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Founders
Advisory Board
A shining example of leadership in action, "Green" Mayor Steve Pougnet is Vice Chariman of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), Chairman of the Energy & Water Conservation Subcommittee, Vice Chairman of the CVAG Energy and Environment Committee, Vice Chairman of Sunline Transit Agency Board Member of the Palm Springs Desert Resort Convention and Visitors Authority and a member of the Riverside County Transportation Commission. Steve is also extremely involved in volunteerism in his community. He serves as the President of the Board for the Mizell Senior Center and is a Board Member of the Valley Action Group and the Palm Springs Art Museum. Steve also serves on the Citizens Oversight Committee of the Palm Springs Unified School District. Currently running for Congress as a representative of the 45th District, Steve resides in Palm Springs with his partner Christopher and their children Beckham and Julia.
Carolyn's career has been focused on connecting universities with the regions and constituents they serve. Carolyn was Director of Business Development for the Stanford Center for Professional Development at Stanford University. Carolyn later became Executive Director of the Center for Lifelong Engineering Education at the University of Texas at Austin. Also in Austin, Carolyn was CEO of the Austin Technology Council, a non-profit organization of business, community and government leaders, working together to promote the growth and expansion of the technology business sector in Texas.
With a resume that includes illustrious positions for companies such as Integrated Financial and AMA Investment Advisors, Jim has also created Physician's Asset Management, Inc. (PAMI) to handle the financial needs of high-net worth medical professionals throughout the western United States, and he is the founder and president of Integrated Wealth Management (IWM); one of the country's fastest growing and most highly regarded wealth management and investment counseling organizations. A true philanthropist, Jim regularly donates of his time and money to the community.
Fred serves as Executive Officer of the Building Industry Association Desert Chapter. The Chapter has as its membership most of the major builders and developers presently building in Eastern Riverside and Imperial Counties in California. Formerly, Fred was Vice President of Exhibitor Relations for WorldStage LLC, a company that delivers Hi-Definition digital video via satellite to theatres across the country. Prior to that, he was a Vice President in the Operations Department of Edwards Theatres, the fifth largest exhibitor in the U.S. at the time.
With a lifelong connection to desert living, Lance O'Donnell's Palm Springs office, o2 Architecture, is dedicated to discovering the essence of place. His work engages the senses and intellect with a poetic connection to site and rigorous environmentally crafted modernism. Lance became a member of the faculty at College of the Desert in 1994 and Cal Poly Pomona in 1997 where he teaches architectural design and sustainability. For the past 11 years, Lance has been a member of the City of Palm Springs Architectural Advisory Committee. Honors include recognition by the California Energy Commission in 1998 for Outstanding Sustainable Design Teaching and in 2001 by the AIA California Council as one of the talented architects currently emerging. Lance has recently completed a sustainable hillside home, for his family, which is in the LEED for Homes pilot program and has the potential for Platinum designation, the highest possible.
Catherine Romero is currently employed with Shelter From the Storm as an outreach advocate. She is co-founder of the desertEcolution Green Networking Group, and currently serves on the Desert Hot Springs Planning Commission. Catherine possesses a broad knowledge base and enthusiasm for Sustainable Building and Architecture. Her strength in communicating sustainability concepts and tenets facilitates her work as a certified Eco-Consultant; advocating for green jobs creation, sustainable building practices and the creation of sustainable communities.
Yolanda Rustad is an owner and developer of green companies and initiatives. As co-founder of the desertECOLUTION Green Networking Group, she is at the forefront of promoting and supporting green businesses and entrepreneurs in the valley. She has worked at a variety of Fortune 500 companies such as FedEx and United Airlines. Most recently, she was employed as a Corporate Accounts Executive with Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
Thom Gottberg has been involved in commercial real estate for over 25 years. Since 1990 Thom has focused his efforts in the Coachella Valley and has established himself as one of the area's leading commercial brokers. Thom has been involved with selling sizable properties for institutions like Teacher's Insurance & Annuity Association, Bank of America, Desert Hospital District and numerous other national and regional clients. However, in January 2009, after almost ten years with CB Richard Ellis, Thom made a decision to shift direction and work independently with a few select clients as well as his own portfolio. Thom's current efforts focus on his passion for sustainable or "green" commercial real estate projects.
A native of the Coachella Valley, Kathy Gottberg is an accomplished writer and real estate broker. With a passion for sustainability, she and her husband, Thom, co-created a website called Coachella Valley Green, expanding her repertoire to include "Environmental Journalist." On this website, Kathy is an integral part of keeping the Coachella Valley "green," posting the latest in current sustainable news and information.
A Palm Springs resident for 44 years and Navy Veteran, Jon is currently serving his 5th term as Planning Commissioner for the City of Palm Springs spanning a period of 12 years. He is past president and current board member for Palm Springs Economic Development Corporation and has been a member since 1997. In the past, Jon served two years as a Planning Commissioner for the Agua Caliente Tribe and served on the board of directors for the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce for three years. Jon is married to his wife Nicki and has six children ranging from age 8 to 28.
David's exciting career has included education work exprience in both China and Japan, first at TOMA Enterprises at the Taipei World Trade Center and then Electronic Data Systems and Deutche Bank in Tokyo. In the States, David worked with AmeriNet before joining Total Marketing Partners and later becoming its President. David currently sits on the Board of Directors for Stroke Recovery Center, Pegasus Riding Academy for the Handicapped, Gay Associated Youth and Greenburg Family Foundation, as well as training and participation in the AIDS Life Cycle. David resides in Palm Springs with his daughter, Kathryn Claire. Jay Carson – Executive Vice President, Shangri-La Industries Jay has served as Deputy Communications Director in the Senate Democratic Leader's office for Tom Daschle, as well as Press Secretary for Governor Howard Dean's presidential campaign in 2004. In 2005, he was named the Communications Director of the Clinton Foundation. Jay's experience with President Clinton and the exposure to green building through the Clinton Climate Initiative shaped his conviction that sustainable construction is at once financially viable, important for the future of the Earth and a crucial economic engine for the global economy. Most recently, Jay was the Traveling Press Secretary for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. Born in Macon, GA, Jay attended Columbia University in New York City and currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.
Yvonne Parks – Mayor of Desert Hot Springs
Board Recruitment One of the keys to a successful business incubator is a strong advisory board. The Hatch Partnership is seeking board members from various industry backgrounds that will provide mentorship to incubator companies as well as help raise financial support for the incubator itself. Some of the market sectors that will be represented include:
If you are interested in being a board member, please contact our Interim Executive Director, Scott Hines, at scott@hatchpartners.org.
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Steve Pougnet – Mayor of Palm Springs
Carolyn Stark – Executive Director, UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center
Jim Casey – President, Integrated Wealth Management
Fred Bell – Executive Officer, Building Industry Association – Desert Chapter
Lance O’Donell – Principal, O2 Architecture 
Catherine Romero – Living ECOwise
Yolanda Rustad – Co-Founder, desertECOLUTION Green Networking Group
Thom Gottberg – Coachella Valley Green
Kathy Gottberg – Coachella Valley Green
Jon Caffery – Palm Springs Economic Development Council
David Peet – Owner/President Total Marketing Partners
Kathy DeRosa – Mayor of Cathedral City
Bob Burke – Senior Partner, Burke Rix Hines & Associates