NCIP Advisory Board Profiles

The Most Frustrating and Rewarding Thing I Do...

Nikki Pope had no idea what she was getting into three years ago when Cookie Ridolfi roped her into joining the NCIP Advisory Board. The two met in 2003 when Nikki was a law student at Santa Clara. Ridolfi, as a member of the law faculty, had heard Nikki Pope stories from colleague and board member Ellen Kreitzberg who had Nikki in class. But even without Kreitzberg's entertaining accounts, Ridolfi had noticed Nikki and realized that she possessed exceptional intelligence, energy and judgment and that she was just what NCIP needed.

Nikki didn't have a chance after that. Standing by the library in her second year of law school, she was approached by Professor Ridolfi who introduced herself and then explained that she ran the Innocence Project at the Law School. Ridolfi further explained that she had heard about Nikki and told her NCIP needed help. Ridolfi told Nikki she should be thinking about when she would be signing up for NCIP's clinical course. Nikki thought the woman was crazy. In fact, she still does, but has realized it is the passionate kind of crazy – the kind of crazy that is visionary, inspiring and energizing. And Ridolfi was right, NCIP did need Nikki, she has been working with the Innocence Project ever since and neither has ever looked back.

Now a member of the NCIP Advisory Board, Nikki is tireless in promoting NCIP. Her marketing experience and Masters in Business Administration from Kellogg have been indispensable background in helping get the word out about NCIP and helping the project with fundraising. "Nikki constantly pushes us to think bigger," comments Ridolfi, "while quietly just making things happen - from getting press releases out, to editing op-ed pieces, to creating an ad sales program for the annual Justice for All Awards Dinner."

While Nikki jokes about how Cookie badgered her into being on the Board, she sincerely values her experience with NCIP as one of the most rewarding things that she does (but don't tell Cookie).

"Growing up watching television shows like Perry Mason gave me a clear notion of what justice is. During my time on the NCIP Board I've found that notion of justice for all is not always played out in our system today," Nikki said. "It is astonishing and frustrating that these injustices are still present, and it's important for people to inform others about this issue and help in any way we can."

Upon graduating from SCU Law School in 2004, Nikki spent a year with the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division in Washington D.C. She then returned to the Bay Area to work for Cooley Godward Kronish LLP in Palo Alto, where she works in the Business Department. NCIP is truly indebted to Nikki for her "can do" attitude, her creative fundraising ideas and her ability to step in and make things happen.

Fighting Injustice

Board member Pat Kern's fight for justice has deep roots.

In 1985, more than a decade before that acronym "DNA", was uttered in a criminal courtroom, back when few could contemplate innocent people being convicted in this country, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter was in the fight of his life – one he'd been waging for 20-some years. He was claiming wrongful conviction. This heated and highly publicized case was being heard in a New Jersey federal courtroom before Judge Lee Sarokin. As it happened, just a few miles down the road, Pat Kern and Cookie Ridolfi were law students at Rutgers University. Idealistic and young, Pat and Cookie were good friends and very aware of the "Hurricane" Carter case – a topic of much discussion at the law school.

Little did they know that more than 25 years later, they would find themselves once again working together – this time 3,000 miles away - fighting the injustice of wrongful conviction in California.

A long-time NCIP Board member, Pat is truly a trusted advisor. "Pat is one of those rare people in your life whose judgment you can absolutely trust, who is unflappable and who you know you can count on," Cookie says. "It is my privilege to work with Pat and NCIP's good fortune that she also happens to have the supernatural ability to balance 11 hour work days with quality family time, and make it all look easy." As Deputy Director of the California Appellate Project (CAP), Pat manages all the day-to-day operations of the office, handling finances, overseeing information technology issues, supervising attorneys, as well as carrying her own case load. CAP supervises approximately 200 attorneys who are appointed by the court to represent inmates on California's death row.

Amidst all of that, Pat somehow manages to squeeze in time to advise NCIP on pressing criminal justice issues in the state and suggests ways the Project can best serve the needs of the hundreds of prisoners who are asking for help. NCIP is fortunate to have a Board member with such long standing ties to the fight for true justice and who also brings an understanding of the challenges of managing a growing non-profit.

Taking Action

When Jim Anderson's good friend Frank Quattrone was caught up unexpectedly in the criminal justice system, it was an eye-opener for him. "It was very disturbing to me knowing that if this could happen to someone like Frank, it could happen to anyone," Jim said. "Once someone steps inside the justice system, they are guilty until proven innocent."

Jim took action, joining the NCIP Board and contributing significantly to the growth of NCIP and its continued success. Thoughtful and deliberate, as an Advisory Board member Jim asks the hard questions relating to finances, strategic planning and growth. "Jim can be very understated but when he has something to say, he's bringing something of value to the conversation. He's really good at explaining and helping some of us really appreciate differing points of view. I know he's helped me. Of course, I'm still working on appreciating his views," says Cookie laughingly, then adds with clear affection that she is, "just kidding, of course, Jim is brilliant and I truly adore him."

Jim has over two decades of experience in Silicon Valley venture capital, including founding partnership positions in Merrill Pickard Anderson & Eyre, and in Foundation Capital. During that time, he has helped coach and develop hundreds of early-stage companies into industry leaders.

In 1999, Jim took his knowledge of venture funds into the world of philanthropy, and married the two worlds by joining with others to create Legacy Venture. He saw a need to provide a philanthropic vehicle to Silicon Valley leaders and formed Legacy as a way to amplify philanthropy and to magnify its impact by offering a way to make charitable contributions through investments in premier venture capital funds. In doing so, Legacy has also created a collaborative community of philanthropists who work together, learning from and sharing philanthropic practices and opportunities.

Jim uses this background of both finance and philanthropy to advise NCIP as it grows and launches new initiatives. Quattrone, fellow Board member, describes Jim as an amazing man, saying "he is intelligent, powerful, generous, always centered and very humble, an incredible combination in one person."

Many are surprised to learn that Jim also has a background in music, which he studied along with electrical engineering at Purdue University. Though Jim does not have enough time to play the trombone anymore, he feels as though this skill gave him a well-rounded education that serves him well in the Silicon Valley.

Jim is optimistic about NCIP's future. He feels that there is great potential for the NCIP's proposed Policy Institute to make real changes in the current criminal justice system. We look forward to Jim's thoughtful questioning as he continues his contribution to the work of NCIP.

Printed in the Northern California Innocence Project newsletter, Winter 2009