Meet the
Keepers of the Flame
It takes a lot of dedicated folks—running on bottomless reserves of energy—to produce 38 innovation camps. Our crew is talented and diverse, encompassing educators, economists, scientists, artists, refugees from the corporate world, and at least one surf instructor.
Practicing what we preach, Galileo is a highly collaborative operation. Here you can meet some of our leaders and key players. We’ve grouped them into two categories: those who manage the teams at our headquarters—handling curriculum development, forging strategic partnerships, delivering signature customer service—and those who oversee the total camp experience, from building relationships in our communities and schools to hiring and mentoring camp directors and staff.
HQ Operations
Glen Tripp
Founder and CEO
Glen quarterbacks a dynamic team of curriculum, operations, recruiting and other specialists dedicated to inspiring kids to become fearless innovators. He’s a frequent public speaker and an impassioned champion of innovation education.
Glen got his first camp job, and discovered his love of working with kids, at Stanford Sierra Camp. After completing his degree in economics and international relations at Stanford, he spent six years operating after-school programs. Then he returned to his camp roots and founded Galileo in 2002. Glen’s dream is to create an enduring company that promotes innovative thinking and nurtures the careers of current and aspiring educators.
Pamela Briskman
Director of Curriculum
Pamela leads a team of specialists who spend thousands of hours inventing and reinventing the Galileo curriculum every year. A Stanford grad with a BA in design and a BS in product design engineering, she has an insider’s knowledge of the Stanford Institute of Design and its ground-breaking innovation process.
As an educator, Pamela has spent 17 years at the intersection of curriculum, design and technology. She served as a Teach for America corps member in Oakland, taught in Madagascar and designed curriculum for NSF-funded programs, educational television and toys. She joined Galileo to help kids develop the skills and confidence to envision and build a better world.
Tajalli Horvat
Senior Vice President
Tajalli has a special distinction—she was Galileo’s first fulltime employee in 2002. Ten years later, as senior vice president, she oversees camp operations, IT, people operations, curriculum and the Galileo warehouse. She also supports and leads company initiatives.
Before joining Galileo, Tajalli was national marketing manager for SCORE! Educational Centers in Chicago. She earned B.A.’s in Spanish and business from the University of Southern California.
Chris Goetz
Director of Program Operations
Chris joined Galileo in the spring of 2007 to oversee Camp Galileo’s East Bay locations, and now oversees all field operations and customer service. Prior to Galileo, he spent 7 years working for SCORE! Educational Centers in San Diego and in the Bay Area, where he was a Regional Manager.
Chris graduated from UC San Diego with a double major in Human Development and Psychology, and is a proud husband and father of two.
Kelli Negro
Director of Marketing
Kelli joined Galileo as the Director of Marketing in November of 2011. Kelli has over 15 years of experience in marketing and strategy, and has worked for some of the largest brands in the US. Prior to joining Galileo, she served in marketing management positions with Apollo Group, Charles Schwab & Co., Financial Engines and Ubi Soft Entertainment, where she headed up marketing efforts for a number of children’s software titles.
Kelli earned a double B.A. in International Relations and French from San Francisco State University and completed graduate studies in International Relations and Business at the Universite de Paris X, Nanterre.
Rich Newbery
Director of Operations
Right after college, Rich started a summer camp company in England, which he operated for 10 years, employing over 300 staff across over 40 camps. In 2006 he relocated to California where he worked in Training and Education for Major League Soccer and Universal Sports Group. Having worked at his first summer camp at 16 years of age, Rich is passionate about inspiring young people’s development in a stimulating and creative learning environment. Rich joined Galileo in the summer of 2010.
Rich received his BSc in Sports Science and Business Management from Brunel University (London), where he combined a career in professional soccer alongside his studies.
Mimi Gordon
Director of People Operations
Mimi first attended day camp at age four. At the age of eight, when she heard she would be going to an overnight summer camp, she immediately packed (though it was March). Mimi has worked on the summer staff of camps for eleven summers. Before joining Galileo, she was on the professional staff of Camp Tawonga, a summer camp outside of Yosemite National Park, for four years as Assistant Director, then five as Director.
Mimi believes deeply in the power of camp staff and loves finding the leaders who bring Galileo’s mission to life.
Jessica Eiselman
Customer Service Manager
Jessica leads Galileo’s team of dedicated and tireless customer service specialists. She came to Galileo in 2009 with 12 years of customer support experience, including roles at the University of California Office of the President and SCORE! Educational Centers. She has a B.A. in liberal studies from UC Riverside.
Jessica believes that camp has the power to transform a child—something she first experienced as a camper and staff member at Camp Arazim, and now observes as a mother of Galileo campers.
Camp Operations
Maggie Roach Black
Associate Director of Field Operations
Maggie joined the team in 2008 to oversee Galileo’s North Bay camps, and now helps manage all field operations. She received her BA and MA in education at Stanford, where she spent summers on the shores of Fallen Leaf Lake at Stanford Sierra Camp. Before coming to Galileo, she worked in school districts and education non-profits, and spent several years at SCORE! Educational Centers in roles including center director, region manager and project manager. Maggie oversees our camps in San Francisco and Chabot Space & Science Center.
Patrick Costelo
East Bay Area Director
Patrick came to his role as East Bay Area Director after working at Camp Galileo Lafayette for six summers—four as Camp Director—and a stint on Galileo’s marketing team. Patrick received his BS in environmental science from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and his MEd in curriculum studies from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Canada. He previously worked as a naturalist at East Bay Outdoor School, the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History and Save the Bay. He lives in San Leandro with his wife and son.
Stephanie Burns
Peninsula Senior Area Director
Stephanie spent five years as the founding Camp Director of Camp Galileo Woodside and Camp Galileo San Francisco before bringing her contagious energy to the Area Director team in 2007. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University, Stephanie spent 10 years teaching and developing environmental education programs with Bay Area organizations, including the Marine Science Institute, Headlands Institute and Bay Model Association. Stephanie has a passion for art, science and the outdoors.
Vince Yorton
South Peninsula Area Director
After his first visit to a Galileo camp, Vince was hooked on innovation education. He started with Galileo as an art instructor in San Francisco in 2005, then spent four years as a Camp Director in Belmont and Burlingame. After a year of international traveling, he joined the Area Director team in 2010. He has a BA in liberal studies elementary education and an elementary education credential from Humboldt State University. Before coming to work at Galileo HQ, he worked as an elementary school teacher, maritime history teacher and surf instructor.
Marcus King
South Bay Area Director
Marcus oversees Galileo’s South Bay camps, including The Tech Summer Camps in San Jose. He began his camp career as a camper, staff member and eventually director of YMCA Camp Eberhart in Michigan. Before joining the Galileo team, Marcus worked for the Silicon Valley and San Francisco YMCAs as a camp director, retreat center coordinator, ropes course director and team dynamics consultant. He has a BS in outdoor recreation from Indiana University. Marcus enjoys spending time with his family at the beach, swimming or reading a book.
Sunnie Kaufmann-Paulman
Marin/East Bay Area Director
Sunnie brings a powerful blend of business and camp experience to the Area Director team. Before Galileo, she spent two years at Pacific Foundation Services, where she managed the philanthropic and endowment activities of six private family foundations, and eight years working for the Girl Scouts as a camp director and program specialist, outdoor program manager and community development director. Sunnie has been a faculty member of Esalen Institute since 2008 and recently concluded her term as board president for Habitot Children's Museum. She lives in Oakland with her partner, daughter and dog.