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Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors

The Restorative Pathways Board of Directors are voted-in members whose responsibility is to oversee and support the Executive Director as well as maintaining the wellbeing of the agency and its financial health.

Co-President

Sophora Acheson

Sophora’s Mission: To be a fiercely passionate, humorous, and adventurous leader who lives with compassion and a quest for growth that shatters glass ceilings and propels others towards authentic joy and freedom.

Co-President

Oriel Ekşi

Oriel Ekşi is a strategic consultant and government relations specialist with The Woolf Group, specializing in legislative strategy, coalition building, and non-profit development. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Justice Administration from the University of Louisville and brings extensive experience in operations management, grant development, and public speaking. Oriel works with organizations across the country to advance policy initiatives, strengthen programs, and drive sustainable growth.

Secretary

Ryan Wimpee

In practice since 2018, Ryan has broad experience in business law, including real estate law, small and medium sized business law, strategic corporate structuring, exit strategy, and general contract law. Ryan earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa and spent his last semester as a Visiting Student at the University of Denver. Ryan served as in-house counsel at multi-state company before starting his solo practice, RW Law.

Treasurer

Alison L.

Allison L. is a Registered Nurse by trade, and has a Master’s Degree in Health Leadership. She is currently the Senior Director of Health Care Services at Alameda Alliance for Health. In her role, she works with community stakeholders, providers, and health systems to support Alameda County’s most vulnerable populations. Her desire to join the Restorative Pathways Board stems from both personal and professional experiences with survivorship; she was certified as a Sexual Assault Counselor with SF Women Against Rape and has been a panel speaker for the National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence (hosted by Futures Without Violence). She is excited to contribute to and further the vision of Restorative Pathways.

Board Member

Vera R. Ciammetti

Vera has worked for nonprofits her entire career throughout the United States, and internationally. She has spent a lifetime as an advocate for those less fortunate and those underrepresented. As a first generation child of Italian immigrants, she learned the value of giving back at an early age. The elderly, communities and families suffering food insecurity and injustice, and survivors of assault and trafficking remain her most important causes.

Vera was the previous Executive Director of Ruby’s Place in 2012 and was successful in saving a failing agency, rebranding, and achieving solvency. She handed the reins to the current CEO and went to work at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office in 2019. Currently, she is a Development Consultant and contracts with Bay Area nonprofits. She has joined the Board in her desire to support her much loved agency and continue giving back to the community.

Advisory Board Member

Sriramya G.

Sriramya G. is a product marketing manager for Google AR/XR where she works on a range of topics from AI to AR. Previously, she led communication for the Chief Marketing Officer of Google where she set strategy on Future of Work, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, technology’s impact on society, and much more. She also was the lead marketing manager for Google AI and Research where she focused on emerging technology, productization of research, Responsible AI, AI + Education and AI for Social Good. Prior to Google, she spent over three years in the Obama Administration working on social impact, including women and girls initiatives in the Office of the First Lady and anti-human trafficking in the State Department. She started her government experience working in the Chief of Staff’s office at the Department of Commerce. Sri lives in SF with her fiance and pup, Taj.

Advisory Board Member

Dr. Kezban Yagci Sokat

Dr. Kezban Yagci Sokat is an award-winning and internationally recognized scholar, currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Business Analytics at San José State University’s Lucas College and Graduate School of Business and as a Research Associate at the Mineta Transportation Institute. Her research applies decision analytics and management science to critical societal challenges, including human trafficking, humanitarian logistics, and public health.

She is deeply committed to advancing social impact by translating analytical insights into actionable policy and practical solutions through local, national, and international collaboration with government agencies, nonprofits, and interdisciplinary partners.

Dr. Yagci Sokat has served in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking and has been recognized with honors, including a U.S. Senate Citation, the 2024 AACSB Influential Leader award, and commendations from the U.S. DOT and IBM. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences from Northwestern University and multiple degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Advisory Board Member

Nancy MacGregor

Nancy is an experienced marketing professional with a record of success leading global branding and marketing efforts for established and emerging companies across B2B tech. With solid experience developing and directing strategic communications programs in fast-paced, dynamic environments, she has successfully managed marketing campaigns that led to increased customer engagement and strengthened brand awareness.

An intuitive, results-oriented leader and collaborator with expertise in aligning core organizational values with growth, Nancy has helped several clients achieve critical milestones and market leadership.

She is a passionate supporter of numerous non-profit organizations whose mission is to elevate members of society in the face of adversity. She first learned about Restorative Pathways several years ago and has donated to the organization many times while following its progress. She’s excited to participate in the Restorative Pathways Advisory Board and contribute her strengths and expertise to supporting its vision and purpose.

Advisory Board Member

Arny Tesnado

Arny Tesnado is a public health consultant with an MPH from the University of San Francisco and 10+ years of experience in non-profits and healthcare. She specializes in managed care data and analytics, with past work in juvenile justice, re-entry, kinship care, and preventative health initiatives.

Advisory Board Member

Desteny Burgos

Social Media Production and Management for Sophora Acheson Desteny is the Media and Production Director at Kinship Agency LLC, where she brings brands to life through creative content and strategic social media management. With a strong background in project management, she knows how to take ideas from vision to execution with clarity and excellence. Desteny has a sharp eye for detail, a love for storytelling, and a heart for helping others show up well online.

Advisory Board Member

Luke Niforatos

Luke Niforatos is a nationally recognized leader in public health and drug policy, bringing extensive experience in advocacy, nonprofit strategy, and healthcare innovation. He has advised policymakers at all levels of government and is a frequent speaker on topics related to addiction, mental health, and community safety. Luke has a strong track record in strategic leadership, coalition building, and media engagement, and his work has been featured in numerous major national outlets.

Advisory Board Member

Karen Boyd

Karen Boyd is a veteran communications strategist and civic leader with decades of experience guiding government, nonprofit, and corporate organizations through complex and high-stakes challenges. As the former Communications Director for the City of Oakland, she advised top Oakland officials and executive leaders – including five Mayors – on urgent issues including police reform, community safety, homelessness, and public trust.

In 2024, she founded Heart of the Matter, a strategic communications and public affairs firm dedicated to mission-driven work with a focus on equity and justice. She helps nonprofits, government agencies, and other people-serving organizations increase their visibility, attract support, and get the recognition they deserve. Karen brings deep expertise in crisis response, public engagement, and storytelling to her advisory role in support of Restorative Pathways.

Advisory Board Member

Patrick Hutchinson

Patrick Hutchinson is the Founder of Hutch Financial, where he provides tailored fractional CFO services and strategic financial leadership to organizations with a mission-driven focus. In his work with Restorative Pathways, Patrick plays a key role in advancing financial planning, optimizing operational strategies, and fostering sustainable growth to amplify the organization’s reach and impact. With credentials as both a licensed attorney and CPA, Patrick combines technical expertise with a commitment to aligning financial frameworks to support broader organizational goals.

Advisory Board Member

Malia Sawyer

Branding and Social Media Management for Sophora Acheson Malia Sawyer is the co-founder of Kinship Agency LLC, where she’s passionate about using storytelling and personal branding to serve others. She truly believes everyone has a story that can help and empower someone else, and she loves helping people find the words and confidence to share it. Malia brings warmth, creativity, and a deep sense of purpose to every project, making sure each voice is heard and every story connects.

Youth Advisory Board

Advisory Board Member

Lupe Angulo

Lupe Angulo is a dedicated community organizer and public servant based in the Bay Area, with a deep-rooted commitment to restorative justice and healing. She currently serves as a Community Services Commissioner for the City of Hayward and on the Commission on the Status of Women in Alameda County. Lupe brings a powerful lived experience to her work, grounding her advocacy in empathy, resilience, and a fierce commitment to uplifting system-impacted populations.

Advisory Board Member

Jesselyn Silos

Jesselyn is passionate about music and recently discovered a love for musicals. She has watched Hamilton, the musical over 30 times. Music makes her happy and she uses it as a tool to keep her grounded. She joined the youth advisory board because youth mental health matters to her.

Advisory Board Member

Deandreya Barnes Gaines

Deandreya is really about teamwork and loves to share her experience with everyone. Deandreya feels that if anyone needs help or needs someone to talk to, they can come to her.

Advisory Board Member

Marco Leimon

Hi, my name is Marco, and I’m from Union City. I’m passionate about baseball and gaming, and I play for my high school team. Spending time with family and listening to music helps ground me. I believe mental health is important to be your authentic self.

Advisory Board Member

Saharra Serrano

Saharra grew up in Fremont, California and loves to draw. She has 4 brothers and is the only girl. She joined the board to gain more self confidence and to meet other youth that care about youth mental health.

Advisory Board Member

Lucy Alarcon

Lucy is from the Bay Area and is passionate about civil rights and the freedom of speech. She joined the board so youth can be heard and have a voice.

“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.”
-Ken Blanchard

Join the Board

We are looking for new individuals to join our Board of Directors who will share their knowledge, skills, and personal experiences further the mission of Restorative Pathways.

Fill Out the Interest Form

Restorative Pathways’ Vision

A world where safety and trust come first. We exist to end interpersonal violence.