JOI PENTIN
Joi Pentin is the President of The Big C Society® where she also serves as its team Liaison Director to women’s golf. She is also the Chair of the Marketing Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee. Professionally, Joi is the Revenue Operations Practice Lead at WestCap. Joi was a standout golfer at Cal, who was chosen for the Leta Nelson Award, which is given in Nelson's memory to the golfer who best demonstrates the spirit of Cal. Joi graduated from Cal in 2013 as an American Studies major.
JOSEF RUEF
Josef Ruef served as President of The Big C Society® from 2019 to 2022 and led its modernization while concurrently serving as President and Executive Director during 2019 and 2020. Mr. Ruef is an entrepreneur and executive with 20 years of experience developing and growing businesses. Currently, Mr. Ruef is Founding Partner of September Capital, an investment and consulting firm that assists early stage technology companies. Previously Mr, Ruef was Co-Founder and CEO of Verical Inc., an online marketplace for electronic components that was acquired by Arrow Electronics (NYSE:ARW). Mr. Ruef is also a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, 1993, where he earned a B.A. in English and played football for the Golden Bears.
MIN TA
Min Ta is Treasurer of The Big C Society® and sits on its Executive Committee and is its Liaison to the Field Hockey Team. Ms. Ta graduated from Cal in 1994 with a B.S. in Business Administration from the Walter A. Haas School of Business and was honored with the Anna Espenschade Award for Athletic and Academic Achievement as a graduating senior. Ms. Ta was a four-year letter winner in Field Hockey and earned All-Nor Pac Conference and Regional All-American honors her senior year. Ms. Ta has over 20 years of experience in financial management and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and a Master of Corporate Real Estate. Ms. Ta now works at Visa overseeing Real Estate Analytics, Corporate Events, and Global Travel.
SARAH SCHWARTZ
Sarah Schwartz is a Director and the corporate Secretary of The Big C Society® and serves on its Executive Committee. Sarah is also co-Liaison to Women’s Rowing. Ms. Schwartz lettered four years in rowing from 2012 to 2016, and was a member of the 2016 NCAA National Champion 2V8+ and Team. She graduated from Cal in 2016 with a B.A. in Political Economy. After graduating from Cal, Sarah began working for ABD Financial Services, Inc. in addition to co-founding Oakland Athletic Rowing Society (OARS), a youth rowing club in Oakland on a mission to create the next generation of leaders.
BILL AUSFAHL
Bill Ausfahl is a Director of The Big C Society® and a member of its Executive Committee. Ausfahl is also a trustee with the UC Berkeley Foundation. In all he does, Ausfahl is “passionate about public education and sustaining the excellence and access that Berkeley represents.” Ausfahl is the retired group vice president and CFO of the Clorox Company in Oakland. He received his B.A. in economics from Berkeley and an MBA from Stanford.
ROBERT PAYLOR
Robert is a Director of The Big C Society® and one of the organization’s former Executive Directors. Robert played rugby as a part of the 2016 and 2017 national championship-winning teams. As a starter in the 2017 Varsity Cup Championship, Robert suffered a severe spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed below his neck. Against his doctor’s prognosis, he is now able to walk using his walker and stood up to receive his Varsity letter in 2018. Robert, a graduate of Cal’s prestigious Haas School of Business, is now an inspirational speaker, sharing the tools that have him overcome quadriplegia that others may use to accomplish their goals.
SUSAN WOODWARD
Susan Woodward, who graduated Cal in 1975, played tennis for the Golden Bears and is a Director of The Big C Society. A junior transfer from UCLA, Sue played on the women's tennis team from Fall 1973-Spring 1975. The following year she served as the graduate assistant tennis coach, for Head Coach, Joan Parker. During this time, the women competed in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), before the NCAA recognized women's sports. Sue also earned a graduate degree from Cal in 1981 (M.A. in Physical Education) while coaching tennis at Mills College for six seasons. Back on-campus at Cal, she was also a Marketing / Game Day Manager in Athletics, writing the radio drops and managing the PA announcements and video board shows for football, MBB, and WBB. After nine seasons, she transitioned to campus fundraising in University Relations and finished a 20+year Berkeley career as a Senior Development Officer at the Berkeley Haas School of Business.
JIM BARKER
Jim Barker wrestled for the Bears in the 157 pound category, and graduated Cal in 1965 with a B.S. in Zoology. He went on to graduate from the Dental School at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in 1971, and he’s been practicing dentistry ever since. Jim served as President of The Big C Society® from 2017 to 2018, and is a proud father to a family of Golden Bears.
KENT BREWER
R. Kent Brewer retired in 2012 after a 40-year family law practice in Walnut Creek, CA. Kent graduated from Cal with a major in Political Science. He was a member of the Cal Track and Field team, earning his letter in the pole vault in 1963 and 1964. As a long time supporter of Cal sports Kent has been both a liaison to the track and field program and a certified USATF official serving as a volunteer official for track and field meets held at Cal. He is a Past President of The Big C Society® and continues to serve as a member of its Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
KARL UEBEL
Karl Uebel was President of the Big C Society® from 2013 to 2014, and currently sits in its Board of Directors.
BURL TOLER
Burl Toler who was a standout football player for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® from 2011 to 2012, and currently sits on its Board of Directors as an ex-officio director. Toler was also the recipient of the 2018 Glenn Seaborg Award.
CHRIS CARPENTER
Since retiring in 2007 Mr. Carpenter has devoted much of his time to The Big C Society®, where he serves as a permanent ex-officio director. Carpenter served as Executive Director from 2015 to 2018, and previously, Carpenter was President of The Big C Society® from 2009 to 2010. Carpenter earned his first varsity letter in 1962 and became a three-year starter on the Golden Bear basketball team. After graduation, Carpenter stayed in Berkeley to earn his JD degree at Boalt Hall School of Law. Following a short stint working in Hawaii, Chris returned to the East Bay and began a 35-year career as a prosecutor with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. For the final 10 years, he was in charge of the office's Consumer and Environmental Protection Division.
DON BOWDEN
Don Bowden is a longtime Director and Executive Committee member for The Big C Society®. Bowden was President of The Big C Society® from 2007 to 2008.
A 1956 Olympic Team member, Bowden was the first American ever to break the four-minute barrier in the mile (3:58.7) on June 1, 1957, in Stockton, Calif. His almost-50-year-old record time in the mile was recently broken by former Cal runner David Torrence, who set the new record at 3:58.62 at the California Collegiate Challenge on April 28, 2007, at Edwards Stadium.
A 1956 Olympian in the 1500, the 1957 NCAA Outdoor 880-yard champion, Bowden was ranked third in the world in the 800 meters by Track & Field News in 1957. He also ran the third leg (1:49.5) for Cal's quartet that set the 4x880-yard relay world record time of 7:21.0 in Los Angeles on May 24, 1957.
GREGG THORNTON
Gregg Thornton, who competed on the Track & Field team for the Golden Bears, was President of The Big C Society® from 2005 to 2006.
BILL BAILEY
Bill Bailey is a honorary member of The Big C Society®, and served as its President from 2003 to 2004.
STORRIE JOHNSON
Storrie Johnson was President of the Big C Society® from 2001 to 2002, and currently sits on its Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
CLIF MAYNE, JR.
Clif Mayne, Jr. was Treasurer for The Big C Society® through the end of 2018, and serves on its Board of Directors and Executive Committee . Mayne played Tennis for the Golden Bears.
MONTE UPSHAW
Monte Upshaw, who was a track & field standout for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® from 1999 to 2000.
FRANKLIN HASKELL ("LINN") WATSON III
Linn Watson, who swam and played water polo for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® from 1997 to 1998.
RICH STACHOWSKI
Rich Stachowski, who played football for the Golden Bears and the Denver Broncos, was President of the Big C Society® from 1995 to 1996.
PAUL ("BOOMER") ANDREW
Paul Andrew, who was a standout football and rugby player for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® from 1993 to 1994.
JOHN MERCHANT
John Merchant, who competed for the Golden Bears on the Track & Field team, was President of the Big C Society® from 1991 to 1992.
JAMES ("JIM") WERSON
Jim Werson, who was a standout swimmer and water polo player for the Golden Bears and a member of its Athletic Hall of Fame, was President of the Big C Society® from 1989 to 1990.
JOE GRIFFIN
Joe Griffin, who ran track for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® from 1987 to 1988.
THOMAS ("TOM") PAULSON II
Tom Paulson, who swam for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® in 1986.
ANDY WOLFE
Andy Wolfe, who was a standout basketball player for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® in 1985.
WILLIS ANDERSON
Willis Anderson, who rowed crew for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® in 1984.
ALLEN L. BENDER
Allen Bender, who played football for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® in 1983.
SANFORD ("SANDY") SKAGGS
Sandy Skaggs, who rowed crew for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® in 1982.
JIM ("TRUCK") CULLOM
Jim Cullom, who was a standout football player for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® in 1981.
ROBERT ("BOB") HOGEBOOM
Bob Hogeboom, who was a standout basketball player for the Golden Bears, was President of The Big C Society® in 1980.
SAMUEL BEAUDOUX (“BEAU”) BRECK
Beau Breck, who rower crew for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® in 1979.
JOHN RICKSEN
John Ricksen played both Basketball and Tennis for the Golden Bears, and is a member of the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame. Ricksen was President of The Big C Society® in 1978, and since then has served on its Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
JACK ELLIOT
Jack Elliot, who played tennis for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® in 1977.
ROBERT STANLEY (“STAN”) MORKETTER
Stan Morketter, who both swam and played water polo for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® from 1975 to 1976.
ED DONAHUE
Ed Donahue, who played Basketball and ran Track for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® in 1972.
CARL VAN HEUIT
Carl Van Heuit, who was a standout football player for the Golden Bears and one of Pappy’s Boys, was President of the Big C Society® in 1971.
VIC BOTTARI
Vic Bottari, who was a standout football player for the Golden Bears, was President of the Big C Society® in 1970.
MARC PUGEDA
Marc Pugeda is the Associate Director of Alumni Relations with the Cal Athletics Fund and the Liaison to the Athletic Department. He has been with Cal Athletics since September 2021 and was previously working as a Marketing Associate for the Athletics & Recreation Department at UC Santa Cruz where he also obtained his B.A. in Business Management & Economics. Being a former student-athlete, Marc was a sprinter and captain of the Banana Slugs’ Men’s Swimming & Diving Team and helped to bring about their first conference championship in team history during their 2020 season. A Bay Area native, he enjoys rooting for their professional sports teams and discovering new and hidden local restaurants and eateries.
MAURITA TOLER
Maurita Toler is a Director on The Big C Society® Board of Directors. Ms. Toler is the Director of Alumni Engagement at Bishop O'Dowd High School, and she previously served as the Alum Relations Coordinator for the Cal Athletics Fund. Ms. Toler ran for the Cal track & field team and graduated from UC Berkeley in 2011 with a B.A. in Sociology. In 2016 she earned her M.A. in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco.
THEO ROBERTSON
Mr. Robertson is a director of The Big C Society® and is its team Liaison to Men's Basketball. Mr. Robertson lettered four years in Men's Basketball from 2006 - 2010, while medically redshirting as a junior. A two-year captain, he earned team MVP honors for the 2010 Pac-10 championship team. Mr. Robertson finished his career as the school's all-time three-point shooter, making 44.0 percent of his attempts beyond the arc, and ranks among Cal's top 25 career scorers. Mr. Robertson was the 2010 recipient of the Jake Gimbel Prize - awarded to a graduating male student-athlete for successful integration of academic and athletic pursuits. Professionally, Mr. Robertson enjoys a career in coaching where he has experience at both the collegiate- and NBA-level, in addition to serving multiple assignments with USA Basketball. Mr. Robertson is currently an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors.
RACHELLE FEDERICO
Rachelle is a director of The Big C Society® and is the team Liaison to Women's Basketball. Rachelle graduated from Cal in 2011 with a B.A. in Media Studies and was an Honorable Mention for the Pac-10 All-Academic Team from 2009-2011. She also served as team captain her senior year and was a part of the school's first-ever Women's Basketball Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2009 as well as the school's first WNIT Championship in 2010. Since then, Rachelle has spent seven years in the Financial Tech clean energy space as a Software Product Manager and is now working at Pixar Animation Studios.
JUSTIN FORSETT
Justin Forsett serves on The Big C Society® board as its Liaison Director to Football. Forsett is a former 9yr NFL Pro Bowl running back. He is now a successful entrepreneur and the Founder/CEO of Hustle Clean, a mission-driven business committed to empowering the pursuit of greatness. Hustle Clean's Active Care products are distributed in over 6,000 stores nationwide including Target, Kohl's, and over 4,00 Walmart stores. The brand has been featured on Shark Tank, Fox, CBS, NBC, and Cheddar. The company's mission is to inspire and empower people to live their best lives, believing that the cornerstone of this mission includes their commitment to giving back. Justin resides in Texas with his wife Angie and their four kids Judah, Zion, Justice, & Truth.
LISA DAISS
Lisa Daiss, née Kevorkian, is a Big C Society® director and its Liaison to women and men's soccer. Kevorkian lettered three years in women's soccer from 2006-2010, after medically redshirting as a sophomore. The Bears advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament every year during her tenure. Kevorkian won the Golden Bear Award for highest team GPA her freshman through senior years; other awards include PAC-10 Player of the Week and several All-Academic honors. Kevorkian went on to graduate school at Boston University, where she used her redshirt eligibility to play for the Terriers and earned All-America honors, fourth-team.
JACOB WILSON
Jacob (“Jake”) Wilson is a Director of The Big C Society® and serves as its team Liaison to Men’s Soccer. After a professional soccer career as a defender in Germany, Portugal, and Hungary, Wilson has returned to Cal where he now serves as Assistant Coach to the men’s soccer team. As a student-athlete, he earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention in 2008 and in 2009. Wilson graduated from Cal in 2009, with a major in social welfare.
CATIE O'MAHONEY
Catie O’Mahoney is a Director of The Big C Society® where she serves as its team Liaison to Lacrosse. Professionally, Catie is a Physical Therapist at New York City’s Nicolas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma. Cal was a three-year starter for the Golden Bears, beginning on Defense and then moving to Attack as a Sophomore, Catie graduated from Cal with a B.A. in Education in 2018, and she earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from New York Medical College in 2017.
SHAUN PAGA
Shaun Paga is a Director of The Big C Society® where he serves as its team Liaison to Rugby. Professionally, Shaun serves as the Vice President of Sales at Soul Machines, a leading artificial intelligence firm. At Cal, Shaun was a two-sport Letterman in Rugby and Football. Shaun played on four consecutive Cal rugby national championship teams and was selected as one of the top 30 players in the country to play on the U.S. National Team in 1999. On the gridiron, Shaun played defensive end and on special teams where he used his quickness and explosive charge off the line to terrorize opponents. Shaun graduated from Cal in 2013.
AMANDA AUGUSTUS
Amanda is a Director at The Big C Society® and its Team Liaison to women’s tennis, where she serves as Head Coach. One of the most successful players in Cal women's tennis history, Amanda Augustus has led the Golden Bears to several iconic moments in her 12 years as head coach. Entering her 13th season in Berkeley in 2019-20, Augustus has compiled a 228-72 coaching record (producing a .760 winning percentage) and produced numerous All-Americans (including Manasse, Maya Jansen and Karla Popovic in 2017) at her alma mater.
TYLER BROWNE
Tyler Browne is a director of The Big C Society® where he serves as its liaison to Men's Tennis. Tyler competed for the Cal Bears from 2003-2007. During his time, Tyler was nominated for multiple Pac-10 awards and served as the team captain his senior year. Upon graduation with a degree in Sociology, Tyler was hired as the Men's Tennis Assistant Coach in 2008. He has since been elevated to Associate Head Coach in 2013 and earned Regional Assistant Coach of the Year awards in 2012, 2015, and 2017. Tyler is entering his 11th season with the Cal Bears.
ALYSIA MONTAÑO
Alysia Montaño (née Johnson) is a Director at The Big C Society® where she serves as its Team Liaison to women’s Track and Field. Montaño competes as a middle-distance runner while balancing a budding career as a professional marketer and nurturing her family as a proud mother of three. Montaño is an Olympian, a six-time USA Outdoor champion, and a two-time bronze medalist in the World Championships. While at Cal, Montaño won the NCAA Indoor, and Outdoor Championship, which thrust her onto the national stage. Of late, Montaño has also been successfully leading maternity policy reforms for sponsored female athletes, in order to protect pay, bonuses and health-care benefits before, during and after pregnancies.
DAVID GLASGOW
David Glasgow is a director of The Big C Society® and its team Liaison to men’s Track & Field. Mr. Glasgow graduated from Cal in 2004 with a B.A. in History and again in 2005 with an M.A. in Education. He also competed on the track and field team, serving as team captain and earning All-American honors in 2005. Since then, David has worked in both the public and private sectors, working as an aide in the U.S. Senate, an organizer on President Obama’s 2008 campaign, and a marketer at Eventbrite. David now works in career education at Stanford University.
KELSEY SANTISTEBAN
Kelsey Santisteban is a director of The Big C Society® and its team Liaison to Cross Country. Ms. Santisteban lettered three years in cross country from 2011 to 2013. She was a member of the women’s team that qualified to the NCAA championships in 2011, then qualified individually in both 2012 and 2013. She was 10th at the 2013 NCAA championships earning All-American honors and the record for highest finish of any Cal runner ever. She graduated from Cal in 2016 with a B.A. in Integrative Biology.
STEPHEN ZIRKELBACH
Stephen Zirkelbach is a Director of the Big C Society® and Liaison Director to Men’s Cross Country.
ELIZABETH PELTON
Elizabeth Pelton is a Director of The Big C Society® where she serves as its team co-Liaison to Women’s Swimming. During her time competing for Cal, Pelton served as co-captain, was awarded NCAA and PAC 12 Swimmer of the Year, set an American Record in the 200-yard backstroke, and was a 4x NCAA All American recipient. Professionally, Pelton serves as the Senior Lead of Marketing at a technology education firm and also sits on the Review Committee Board of USA Swimming. Pelton graduated in 2017 with a B.A. in Marketing and Consumerism.
RYAN MURPHY
Ryan Murphy is a Director at The Big C Society® serving as Team Liaison to Men’s Swimming. Murphy is a professional swimmer, and three-time Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder in the Men’s 100-meter backstroke. After the 2016 Rio Olympics, Murphy returned to Berkeley for the 2016-17 season to cap a historic collegiate career with NCAA titles in both the 100- and 200-yard backstroke. Murphy was also named Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year for men's swimming in 2017, along with earning Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) for the third year in a row, and chosen for its first-team for the second-straight year.
PIPPA SAUNDERS
Pippa Saunders is a Director at The Big C Society® and serves as its Co-Liaison to Women’s Water Polo. Saunders currently works at Google as an Account Executive for Google Cloud. At Cal, Saunders finished her collegiate water polo career as team captain with All-America honors, and graduated with Dean's Honor List recognition in 2016 with a BA in Media Studies and minor in Ethnic Studies. She then continued playing water polo for a professional season abroad in Lille, France.
STEPHANIE SCHNUGG
Stephanie Schnugg is a Director at The Big C Society® and serves as its Liaison to Women’s Water Polo. Ms. Schnugg lettered four years in women's water polo from 2005-2010, while medically redshirting as a sophomore and competing on the USA Women's National Team. She served as team captain 2009 & 2010, leading her team to a 3rd Place finish in the NCAA Tournament her senior season. Ms. Schnugg received All-America & All-Academic honors 2007-2010. After her tenure at Cal, Ms. Schnugg competed professionally in Australia & Italy. Since then, she has worked in both the start up & corporate worlds with a career in Sales.
BRYAN SCHNUGG
Bryan Schnugg is a Director of The Big C Society® and is its co-Liaison to Men’s Water Polo. Professionally, Schnugg serves as Commercial Operations Manager at Moët Hennessy. At Cal, Schnugg was a three-year member of the varsity squad, hailing from a storied family of Cal water polo players, including father, John, who played water polo from 1977-80, and uncle, Peter, who was Cal's first water polo NCAA Player of the Year in 1973, and cousins Charles and Stephanie Schnugg (who also serves as a Director at The Big C Society®.)
ANDREW NESBIT
Andrew Nesbit is a Big C Society® director and its Co-Liason to Men's Water Polo. Mr. Nesbit redshirted his freshman year and was a two-year letter winner and a member of the 2006 and 2007 National Champion team. Mr. Nesbit was the recipient of the 2006 and 2007 UC Berkely's Water Polo Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award and member of the 2007 MPSF All-Academic Team. Mr. Nesbit graduated with honors in 2009 with a B.S. in Business Administration from the Walter Haas School of Business. Mr. Nesbit began his career in investment banking and venture capital, but more recently has transitioned into the start-up world managing both product and marketing organizations.
KRISTEN SMYTH
Director and Liaison to Women’s Gymnastics. Kristen Smyth was a three-time All-American and three-time Academic All-American at Berkeley from 1989-1992. In her senior year, she led the Golden Bears to their first-ever national championship appearance finishing eighth in the country. In 2008, she became the first gymnast inducted into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame. Kristen recently concluded a long and successful career in collegiate coaching. During her 16 years as the Head Women’s Gymnastics Coach at Stanford University her teams qualified to twelve NCAA Championships, advanced to the NCAA Super Six seven times, and won three Pac-10 team titles.
KYSON BUNTHUWONG
Kyson Bunthuwong is a Director of the Big C Society® and liaison to the Men's Gymnastics. Kyson is also the chairman of the Revenue Committee. Mr. Bunthuwong graduated from Cal in 2009 with a B.A. in International Political Economy. Representing Cal's student-athletes, he was chosen as a delegate for the 2009 NCAA National Student-Athlete Leadership Conference. He earned multiple All-American and All-MPSF Academic honors throughout his tenure and served as co-captain. Mr. Bunthuwong was honored as a Nissen-Emery Award Finalist and with the Pac-10 "Living the Dream Leadership Award". Since then, he's worked in the nonprofit sector across various national and international causes, including co-founding a nonprofit social venture in Malawi. Currently, Mr. Bunthuwong is the board of various local Bay Area organizations and is an Executive Director at CCS Fundraising, a strategic consulting firm that partners with non-profit organizations on transformative fundraising campaigns.
ALLEAH LAXAMANA
Alleah Laxamana is a Director of The Big C Society® where she serves as its team Liaison to Softball. After graduating in 2017 with a B.A. in Legal Studies, Alleah interned in the Cal office of Athletics Compliance. Following her internship, she began the full-time role of Athletics Administration Coordinator and shortly thereafter took on the expanded role of Compliance Coordinator. While at Cal, Laxamana played Softball for the Golden Bears earning her first varsity letter in 2013 as a Freshman catcher and going on to be a 4-year starter in more than twenty games per season.
MATT LADRECH
Matt Ladrech is a director on The Big C Society® board and serves as its Liaison Director to Baseball.
DREW SANDERS
Director and Liaison to Men’s Golf. Drew Sanders was Captain of the 1993 Men's Golf team his senior year at Cal and was an All Pac-10 Selection. Sanders is a founding Principal at Banyan Tree Strategies, a management consultancy focused on scaling professional services businesses. Sanders is the author of 3 books and publishes a newsletter by the name of “Branches & Roots” which focuses on applying social science to business, life, and sport.
VANESSA GERBER
Vanessa Gerber is a Director of The Big C Society® where she serves as its team co-Liaison to women’s rowing. She is also the Chair of the Student-Athlete and Young Alumni Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee. Professionally, Vanessa serves as a Strategic Operations Analyst at East Bay Community Energy. Vanessa rowed on Cal's freshman eight that won a Pac-12 Championship and beat Stanford and Washington. Notably, while Vanessa was a student-athlete at Cal she also co-founded the student-athletes group, the Golden Bear Advisory Committee (GBAC), where she served as Vice President. Vanessa graduated with Honors (3.8 GPA), with a B.S. in Conservation and Resources Studies.
IVAN SMILJANIC
Ivan Smiljanik is a Director of The Big C Society® where he serves as its team Liaison to men’s rowing. Professionally. Ivan is a partner at Innovation Properties Group, Inc. A standout rower at Cal, Ivan served as team captain before graduating in 2005 with a degree in economics and political science. While at Cal he won two gold medals as well as a bronze at national championships on top of the two gold and silver medals he won at Pac-10s. Smiljanić also rowed in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia as a member of the Serbian National Team (for the combined teams of Serbia and Montenegro) in the coxless four. Ivan hails from Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia).
CHUCK HARRINGTON
Chuck Harrington is a Director of the Big C Society®.
KAT BROWN
Kat Brown is a Director of The Big C Society® where she serves as its team Liaison to Volleyball. Professionally, Brown serves as Director, Recruiting & Eligibility for Cal Athletics. At Cal, Brown was a 4-year starter at middle-hitter for Cal Volleyball, where she earned Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention and an All-Academic honorable mention. Brown graduated with a B.A. in legal studies in 2018.
TEYA NEFF
Teya Neff is a Director of The Big C Society® where she serves as its team Liaison to Beach Volleyball. Professionally, Neff serves as Assistant Account Executive at the public relations firm, Edelman. At Cal, Neff was a three-year starter on the No.4 and No. 5 pair, respectively, and earned Pac-12 All-Academic First Team for three straight seasons. Neff graduate Cal in 2018, with a B.A. in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.
EDWARD SCHUMANN
Ed Schumann is a commercial insurance broker with 30 years of experience is assisting growing businesses in the Bay Area. Ed is Senior Vice President and Partner of Pinnacle Brokers Insurance Solutions, a property and casualty brokerage company that works with Health Care Providers, Construction Companies, Property owners and technology firms. Ed is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, 1976, where he earned a B.A. in Psychology and played football, rugby, wrestled and boxed for the Golden Bears. Ed serves as a board member of the Big C Society, and Board member for the Sigma Chi Fraternity on the UC Berkeley campus.