Board of Directors

Maddy Kilkenny manages day-to-day client activities and is responsible for working closely with clients and project teams to develop and implement government and community relations strategies. Maddy has extensive experience working with local government at all levels in San Diego. She spent six years as Vice President of Government Relations at the Clay Company. Prior to her work at the Clay Company, Maddy spent 11 years at the County of San Diego, where she was a Senior Policy Advisor to Supervisor Greg Cox, focusing on health and public safety policy issues, community outreach and special events.

Stephen Russell is the Executive Director of the San Diego Housing Federation. A 2005 graduate of the NewSchool of Architecture & Design, Stephen has a 20-year history working in community and economic development in the Mid-City region of San Diego. He served as Executive Director of the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement District, where he was responsible for implementing an economic development strategy for an aging commercial district. He later served as an advisor to then-San Diego City Councilmember Toni Atkins on issues related to redevelopment, infrastructure financing, small business support, and the City’s General Plan (the “City of Villages”.)

Carlos Vasquez is a native of San Diego.  Carlos has extensive leadership experience in areas of business, community planning and development.

He is the owner of multiple family owned businesses. He grew up in Logan Heights and in the 80’s his family moved to the South Bay border region where he has worked and managed his businesses ever since.  Carlos received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from San Diego State University and is licensed by the State of California as an insurance agent.

Richard Geisler, Principal & Founder of Indie Law Group APC, is an attorney and professor in San Diego, California. As Founder &  Principal of Indie Law Group APC, Rich uses his skills, and the law, to help better the lives of others. He has over a decade of legal experience in third-party reproduction law, government affairs, and non-profit corporate law. Rich believes in giving back; that is why he donates his time and expertise serving on non-profit boards including Civic San Diego, International Children’s Cancer Foundation, Recreational Music Center, and North Park Main Street. Rich enjoys his professional work, civil engagement, and volunteerism, as well as teaching Business Law, Management, and Policy courses at the University of Phoenix.

Tina Ngo Bartel serves as the Director of the Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research for the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community Colleges. The organization produces reports for the community colleges to develop training programs that respond to employers’ changing workforce needs. Her background consists of eight years of analyzing regional labor market trends and her research has brought in more than $20 million in grants to San Diego County for training programs. Prior to her work with the community college system, she ran the research and business programs departments at the San Diego Workforce Partnership – the local Workforce Development Board, which funds work-readiness programs for youth and job seekers from low-socioeconomic communities. Tina is currently a doctoral candidate for the joint doctoral program in educational leadership at UCSD and Cal State University, San Marcos. Tina is also a certified Project Management Professional, where she helps stakeholders execute projects and use data and research for continuous improvement. Tina has served on the Corporation’s New Markets Tax Credit Advisory Board for the past four years.