board of directors
Jan Corazza, Development Committee Chair
An experienced advancement leader, Jan has served in senior development roles at UC Davis, UC Berkeley and UC San Diego. Prior to returning to Berkeley, where she was raised, Jan served the Johns Hopkins University for thirteen years, including as Executive Director of the $1.5B Johns Hopkins Initiative Campaign. Jan has also served as Director of Major and Planned Gifts for the San Francisco-based environmental organization, Save the Redwoods League. She co-chairs the Village’s Development Committee.
Robert L. Davis
A retired environmental scientist and teacher, Bob has volunteered his time, energy and leadership to multiple community organizations, including Reach for Learning, Rebuilding Together, the Lawrence Hall of Science, the Elders Network, the downtown Berkeley YMCA, the Berkeley Breakfast Club and the Northbrae Community Church Council. Bob has been the Board's voice in helping develop and maintain community connections.
Joseph D. Evinger
Previously a board member and treasurer of North Oakland Village, Joe brings more than 40 years of experience in budgeting, financial analysis and auditing, as well as a career in financial management and consulting. He served in budget and business management positions for the Bay Area Rapid Transit District and was a financial consultant to BART from 2005 to 2013. He’s also past president of BART Supervisory and Professional Association, now affiliated with AFSCME.
Marcia Freedman
One of the founders of the Israeli women’s movement, Marcia was elected to the Knesset and served four years. She helped found the Women’s Computer Literacy Project and was Director of Marketing for the American Society on Aging, where she established the Lesbian and Gay Aging Issues Network. The author of “Exile in the Promised Land,” Marcia is at work on a second memoir. Marcia coordinates the Speakers Bureau.
Julie Freestone
A former news reporter and health administrator, Julie lives in Richmond and has been spearheading a pilot project to expand Ashby Village to that city. Since moving to California from New York four decades ago, she has worked for the California Urban Indian Health Council, Contra Costa Health Services and local media outlets.She has been a volunteer for Writer Coach, the Richmond Museum of History and Ashby Village.
Janet M. Howley, Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair
Janet brings a lengthy background in affordable housing development. She served as Vice President, Community Services & Housing, for Northern California Presbyterian Homes & Service. She also was Director of Asset Management for East Bay Asian Local Development Corp. and worked for Mercy Housing California. Janet worked for the City of Oakland for nearly 20 years in a variety of positions in housing and community development. She has served on the Board of Directors of LifeLong Medical Care since 2001 and is a past board president.
Rochelle G. Lefkowitz
For 25 years, Rochelle ran Pro-Media Communications, with offices in New York and California, that designed and ran local, state, national and global public education campaigns and represented nonfiction authors, foundations and organizations committed to progressive social change. Clients included the American Library Association, author Barbara Ehrenreich and The Kaiser Family Foundation. Rochelle co-chairs Ashby Village’s Communications Team.
Andra Lichtenstein, President , Executive Committee Chair
Founder and principal of Capital Incubator, Andra consults with nonprofit community health centers and aging services organizations to develop their capital projects. She has 40 years of experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors as an Executive Director, Planning and Development Director, small business owner, banker, financial advisor and board member. She serves on the Ashby Village Development and Planning Committees.
Steve Lustig
Steve, an Executive Coach and Organization Consultant, retired from the University of California, Berkeley, as Associate Vice Chancellor Emeritus, Health and Human Services, where he was in charge of the campus’ health and counseling programs for students, faculty and staff. Building community has been one of his passions, beginning with work as an activist in the ‘60s. He has led strategic and business planning efforts for Ashby Village.
Laura Peck, Vice President, Governance Committee Chair
The Founder and Principal of Claros Group, Laura serves as a master facilitator, strategist and coach to nonprofits and corporations nationwide. She brings more than 25 years of experience working with mission-driven organizations and leaders, including the arts, sports and health-care organizations. She’s also a certified yoga instructor. Laura currently leads the Board Transition Team, and provides expertise in facilitation and organizational development.
Susan Thomas Pierpoint
Susan was president of the North Oakland Village board, where she became a volunteer in 2015. She’s also board president of Bishop’s Ranch, a nonprofit camp and conference center in Healdsburg, CA, and was senior warden at St. John’s Oakland for two years. Susan practiced law for more than 30 years in a private law firm and then at University of California. After retirement in 2009 she assisted Mills College as acting General Counsel and served as a consultant in board governance for nonprofits.
Bryan Ricks
Bryan is chairman of the Oakland Mayor’s Commission on Aging and was a board member of North Oakland Village; executive director of CareBuilders at Home-East Bay; and a member of the Livable Oakland Committee. He has worked with the Commission to raise awareness around issues of people over 65. For CareBuilders at Home, he spearheads projects that incorporate nonmedical home care and patient advocacy programs to decrease rehospitalization. These services create a “web of care” to help keep senior patients at home.
Patricia Sakai
Patricia, a Learning and Organization Development consultant, worked for more than 25 years in corporate leadership positions. She has consulted with a variety of for-profit and nonprofit organizations and in addition has a background in public and private education. Pat has served on the boards of The Management Center of Northern California and the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. She co-chairs the Village’s Development Committee.
Patricia Carson Sussman
As a co-founder of Ashby Village, Patricia has brought years of experience as a health-care executive and board member of community organizations to her work in building the Village. A former hospice director, she also was Chief Operating Officer for Lifelong, gaining practical experience as well as an understanding of the public policy issues around aging. She has also maintained an independent consulting practice that specializes in aging and health-care delivery.
Betty Webster, Secretary
After many years in administrative positions Betty has devoted her skills and time as a dedicated community volunteer, including the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley and the Kensington Improvement Club. When she discovered the village movement she realized that here was a "place" where she could blend all her interests. Betty has had various roles and responsibilities with Ashby Village since the early planning days.