Board of Directors

Guy is currently the Senior Product Consultant for Wells Fargo Bank. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Guy served as Group Director for the Product Development Division of AAA Insurance Company where he oversaw all product development and strategy for the Auto Insurance product. He joined AAA after serving over 5 years as Vice President and Senior Product Manager for the Card Services Division of Bank of the West, a subsidiary of BNPP (Banque Paribas).

Guy holds an undergraduate degree in Biological Science and Philosophy from the University of California, Irvine along with a MBA from University of California, Los Angeles. Guy has over 20 years of experience in Product Management and Marketing. In addition to working in the financial services industry, Guy also has experience in both the Consumer Products industry with Nestle in Glendale, California and Healthcare industry with Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California.

Prior to serving on the Board for Wardrobe for Opportunity, Guy started his non-profit experience volunteering with Operation Hope and working in the elementary schools to teach financial literacy. Guy has also volunteered with Junior Achievement for 5 years and has been a member of the Los Angeles Chapter of Urban Bankers. Guy also served as Editor and Chief for Black Achievers Publications a weekly free periodical in Los Angeles.

Robert is a Senior Security Architect in the Product Strategy group for the Application Division at Oracle. Robert began working at PeopleSoft in 2003 and joined Oracle’s Product Strategy Management team as part of the PeopleSoft acquisition in 2005. In his current role, Robert provides the over-arching security strategy direction, including analysis and vetting of customer requirement, industry challenges and emerging security technologies for all Oracle Application products including the next generation Fusion Application product family.

Robert holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Robert has 15+ years’ experience in the Information Systems security industry, including the strategy, design, implementation and management of Secure Enterprise Architectures, and analysis and definition of strategic direction for security in enterprise class software applications Information Systems architectures.

Wardrobe for Opportunity is Robert’s first service on a non-profit board. Prior to serving on the Board for WFO, Robert started his non-profit experience volunteering with Special Olympics as a coach and counselor as a teenager. Robert also severed as camp counselor for Exceptional Children’s foundation and has been involved in numerous volunteer engagements supporting National Parks, Conservancy groups, education and health initiatives. Robert is currently serving as a volunteer tutor for the “Read Project” at the Livermore Library where he works with individual students to increase their English language comprehension skills. Robert is one of six siblings and lives with his wife Kristin in Livermore, CA with their two dogs and is passionate about helping people grow, nurture their passion and desire to contribute for the greater good of society.

Kristin Ashurst is the Director of Human Resources and Employment Counsel at Peets Coffee & Tea. With over twelve years of experience in HR, Kristin joined the WFO board in November 2012. Kristin is excited about using her diverse experience to move WFO's mission forward in 2013 and beyond. She brings a wealth of ideas and wonderful connections in the Oakland/Berkeley area. Kristin holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from U.C. Berkeley and a J.D., Law degree from American University's Washington College of Law.

Dr. Brooks is currently the Chief of Medical Services at Washington Hospital in Fremont, California. In this position he has responsibility to provide liaison between the medical staff leadership and the hospital administration, as well as working to streamline credentialing of physicians, physician quality improvement, Bylaws, Policies & procedures and Rules & Regulations of the 500 physician medical staff. Dr. Brooks is also president of the Washington Township Medical Group and a member of the Board of Washington Township Medical Foundation.

Dr. Brooks was born and raised in New York City and attended the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he completed his residency in OB/GYN. Dr. Brooks was in private practice at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley for 26 years, providing care to women, including delivering over 2000 babies. During this time he became Chairman of the OB Department, President of the Medical Staff and went on to serve 12 years on the Board of Trustees of Alta Bates Medical Center

Dr. Brooks has been President of Sinkler Miller Medical Association and currently is on the Council of Alameda Contra Costa Medical Association. He also currently is President of Physician Medical Forum, a nonprofit organization, whose mission is to recruit and retain African American physicians for the Oakland San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Brooks hopes to leverage his contacts and connections in the healthcare community in furthering WFO’s wonderful work of healing the spirit and self-esteem of their clients.

Kristie is a Senior Manager in the Tax Practice Group of Rubens Nunnemaker LLP. She has over 10 years experience in public accounting, specializing in tax compliance and tax planning services for closely held businesses and high net worth individuals. Kristie’s experience includes a variety of industries including manufacturers, restaurants, distributors, professional services, and real estate.

Kristie is a California Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is also a member of the California Society of CPA’s and a Graduate of Leadership Contra Costa.

In 2011, Kristie assisted Wardrobe for Opportunity’s Board Members in planning the 2011 Spring to Success Luncheon and joined the WFO Board in November 2011.

Sue is the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for Fred Finch Youth Center in Oakland, CA. Prior to this new role, she served as the Director of Human Resources at Pacific National Bank. She holds over 20 years of human resources experience, including employee relations, performance management, salary administration, career counseling, and recruiting.

During her experience with Career Counseling Services, as the founder/owner, she was listed in 2 employment guides in San Francisco, “How to Find a Job in San Francisco” and How to Become Happily Employed in San Francisco”. Sue holds an undergraduate degree in Social Work and a Master degree in Career Counseling from San Francisco State University.

Prior to joining the board of Wardrobe for Opportunity in 2008 and Advisory Board for Saffron Strand, Inc. since 2009, Sue has been involved in several local community organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society-Relay for Life, and the Registrars of Voters.

Jaime is currently an AVP, Senior Operational Risk Analyst within the National Finance Group at Bank of the West, a subsidiary of BNPP (Banque Paribas). In her current role, she is responsible for contributing to the planning, development and implementation of assigned activities and programs associated with operational risk management for the organization.

Jaime holds an undergraduate degree in Business Management, as well as an MBA, from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA. She is also currently attending a graduate banking program through the Pacific Coast Banking School. Jaime has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry including expertise in the areas of credit, communications, and risk management.

Wardrobe for Opportunity is Jaime’s first service on a non-profit board. Since 2003, Jaime has been involved through volunteerism with several local community organizations, including the Bay Area Crisis Nursery, Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Her most recent community activity included teaching a financial literacy course to intermediate children within Contra Costa County through the Junior Achievement program. Jaime’s involvement with Wardrobe for Opportunity started in 2010 when she volunteered at the Concord Boutique through Bank of the West’s Week of Caring. She was so touched by this experience that she has since helped organize two separate WFO volunteer events that involved Bank of the West employees.

Dr. Vera Packard is the Executive Director of the HERS Breast Cancer Foundation. She has been with the organization for four years and absolutely loves her job. She’s originally from Brazil. She earned her Master’s in Medicine in Brazil, and specialized in breast disease, particularly in breast cancer in London, UK. She worked in private practice in addition to the University Hospital for 20 years. Her passion for training and teaching others is part of her personal mission of inspiring people to have a better life!

Vera has a deep commitment to women’s health issues and was inspired to start a non-profit organization devoted to breast cancer awareness in 1997. Working for a breast cancer organization here in the United States has not only helped her to continue to be involved in the medical world, but also in the business side as well. It’s a great opportunity to build a new career carrying over skills from her former medical career.

Vera served as president of her former Rotary club in Brazil. She was also an ambassador for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce from 2006 to 2009 and a member ABWA (American Business Women Association) / Express to Success Network from 2005 to 2010, also serving as its chapter president. Vera has her own business with a health and wellness company called Arbonne International which has provided her with vast knowledge about nutrition, skin care and of course business practices and sales.

Wardrobe for Opportunity had its seed planted in Vera’s heart in 2005 when she learned about their mission at a Rotary meeting. She now feels it’s time to bring her non-profit management experience and her business expertise to this wonderful organization that helps so many men and woman gain success and confidence.

Nate Thomas, currently a Small Business Specialist at US Bank, comes to WFO with more than 15 years experience in leadership development, team building and sustaining healthy business to business connections. Nate is a natural collaborator with who is deft at maximizing business relationships and maintaining mutually beneficial partnerships. Nate has a great history of giving back to the community, having shared his skills with a three year commitment as a dedicated board member for Boys & Girls Club.

Jeanne, Manager in the Tax Practice Group at Burr Pilger Mayer, Inc., joined the firm in September of 2005. She has 20 years of public accounting experience assisting and advising individuals and closely held businesses in various industries with tax planning and preparation, researching various tax issues, assisting with multi-state tax issues, succession planning, business valuation services, and accounting and Quickbooks consulting. She also has experience in non-profit organizations and financial reporting services.

Jeanne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Valuation Analyst. She also had six years experience in private industry working as the general accounting manager for a public company, and the controller for a small family owned business.

As a member of the board for Wardrobe for Opportunity for over 3 years, Jeanne serves on the finance and executive committees. In addition, Jeanne has been involved in the parent organizations for her children’s schools, serving as treasurer and working in other capacities, and recently served on the Parent Committee for Northgate High School’s Every 15 Minutes Program.