Company Bios

Amy’s first experience with the Joe Goode Performance Group was as a participant in the Embodied Leader workshop. Joe’s invitation to participants to explore and unveil the meaning of the movement experience for themselves, rather than to unpack and explain it for them drew her in. Amy works with organizations to foster more inclusive and human-centered structures and cultures. Previously, Amy provided information, analysis, and insights to philanthropic foundations. She assisted foundations striving to create change around a wide range of issues including international intellectual property rights, digital media and children, food security, human rights, citizen journalism, healthcare technology, living wages, broadband access, youth development, economic justice, and community philanthropy. Amy holds a Masters degree from Harvard University and a B.A. from Indiana University. She is delighted to have the chance to share her professional expertise and personal passion for the arts, especially dance, with JGPG.

Elise has been in the  Bay Area for 30 years, moving to San Francisco in the early 90’s to attend the MFA in Filmmaking program at the San Francisco Art Institute.  Elise made several experimental films and a short narrative that screened in festivals and museum shows.  Elise worked for and with non-profit media arts organizations including Film Arts Foundation and the San Francisco Cinematheque and taught Sound for Film at San Francisco State University.  For some years Elise did audio production and post-production work for independent filmmakers before finding what would become her true career passion: designing and building consumer electronics. After working for companies making electronic educational toys, media products for schools, and home automation devices, Elise now works for the financial services company Square leading hardware engineering program management. Elise helps teams design new products that meet needs of small businesses and sole proprietors. Elise is thrilled to now be coming back to the local arts community and is excited to share her professional skills and love of movement arts with JGPG. Elise lives in Oakland, CA with her two cats and is mom to a college-aged daughter.

Ellen Chamberlain fell in love with dance when she took her first ballet/tap combo class in preschool. After studying the artform across disciplines for nearly 20 years, she pivoted to follow another personal passion and began working as a journalist. Her stories have graced airwaves, both print and digital publications across the country, and she even presented a TEDx talk dedicated to hip hop—another “artistic true love” of hers. Ellen enjoys reading, water activities, travel, and entirely too much television. The Michigan native earned her bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Wayne State University and currently lives in metro Atlanta with her wife and son.

Jacky is the co-creator with her chocolatier/percussionist husband Michael of  Recchiuti Confections a twenty-two year old San Francisco chocolate company. They run a manufacturing kitchen and retail shop in Dogpatch and a flagship chocolate store in the iconic Ferry Building Marketplace. They offer an artistic twist on traditional European-style truffles designing recipes with a proprietary blend of couverture chocolate made for them by the French company Valrhona. Jacky and Michael reside, work and play in Dogpatch with their family of cats – Jesper, Rufus and Emma. When time permits, Jacky relaxes by indulging in the Japanese sewing art of Sashiko, wood carving and pottery. The magic of movement and voice was first introduced to Jacky in her birth state of Oahu. The Merrie Monarch Dance Festival is a weeklong cultural festival honoring King David Kalākaua, who was called the “Merrie Monarch” for his patronage of the arts and is credited with restoring many Hawaiian cultural traditions during his reign, including the hula. The storytelling gestures and chants in hula was the mesmerizing influence which lead to her discovery of the performance arts. One of her first experiences when moving to San Francisco was the introduction to the Joe Goode performance in Deeply There … hooked once again to deep cultural storytelling using movement and voice, this love for Joe’s work continued through  Traveling Light, the Rambler and Still Standing. The stewardship and preservation of the arts holds an enduring place in her ethos – JGPG represents the kinship in keeping the arts alive.

Kathleen Moore is a native San Franciscan. She has spent over 25 years in children’s non-profit arts education with the San Francisco Arts Education Project (SFArtsED), an early collaborator with the JGPG Youth Education program. Kathleen received a BA in Physical Education with a Dance Emphasis from San Francisco State University and has a dance performance background that stretches back to the late 1970’s. She has served on the boards of Pearl Ubungen Dancers and Musicians and the Tenderloin Reflection and Education Center. As a side gig, Kathleen has designed and built thousands (whew!) of children’s costumes for SFArtsED and the Brisbane Dance Workshop. The highlight of Kathleen’s week is JGPG’s Movement for Humans class and she has been a fan and grateful witness of the deeply tender, humorous, and honest work of Joe Goode and JGPG for over two decades. Kathleen’s intention is to listen and actively support JGPG and all of its programs in any and every way that is truly helpful. She sends gratitude to po po Helen Kwan who came to America as a picture book bride and paper daughter. Her sacrifices have made her granddaughter’s journey and service in the arts possible.

Lisa started The Yay Collective to find and express yayful strategy and storytelling aimed at bringing out even more of the good that already exists in the people and organizations in which it dwells. Maybe that’s why she joined the board of Joe Goode? When she’s not doing strategy, Lisa might be getting 10% happier (if it’s even possible), flowing with vinyasa or doing the yay show podcast. Lisa loves getting moved by music, movement and stories (did someone say JGPG?). You might spot Lisa meandering the streets of the Mission or “holding hands with strangers” in West Sonoma County with a glass of wine in her other hand. Or asking “Why” about everything… except why she gets to live this precious, wild-hearted life!

Lucille Freedman was born and raised in South Africa, graduating from the University of Cape Town, with a special emphasis in Speech and Drama. She emigrated to the US with her family in 1973, and settled in the Bay Area. An influential cooking job led to her starting her own catering business. After successfully running this line of business for 12 years, she changed careers and trained to become a tax professional, securing an Enrolled Agent License. Additionally she obtained a Series 7 (stock broker) License and established a one-stop Tax and Financial Planning practice which she operated for 35 years until her recent “semi-retirement”. Dance and movement have always been important to Lucille. Encountering Joe Goode and his Movement for Humans weekly classes was, and has continued to be, deeply influential. Joe’s community endeavors constantly inspires Lucille’s public-spirited perspective. Sharing her extensive business and financial knowledge as well as her previous experience serving on the board of another arts organization, will be a fulfilling contribution to the Joe Goode organization. Lucille lives in the Montclair district of Oakland.

Philein Wang is an experienced Arts Leader with a demonstrated history of distinction in the performing arts as a choreographer and producer for Ziru Dance and the Silicon Valley Dance Festival. Over the years, she has developed strong management, fundraising and international team building skills. She has served as an Executive Consultant for top-tier performing arts companies and is passionate about creating bridges, opportunities and shared spaces between people on stage and in life. As a volunteer, Philein has served on the board of Robert Moses KIN and is currently a partner at SV2 (Silicon Valley Social Venture Philanthropy).   In this time of COVID-19, Systemic Racism and Asian American Xenophobia, Philein/Ziru bring the art of dance for mental wellness to support the community.  In her spare time, Philein enjoys movies and traveling with her family.