BUCKELEW - Key Persons
Alex Tolkach joined Buckelew Programs in October 2016 after spending over 15 years in the field of operations management working for environmental conservation organizations. Alex has a wealth of experience in the development of business processes and systems as well as project, compliance and people management. Alex oversees agency infrastructure that includes leased/owned facilities, information technology, fixed assets & equipment, and contract management, as well as the implementation of workflow/process improvements.
Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Sonoma State University, with an emphasis in Organizational Development. He is passionate about conservation, and has an acute interest in the impact that the environment has on the health of the individual.
Athena House, a low-cost residential treatment program for women struggling with substance use challenges, was officially resurrected.
Athena House residential treatment program for women gets second chance thanks to community benefactors.
Job Titles:
- Board Member / Director of Sales & Marketing, Azul Hospitality
Brooke Igleheart Ross grew up in Palm Springs, California before moving to San Luis Obispo to attend college. She transferred to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and graduated in San Francisco with a degree in Merchandise Marketing. While enrolled in school she started working in hotels and combined her passion for sales, marketing and hospitality, which has led her to a successful 20-year career. She is now the General Manager of Hotel Trio in Healdsburg and Director of Marketing for Stay Healdsburg (Healdsburg Tourism Improvement District).
Carol-Anne Chang joined the Buckelew Board of Directors in March 2023 and is thrilled to be supporting an organization that provides such an impressive range of services and continuum of care for our community. Carol-Anne is an executive leadership coach and senior advisor with global experience spanning a 27-year career in foreign affairs and public service with the U.S. Department of State and the Peace Corps.
Chris Kughn, L.M.F.T., joined Buckelew Programs in May of 2019 as Chief Executive Officer with more than 20 years of experience in the public and private nonprofit behavioral health care systems. Most recently, Chris served as Executive Director of Solano County for Caminar, Inc., where he focused on building strong partnerships with all stakeholders through transparency, trust and collaboration.
Prior to joining Caminar, Chris served as Division Director of Adult and Older Adult Services, among other management positions in behavioral health with the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services. His passion for this work began as a licensed therapist serving adults, children and families in the juvenile justice, crisis stabilization and adult homeless systems.
Connie Mann is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist that joined Buckelew Programs in 2003 with most recent transition to the Senior Management Team in 2021. As Behavioral Health Regional Director, she brings over 16 years of experience in nonprofit work, contract management, residential and supportive housing, trauma informed care, crisis management, adult and family homelessness, peer specialist, and managed care.
Connie earned her master's degree from Sonoma State University in 2008 specializing in sexual trauma, domestic violence, PTSD, individual, couple, and family therapies, and multicultural counseling. Connie also holds a graduate level certification in Eastern, Western, and Indigenous Psychology, WRAP trainer, and Triple P parent education. She currently lives in Petaluma with her 2 daughters and is an avid hiker, jogger, and advocate for environmental causes impacting our planet.
Erika Klohe, a licensed Clinical Social Worker, joined Buckelew in 2022 with many years of experience working in the community providing direct services and developing partnerships throughout Sonoma County. Much of her work has focused on analysis of barriers and challenges, and has supported the establishment of shared practices that increase access to care. Erika is a strong advocate for culturally diverse, recovery-orientated, trauma-informed and humanistic services.
She has many years of experience working with our community's most vulnerable including: Native and Latinx populations, individuals experiencing homelessness, seniors, LGBTQI, those involved in the criminal justice system, transitional and underserved youth and their families. Erika earned a degree in psychology from Sonoma State University and received a Master's in Social Work (MSW) from CSU-Long Beach. Erika enjoys hiking, dancing, creating art and spending time with her family and friends. She is dedicated to serving and increasing the health and wellbeing for all.
Job Titles:
- Board Member / Director of Institutional Advancement, 10, 000 Degrees
Gracie joined the Buckelew board in April of 2021. She currently manages all institutional giving for 10,000 Degrees, the leading college success and scholarship organization in northern California.
Jack Scott teaches Fine Art at the College of Marin in Kentfield. His sister is dealing with a severe mental illness, so Jack's interest in Buckelew is personal. Jack recently re-joined the Buckelew Board of Directors after a 10-month hiatus. He had previously served on the Board since 2005.
Job Titles:
- Board Member / Author, Speaker, Coach & Trainer
JD joined the Buckelew Board of Directors in February 2022. JD Schramm has a private practice as a communication coach, trainer, and speaker. He holds a faculty appointment at USC's Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism. From 2007 to 2020 he created and led the communications curriculum at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. He has spoken at TED and TEDx events and has coached scores of others to do the same.
Job Titles:
- Chairman / Program Manager, 10, 000 Degrees Academic Support
Judy joined the Buckelew board in June 2015. She manages 10,000 Degrees Academic Support, a nonprofit program whose volunteers work with struggling students at Title I schools throughout Marin County. Previously she ran Experience Corps Marin, a nonprofit focused on early literacy. When one of her volunteers introduced Judy to Buckelew, she was most impressed by the breadth of its services and its longevity.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
Karen Frost joined Buckelew Programs in May of 2022 as CFAO with more than 35 years of experience in nonprofit finance, grants management and facility operations. For the last seven years, she has focused on housing and homelessness issues in San Francisco. Prior to this, Karen worked with international nonprofits, directing offices from the Republic of Georgia to Indonesia. Her passion for compliance led her to teach the grant management skills needed to get USAID funds.
Following her graduation from Wittenberg University in 1984, Karen joined the accounting firm of Touch-Ross. She is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the state of California as well as a Certified Global Managerial Accountant (CGMA).
Job Titles:
- Board Member / Executive Director, WildCare ( Retired )
Karen joined Buckelew's Board of Directors in January 2021. She attended university at Boston College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. She began her career in the advertising industry, but after moving to Northern California continued her education at the University of San Francisco where she earned a Master's Degree in Business.
Job Titles:
- Board Member / Marketing and Product Management Financial Services Industry ( Retired )
Leslie joined the Buckelew Board of Directors in July, 2020. She retired in 2012 after working in the financial services industry in marketing and product management roles for over 30 years including Security Pacific Bank, Charles Schwab and Union Bank. Leslie's interest in Buckelew's mission is personal because of her own family's experience with depression and anxiety. She is passionate about helping to reduce the stigma around these issues and working towards getting people connected to the services they need.
Lilian holds both a doctorate and master's degree in public health from Walden University Minnesota and a master's degree in public administration from Keller Graduate School of Management of Devry University. Lilian also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and is a Certified Health Education Specialist.
Lilian has directed mental health and substance use disorder programs, adult day health and senior centers for over 12 years. She was a director for mental health services/methadone for Westside Community Services, DAAC, Epiphany Center and Conard House. Lilian was also a director for the City of Oakland Senior Center and recently, health program manager for the City and County of San Francisco COVID-19 Command Center-Community/Population Branch. Lilian is a consultant in health education, promotion, and prevention.
Lydia Arellano joined the Buckelew board in June of 2022. Lydia was born and raised in Cuba and came to live to the United States as a teenager. Her past careers include Advertising Art Director and Footwear Design. In 2009 Lydia changed careers to healthcare, following her desire to give back to her community.
Job Titles:
- Secretary / Vice President, Global Publishing, LucasArts, a Division of Lucasfilm ( Retired )
Mary Bihr joined Buckelew's Board of Directors in March 2018. In her prior career as a business executive, Mary oversaw worldwide sales and marketing for a division of Lucasfilm. For over 20 years, she worked to establish the Star Wars and Indiana Jones brands in interactive entertainment.
Job Titles:
- Chief Philanthropy Officer
Pat Gallagher joined Buckelew Programs in December 2020 as Chief Philanthropy Officer. Pat is an established development professional with a demonstrated history of working in Human Services, Community Health, and Education sectors in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her experience includes capital campaigns, major and annual gifts, grant-making, planned giving, relationship building, and events management. Her experience includes oversight of communications and marketing, volunteer services, and advocacy efforts. Pat is excited to be part of Buckelew's team and shares their passion to support our vital mission, values, and strategic vision.
A native San Franciscan, Pat received her BA in English at Santa Clara University and Master in Nonprofit Management at University of San Francisco. When off duty, she enjoys cooking, long walks and follows, with great enjoyment, televised baking competitions.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer / Business Management Consultant
Richard Jensen joined Buckelew's Board of Directors in December 2018. He retired after working in the financial services industry for over 40 years. Before joining Wells Fargo, he worked for Bank of America and American Express. He is now a Business Management Consultant to nonprofits in Marin County, providing strategic and marketing planning advice with a focus on goal formation, fundraising, board governance and financial control.
Job Titles:
- Board Member / Vice President of Internal Audit, Bank of Marin
Rowan Smith joined the Board of Directors in 2015. He currently serves as the Vice President of Internal Audit at Bank of Marin. Previously, he served for many years as a consultant to companies in the financial services and high tech industries. He holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the Kennedy School at Harvard University with an emphasis in Technology and Social Policy.
Scott Maclise joined the Buckelew Board of Directors in January 2014. He is a self-employed investment advisor/wealth manager with over 35 years of experience in the field of finance. Buckelew's mission is close to Scott's heart because of his own personal family experience with mental illness and addiction, and he is passionate about speaking out against stigma.
Job Titles:
- Marketing and Communications Manager
- Media Inquiries
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Helen Vine Recovery Center
Teresa is a native of Marin County who began her career path as a young adult, just after graduation from Tamalpais High School. She furthered her career with a degree in business from Heald's Business College in San Francisco, and later completed U.C. Berkeley's Alcohol and Drug Studies program to become a Certified Addiction Specialist. In 1999, Teresa co-founded the Helen Vine Recovery Center, also known as "The Vine", and served as its Executive Director, a role she continues to hold.
As Executive Director of Helen Vine Recovery Center, Teresa was awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award in 2005. In 2011 The Vine merged with Buckelew Programs. Teresa has been instrumental in overseeing The Vine's adoption of evidence-based treatment and, in 2020, the addition of two critically needed sober living residences.
Job Titles:
- Board Member / Vice President of Business Development, SiteLabs
Warren Dodge joined Buckelew in October of 2018. After a career helping build early stage companies in oncology, he retired from full-time work and now advises small and medium-sized companies on growth strategies. Prior to his 25 years in cancer, he worked in similar capacities in the graphic arts industry. The common theme is helping small companies get bigger. Warren has also invested in a couple of start-up businesses and provides support as needed.