Marc Spencer, Chief Executive Officer

Marc Spencer, Ed.D, has 20 years of experience in the nonprofit management sector specializing in fund and program development; contracts and compliance; quality management; evaluation; and legislative affairs. Dr. Spencer’s guiding interests are the development of programs & policies that promote socio-economic and educational achievement as essential components to sustain communities. His penchant for non-profit innovation, social justice, and public policy provide a foundation to further explore and develop solutions addressing the underlying structural causes of poverty, social injustice, and health and human rights violations.

His accomplishments include the development of a San Francisco African American private school and the design and directorship of the nation's first Upward Bound Visual and Performing Arts program. Marc recently served as the Business Development Director for Walden House Inc. with management responsibilities for $40M in grants. Since taking leadership at Juma Marc has successfully scaled and replicated the Juma model nationwide. Juma operates nine social enterprises in four cities that annually employs 250 youth and generates close to $2M in revenue.

Today Marc is a member of the Aspen Institute’s Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy Group, advisory board member of the National Youth Employment Coalition, Fellow at the Full Circle Fund, board member of Evergreen Lodge and STREAT, and advisory board member of American Forward. Marc holds a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles, as well as master's and doctorate degrees in Education from the University of San Francisco. He lives in West Oakland with his wife and two sons.

Kiarash Afcari, Director of Programs

Kiarash Afcari has been involved in youth development for the last 15 years. He has done work with grassroots non-governmental organizations in Ghana and with youth-serving programs in the United States. Kiarash has a keen interest in facilitation, program design, youth leadership, social enterprise, national service, diversity and anti-oppression work, and Theater of the Oppressed methods. He served for 10 years in various capacities as the National AmeriCorps Coordinator, Western Region Director and as the Director of the Academy for Transformation for YouthBuild USA, a youth development organization that provides support to YouthBuild programs around the world. Kiarash received his BA in politics from the University of California Santa Cruz and a Masters in Intercultural and International Management from the School for International Training.

Sue Henry, Chief Development Officer

Sue brings more than 15 years of fund development experience, with most of that work in the fields of youth development and education. Her nonprofit career reflects increasingly significant fundraising success on behalf of well-established nonprofits, including leadership roles at the YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters and in public/private schools. She has served in such varied roles as development director, executive director, major gifts officer and trustee, and these diverse nonprofit leadership positions have created a strong and diverse foundation for her current position at Juma Ventures. Before moving to the public benefit sector, Sue worked in marketing management for 8 years in DC, New York and Northern California, directing award-winning community relations, advertising and event programs. Sue attended the College of William and Mary in Virginia, with scholarships and employment financing her college education. While originally from Alexandria, Virginia, Sue has called the Bay Area home for two decades.

Jeronimo Martin, Enterprise Director

Jeronimo joined Juma at the start of 2007, to manage day-to-day operations of the San Francisco ballparks. Jeronimo brings to Juma a background in business, sport and entertainment from employment with the Los Angeles Clippers Basketball Team, ABC/Kane Productions, and service as GM of a small artistic manufacturing company in the Sacramento Valley. Jeronimo received his undergraduate degree from UC Davis and earned his MA in Sports Management from University of San Francisco.

Jeff Russell, Chief Operating Officer

Jeff joined Juma in June 2008 as the Director of Finance and Administration. In 2009, he became the Chief Operating Officer. Jeff brings over ten years of experience from the energy business where he was involved in investment evaluation, acquisitions and divestitures, asset management, and budgeting and planning. Prior to his business career Jeff was a helicopter pilot in the Marines. A native of Philadelphia, he holds an MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BA in Computer Science from Temple University in Philadelphia.

Maria Sison, Asset Services Manager

Maria brings over 12 years of nonprofit experience in the areas of immigrant and low-income family asset development, youth services, and human rights. Maria received her Bachelors degree at UC Berkeley and a Masters in International Relations at the University of the Philippines. Maria's passions include youth development, human rights concerns and travel.

Alex Armenta, Development Manager

Alex develops proposals for funding from foundations, corporations, and government grantmakers and works with program staff to monitor and report on grant-funded activities and outcomes. Prior to joining Juma’s team in May 2008, Alex had 12 years of experience in the nonprofit sector as a program director, evaluator, and grantmaker. Before entering the nonprofit sector, she worked as an English teacher, teacher trainer and translator while living in Mexico City. Alex is an avid reader, camper and hiker, and currently serves on the Board of Florence Crittenton Services.

Tamika Bennett, Youth Development Manager

Joining the Juma family in mid 2007, Tamika LaShawn Bennett has expertise in the following industries: non-profit; academia; social service; entertainment; banking; and construction management. She has specialization in youth/program development; management; analysis; evaluation; marketing; community mapping; program collaboration; event planning; and photography. With a BA in Theatre Directing from California State University of Hayward, Tamika is excited that her education and training in concert with her passion for working with people will be utilized-challenged-developed. Bringing over 13 years of social service experience to the Juma family, Tamika currently serves as the Youth Development Manager for the Oakland site. Tamika is a privileged parent of one, member of a book club, lover of theatre, and avid jazz concert attendee.

Joshua Bloom, Assets Services Coordinator

Joshua received his Bachelors in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he became involved as a student-activist. He was the Organizing Director for a key campaign to obtain more funding for student initiated outreach efforts to low income students of color in California. From there, he began working with youth in Oakland and San Francisco in the areas of workforce development, counseling and advocacy. Joshua is a San Francisco native and takes a lot of pride in his experience with the diverse communities of the entire Bay Area. His passions include youth development, and hip-hop music.

Yvonne Chen, Assets Services Coordinator

This is Yvonne's first time on the west coast. Originally from New York City and a graduate of Middlebury College in political science, Yvonne previously worked in Boston as a housing advocate for the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. She has also served in Americorps, a site coordinator for a literacy project working with first and second graders in a Dorchester public school, and interned at a variety of other nonprofits including the DC Central Kitchen. She looks forward to building GROW, Juma’s statewide Individual Development Account (IDA) program.

Traci Cho, Accounting and HR Manager

Traci rejoined the Juma team in April 2008 as the Finance/HR Manager. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Business and Administration at San Francisco State University and has worked in the accounting nonprofit sector for over ten years.

Laney Cline, Evaluation and Learning Manager

Laney is a clinical social worker with more than 6 years of experience providing mental health services to children, families, and adolescents. After completing a BS in Psychology at UC San Diego, her passion for social justice led her to New York City, where she completed her Masters in Social Work at Columbia University. Laney enjoys outdoor pursuits, dance, yoga, and is actively engaged in the larger social work community.

Charles Cole, III, Education Coordinator

Charles Cole has been a social worker for the past four years that specialized in working with children with special needs. He has dedicated his life to working with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and enjoys helping them navigate through life. Charles is a social activist that has organized a multitude of social forums as well as led a college walk-out. He enjoys giving speeches at high schools and mentoring.  His favorite things to do are play basketball, travel, listen to music, and go to concerts. Charles has a BA in Political Science with a Law Option from California State University, East Bay and is currently finishing up his Master’s in Public Administration at San Francisco State.

Jonathan D'Souza, Infrastructure Manager

Jonathan joined the Juma Ventures team in 2008 as the Development Associate, and has transitioned into the position of Infrastructure Manager. He graduated from U.C. Davis with a B.A. in English and Women & Gender Studies. During his time studying at Davis, he spent years honing his talents while working with many of the on campus community-based organizations. These groups included The U.C. Davis Cross Cultural Center, The U.C. Davis Women Center, The U.C. Davis LGBT Resource Center, as a re-establishing chair of U.C. Davis Queer Student Union, and an unnamed Programming Co-Chair of the first annual LGBT Western Regional Conference. He also had a short lived radio show on the local station, KDVS, which fostered his love of new and innovative music.

Marcus Edwards, Oakland Enterprise Manager
Marcus has been working in the sports entertainment and food industry for about 17 years. Twelve years at the Oakland Coliseum and Oracle Arena. He brings a lot of experience and dedication working in food services and working with youth. He is pleased to say he works for a company as significant to the community as Juma and he will do everything to help in the maturation and job skill development of our youth at Juma and beyond.

Ana Fortin, Campaign and Marketing Manager

Ana is originally from Brazil. She came to the United States to study marketing at the UC Berkeley Extension. Her first professional experience in the non-profit sector was in 2003 and it led her to pursue her Masters' degree in Nonprofit Administration at the University of San Francisco. Ana lives in Berkeley with her family and loves practicing yoga, traveling, and hiking in her leisure time.

Lexi Keeler, Development Associate

Lexi brings seven years of experience working in community-focused, small nonprofits and five years of development experience to her role as Development Associate at Juma Ventures. She came to Juma because of her desire to work in an organization with culturally relevant programs and a commitment to evaluating the impact of their work. She has a BA in French Studies from Wesleyan University. Currently living in Oakland, Lexi loves reading and making comics, coaching and playing volleyball, and her family and friends.

Fira Ostrovsky, Controller

Fira joined Juma in May 1996 and can lay honest claim to the title "Juma veteran." A native of Kiev, Russia, Fira earned her Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering and worked as an engineer in Russia before immigrating to the United States in 1994. She has since worked in Accounting in the private and nonprofit sectors and has overseen Juma's financial operations for nearly 10 years. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two daughters.

Damon Packwood, Education and Career Transitions Manager

Damon came to Juma from Upward Bound, where he spent 6 years working with youth to help them become the first in their families to attend college. Damon is a San Francisco native and has deep knowledge of the communities that Juma works in and the high schools our youth attend. Damon received his Bachelor's degree from the UC Santa Barbara.

Rafael Platas, Assistant Enterprise General Manager

Rafael is originally from Mexico and came to the United States to improve his International Business Administration career. Rafael brings three years hospitality and sales experience to Juma Ventures, where he works in day-to-day ballpark operations. Rafael earned his B.A Degree at University Anahuac in Mexico.

Ana Maria Sauthoff, Youth Development Coordinator

Ana Maria Sauthoff is a native of Princeton, NJ. She attended Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA, graduating in 2002 with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Faith-Justice. She participated in many immersion and study-tour-abroad programs to Latin America and Africa where she was able to meet and learn from youth in different cultures. Ana Maria continued at St. Joe's to complete her MS in Experimental Psychology in 2007. After graduation, as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Ana Maria she served as an Outreach Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator and Summer Program Co-Coordinator at the Mustard Seed School, an emergency school for homeless children at Loaves and Fishes. Ana completed her year of service at the beginning of August 2008 and relocated to San Francisco to join the Juma Team.

Monica Brooke Sheftel, Youth Development Manager

Monica was happy to join Juma at the beginning of 2008. She brings more than 4 years of experience empowering youth through mentorship, education, and community action projects. Monica completed her undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies with a minor in Education at UCLA. Upon graduating with her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Monica followed youth-driven movements for social justice to the Bay Area. She actively participates on the Board of Directors for Women and Youth Supporting Each Other (WYSE). Monica loves to play with rhythm, eat fresh food, and explore new places.

Doris Tseng, Assets Services Coordinator

Doris received her Bachelors in Child and Adolescent Development: Research and Public Policy from San Francisco State University. Her community involvement concerning the youth population encompasses policy research for San Francisco's Youth Law Center and mentoring female detained youth at San Francisco's Juvenile Hall through the Girls Justice Initiative. Doris provides key administrative, operational, policy and program support in the Asset Services Department as well as participation in Juma workshops and events.

Jesse Zitrin, San Francisco Enterprise Manager

Jesse joined Juma as the Enterprise Manager in 2007. Jesse's experience includes professional writing and editing, event management, sport marketing and multimedia, and the goal of merging sport business with youth and international development. He has also worked as a teacher, counselor, and youth sports coach in Atlanta, GA, where he graduated from Emory University, and the San Francisco Bay Area, where he was born and raised. Jesse will earn his M.A. in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco in May, 2008.

Leyla Farah, Publicist

Leyla Farah is the founder and owner of Cause+Effect Public Relations, Inc. Prior to founding Cause+Effect, she served as the Vice President of Programming and Production for PlanetOut Inc., where she oversaw the daily publication of both news and feature stories for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender audiences around the world. Leyla also worked as an Account Executive with Stone Yamashita Partners, where she oversaw corporate strategy, branding and communications initiatives for Fortune 500 clients from Istanbul to Anaheim. Leyla holds a JD from Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley, and a BA from the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon. She has served on the national Board of Governors for the Human Rights Campaign, and now volunteers her time with both the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Historical Society and openhouse. She and her partner live with their dog Millie in San Francisco.

Collins R. Spencer, III, Publicist

Collins Spencer attended Howard University in Washington, D.C earning a BA in communications. After graduation, Collins continued his role as a writer and producer for Black Entertainment Television (BET). Six months later, Miller Brewing Company hired Collins as a spokesperson and communications specialist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Prior to launching Strategic Communications LLC in 2007, he worked at several major national and local media outlets. Before television news, Collins spent four years as a federal lobbyist on Capitol Hill. As a former national, local news broadcaster, corporate communications specialist, and federal lobbyist, Mr. Spencer has maximized his skills in this specialized area of PR and media relations. After years of being on the other side of the camera, Collins decided to launch Strategic Communications LLC, an Atlanta based Public Relations Firm, with the primary goal of providing each client with personal customized services.