Leadership

Kristina Sisseck, M.A.  VP of Programs

Kristina works closely with NBCC’s Site Supervisors on all aspects of program operations, which include: processing enrollment, state reporting, curriculum development, program evaluations, staff development, and parent engagement. She also works closely with NBCC’s elementary school partners and program enhancement specialists on curriculum alignment and implementing school readiness strategies. Kristina received her Master of Arts in Education with a focus in Leadership in Early Childhood Education from Chapman University and a Bachelors of Art in Family and Consumer Science with a focus in Child Development and Family Studies from California State University, Long Beach. She holds a Program Directors permit from the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing and has been in the field of Early Childhood Education for the past 12 years.

e: ksisseck@nbcc.net  t: 415.883.6222

Lori Mogan  VP of Development

Lori works closely with the Board of Directors and Executive Team to support the organization in all aspects of fund development, marketing, and communications. She has more than 20 years nonprofit experience in fundraising and program administration.  Lori holds an undergraduate degree in marketing and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco.   Prior to joining NBCC’s Executive Team, Lori served as the Managing Director for Marin Girls Chorus and as the Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer for the nationally recognized Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Lori is a past Board President for Marin County’s San Rafael Host Lions club and volunteers for several nonprofits. Lori lives in Novato with her husband and two children.

e: lmogan@nbcc.net  t: 415.883.6222

Nella Ruffinelli  Business Director

Marianella “Nella” Ruffinelli joined North Bay Children’s Center in 2018. She is fluent in Spanish and has her Business Administration degree from American Military University and over 17+ years’ financial experience managing platforms in Advisory Services with over $240 billion in assets. During her professional career she earned her Series 6 Financial Industry license, was awarded the Dalbar Award for Financial Professional at Pacific Life’s Retirement Division and the ING Circle of Honor Award in the Advisory Services Division. Nella attended Mary Baldwin University in Stanton, Virginia in pursuit of the Business Administration and Women’s Leadership Studies degree, in which she earned an Administration Award during her tenure there. Nella oversees NBCC’s financial functions and business contracts providing oversight and management of state funding, expenditures and attendance reporting. She works closely with the Board of Directors and all departments to bridge and promote fiscal awareness and responsibility. Nella lives in Novato and enjoys exploring local trails in the Bay Area with her family.

e: nruffinelli@nbcc.net  t: 415.883.6222

 Teresa Fogolini  Garden of Eatin’ Director

Mary Berbae  Human Resource Manager

Mary Berbae serves as the HR Manager for NBCC, bringing 8 years of human resource management and 12 years of operations experience to the team. Mary is responsible for providing a full HR infrastructure to the employees, including employee relations, performance management, benefit administration and helping to create and promote a positive, vibrant and safe working environment.
Prior to working for NBCC, Mary worked 5 years in clean energy financing as the Vice President of HR and Operations for CleanFund Commercial PACE Capital. Previously, Mary worked in the non-profit sector as Operations Manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay, and a decade before that, while living in Northern Thailand, Mary volunteered for numerous non-profits serving under-resourced children and women, i.e. The Charity Rooftop, Foundation to Encourage the Potential of the Disabled, School-For-Life, Skills-4-Life, Foundation for the Education of Rural Children, and tsunami relief organizations to name a few. Before moving to Thailand Mary spent over a decade in healthcare administration working for several large hospital systems in Southern California (i.e. Mission Hospital, Western Medical Center and Sisters of St. Joseph)

Mary lives in Sausalito, enjoys biking, hiking, foreign films and appreciates all aspects of Asian art, food and cultures. Mary also speaks “nit-noy” Thai.

e: hr@nbcc.net  t: 415.883.6222

Ralph O’Rear  Facilities & Operations Director

Ralph O’Rear is a legendary “Facilities” figure and has three decades of experience in large scale building and operation management, strategic planning and project management.  The children call him “Fix It” Ralph.  Ralph’s career in Marin County was spent at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, the Lucas companies (Lucasfilm Ltd., Industrial Light & Magic, LucasArts Entertainment Company) and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. Even in his early years Ralph was very aware of the pressing need to develop affordable early child care options that serve working families. He led onsite initiatives for child care services at the Lucas Companies and the Buck Institute.

Coming out of semi-retirement, Ralph joined NBCC in 2018 with the new role of Facilities & Operations Director. Ralph oversees all aspects of facilities management, capital and construction projects, and information technology. Ralph leads NBCC’s Bright Futures Task Force and is overseeing the capital construction project to replace and expand NBCC’s main campus facility in Novato.

e: rorear@nbcc.net  t: 415.883.6222