Deborah Alvarez-Rodriguez

Deborah Alvarez-Rodriguez joined the Recology Board in January 2014 and has served as chair of the Innovation Committee and currently is chair of the Governance Committee and a member of the Risk Oversight and the Compensation and Leadership Development Committees. She is a strategic and ethical leader with deep expertise in innovation strategy, value/resource recovery and environmental ethics and theology. After 9 years as President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Ms. Alvarez-Rodriguez founded Seam Innovation in 2013, a strategic advising practice serving boundary spanning leaders and enterprises committed to doing well and doing good in the world. Other past and present boards the Independent Sector, Goodwill Industries International, East Bay Community Foundation, Cordes Foundation, the Harwood Institute, and SF AIDS Foundation. She participates in numerous climate change and circular economy community initiatives including Meeting of the Minds, Global Climate Action, and SF Interfaith Council. She currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the Ignite Institute Leadership and Innovation Lab.

Ms. Alvarez-Rodriguez is featured in numerous books on innovative leadership including The Starfish and the Spider, The Ultimate Board Member’s Book, Facilitators Guide to Participatory Leadership, and Creating a Culture of Collaboration. She earned a Master of Divinity in environmental ethics and theology from the Pacific School of Religion and a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University. Ms. Alvarez-Rodriguez has served as a licensed local pastor and advances the importance of spiritual formation, ethics and purpose in developing transformative leaders and boards.