Dr. Avin Sharma
Chair
was born in the Fiji Islands and moved to the United States at the age of 15. Now a long-time resident of SSF, he is married with two daughters. Holding a Doctorate in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and an engineering foundation, Dr. Sharma has built a 15+ year career in finance and operations leadership, working across higher education, technology, legal operations, and infrastructure sectors. He currently serves in academia, where he combines strategic vision with data-driven decision-making to improve efficiency, accuracy, and collaboration. He serves as Vice Chair for the Measure T Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee for the SSF Unified School District.
Marwan Rashid
Vice-Chair
Marwan Rashid was born and raised in Kuwait. He migrated to South San Francisco at the age of eighteen. There, his family exposed him to the American Dream in which he cherished seeing individuals work hard and help their community. Throughout his career, he worked as a Taxicab Driver for almost twenty-five years and was a lead cook for a local restaurant owner. In his spare time, Marwan loves watching the Giants, 49ers, Golden State Warriors, and cooking for his family. In addition, his love for his city continues with volunteering for the South San Francisco Police Department, Fire Department, and tenants within his community.
John Rivas
Commissioner
John Rivas immigrated to the US from El Salvador when he was 14 and has worked as a Chef since he was 18, working his way up to Executive Chef, a position he held at various restaurants spanning a 35+ year career. During that time, he also went back to school to earn a degree in Drug and Alcohol Counseling, which he used to help treat struggling addicts in his community by volunteering in the Bay Area as a counselor for DUI treatment programs. He is a fan of the 49ers, the Giants, the Golden State Warriors, and the Earthquakes soccer team.
Toni Powell
Commissioner
Toni Powell has loved being a SSF resident for over 20 years and joined the Board because of an intense desire to become more active in her town. She has been a Juvenile Probation Officer for over 30 years and is a member of several Non-Profit Youth-focused organization as she believes they are our future and must be supported and nurtured. Together with her husband, the Late Rev. Earl Powell Jr. she has raised 3 sons in the South San Francisco community and looks forward to being even more active as opportunities arise.
Byron Shipp
Commissioner
Byron Shipp has extensive experience in healthcare leadership, public service, and housing stewardship in his role as a commissioner. A seasoned Registered Therapist with an advanced background in healthcare operations and management, he has held supervisory and managerial roles within complex clinical environments. He holds a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA). His professional work emphasizes quality improvement, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and service to diverse communities. In addition to his healthcare career, Byron has been an active housing provider (Landlord) for the past ten years, giving him firsthand experience with property management, tenant relations, maintenance planning, and navigating local and state housing regulations. He is an avid scuba diver with a strong interest in dive safety and underwater operations
Tonya Thomas
Commissioner
MS, Health/Health Care Administration/Management -California State University and BS, Finance San Jose State University. As a Professional with extensive Compliance and Quality Assurance experience in Financial Services Mortgage and Public Agencies. Tonya is an accomplished analytical thinker and problem solver, who can read and interpret operational budgets, financial audits, regulations, policies, procedures, and programs to make accurate operational decisions. Tonya has over a decade of experience working in the local Public Sector both for San Mateo County and City & County of San Francisco focused on Revenue Services. Tonya has served on the SSFHA Advisory Committee, attending meetings regularly for the past 3 years, she was instrumental in securing an Emergency Safety Grant to secure an updated camera system and fencing around the complex. Tonya is a resident of the SSF Housing Authority, where she resides with her 3 children where she is an active volunteer on the Youth Internship Program and various community projects .
Claudia Penate
Commissioner
Is an experienced Healthcare Professional, serving as a Nurse in Oncology and Hospice for over 14 years and now as a Nurse focused on birth work for the past five years, she is passionate about supporting, educating and advocating for families with focus on Black and Brown communities. Claudia is a tenant and leader of the SSF Housing Authority where she advocates for her community. She is an advocate for affordable and safe housing and volunteers her time on numerous community projects that improve the quality of life for the residents of the SSF Housing Authority. Prior to serving as Commissioner Claudia served on the SSFHA Tenant Advisory Board where she gained experience on complex local, State and Federal regulations affecting public housing authorities and was instrumental in providing input on updating policies and procedures of the agency. On her free time, she is a dedicated football mom of two sons and a feisty Yorkie.
Leah Taylor
Executive Director
Leah has over 15 years in Public Housing, Transportation & Government Affairs. As the former Director of a very large Labor Organization SEIU Local 1021, Leah represented and negotiated labor contracts for multiple Public Housing Authorities including SFHA, Oakland Housing, HACA, Marin Housing just to name a few. Leah served as Chief Negotiator on the 2013 BART Contract and was credited for closing the contract that brought an end to a week long labor strike. Leah has written & supported numerous grants and bond measures bringing over 52 million dollars to underserved communities and school districts.
On her free time she is an avid golfer.
