Marc Spencer, Ed.D, Chief Executive Officer (415.371.0727, extension 317)

Marc was born and raised on the East Coast, relocating to California to attend college. He holds a bachelor's degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California in Los Angeles, as well as master's and doctorate degrees in International Multicultural Education from the University of San Francisco. Marc has more than two decades of experience in youth development, working as a teacher, high school counselor, and non-profit administrator. Most recently, Marc served as the Business Development Director for Walden House Inc. in San Francisco with management responsibilities for $40 million in federal and state grants. Marc joined Juma in 2006, serving as the Associate Director for over a year prior to becoming Chief Executive Officer. Along with an extensive background in nonprofit management and youth development, Marc brings to Juma a life-long commitment to addressing inequality and activism.

Alex Armenta, Director of Development and Evaluation (415.371.0727, extension 216)

Born and raised in upstate New York, Alex relocated to California after living and working in Mexico City for four years following high school. Prior to joining Juma in June 2008, she served the nonprofit sector for more than a decade as a program manager, evaluator, and grantmaker, working at organizations dedicated to advancing social justice and improving the lives of children, youth and their families. Alex holds a bachelors degree in Latin American and Latino Studies from the University of California in Santa Cruz.

Jeronimo Martin, Enterprise Director (415.371.0727, extension 319)

Born on the island of Ibiza, Spain, Jeronimo grew up in Davis, California. He attended UC Davis, receiving his bachelor’s degree in Communications and Art Studio. After school, Jeronimo moved to Los Angeles, where he worked with both ABC and the Los Angeles Clippers. Jeronimo went on to receive an M.A. from the University of San Francisco in Sport Management. In February of 2007 Jeronimo joined Juma, where he saw an opportunity to blend three of his great interests; small business, youth development and sports. In July of 2008 Jeronimo was promoted to his current position of Enterprise Director.

Jeff Russell, Chief Operating Officer (415.371.0727, extension 225)

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, Director of Asset Services (415.371.0727, extension 315)

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.

Tamika Bennett, Youth Development Manager (510.893.1986)

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, Youth Development Coordinator (415.371.0727, extension 306)

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.

Traci Cho, Accounting and HR Manager (415.371.0727, extension 223)

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 King, LCSW, Evaluation and Learning Manager (415.371.0727, extension 213)

Laney grew up in Pasadena, California. While pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of California, San Diego, she spent a life-changing year in York, England. Her counseling experience with women and children motivated her to pursue a Masters degree in Social Work at Columbia University in New York. Since 2000, Laney has provided psychotherapy and case management to youth, families, and adults in multiple settings. She joined Juma Ventures in the fall of 2006.

Charles Cole, III, Education Coordinator (510.893.1986)

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.

Jason Craparo, San Diego Enterprise Manager

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Jason grew up in Binghamton, New York. After earning an associate’s degree in Business from Broome Community College, Jason dove straight into restaurant management, and later ownership. Jason is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at San Diego State University, where he served as President of the Financial Planning Association in 2008. He is also a licensed private pilot. Jason brings to Juma more than 10 years of operations and business ownership experience in the hospitality and tourism industry. Jason joined Juma in August 2007.

Jonathan D'Souza, Infrastructure Manager (415.371.0727, extension 220)

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.

Ana Fortin, Executive Assistant (510.893.1986)

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.

Keri Gardner, Community Engagement Manager (415.371.0727, extension 207)

A native of Santa Cruz, California, Keri attended American University in Washington, DC, earning bachelors and masters degrees. She began her career in the nonprofit sector in DC, spending more than a decade there before returning to California in 2003. Her nonprofit career includes roles in marketing, event production, and volunteer management for causes including AIDS services, youth development and breast cancer research. She brings to Juma a passion for serving low-income and disenfranchised communities. Keri enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors, and she has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail.

Christen Gray, Assets Services Coordinator (415.371.0727, extension 209)

Christen is a native of the Bay Area, graduating with a B.A. in Mass Communication from California State University, East Bay. She has enjoyed working with youth since 2002 and can’t imagine doing anything else. Her commitment to improving the lives of youth has been evidenced in roles with Team Up for Youth, the Boys & Girls Club of San Leandro, the Community Network for Youth Development and The San Francisco Foundation (as a Koshland Fellow). Christen is passionate about building positive relationships with youth and working to close the achievement gap through her work at Juma, begun in August of 2009.

Fira Ostrovsky, Controller (415.371.0727, extension 203)

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 (415.371.0727, extension 313)

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, Oakland Enterprise Manager (415.371.027, extension 204)

Born and raised in the central-south of Mexico, Rafael holds a bachelor's degree in International Business Administration. Rafael has more than three years of experience working in the food industry with a family business, and more than two and a half years of outstanding customer service working with international clients as a real estate advisor. Rafael’s passions include the outdoors, movies and soccer. Rafael joined the Juma team in January 2008.

Brian Sauer,College Service Coodinator (415.371.0727, extension 226)

Originally from Montana, Brian earned his undergraduate degree from Marquette University and a California teaching credential from San Francisco State University. He spent the last ten years working with youth in the San Francisco Unified School District, where he taught Algebra, Biology and Chemistry at James Lick Middle School, as well as San Francisco School of the Arts (SOTA). Married with two sons, Brian lives in San Francisco’s Western Addition. He joined Juma in August of 2009.

Ana Maria Sauthoff, Youth Development Coordinator (415.371.0727, extension 256)

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.

Arti Sharma, Development Associate (415.371.0727, extension 308)

Arti was born in Modesto, California. She attended U.C. Santa Barbara, graduating in 2005 with a degree in Global Studies and a minor in Women, Culture, and Development. Wanting to further her studies of human rights issues, Arti pursued and received a Master's degree in Global Affairs at NYU in 2008. While in New York, Arti worked and volunteered at various organizations committed to advancing the rights of women and children, including The White House Project and Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict. Arti joined the Juma staff in August of 2009.

Monica Brooke Sheftel, Youth Development Manager(415.371.0727, extension 310)

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 (415.371.0727, extension 305)

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.

Alvin Yu, Assistant Enterprise Manager (415.828.8785, extension 222)

Alvin was born, raised and currently resides in the city of San Francisco. He grew up on the “rough side” of the city and now lives in the Sunnydale district. Alvin’s first job was working at Patelco Credit Union. He then joined Juma Ventures as a cart employee and stadium vendor. Alvin explored further opportunities with the organization and was eventually elevated to managerial roles in the enterprise department. Studying Business Management at San Francisco State University, Alvin looks to expand his knowledge in management from school to larger money-making experiences. Alvin first joined the Juma team in January 2007.

Jesse Zitrin, San Francisco Enterprise Manager (415.371.0727, extension 214)

Born and raised in San Francisco, Jesse holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Emory University and an M.A. in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco. Jesse's sports business credentials feature an emphasis on international development; he has coached, played, and consulted for athletic clubs on four continents. Locally, Jesse worked in youth development for the San Francisco 2008 International Children's Games, the San Francisco Jewish Community Center, and Lick-Wilmerding High School before joining Juma Ventures in 2007.