Our Executive Staff

Meet Our Executive Staff

Laurie Wishard, President

As President, Laurie oversees over 200 Family Service employees at more than 26 locations. She has been with Family Service more than 25 years, and her expertise has helped to ensure the financial sustainability of our organization. She led Family Service to complete its 7.5 million dollar building capital campaign, and spearheaded the organization’s relocation to a new, state-of-the-art headquarters in downtown San Mateo. Adding to her long list of qualifications, Laurie serves on the Board of Directors of the National Ways to Work organization and San Francisco nonprofit, Joey’s Corner, and is involved in the Workforce Investment Board of San Mateo County. She has co-authored four books, including: Sixty Plus in America: A Sourcebook of Senior Benefits and Services, Adoption: The Grafted Tree, Sixty Plus in California: Making the Most of Senior Benefits and Services, and Men’s Rights: A Handbook for the 80′s. She holds a B.A. Degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a M.S.W. from California State University, Sacramento. A San Mateo resident, in her spare time Laurie enjoys walking, reading and practicing to improve her Spanish.

Heather Cleary, Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer

hcleary@peninsulafamilyservice.org

A San Mateo resident, Heather comes to the organization from the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, where she served as controller and director of donor services.

In her role, Heather is responsible for financial operations and management, as well as the organization’s infrastructure, including fiscal planning, accounting and payroll operations, financial reporting and control, and risk management. Heather supervises building operations and office management staff, and the organization’s information technology maintenance and development.

Heather received her degree in Business Administration from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California. Even in her downtime Heather uses her analytical and organizational skills to teach financial literacy for different community programs and volunteers as a part of the CERT (Community Emergency Rescue Team) for San Mateo.

Deborah Miller, Vice President of Programs and Client Services

dmiller@peninsulafamilyservice.org

Deb Miller signed on with Family Service in 2006. A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Deb’s educational background includes a B.A. in Business from San Francisco State University and an M.B.A. in International Economics from the University of Washington. Deb spent more than twenty years working as an independent consultant and a Silicon Valley executive, cultivating a broad perspective on operational efficiency and a strong commitment to creating an environment of continuous improvement. She brings a wealth of business-savvy and leadership skills to her role as vice president of programs and client services.

Michael O’Donahue, Vice President of Development

modonahue@peninsulafamilyservice.org

Born in California but raised in the Midwest, Michael joined Peninsula Family Service in June of 2010. As vice president of development, he is responsible for all fundraising, communications, public relations and marketing activities for the agency. Michael has been involved in nonprofit development for almost 25 years and comes to the agency from the California Dental Association Foundation where he served as Development Director for Corporate Giving; he also held similar positions at FamiliesFirst, Inc. and at the California Rangeland Trust. Michael earned his B.A. degree in Public Policy Planning from the University of Iowa.

Julie Grau, Human Resources Director

jgrau@peninsulafamilyservice.org

Julie is a seasoned HR professional, with over 20 years’ worth of experience in a variety of business settings. A native San Franciscan, Julie started in Law Firm administration, moved to Human Resources in an international software company, and then became an HR Consultant for high tech, legal, for-profit and non-profit clients. Julie has also lived in London for a year, working at Harrods and in the HR department at Imperial College. Julie first joined Peninsula Family Service as a contractor interim HR Manager in 2007-2008. She has now returned as HR Director in 2010. Julie holds a B.A. from University of California, Berkeley, and a M.A. from University of Washington, Seattle.

Susan Houston, Director, Older Adult Services

susan@peninsulafamilyservice.org

As Director of Older Adult Services, Susan oversees the operation of six programs at Family Service and at the Fair Oaks Intergenerational Senior Center. She is a founding member and former president of Northern California’s Forum on Older Workers. She is involved in California’s Coalition for Older Working Women, San Mateo County’s Fall Prevention Program, the Steering Committee of the New Beginnings Coalition, and is a participating partner in Peninsula Works. A native of Denver, Colorado, Susan joined Family Service’s team in 1984. She holds bachelor’s degrees in both Social Work and Spanish from Chico State and has spent extensive time working with people with disabilities. Susan authored a weekly syndicated newspaper column called “Senior Savvy”, and was the 2006 recipient of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and Commission on Disabilities “People Who Care Award”.

Rob Lajoie, Director of Financial Empowerment

rlajoie@peninsulafamilyservice.org

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Rob joined Peninsula Family Service at the beginning of 2012 after spending over 30 years in the financial services sector. During his financial services career at four local credit unions, Rob’s responsibilities included operations, lending and the delivery of affordable and high quality services to their members. In his current role, Rob oversees the Financial Empowerment Program, which offers job training and a variety of financial services to help hard-working families and individuals achieve and maintain financial self-sufficiency. Outside of work, he continues his community involvement by serving as co-chair of the Luminaria sub-committee for the American Cancer Society’s Pleasanton Relay for Life, and he has been a Kainos sponsor for the past 13 years. Rob received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from San Jose State University.

Kimberly Pesavento, Director of Visitation Services

kpesavento@peninsulafamilyservice.org

A native of Lockport, Illinois, Kimberly joined Family Service as Director of Visitation Services in February 2008. She holds a B.A. in English from the University of Wisconsin where she was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. She is also a graduate of Stanford Law School and a member of the State Bar Association of California. Kimberly brings a wealth of legal, educational and volunteer experience to Family Service. One highlight of her distinguished career was representing low-income families while working as a family law attorney at Oakland’s Community Law Center. In her current role supervising the Visitation Services program, Kimberly manages a staff of 17, oversees Children’s Waiting Rooms at two court houses, spearheads community outreach and collaborative partnerships, and coordinates funding sources.

Ann Torres, Director, Child Development and Education

atorres@peninsulafamilyservice.org

A resident of Brisbane and native San Franciscan, Ann studied Elementary Education and Liberal Studies at San Francisco State University. She taught in the San Francisco Unified School District before taking a position at the Leo J. Ryan Child Development Center in 1981. Currently, Ann manages budgeting and contracts, oversees the child development leadership team’s six child care sites and the Neighborhood Child Care Program’s network of 12 homes. Ann received the San Mateo Association for the Education of Young Children’s (AEYC) 2000 award, and is a past President and a current member of the organization. She is actively involved in the San Mateo Consortium for Quality Program, the Cañada College-based Mentor Selection Committee that matches students with mentors in San Mateo County, and sits on several committees for the national arm of the AEYC.

Peninsula Family Service