About Us: 1stACT Network: Catalyst Teams

The catalyst teams across all 1stACT initiatives are made up of leaders that help drive 1stACT's strategic programs. They are advocates of a shared vision and are essential to moving 1stACT's agenda forward.

Downtown Vision Catalyst Team
Thomas Aguilar, Ungrammar Productions
Teresa Briggs, Managing Partner, Silicon Valley, Deloitte & Touche, LLP
Bruce Chizen, former CEO, Adobe

Pat Dando, President and CEO, San Jose/Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce
Marcela Davison Aviles, President and CEO, Mexican Heritage Corporation
Dan Fenton, President and CEO, San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau
Debra Figone, City Manager, City of San Jose
Scott Knies, Executive Director, San Jose Downtown Association
Sam Liccardo, Councilmember, City of San Jose
Michelle Mann, Director of Corporate and Social Responsibility, Adobe

Harry Mavrogenes, Executive Director, San Jose Redevelopment Agency
Dean Munro, Chief of Staff, City of San Jose Redevelopment Agency

Randy Pond, Senior Vice President, Operations, Processes and Systems, Cisco Systems, Inc.
Myrtle Potter, COO of Genentech

Tony Ridder, Retired Chairman and CEO, Knight Ridder
Carmen Sigler, Provost, San Jose State University
Rob Steinberg, President, Steinberg Architects

Leah Toeniskoetter, Project Development Manager, Bear Valley Village/ Toeniskoetter & Breeding, Inc.
Kim Walesh, Chief Strategist, City of San Jose

Communications Catalyst Team
Sheri Boxer Baker, Owner, JDS Group Public Relations

Steven Brewster, Economic Development Officer, City of San Jose

Melissa Dyrdahl, CEO and Co-founder, Bring Light, Inc.

Lee Kopp, Marketing & Publicity Manager, Ballet San Jose

Nicole McClain, Corporate & Foundations Relations Manager, TheatreWorks

James McGregor, Publisher, Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal
Dave Mills, the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation
Carlos Velazquez, Marketing Manager, Teatro Vision
Mark Waxman, Chief Marketing Officer, CBIZ
Anna Weldon, Director of Communications, Arts Council Silicon Valley