Executive Board

Cynthia Haden
Board Chair
Chair Clean and Safe Committee

Cynthia Haden is a licensed private investigator with over 20 years experience. Currently Ms. Haden is working in the field of intellectual property. Ms. Haden serves as Chair of the Richmond Main Street Initiative, Executive Board President for Richmond Police Crime Prevention, Secretary for Richmond Police Volunteers, Member of the Richmond Downtown Task Force, and on the Homefront Festival Planning Committee.

Xavier Abrams
Board Vice Chair/Treasurer
Chair Promotions Committee

Xavier Abrams grew up in Richmond, California and attended Cal State East Bay where she studied Business Administration, Marketing, and Spanish. Mrs. Abrams is Office Manager of The Mechanics Bank, Kensington Branch. Through her career at Mechanics Bank, she has built key relationships within the Richmond community. She is a board member for A New America Community Corporation and the board chair for Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services Inc. Mrs. Abrams is married, the proud mother of two girls and a volunteer with numerous organizations in West Contra Costa County.

Charlene Smith
Secretary
Chair Economic Restructuring Committee

Charlene Smith received her B.A. from McGill University (Montreal) and completed all course work in the M.B.A. Arts Administration program at Golden Gate University (San Francisco). Since 1985, she has worked with a variety of Bay Area non-profit organizations, including: San Francisco Ballet, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Stern Grove Festival, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, and Oakland Asian Cultural Center.  She has also taught workshops on various aspects of grant writing and fundraising and has on boards of numerous local organizations. Ms. Smith currently works for East Bay Center for the Performing Arts as Director of Development and serves as Chair of the Economic Restructuring Committee.

Amanda Elliott
Executive Director, Richmond Main Street

Amanda Elliott is a graduate of St. Mary’s College with a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Before joining Richmond Main Street Initiative, she was alumni relations manager and program coordinator for the Maynard Institute in Oakland where she coordinated management training programs at Harvard, UC Berkeley and Northwestern University. Amanda has also held public relations and administrative positions at UC Berkeley, KQED and KOFY TV. She is the recipient of community service awards from Black American Political Action Committee and Full Vision Arts Foundation and serves on the board of the National Institute of Art & Disabilities, the California Main Street Alliance and the City of Richmond Economic Development Commission.

Amanda has two adult daughters and can often be seen singing at Bay Area events and clubs with her husband, pianist and songwriter Terence Elliott.

Board Members

Arnie Kasendorf
Past Board Chair

Arnie Kasendorf is a graduate of CSU Hayward with master’s degree in Recreation Therapy. He has spent over 30 years as the senior vice-president of an international marketing company. He served as chairman of the Richmond Commission on Aging for 10 years. Following this position, the Mayor appointed Mr. Kasendorf to the Richmond Housing Advisory Commission. Currently he is an ambassador for the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, vice-president of the California Alliance for Retired Americans, and represents Richmond on the Contra Costa County Area Agency on Aging. Mr. Kasendorf served as Chair of the Richmond Main Street Board of Directors (2004-2010).

Adonna O’Sullivan

Kaiser Permanente, Public Affairs Representative

Billy Ward

Southern Wine and Spirits of Northern California, Key Account Specialist, East Bay

Jerrold Hatchett
Board Member

Jerrold Hatchett was born and raised in Northern California and graduated from Hogan High School in Vallejo. As Division Manager of Sims Metal Management, Richmond, he has made a variety of lasting contributions to the community, including: fundraising for Juneteenth celebrations, sponsorship of Music on the Main and the Holiday Festival, to name a few. He also makes contributions to the Richmond Arts Center, the East Bay Center for Performing Arts, and the Rosie the Riveter Memorial. He has been an active member of the King Solomon Lodge since 1986, the Santa Fe and Coronado Neighborhood Councils, and Richmond Rescue Mission. He is also a member of the Council of Industries and Richmond Chamber of Commerce.

Jo-El Schult

Planned Parenthood Shasta Pacific, Center Director

Maria Alegria

Maria Alegria is the Executive Director of Contra Costa Faith Works, a collaborative of organized labor and interfaith organizations in Contra Costa County advocating for public policy solutions that promote social, economic and environmental justice for its residents. Before joining Richmond Main Street Initiative, she was a City Council member for the city of Pinole (1992 – 2003). As a dedicated community service advocate, she has received many awards, including Contra Costa College Women’s History Celebration Award for Social Justice (2005) and Community College League of California Distinguished Alumna Award (2003).

Susan Bain

Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services, Division/Building Manager

Advisory Members

James Goins

James “Jim” Goins holds degrees in Business Administration and Social Psychology from the University of Utah. He joined Salt Lake County Government as the Director of Intergovernmental Relations and was promoted to the Chief Administrative Officer. Following his county service, Mr. Goins served as the City Manager for Compton, California. Immediately prior to his appointment at the City of Richmond as the Finance Director in August 2005, Mr. Goins was the Managing Director of Public Finance with the Holfer & Arnett firm, headquartered in San Francisco. He is a NASD registered Municipal Securities Principal (series 53) and a General Securities Representative (series 7 and 63).

Janet Johnson
Ex-officio

Janet Johnson is Senior Business Assistance Officer for the City of Richmond, Office of Economic Development. Using her project management experience, she manages Richmond Main Street Initiative projects by designing and hosting events and implementing clean and safe initiatives in the downtown area. As City of Richmond Project Manager, Ms. Johnson completed the Macdonald Avenue Economic Revitalization Plan to revitalize 52-blocks of the historical commercial district of Richmond. Overall, the Plan has created approximately 500 local jobs and attracted 14 new businesses to Macdonald Avenue to date.

Joanne King

Joanne King is a long-time Richmond resident, business owner and champion of Downtown Richmond. Mrs. King owns and operates Joanne’s Boutique located at 1011 Macdonald Avenue.

Michael Davenport

Michael Davenport graduated from Harry Ells High School in 1967. After serving in the US military, he attended Contra Costa College and UC Berkeley. In 1996, Mr. Davenport established Richmond-based business DP Security LLC, a motorcycle escorts and personal protection service. His community service work includes: Richmond Anti-Drug Force (former chair); Richmond Kiwanis Club (past president); Richmond PAL (Executive Board member); Richmond Chamber of Commerce (Board Member); BAPA; and Richmond Convention and Visitors Bureau.