With a passion for creating transformative learning opportunities with and for CEOs, Dr. Mike Pelfini is Founder and Managing Partner of ForeMeta Coaching ™. Mike’s work sparks breakthroughs through executive peer groups, trainings and individual coaching. He has served on NBCC’s board for over eight years and served as Board Chair for three years. Mike holds certifications as a HeartMath® Trainer and Whole Brain Thinking® practitioner. He’s also an active member of the Tamalpais Aquatic Masters swim team. Mike and his wife, Joanne, are each lifelong residents of San Rafael and are blessed with 3 children & 2 grandchildren.
Jeff Belingheri is the Managing Partner of the Novato office of Bregante + Company LLP. Bregante + Company has been a Corporate Partner of NBCC since 2016 and Jeff has served on the NBCC Board since 2008. Jeff has been a CPA since 1993; he holds a Master of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University in San Francisco and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Finance) from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, and is a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Marin County Estate Planning Council.
Kelly Smith started working in the family grocery business while in high school and after earning a degree from St. Mary’s College of California in business administration, she took the role of Human Resources Manager and Community Outreach Manager. She is now the President and CEO of United Markets, her family’s two-store operation in Marin County. She believes her position creates an opportunity to both serve her community and take care of her 120 employees. She finds the industry challenging and fulfilling because it allows her to creatively problem solve. She has a passion and a never-ending curiosity for the grocery business and its intersection with the community it serves.
Henry Chu is currently an Associate Chief Administrative Officer with Kaiser Permanente San Rafael, bringing over 12 years of extensive experience in healthcare operations. He joined NBCC earlier this year to continue supporting this wonderful organization and giving back to the community he lives in. A Bay Area native, Henry completed his undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley and earned his Masters of Health Administration from USC.
Dennis has over three decades of experience as a financial executive in the venture capital, private equity and real estate industries. Since 2011, Dennis has been a senior executive at Foresite Capital, a healthcare venture capital firm, as Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer. A graduate of University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in economics, Dennis also has an MBA from Santa Clara University. Besides his position on the Executive Committee of the board at North Bay Children’s Center, Dennis has been active in the nonprofit sector for over twenty-five years, including board president of two significant North Bay nonprofit organizations, one providing mental health services to adults and one providing transportation and nutrition services to seniors. Dennis brings significant financial, governance and leadership skills to the board.
Paivi works with the NBCC program, senior leadership, and human resource teams on Professional and Workforce Development to support the professional growth of teachers and center leaders and to build sustainable early childhood education workforce models of excellence. She manages training compliance, child development permit obtainment, renewal and upgrading and educational stipends and professional benefits. She also manages NBCC’s Apprentice, Apprentice Mentor, and Internship programs in Marin and Sonoma Counties and collaborates with Community Colleges, Apprentice Program Employer Partners and other NBCC Community Partners. Paivi received her Master of Science degree in Curriculum/Early Childhood Education from California State University East Bay. She holds a Vocational Teacher certification from Finland and a Life Children’s Center Supervision Permit from the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing. She has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit administration, early childhood program advancement, teaching, mentoring and leadership development in the United States and in Finland.
Melvin Freeman holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources and is an active member of NACHR – The National Association of Certified Healthcare Recruiters and SHRM – Society for Human Resource Management. With over 25 years of experience in human resources, Melvin has worked with some of the largest Bay Area-based non-profit organizations. He prides himself on being an engaged and active leader who listens to his team and meets employees where they are. The largest team Melvin has personally managed consisted of 65 employees across 5 departments. He is Lean Six Sigma trained and holds the highest leader engagement survey results at 97%. Melvin enjoys connecting with and working alongside people to help them reach their full potential.
Jill St. Peter brings four decades of experience to the field of early childhood education. With a diverse background that includes roles as a Teacher, Site Supervisor, Early Learning Coach, Trainer, and her current position as Curriculum and Training Director, Jill has consistently demonstrated her unwavering commitment to early childhood education. Jill holds a Master of Arts degree in Education and Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development. This commitment to academic excellence underscores her dedication to advancing the field and ensuring the well-being of young children and educators. Jill is certified by West Ed as a trainer for the Program for Infant and Toddler Care and Beginning Together Inclusion. She is also certified by the Center for Optimal Brain Integration as a Trauma Informed Care Trainer. Her expertise has been showcased at esteemed conferences such as NAEYC, CAEYC, and Head Start. Her involvement in professional communities underscores her dedication to continuous improvement and collaboration. Jill has been an active member of the California Coaching Advisory Group, Trauma Informed Care Community of Practice, Sonoma County Quality Counts Consortia, Region 1 Coaching Community of Practice Leader, Sonoma County Coaching Collaborative, Hope and Healing Early Learning Collaborative, and the Evening of Honor committee. Jill’s passion for early childhood education and her extensive experience makes her an asset to the field, continually inspiring and supporting educators their mission to provide the best possible start for young children.
Mariah has worked in the insurance industry since her adolescence. Less than a week after graduating college, she accepted a position at Arrow as an Associate. During the last 13 years, Mariah has worked in almost every position available at Arrow to learn the intricacies of the business and build her skill set. Mariah has helped companies from start-up to enterprise-levels review market options and elect benefit programs that allow those companies to recruit and retain top level employees. Outside of the office, Mariah is passionate about her work in the community. Mariah focuses on organizations that work to create limitless opportunities for children and the handicap able community. She is proud to serve as the Board Chair for NBCC. In her free time, Mariah is the mother of two beautiful little dudes, married to a Kaiser numbers nerd and enjoys going on horseback rides around the Bay Area.
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.
Teresa leads all efforts for the Garden of Eatin’ program, driving the organization’s mission to provide equitable health and education opportunities to empower children to reach their full potential. A systems thinker with over 25 years of experience in program and educational leadership, Teresa has spearheaded instructional farm-to-school initiatives, developed food systems, and created curriculum in nutrition, garden and nature-based education, and designed gardenscape learning environments. Inspiring children’s innate curiosity she is dedicated to ensuring all young people have access to diverse and dynamic learning experiences. Teresa holds a master’s degree in education with ESL certification and a master’s in Reading & Literacy. Her credentials include professional certifications as a Life Lab Garden Educator, North Carolina University Design in Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments, Outdoor Classroom Project and Nature Explore Leadership Institute. Currently pursuing graduate studies in Integrated Climate Literacy and Environmental Education, Teresa is passionate about fostering creative collaborations, driving innovation in sustainable education, embracing challenges with a growth mindset for life-long-learning.
Debbie Neal is the Assistant to the VP of Programs at NBCC, a position she has held since 2001. Over the years, she has been given the opportunity to grow within the organization, gaining valuable experience across a variety of roles. Debbie’s work has spanned different age groups, including infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and has earned her Site Supervisor Permit. Debbie is the proud mother of two children who keep her busy with their various activities. Her daughter, Isabella, is 16 years old and currently a junior in high school, while her son, Brayden, is 11 and in 6th grade. Both of her children have been through the NBCC program, starting from infancy and continuing through pre-kindergarten. Debbie and her husband, Keith, have been married for 17 years and live in Cottonwood. Outside of her professional life, Debbie enjoys spending time with her family. She loves shopping, going on trips, wakeboarding on their boat, and riding on the motorcycle with her husband. Debbie is passionate about working with children and finds joy in seeing their smiling faces as they learn new and exciting things. Building relationships with parents and community partners is also a great passion of hers. She believes that as Early Educators, they play a key role in laying a strong foundation that supports a child’s educational and personal growth throughout their life.
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.
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.
Dianne is new to NBCC and brings over 35 years of experience in financial and operational leadership in both non-profit and for-profit organizations. Dianne works closely with all parts of the NBCC organization, leading all financial processes and involved with all administrative parts of the organization. Originally from Wisconsin, Dianne has a BBA in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has been a CFO for a number of organizations and companies in the Bay Area. She also serves on several Boards, including chairing the Board at the Foundation for Student Success in Boulder, CO, and serves on the advisory board for the accounting department at UW- Madison.
Susan Gilmore is responsible for overseeing the entire organization, which includes board development, fund development, program development, community relations, budget and finance, and the supervision of the administrative team. Ms. Gilmore has been with the agency since 1986. She holds a degree in Child Development and has more than 35 years of experience in the child development field. Susan serves on various boards and commissions throughout the North Bay, further linking NBCC to numerous resources in Marin and Sonoma County. Susan chairs Petaluma’s Health Action Cradle to Career work group, serves on the QRIS consortiums for Marin and Sonoma County, and is actively involved on committees for both counties on establishing strategies that support early education investments. Susan’s ability to make connections, network, and build relationships with different community sectors creates a win-win situation for all involved. Her entrepreneurial spirit and passion inspire those around her and encourage collaboration toward system change.
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With a passion for creating transformative learning opportunities with and for CEOs, Dr. Mike Pelfini is Founder and Managing Partner of ForeMeta Coaching ™. Mike’s work sparks breakthroughs through executive peer groups, trainings and individual coaching. He has served on NBCC’s board for over eight years and served as Board Chair for three years. Mike holds certifications as a HeartMath® Trainer and Whole Brain Thinking® practitioner. He’s also an active member of the Tamalpais Aquatic Masters swim team. Mike and his wife, Joanne, are each lifelong residents of San Rafael and are blessed with 3 children & 2 grandchildren.
Jeff Belingheri is the Managing Partner of the Novato office of Bregante + Company LLP. Bregante + Company has been a Corporate Partner of NBCC since 2016 and Jeff has served on the NBCC Board since 2008. Jeff has been a CPA since 1993; he holds a Master of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University in San Francisco and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Finance) from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, and is a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Marin County Estate Planning Council.
Kelly Smith started working in the family grocery business while in high school and after earning a degree from St. Mary’s College of California in business administration, she took the role of Human Resources Manager and Community Outreach Manager. She is now the President and CEO of United Markets, her family’s two-store operation in Marin County. She believes her position creates an opportunity to both serve her community and take care of her 120 employees. She finds the industry challenging and fulfilling because it allows her to creatively problem solve. She has a passion and a never-ending curiosity for the grocery business and its intersection with the community it serves.
Henry Chu is currently an Associate Chief Administrative Officer with Kaiser Permanente San Rafael, bringing over 12 years of extensive experience in healthcare operations. He joined NBCC earlier this year to continue supporting this wonderful organization and giving back to the community he lives in. A Bay Area native, Henry completed his undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley and earned his Masters of Health Administration from USC.
Dennis has over three decades of experience as a financial executive in the venture capital, private equity and real estate industries. Since 2011, Dennis has been a senior executive at Foresite Capital, a healthcare venture capital firm, as Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer. A graduate of University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in economics, Dennis also has an MBA from Santa Clara University. Besides his position on the Executive Committee of the board at North Bay Children’s Center, Dennis has been active in the nonprofit sector for over twenty-five years, including board president of two significant North Bay nonprofit organizations, one providing mental health services to adults and one providing transportation and nutrition services to seniors. Dennis brings significant financial, governance and leadership skills to the board.
Paivi works with the NBCC program, senior leadership, and human resource teams on Professional and Workforce Development to support the professional growth of teachers and center leaders and to build sustainable early childhood education workforce models of excellence. She manages training compliance, child development permit obtainment, renewal and upgrading and educational stipends and professional benefits. She also manages NBCC’s Apprentice, Apprentice Mentor, and Internship programs in Marin and Sonoma Counties and collaborates with Community Colleges, Apprentice Program Employer Partners and other NBCC Community Partners. Paivi received her Master of Science degree in Curriculum/Early Childhood Education from California State University East Bay. She holds a Vocational Teacher certification from Finland and a Life Children’s Center Supervision Permit from the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing. She has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit administration, early childhood program advancement, teaching, mentoring and leadership development in the United States and in Finland.
Jill St. Peter brings four decades of experience to the field of early childhood education. With a diverse background that includes roles as a Teacher, Site Supervisor, Early Learning Coach, Trainer, and her current position as Curriculum and Training Director, Jill has consistently demonstrated her unwavering commitment to early childhood education. Jill holds a Master of Arts degree in Education and Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development. This commitment to academic excellence underscores her dedication to advancing the field and ensuring the well-being of young children and educators. Jill is certified by West Ed as a trainer for the Program for Infant and Toddler Care and Beginning Together Inclusion. She is also certified by the Center for Optimal Brain Integration as a Trauma Informed Care Trainer. Her expertise has been showcased at esteemed conferences such as NAEYC, CAEYC, and Head Start. Her involvement in professional communities underscores her dedication to continuous improvement and collaboration. Jill has been an active member of the California Coaching Advisory Group, Trauma Informed Care Community of Practice, Sonoma County Quality Counts Consortia, Region 1 Coaching Community of Practice Leader, Sonoma County Coaching Collaborative, Hope and Healing Early Learning Collaborative, and the Evening of Honor committee. Jill’s passion for early childhood education and her extensive experience makes her an asset to the field, continually inspiring and supporting educators their mission to provide the best possible start for young children.
Mariah has worked in the insurance industry since her adolescence. Less than a week after graduating college, she accepted a position at Arrow as an Associate. During the last 13 years, Mariah has worked in almost every position available at Arrow to learn the intricacies of the business and build her skill set. Mariah has helped companies from start-up to enterprise-levels review market options and elect benefit programs that allow those companies to recruit and retain top level employees. Outside of the office, Mariah is passionate about her work in the community. Mariah focuses on organizations that work to create limitless opportunities for children and the handicap able community. She is proud to serve as the Board Chair for NBCC. In her free time, Mariah is the mother of two beautiful little dudes, married to a Kaiser numbers nerd and enjoys going on horseback rides around the Bay Area.
