About the Center
Mission
The Silicon Valley AIDS Leadership Center, formerly AIDS Coalition Silicon Valley, is dedicated to leading the fight, united with our communities, to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS and enhance the lives of affected persons.
Staff
Dane Dugan: Executive Director (dane@aidsleadershipcenter.org)
Dugan most recently worked as the Fair and Event Supervisor of the San Mateo County Event Center. He has also held development officer positions at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California and the Montana FFA and 4-H Foundations in Bozeman, Montana. Dugan was awarded the American Points of Light Foundation Volunteer Award and was named the Outstanding 4-H and FFA Alumnus for the state of Montana in 2005. He attended Montana State University and studied Agricultural Communications.
Development Director (Vacant)
Andrew Villalon: Office Assistant
Board Of Directors
Dr. James Lee: Chairperson
Dr. Lee is an Associate Professor of sociology in the college of Social Sciences at San Jose State University. Beyond being a campus advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention he has been a personal donor to the Walk For AIDS for many years. Dr. Lee also served as the face of the Coalition’s 2008 Walk For AIDS recruitment campaign.
Chuck Heinemann : Vice Chair
Teresa O'Neill: Secretary/Treasurer
A contracts negotiator for the Hewlett-Packard Company, Teresa has served a variety of community organizations as a volunteer. She currently is a member of the Board of Directors of Project H.E.L.P., the Allocations Committee and Emergency Assistance Network Advisory Committee of the United Way of Silicon Valley, Outreach Team at St. Justin Parish, and board member of the Triton Museum. A former member of the Santa Clara School Board, she has also served as Treasurer of the AIDS Coalition Silicon Valley in recent years.
Marianne Gallagher
Marianne has been actively involved in the HIV/AIDS arena for many years, most recently as the Supervisor of the Neil Christie Living Center. She has been a part of the annual Walk for AIDS since its inception over 20 years ago. Marianne has also served on the HIV planning council in various roles.
Mitzi Macon
Mitzi has been the Director of Technology Services, at San Jose Unified School District for over 30 years. She has served a variety of community organizations as a volunteer including the Vista Center, a resource for individuals with vision loss in Santa Clara County. Mitzi also lead the Living Well Council at WestGate Church, which is a ministry that focuses on compassion, care, support, and advocacy for the marginalized within the local community, primarily dealing with those who are suffering from HIV/AIDS.
Laura Nowell
Laura has been active in the legal field since graduating from Stanford. Some of her most important work has been on cases promoting LGBT rights and protecting prison inmates from the transmission of infectious diseases. She is also an avid community volunteer, with roles ranging from teaching English to writing grants.
Dr. Howard Rice
Rice is an infectious disease medicine and internal medicine practitioner as well as founder of Rice Medical Group.
Tony Sellars
Tony is the owner of Party Fiesta Balloon Décor, a business in Downtown San Jose. He has been an avid supporter of the Coalition’s events and is very involved in the local community.
Dennis Taylor
Dennis has a longstanding background of activism in HIV/AIDS. His professional career has included editor and writing positions at the San Jose Business Journal, Silicon Valley Business Ink and South Valley Newspapers. Currently, Dennis is working as a contract writer for various magazines and newspapers. His community involvement includes volunteerism with the San Jose Leadership Council and the American Cancer Society.
Judy Whittier
Whittier is the director of community resources for the Bill Wilson Center and has served on the board in various roles in recent years. Whittier was also the director of development at STAND! Against Domestic Violence and the executive director of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
