Meet Our Newest Board Members!
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Three new board members have joined the Pivotal team this year! We’re so excited to introduce you to all of them!
Maribeth Portz has lived in the Bay Area since 1999 coming here to join the tech sector where she worked for both Intel and Apple. She got to know her new community by joining the Junior League of San Jose (JLSJ) where she volunteered and collaborated with organizations such as the Children's Discovery Museum, Parents Helping Parents, Sunday Friends, and LifeMoves (formerly InnVision). It was through this work she found her passion in working with non-profits, particularly in fundraising.
As President of JLSJ (2006-2007) Maribeth developed skills in fundraising, board stewardship, financial oversight, and strategic planning. Maribeth joined the Pivotal Resource Council in 2021 where she has been instrumental in sourcing internships with local companies for our young people. She joined the Pivotal Board of Directors in 2022 where she brings enthusiasm and experience to her role as Chair of the Pivotal Board Fund Development Committee.
“I am excited about the new strategic initiatives Pivotal is undertaking. The caring and supportive work they do to assist in the growth and development of foster youth is something I think everyone should want to put their time and money behind. I hope I can be a small part of helping get the word out about this wonderful way to give every child a chance to thrive – a goal my husband David and I believe strongly in and have personally supported for the past twenty plus years.”
Nadia Patel, CFA, is a director and head of west coast distribution for BlackRock’s Financial Institutions Group, where she is responsible for overseeing the firm’s investment management relationships and activities.
Nadia began her career in Toronto, Canada, where she worked in a variety of financial services roles. She graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a degree in Business Administration and earned her CFA charter in 2013. She now lives in San Francisco, and previously volunteered with a variety of non-profits in Canada and the US, primarily focused on youth education and development.
Nadia joined the Pivotal Board of Directors 2022 and is part of the Board Fund Development Committee. She brings a laser focus to understanding the barriers our young people face and building meaningful support for the dreams and ambitions of youth in the foster care ecosystem.
“I moved to San Francisco during the pandemic in 2021 and was looking for ways to support and develop the local community. Education has always been a passion of mine and I was impressed by the way Pivotal has impacted the lives of foster youth who needed more than just a good education. I am proud and look forward to being a part of this vision.”
Dontae Lartigue is the CEO and co-founder of the nonprofit organization Razing the Bar, which provides mentorship and housing support services to current and former foster youth, as well as other under-resourced youth populations. Dontae is a Pivotal alumnus who was raised in East Palo Alto for the first few years of his life. He entered foster care at a very early age and lived most of his life in San Jose in shelters, group homes, and various foster placements. After graduating from high school, Dontae went to DeAnza College where he did an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts/Social and Behavioral Sciences. He followed this up with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from San Jose State University.
Dontae joined the Pivotal Board of Directors in 2022, and as a former scholar, Dontae’s lived experience with the foster care system and with our programs provides a critical perspective when we’re making decisions about our programming and ways to support our young people.
