Ron Burgess - Vice President

Ron is a native Californian who has lived in South San Francisco for the past 25 years. He is an avid Cornhusker football fan as well as Stanford football fan. He is a retired Bay Area insurance executive now committing his time working in his South San Francisco art studio and has shown his paintings in galleries throughout California.

He is a member of the South San Francisco Cultural Arts Commission and serves on the Board of Directors of the Peninsula Museum of Art and sits on a number of various committees and non-profit boards within the city and county. He also works with art programs in the local school district.

He is married with four children and two grandchildren.

Matt Burns - Treasurer

Matt is a Vice President in the Portfolio Management group of Hall Capital Partners, a registered investment advisor that builds and manages multi-asset class global investment portfolios for individuals, families and institutions. 

Previous to this, Matt was with an equity derivatives trading group on the Pacific Exchange in San Francisco.

Matt is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley.

Rhonda Ceccato - Executive Director

Rhonda Ceccato has served as Executive Director of Sitike Counseling Center since 1993, has been certified by the State of California as an Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor since 1988 and is a co-founder of the San Mateo County Alcohol and Drug Providers’ Coalition.

Prior to beginning her tenure at Sitike, Rhonda was the Executive Director for the San Francisco Chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. Earlier, as Program Manager for the Women’s Alcoholism Center in San Francisco she played a key role in planning and designing the Bay Area’s first intensive outpatient program for pregnant and parenting women, Lee Woodward Counseling Center. She also designed and implemented the first residential treatment program for women with children, Pomeroy House, and successfully designed and implemented two additional residential programs for Latina and African American women with children.

Elizabeth Fricke - Member

Native San Franciscan, longtime resident of San Mateo County, attended Skyline College. I've worked in the insurance field for over 30 years currently with a British company as a risk analyst.

Lifetime member of Girl Scouts currently serving as Registrar for their Service Unit, also for past several years I volunteer at KCSM during pledge drive as well as being a board member at Sitike.

Barbara Irli - Member

Born and raised in Brainerd, Minnesota, moving to California in 1963. Married Rich and moved to South San Francisco in 1972. We have no children and each have only one sister.

I have been retired since 1999 from the wholesale electrical business where I enjoyed the title of "Sales Manager" for many years. My prior work experience was in the financial field.

My education consists of High School and 2 yrs. of Teachers College in Minnesota. While working I enrolled in several courses at San Mateo Community College to help further my career.

I'm an avid sports fan. 49er's, having gone to all 5 Super Bowls, Giants and Warriors. Rich and I enjoy our home in Arnold, Ca. year around, entertaining family and friends. We love to travel. We've been
to numerous European countries, plus an outstanding African Safari to Kenya.

I am a member of Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in SSF where I'm on the Church Council and am the Congregational Activities Coordinator. I am also on the Board of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Most recently I was termed out as a Parking Commissioner for the City of South San Francisco, I have been a member of Soroptimist International of North San Mateo County for 26 years. This has been a passion of mine as I truly believe in its mission and focus "Improving the lives of women and girls in our local community and throughout the world". I am also a member of the SSF Historical Society.

Jason Steuerwalt - Secretary

Jason is an Associate focusing on credit and absolute return strategies in the Research group at Hall Capital Partners, a registered investment advisor that builds and manages multi-asset class global investment portfolios for individuals, families and institutions. 

Prior to working in the Research group, Jason was in the Portfolio Management group at the firm.  

Jason is a graduate of Brown University and a CFA charterholder.

Tom Tantillo - Member

Tom works in Brisbane at Aircraft Technical Publishers as a Production Director. He has an MBA from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree in engineering from Georgia Tech.

Tom views service to the community as an opportunity to be engaged in the community and give back. It is a fulfilling way to share experience and knowledge.

Brenda Velasquez - President

Brenda has worked in the field of public safety for the past fifteen years and is currently the Communications Center Manager for the City of Berkeley.

In the past, Brenda has served on the executive board of the San Mateo County Communications Managers Association and is now an active member of the Alameda County Communications Managers group.

Brenda attended San Francisco State University, receiving both her undergraduate degree as well as her Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in public management.

Sitike is looking for new board members. If you would like to join us on the Board of Directors, please call us at 650-589-9305. Please download a letter about being on the board and a board application form here.

Our board meetings are held on the last Tuesday of every month from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, in the second floor conference room at 306 Spruce Avenue. We invite you to come and check it out. It is a wonderful and rewarding way to get involved in your community.