Board
Lana Adair
Lana is a seasoned fundraiser and strategist within the non-profit and professional sectors. Her experience includes project conception; fundraising campaigns; grant receipts; chairing roles; and investor development with a current focus on children and the outdoors. Lana and five women founded “Friends of Presidio Heights Playground” and raised almost $1 million in private community funds for the 2010 renovation. In 2012, Lana created a program that provides dozens of children living in San Francisco homeless shelters with year-long access to sports, arts and camp classes through SF Recreation and Parks Department. She is an active volunteer at her three children’s schools; Vice President of Strategy on the Children of Shelters board; and a former trustee of San Francisco Parks Trust. Lana has served as a co-chair or sponsorship chair for each of their annual fundraisers. Lana is a graduate of Northwestern University and spent over a decade in investment banking and leveraged buyouts before starting her family. Lana and her family are avid park users and they enjoy SF’s amazing breadth of outdoor resources almost daily.
Phil Arnold Treasurer
Phil Arnold is currently the Manager of Finance and Administration for the San Francisco Human Services Agency. Previous to this position, he worked for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. At the PUC he co-authored the $4.8 billion Water Supply Improvement Master Plan which is now being implemented to improve the safety and reliability of San Francisco's water supply. At Rec-Park he managed the Open Space Program as well as the administration and finance divisions. He also served as the Interim Director of the San Francisco Zoo for a year. He developed four general obligation bond issues that were approved by the voters and brought over $100 million in capital improvements to San Francisco's parks. He is also the Treasurer of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council which is implementing a 550 mile trail around the ridgeline of the San Francisco Bay. Phil is an active runner, swimmer and sailor and uses the parks regularly. He lives with his family in Golden Gate Heights.
Connie Goodyear Baron
Connie Goodyear Baron is a fourth generation San Franciscan who has lived in New York, Los Angeles, Houston, and Paris. Her long history as an activist and volunteer began as a member of the first Women’s Committee of the New York Zoological Society. She is a Trustee Emerita of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, a former member of the Coalition to Keep the deYoung in the Park, a former Board Member of San Francisco Parks Trust and Co-chair of the Committee to reopen The Conservatory of Flowers, past president of The Friends of Langley Porter, Board Member of UCSF Young Adult and Family Center and FRAME, a French and American museum’s exchange. She is married to Barry Baron and is the proud mother of three sons and 5 grandchildren and loves her city parks.
Mollie Ward Brown
For the past 25 years, Mollie has worked as an employee, consultant and volunteer with non-profits specializing in human services and public policy. She is currently the Director of Community Development for Huckleberry Youth Programs, an agency specializing in serving at risk youth in the areas of health, juvenile justice and abuse prevention. Her particular interest is systems reform and public/private partnerships. Having raised four active children, she is familiar with most ball fields, recreation centers and playgrounds in the City. As a member of the Friends of Alta Plaza Park steering committee, she helped to raise over $1,200,000 for the renovation of the tennis courts, restrooms and playground. She is a firm believer in the benefits of open space and recreation and recognizes that these assets require capable stewardship and creative partnerships to maintain them in this economic climate. Having recently moved to the Richmond District, Mollie can be found most mornings walking her black Labrador, Charlotte, in Golden Gate Park.
Rosemary Cameron President
Rosemary Cameron has spent her career working in the public sector with management experience in regional and municipal parks and recreation, city management legislative affairs and communications. Rosemary retired from the East Bay Regional Park District in December 2010, leaving her post as Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs.
She also served as Executive Director of the Regional Parks Foundation from 1993 to 2010. Under her leadership the Regional Parks Foundation raised over $20 million to support East Bay Regional Park District’s parks and programs. Rosemary continues to consult and speaks on marketing, branding, communications, social media, and fundraising at professional conferences and trainings.
Rosemary holds a Bachelors’ degree in Economics and Government from Mills College, and a Masters’ degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. Her volunteer involvement includes serving on Save the Redwoods League’s Board of Councillors; on the California Parks and Recreation Society’s PAC and, as a member of the California Roundtable on Recreation, Parks and Tourism.
Nancy Conner
Nancy Conner joined the Board of Friends of Recreation and Parks in the late 1970s and has been an impassioned proponent of parks ever since. Her proudest park moments include the Parks’ Fun Raiser Campaign, co-founding the San Francisco Landscape and Garden Show at Ft. Mason, the Conservatory of Flowers Campaign, writing the brochure for Coit Tower, and, as chair of the Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority, helping to win public approvals for the Music Concourse garage in Golden Gate Park. She has been a docent at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, co-author of “Where on Earth: A Guide to California’s Specialty Nurseries”, and on the Board of the Presidio Trust. She has been married to Ed Conner for 45 years and their three sons are grateful park users.
Christine Gardner
Christine Gardner lives in San Francisco with her husband and three young children. She is the founder of an environmental health consulting company called moregreenmoms and recently published her first children’s book, A Moment of Quiet is Nothing to Fear. A graduate of Stanford University with a B.A. in both Communication and French Studies, Christine has worked in diverse fields including publishing, investment research and Internet development. She is a co-creator and parent representative for the eco-Councils at her children’s schools and she is presently the Chair of the Bay Area Green Schools Alliance, a collection of parents, educators and change-makers working together to promote sustainability practices on private and public school campuses throughout our community. As a former Board member of the San Francisco Parks Trust, Christine was co-Chair of the past three Party for the Parks events, and she helped launch programs such as our Gear-Up program to outfit rec centers with equipment and the Parks ReStore concept to allow supporters to directly purchase tools and supplies for our City’s gardeners.
Steven Gwozdz
Steven Gwozdz and his wife Ally, as parents of two young children, are regulars at the panhandle playground and the Koret children’s quarter. Steve has been taking year round advantage of the bay area outdoors for the last thirteen years and is committed to improving the city’s park facilities and recreation programs. In addition to family bike rides on JFK Drive, he frequents Ocean Beach, The Marin Headlands, and Lake Tahoe on the weekends. He holds a BA from Boston College and an MBA from Northwestern University, where he is a volunteer in the admissions program.
Dr. Veronica Hunnicutt
Dr. Veronica Hunnicutt began her professional teaching career with the San Francisco Unified School District (S.F.U.S.D.). After working with the S.F.U.S.D. for three years, she joined City College of San Francisco (C.C.S.F.) in 1972 and has served in a number of positions, including Instructor in both the English and Engineering Departments, Acting Dean of the Southeast Campus, Dean of the Southeast Campus, Acting Dean of Students, Chair of the African American Studies Department, Diversity Calendar Coordinator, Coordinator of the Partnerships to Achieve Academic Success, and Dean of the Office of Student Affairs.
Additionally, Veronica’s other academic achievements include serving as a member of the Academic Senate, Chair of the Student Equity Committee, and a member of the Matriculation, Student Success, Transfer Enhancement, Affirmative Action, Curriculum, Diversity, and Shared Governance/Staff Development committees. She served as a member of the Personnel committee and was a Faculty Advisor in the English Department. Dr. Hunnicutt was selected as one of the participants from C.C.S.F. to the American Cultures Scholar Program at the University of California at Berkeley. She presently serves as a member of the Bi-Partite, Student Prep and Success, Matriculation, and Graduation committees. Dr. Hunnicutt is a member and former co-chair of the Administrators’ Association.
L. Jasmine Kim
Jasmine came to SFPA because of her love of urban architecture and landscapes. In fact, she holds a double major in college in this discipline as well as she has pursued masters programs in Architecture and Urban Policy.
In her professional life, she currently serves as the General Manager of Travel-Ticker, an Expedia online travel media company. Prior to Travel-Ticker, Jasmine was CEO ofShopWell.com. She was also the SVP/GM of the leading parenting site BabyCenter.com, and spent eight years at Yahoo! as VP of International Marketing and Sales Development where she successfully launched 24 global sites. When she is not traveling all over the world for work, Jasmine can often be found hiking the trails of city and national parks, in the Bay Area and stateside with her husband and two children.
She holds a BA in Art History and Economics from Wellesley College and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management. She is also an active member of SFMOMA a+d forum.She resides in San Francisco with her family.
Courtney Klinge
Courtney has been a resident of San Francisco for over 15 years. She and her husband, Eric Prosnitz, own the Sports Basement and are avid outdoor enthusiasts who frequent the city’s open spaces with their three daughters predominantly for soccer games, running, and hiking. Courtney is passionate about supporting the broader San Francisco community in embracing a healthy and active lifestyle with an emphasis on engaging underserved youth. Past employment included product management in the internet industry and account management for advertising agencies. She is a graduate of Colgate University, BA, and Harvard Business School, MBA.
Fran Martin
Since 1996, co-chair of the award winning Visitacion Valley Greenway Project (VVGP), which has revitalized the surrounding community. VVGP functions as an outdoor classroom, community backyard and recreational area. Responsible for co-ordination of volunteers, design and construction on behalf of the community, as well as working as a teacher on site with children, youth and adults.
Chairperson of the Visitacion Valley Planning Alliance (VVPA), which was created in 1999. VVPA has advocated for community planning to bring neighborhood serving retail, housing, open space and neighborhood services to the community with an emphasis on aesthetically pleasing development. Has served on advisory groups related to transportation and land use.
Fabricated and exhibited sculpture until 1995 and was represented by John Berggruen Gallery. Work in collection of San Francisco Airport and City of San Francisco, as well as many private collections.
Mary J. McCue, R.P.A.
Mary McCue is President and CEO of MJM Management Group, an award-winning property management firm specializing in the creation, activation, and management of vibrant, sustainable, public spaces for everyone to enjoy. Mary brings to her role more than 20 years of management experience of urban public spaces and facilities, and her experience has extended to a public space consulting practice at home and in other American cities. The recipient of some of her community’s most prestigious awards, she leads her corporate team and has served as General Manager of Yerba Buena Gardens since 1993. Mary believes that parks and public open spaces are vital to the health and well-being of urban living by providing opportunities for diverse communities to share a common, civic experience. This experience includes parks and open spaces that operate as a place for people to gather as well as a place for them to simply contemplate.
Mary works with public and private entities to ensure spaces are open, inviting and available to all users, while activating the spaces with programs that make people feel comfortable and welcome. She believes successful public spaces provide synergistic opportunities for people to socialize and interact individually or collectively. Mary is a graduate of San Francisco State University with over 20 years experience as a Real Property Administrator (RPA) in managing and consulting on public parks and facilities.
Kelly Nice Vice President
Kelly Nice is a Founding Partner at Nice Advertising, a leading independent ad agency in San Francisco. He first got involved with San Francisco’s parks in 2002, helping on the campaign to restore the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. As Vice President of San Francisco Parks Trust, Kelly served on the committee that initiated the merger between SFPT and Neighborhood Parks Council. Kelly lives near Allyne Park and is a frequent cyclist and runner in Golden Gate Park.
Kelly Quirke
Prior to the birth of the San Francisco Parks Alliance, Kelly was the last Chair of the Board of Directors of the Neighborhood Parks Council. Kelly's affiliation and close relationship with NPC began when he served as the Executive Director of Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) in San Francisco from 2004 - 2008. Kelly is also the former Executive Director of Rainforest Action Network (RAN). For over seven years prior to joining RAN, Kelly campaigned at Greenpeace, finishing his tenure there as the national coordinator of Greenpeace’s U.S. Temperate Forest campaign. Before that, he worked on Greenpeace’s Offshore Oil, Energy and Climate campaigns. As the national coordinator of Greenpeace’s public outreach and scientific area of the USA Climate Campaign, Kelly’s work included educating and politicizing the insurance industry regarding the economic and environmental risks and realities of global climate change. Kelly has served on numerous non-profit boards over the years, and is currently also on the Board of Directors of the Hunters Point Family, a community organization working with at-risk youth in San Francisco’s diverse and underserved Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood. Kelly is active in the San Francisco Bay Area non-violence community, and has been a non-violence trainer for over 20 years. His activism has also included military non-intervention, needle exchange and AIDS-related issues. Most importantly, he’s the father of 19 year old Casey, 4 year old Calliope, and 2 year old Charlotte.
Jonathan Rewers
Jonathan Rewers has many degrees and has worked in many different places. Despite all that his one goal in life is being of service to his friends, family, community and colleagues. Parks and Recreation is a pure expression of that goal, which is why he has promoted and supported it in all ways possible – as a volunteer, advocate and professional. He currently works as the Manager of Capital Financial Planning and Analysis at the SFMTA, and is pursuing a graduate degree in Urban Planning. He grew up in San Francisco and played his childhood away at San Francisco’s world-class parks.
Patty-Jo Rutland
Patty-Jo Rutland is an acknowledged expert in project advocacy, strategic planning, and public policy development. She began her career in the California State Assembly, serving under then-Speaker Willie L. Brown, Jr. As the Deputy Administrative Officer of the Assembly Rules Committee, she oversaw the development of the Member Orientation Program, handled legislative bill assignments, and developed member and committee budget recommendations. In 1997, after 15 years of legislative service, Ms. Rutland accepted a position as the Regional Vice President for PRWT Services where she lead in winning for PRWT a public/private partnership with the City of San Francisco’s Department of Parking and Traffic. In 2005, she was invited to join forces with The Rutland Group, where she focuses on client issues within San Francisco and neighboring Bay Area counties. Patty-Jo holds a BA from Fisk University and a JD from Lincoln Law School. She served on the San Francisco Child Abuse Council from 1997-2000, and as a member of the Mayor’s Fiscal Advisory Council from 1998-2002.
Glenn Snyder
Glenn Snyder is a real estate partner at the law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Pillsbury served as pro bono counsel for San Francisco Parks Trust from its birth in 1971 through the formation of San Francisco Parks Alliance, and Pillsbury continues its role as pro bono counsel for SFPA. Glenn was on the board of San Francisco Parks Trust from 2000 through 2011, and was its President from 2007 through 2011. He was a member of the joint committee of SFPT and NPC that envisioned, designed and launched San Francisco Parks Alliance. Glenn and his wife have lived in the Richmond District for 20 years and regularly enjoy the City and Federal parks in the area for hiking, bird-watching and fog therapy.
John Ware
John is a 21 year resident of San Francisco and was active as a board member and treasurer of the San Francisco Parks Trust for seven years. John finds himself in one or more of our parks on nearly a daily basis. A soccer dad for many years, John is now a volunteer gardener in the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.
Marcel Wilson Secretary
Marcel Wilson is a licensed landscape architect, writer, educator, based in San Francisco, CA. He founded Bionic in 2007 to focus on the design of innovative landscape architecture, planning, urban design, and ecology projects at all scales. Wilson is a recognized leader of a new generation of landscape architects that are expanding the field by addressing the complex environmental and cultural conditions presented by our world today. His work combines sharp analysis with social responsibility, experimentation, and inventive creativity. Wilson graduated with distinction from The Harvard Design School where he was awarded the prestigious Weidenman Prize for design excellence.
Wilson has worked for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, and is a former principal at the internationally renowned landscape architecture firm Hargreaves Associates. He has led the design and management of landscape projects and exhibitions in Europe, Asia, and the United States. His portfolio of design and management experience includes waterfronts, infrastructure, universities, high rise construction, landscapes on structure, and post industrial sites. In his career Wilson has led many winning entries for planning and design competitions including the Los Angeles State Historic Park, Denver International Airport Entry, The Stanford Science and Engineering Quad. Recently his firm won honors in the BCDC Rising Tides Competition (2009), 2010 Chicago Prize Design Competition, The Pittsburgh Gateway Design Competition (2010), and The Confluence Park design competition in Issaquah, Wa.(2010). Recent design awards include the 2010 Award of excellence from the Northern California ASLA, and a 2009 Urban design Award from the Boston Society of Architects. In addition to his private practice, Wilson teaches graduate level design studios in landscape architecture, planning, and urbanism at the University of California at Berkeley. Wilson is an active participant in the San Francisco planning and design community where he has served on the Mayors Blue Green Way Taskforce, and the Mayor’s Open Space Task Force. He is a design advisor to SPUR for the annual Piro Patri Fellowship, and he is an officer on the founding board of directors for the San Francisco Parks Alliance.
