I work as a consulting CFO to several start-up and early-stage companies. I help them with both the strategic stuff, like budgeting, investor relations, negotiating contracts, and analyzing improvement opportunities, as well as with the back-office stuff, like managing the bookkeeper and closing the books. I have a growing client base in a wide variety of industries, and I really love helping small businesses to build-out the infrastructure to support their growth.
My wife, Erin, works in health care as a VP at McKesson, and we live in Rockridge with our seven-month-old daughter, Emily, and our dog, Otis. I’m vegan, like to travel and spend as much time outdoors as possible, running trails or backcountry skiing . . . although I’m currently redefining what “free time” means now that I have a young daughter!
How did you hear about Yu Ming and what compelled you to volunteer your time?
I learned about Yu Ming a couple years ago from our friends Andra Pligavko and Dai Owen. At that time, my wife and I had just moved back to the Bay Area, and I was looking for an interesting volunteer opportunity.
I was inspired by the Yu Ming founding families taking the initiative to fill a gap in the educational offerings in our area. We are so lucky to live in a society where individuals are free and willing to put their energy into building something as important as education, and I wanted to be part of that vision. Over and above wanting to contribute to my own hometown of Oakland, I had also done business and studied in East Asia and elsewhere around the globe, and appreciate the importance of U.S.-Chinese relations.
What is your vision for Yu Ming during your board term?
Years two and three will be vital for establishing a measurable track record that proves unequivocally to families, teachers, and other stakeholders that Yu Ming is not only a unique offering, but is simply the best place for kids to pursue a K-8 education. Period. As a Board, our role is to establish, monitor, and manage the measurable outcomes toward that end. In addition to good governance, we will also be launching our capital campaign for a permanent, long-term home. Perhaps most importantly, I want Yu Ming to continue to attract, retain, and inspire the best teachers. One of my sisters is a teacher, and I strongly appreciate that qualified, inspiring teachers are the most important ingredient to an excellent school.
Any last thoughts you’d like to share with the Yu Ming community?
I only join teams where everyone is working equally hard toward a shared, compelling vision. Yu Ming has that in its teachers, staff, students, families, volunteers, and Board. I’m very excited to contribute to this team, and believe wholeheartedly that we will succeed.
- Contributed by Christine Wu-Dittmar, parent to Niko in the Monkey class
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