Rob Black, Executive Director

Rob joined the GGRA as the Executive Director in March of 2011. Prior to the GGRA, Rob was Vice President for Public Policy with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce where he worked on the Chamber’s federal, state and local public policy agenda. While at the Chamber, Black helped found Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy, a national network of local chambers of commerce supporting sustainable energy policy.

Prior to the Chamber, Rob served as Legislative Aide to San Francisco Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, and worked throughout Asia and Africa, conducting democracy development and civil society development programs for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and President Jimmy Carter’s The Carter Center. Rob practiced as a campaign and government attorney with Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Mueller & Naylor, LLP, and also served as the National Director for Special Projects for the Screen Actors Guild in Los Angeles. Rob currently sits as the chair of the Workforce Investment San Francisco, the policy body responsible for overseeing federal workforce investment dollars in San Francisco.

Rob holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of New Mexico, and a juris doctorate from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

He can be reached at (415) 781-5348 x 1 or at rob@ggra.org.

Donnalyn Murphy, Associate Director

Donnalyn's career at the GGRA began in October, 2001. Her leadership skills and decision making allow the staff to coordinate multiple projects on a daily and annual basis. She focuses on service to members and has established many relationships within the industry and community.

Her direct responsibilities include managing all aspects of educational programs, the Education Committee, and the Scholarship Foundation. She creates and manages educational seminars and the Food Safety Certification program and directs the scholarship application process, recently adding on-line application to increase the number of qualified students applying for awards. Donnalyn manages association efforts in events such as the SFChefsFoodWine and Annual Scholarship Foundation Golf Tournament. She works directly with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to execute association goals and activities and is responsible for coordinating and supervising staff efforts in all association projects, managing daily operations, event budgets, and maintaining association and scholarship foundation financial records.

She can be reached at (415) 781-5348 x 2 or at donnalyn@ggra.org

Lynn Van Winkle, Membership Manager

Lynn is the newest member of the GGRA staff, joining in January of 2012. Her most recent position was Senior Program Manager for Pendergast Consulting Group, serving as the Outreach and Strategic Communication Director of the Doyle Drive Replacement Project.

Prior to PCG, Lynn was the Director of Events for the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce where she developed content, planned production and contributed to fundraising for annual Chamber events: CityBeat Luncheon, CityTrip, CitySummit and the high-profile Excellence in Business Awards (The Ebbies). She established strong relationships with the board of directors; collaborations included annual financial commitments, event sponsorships and committee participation. As the Director of Business Development for proVISION Resources, Inc., Lynn identified new marketing opportunities, created proposals and facilitated capabilities presentations. She developed the sales/marketing strategy for revised company services, marketing collateral and website. In addition, she created guest speaker and industry-related publication opportunities for company owner. Account management included ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers), an annual four-day event with 9,000 attendees and 300 volunteers.

As Corporate Events Manager for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Lynn elevated SFMOMA's position to the Number 1 corporate events revenue-generating museum in the United States. She managed an average of 170 events a year for clients including Merrill Lynch, Pixar, Sun Microsystems and Janssen Pharmaceutica. She established partnerships within museum departments to create corporate sponsorship opportunities and ensured compliance with contractual requirements by negotiating and creating museum event policies.

She can be reached at (415) 781-5348 x 8 or at lynn@ggra.org

Heather Hudgeon, Web Developer

Heather was welcomed in by the GGRA in March of 2005. She has an extensive computer background to match her experience as an employee in several restaurants. Coining herself the “office geek”, she takes the lead role in maintaining and designing the Association’s website, SF Chefs 2011 website, managing the GGRA’s databases, and ensures that the office computers remain civil. She is the go-to person for our member email blast benefit and also creates the GGRA newsletters and SF Chefs email announcements. She aides in managing the office and can be found doing odd jobs at every GGRA event. She continues to be the point person for all web related business and can always be found behind a computer monitor some where in the office.

She can be reached at (415) 781-5348 x 3 or at heather@ggra.org.