April Silas
Executive Director
Homeless Children's Network

Ms. Silas has an MA in Psychology and Political Science, JD, and is a PhD Candidate in Social Research. She is responsible for implementing the Child Care Consultation program in Shelter-based Child Care Centers and SRO-based Family Child Care Provider sites; developing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each shelter/agency site; Outreach and Linkage; and overseeing all program aspects-clinically, administratively, and fiscally.

Derek Cheng
Board President

Derek Cheng is a Manager in the Security and Privacy Services group at Deloitte & Touche, LLP in San Francisco. With over 9 years experience in IT and information security, Derek has led and performed a multitude of information security and privacy engagements for several global Fortune 500 companies, with access into various industries including technology, manufacturing, and financial services. His main areas of expertise include privacy and data protection, security risk assessments, vulnerability and penetration testing, and information security policies and procedures.

Derek received his BS in Computer Science from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).

Derek is also actively involved in the local non-profit community and has a strong relationship with Project Open Hand in San Francisco. For over 4 years, he has coordinated hundreds of volunteers for monthly volunteer days at Open Hand which included small to large scale projects from making frozen dinners for those are less fortunate to refurbishing their cafeteria and grocery center area.

Derek has been a member of the Board of Directors with the Homeless Children’s Network for over 6 years and is current the President of the Board.

Alex Bernardin
Board Secretary

Alex Bernardin has extensive experience in the tech world, both as an effective project manager and software developer. He is currently on staff at Kintera Inc, an organization that provides innovative software solutions for online donations and donor management. Alex’s appreciation for client and customer relationships has consistently driven him towards the human element of work, and into the world of non-profits, social services, and the arts.

Alex originally hails from New York City, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at Binghamton University – State University of New York, but considers himself a San Franciscan after having lived here since 1996. He continues to volunteer his time and expertise with a variety of local organizations including Burning Man and Homeless Children’s Network, where he is currently the board secretary.

Caterina Rindi
Board Treasurer

Caterina Rindi has been involved with public education for almost fifteen years. She is currently an analyst with the University of California Office of the President, working on long-range planning and international strategy for the ten campus system. Caterina began her career as a bilingual (Spanish) elementary teacher in Richmond, California where she spent over a decade working with English language learners and developing enrichment programs. She has worked with disenfranchised communities all over the San Francisco Bay Area offering tutoring, immediate academic intervention, after-school programs, GED preparation, high school career awareness events, grant writing, and as an education consultant to school principals, administrators, and staff.

Caterina graduated with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Education from the University of California at Davis, and received her Multisubject Teaching Credential with a BCLAD emphasis from California State University East Bay.

In addition to her past activities as a Girl Scout Troop Leader empowering young women, Caterina continues to be an active volunteer in her community with several organizations including VALA (Visual Arts|Language Arts), Larkin Street Youth Services, Project Homeless Connect, the San Francisco Food Bank, and the Homeless Children’s Network.

Diane Barker
Board Member

Diane Barker is an Associate at the law firm of Bingham McCutchen, LLP in San Francisco. She has a strong commitment to Pro Bono and has been an advocate for legal and social services for the disenfranchised even prior to beginning her legal career. Her previous volunteer work has included projects with the Prisoner Activist Resource Center in Oakland, CA.

Diane graduated with a BA in Linguistics and a minor in History from the University of California at Davis. She graduated with a JD from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California at Berkeley. She is admitted to practice law in California.