John Berliner, President
John is Director of Technology at Live Oak School, a progressive K-8 school in San Francisco. John was a founding member of San Francisco Rock Project, and his son Cole and daughter Sasha have been enrolled there since its opening in 2010. His kids’ music education at Rock Project was instrumental in their success at Oakland School for the Arts. John’s all-time favorite band is probably Earth.
Peter Stabler, Treasurer
By day, Peter is a financial analyst covering the advertising and digital media industries for Wells Fargo Securities. Off-duty, he stands in near-constant awe of the talent, commitment, and enthusiasm of Rock Project kids and their appreciation for an enormously broad spectrum of past and present rock and roll. He enjoys attending Bay Area shows with his wife and kids and forever regrets that day he stood slack-jawed next to his favorite artist Tom Waits, unable to utter a single word of appreciation for the man’s world-changing work.
Margo Graham, Secretary
A founding member of San Francisco Rock Project, Margo has worked in the hospitality industry for 25 years, including serving as General Manager of the Park Chow restaurant in San Francisco for seven years. Margo was responsible for human resources, finances, purchasing, inventory and scheduling for the 90 employees of the $8 million organic restaurant. Margo also oversaw the process of opening Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe in Emeryville, CA.
Marcella Gries, Member
Marcella loves music and teaching and has been involved with the San Francisco Rock Project since its founding. She has performed in Bay Area bands for more than 10 years. When not touring with her band or collaborating with artists to create sound and art for the Exploratorium’s Tactile Dome, she recruits bands to rock out with our kids. Marcella is inspired by helping generations of musicians come together, and sharing the thrill of making music an integral part of one’s life.
Ellen Hathaway, Member
Ellen has been on the board of directors since she helped found San Francisco Rock Project in June 2010 and served as its President the first two years. She has worked in education-based nonprofit administration with preschools, colleges, study abroad programs and graduate schools throughout her career, and feels that Rock Project provides an ideal learning environment for students to be themselves, work with others, be mentored, and to develop as artists. She is the Director of Brightworks, a K-12 school in San Francisco, and her daughter Zada and son Isaac are in their third year of studying bass, drums, keyboards and vocals with the teachers at San Francisco Rock Project.
Martha Stabler, Member
Martha has been active in the non-profit sector for more than 20 years. She has worked in development for numerous local organizations, including United Cerebral Palsy Association, Insulin For Life, and The Democracy Center. She has served on numerous local boards and committees including Mobilization Against AIDS, Cathedral School for Boys, The Bayview Mission, and The Green Schools Alliance. She credits San Francisco Rock Project with turning her classically-trained and formerly practice-averse pianist son into a serious bass player who has to be reminded to stop practicing to eat, sleep, etc.
