Meet the OCC Board
Robert A.D. Schwartz, President
Mr. Schwartz is owner of
Key Source International, an Oakland manufacturer of computer
keyboards, including wireless, fingerprint biometric infrared,
and custom boards.
Through the years, Bob has owned and operated several successful
businesses in the Coliseum area. As such, he is an active
participant in the community and can be seen frequently at local
meetings focused on improving conditions in Oakland and the Coliseum
Redevelopment Area. In addition to serving as OCC's President,
Bob also chairs the Coliseum Commerce Center Advisory Committee,
focused on local development and safety and security issues in the
Coliseum area.
James Curtis,
Vice President
Mr. Curtis is co-owner of The Art
Sign Company, a company founded in Oakland at the close of World War
II. Beginning as a sign installer, he purchased the business in the
late 1970s. Since then, The Art Sign Company has grown from a small
"mom & pop" sign shop to a state-of-the-art enterprise with a 12,000
sq. ft. facility employing over a dozen full-time employees.
In addition to serving as an OCC board member, Jim also chairs our
BusinessAlert program.
George Burtt
As Vice President of Economic Development for the West Oakland
Commerce Association (WOCA), George Burtt contributes a wealth of
knowledge about the issues facing West Oakland. Through WOCA, he
has worked for many years to make West Oakland a better place to
live, work and do business. Under his leadership, WOCA’s efforts
focus on attracting, developing, promoting and retaining business in
this geographic area which is so vital to a healthy Oakland
economy. George has been successful in redirecting the City’s
planning process to be supportive of future business growth and
attraction, while supporting the protection and preservation of the
residential neighborhoods in West Oakland.
With the completion of the Port of Oakland’s Joint Intermodal
Terminal, the billion-dollar Cypress replacement, the upcoming
conversion of the Oakland Army Base, and many other improvements now
being implemented, George views this as a time of change, challenge
and opportunity for West Oakland.
Robert L. Hamilton
A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Robert
Hamilton has been a licensed realtor since 1961, beginning his
career in commercial and industrial real estate sales and leasing
with Robbins & Ritchie in San Francisco and eventually becoming a
partner in the firm. In 1968, he founded Hamilton, Cohn, Jones &
Gerow, which has been in continuous operation in Oakland for 32
years and is currently named Hamilton, Cohn, Thatcher & Associates.
In addition to his role as an OCC board member, Robert is active in
many local organizations, including Oakland Rotary International,
Oakland Chamber of Commerce, Airport Area Business Association
(board member), Port of Oakland Waterfront Development Estuary
Committee, Lake Merritt Breakfast Club, Emeryville Industries
Association, and the Emeryville Chamber of Commerce. He promotes
and cultivates partnership efforts between the City of Oakland and
hundreds of East Bay businesses through his involvement in these
organizations. He is also uniquely positioned to deal with new and
existing businesses that require use of Port of Oakland facilities.
Jack Krause
Now the Vice President and General Manager of Westside/Alta Building
Materials, Jack Krause is an Oakland native. Jack has been with the
company for 12 years which has grown five-fold under his direction.
This expansion led to the company’s relocation from West Oakland to
the Coliseum area. As the founding member of the Coliseum
Construction Corridor (a marketing association), Jack’s vision has
created strong professional relationships among 20 local
construction material and service related businesses in the
Coliseum. Jack holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration
with a dual concentration in Real Estate & Land Use Affairs, and
Finance.
Tim Little
After four years of service in the United States Navy, Tim
Little studied fine and commercial art at the San Francisco Art
Institute and Academy of Art College in San Francisco. Becoming an
accomplished house painter, he perfected his custom painting skills
through experience, adding wall covering and colored integral
plaster finishes to his range of professional services, including
hand painted “lost art” interior finishes. Now a fully licensed,
bonded and insured contractor, Tim travels the country doing fine
restoration, custom finishes, and installation of fine wall
coverings, working under contract to interior designers. His work
has been seen on the pages of Architectural Digest and
House and Garden.
Tim purchased a
home in Oakland and became active in his neighborhood, eventually
being elected to the Fruitvale Community Development Block Grant
Board and serving as its Vice Chair. After completing Oakland’s
City Academy, he was appointed by Council President Ignacio De La
Fuente to the Community Police Advisory Board. In addition to
serving on the board of OCC, he is an active member of the 21Y NCPC,
where he holds the office of Secretary.
Tim is an accomplished gardener and enjoys staying active with both
his contract and community volunteer work.
James McClendon
Born in Alabama in 1918, during the time of Jim Crow law to
parents who were unable to read or write, Mr. McClendon started out
in life as the son of sharecroppers who lived in a home without
indoor plumbing or electricity. Raising vegetables, chickens, hogs
and cows, his family worked long hours to sustain the farm while
James was educated in a one-room school.
In 1939, he joined the U.S. Navy, entering as a messmate recruit,
the only rate allowable at the time for a black man. Eventually
assigned to the destroyer U.S.S. Able, he participated in the World
War II invasion of Okinawa and survived the sinking of his ship by
Japanese suicide attack. Retiring from the Navy after 30 years of
service, Mr. McClendon began a successful career in real estate
after obtaining his broker’s license and opening his own real estate
firm.
A long time Oakland resident, Mr. McClendon is active in his
community. In addition to his role as an OCC board member, he
volunteers his time at the Oakland Community Organization (OCO), his
Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), Oakland Crime
Stoppers, Oakland High School, Bancroft Senior Homes, Senior
Companion/Foster Grandparents, Toastmasters, and Help Keep Oakland
Beautiful. He also teaches basic computer skills and serves as
Deacon at Good Hope Baptist Church.
A great-grandfather
who has been married for over 40 years, Mr. McClendon’s goal is to enjoy
life and give something back to his community.
Don Puccini
Don Puccini is an Oakland native whose family has deep roots in
Oakland. His grandfather started a fishing business which included
a cannery on 2nd and Broadway (now Everett & Jones). It was in that
buildings’ dining room where his grandfather would convene members
of the Port of Oakland to discuss the development of the area now
known as Jack London Square. Don’s family eventually went on to own
and operate Jack London’s centerpiece, Sea Wolf Restaurant for 20
years before selling it to Scotts. Don’s rich background in the
earth’s sciences, including a Bachelor’s degree in Geology and
Master’s degree in Geodesy suited him well in his 26 years as a navy
captain. Upon retiring, In 1995 Don moved back to the East Bay to
take over the family business, Puccini Properties LLC, which
develops and manages commercial real estate in Oakland.
Joyce
Washington
Ms. Washington is currently
the Manager of the Asset Management and Operations section of the
Port of Oakland's Commercial Real Estate Division. The
entity's portfolio consists of approximately 130 leases,
contributing almost $14 million in revenue to the Port of Oakland.
During her 24 years at the Port of Oakland, Ms. Washington has not
only directed asset management activities, but also maintenance and
facilities personnel, annual budget preparation and ongoing
reporting, the Port's 600-berth recreational marina, insurance
compliance, capital improvement projects, and the implementation of
asset management transition of the Commercial Real Estate
Restructure and Development Plan.
Ms. Washington holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies
and Elementary Teaching Credential from the California State
University of San Francisco. She also serves as an officer of
the board for the nonprofit organization, Girls Incorporated of
Alameda County.
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Meet the OCC
Staff
David P. Johnson, Executive Director
Mr. Johnson brings over 34 years of experience, in both the
private and public sectors, to the Oakland Commerce Corporation.
Having managed in the private sector at PG&E, the Blackhawk
Development Corporation and as a realtor with Mason McDuffie, he has
also worked in the public sector as Chief of Staff to Mayors John
Reading and Lionel Wilson, and spent several years at the Port of
Oakland.
Lowell Rice,
Economic Development Specialist
Lowell Rice brings a wealth of experience in working with business
and community leaders. For 12 years, he was a leader in Chicago’s
industrial retention and development community. As Director of
Industrial and Workforce Development at the Greater Northwest
Chicago Development Corporation for eight years, he managed three
Industrial Corridors with approximately 700 businesses, and 20,000
employees. He has assisted in the designation of four redevelopment
areas, and has led a community/business strategic planning process
which resulted in two Planned Manufacturing Districts. During his
four years at the Industrial Council of Northwest Chicago, he was
recognized as the “1998 Community Builder of the Year”.
After graduating from the University of Chicago’s School of Public
Policy, Rice got his start at the Northwest Community Organization
uniting social service agencies and churches to work on quality of
life issues. Soon after, he worked at the Greater West Town
Community Project getting business involved in job training
programs. It was these two experiences that wedded his interest in
community/ business coalition building. Says Lowell, “I am
excited to be in Oakland. I look forward to bringing to bear my
experiences and skills that have been honed in Chicago to further
strengthen the links between business and community.”
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