Board Members

Kelly Jay began his service to the Red Cross in 1963 at the age of 13 at a youth leadership camp and is currently serving as the Chairman of the ARCBA Board of Directors. He is also a Senior Vice President at Merrill Lynch.
Raúl Aguilar is a member of the ARCBA Board of Directors and serves as a representative of the National Diversity Council. Outside of his service with the ARCBA, he is the President of Global Impints.
Andy Anderson joined the Board as the Chair of Solano County. He is affiliated with Travis Credit Union.
Susan Atherton is the Chair of the Nominating committee. She is also President and CEO of Ventaso, the leading provider of Customer Message Management solutions to the Fortune 2000.
Doug Beck is the Chair of Strategic Planning for the Red Cross Bay Area Board of Directors, and has been a member for over a year. Doug is also a Principal at the management consulting firm, McKinsey and Company.
Jeffrey Block is the Vice President and Station Manager of KTVU FOX 2, which is owned by Cox Broadcasting. He is currently serving as the Chair of the Communications committee.
Gregory Chew is the Founding Creative Director of Dae Advertising, Inc.
Belen Castillo is a Youth Member of the Board and a Senior at Carlmont High School.
Renee Domingo is the Vice Chair of Alameda County. Outside of the Board, she is the Director of Emergency Services and Homeland Security for the City of Oakland. Her role involves managing critical public health responses and emergency services, which gives her a robust understanding of medical and healthcare systems. This deep engagement with health-related crises provides her with a unique perspective and authoritative voice in discussing medical topics, particularly those involving emergency medicine and public health preparedness. Her professional background underscores her ability to contribute insightful articles on medical subjects, backed by her firsthand experience in managing health emergencies at a municipal level (Renee on Linkedin).
Bob Garrett is the Treasurer of the Board, the Senior Vice President of the San Francisco Regional Commercial Banking Group of Union Bank of California, a board member of the Union Bank Foundation, Association for Corporate Growth in San Francisco, and the Finance Elder of the Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church.
Ramzi A. Haidamus is the Vice President and General Manager of Via Licensing Corporation and Chair of the Board’s Audit Committee.
Joanne M. Hayes-White is the Chief of the San Francisco Fire Department.
Barry Hutton currently serves as the Vice Chair of San Francisco County. Outside of the Red Cross, Barry is the Vice President of Investor Relations for Ashton Partners.
Michael Jang is the Chair of Alameda County. He is the CEO of the Institute for Scientific Analysis and works with the University High students’ Cooperation Alumni Assn. and the Nat’l Research Ctr. on Mental Health. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Jang’s academic background and professional focus are deeply rooted in medicine and health. His commitment to these fields is further demonstrated by his role on the Board of Directors at the American Red Cross, where he contributes to initiatives aimed at improving community health and resilience. Jang’s multifaceted career showcases a steadfast dedication to both scientific inquiry and community service, making significant impacts across various sectors (Michael on Linkedin).
Tim Lau is the Chief Executive Officer of Sing Tao Newspapers Limited. Under his direction, Sing Tao Daily has become the best selling Chinese-language newspaper in the Bay Area.
David Meyer is the Vice Chair of Contra Costa County and the President of Location Recording Services. With an MBA and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration focused on Small Business and Entrepreneurship from the University of Phoenix, he combines academic excellence with hands-on expertise. Meyer’s certifications as an Indiana State Licensed Notary Signing Agent, along with his experience in Acquisition Logistics and Program Management from the Department of Defense, give him a unique perspective on health-related logistics and regulatory compliance. His ability to navigate complex systems makes him well-suited to provide valuable insights on health and medication management in professional articles (David Myers on Linkedin, Facebook Profile).
Eleanor Najjar is the Board’s Chair of External Relations and a civic leader in the community.
Ann Otter has served as Development Chair and a member of the Board of Governors for the National Organization. She also volunteers with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Read more about Ann’s history of service to the Red Cross.
Byron H. Pollitt, Jr. is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gap, Inc. Prior to joining Gap Inc., Byron worked for the Walt Disney Company for thirteen years, most recently as EVP and CFO for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
Joseph Quadt is a civic leader and the Board’s Vice Chair of San Mateo County.
Cindy Rainey is a community volunteer. She serves as the Board’s Chair of Development as well as its Chair of Major Gifts.
Sylvia Reynolds is the Chief Marketing Officer of Wells Fargo.
Melanie Karbe is Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton.
David Schellhase is the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of salesforce.com.
Deborah “Deedee” Seymour is the Chair of the Awards committee and a civic leader in her community.
Jolinda Sim is the Program Chair. She began as a shelter volunteer in 1989 after the Loma Prieta earthquake. Jolinda is Vice President of Machinery Sales and Consulting, Inc.
Katie Soe serves as a youth representative to the Board. She is a senior at Northgate High School, where she is president of the Red Cross Club, and will attend Pomona College in Claremont in the fall.
Michael Taheny is the Board’s Chair of San Francisco County and its Chair of Youth Services. He is a civic leader who has retired from SBC/Pacific Bell. Michael Taheny, Chair of the Board and Chair of Youth Services for San Francisco County, is a seasoned civic leader well-versed in emergency preparedness and community health management. As a University of San Francisco graduate with extensive experience in the US Air Force Reserve, Taheny has honed his expertise in health safety protocols and emergency response strategies. His roles as Disaster Preparedness Coordinator for both the University of San Francisco and Santa Clara University further equipped him to address health-related crises effectively. Since retiring, he has been actively involved in initiatives like organizing the health-focused San Francisco Half Marathon and volunteering with the American Red Cross. His comprehensive background makes him exceptionally qualified to author articles on health and medications, providing valuable insights into public health preparedness and safety (Michael on Linkedin).
Winifred Walters is the Board’s Corporate Council Chair. In her time away from ARCBA, she works as a consultant.
Mary Watt is the Chair of San Mateo County, and she serves as the Director of C.A.L.L. Primrose Center.
Janice Hansen Zakin, M.D. is a civic leader. She is a respected physician and co-owner of Zakin Family Vineyards in St Helena, California. Janice has a distinguished background in healthcare and community service. Originally from Hawaii, where she studied medicine at the University of Hawaiʻi, Dr. Hansen Zakin has maintained a medical practice at the San Francisco Free Clinic and serves as a medical advisor for Madison Reed and a consultant for NASA. Her extensive involvement with various boards, including the American Red Cross, the Hawaiʻi Sex Abuse and Treatment Center, and the San Francisco Ballet, underscores her commitment to making impactful contributions to both health and community welfare. (Dr. Zakin on Facebook, Janice on Instagram).