The volunteers who have initiated and manage the Vallejo Waterfront Artists project are:

 

GRETCHEN ZIMMERMANN

Gretchen Zimmermann began her experience with the non-profit sector in the late '80s with a position as Office Manager for the Pacific News Service in San Francisco. She spent most of the '90s working in computer software, first as a support technician, then as a Software Quality Assurance Engineer and eventually managing Quality Assurance teams at Berkeley Systems and Kodak Easyshare Gallery.

She became a prominent volunteer with the Berkeley Biodiesel Collective in 2003, where she frequently conducted BBC's monthly informational seminars. In 2005 she became a member of the collectively owned BioFuel Oasis in Berkeley, where her duties included teaching auto maintenance classes, bookkeeping, grant writing and fuel purchasing. She and another member of the BioFuel Oasis helped to found the Sustainable Biodiesel Summit, a non-profit organization that advocates sustainable biodiesel in California.

Gretchen currently runs an Internet service business from the Vallejo home she purchased in 2002. She is webmaster for Audubon California, maintains Kodak Gallery's process management tools, and is expanding into building web sites using Content Management System applications.

Gretchen has a lifelong interest in art and has worked in a variety of media including painting, costuming, fabric sculpture and most recently, ceramics.

 

JIM COSGROVE

Jim was born in Ireland many years ago and moved to Vallejo in 1977. He has more than 40 years of experience in management of fixed operations in the auto industry. All his life Jim has been involved in the Arts --as a singer, painter and photographer. His singing included Folk, Jazz and Opera.

When Jim retired from the auto industry he really got involved in the love of his life --fine art photography. Jim has attended art festivals showing his work and continues to experiment with a variety of subject matter that he's finds interesting. 

In 2008 Jim was recruited to manage the Service Department of Harley Davidson's Vallejo dealership - which Jim considers a lot of fun. As part of this role, Jim is involved in running many event functions including charity functions. The latest of these is a Fundraiser for Vallejo resident Yesenia Vasquez, a 3 year old girl who was shot while in bed. Jim believes the involvement of individuals can impact the lives of everyone in the community.

 

SUSAN NOLL

Susan moved to Vallejo from New York in 2002. She has been a professional Graphic Designer for more than 20 years, currently as sole proprietor of Noll Design on Tennessee Street in Vallejo. Susan began her graphics career at SIAC, which was a subsidiary of the New York and American Stock Exchanges. She attended the Masters Degree program in Communication Design at Pratt Institute. As Art Director at SIAC, Susan managed a staff of 3 full-time and various freelance employees. She also handled a half-million dollar budget for Corporate Communications, including budget forecasting and tracking. 

Susan began drawing at about age 5, learning from her mother. Over the years she did a lot of sketching and occasionally created paintings for friends. Around 1995 Susan took a workshop in watercolor where she discovered her aunt was the instructor, however she did not practice much painting or illustration except when necessary for internal communications (bulletin board, newsletter) at her job. After 9/11 cable went out in her New York neighborhood and to pass the time Susan started doing color pencil drawings. This eventually led to a regular routine of painting after her move to California in 2002, where she now continues to paint from her home. 

Susan's volunteer community efforts range from volunteer New York State EMT to active member of Team Tennessee (an outgrowth of Leadership Vallejo). As a member of Team Tennessee Susan has been involved in a number of efforts along with 3 other local business people on the Safety and Pedestrian Traffic Committee of Team Tennessee. She is keen on improving Vallejo and emphasizing its positive qualities. A manifestation of this desire is her involvement in establishing the Vallejo Waterfront Artists, which she believes will be a great addition to Vallejo and in the lives of those involved in it and those attracted by it.