HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Park and Recreation Commission Interviews____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: November 4, 2024
Disposition: Appointed Kela Cabrales and Robert Sandoval to the end of October 2028
Special Meeting
Agenda Item No: SM 1.b
Meeting Date: November 4, 2024
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Department: City Clerk
Prepared by: Lindsay Lara, City Clerk City Manager Approval: ___________
TOPIC: PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION INTERVIEWS
SUBJECT: INTERVIEW APPLICANTS AND MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO FILL TWO
FOUR-YEAR TERMS THROUGH THE END OF OCTOBER 2028 ON THE
PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION DUE TO THE EXPIRATION OF
TERMS OF ROBERT SANDOVAL AND KELA CABRALES
RECOMMENDATION:
Interview the following applicants and make appointments to fill two four-year terms
through the end of October 2028 on the Park and Recreation Commission due to the
expiration of terms of Robert Sandoval and Kela Cabrales.
Name
Emily Willingham
Kela Cabrales
Robert Sandoval
Susanne Berg
BACKGROUND:
The terms of Robert Sandoval and Kela Cabrales are set to expire at the end of October
2024 and both Commissioners expressed a desire to reapply. The City Clerk’s office
recruited for applications and received ten applications; but two lived outside of city limits,
and one withdrew from the application process.
This Park and Recreation Commission assists the City Council in developing and
implementing long-range plans for City parks and recreation facilities; monitors current
service levels and community needs; reviews the performance of City partnerships with
community groups in the utilization of facilities and production of programs; reviews and
advises on general policies and procedures in the delivery of park, recreation, child care,
and cultural services. Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael, CA 94901.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
ANALYSIS:
The City Clerk’s office recruited for the Park and Recreation Commission vacancies and
received ten (10) applications; however, two applicants were ineligible due to residing
outside of city limits, and one applicant withdrew. Due to the volume of applications
received, a subcommittee of the City Council consisting of the Mayor and the Park &
Recreation Commission’s City Council Liaisons reviewed the applications and selected
four (4) eligible applicants to be interviewed to fill the two terms.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
The call for applications for the Park and Recreation Commission was advertised through
mass email notification, the City website, social media platforms, Marin IJ, and physically
posted at City facilities.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Four (4) Applications
2. Bylaws
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
1 / 3
Q1
Contact Information / Información del contacto
First and Last Name / Nombre y Apellido Emily Willingham
Address / Dirección
City / Ciudad San Rafael
State / estado California
ZIP/Postal Code / Código postal 94903
Email Address / Dirección de correo electrónico
Phone Number / Número de teléfono
Q2
What district do you currently live in?¿En qué distrito vive
actualmente?
District 4/Northern / Distrito 4/Norte
Q3
How long have you lived in San Rafael?
11 years
Q4
Business Information
Company Marin Academy
Address
City/Town San Rafael
ZIP/Postal Code 94901
#81#81
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link)
Started:Started: Wednesday, August 07, 2024 5:26:26 PMWednesday, August 07, 2024 5:26:26 PM
Last Modified:Last Modified: Wednesday, August 07, 2024 5:39:39 PMWednesday, August 07, 2024 5:39:39 PM
Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:13:1200:13:12
IP Address:IP Address: 67.170.225.24567.170.225.245
Page 1
Boards, Commissions & Committees Applic ation
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Q5
How did you hear about this vac ant position?
Social Media
Q6
What Board would you like to apply to?¿A c uál te gus taría
aplicar?
Park and Recreation Com missi on
Q18
Do you partic ipate in any c iv ic ac tivities? If s o, what are they?
I have just, for the first time in my time in Marin, become able to work a regular 40-hour week (instead of 60-80 hours ), so I am looking
for way s to participat e in c ivic activities. As a journalis t , I was not "supposed" to become overtly polit ically involv ed; I have now left
journalis m for f ull-time teaching. My online work has largely f ocus ed on disability and soc ial jus t ice. I also have s upported fundrais ing
for Wildc are (through a c alendar sales campaign) and have been a longtime donor to the local food bank.
Q19
Lis t any civ ic organizations of which y ou are a m ember:
No formal members hips
Q20
Education:
PhD, biologic al sciences
BA, English
Q21
Why are you interested in s erving on a board or c om m iss ion?
I was once the outdoors c olumnist for the Marin I J, my son work s f or Marin Co. Parks and Rec , and our family are clos ely familiar with
the city and c ounty park s here, in addition t o the city's cultural and childcare offerings (our younges t s on is a Parkside alum). This is
where my interests lie and where I think I might have the most to c ontribute and the bes t understanding. I have s erved on two boards
(one a nonprofit sc hool, and one a nonprofit journalism organization), s o I hav e experienc e in that broader milieu.
Q22
Describe pos sible areas in whic h you may have a conflict of interest with the City:
I do not t hink I hav e any.
Page 4
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
3 / 3
Q23
Upload your resume.
Willingham_Resume_2024.pdf (88.5KB)
Emily Willingham
EDUCATION
• B.A., English, with minors in German and history, University of Texas at Austin, December 1989
• Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, May 2001
COMMUNICATIONS EXPERIENCE
• Journalist/associate editor/managing editor, health/science/medicine (contract and staff)
—1996 to 2024
Bylines: Medscape/WebMD, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Everyday Health,
Slate, Wired, Discover, MIT Tech Review, NOVA, The Scientist, and Scientific American, among
others. Also author of Phallacy: Life Lessons from the Animal Penis (2020, Avery/Penguin),
author of The Tailored Brain (December 2021, Basic Books), and co-author of The Informed
Parent: A Science-Based Resource for Your Child’s First 4 Years (Perigee Books/Penguin)
• Editor and writer
—2005 to present
Editor/writer of research articles and reviews, grants, theses/dissertations, books, book
chapters, essays, commentaries, and other materials, across a variety of topic areas
• More
—1989 to present
Public information officer at large stage agency, nonprofits; secondary school teacher in
English, communications, Spanish, science, and piano; fact-checker; newsletter writer and
producer; scriptwriter; frequent podcast and video appearances
SELECTED ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
• Science Teacher, Crossroads Coordinator, Yearbook Advisor, Marin Academy
–November 2022 to present
• Instructor, Science Journalism, University of California, Berkeley-Extension
—September 2020 to 2023
Teaching a journalism class that covers finding story ideas and sources, conducting interviews,
targeting specific audiences, story structure, pitching, and more
• Adjunct Professor, Dominican University
—August 2013 to May 2017
Natural Sciences (undergraduate), Clinical Laboratory Sciences (graduate). Teaching graduate
anatomy, undergraduate anatomy and physiology lecture and lab, undergraduate
developmental biology lecture and lab, graduate scientific writing
HONORS AND OUTREACH
• Board Member, National Association of Science Writers
—August 2014 to August 2018
• Committee Chair, National Association of Science Writers
—August 2013 to August 2022
• Awards judge, World Federation of Science Journalists, Victor K. McElheny Award
• Organizer, Science Writing Summit
—June 2013, funded by NASW Idea Grant
• Managing editor, Double X Science, funded by NASW Idea Grant
• MIT 2021–2022 Knight Science Project Fellow
PORTFOLIO General | Scientific American
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
1 / 3
Q1
Contact Information / Información del contacto
First and Last Name / Nombre y Apellido Kela Cabrales
Address / Dirección
City / Ciudad San Rafael
State / estado CA
ZIP/Postal Code / Código postal 94901
Email Address / Dirección de correo electrónico
Phone Number / Número de teléfono
Q2
What district do you currently live in?¿En qué distrito vive
actualmente?
District 2/Western / Distrito 2/Oeste
Q3
How long have you lived in San Rafael?
28 years
Q4
Business Information
Respondent skipped this question
Q5
How did you hear about this vacant position?
Other (please specify):
currently serving on the commission
Q6
What Board would you like to apply to?¿A cuál te gustaría
aplicar?
Park and Recreation Commission
#89#89
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link)
Started:Started: Wednesday, October 02, 2024 9:56:13 AMWednesday, October 02, 2024 9:56:13 AM
Last Modified:Last Modified: Wednesday, October 02, 2024 10:17:35 AMWednesday, October 02, 2024 10:17:35 AM
Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:21:2200:21:22
IP Address:IP Address: 135.180.148.113135.180.148.113
Page 1
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Q18
Do you partic ipate in any c iv ic ac tivities? If s o, what are they?
Chairpers on for Park and Recreation Commission
Q19
Lis t any civ ic organizations of which y ou are a m ember:
Chairpers on for Park and Recreation Commission
Q20
Education:
BA in Broadc ast & Electronic Communication
SF State 1994
Project Management Certif icate
Cal State Eas t Bay 2012
Q21
Why are you interested in s erving on a board or c om m iss ion?
My family and I hav e ac tiv ely been involv ed in many of the areas t hat the Park and Rec Commission cov er, and I would lik e to giv e
bac k to t he c ommunity.
Q22
Describe pos sible areas in whic h you may have a conflict of interest with the City:
None that I c an think of.
Q23
Upload your resume.
KELA%20CABRALES%20RESUME_ProjectV2-2.pdf (38.5KB)
Page 4
Page 5: Demographi cs / D atos demográficos
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
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Q24
Ethnicity / Raza/etnia:
Q25
To which gender do you most identify?¿Con qué género se
identifica más?
KELA CABRALES
OPERATIONS & PROJECT MANAGER
. San Rafael, CA 94901
SKILLS
BuilderTrend
monday.com
Quickbooks Online
Google Workspace
Nuke
Silhouette
Zoom
Shotgrid
Film Production
Special Effects
Unix
Mac & PC Systems
Project Management
Microsoft Office
EXPERTISE
Production
Compositing
Rotoscoping
Digital Paint
3D Conversion
Digital Matte Painting
EDUCATION
BA, Broadcasting & Electronic Arts
San Francisco State University, 1994
Project Management Certification,
Cal State East Bay, 2012
FILMOGRAPHY
Mass Teleportation Authority
(unrealeased)
The Avengers
MI: Ghost Protocol
Avatar
Star Trek (2009)
Transformers
Mission Impossible III
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the
Black Pearl
Star Wars Episodes I & II
PROFILE
I have had the privilege to work on projects for most of my career.
I have a passion to be able to breakdown complex topics and
create systems to make working and learning easier.
Communication and adaptability are what make me an asset to
any workplace. I am at my best when new opportunities or
challenges arise.
EXPERIENCE
Operations Manager/Project Manager
Matthew Kelly Construction 2022- Present
· Creating and implementing operational systems
· Coordinating construction projects
· Business strategy & development
Part- time Instructor
Academy of Art / San Francisco, CA / 2013 - 2022
· Teaching graduate and undergraduate classes in
rotoscoping.
· Transitioned class to industry standard software
· In-person, zoom & asynchronous
Compositing Lead
Academy of Art StudioX/ Remote/ 2020- 2021
· Remote studio setting using Zoom, Shotgrid, and Box to
run remote dailies, collaborating with director, artists
and production team
· Look development for teleportation sequence
· Creating documents for finaling checklists
Online Class Build
Academy of Art / 2017
· Designed and wrote online, asynchronous class for
Animation and Visual Effects Department - Rotoscoping
Computer and Technology Instructor
Coleman Elementary/ San Rafael, CA / 2013 - 2020
· Created and taught curriculum to K-5th grade
· Topics included Digital Citizenship, Computational
Thinking, Coding, Maker-Design Thinking
· In-person, zoom & asynchronous
Jurassic Park III
T he Mummy
Star Wars Special Editions
(full list available on IMDB)
Digital Artist
Industrial Light &Magic /San Francisco,CA /1998-2012
·Worked with a team of digital artists to create a
seamless look for special effects on feature films
·Adapted to various departments on an as needed basis
for compositing on Flame to rotoscoping with
Commotion
·Created images for Disney rides,3D conversions of films
and independent films
Technical Assistant
Industrial Light &Magic /San Rafael,CA /1996-1998
·Managed various departments’computer resources and
disk space.
·Developed internal programs to streamline I/O
procedures.
·Provided backup and retrieval support for the computer
graphics department.
Production Assistant
Industrial Light &Magic /San Rafael /1995-1996
·Assisted with preparation of live action and location
shooting.
·Generated and maintained billing for location production
and film processing costs.
·Scheduled and coordinated digital plate clean up
Demo Reel available at:https://vimeo.com/278358457
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
1 / 4
Q1
Contact Information / Información del contacto
First and Last Name / Nombre y Apellido Robert Sandoval
Address / Dirección
City / Ciudad San Rafael
State / estado CA
ZIP/Postal Code / Código postal 94901
Email Address / Dirección de correo electrónico
Phone Number / Número de teléfono
Q2
What district do you currently live in?¿En qué distrito vive
actualmente?
District 3/Eastern / Distrito 3/Este
Q3
How long have you lived in San Rafael?
almost 5 years
Q4
Business Information
Company Payward Inc., dba Kraken Digital Asset Exchange
Address
City/Town Cheyenne, WY
ZIP/Postal Code 82001
#147#147
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link)
Started:Started: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 7:39:58 PMTuesday, September 17, 2024 7:39:58 PM
Last Modified:Last Modified: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 8:50:56 PMTuesday, September 17, 2024 8:50:56 PM
Time Spent:Time Spent: 01:10:5701:10:57
IP Address:IP Address: 98.42.236.6398.42.236.63
Page 1
Boards, Commissions & Committees Applic ation
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Q5
How did you hear about this vac ant position?
City Council Agenda,
Social Media,
Community Center/Library,
City Manager's Newsletter,
Friend
Q6
What Board would you like to apply to?¿A c uál te gus taría
aplicar?
Park and Recreation Com missi on,
Planning Com missi on
Q18
Do you partic ipate in any c iv ic ac tivities? If s o, what are they?
Yes , I have participated in civic activ it ies in loc al gov ernment , nonprofits , and through my legal profes sion.
Government:
• Vic e Chair, Park and Rec reation Commiss ion
o Alternate, Mas t er Plan Steering Committee
• Public Art Rev iew Board
Nonprofit s:
• Board Member, Point San Pedro Road Coalition
o Chair, Roadway Committee
• Member, Ass ociation of Latino Marin Attorneys
• (former) 2017-2021 Direc tor, San Francisc o La Raza Lawyers Ass ociation
• (former) 2017-2019 Board Member, Aim High Young Leaders Board
Law Pro Bono:
• Repres ented v ictims of c iv il right s abuse
• Repres ented v ictims of domes tic violence
Q19
Lis t any civ ic organizations of which y ou are a m ember:
Point San Pedro Road Coalition
As sociat ion of Latino Marin Attorney s
His panic Chamber of Commerc e of Marin
Page 4
Boards, Commissions & Committees Applic ation
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Q20
Education:
BA Politics and Ec onomic s, Oc cident al College
J D, Univ ersity of Chicago Law School
Q21
Why are you interested in s erving on a board or c om m iss ion?
I am a husband and father of two young k ids, and I feel so privileged that San Rafael is my home. Raising a family here, it is more
important to me than ever that the City cont inues to prosper and be a s af e, welcoming, and div erse place. I am interes t ed in serv ing on
the Planning Commission bec ause I want to help the City Counc il addres s c rit ical upcoming property dev elopment is s ues that will
s hape our future. I am als o/alternativ ely interes ted in c ontinuing to serv e on the Park & Recreat ion Commis sion because I would like
to k eep building on our rec ent s ucces ses and improving our park s and facilities consistent with our Master Plan and the City ’s General
Plan.
In my c urrent role as in-house legal c ouns el for a tech company, I'v e honed my analytical and problem-solv ing s k ills. I adv is e our
ex ecutiv es on how to nav igate c omplex is s ues and find creat ive s olutions to problems. I also have ex perience working on high-s takes
mat ters with multiple stak eholders, resolv ing conf licts and building cons ensus . Thes e sk ills lend themselv es to s erving on
Commis s ions —like t he Planning Commis s ion—which hears hotly c ontes ted is sues in our City like the Nort hgate Mall Redev elopment
Project and others.
As the c urrent Vice Chair of the Park & Rec reation Commis s ion, I've als o dev eloped valuable experience with c ommunity engagement,
project analy s is, and generally how to compliantly and effic iently c arry out Board meetings for the benefit of the public . I previous ly
s erved as an alternat e on t he Citywide Park and Recreation Mas ter Plan Steering Commit tee, which asses sed infras tructure,
prioritiz ed new projec ts and funding allocations, and c reated a roadmap and v ision for the future of our Park and Recreation
Department. I am proud of the work our Parks Department has done: lik e prov iding new playgrounds f or the nex t generation of families
s tarting in San Rafael; and the Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project, whic h was y ears in the mak ing. I’v e had t he pleasure of
c onnec ting with res idents , learning about their is s ues and c oncerns direc tly, fostering inc lusiv e dialogue, and promoting our park s and
fac ilities to improve t he liv es of thos e in our community.
If s elec ted for t he privilege of s erving on the Planning Commission or Park & Recreation Commission, my priorities will remain foc used
on open communic at ion, trans parenc y, and ens uring that our planning and dev elopment proces s es ref lect the needs and values of our
c ommunity. I also will prioritize f ostering ec onomic dev elopment, protec t ing our beautiful parks and open s paces for the benefit of local
bus ines s es and res idents , and s afeguarding property v alues and our quality of life.
I hope to continue to contribute t o San Rafael's s ucces s on either t he Planning Commis s ion or Park & Rec reation Commis s ion. Thank
y ou for y our c onsideration.
Q22
Describe pos sible areas in whic h you may have a conflict of interest with the City:
I do not have a conflict.
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
4 / 4
Q23
Upload your resume.
Robert%20Sandoval%20Resume.pdf (139.2KB)
Q24
Ethnicity / Raza/etnia:
Q25
To which gender do you most identify?¿Con qué género se
identifica más?
Q26
How old are you?¿Cuántos años tienes?
Page 5: Demographics / Datos demográficos
Robert Sandoval
www.linkedin.com/in/rssandoval •
EDUCATION
The University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, IL
Juris Doctor, June 2016
Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford, CA
Cert., Summer Institute of General Management, Summer 2013
Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA
Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, Majors: Politics, Economics; Minor: Classical Studies, May 2013
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Kraken, San Francisco, CA
Legal Counsel, 2023 – Present
• Advise business executives, product, compliance, and other teams on a wide variety of commercial legal
issues, employee and HR disputes, client and business litigation, and financial regulatory issues
Morrison & Foerster LLP, San Francisco, CA
Senior Associate, Litigation, 2019 – 2023
• Advise a range of business and tech companies on contractual disputes, complex class actions, and
consumer and privacy regulatory compliance
• Lead teams in litigation as the senior associate coordinating case strategy and executing client goals
Secondment: Meta, Lead Counsel, Product - News Feed, May 2021 – February 2022
o Counseled News Feed product and cross-functional teams on consumer and privacy law issues
UC Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, CA
Adjunct Professor, Fall 2021
• Taught Legal Research and Writing to first year law students
United States District Court, Northern District of California, San Francisco, CA
Judicial Law Clerk to The Hon. William H. Orrick and The Hon. Richard Seeborg, 2018 – 2019
• Managed dockets for two Judges simultaneously across many areas of law, including commercial
disputes, product class actions, privacy, securities, and cryptocurrency
California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, San Francisco, CA
Honors Deputy Attorney General, Civil Division, 2016 – 2018
• Represented California employees, agencies, and departments in all aspects of civil litigation
• Received the Attorney General’s Team Award for contributions to the Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals (DACA) Litigation.
VOLUNTEER AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
San Rafael Park & Recreation Commission , San Rafael, CA
Vice Chair, Commissioner, 2020-Present
Master Plan Steering Committee, 2021-2023
San Rafael Public Art Review Board, San Rafael, CA
Member, 2022-Present
Point San Pedro Road Coalition, San Rafael, CA
Board Member, 2024-Present
Chair, Roadway Committee, 2023-Present
San Francisco La Raza Lawyers’ Association, San Francisco, CA
Board of Directors, 2017-2021
Aim High, San Francisco, CA
Young Leaders Board Member, 2017-19
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
1 / 3
Q1
Contact Information / Información del contacto
First and Last Name / Nombre y Apellido Susanne Berg
Address / Dirección
City / Ciudad San Rafael
State / estado CA
ZIP/Postal Code / Código postal 94901
Email Address / Dirección de correo electrónico
Phone Number / Número de teléfono
Q2
What district do you currently live in?¿En qué distrito vive
actualmente?
District 2/Western / Distrito 2/Oeste
Q3
How long have you lived in San Rafael?
2 years
Q4
Business Information
Respondent skipped this question
Q5
How did you hear about this vacant position?
Other (please specify):
City of San Rafael website
Q6
What Board would you like to apply to?¿A cuál te gustaría
aplicar?
Park and Recreation Commission
#75#75
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link)
Started:Started: Thursday, July 25, 2024 7:23:30 PMThursday, July 25, 2024 7:23:30 PM
Last Modified:Last Modified: Thursday, July 25, 2024 7:36:39 PMThursday, July 25, 2024 7:36:39 PM
Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:13:0900:13:09
IP Address:IP Address: 76.253.12.1076.253.12.10
Page 1
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Q18
Do you partic ipate in any c iv ic ac tivities? If s o, what are they?
I do not c urrent ly participat e in any c iv ic ac t ivities
Q19
Lis t any civ ic organizations of which y ou are a m ember:
Board Member, BuildChange, the global leader in sys tems c hange for resilient hous ing.
Q20
Education:
J D, Berk ley Law (2004)
BA, Univ ersity of the Pac if ic (1998)
Q21
Why are you interested in s erving on a board or c om m iss ion?
I am interested in s erving on the Park s and Rec reation Commiss ion as I hav e a four year-old s on and we love taking advantage of all
parks/playgrounds in San Rafael as well as the activities that the Rec c enter offers . My s on will be entering Parkside t his fall and will
lik ely c ontinue there for aft er-c are onc e he enters kindergarten. I want to be able to give back to the City and als o be a voic e for those
with young families and grown adults who rely on the s ervic es of the Park and Rec c ommunity.
Q22
Describe pos sible areas in whic h you may have a conflict of interest with the City:
N/A
Q23
Upload your resume.
%20Susi e%20Berg%20Resum e%202024%20.pdf (178.6KB)
Page 4
Page 5: Demographi cs / D atos demográficos
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
3 / 3
Q24
Ethnicity / Raza/etnia:
Q25
To which gender do you most identify?¿Con qué género se
identifica más?
Q26
How old are you?¿Cuántos años tienes?
SUSANNE BERG, ESQ
San Rafael, CA 94109
linkedin.com/in/bergsusie
PRODUCT & SAAS COUNSEL | OPERATIONS PARTNER
Commercial attorney who enjoys working in a dynamic legal department. Experience working with C-suites and
stakeholders on complex business deals, managing litigation and product development.
Career at a glance:
• Counseling 10+ product teams (e.g., payments, AI, e-commerce) on new products, product improvements,
and compliance.
• Building and leading corporate teams of up to 5, and volunteer teams of up to 50. Also, experienced as
nonprofit board president managing a 2,000-member organization.
• Collaborating with 3- to 25-member teams, including commercial, product, engineering, finance, marketing,
compliance, privacy, security governance, customer service, and regulatory. Additional experience establishing
and managing relationships with external counsel.
• Serving as litigation counsel on 25+ matters and managing litigation on 125+ additional cases.
• Managing operating budgets up to $925K.
• Structuring and negotiating 200+ commercial contracts and deals including strategic partnerships, payment
processing, financings, and corporate transactions, as well as acquisitions and divestitures.
EXPERIENCE:
AUTODESK INC.
San Francisco, CA
Director & Senior Corporate Counsel | Digital Platform, E-commerce & Experiences
Aug 2019 to present
Recruited to serve as global lead counsel for the Autodesk digital experience. Reporting to Assistant General Counsel.
• Digital Platform, E-commerce & Experiences: Appointed as business and legal advisor for Autodesk’s
.com properties, helping open new growth pathways and enhancing customer experiences as digital business
growth exceeded 30% YoY over 4 years.
- E-commerce & Go-to-Market Experiences: Appointed as legal business partner to 570-person operating
division’s Chief Technologist and 14 direct reports—advising on issues in EMEA, APAC, and Americas.
Matters impact Autodesk.com e-commerce and go-to-market experiences, including 20+ marketing
campaigns and promotions (e.g., email, telemarketing, contests); 2 new business models (e.g., subscription
tokens); customer T&C / disclosures; community forum user rules (e.g., brand advocate policies).
- Artificial Intelligence Product Counseling: Supported General AI considerations (e.g., consumer trust,
IP, data privacy, security) related to product launch of employee- and customer-facing chatbots. Member
of AI center of excellence and responsible reviewing proposed POC involving AI.
- International e-Store Restructuring & Payments: Collaborated with 15-member e-commerce product team
in restructuring 3 international e-Stores from vendor- to in-house management.
Included launching 5 international payments methods (e.g., credit cards, alternative payments, wire
transfers)—negotiating multimillion-dollar payment vendor agreements (e.g., buy-now-later financing,
data analytics) and ensuring regulatory compliance (e.g., SEPA, ACH, PCI) across 6 countries.
- Website Accessibility: Served as point person for website compliance under the Americans With
Disabilities Act, and conducted ADA training for 30-attendee conference breakout.
• Social Responsibility: Co-founded 7-member Pro Bono Legal Committee to deliver global pro bono legal
work, presently serving clients in 4 countries on immigration, LGBTQ+, and homelessness matters. Awarded
“Partner in Justice” by Legal Aid of Marin. Includes partnership development with 8 law firms and non-profits.
• Legal Summit Management: Led development and day-of operations for 110-attendee legal summit, hosted
in Napa (Feb 14-17th, 2023). Included theme naming (“Defying Gravity”), planning and acquisiton of 8
executive level speakers, and team building planning, as well as event planner vendor selection and management.
YAPSTONE HOLDINGS
Walnut Creek, CA
Senior Legal Counsel
2016 to 2019
Recruited by GC to support 10-member commercial / product legal team as part of Series C company that powered
payments for residential rental partners and one of the world’s top vacation marketplaces. Reporting to AGC.
• Commercial Contracts: Worked closely with C-Suite in negotiating and drafting 20+ complex commercial
deals, including a $15M PSA and a $35M cash-stock deal. Conducted due diligence on a potential fintech
acquisition.
• Privacy Counsel: Led 2 core data protection initiatives, including workflows and terms necessary for
compliance with GDPR and privacy shield
• Product Counseling: Advised the CTO, Chief Privacy Officer, and Office of the PMO on 5 bespoke fintech
products and feature enhancements.
• Marketing Counseling: Appointed by GC to support 6-member marketing team, ensuring collateral
compliance with UDAAP laws.
OVO COSMICO, INC. DBA BTCJAM
San Francisco, CA
In-House Counsel
2015 to 2016
Hired by Series A start-up to provide counsel across all aspects of legal and compliance issues relating to international
peer-to-peer Bitcoin lending. Managed operations in COO’s absence, including HR, payroll, insurance, corporate
governance matters, and records. Reported to COO and CEO, respectively.
• Litigation Management: Acted as litigation counsel for master services agreement breach, resulting in
advantageous settlement agreement with a Fortune 50 company.
• Regulatory Strategic Planning: Created and implemented legal roadmap addressing regulatory issues
including SEC, money transmission, and consumer lending.
• Bitcoin Licensing Lead: Authored and project managed licensing application and process.
HERO CITY at DRAPER UNIVERSITY
San Mateo, CA
Managing Director
2013 to 2015
Hired to lead strategic direction and manage property / incubator operations serving 16 companies and 5 venture capital
firms for 50,000 square foot co-working facility. Reported to the COO.
PARK TREE INVESTMENTS, LLC
San Francisco, CA
In-House Counsel and Chief of Staff
2009 to 2013
Managed legal and operational matters for a boutique hedge fund with mortgage and real property assets in 36 U.S.
states and Puerto Rico. Reported to the CEO, and led in his absence.
Legal Counsel:
• Compliance: Launched and managed 4-member loss mitigation team in Canton, OH, ensuring compliance
with Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, Truth-in-Lending-Act and licensing requirements.
• Acquisition Management: Directed 4-member due diligence team on title underwriting, and property
valuation. Helped negotiate and draft buy- and sell-side note sale agreements.
• Transactions & Litigation Matters: Oversaw national network of 50+ foreclosure attorneys; drafted loan
modifications and agreements (transfer, purchase / sale, operating), promissory notes and documents for
recordation. Managed contested foreclosures, title claims, and bankruptcies.
Operations:
• Revenue Growth & Portfolio Performance: Helped raise $12M in capital and managed $26M in mortgage
assets as firm grew from 2 to 8 employees and 12 investors. Included growth from $0 to $3.2M (2009-2012)
and portfolio performance increase from 73% to 43% default rate.
• Policy & Procedures Development: Authored 60-page process and procedures manual and employee
handbook, and researched / established new benefits and administration policy.
LAW OFFICES of SUSANNE BERG
San Francisco, CA
Attorney
2005 to 2009
BINGHAM MCCUTCHEN
Walnut Creek, CA
Associate
2004 to 2005
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
San Jose, CA
Government Affairs Coordinator
2000 to 2001
CALIFORNIANS for GRAY DAVIS
San Francisco and Sacramento, CA
Deputy Finance Director (fundraising)
1998 to 2000
EDUCATION:
U.C. Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2004
University of the Pacific, Bachelor of Arts, English, 1998 – with honors
CIPP/US and CIPP/E, 2017 & 2018
California State Bar, 2005
Park and Recreation Commission Bylaws
Page 1 of 2
PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION BYLAWS
ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1.1. Name. The name of this body shall be the City of San Rafael Park and
Recreation Commission, hereinafter referred to as the “Commission.”
Section 1.2. Purpose. The purpose of the Commission is to assist the City Council in
developing and implementing the long-range plans for City parks and recreation facilities;
monitor current service levels and community needs; review the performance of City
partnerships with community groups in the utilization of facilities and production of
programs; and review and advise on general policies and procedures in the delivery of
park, recreation, child care and cultural services.
Section 1.3. Committee Responsibility. The Commission’s authority is advisory only.
The Commission has no power to act on behalf of the City of San Rafael or any other
entity.
Subject to the direction and control of the City Council, as provided in Section 2.04.030
of the San Rafael Municipal Code, the powers and duties of the Commission shall be:
1. To assist in the preparation and adoption of a review annually and revise as
necessary a long-range plan for parks including neighborhood parks, community-
wide parks, special use facilities and open space lands;
2. To focus public attention upon the need for adequate parks and healthful and
creative year-round supervised recreation for all age groups;
3. To assist in promoting the public recreation programs;
4. To solicit to the fullest extent possible the cooperation of school authorities and
other public and private agencies interested therein;
5. To assist the Parks and Recreation Director in establishing general policies and
procedures in respect to park usage;
6. To receive periodic reports from the department head concerning the general
operations and functions of the department;
To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the council.
ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP
Section 2.1. Number of Members. The Commission shall consist of five (5) members,
one of whom may be a Councilmember.
Park and Recreation Commission Bylaws
Page 2 of 2
Section 2.2. Eligibility. Committee members shall reside in City limits.
Section 2.3. Term Limits. Members of the Committee shall be limited to two (2)
consecutive four-year terms. Additional terms may be served if there is a break between
terms.
Section 2.4. Absence and Removal. An unexcused absence from two (2) consecutive
Commission meetings without notification to the Staff Liaison shall be considered a
voluntary resignation from the Commission. Previously dismissed Commission members
may be eligible for reappointment to the Commission.
Section 2.5. Compensation. Commissioners shall serve without compensation.
ARTICLE III. MEETINGS
Section 3.1. Time and date of Regular Meeting. Notification of meeting place, date,
and time shall be rendered to the public through posting on the City of San Rafael website.
The Commission shall meet once per month, on a consistent day of the month, and shall
be scheduled annually. The schedule for the upcoming year will be set by December of
the previous year.
