Marcy Adelman, Ph.D., Founder

Marcy founded openhouse in 1998 with her late partner Jeanette Gurevitch. As a clinical psychologist, writer, researcher and lecturer, she is a nationally recognized expert in lesbian and gay aging and senior issues and is the author of several books on the subject. She provided research expertise for openhouse’s landmark 2002 Needs Assessment Survey on LGBT seniors and established the key matrix of programs and relationships in senior housing, senior services and community building, which are the bases of the openhouse vision. Marcy chairs openhouse’s Policy and Research Committee.

Nancy Brundy

As Director of External Affairs for the Institute on Aging, Nancy is responsible for the development and expansion of relationships with governmental organizations, unions and community agencies. She is the former President of the California Association for Adult Day Services and a founding member of the San Francisco Adult Day Services Network. Currently she is a member of the San Francisco Department on Aging and Adult Services, Planning for Elders in the Central City, the Coalition of Agencies Serving the Elderly, and the American Society on Aging.

Derek Gordon

Derek Gordon is a 20-year veteran in the field of marketing and is currently Vice President of Marketing for Yield Software, an innovative start-up focused on the automation of search engine marketing and optimization. He is a specialist in viral and social marketing, corporate communications and product marketing in start-up environments. Prior to joining Yield Software, Gordon worked with Engage.com, Technorati, Thomson/NETg, DigitalThink and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Derek chairs openhouse’s Communications Committee.

Hadley Dale Hall

A retired CEO of the Visiting Nurses and Hospice Program in San Francisco, Hadley lead that organization in developing the 30th Street Senior Center and comprehensive programs for the elderly such as home delivered meals, congregate meals and home care. He also created Coming Home Hospice, a residential hospice program providing care and support for clients and their families facing terminal illness. He has an expertise in senior issues and comprehensive knowledge of senior service providers in San Francisco. Since his retirement in 1986 has been an active volunteer most specifically with On Lok and openhouse. Hadley chairs openhouse’s Services Committee.

Arthur Hurwith

A retired schoolteacher and principal, Arthur is a longtime activist for LGBT senior housing in San Francisco. Arthur is a former president of GALAXY (Gay And Lesbian Accommodations for the eXperienced in Years), and has served as a delegate to numerous national conventions for senior gay men. He has been a member of the Independent Housing Advisory Board, Gay and Lesbian Outreach to Elders Advisory Board, Steering committee for G40+, and a twelve-year member of the Council on Aging Advisory Council. Arthur’s diverse expertise includes such areas as fiscal accountability, board development, and community outreach.

Daniel Johnson, Treasurer

Daniel is a Certified Public Accountant in private practice in San Francisco following over 16 years of accounting and auditing positions with three leading Bay Area firms. He has expertise in systems and accounting, corporate accounting, personal income tax, and internal auditing functions. He is also a tenured faculty member of City College in San Francisco. Daniel is Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Project Open Hand in San Francisco.

Marty Low

Marty has 20 years of management and financial experience in the nonprofit sector. His experience spans small community-based organizations to large government funded agencies, as well as local and Federal government entities. Currently, Marty is the Deputy Executive Director, Finance & Administration for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. He has specialized experience in health care, mental health/substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and residential treatment/long-term housing. He has served on many community boards and governmental agency committees. Marty chairs the Board Development Committee.

Cynthia Martin

Cynthia worked at the Eastman Kodak Company for 20 years, culminating in her position as President of Global Customer Services. Cynthia moved on from Kodak to become the Vice President of Brand, Marketing and Consumer Experience for Blue Shield of California where she and her team delivered an award winning re-branding strategy that rejuvenated the company’s culture and market presences. Cynthia now consults on business strategy and operational excellence. Former co-chair of the Business Council at the Human Rights Campaign, Cynthia has served on a wide range of boards including Ohlhoff Recovery Programs, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, the Urban League, the San Francisco LGBT Community Center.

Saralie Pennington, MSW, LCSW

Saralie is a professor at San Francisco State University and a psychotherapist with a private practice. She is a community development specialist and worked at Operation Concern, now New Leaf, for 20 years. As a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the National Association of Geriatric Service Providers and Educators, Saralie brings a wide range of experience in mental health, community organization, senior service delivery, program development, and fundraising events.

Matile Rothschild, Ph.D., Founding Board Member

Matile is a retired clinical social worker. Along with her clinical work at Kaiser, she developed programs for seniors, AIDS and cancer patients. She has for many years been involved in the development of programs for LGBT seniors. In the early 1980’s she was instrumental in creating the first needs assessment that opened the door for the funding of GLBT senior programs in San Francisco. She has also been a volunteer for many non-profits including New Leaf, the AIDS Health Project, GALAXY and Options for Women Over Forty. In 2002 she received the Senior Leadership Award from U.C. Berkeley School of Public Health and the California Wellness Foundation. She brings tremendous knowledge in LGBT aging, senior services, outreach and board development.

Tim Schroeder

Tim Schroeder is Managing Director of Corporate Services at CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), a leading commercial real estate company.  His expertise includes organizational leadership, portfolio and transaction strategies, development management, real estate operations, and financial due diligence.  Immediately before CBRE, Tim was with Deloitte Consulting where he advised clients on real estate management issues. Previously, he was Vice President of Quadrangle, a Midwest-based developer of office and industrial properties, where he helped launched the development of a 140 acre mixed-use office park in Northern California.  Before moving to San Francisco, Tim spent 10 years in Chicago where he was a Vice President and Managing Director of The Balcor Company, a national real estate investment company. 

Neil Sims, President

Neil is presently Managing Director of the Global Technology Practice at Boyden, an executive search firm. With over 15 years of matching thought leaders with targeted skills to start up pioneering companies, he has worked closely with founders and venture investors focused on early strategies for creating strong leadership teams. Neil has served as a member of the National Board of Governors for the Human Rights Campaign as well as co-chair of its local Steering Committee and continues to lend his time to the candidates and political initiatives that affect the LGBT community. His organizational, finance, management and leadership skills have been instrumental in providing openhouse’s nonprofit vision with a strong entrepreneurial foundation.

Martin Skea

Martin is Senior Vice President and head of marketing for Wells Fargo Wealth Management Group (WMG). He has been in the financial services industry for 15 years. Immediately before joining Wells Fargo in 2005, he was the global head of marketing for FileNet’s financial services industry group. Prior to that, he was a management consultant at BearingPoint (formerly KPMG Consulting), where he worked in the U.S. and Europe to deliver strategy and business-change consulting services in the wealth management arena. Martin began his career in financial services at Charles Schwab in 1992. Prior to his financial services career, he worked for the New York City Department of City Planning where he focused on environmental impact planning and review.

Laura Spanjian

Laura Spanjian is the Assistant General Manager for External Affairs for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), responsible for the agency’s communications, outreach, education and legislative matters. She oversees a nearly $7 million budget and more than 40 staff members and consultants. Prior to joining the SFPUC in August 2004, Spanjian directed government and community affairs for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Spanjian is an elected member of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee; past Co-Chair of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club; Board member of the National Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund; and Board member of Equality California (EQCA). Laura received the 2007 District 8 Woman of the Year Award for her work in her Noe Valley neighborhood.

Stanley Watson, Esq., Secretary

Stan is Vice President and Director of The Kaiser Foundation Institute, a division of Kaiser Permanente that conducts research – health services, epidemiologic, translational and clinical trials. Stan is a former member and president of the Board of Directors of Continuum HIV Day Services, an agency which provided a variety of services to those living with HIV infection, including an Adult Day Care Center.

Sonni Zambino, Vice-President

Sonni is the Chief Information Officer for two privately-held companies: Dentistat, Inc. and go2dental.com, Inc. She has been a LGBT activist for over 30 years and was a board member of National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Lesbian Visual Artists. Sonni brings extensive fund development experience to openhouse having led annual major gift campaigns for the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Sonni chairs the Fund Development Committee.