GPNA Board Members
The GPNA Board meets monthly. Meetings are open to all Members. If you wish to attend an upcoming Board Meeting, email us at [email protected] for date & location information. If you wish to send a letter to all GPNA Board Members, email to [email protected] and it will forward to all GPNA board members.
Gina Silvestri, President
A Marin native, Gina and husband Ben have lived in Gerstle Park since 2004. She is a graduate of Marin Catholic High School and holds a degree in communications from St. Mary’s College of California. In addition to working full-time for a family office in San Francisco, she co-manages her own family’s eight-unit Gerstle Park apartment building. Board President since 2017 and Vice President for 4 years prior to that (2013-2016). During her time on the Board, Gina has enjoyed watching the neighborhood association grow and thrive. She has played a key role in San Rafael PorchFest, the Sidewalks & Tree Committee(s), Garage Sale Day and GPNA marketing & communications. Gina can often be seen walking her golden retriever “Blue” or playing bocce on Wednesday nights over at Marin Bocce.
Alicia diVittorio, Vice President
Board Member since 2018 and Vice President since 2019, Alicia has helped launch PorchFest and played a key role in all neighborhood activities. A marketing and communications professional, she has worked with several security and technology companies. Alicia grew up in the Sierra Nevada foothills, spent much of her life in San Francisco, then decided to make Gerstle Park her home in 2014. She lives here with her husband Michael and 2 young boys. She loves Gerstle Park for its walkability, the old trees, beautiful architecture, rich sense of community and the proximity of the open space in the hills. Alicia looks forward to continuing in her role as Vice President of the GPNA Board and continuing to see the neighborhood thrive.
Marlo Schrader, Treasurer
Marlo joined the Board in 2024. She is a San Rafael Native who attended Marin Catholic High School and received her undergraduate and graduate degrees at San Francisco State University and Golden Gate University respectively. After living out of State she made the move “back home” with her Golden Retriever Mix “Lucas”, purchasing her home in Gerstle Park in February 2022. A small business owner of a specialized construction company, her background is in Accounting and Finance. Her favorite thing about Gerstle Park is the quiet neighborhood feel, beautiful trees and friendly neighbors. She looks forward to getting involved and immersing herself in the community.
Sandra Luna, Corresponding Secretary
Sandra (Sandi) Luna has been a member of the GPNA Board since 2018 and is now running for a 2nd 3-year term (Jan 2021- Jan 2024). Sandi is a Bay Area Native, born in San Francisco and raised in the South Bay. At 21, she moved to San Francisco, where she lived for 25 years. In 2015, she became the proud co-owner of a duplex on Clorinda and has never been happier with her choice of neighborhoods. Since 2004, Sandi has been in real estate and is now affiliated with Corcoran Global Living in Greenbrae. During Covid, she built a small office studio you may see if you walk by. Be sure to say Hi! Sandi is the current Corresponding Secretary of GPNA.
Lawrence Grodeska, Recording Secretary
Lawrence joined the Board in 2024. He has lived in the Bay Area for the past 20 years. In 2020, he moved to Gerstle Park with his wife and son to be closer to open space and grow new community for their family. Over the last 20 years, his focus has been developing programs, products and policies in collaboration with residents, communities and governments that improve the quality of life for all. He was a public servant for 7 years in local government environmental agencies, at San Francisco's Environment Department, and StopWaste.org in Alameda County. For the past 9 years he has run a small strategic consultancy that partners with governments, nonprofits, and mission-driven companies to co-create solutions to pressing public challenges like climate change, workforce development, affordable housing and more. He considers himself a generalist, and is deeply curious about our incredible world. He loves hiking, birdwatching, bicycling and reading science fiction. He is a proud husband and father, and is grateful to be raising a family in Gerstle Park. He is also a songwriter and vocalist specializing in sunny melodies and happy-go-lucky lyrics. He is honored to be on the GPNA Board. He wishes to contribute his passion and skills to foster even more connection and resilience in our wonderful community. He’s interested in helping to organize events like PorchFest, and to bring back regular gatherings like a monthly potluck in the park. He would also like to increase our neighborhood's emergency preparedness and resilience through programs such as Firewise Communities.
Michael Bruel, Member
Michael moved to the Bay Area in 2000 to be near his twin brother Russell who moved out here from their native Miami a few years prior. He also moved out here to be closer to his biological family. He moved to Gerstle Park in 2008 when he and his wife were expecting their son Kryštof. They wanted to find a friendly community within walking distance to a beautiful park, hiking, and downtown San Rafael.
Michael is an authentic and friendly neighbor who can be spotted late at night, walking his dog Cody. He hopes to contribute with his wide range of interests around affordable housing, community organizing, technology, parenting, and the environment, as a potential board member of the GPNA.
Michael has nineteen plus years of professional experience as a technologist for small businesses, and working for a variety of start-ups and enterprises where he wore a variety of hats has provided him with a broad range of skills. He has experience with web marketing, information technology administration, and customer support relationship management. Michael was asked to join the board after his ongoing participation at different events, like PorchFest, or during his help keeping our digital devices charged during the power outages in front of Muffin Mania have been beneficial to our community.
Kim McGinnis, Member
Kim, an Atlanta native, has lived in Marin County for over 30 years. She moved to Gerstle Park from the Dominican neighborhood in 2015 when the last of her kids went to college. Her daughter and two sons went to Marin Catholic where she was a key fundraiser and team parent.
She is currently working for Marin Living Magazine and for 8 years prior to that she was Vice President of the San Rafael Pacifics Baseball Club.
Kim moved to our neighborhood because of its trees, porches, sidewalks, and vibrant neighbors and dogs! She loves our active and engaged GPNA and would like to be a part of keeping our neighborhood cohesive, interactive and charming. She lives with her boyfriend, Dennis, at 26 Marin and hands out the big candy bars at Halloween!
Katie Fleet, Member
Katie joined the Board in 2024. A Wisconsin native, she lives on Clark Street with her husband Kevin, daughter Laney, and doodles Lizzie and Atlas. Katie moved to San Rafael in 2016 and before that she lived in the East Bay, New York, Washington DC, and various places in Latin America. Gerstle Park is her favorite spot for its trees, flowers, park, and friendly neighbors. Katie has been a lawyer for over twenty years and has experience in litigation and government regulatory work. For many years, she was a lawyer for children in child welfare, family, and immigration cases. Katie wants to work with GPNA to help celebrate the park and neighborhood and keep them vibrant, diverse, and safe.
Brenda Goeden, Member
Brenda joined the Board in 2024. A transplant from Los Angeles, she moved to San Rafael in 1993, and to Gerstle Park in 2006 with her partner Joel Skaggs, and small brown dog Twiggy. By day she works for the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) as the Sediment Program Manager, which means she regulates dredging, sand mining, and some flood protection work, as well as wetland restoration projects in San Francisco Bay since 2000. She is a longtime volunteer for WildCare and fosters hummingbirds, swallows, and swifts. She has been a beachwatch volunteer for the Greater Farrallones Marine Sanctuary since 1994, spending many, many hours at Drakes Beach in Point Reyes. In a former life she was a marine science educator, loves native plants, and working on her little tumble down shack in the neighborhood. She's excited to join the Gerstle Park Neighborhood Association Board, knowing the Board works to improve the neighborhood - and has a particular interest in our local creeks. Over the past few years she's been the Volunteer Coordinator for PorchFest and has escorted both Santa and the Spring Fling bunny on their excursions around town.
A Marin native, Gina and husband Ben have lived in Gerstle Park since 2004. She is a graduate of Marin Catholic High School and holds a degree in communications from St. Mary’s College of California. In addition to working full-time for a family office in San Francisco, she co-manages her own family’s eight-unit Gerstle Park apartment building. Board President since 2017 and Vice President for 4 years prior to that (2013-2016). During her time on the Board, Gina has enjoyed watching the neighborhood association grow and thrive. She has played a key role in San Rafael PorchFest, the Sidewalks & Tree Committee(s), Garage Sale Day and GPNA marketing & communications. Gina can often be seen walking her golden retriever “Blue” or playing bocce on Wednesday nights over at Marin Bocce.
Alicia diVittorio, Vice President
Board Member since 2018 and Vice President since 2019, Alicia has helped launch PorchFest and played a key role in all neighborhood activities. A marketing and communications professional, she has worked with several security and technology companies. Alicia grew up in the Sierra Nevada foothills, spent much of her life in San Francisco, then decided to make Gerstle Park her home in 2014. She lives here with her husband Michael and 2 young boys. She loves Gerstle Park for its walkability, the old trees, beautiful architecture, rich sense of community and the proximity of the open space in the hills. Alicia looks forward to continuing in her role as Vice President of the GPNA Board and continuing to see the neighborhood thrive.
Marlo Schrader, Treasurer
Marlo joined the Board in 2024. She is a San Rafael Native who attended Marin Catholic High School and received her undergraduate and graduate degrees at San Francisco State University and Golden Gate University respectively. After living out of State she made the move “back home” with her Golden Retriever Mix “Lucas”, purchasing her home in Gerstle Park in February 2022. A small business owner of a specialized construction company, her background is in Accounting and Finance. Her favorite thing about Gerstle Park is the quiet neighborhood feel, beautiful trees and friendly neighbors. She looks forward to getting involved and immersing herself in the community.
Sandra Luna, Corresponding Secretary
Sandra (Sandi) Luna has been a member of the GPNA Board since 2018 and is now running for a 2nd 3-year term (Jan 2021- Jan 2024). Sandi is a Bay Area Native, born in San Francisco and raised in the South Bay. At 21, she moved to San Francisco, where she lived for 25 years. In 2015, she became the proud co-owner of a duplex on Clorinda and has never been happier with her choice of neighborhoods. Since 2004, Sandi has been in real estate and is now affiliated with Corcoran Global Living in Greenbrae. During Covid, she built a small office studio you may see if you walk by. Be sure to say Hi! Sandi is the current Corresponding Secretary of GPNA.
Lawrence Grodeska, Recording Secretary
Lawrence joined the Board in 2024. He has lived in the Bay Area for the past 20 years. In 2020, he moved to Gerstle Park with his wife and son to be closer to open space and grow new community for their family. Over the last 20 years, his focus has been developing programs, products and policies in collaboration with residents, communities and governments that improve the quality of life for all. He was a public servant for 7 years in local government environmental agencies, at San Francisco's Environment Department, and StopWaste.org in Alameda County. For the past 9 years he has run a small strategic consultancy that partners with governments, nonprofits, and mission-driven companies to co-create solutions to pressing public challenges like climate change, workforce development, affordable housing and more. He considers himself a generalist, and is deeply curious about our incredible world. He loves hiking, birdwatching, bicycling and reading science fiction. He is a proud husband and father, and is grateful to be raising a family in Gerstle Park. He is also a songwriter and vocalist specializing in sunny melodies and happy-go-lucky lyrics. He is honored to be on the GPNA Board. He wishes to contribute his passion and skills to foster even more connection and resilience in our wonderful community. He’s interested in helping to organize events like PorchFest, and to bring back regular gatherings like a monthly potluck in the park. He would also like to increase our neighborhood's emergency preparedness and resilience through programs such as Firewise Communities.
Michael Bruel, Member
Michael moved to the Bay Area in 2000 to be near his twin brother Russell who moved out here from their native Miami a few years prior. He also moved out here to be closer to his biological family. He moved to Gerstle Park in 2008 when he and his wife were expecting their son Kryštof. They wanted to find a friendly community within walking distance to a beautiful park, hiking, and downtown San Rafael.
Michael is an authentic and friendly neighbor who can be spotted late at night, walking his dog Cody. He hopes to contribute with his wide range of interests around affordable housing, community organizing, technology, parenting, and the environment, as a potential board member of the GPNA.
Michael has nineteen plus years of professional experience as a technologist for small businesses, and working for a variety of start-ups and enterprises where he wore a variety of hats has provided him with a broad range of skills. He has experience with web marketing, information technology administration, and customer support relationship management. Michael was asked to join the board after his ongoing participation at different events, like PorchFest, or during his help keeping our digital devices charged during the power outages in front of Muffin Mania have been beneficial to our community.
Kim McGinnis, Member
Kim, an Atlanta native, has lived in Marin County for over 30 years. She moved to Gerstle Park from the Dominican neighborhood in 2015 when the last of her kids went to college. Her daughter and two sons went to Marin Catholic where she was a key fundraiser and team parent.
She is currently working for Marin Living Magazine and for 8 years prior to that she was Vice President of the San Rafael Pacifics Baseball Club.
Kim moved to our neighborhood because of its trees, porches, sidewalks, and vibrant neighbors and dogs! She loves our active and engaged GPNA and would like to be a part of keeping our neighborhood cohesive, interactive and charming. She lives with her boyfriend, Dennis, at 26 Marin and hands out the big candy bars at Halloween!
Katie Fleet, Member
Katie joined the Board in 2024. A Wisconsin native, she lives on Clark Street with her husband Kevin, daughter Laney, and doodles Lizzie and Atlas. Katie moved to San Rafael in 2016 and before that she lived in the East Bay, New York, Washington DC, and various places in Latin America. Gerstle Park is her favorite spot for its trees, flowers, park, and friendly neighbors. Katie has been a lawyer for over twenty years and has experience in litigation and government regulatory work. For many years, she was a lawyer for children in child welfare, family, and immigration cases. Katie wants to work with GPNA to help celebrate the park and neighborhood and keep them vibrant, diverse, and safe.
Brenda Goeden, Member
Brenda joined the Board in 2024. A transplant from Los Angeles, she moved to San Rafael in 1993, and to Gerstle Park in 2006 with her partner Joel Skaggs, and small brown dog Twiggy. By day she works for the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) as the Sediment Program Manager, which means she regulates dredging, sand mining, and some flood protection work, as well as wetland restoration projects in San Francisco Bay since 2000. She is a longtime volunteer for WildCare and fosters hummingbirds, swallows, and swifts. She has been a beachwatch volunteer for the Greater Farrallones Marine Sanctuary since 1994, spending many, many hours at Drakes Beach in Point Reyes. In a former life she was a marine science educator, loves native plants, and working on her little tumble down shack in the neighborhood. She's excited to join the Gerstle Park Neighborhood Association Board, knowing the Board works to improve the neighborhood - and has a particular interest in our local creeks. Over the past few years she's been the Volunteer Coordinator for PorchFest and has escorted both Santa and the Spring Fling bunny on their excursions around town.