Board Profiles

J. Patrick Burke, Kentfield, (MarinSpace board since 2004 – Chair), is the Managing Partner of a real estate portfolio with properties in Marin, Sonoma, and San Mateo Counties. The properties include industrial, office, and retail real properties. Mr. Burke started in the real estate business as a sales agent with Keegan & Coppin in 1976 and served as Marin County partner with that firm until 2004. He has served on for-profit boards and committees for Gardeners' Guild, Inc. and Westamerica Bank and as a commentator and columnist for the North Bay Business Journal. Professional affiliations have included the Urban Land Institute, Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR), and Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) of the National Association of Realtors. His non-profit work has included work on boards and committees for Sunny Hills Children's Garden, Kentfield Schools Foundation, ArtWorks Downtown, College of Marin Foundation, and Easter Seals Northern California.

Lydia Cameron, Sausalito, (MarinSpace board since 1995 – Executive Committee ex-officio member), has a long history of civic engagement. She has volunteered on the boards of Marin Community Health Foundation (former Chair), UCFS School of Nursing (former Chair), Children's Mental Health Policy Board (current Chair), United Way Leadership Board of Marin, Sunny Hills Children's Garden (honorary life member), and Terraces of Sausalito Homeowners Association. In the past she has also served on the boards of the United Way of the Bay Area, Travelers Aid, Bay Area Community Services, Henry Robinson Multi-Service Center of Oakland, and the Child Welfare League of America. She has worked for the Campbell Soup Company and Pacific Bell.

Judith Denning, San Rafael, (MarinSpace board since 2005), is President of Denning & Company, CPA’s, San Rafael. A third generation San Franciscan, Ms. Denning has lived in Marin County since 1954. After attending College of Marin and Dominican College, she earned a Masters in Business Administration from Golden Gate University in 1975. She has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1977, and has successfully completed the California Society of CPA’s Estate Planning Certificate Program. Ms. Denning currently specializes in taxation for individuals, business, and estates/trusts; and her practice encompasses tax planning and compliance. She served as president of the Rotary Club of San Rafael from 2004/2005, treasurer of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce from 2003/2006, and treasurer of the Marin History Museum from 2005/2006. She is also a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Marin Estate Planning Council, and the Marin Forum.

Elissa Giambastiani, San Rafael, (MarinSpace board since 2009), a public affairs consultant, provides public relations and governmental affairs consulting to non-profit organizations and businesses. She was the President and CEO of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce from 18 years until retiring from that position in 205. She is a founder of the Marin Workforce Housing Trust and have been a strong affordable housing advocate for 20 years. She currently serves as secretary of the Marin Workforce Housing Trust Board of Directors, the treasurer of the Marin Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, and a member of the board of the League of Women Voters and the Schools to Career Partnership. She is also a member of Marin Forum, the San Rafael Rotary Club, and Friday Forums..

Maureen Hochler, Corte Madera (MarinSpace board since 2004 – Secretary) is a mediator, facilitator and trainer with Alliance for Resolution and has mediated over 200 cases focusing on human resources issues such as employee and management grievances, sexual harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination. She is a recognized expert in the area of employee – management relations and provides consultative services through her firm Hochler Associates. Ms. Hochler serves on many Mediation Panels including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), University of California, San Francisco Problem Resolution Panel, United States Postal Service, California State Court of Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit Court Mediation Panel. She has served as chairman of the Board for Bread and Roses, as co-president of the Northern California Association for Conflict Resolution (formerly SPIDR), and as a board member for Northern California ACR.

Richard J. Kalish, Larkspur (MarinSpace board since 2004 – Treasurer), is the principal of Kalish & Gordon, a San Rafael law firm specializing in commercial real estate and business law. He has advised MarinSpace on legal issues since 2002. Before commencing his law practice in San Rafael, he was vice president and general counsel of a real estate investment company which owned and managed properties around the country. Mr. Kalish has served on several boards, including the Reed School Foundation and Belvedere Lagoon Property Owners Association, and is currently a member of the board of the Marin Center for Independent Living. He previously served as a Council member (1988-1992) and Mayor (1991-1992) for the City of Belvedere. He is a member of the Marin Forum.

Debbie Levy, Larkspur, (MarinSpace board since 2009), was the President and CEO of Lifehouse, an organization serving the needs of developmentally disabled adults, for 18 years. She is currently consulting with a variety of nonprofits on leadership transition issues and strategic development projects. She also serves as vice chair of the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin Board of Directors.

Anne Cronin Moore, San Rafael (MarinSpace board since 2006), is owner of Moore Consulting, which provides planning and project management services to both private and public clients, including non-profit and neighborhood organizations. She has over thirty years experience in the area of California planning and environmental regulations, with expertise in community planning, development and environmental review, entitlement processing, due diligence, and public information and participation. Prior to founding her own company in 1991, Ms. Moore was vice president/Project Manager of Southwest Diversified, a large California based real estate development company. From 1980 to 1988, she served as Planning Director/Associate Redevelopment Director for the City of San Rafael, where she managed preparation of the award-winning San Rafael General Plan. Her professional memberships include: American Planning Association, American Institute of Certified Planners, and the Association of Environmental Professionals. She has been active with local non-profit organizations and was a long-time Board member of the Volunteer Center of Marin, now known as the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin.

Suzie Pollak, San Rafael, (MarinSpace board since 1990 – Vice Chair), was the Executive Director of both the Marin Council of Agencies and the Volunteer Center of Marin which merged to become Marin Nexus, now currently known as the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership. She is currently an Independent Consultant. Ms Pollak was a founder and served on the boards of: Nonprofit Insurance Alliance of California, Nonprofit Policy Council (a program of California Association of Nonprofits), USF Institute of Nonprofit Management. She was a board member of: Executive Service Corps, Junior League of SF, and San Rafael Cultural Affairs Commission. She was appointed by Marin County Board of Supervisors to serve on Marin's Private Industry Council and Disaster Council. In addition to MarinSpace, Ms. Pollak currently serves on the boards of Marin County School to Career Partnership, and the Bothin Family Foundation.