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MEET
THE TEAM
Staff
Robert Rickett
Founder / Executive Director
robert@catalystyn.org
Robert is a Bay Area native who brings 15+ years of experience leading nonprofit programs to Catalyst Youth Network. He is an entrepreneur who has worked in high-performing teams in multiple industries, in roles ranging from graphic designer and videographer to youth pastor and youth program director. Robert is an avid reader and has a passion for Social Emotional Learning. He is happiest helping young people develop emotional intelligence and connecting them to the people and resources they will need to live healthy and successful lives.
robert@catalystyn.org
Robert is a Bay Area native who brings 15+ years of experience leading nonprofit programs to Catalyst Youth Network. He is an entrepreneur who has worked in high-performing teams in multiple industries, in roles ranging from graphic designer and videographer to youth pastor and youth program director. Robert is an avid reader and has a passion for Social Emotional Learning. He is happiest helping young people develop emotional intelligence and connecting them to the people and resources they will need to live healthy and successful lives.
Ariana Guenther
Co-Founder / Mental Health Consultant
ariana@catalystyn.org
Ariana is an East Bay native who recently graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Psychology with honors. She has dedicated herself to a career in psychology research with a focus on resilience and emotion regulation. As a former foster and homeless youth, she knows the importance of utilizing any opportunities given, and the pivotal impact of having supportive mentors along the way to guide and problem-solve through life. She hopes to integrate empirical research into CYN’s resources and support students in practicing the life skills they learn so they may apply them with confidence throughout their lives.
ariana@catalystyn.org
Ariana is an East Bay native who recently graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Psychology with honors. She has dedicated herself to a career in psychology research with a focus on resilience and emotion regulation. As a former foster and homeless youth, she knows the importance of utilizing any opportunities given, and the pivotal impact of having supportive mentors along the way to guide and problem-solve through life. She hopes to integrate empirical research into CYN’s resources and support students in practicing the life skills they learn so they may apply them with confidence throughout their lives.
Sophia Tseng
Director of Partnership
sophia@catalystyn.org
Sophia is Director of Corporate Partnerships for CYN, and brings 16 years of experience in the tech and financial services industries. Most recently, she was Head of Customer Marketing at Pivotal Software, responsible for strategic marketing initiatives across the company. She has firsthand knowledge of the transformational power of corporate internships at a young age. A 25-year resident of the Bay Area, she has witnessed the evolution of the tech industry and the region; and she has a passion for creating opportunities for the Bay Area youth who have not yet had the chance to participate in it.
Sophia has an Industrial Engineering degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and as a Cal grad, Sophia is excited to be involved with the Oakland community.
sophia@catalystyn.org
Sophia is Director of Corporate Partnerships for CYN, and brings 16 years of experience in the tech and financial services industries. Most recently, she was Head of Customer Marketing at Pivotal Software, responsible for strategic marketing initiatives across the company. She has firsthand knowledge of the transformational power of corporate internships at a young age. A 25-year resident of the Bay Area, she has witnessed the evolution of the tech industry and the region; and she has a passion for creating opportunities for the Bay Area youth who have not yet had the chance to participate in it.
Sophia has an Industrial Engineering degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and as a Cal grad, Sophia is excited to be involved with the Oakland community.
Lauren Smith
Copywriter
lauren@catalystyn.org
lauren@catalystyn.org
Janice Davis
Social Media Director
janice@catalystyn.org
janice@catalystyn.org
Lucia Bravo
Financial Manager
lucia@catalystyn.org
lucia@catalystyn.org
Rishab Nambiar
Fundraising Manager
rishab@catalystyn.org
rishab@catalystyn.org
Javier Almazan
Program Coordinator
javier@catalystyn.org
javier@catalystyn.org
Tess Broussard
Director of Development
tess@catalystyn.org
tess@catalystyn.org
Board of Directors
Matthew Wadleigh
Interim Board Chair
Matthew recently retired as a CAPT/O6 from the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves and currently holds a leadership role at the Defense Logistics Agency’s West Coast Strategic Distribution Platform in San Joaquin, CA. Across his military career, Matthew led resource management, modernization, and port security and deployed to Korea, Kenya, Bahrain, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Guyana in intelligence, operational, and training roles. He also serves at the Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood, CA in leadership roles within the Men’s, Foster The City, and Children’s ministry. Matthew has received numerous civilian and military awards and decorations and is a dedicated father to ten children.
Matthew recently retired as a CAPT/O6 from the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves and currently holds a leadership role at the Defense Logistics Agency’s West Coast Strategic Distribution Platform in San Joaquin, CA. Across his military career, Matthew led resource management, modernization, and port security and deployed to Korea, Kenya, Bahrain, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Guyana in intelligence, operational, and training roles. He also serves at the Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood, CA in leadership roles within the Men’s, Foster The City, and Children’s ministry. Matthew has received numerous civilian and military awards and decorations and is a dedicated father to ten children.
Margena Wade-Green
Board Member
Margena is the CareerBridge and Path2Math Program Director for Children Rising. Margena spends much of her time in program and curriculum development, as well as supporting her students and volunteers. With a passion for serving children and youth in her community, Margena started with Children Rising as a volunteer, and brings over 25 years of community outreach and service to students in various capacities.
Margena is the CareerBridge and Path2Math Program Director for Children Rising. Margena spends much of her time in program and curriculum development, as well as supporting her students and volunteers. With a passion for serving children and youth in her community, Margena started with Children Rising as a volunteer, and brings over 25 years of community outreach and service to students in various capacities.
Alexia Paredes
Board Secretary
Alexia is the Program Coordinator for Safe Refuge for Children and Families. She has 15+ years of experience in volunteer management and program coordinating in Kids Ministry at Golden Hills Community Church. She is passionate about the prevention of child abuse & neglect and strengthening families. Alexia is a strong supporter of non-profits particularly as they relate to helping marginalized children and is a TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) Practitioner, a trauma-informed intervention model. Her volunteer experiences include working with teen mothers, mentoring children in foster care, and she presently serves on the leadership team of Royal Family Kids Camp-Brentwood, and as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate).
Alexia is the Program Coordinator for Safe Refuge for Children and Families. She has 15+ years of experience in volunteer management and program coordinating in Kids Ministry at Golden Hills Community Church. She is passionate about the prevention of child abuse & neglect and strengthening families. Alexia is a strong supporter of non-profits particularly as they relate to helping marginalized children and is a TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) Practitioner, a trauma-informed intervention model. Her volunteer experiences include working with teen mothers, mentoring children in foster care, and she presently serves on the leadership team of Royal Family Kids Camp-Brentwood, and as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate).
Quaylin Wesley
Board Member
Quaylin Wesley is from Vallejo, California. In 2017, he graduated from McClymonds High School in West Oakland, and recently graduated from UC Berkeley, with a B.A in Social Welfare. A passion of his is to help bridge the gap for students, hoping to level the playing field and grant them more opportunities that will have long lasting positive effects on their lives.
Quaylin Wesley is from Vallejo, California. In 2017, he graduated from McClymonds High School in West Oakland, and recently graduated from UC Berkeley, with a B.A in Social Welfare. A passion of his is to help bridge the gap for students, hoping to level the playing field and grant them more opportunities that will have long lasting positive effects on their lives.
Marion Parrish
Board Treasurer
Marion is an East Bay native and currently lives in Oakland.  She has worked in a number of technology and digital media companies, working in Operations and Customer Success roles, most recently as the SVP of Digital Media at Outfront Media, an out of home advertising company.  There, she worked on high profile projects, including a $1B project with NY’s transit agency.  Most recently, Marion works as a consultant to high growth startup companies.  Marion has a passion for activism and social justice, working in gender equality and voter’s rights throughout her life.
Marion is an East Bay native and currently lives in Oakland.  She has worked in a number of technology and digital media companies, working in Operations and Customer Success roles, most recently as the SVP of Digital Media at Outfront Media, an out of home advertising company.  There, she worked on high profile projects, including a $1B project with NY’s transit agency.  Most recently, Marion works as a consultant to high growth startup companies.  Marion has a passion for activism and social justice, working in gender equality and voter’s rights throughout her life.