Welcoming New Board Members!
INTRODUCING THE OAKLAND INTERFAITH GOSPEL CHOIR’S NEW BOARD MEMBERS
OIGC is thrilled to have new board members join us at the start of the 35th Anniversary season.
Special thanks to Nicolia Gooding, Annette Coffey, Reginald Duhe, Suzanne Falter, Heather Figueroa, Sharon Hymes-Offord, and Nancy Smith for their thoughtful, and intentional work in the Nomination Committee.
ARTHUR BARKER
Arthur Barker born and raised in Oakland, California, is the youngest of ten siblings. He is a product of Oakland Public Schools and a graduate of the historic McClymonds High School "School of the Champions." He also a graduate of the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on Human Resources. With an expansive career in the Risk Services, Arthur has managed both personal and business lines of insurance coverage. Arthur is a longtime employee of the University of California, Office of the President in Oakland, California, and currently works as a Senior Project Analyst in Systemwide Human Resources.
With a commitment to service, Arthur is an honored member of the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. He has served in numerous leadership roles, including a nearly 20-year commitment to the music ministry as the Music Department Administrator (Fundraiser-In-Chief and Event Planner Extraordinaire) at the Center of Hope Community Church in Oakland, CA. He is also a longtime sponsor to Lincoln Child Development Center, Project Open Hands, and E.C. Reems Community Services.
Arthur currently lives in Oakland with his husband, Brandon Riley.
SUSAN BURNS
For over two decades as an executive leader, board member and advisor in both the for-profit and non-profit arena, Susan Burns has launched and grown organizations which have created outstanding social impact.
She currently Director of Finance for Change, a project of Global Footprint Network. As co-founder and CEO of Global Footprint Network, she built the organization into one of the leading scientific organizations in the world addressing global ecological limits. Susan now advises investors and credit rating agencies on environmental risk and has collaborated with more than 30 financial institutions in groundbreaking research on topics ranging from food price shocks to climate change.
She is also a Senior Fellow with Future 500, a non-profit consultancy that builds trust between corporations and activists to advance business as a force for good. She was also formerly a Special Advisor and fundraiser for The Poverty Stoplight, a mobile technology that empowers families to move out of poverty by making them the architects of their own living conditions.
Prior to launching Global Footprint Network, Susan founded the pioneering environmental sustainability consulting firm Natural Strategies, advising multinational companies on sustainability as a source of competitive advantage. Susan led the development of the screening methodology for Portfolio 21, the US’s first mutual fund dedicated to environmental sustainability.
In 2007 Susan, along with Global Footprint Network co-founder Mathis Wackernagel, won the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship. In 2012 John Elkington, a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development, identified Susan among the “Zeronaut 50” Roll of Honor, i.e., leading pioneers who are driving the world’s most significant problems to zero. Susan and Mathis are 2014 ISSP Sustainability Hall of Fame Inductees. Susan also a vocalist and member of the Oakland Interfaith Community Choir, and is currently studying to become a CASA: a “court appointed special advocate” who supports foster children.
JORGE CHOY
Jorge has more than 20 years of experience in international consultative sales and marketing in the education as well as high technology industries. Currently he oversees the development and management of diploma programs for global professionals at UC Berkeley. Prior to UC Berkeley, Jorge worked in various regional management positions in executive education, including serving as Regional Director, Executive Education at the University of Western Ontario’s Ivey Business School in Asia.
Jorge also spent more than a dozen years as a business development executive in the technology industry, working for companies such as PeopleSoft, Gartner and Sony Corp. in the Asia-Pacific region. In these roles, he built long-term relationships with major corporations and collaborated with them to develop customized business process and technology solutions.
Born in Peru, Jorge grew up in the United States and has also lived in China, Hong Kong and Singapore. He holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario. In addition to English, he is also fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese.
MARK McCLURE
Mark’s civic engagement started over 15 years ago and he currently holds positions in the following organizations: Board member, Oakland Chamber of Commerce, Board Member, Oakland Zoo, President, Oakland Builders. Mark is also a licensed general contractor CA # 969670.
Mark’s past public service includes: Chairman of the Oakland Planning Commission, The San Francisco Conservation and Development Commission, and First Vise-President of the Port of Oakland Board of Commissioners, (Chairman of the Commercial Real Estate Committee). Past Non-Profit Board Experience: President of the Crucible.
We also want to take this time to acknowledge and thank the following board members whose terms have ended, for their work and dedication to supporting the organization during a time of leadership transition!
