Brenda Velasquez, President

Brenda has worked in the field of public safety for the past ten years, first as a police dispatcher for the City of San Mateo and currently as Communications Manager for the South San Francisco Police Department.

Brenda has served on the executive board of the San Mateo County Communications Managers Association and continues to be an active member.

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.

Ron Burgess, vice President

Ron is the Marketing Manager for a commercial insurance brokerage in Millbrae with 25 years in the insurance industry in various marketing and management positions.

He also has his own art studio in South San Francisco and has shown in galleries throughout California.

He currently serves as Chair of the South San Francisco Cultural Arts Commission and sits on various committees and non-profit boards within the city and county.

Ron also served as a Medical Specialist with the U.S. Navy attached with the U.S. Marine Corps.

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.

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.

mary giusti

Mary Giusti is a life-long resident of South San Francisco and a retired South San Francisco employee.

She is a current member, and past chair, of the South San Francisco Planning Commission. Mary is a current member, and past President, of the South San Francisco Historical Society; as well as a current member, and past president, of the South San Francisco Employee Credit Union. Ms. Guisti is a current member, and has served on the Board Directors, for the South San Francisco Women’s Club; as well as a Board member, and past chair, of the South San Francisco Parking District and Historical Preservation Commissions. Currently she is the Chair of the South San Francisco Beautification Committee.

Ms. Giusti has also participated on various other committees such as the Learning Center, Children’s Center and several other non-profit Boards within South San Francisco.

Rhonda Ceccato

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.

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 3rd 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.