning, community non-profit organizations, and the private sector. A nationally recognized practicing artist, García-Nakata is a primary member of the renowned Royal Chicano Air Force (artist collective).
Dana Goldberg

Executive Editor

Employed with Children’s Book Press since September 2000, Ms. Goldberg brings over a decade of experience in the field of publishing. She oversees the acquisition, development, and production of new titles; identification, cultivation, and development of editorial niches; engagement of established and emerging authors and artists; overall project and budget management; publication marketing; and assessment of editorial context while planning and implementing editorial vision. Ms. Goldberg received her BA in Comparative Literature and Literary Translation from Brown University.
Roderick Lowe

Operations & Client Services Manager

Employed with Children’s Book Press since May 2000, Mr. Lowe brings experience in general administrative systems, facility management, executive level support to the Children’s Book Press leadership, and extensive experience in retail and customer service. Mr. Lowe enjoys working in the nonprofit sector because his work contributes to the greater good and makes a difference in the world. A native of San Francisco, Mr. Lowe holds a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Music Degree from San Francisco State University.
Imelda Cruz

Accounting Manager

Employed with Children’s Book Press since May 1999, Ms. Cruz brings over twenty years experience in overall fiscal accounting for both profit and non-profit sectors. Working with Executive leadership, Ms. Cruz is key to the annual organizational budget process, monthly fiscal review, annual audit, and serves as point person for internal personnel services. Ms. Cruz received her BS degree in Accounting from the Philippines. Ms. Cruz also operated her own car rental business in the Philippines for ten years before moving permanently to U.S. in 1995.
Janet del Mundo

Sales & Marketing Manager

Employed with Children’s Book Press since 2003, Ms. del Mundo brings nearly a decade of experience in sales, marketing, and publicity. She manages all aspects of account development; subsidiary rights development; production and distribution of marketing materials; budgeting, forecasting, and revenue analysis; trade shows and community events. Ms. del Mundo is a principal organizer of Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros—San Francisco, an annual event celebrating children and books. She was born in the Philippines and received her BA in English Literature from Ateneo de Manila University.
James Dunbar

Intern, Spring 2010

James Dunbar interned at Children's Book Press in the Spring of 2010. Jamie writes and illustrates his own children's books, which you can explore on his website: JLDunbar.com. Additionally, Jamie is the Vice President of Digital Media at DogStarDaily.com, a free and comprehensive online dog training resource featuring videos, articles and blog posts about fun, effective, dog-friendly training. He has a BA in Visual Arts and Sociology from Brown University, where he specialized in illustration, book-making and education. Jamie's love of books and and enthusiasm for diversity helped him fit right in at Children's Book Press.

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Personnel