Board of Directors
Guiding SJCC with Integrity, Expertise, and Community Focus
Our volunteer Board of Directors is composed of passionate San Jose residents and professionals committed to our mission. They provide strategic oversight, ensure fiscal responsibility, and help shape programs that address local needs in education, equity, harm reduction, and advocacy.
All board members serve without compensation and bring lived experience, professional knowledge, and dedication to repairing harms from past cannabis policies while promoting a safe, inclusive future.
Board Governance & Commitment
The Board meets quarterly (and as needed) in open sessions to review progress, approve budgets, and set strategic priorities.
We adhere to strict conflict-of-interest policies and maintain transparency through published minutes and annual reports.
Diversity is core: Our board reflects San Jose's multicultural community, with expertise spanning public health, law, finance, veterans' issues, and grassroots organizing.
All members are deeply invested in supporting San Jose's Cannabis Equity Program—celebrating milestones like the 2024 academy completions and ongoing state grant opportunities (e.g., GO-Biz's 2025-26 solicitation for equity program support).
Meet Our Board Members
John Doe
Chair
John has served as Chair since 2023. A longtime San Jose resident and former equity applicant advocate, he brings 15+ years of community organizing experience. John helped coordinate input during the City's 2022 Cannabis Equity Assessment and continues to support equity licensees through mentorship. He holds a degree in Urban Studies from San Jose State University and works in local non-profit management. His focus: ensuring SJCC remains grassroots-driven and responsive to neighborhood concerns in areas like East San Jose.
Jane Smith
Vice Chair
Jane, Vice Chair since 2024, is a public health educator with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department (in a personal capacity for board service). She specializes in substance use prevention and harm reduction education. Jane has led SJCC's Youth Prevention Program since inception and ensures all resources align with CDPH and DCC guidelines. She holds a Master's in Public Health and has advocated for updated cannabis warning labels and consumer brochures under recent 2025 state mandates.
Alex Johnson
Treasurer
Alex, a certified CPA and small business owner in North San Jose, has managed SJCC's finances since 2022. He ensures transparent budgeting, grant compliance, and financial reporting as a 501(c)(3). Alex's expertise helps us leverage opportunities like the state's Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions (with applications open through December 2025 for 2025-26 funding up to $3.5M per jurisdiction). He volunteers to provide financial literacy workshops for equity program participants.
Maria Gonzalez
Secretary
Maria, a civil rights attorney practicing in San Jose, joined the board in 2023. She advises on policy advocacy, including letters to City Council supporting streamlined equity pathways and reduced barriers for licensees. Maria draws from her work with reentry programs and has been instrumental in SJCC's collaboration with the City's Cannabis Equity Business Academy graduates. She ensures all advocacy aligns with evolving state laws, including 2025 reforms on taxes, hemp integration, and labeling.
Robert Lee
Member at Large
Robert, a veteran and senior advocate from Willow Glen, represents community voices often underrepresented in cannabis discussions. A U.S. Army veteran with service-related health needs, he champions our Veterans Cannabis Program and Senior Education Series. Robert helps organize neighborhood meetups and ensures programs address practical concerns like safe access, odor mitigation, and compliance with local ordinances. His perspective keeps SJCC grounded in real resident experiences.
We are grateful for their leadership in advancing equitable, responsible, and community-centered cannabis progress.