Executive Leadership

Alan Burnham is a consultant to Total Exploration and Production. This includes work at Stanford University, where he is an adjunct professor. He has a PhD in physical chemistry and worked previously at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and American Shale Oil. He is a member of numerous professional organizations and served as an officer in the Geochemistry Division of the American Chemical Society and the Energy Minerals Division of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. He is active in Asbury United Methodist Church, serving on numerous committees and music groups. He is married with three children and five grandchildren.

Kim Risedorph is lead pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church. Asbury partners with other faith communities and social agencies to offer a hand up to those in need. Kim helps lead these initiatives, and serves on the steering committee for Tri Valley Anti-Poverty Collaborative, a group committed to working together to address poverty in the Tri Valley.  She is a founding member, and active in, the InterFaith Interconnect group in the Tri Valley. Kim has a master’s degree in divinity, and a PhD in Modern Chinese history.  She is married with two college age children.

Jacky Poulsen has lived with her husband in Livermore for 36 years. She retired from a career as a Project Manager for several large corporations in the Information Technology area. She then started volunteering for various organizations including the Livermore Police Department. Her work there raised her awareness of the local homeless situation, and she started working in different capacities to help make a difference. She is currently the volunteer coordinator for the laundry program, sponsored by two local churches, and providing laundry facilities to those who have no other way to clean their belongings.

Jeff Atherton has a PhD in chemical engineering and is the principal deputy for the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science (NIF&PS) directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). During his thirty-plus years at LLNL he has held a number of laser-related leadership roles including NIF optics, beampath infrastructure systems, laser hardware production and target science and technology. Prior to assuming his present position Jeff was the NIF Director, helping to shepherd the Facility from project completion to routine operation. Jeff is a long-time member of Lynnewood United Methodist church, having taught Sunday School for over twenty years. He is married with two adult children.

Richard Hayes is a retired tax attorney. During his 35 year career, he headed the tax departments of three major financial institutions. At each of his employers, Mr. Hayes was responsible for the tax filings and other tax affairs of the company’s private foundation. In addition, he served as an officer of the foundation, representing the foundation and participating in its charitable activities. During retirement, Mr. Hayes has served in several charitable organizations: Open Heart Kitchen (feeding the needy), Kids Against Hunger (packaging and shipping meals to areas in need in the US and other countries), Ten Thousand Windows (housing and educating underage children, rescued from sex trafficking). He is married with two children attending college.

Shana Peete serves as the first Executive Director of Partners for Change. She has a B.S. in International Business and a Doctor of Jurisprudence. She practiced law for eight years prior to moving to the Tri-Valley and has professional experience that includes managing a Child Development Center, serving as a Program Coordinator for Read Aloud America, and managing a 30-person customer fulfillment team for Amazon. In her spare time, she enjoys teaching the game of tennis to students of all ages and using her gifts of communication and connection to bring people together.