Gerald Richards, Executive Director

Gerald Richards joined the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), Bay Area in 2006.  As Executive Director, he manages the program staff, day-to-day operations and fundraising, as well as works with the national leadership on long-term strategic planning.  Gerald has more than seventeen years of management and development experience across the nation. Prior to joining NFTE, he served in a number of management and development positions with University of California, San Francisco, J. David Gladstone Institutes, United Negro College Fund, Chicago Panel on Social Policy, and The Cradle Foundation.

He has a strong commitment to the community and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Juma Ventures and Woodland School in Portola Valley.  Gerald has an MFA in Writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BA in Film Studies from Wesleyan University, Connecticut.

Krista Katsantonis, Program Director, Teacher and Program Support Services

In July of 2007, Krista Katsantonis joined our organization as Program Director for NFTE Bay Area teachers and classes.  Krista is in charge of recruiting teachers at new public, charter and parochial schools.  She offers program support to our new and current Certified Entrepreneurship Teachers (CETs) through site visits and in-class support, presentations, webinars and teacher professional development workshops.  Krista also plans and implements our major program events including our semi-final and regional business plan competitions, BizCamp and NFTE University teacher training.

Krista’s background includes a tour with the Peace Corps in Panama, where she worked in small business development, trained entrepreneurs in basic business skills, and worked extensively on volunteer training. She also brings experience in media and advertising gained at Gap, Anderson & Lembke and J. Walter Thompson.  She has an MBA from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and an undergraduate degree from UC San Diego.

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Evelyn Ouano, Program Manager, Volunteer and Alumni Services

Evelyn joined NFTE in March 2008 as our Program Manager in charge of Volunteer and Alumni services.  In her position, she works with our corporate and community volunteers and matches them with NFTE students and classrooms.  Volunteers participate as business plan coaches and judges, guest speakers and classroom mentors.  Evelyn also works closely with our growing alumni population and creates continuing business and college admissions workshops as well as social events for students who have completed the NFTE program.

Evelyn has worked on behalf of youth many years. Her experience includes working with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Transitional Housing Placement Program (THPP) in San Mateo County. Evelyn also values neighborhood enrichment and has spent the last few years as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity East Bay’s Community Building team.  She has a Masters Degree in Transformative Leadership from the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Josh Aufhauser, Executive Assistant

Josh Aufhauser joined the NFTE Bay Area team in March 2009 as Executive Assistant.  He will help to provide administrative, development, program and operational support to the Bay Area Team.  Josh comes to NFTE as a former CET from the San Francisco community-based organization, Jewish Family and Children Services.  He has worked in the social services sector providing support and educational opportunities to school aged children and youth since 2000.  An outdoor enthusiast, he began his career as a teen advocate leading back-country wilderness trips, basic rock climbing and ropes courses.  Josh is a Bay Area native and has lived in New Hampshire, Boston, Jerusalem, Oregon, Lake Tahoe and Hawaii.  Josh has a degree in Education, specializing in Family and Human Services from the University of Oregon.