Linda Hahner, M.F.A.
Maria Bobina M.S., M.B.A., C.P.A.
Christie Fraser, J.D. , LL.M
Brian Thomas, M.A.

Linda Hahner, M.F.A.
President and Founder
Linda Hahner is the founder of the Literacy Center Education Network. She is considered a pioneer in the design and development of interactive online education material. A usability expert responsible for a number of first-of-kind innovations, Ms Hahner has managed more than one hundred Internet projects including: one of the first commercial, real-time Web3D applications for Silicon Graphics, the first Java3D application for Sun Microsystems as well as an MPEG4 hand-held wireless computer game for France Telecom Research and Development. Ms. Hahner was the Primary Investigator on a U.S. Department of Education Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract and a NASA seed grant. She was also a member of the National Science Foundation Center for Innovative Learning Technology (CILT) Visualization group. Working within the ISO standardization community, Ms. Hahner served on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Web3D Consortium.

Prior to her work in the digital domain, Ms. Hahner worked as an educator. She taught for six years on the university level at the University of Surrey, the University of Helsinki, and the College of Marin. She is passionate about teaching English as a Second or Other Language (TESOL) and using technology to support emergent readers.

Linda Hahner received a B.A. (honors) from Principia College, an M.F.A. from Washington University and a Teaching English as a Second or Other Language (T.E.S.O.L) Certificate from the University of Surrey. She received a full scholarship to study at the Skowhegan School for Painting and Sculpture and was awarded a Fulbright scholarship and travel grant to study in Finland.

Maria Bobina M.S., M.B.A., C.P.A.
Maria Bobina is an Audit Manager at Grant Thornton, LLP, a global accounting and advisory firm. In this role, she performs audit engagements for business and non-profit entities. As Audit Manager, Ms. Bobina takes responsibility for managing and ensuring the quality of the audit services from audit planning through the fieldwork to the on time delivery of the report on the financial statements. Ms. Bobina has extensive experience auditing schools, school districts, colleges and various non-profit foundations. Fluent in Russian and English, she is an enthusiastic supporter of early second or other language instruction.

Maria Bobina received an M.S. in Computer Science from the Institute of Radio Engineering, Electronics, and Automation, Moscow, Russia, and an M.B.A in Accounting and Finance from California State University, Hayward. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of California.

Christie Fraser, J.D. , LL.M
Christie Fraser has been practicing law for more than thirty years. She specializes in estate, gift tax planning and compliance; trust, probate and conservatorship administration; and business succession planning. Ms. Fraser is a member of the Estate Planning, Probate and Trust, and Taxation sections of the California State Bar, the San Francisco Estate Planning Council as well as the Marin County Estate Planning Council. In addition to her practice, Ms. Fraser is a frequent speaker at various financial and legal organizations. She has given talks to the Northern California Real Estate Investors, the Northern California Mortgage Broker's Association, Merrill Lynch, and the Bank of America Private Bank of San Francisco. She has a passion for education and enriching the lives of young people. She has been involved in a number of nonprofit organizations including the Mountain Play Association, the Central Marin Youth Soccer League, and the Marin Rowing Association Junior Boosters Club.

Christie Fraser received a B.A. from Stanford University, a J.D. from Hastings College of Law and an LL.M. from Golden Gate University.

Brian Thomas, M.A.
Brian Thomas has held executive director and head of school positions at several innovative preparatory schools including the Bentley School in Oakland, the Presidio Hill School in San Francisco, the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas, and the Catlin Gabel School in Portland.  For more than twenty years, Mr. Thomas taught English at a number of schools including: the Family School, Marlborough School, Oak Hill School, the North Hills Preparatory School, and Marin Academy, where he was the chair of the English Department.

Mr. Thomas began his professional career as an actor working in regional theaters, off-Broadway and then in Hollywood.  He has performed at the Portland Center Stage’s JAW West Festival, the Judith Anderson Theater, Circle Repertory Theater, the Negro Ensemble Company, and the Hartford Stage Company.  His television and film credits include A Different World, Mancuso, FBI, China Beach, 227, Legal Deceit, and Stanley and Iris. Mr. Thomas received an Emmy Award for the drama Fastbreak to Glory.

Brian Thomas grew up on the hard scrabble streets of the Southside of Chicago. He received a B.A. from Yale University and an M.A. in Education from Portland State University. He has written extensively about progressive education and its impact on at-risk students.  Mr. Thomas has been on the Board of Trustees at the Gardner School in Vancouver, The Bay School of San Francisco, and the Network of Complementary Schools.