Communications Team

Jon comes to TechSoup from a five year stint with the Sierra Club, where he oversaw all aspects of their website, video productions, magazines, and newsletters, among other things. This experience, in getting a message that inspires people to join a network and take action, will help TechSoup as we grow not just our traditional user base, but work with affiliates in our domestic and international efforts. Jon's previous experience with NextDoor Networks, Verde Media, and Alexander Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide demonstrate his experience in working on brand development and management. Jon was also editor-in-chief of several technology magazines, including MacUser, PC/Computing, and The Net.

Jon joined TechSoup because, "we have such a great story to tell. What I'll be doing is telling that story as often, as broadly, as loudly, and as compellingly as possible."

Most weekends, Jon is playing soccer dad to his two daughters and sometimes takes in a show at his wife's theater company (http://www.theatreofuygen.org). Jon sometimes gets compulsive about crossword puzzles. You can see an article he wrote for the San Francisco Chronicle Magazine on the topic at: http://www.sfgate.com/

Alexis Geslani recently relocated to San Francisco from New York. She's still getting used to the West Coast culture and the ever-changing weather. Among her many responsibilities are managing collateral development for CompuMentor programs, TechSoup Stock online media advertising, and catalog production. Prior to joining CompuMentor, Alexis worked in a small direct marketing company. Alexis enjoys beach volleyball, singing karaoke, books, music, movies, and spending time with friends and family.

As CompuMentor's Senior Communications Manager, Franziska works on all kinds of marketing and public relations projects that support CompuMentor's quest to help nonprofits worldwide use technology as a tool for social change. Before joining CompuMentor, Franziska spent several years planning and implementing PR campaigns for high-tech clients, including Xerox PARC and Logitech. When she's not tooting CompuMentor's horn, Franziska is defending her organic vegetable bed against snail invasions, walking her dog at the beach, or dreaming up new home improvement projects.

Sarah spends her time working on The MaintainIT Project, stirring up excitement in the library world around sharing practical solutions to technology challenges.

A passionate promoter and supporter of libraries, Sarah co-founded and continues to co-direct The September Project, an effort to inspire community action through public events in libraries around the world. To pay the rent, she’s spent the past few years freelancing for corporations and agencies in Seattle as a Usability Specialist, a User Experience Architect, a User Advocate, a Writer, and an Editor. Before all of that, her career was most inspired and influenced by being a part of the burgeoning Library Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

As a new resident of San Francisco, she has happily assumed the role of urban wanderer, attempting to learn all she can about this tremendous city. When Sarah is not getting lost, she may be knitting, reading, cooking, blogging, tutoring, hanging out on a beach, making new friends, or reading up on what to do in an earthquake.

In this role, she will be spending the bulk of her time assessing, organizing, and (hopefully) creating uber-efficient internal communication pathways so that projects can get done and if any curve balls come our way we have a better chance of taking them in stride. Her plan is to become indispensable while she is at it.

Prior to CompuMentor, Rochelle frequently shuttled between NY and DC while working for Congressman Steve Israel (NY-02). Afterwards, Rochelle moved to the West Coast and began to pursue the communications/pr/event planning side of her. To date, she's done events/promotions with the Oakland Raiders, Coldstone Creamery, the City of Oakland, and most recently, Mitsubishi.

Outside of work, she is a Scrabble and travel and food (both eating and cooking) fan. She also enjoys bad puns, is good for more than a few of her own, and the political junkie in her is alive and well.