BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
Douglas Look
Principal, LOOK Systems
Douglas G. Look, Principal at LOOK systems, focuses on shaping solutions at the confluence of age-friendly environments, aging-in-place living, and community caregiving. As past Director of Strategic Design and Realization at Modern Empathy, he researched and conceived the Community Age-Friendly Living Model (CALM), a vision of enabling older adults and families sustaining independent and healthy living in their own homes. Prior to Modern Empathy, he was Director of User Experience at Katerra, combining his experience in technology, business, and design to deliver user-centered experiences that helped optimize all aspects of development, design, and construction, transforming the way buildings and spaces come to life. Doug researched, designed, and developed multiple new products and services at Autodesk, Inc. for over 17 years.
He received his Master of Design Methods from the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology and also worked for Doblin/Monitor Group. He holds architectural degrees from the University of California, Berkeley and Cornell University, and practiced as a licensed professional architect in New York State.
Michelle Makino
Program Manager, San Mateo County’s Aging and Adult Services
Michelle Makino dedicated to community service. As Program Manager with San Mateo County’s Aging and Adult Services, she directed the allocation of public funds for community based services, leading the development of innovative programs while promoting inclusivity and diversity. She was responsible for contract acquisition ($5M+ annually), performance, and compliance. Her work focused on program development and process improvement with non-profit and government organizations. Michelle managed the Commission on Aging and Commission on Disabilities, supervising the development of the Strategic Area Plans for Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities. She’s collaborated with the CA Dept. of Aging and The SCAN Foundation, managing Older Americans Act grants. She considers herself priviledged to have coordinated the introduction of CAFÉ’s Age-Friendly Cities work in San Mateo County prior to her retirement in 2019.
“Music can provide access, even when no medication can, to movement, to speech, to life. Music is not a luxury, but a necessity.” Oliver Sacks
Prior to her work at Aging and Adult Services, Michelle had the honor of bringing music therapy to residents/patients in long term care, geropsychiatry, and adult acute psychiatry for 25 years, supervising the expansion of services for the second largest long term care facility in CA. This direct client experience deepened her dedication to the service of others, expanding her understanding and sensitivity to those with significant challenges and illness.
Michelle earned her Music B.A. at UCLA and post-graduate certificate in Music Therapy from CA State University at Long Beach. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Alzheimer’s Association of No.CA and No.NV, volunteers with Bread and Roses, Inc., while taking full advantage of living on the coastside in beautiful Montara, CA.
Mark Pitchford
Senior Partner, JLMP Performance – marketing, digital transformation, and operations management consulting
Mark Pitchford is a Senior Partner at JLMP Performance, a marketing, digital transformation, and operations management consulting company. Mark also currently serves as an Executive Advisor for Afiniti, the world’s leading applied artificial intelligence and advanced analytics provider and is the Chief Strategy Office for E.A. Buck Financial Services, whose focus is to make comprehensive financial planning accessible to people of all income levels and backgrounds. Pitchford received an M.B.A. from Santa Clara University and a Bachelor of Science in engineering from Harvey Mudd College.
Prior to joining JLMP Performance in 2019, Mark was the Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Esurance, the pioneering online Property & Casualty Insurance company that became part of Allstate in 2011. He was responsible for Esurance’s strategy, advertising, performance marketing, digital transformation, and customer contact activities, including inbound and outbound sales and customer service. Prior to moving to Esurance, Pitchford spent three years leading Allstate’s direct business, including leading Allstate’s ten call centers that directly support both customers and Allstate agencies and Allstate’s on-line sales & service functions.
Before his time with Allstate, Pitchford spent three years in South Korea as CMO for Hanarotelecom and Hanaromedia, a leading provider of broadband and IPTV. In these roles, Mr. Pitchford led teams responsible for all of the product management, product development, advertising, and programming. In addition, Mr. Pitchford led the inbound call center operations for Hanaro. Prior to joining Hanarotelecom, Pitchford spent six years in senior marketing and customer service positions at CenturyLink/Qwest and spent more than 15 years in various senior-level marketing, sales/service, and product management positions at AT&T/Pacific Bell, as well as multiple roles in marketing, engineering, and operations.
Brenda Taussig
Senior Advisor – government and community relations
Brenda Taussig has worked in healthcare, public policy, and government and community relations for over twenty-five years. She served as Director of Government and Community Relations for El Camino Health based in Mountain View, California, a nonprofit community health system with two comprehensive acute care hospitals, multiple primary care clinics, and an extensive community benefit grants program. Her work included creating and leading the public policy and legislative agenda, maintaining productive and positive relationships with local, state and federal officials, and collaborating with community leaders on initiatives to improve access to the highest quality hospital, community health, and mental health services.
She has been a member of many nonprofit, professional and public organizations, most recently serving on the board of the Los Altos Community Foundation and as a member of the Governing Board of the Santa Cara County Health Authority, which provides oversight of public funds for health coverage. Brenda was a frequent speaker at civic leadership programs throughout Santa Clara County on health services and challenges, and how the Affordable Care Act and other health policy affects residents and providers.
Prior to her hospital work, Brenda was staff for two members of the California State Legislature, a Senator and an Assemblymember, advancing their legislation, representing them in the community, and providing constituent services. Earlier in her career she was an executive with nonprofit health clinics in Arizona and Illinois and taught at a community college.
She has a BA and a Masters Degree from the University of Arizona. Brenda lives in both Los Altos, California and Bend, Oregon.