St. Francis Center Board
- Chair
Lisa has been working as an English tutor to adult women at the St. Francis Center for six years. Lisa comes to this position from her executive career in human resources in alternative energy companies and an array of social services positions with the County of San Mateo while attending college. Lisa has a Bachelor’s Degree from San Diego State University in Geography/Environmental Sciences and Sociology. Lisa is currently teaching Religious Education at St. Raymond Church, in Menlo Park, and is an active member of the St. Raymond Community. Lisa is a native born San Franciscan and has resided on the Peninsula most of her life.
James Conn - SFC Endowment Trustee
Though born in Cleveland, Ohio, Jim grew up in Pasadena, CA. After his graduation from Santa Clara University, he has worked as an investment manager. From 1979 to 1988, he was the Chief Investment Officer for TransAmerica. Now retired, Jim offers his expertise as a Board Member on many Boards. Aside from serving as a Board of Director and SFC Endowment Trustee, Jim gives his time as a math tutor for students at the St. Francis Center.
He has been happily married to Joelle Walsh Conn since 1963; she also serves the St. Francis Center Community as a beloved tutor for the children's program. Jim and Joelle have two children and two grandchildren.
After retiring from 25 years as an executive in the telecommunications industry, Lynda became an independent management consultant, managing her own company for ten years. Her educational background includes a BA Degree from the College of Holy Names in Oakland and post graduate studies in business at Yale and Northwestern universities. Lynda served on the Civil Grand Jury of San Mateo County from 2003-2005 and was appointed Secretary. She has contributed hard labor to Peninsula Habitat for Humanity’s “Raise the Roofs” campaign building houses for low income families for the last 8 years. Lynda is also a member of the St. Francis Center Auxiliary and manages the planning and implementation of various fund-raising events to benefit the Center. In her spare time Lynda enjoys golf and playing bridge.
Arthur Hird joined the St. Francis Center Board of Directors in 2009. Art is the Founder and President of A & D Automatic Gate & Access, which he started 35 years ago. A & D is headquartered in Redwood City near the St. Francis Center. Art, a native to the Bay Area with his wife Linda, a St. Francis Center volunteer, raised their three sons in Redwood City. Art says “rather than boring you with the details of how I got here, let me just say that I am proud to be affiliated with and am committed to The St. Francis Center Board of Directors”.
Lynn Pierce joined the Board of Directors of the St. Francis Center in September 2008. Lynn is currently the Vice President/CFO of Prodesse Property Group. Lynn is a Certified Public Accountant and has been active in the accounting profession since 1983. Her experience encompasses management consulting, computer operations and general operations. In addition to the St. Francis Center Board, Lynn also serves on the Board of Directors of the Housing Industry Foundation.
Bill has been involved in the construction industry for over fifty years. After spending his childhood growing up in a construction family, Bill became a union apprentice carpenter in 1958. He supervised numerous projects over a twenty year span, and for the last thirty years has worked on the senior management level. Bill retired for a year, only to come back and join W.L. Butler Construction as a Senior Project Manager. One of his first projects was the construction of Saint Francis Center "La Casa" of which he is extremely proud of. It was this experience that he came to realize the many needs of the community and how the center reaches out to meet those needs. Bill continues to manage construction projects, and is mentoring the younger engineers as they grow in their careers. And he is very excited to be a part of Saint Francis Center Board of Directors.
Kathleen Putnam studied at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She enjoyed a long career in hospitality and formalized her love for baking by completing the California Culinary Academy program. She then went on to bake at an artisan bakery and the Ahwanhee Hotel. Kathleen is also very passionate about horticulture. She is currently a manager at a local nursery. She is a Certified Arborist and is sitting for her California Certified Nursery Professional exam. Kathleen has been on the board at the St. Francis Center since 2007 and volunteers there regularly.
Michael D. Pierce joined the Board of Directors of the St. Francis Center in 2007. He currently serves as President of Prodesse Property Group and Prodesse Investments, Inc. Prodesse Property Group assists the Daughters of Charity Ministry in their operation of the St. Clare Apartments in Redwood City. Michael has been active in the management, operation, acquisition, renovation and construction of rental apartments since 1979. He is also is a frequent volunteer for several housing industry groups. Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Gary Willard has served on the St. Francis Board as a director and vice president since 2002. He also oversees St. Clare Apartments, a 24 unit low-cost complex next door to the St. Francis Center. He has been an investment real estate broker in San Mateo County for over 25 years, focused on the sale of large, complex investment properties throughout the Bay Area. He is currently a Managing Director-Partner of NAI BT Commercial’s Investment Services Group in San Francisco. He was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the State of Californian's Park & Recreation Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission. He is currently the Commission's Chairman. He also serves on the Bear Valley Homeowner’s Association Board of Directors and Architectural Review Committee. He lives in Woodside with his wife Deborah.
Tim Rea has been a member of the St. Francis Center board since 2003. Mr. Rea is a 4th generation San Franciscan who attended the University of San Francisco. After receiving his M.B.A. from Arizona State University, Mr. Rea worked at Viacom Inc. as Senior Vice president until their sale in 1996. Mr. Rea was Executive Vice President and C.O.O. of DIVA Systems Corporation from 1996 until 2000. Currently he develops and sells residential real estate. Mr. Rea is a board member of Catholic Charities where he sits on the Executive Committee and Chairs the Programs and Services Committee. Around the St. Francis Center he is known as Coach Tim to the many students he has coached and tutored.
Richard Fimmel served on the Board from 1988 until 2009. He provided leadership as Chair of the Board from 2003 until 2009, after which the title of Board Member Emeritus was bestowed on him. During his tenure, he represented the Center in its purchase of La Casita, St. Clare Apartments and other properties through the years. Richard maintains an active real estate legal practice in San Mateo, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California and a Juris Doctor degree from Boalt Hall School of Law. He continues to be very involved in The Center and its mission.
Sister Carol Snyder served as Chair of the Board from The Center's inception (1987) until January 2003. Under her 16 years of leadership, the St. Francis Center flourished while focusing on its mission of service to families in need. Due to her distinct leadership, vision and contributions while serving on the SFC Board of Directors, the title of Board Member Emeritus
For the past six years, she has been in a leadership position for her religious congregation (Franciscan Sisters).