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METALINK
Darlene Chiu, Commissioner
Janet Clyde, Commissioner
Kathleen Dooley, Commissioner
Luke O'Brien, Commissioner
Michael O'Connor, Commissioner
Irene Yee Riley, Commissioner
Richard Ventura, Commissioner
Darlene Chiu immigrated to San Francisco with her parents who left behind a small enterprising leather goods business in Hong Kong. Her parents found new opportunities in their new country and started a small retail business on Russian Hill. From a young age, Chiu spent many weekends and holidays helping her parents run their business which moved to San Francisco’s Chinatown and assisted her father with his growing international trade. After obtaining her bachelors from University of San Francisco, she moved back to Hong Kong where she spent ten years using her experience to manage and grow a number of businesses in fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Since returning to San Francisco, she has been self-employed as a consultant and court interpreter, as well as worked briefly in the District Attorney’s Office. Chiu served the Newsom administration for more than two years as Chief Deputy Communications Director before joining Pacific Gas and Electric Company in 2006. She is currently employed as Vice President and Manager of Public Relations at United Commercial Bank.
Janet Clyde, Commissioner
Commissioner Clyde is a 30 year resident of San Francisco, a bartender, and General Managing Partner of Vesuvio Cafe in North Beach. Her early experience in hospitality at Vanessi's Restaurant, The Mabuhay Gardens and The Coffee Gallery introduced her to the diversity and vibrancy of San Francisco. In 1997 she worked with the Small Business Administration to stabilize the historic Vesuvio bar. In 2006 she assisted the Chinatown Community Development Corporation, the San Francisco Department of Public Works, and other neighborhood stakeholders on the renovation of Jack Kerouac Alley into a pedestrian walkway and community space. She currently works with local artists and non- profits to sponsor "Art in the Alley" an art show featuring local artists, and “2nd Wednesdays," a free jazz series in Kerouac Alley. As a community advocate for the public health department, she served on the SF General Hospital community advisory committee. Ms. Clyde is currently the Vice President of the North Beach Merchants Association and a member of the North Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Kathleen Dooley, Commissioner
Commissioner Dooley is a 25 year resident of Telegraph Hill and a longtime North Beach small business owner. After graduating from Mills College, and a stint in NYC, she moved to San Francisco in 1983 and established Columbine Floral Design in 1985. After 20 years as a shopowner on Grant Avenue in North Beach, she transitioned to freelance design in 2005 and continues to provide custom designs for both businesses and private clients throughout the City. She has been an active neighborhood leader for many years, serving 2 terms on the Board of Directors of the Telegraph Hill Dwellers. She co-founded the North Beach Merchants Association in 2003 and currently is serving her second term as President.
During her service on the Board of the NBMA, Dooley has become active as a local liaison between small business owners who are being targeted with ADA compliance lawsuits and City government. As commissioner, she plans to continue to work to develop comprehensive City issued informational tools that will both assist small businesses to clearly understand ADA compliance requirements and also guide them to resources that will help them fulfill these obligations in an affordable manner.
Luke O'Brien, Commissioner
Bio coming soon.
Michael O'Connor, Commissioner
Commissioner O'Connor has been active in San Francisco's small business community in both the music and entertainment industry, and in the field of design and fabrication. He is a Partner in the live music venue THE INDEPENDENT located in the Western Addition neighborhood of San Francisco. Having grown up in and around a family run business in the Mission District, Commissioner O'Connor is keenly aware of small business issues and the important role that small businesses play in the fabric of San Francisco. He attended St. Ignatius High School in San Francisco and went on to study Architecture at U.C. Berkeley. In addition to his studies at the university, he has taken courses in city planning, urban design, and housing. He hopes his diverse background will bring something new and exciting to the Commission and stimulate debate. He looks forward to being able to actively participate and contribute to the work of the Small Business Commission.
Irene Yee Riley, Commission Vice-President
Former San Francisco Housing Authority Commissioner, retired from Bank of America as the Senior Vice President and Market Executive, where she managed Bank of America’s community development programs in California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Hawaii including the development of affordable housing, specialized lending to community-based organization, affordable mortgage lending and investment in real estate development. In her capacity as Ethnic Market President, Riley worked to bring together diverse business partners, associates and community groups to ensure that Bank of America maximized its relationships and business opportunities within the community. Riley joined Bank of America in 1969 and held a variety of leadership positions in operations and consumer banking. Since 1996, she served as senior vice president and consumer region executive for the Bank’s Special Markets Region in Northern California, which included 33 banking centers that serve a range of communities in the greater Bay Area.
Riley is a graduate of The CBA Graduate School of Retail Banking at the University of Virginia and The Federal Reserve Bank’s National Community Development Lending School at the Case Western Reserve University.
An active member of the community, Riley is past president of the Chinese Newcomer’s Service Center, the Chinese American Women’s Business League, the Park Presidio Lions Club and the Hong Kong Association of Northern California. She served on the board of directors of the Wu Yee Children’s Services and the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation. She is co-chair of the San Francisco Taipei Sister City Committee, President of the Association of Asian American Bankers, Chairperson of the UCSF Asian Heart and Vascular Center Advisory Cabinet and she serves on the board of directors of Chinese Culture Foundation, On Lok Senior Health Services and the Chinese Newcomers Service Center. Riley is the past recipient of the Outstanding Asian Women Award from the Asian Women’s Resource Center, the Asian Achievement Award from the Organization of Chinese Americans and 2001 Outstanding Overseas Chinese Award from the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association and the Chinese Consolidated Women’s Association, and the 2004 Outstanding Community Member Award from the Wu Yee Children Services. In recognition of her achievements, Irene received the CEO’s Eagle Award, Bank of America’s highest associate honor for exceptional performance and the Courvoiser Leadership Award. Irene was also honored by the City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors who designated May 8, 1996 Irene Yee Riley Day, and most recently honored by Mayor Gavin Newsom for her outstanding contributions to the community and designated June 15, 2004 Irene Yee Riley Day.
Richard Ventura, Commission President
Commissioner Ventura is the Executive Director of the San Francisco Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In June 1996, Commissioner Ventura founded a Consulting Firm with the 4th largest travel company in the U.S. as his first client, Maritz Travel Company. Through his consulting firm, Commissioner Ventura has designed strategic planning programs specifically for small business owners and educated employers about the benefits of incorporating social responsibility to business models. Other experience includes, Co-founder of TelUnidos (April 2000), and Chair of the Business Alliance Steering Committee, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce (March 1997-July 2000).
Commissioners may be contacted through the Commission office at:
Small Business Commission
City Hall, Room 110
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415.554.6481
Fax: 415.558.7844
E-Mail: regina.dick-endrizzi@sfgov.org
Website: www.sfgov.org/osb
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