__new-team - California Clubhouse

Juliana Fuerbringer

California Clubhouse Founder & Board President

Juliana was motivated to open a Clubhouse in San Mateo County after her son developed mental illness and faced distressingly limited treatment options. Her dedication grew after meeting dozens more families who faced the same bleak choices. Her concern led both to founding California Clubhouse, and energizing her mental health advocacy as a past board member, NAMI San Mateo, and a current member of the MHSA Steering Committee. Important to her is “working wholeheartedly with talented volunteers who are equally committed to our goal.” Juliana was a partner for 20 years in the graphic and web design company Ghostdog Design with her husband Neil Murphy.

Helene Zimmerman

Board President

Is a family member, and retired Executive Director, of NAMI San Mateo County. She is a member of the Patient Advisor Committee for the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, where she serves on the Mental Health Research Network committee and is a co-facilitator for two Family Support Groups for the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), Santa Clara County. Helen is passionate about helping and supporting people in need.

Amaal Greenwood Goodwin

Vice President

Is a founding member of the Clubhouse and a member of the Board of Directors, currently serving as Vice President. He is also on the Board of the San Mateo Contractors Association and is the Wellness Director at Heart and Soul, a partnering mental health nonprofit agency. In his spare time, Amaal likes to play games, read and go for walks while listening to music and podcasts.

Sushant Gupta

Treasurer

Is a healthcare executive and entrepreneur with over 14 years of experience across marketing, technology, and strategy. He currently serves as Co-Founder and CEO of Meomind, an innovative digital mental health enterprise expanding access to therapy worldwide. Previously, Sushant has worked at McKinsey & Company, Abbott Laboratories, Philips Healthcare and Optum (part of UnitedHealth Group). Sushant holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. He also has an MS and BS in Computer Science from IIT Kharagpur.

Donna Rutherford

Secretary

Served on the city council of East Palo Alto as Mayor from 2004 – 2017. After leaving the council she continued her civic involvement as a board member and volunteer for numerous organizations, including: Fresh Start House San Francisco, One East Palo Alto, San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District, California Clubhouse and most recently onto the East Palo Alto Senior Center Advisory Board. Donna is a Life Member of the NCNW, East Palo Alto Section 0-63, where she serves as 1st Vice President.

With 25 years of knowledge and experience as a public servant, she has worked hard to transfer her strong work ethic and passion for public service in addressing issues on affordable housing, equitable education, social rehabilitation, supporting the less fortunate members in the community and those living with mental illness.

From 1998 – 2023, Donna also served as the Program Administrator for Mateo Lodge, a non-profit organization supervising their Adult Residential Facility and Social Rehabilitation Program staff.

Jacob S. Ballon, M.D., M.P.H.

Is a founding member of the Clubhouse and a member of the Board of Directors, currently serving as Vice President. He is also on the Board of the San Mateo Contractors Association and is the Wellness Director at Heart and Soul, a partnering mental health nonprofit agency. In his spare time, Amaal likes to play games, read and go for walks while listening to music and podcasts.

Elizabeth Evans, R.N

In her 28 year nursing career – predominantly served within Psychiatry departments - she held positions as manager, Inpatient Acute Psychiatry, Manager Psychiatric Emergency Services and served as the Deputy Director, Acute Psychiatric Services, San Mateo Medical Center. Mental health advocacy is important to her and she has seen the benefits of California Clubhouse when individuals are given the respect and opportunities that everyone deserves.

Laz Dombovic

Has worked in Human Resources for over 8 years. He is passionate, lively, transparent, and thrives in the art of problem-solving. With a genuine passion for helping others, he excels in various domains including hiring, compliance, conflict resolution, and fostering employee engagement. He holds a steadfast belief in the potential for growth within everyone.

Pat O’Brien

Throughout her career in trust and retirement plan financial services, she held senior management positions, including P&L responsibility for a 300-person, bicoastal organization. Additionally, she became an expert in ERISA (retirement plan) law, leading industry committees and speaking at national conferences. In 2023, she helped found the Clubhouse Coalition California and now serve as its Board Treasurer.