Our Staff
Usha Gongal
Executive Director
Usha is a Bakery Bootcamp graduate who came to The Bread Project as a student in 2013, became a part time employee following graduation, and joined the team full time two years ago as Instructor, Production Manager, and more recently as Operations Manager. A native of Nepal, she is an internationally acclaimed entrepreneur, ‘green’ manufacturer, and
scholar dedicated to improving the lives of women through meaningful self-sufficient work. She is Founder and Proprietor of Young WoW Craft in Nepal, an organization that employs 35 women and produces, markets, and distributes natural, fiber-based cloth and clothes from Lokta Paper globally. Usha speaks six languages and has a wonderful combination of spirit, passion, and direct experience for helping the unemployed acquire new skills and jobs.
Shelby Starks
Chef Instructor
Oakland native Shelby Starks has worked the entirety of her 13-year career in the greater Bay Area. Inspired by the flavors of California, her flavor profile is a mix of fresh bold fusion, combining a flair for creole cuisine with new American traditions. Shelby began teaching shortly after graduating culinary school, partnering with school districts and local nonprofits to teach farm to table cooking for youth programs. Utilizing the skills of the trade to carve out her own space in the world of culinary, she started her first culinary business in 2012, and has gone on to lead kitchen teams, food startups, food product development, and solving issues of food insecurity in food deserts. Farm to table cooking and teaching has always been the heart of her journey, moving through the industry as a leader in sustainable practice, and creating equitable paths to food access.
Lynn Luckow
Chief Development
& Strategy Officer
Lynn Luckow is a senior advisor, consultant, coach, and four-time CEO. He served as President & CEO of Craigslist Foundation, Northern California Grantmakers, and Jossey-Bass Publishers, and more recently LikeMinded, Inc. Over the past four decades he has acquired expertise in and practiced organization leadership, strategy, change, nonprofit governance, philanthropy, education, and youth and adult development. Lynn has served on or consulted to over 50 nonprofit boards, including chairing the national boards of Chanticleer, the Kinsey Institute, Project Open Hand, and National 4-H Council. Currently he serves on the board of Delta Upsilon International Fraternity and on the advisory boards of Project Open Hand, QuarterZero, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp, Smuin Contemporary Ballet, and World Arts West. He has also served in Interim Executive Director roles for Chanticleer, Sunflower Wellness, and The Bread Project in the Bay Area.
Maggie Fry
Employment Services Manager
Maggie joined The Bread Project team in 2021. They bring extensive experience in nonprofit program development with a focus in programs supporting whole person well-being. Maggie is a passionate advocate for approaching complex social issues through community-based education and supports. Before the nonprofit world, Maggie worked in academia, developing curriculum and teaching adults across five disciplines. Maggie also loves food(!) and is driven to support and celebrate The Bread Project participants’ discerning careers in the many, exquisite East Bay food communities.
Ivey Williams
Program Services Manager
Ivey Williams is a long-time community activist born and raised in East Oakland California. With nearly 20 years of community activism and small business development practice, he has built strong relationships within economically and socially disadvantaged communities. Ivey’s experience ranges from providing case management service to justice-involved transitional-aged youth to managing employment services for formerly incarcerated adults and unsheltered seniors around the East Bay. As the Program Services Manager, Ivey is committed to delivering socially competent, data-driven services to ensure quality training and job retention for TBP graduates.
The Board of Directors
Jacqueline ‘Jackie’ Karkazis, MSW
Board Secretary
Community Volunteer
Keith Morris
Architect & Principal
Studio KDA
Our Leadership Council
Our History
The Bread Project was founded as a California nonprofit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation in December 2000. Lucie Buchbinder and Susan Phillips, specialists in subsidized housing, created the organization to help low-income housing tenants obtain job skills training and become self-sufficient. After a successful beginning at the San Francisco Baking Institute in South San Francisco, The Bread Project transferred to the East Bay and partnered with Berkeley Adult School and Oakland Unified School District Adult and Career Education.
With growth came the opportunity for The Bread Project to operate its own training facility and wholesale bakery. In 2010, we moved to Emeryville. In 2015, we moved again to our current facility – zoned for both retail and wholesale operations –in Berkeley, California. Since 2000, we have served over 2,200 low-income individuals. Today 80-85% of graduates find jobs, and average time to employment is 30-60 days.
Contact Us
For questions or correspondence, please contact our Executive Director Usha Gongal at Usha@breadproject.org or 510-594-1702.