Leadership Team

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Robert “Harry” Harrison, Jr., Executive Director

Harry is a well-respected, dynamic leader who possesses a wealth of experience in the corporate, educational and nonprofit sectors. His commitment to community service and implementing the pursuit of positive change led him to a career in philanthropy.

Harry refined his leadership skills and management experience at Levi Strauss & Company, where he enjoyed a career in a progression of management roles with increased responsibility, that spanned more than twenty years. In 2002, Harry was the Regional Director (East Coast) of Sales and Marketing for all brands and consumer segments, accountable for all P&L responsibilities for a $125M business.
Harry’s initial orientation in philanthropy began with the Trey Whitfield School (TWS) in Brooklyn, NY. During his 10 years as Director of Development, Harry and the senior leadership at TWS, together envisioned, created and implemented a $6M Capital Fund campaign which would contribute to Trey Whitfield School being recognized as a beacon of hope in NYC inner city education.

After TWC, he went on to serve as the Executive Director for the YMA (Fashion Scholarship Fund), a national non-profit association made up of influential members of the fashion community. The organization is dedicated to promoting education of the fashion arts and business by facilitating internships, mentorships, career programs and scholarship grants to talented students. During his time there he led the growth of member schools from 9 schools (2005), awarding 19 scholarships, to 46 schools and disbursement of 125 scholarships (2013.)

Harry’s passion for community service is expressed through his involvement as a Volunteer with Compass Family Services and SPUR, both in San Francisco. He is also a member of both the National Arts Club and Gramercy Park Building Association in NYC.

Marilyn Harrison, Retail Marketing Director

“Featuring, curating and building awareness of the creative endeavors of talented artists and Individuals with Developmental Disabilities is an inspiration and a joy!”

Marilyn became a volunteer with Helpers Community Inc’s Helpers Artisan Boutique in 2019. In September of 2020 she was hired by the Helper’s Board of Directors as an employee of Helpers Community to buy, merchandise, provide retail marketing expertise and training for client program participants for the Helpers Artisan Boutique and the marketing for Helpers Community Inc.

Her prior experience includes wholesale, retail, marketing, and education: Retail Buyer Macys West, SF, CA; Sr Product Manager Levi Strauss & Co (LS & Co), SF, CA; Sr Retail Marketing Manager LS & Co, NY, NY; Retail Marketing Director Cole Haan, NY, NY; Retail Sales Consultant ABC Carpet and Home, NY, NY; Adjunct Professor – Parsons School of Design and Fashion Institute of Technology, NY, NY; Territory Team Leader and National Recruiter, MCG, NY, NY and SF, LA, CA, WA, AZ, ID. Currently a member of the National Arts Club, NY, NY.

Growing up in Honolulu, Hawaii, diversity was always a part of Marilyn’s life. Her desire to work with philanthropy began with her tenure at LS & Co, an organization which believes in “inclusiveness, diversity, giving back, supporting vulnerable communities, employee volunteerism, sustainability, and belief in the values of empathy, originality, integrity, courage.” While in NY she served on the Board of Directors for Mercado Global, a 15-year-old Brooklyn based nonprofit and accessory brand, which empowers rural Guatemalan women to become entrepreneurs.

Being at Helpers Community provides the opportunity to work with individuals with developmental disabilities giving them a voice and building awareness of their talent through showcasing their art and products.

Officers of the Board

 

Nathan Campbell, Board President

Nate Campbell is a business leader (CEO/COO) who helps individuals and companies find their winning edge so they can achieve extraordinary results. As a transformational and strategic business leader for both Corporate as well as Private Equity based service businesses. He is CEO of i-Sigma®, (International Secure Information Governance & Management Association TM), a 501 (c ) 6 non – profit. Nate has a proven track record of continuous sales growth, M & A veteran facilitating cultural, client and operation-based integrations (over 100 acquisitions). He is adept in moving companies forward through organizational development, collaboratively setting and balancing a solid strategy with tactical priorities and having the managerial courage to execute on commitments.

Nate’s experience includes Access Information Management where he served as the Chief Operating Officer for a $285 Million international Business – Access is (B2B) services company that provides outsourced physical and digital information management services (SaaS) in the US and Latin America. It is now the second largest RIM company. Prior to that, Nate was the Global Director of Sales for Recall where he was the Executive Sponsor between clients, sales teams (local and global regions), The Global VP of Sales and Marketing and all Recall Regional Presidents (NA/EMEA, Asia, Australia). He managed global customers and increased revenues across regions through facilitating intra- regional sales efforts and building relationships with high level stakeholders.

Nate was the President of Prism International (Professional Records & Information Services Management) a not for profit trade association for the commercial information management industry which is composed of outsourcing partners that provide their clients with physical and digital information protection, access retention, storage and disposal.

He is a graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, SEP – Business

Margaret “Peggy” Bachecki, Board Vice President

“Helpers has been a part of the community for over 60 years. Certainly, challenges surfaced, but the mission has always been to help those with developmental disabilities.”

Peggy discovered Helpers in 1966. She became Helper’s first part-time and then a full-time employee in the office and then went on to supervise the activity program until 1973, when she left her paid position. She stayed connected as a volunteer. The Board of Directors invited her to join in 1995. She was instrumental in the operation of Helpers’ three group homes, the launch of the activity program, and the opening of Helpers Bazaar at Ghirardelli Square and the closing of the group homes in 2003.

The mission then became the granting of funds to other agencies who work and care for those with developmental disabilities. The intent of the Board remained reopening the group homes. That goal became a reality through a partnership with the Pomeroy Recreation and Rehabilitation Center.

Peggy embraced the plan to create a job training and employment site at the Helpers Store, for those with developmental disabilities, in partnership with the Pomeroy Center and the ARC of San Francisco. She acknowledges that while Helpers has been a part of the community for over 50 years, the organization has been challenged in many ways over this time period, but the mission as has always been to help those with developmental disabilities. Peggy retired after 36 years as an office manager for Uccelli & Associates Court Reporting.

Maureen Tarkington, Board Secretary

Maureen Tarkington, Board Secretary, has a background in high tech corporate marketing and sales. Her son, Shane, was diagnosed with autism at the age of two and is now a talented and accomplished artist. Maureen is the Founder of Autism in the Arts, where Shane’s art originals, prints, cards, mug, mug candles, tea towels, shirts, and totes are sold. She has also created a website where his art can be purchased. www.shanetarkington.com The Autism in the Arts’ art show expanded after 6 years to more than 19 stores on the South Bay Peninsula, and she participates in POP – Up shops year-round. Her marketing skills were used to highlight Shane’s work at a retail store in Los Gatos, CA, Out of the Envelope. The Helpers Artisan Boutique features and sells Shane’s art as well.

Maureen is currently an Inside Channel Account Manager with Fortinet, San Jose.

She is a graduate of San Jose State University BA in Advertising, Minor in Graphic Design.

Stanley Wong, Board Treasurer

“I’ve stayed on the board because we put our focus on improving the lives of our residents. They come first. Our foundation is also supporting programs to assist people with developmental disabilities throughout the Bay Area.”

Stanley first encountered Helpers in 2000, in his role as a Senior Project Manager for Plant Construction Company, when he relocated Helpers Bazaar from one location to another in Ghirardelli Square. Helpers introduced Stanley to the challenges faced by individuals with developmental disabilities. His architectural expertise came in handy through volunteer projects he performed for Helpers over the years. Eventually, he was invited to become a board member and accepted immediately. As a board member, Stanley continues to contribute his construction and architectural skills to the on-going maintenance, rehabilitation and renovation of the group homes.

Board of Directors

 

Uli K. Chettipally, Board Director

Dr. Uli K. Chettipally is an award-winning researcher, public speaker, and pioneering physician specializing in healthcare technology and innovation consulting. He is the Founder and President of InnovatorMD: the world’s largest physician innovation company devoted to globally advancing solutions that revolutionize patient care.

As a result of his work with CREST Network in developing a clinical decision support platform, Dr. Uli Chettipally earned the Pioneer award for innovation from Kaiser Permanente. He also received the Morris F. Collen award, for his research with his team from The Permanente Medical Group. In addition to that, Dr. Chettipally has participated in the White House Champions of Change in Precision Medicine: providing input regarding the digital transformation of healthcare in the United States.

Most recently in 2021 Dr. Chettipally founded Sirica Therapeutics which is developing a therapeutic device for autism using advance robotics, immersive virtual reality and machine learning. Dr Chettipally’s SF Bay Area experience includes Founder, President of Innovator MD; Director – Health Accelerator, Founder Institute; Clinical Advisor, Anthem Inc.; Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCSF; Cofounder and CTO of CREST Network, Chairman, Research Committee, Kaiser Permanente; Emergency Physician and Chair of Emergency Department, The Permanente Group

In addition, Dr Chettipally currently serves on the board of the San Mateo County Medical Association; Advisory Board member, American Board of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine; and Chairman of the Board, Clearwater Ranch.

Dr Chettipally earned an MD from Osmania University and an Epidemiology MPH from UCLA

Janet S. Cohen, Board Member

Jan Cohen has 30 + years of consulting, training, coaching and nonprofit leadership with nonprofit organizations. Her passion in these areas of expertise is for customized work sessions and consulting services for nonprofit organizations throughout the country for diversification of revenue/earned income planning processes. She partners with Academies for Social Entrepreneurship as the Lead Social Enterprise Trainer & Coach having worked with over 120 participating agencies in customized Social Enterprise Academies.

Jan leads organizations as an Interim Executive during transition periods, especially those with mission focus on individuals with disabilities, and is a member of the Bay Area Interim Executive Directors Network.

Jan has been Director of New Business Ventures at HOPE Services, an Affiliate Consultant with Compass Point Nonprofit Services in the Bay Area, a Senior Consultant with the National Center for Social Enterprises, and Chief Executive Officer of PROJECT HIRED, a nonprofit employment service serving individuals with disabilities for 10 years. Under her leadership, Project HIRED grew from a staff of 2 and budget of $50,000 to a staff of 15 and revenues of $2.3 million, with 85% self-generated from businesses and services, a working relationship with over 850 participating employers, and more than 2000 placements of individuals with disabilities.

Jan has served on local, regional, and national Boards of Directors of nonprofit agencies, especially those that provide services for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities. Most recently she served as Vice Chair, Board of Directors Cal Nonprofits Insurance Services, and is currently a board member of Helpers Community as well as The Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually impaired.