Hon. Gavin Newsom – Honorary Chair – Mayor of San Francisco
Peter Dwares – Founder/Chairman – CEO and Founder of Commercial Real Estate Investment/Development Company, Attorney, Jefferson Award Winner.
Dick Berman – President – Retired Sales Executive
Marc Vogel – Vice President – Chef/Businessman
Bob Imber – President Emeritus – Attorney
Shon Buford – Firefighter, Union Executive
Claudine Cheng – Attorney
Bill Franchey – CEO, Internet Company
Marv Gans – Retired Investor
Toshie Hayakawa – Artistic Director
Carrie Johnson – Fundraising Executive
Norman Krug – CEO, Hotel Corporation
Tom McKnew – Mortgage Broker
Dana Merker – CEO, Architectural Company
Michael Milstein – CEO
Craig Solomon – SF Giants Executive
Laura Wegner – Fundraiser
Peter Dwares began his professional career as an attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, DC, in the Division of Corporate Finance and later in private practice of Securities and Business Law from 1971-1985, having founded Dwares, Chase and Lerner Law Offices. He has been buying, restoring, and developing real estate, since 1975.Mr. Dwares holds a Bachelor of Economics Degree from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He has a J.D. degree from American University Washington College of Law, where he was a Law Review Editor. Additionally, he holds a Master’s degree in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. www.peterdwares.com
Shon Buford is a native San Franciscan who began volunteering at the age of 11. Shon joined the SF Fire department in 1993 and is a director with SFFD Local 798. Besides Pathways he is actively involved with the SFFD’s toy program and the Fireflies fire safety program. Shon joined our Board in 2007.
Bill Franchey An early entrant to Internet commerce & security serving first in Bus Dev & Tech Strategy at GE Capital, then on to co-found MarketScience, NMA, & Securant Tech (acquired by EMC NYSE: EMC). Following security Bill enjoyed success with SIlicon Valley businesses MDshare, Solstice Beverages & involver.com. Bill manages a portfolio of digital media investments for the Arts Fund including innovations in social networking, online video, interactive gaming, and mobile applications.
Tom McKnew is one of the founders and principals of US Realty Capital and is based in San Francisco. He has worked in various positions in the real estate industry encompassing finance, sales, consulting, and asset management. Tom is a licensed broker in the State of California and has a Masters Degree in Real Estate Development and a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Urban Planning from the University of Southern California.
Financing requests for his Clients have included equity, mezzanine, construction, long term debt, and joint venture transactions. Capital sources include credit companies, pension funds, wall street conduits, banks, hedge funds, life insurance companies, private funds, and off shore capital sources. Past product type financed include multi family, industrial, office, hotel, retail, self storage, parking garages, golf courses, master planned communities, and agricultural properties throughout the United States.
Professional real estate organizations that Tom is involved in include NAIOP, ULI, MBA, and is Past President of BAMA (Bay Area Mortgage Association). His past experience combined with his professional education in real estate development make him an important part of the real estate finance team.
Dana Merker is the Managing Principal of Patri Merker Architects with more than 30 years of experience in architecture, renovation, interior design, and planning. With a background in city planning, he approaches projects by first looking at their site context and the impact on the greater community. He takes a hands-on approach to managing projects and works closely with clients to develop project budgets, negotiate contracts, develop conceptual planning and schematic design, oversee design development and contract documents, and assist with bidding and construction administration. www.patrimerker.com
Dick Berman was a partner in a manufacturer rep firm for the past 20 years. He currently consults with an importer of Asian consumer products. www.pacifichg.com
