​David Channer was named A Better Way’s President & CEO in October 2020. Prior to this he had served for 15 years in multiple organizational leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Program Officer, Clinical Director and Mental Health Program Director. David began his career working with homeless youth in upstate New York in 1993. In 1997 he earned a Masters in Clinical Social Work from Smith College School for Social Work. David has focused his professional efforts on the development and improvement of programs occurring at the intersection of Social Services and Mental Health Treatment. He is committed to building systemic partnerships that honor families and centralize the wisdom of lived-experience in the delivery of measurably effective supports.

Bryan Saalfeld is an attorney at Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney, a California based law firm with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento. Mr. Saalfeld represents businesses and individuals in all phases of litigation, focusing primarily on real estate, sports related practice, and legal malpractice. Bryan holds a B.A. in History with a minor in Economics from Bowdoin College, and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Bryan joined A Better Way’s Board of Directors in 2009 and currently serves as Board Chair as well as Chair of the Administration Committee. Mr. Saalfeld was raised in the East Bay, and has a long history of supporting family and youth services throughout the Bay Area. Bryan is married and a proud parent of two boys.

Dr. Marc Martos-Vila is a Principal with Econ One Research, an economics and finance consulting firm. Before working as consultant, Dr. Martos-Vila was a professor at the University of California Los Angeles, the London Business School (United Kingdom), the Claremont McKenna College and ESADE Business School (Spain). He has written on various topics including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and corporate governance. He has taught MBA students, undergraduate students and executives.

Dr. Martos-Vila received his PhD in Economics from Princeton University.

David joined Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center (TVHC) with over 20 years of experience in practice management and health services administration. For the 7 years prior to joining TVHC in 2012, he served as the CEO of Central Texas Community Health Centers, Inc., a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), managing 22 delivery sites and over 500 employees and led the transition of the organization from a department of the City of Austin to a non-profit. He also worked as practice administrator for the renowned Nemours Children’s Clinic, Orlando, Florida, a multi-pediatric specialty practice, with operational responsibility for 18 medical and surgical divisions. He has served on the boards of directors for the National Association of Community Health Centers and for the Texas Association of Community Health Centers.

David holds Bachelors in Health Services Administration from Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL and a MBA from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL. He has been a member of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) since 1995 and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the City Of Hayward’s Chamber of Commerce. David is an avid jazz and blues pianist, often playing locally in the East Bay area.

​Emily Wu is East Bay Regional Manager at Community Bank of the Bay. She has over 22 years of experience in banking including 12 years with First Republic Bank. She has established many trusted client relationships and helped with their business banking, private banking and financial planning needs.
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Emily is an active participant in the East Bay community and especially passionate about supporting families in need. She has been a Board member of A Better Way for over 5 years, where she serves as Chair of the Fund Development Committee and as a member of the Audit committee. Emily is also a Board member and Finance committee member of East Bay Asian Youth Center based in Oakland.

Jen Kokko is the Regional Sales Manager of the Northwestern Region with Insperity, a nationwide full-service HR solution company supporting small and mid-sized businesses. She has over 20 years of experience in business development and sales leadership including 14 years with Insperity.

Jen joined the Board of a Better Way in 2022 following her passion for helping children and belief in A Better Way’s mission.

Jen was born and raised in Michigan and graduated from the University of Michigan Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Economics and German. She has spent multiple years living and working abroad in both the U.K. and Germany. She holds a Certified Business Performance Advisor Certification through the University of Houston Bauer School of Business.

​Ahmad serves as an attorney at the California Department of Health Care Services. He obtained a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

Patricia Ochoa-Milanfar has over 20 years of experience in business management and administration in both the private and public sectors, with a focus on operations, recruiting, executive coaching, consulting, and human resources management for law firms for the past 15 years. She is an expert in CA Labor Law, workplace investigations, and conflict resolution, holding certificates in various types of mediation.

Patricia served as the Associate Executive Director and head of the Conflict Resolution Program for a Bay Area nonprofit for over four years and volunteers as a Guardianship Mediator for the Superior Court of Contra Costa County, advocating for displaced children and foster youth. In 2021, she joined her husband at Milanfar Law Firm, PC, as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing all aspects of the business and fostering a positive work culture.

Patricia holds BAs in Business/Corporate Communications and English Literature, and is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and a Certified Legal Manager (CLM). She values family, enjoys hiking, the beach, reading, and writing poetry.

Carmen Jones-Weaks is a dedicated and passionate Human Resources professional with over two decades of experience, committed to serving underserved and marginalized communities. With an Associate degree in Bookkeeping & Accounting from Mount San Antonio College and a Bachelor’s in Paralegal Studies from Watterson College, she has built a robust HR infrastructure, fostered inclusive work environments, and advocated for equitable employment practices.

Carmen has held significant leadership positions, including Director of Human Resources at St. Vincent DePaul Society in Alameda County and Senior Director of People and Culture at Community Vision Capital and Consulting in San Francisco. Her expertise lies in compliance, strategic planning, and DEI advocacy.

Carmen’s recent certifications in Payroll Law and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Today’s Workplace reflect her dedication to staying at the forefront of HR practices. Her career is a testament to her belief in the power of inclusive and equitable workplace practices, making a significant impact on the organizations she serves and the broader community.