Peter Fortenbaugh is the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. Prior to his appointment of Executive Director, Peter served as the organization's Operations Director for 2 years. From 1997-2001, Peter was Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, at Exodus Communications in Santa Clara, CA . From 1994-97, he was a consultant at McKinsey & Company in New York City. Peter graduated from Princeton University in 1989 with a B.A. in Economics and from Harvard Business School with an M.B.A. in 1994. He lives in Palo Alto and is passionate about family (married with two young sons and a baby girl), running, the outdoors, Philadelphia sports and the Jersey Shore. Peter is inspired by the Bishop of Digne (Les Miserables), Bruce Springsteen (especially Land of Hopes and Dreams), and early mornings.
Christiaan
Canter Development Director
Since 2004
Christiaan Canter is an accomplished not-for-profit Development Professional. Chris began his non-profit career in 1990 at Walden House, one of California 's largest and most respected human service organizations. He then founded and directed the Walden House Foundation. In 2002, Chris joined Larkin Street Youth Services as the Chief Development Officer and significantly increased the agency's contributed income and visibility. In 2004, after moving to the San Francisco Peninsula, he became the Director of Development at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula . Chris is extremely passionate about his work and about helping other. He attributes his success to having overcome tremendous challenges earlier in life. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve others – especially those that need help in achieving their full potential. In his spare time, Chris enjoys, hiking, camping and spending time with him family including his twin sons. Chris is also serves on the Board of the GGS Foundation and volunteers as an advisor for numerous organizations.
Michael Jones
Director of Programs
Since 2006
In 2002, Michael Jones was the Associate Director of Programs for San Francisco Conservation Corp. The San Francisco Conservation Corps Youth in Action (YIA) program is an intensive academic support, community service, and environmental education program serving 150 San Francisco middle school students ages 11-14, annually. Youth in Action goals are to provide participants with academic support and enrichment, opportunities to engage in meaningful community service, while learning about the relevance of urban environmentalism. Simultaneously, through a challenging combination of classroom activities and hands-on experience, participants develop basic job, social, and leadership skills, as well as an ethic of service that will help them succeed as students and active members of their community. YIA participants conduct community service projects in one of three project areas: Conservation & Recycling, Media, and Leadership.
In 2000, Michael Jones was the program coordinator of Youth In Philanthropy.Youth In Philanthropy integrates two projects comprised by young adults, from San Francisco and Marin County, which actively partake in all aspects of funding youth oriented initiatives. This program introduces youth to the complex matrix of philanthropy ranging from such tasks as grant writing, oral presentations, and developing fiscal budget to enhancing social skills through developing a positive rapport with public officials and their community, at large.
Michael Jones professional career in youth development began in San Francisco with the Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco. He has diligently worked with youth based organizations in the formulation and promotion of youth oriented projects. The impediment of tobacco sales to minors, awareness of environmental degradation, attention to rampant gun violence, and restoration of community alliances were issues in which, the advocacy and fortitude of youth, along with Michael Jones's guidance,stimulated regionally/national projects. The efforts of these youth oriented projects have been widely recognized by public officials and other prominent citizens.
Michael Jones' commitment to youth development is widely acknowledged by his peers within the non-profit sector, amongst community members and most importantly with the youth that he has closely worked with. In recognition of his efforts, Michael Jones has been honored with awards, gratitude and praise from his colleagues and youth. His pledge towards youth development remains steadfast and incessant.
Katherine Finnigan
Director of Grants
Since 2008
Katherine has a wealth of experience in non profit development and fund raising. She was the Director, Programs and Resource Development for the Emergency Housing Consortium for 2 years w here she was responsible for all on-going fund development. Prior to that she was the Vice President of Development for the ALS Association for 3 years and worked in Development for both the American Lung Association of Los Angeles County and the United Way . Katherine has her BA in Economics from UCLA and Masters of Social Work, Community Organizing, Program Planning and Evaluation from Temple University.
James Harris Director of Operations
Since 2002
James Harris is
the
Director of Operatings for the Boys &
Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. His responsibilities include oversight of the Club's facilities and coordination of training and evaluation. James also oversees the Club's Center for a New Generation school based programs. From 2002 to
2004 was the Director of the Club's Moldaw Zaffaroni Clubhouse in East Palo Alto. Prior to joining the Club, James worked at the Boys & Girls
Clubs at San Leandro for 15 years as Unit
Director, Athletic Director and Social Education
Director.
Gayle Crossley
Human Resource Director
Since 2006
Gayle Crossley joined BGCP in 2006 as Human Resources Director. Prior to working for the Clubs Gayle was with at Interex, a not-for-profit association, for 14 years where she was responsible for the HR and Volunteer Development functions. Prior to joining Interex, Gayle was the National Events Team/Communications Coordinator for the Beyond War Foundation. Gayle has an AA from the College of San Mateo, studied at
San Diego State and has completed extensive coursework in management training from the University of California at Santa Cruz. She is a member of the Association for Volunteer Administration and the Northern California Human Resources Council. Gayle loves to sing and is a member of a 140 women chorus which has won international awards. She also loves to spend time in the Sierra Foothills relaxing by a mountain lake.
Cheryl Hogan
Assoc. Director of Annual Giving
Cheryl Hogan joined Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula in February of this year. She has worked in several nonprofit organizations, including The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Ronald McDonald House, HP User Group, and most recently, The Girls' Middle School, and has been and continues to be an active volunteer for many more organizations. She previously worked in circulation and as an editor for several publishers before realizing that nonprofit was where her heart was.
In her free time, Cheryl loves spending time with family and friends, gardening, cooking and eating good food, trips to new places, and helping out with some of her favorite causes, and is currently training and raising funds for a half-marathon. She is thrilled to be working with Boys & Girls Clubs and knowing she is with an organization that makes a difference in children's lives.
Jay DeShetler
Information Technology Manager
Since 1998
As Informational Technology Manager, Jay is responsible for
overseeing the computer network
system for all Clubhouses and Remote Classroom.
Prior to working as a IT Manager, he was
in the Architect field and was a CAD designer
for MBT Architecture in San Francisco,
CA from 1988-1997. He was involved
with a design team for several projects,
including the San Francisco City Hall
Earthquake Retrofit Project, San Francisco
International Airport Terminal Expansion
and the USGS Vincent E. McKelvey Building
in Menlo Park. Jay studied Mechanical
Engineering at the Rochester Institute
of Technology and earned a Bachelor's
Degree in Architecture from Kansas State
University. Jay now lives in Los
Altos with his wife and three kids. In his spare time, Jay loves
restoration, offroading and welding projects.
Leila Ganz
Volunteer Services Manager Since 2006
Leila Ganz has joined the BGCP team as the Volunteer Services Manager. She supports the program staff in executing their program goals, while also working with our corporate and community partnerships. Before joining the Boys and Girls Club, Leila was involved with multiple charity organizations most of which worked to benefit children. She graduated from the University of Georgia with degrees in both Political Science and Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations. While at UGA, Leila was the Director of Marketing of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Dance Marathon and worked for non-university affiliated charities such as: hospitals, homeless shelters and battered women’s shelters.
Her love of volunteer work has also led her abroad twice. She counts her service in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic as two of the most special experiences in her life. She attributes her passion for working for people in need to her love and concern for humanity and her strong sense of justice. She is appreciative of her chance to share her passion for helping people in need with volunteers who share the same feeling. Leila also enjoys outdoor and athletic activities, Georgia Bulldog’s football and spending time with her family which includes two brothers and two sisters.
Amy Liebert
Development / Admin. Coordinator Since 2006
Amy Liebert is the Development Administrative Coordinator. She supports the Development Director, the Foundation and Corporate Relations Associate Director, and the Manager of Annual Giving. Amy is a recent graduate from the University of California, Davis, with a Bachelor of Arts in History.
During her undergraduate work she interned and volunteered for different non-profit organizations, including Peninsula Habitat for Humanity and the Yolo Energy Efficiency Project (YEEP). These internships gave her opportunity as well as a passion for non-profit work. Now she is excited to be in a position which will allow her to help create opportunity for other young people. She has already been able to serve the Peninsula community as a long-time volunteer and current Volunteer Coordinator for the Redwood City Fourth of July Parade. During her spare-time Amy is an amateur actor and costumer, who enjoys ballroom dancing and will never miss an episode of Gilmore Girls.
Cindy McIntyre
Director of Finance/Controller
Since 2006
Cindy McIntyre joined the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula in the fall of 2006 as the Director of Finance. This is her first time working for a non-profit organization. Most of her previous experience has been in managing accounting departments in high tech manufacturing. She graduated from California State University, Hayward with a B.S. in business administration with an accounting emphasis. For fun she enjoys reading, restoring an old Victorian in the Niles district of Fremont, and spending time with her husband and teenage son.
Beatrice
Kwan Business Assistant
Since 2002
Beatrice Kwan joined Boys & Girls Clubs of The Peninsula in November 2002. After graduating from Golden Gate University of San Francisco with a B A degree in accounting, she has been in this field for over 30 years. She is responsible for payroll and accounts payable areas for the club. Before she started her job here, she runs her electronic manufacturing, computer retail and wholesale business and Japanese Animation store in the Bay Area. In her spare time, she loves gardening and spending time with her two lovely cats Mickey and Kiddie.
Alara MacGillvray
Director of the School Based Programs
Since 2003
Alara MacGillivray is a Bay Area native who brings to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula over ten years of Boys & Girls Clubs experience. Before coming to BGCP to facilitate SuccessMaker in Menlo Park and later East Palo Alto, she worked in various different program areas including education, prevention programs and aquatics.
Currently Alara used to oversees the CNG after school program at Edison McNair Middle School, building relationships with the students during the critical adolescent years.
Alara grew up in Sonoma, CA and takes advantage of every opportunity to return to her home community to visit family, friends and her old Boys & Girls Club where she was not only a staff member, but also a member as a child.
Alara holds a business degree from Sonoma State University in human resources. She also minored in Spanish in college and enjoys utilizing her language skills with the parents and children at CNG.
