The CLASS Executive Committee is comprised of residents from the Alameda community. Their mission is to work with the Oakland Port Authority and the Oakland Airport to minimize noise pollution in the community.
Jon Hamilton, P.E.(retired)
President
Long time resident of Bay Isle Point for 34 years and after retirement volunteered for the CHBI BIP board and architectural committees and for Alameda Meals on Wheels. Worked as a mechanical engineer in both the aerospace and semiconductor industries, during which time he served in a systems engineering role designing various X-ray and optical instruments. He spends his free time enjoying hiking, sailing, bicycling, and woodworking.
Jon holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California Irvine and a Master in Economics from San Jose State University.
Behrad Aria
Vice President
Behard is a proud resident of Alameda for over three decades, where I have raised my family and remain deeply invested in the well being of our community. Professionally, I bring more than forty years of experience across the medical device, consumer electronics, and semiconductor industries, serving in principal design engineer, management, and senior director roles. I have led complex, multidisciplinary programs from concept through product realization and hold several patents as an inventor and co-inventor. I studied Biomedical and Electrical Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC). My background in system architecture, sensor and semiconductor design, and practical innovation equips me to analyze complex technical and policy challenges and to help develop pragmatic, data-driven solutions that balance safety, technology, and community impact.
Matt Pourfarzaneh, Ph.D.
Secretary
Matt Pourfarzaneh is the Chief Executive Officer of ADMEcell, Inc., a privately held life science company based in Alameda, CA. The company is engaged in manufacturing, licensing and distribution of cell-based assay kits and related agents for the ADME/Tox (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) markets in North America.
Matt holds a degree in organic chemistry and Ph.D. in Chemical Pathology from the University of London, U.K.
Carrolyn Kubota
Treasurer
Carrolyn has lived in Alameda for over 20 years and has been on the CLASS board for over 10 years. She began as a representative for the Ballena Bay Townhouse Association and became treasurer in 2014. She is also a volunteer at the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter exercising and socializing animals.
Carrolyn holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and a Master’s Degree in Economics.
Zhidong (Zee) Hao
Community Engagement Officer
Zhidong Hao or Zee is an emeritus professor of sociology from the University of Macau. With a Ph.D. in sociology, he has taught at both American and Chinese universities and colleges, and interested in research in political sociology, including social movements, and historical sociology.
He lives on Bay Farm after retirement and has served on the Board of Alameda Museum and an HOA board in Alameda. As a new member, he’d like to learn more about and contribute as much as possible to the work of CLASS.
Kirsten Rommel
Executive Member
Kirsten has been proud to call Alameda home for the past nine years. She has spent the majority of her career in the technology industry, helping companies build innovative products.
Kirsten holds an MBA from New York University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her family, spending time by the water, and exploring Alameda’s vibrant community.
Tianxi Zheng
Executive Member
Tianxi Zheng is an Assistant Deputy Commissioner at the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. As a regulator, he provides supervision to community and regional banks licensed by California State.
Tianxi holds a Master of Business Administration(MBA) degree from the University of Kansas, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics. He’s a Chartered Financial Analyst(CFA).
Kristi Bascom, AICP
Planning Consultant with Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP
Kristi is an urban planner with Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger and participates with Carmen in advising CLASS on land use issues and environmental compliance. Kristi’s background is in public agency planning, and she spent many years as a staff planner and planning consultant to cities throughout the Bay Area. At SMW, Kristi assists municipal clients and community groups with the preparation of, and review of, complex CEQA documents, manages land use and entitlement processes on behalf of public agency clients, and supports the firm’s municipal attorneys on planning and land use issues.
Kristi has a master’s degree in urban and Regional Planning from San Jose State and a B.A. In Environmental Studies and Sociology from UC Santa Barbara.
Carmen J. Borg, AICP
Planning Consultant with Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP
Carmen Borg is employed with Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP as an urban planner. She has extensive experience preparing, reviewing and critiquing environmental impact reports and other CEQA documents; managing technical consultants; and preparing comment letters for consideration by public officials.
Carmen has a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Osa L. Wolff
CLASS attorney with Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP
Osa is a partner with Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP. Ms. Wolff’s practice areas include municipal law, state and federal environmental law, administrative law and state planning/zoning law.
Ms. Wolff earned her J.D. and an environmental law specialization certificate from University of California Berkeley (Boalt Hall) School of Law in 1997. Ms. Wolff received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University.
Past Executive Members
Ronald “Ron” Lappa
May 5, 1954 – December 5, 2011
Ewart “Red” Wetherill
March 17, 1928 – November 14, 2015
Dave Needle
December 17, 1947- February 20, 2016
Barbara Tuleja, Executive Member Emeritus
Ed Downing
Jay Seaton
Dave Needle
Supporting Staff
Dianne Emery