Meet the Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Co-founder
Kayla Patel
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Kayla Patel leads outreach and marketing at Step of Love. She develops strategies to connect with the community, promotes volunteer events, and manages the website to raise awareness about the non-profit’s mission. Kayla supports Step of Love by coordinating events and helping the public understand the importance of upcycling and animal welfare. She also fosters connections with volunteers and community partners to strengthen the impact of Step of Love’s programs. Outside of her work, she enjoys rowing, listening to music, and peacefully drawing.
Co-founder
Siena Patel
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Siena Patel is the Data Lead at Step of Love. In this role, she consolidates research, gathers statistics, and develops presentations. This specifically helps the non-profit’s mission by tracking upcycled linens, measuring progress over time, and creating dog toy kits. Her work prompts our next steps. Outside of Step of Love, she enjoys rowing, playing soccer, and listening to music.
Co-founder
Rylan Patel
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​Rylan Patel helped develop the non-profit’s brand name and slogan, “One step is all it takes.” He has contributed to building the foundation of the non-profit and continues to lead and facilitate team events. Rylan plays a key role in shaping the Step of Love’s vision and ensuring that its values are reflected across all initiatives and events. In his free time, Rylan is known for his creativity–you can often find him building arcades, working on robotics, and playing tennis.
CEO
Jessica Patel
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​Jessica Patel works in product design and sales for Step of Love. In her role, she develops new methods for upcycling linens and manages both sales and donations. In addition to her product design responsibilities, she also contributes to event planning and coordination. Her work directly supports the non-profit's mission by creating sustainable products and engaging the community. When she’s not working for Step of Love, Jessica is busy taking care of her three children: Kayla, Siena, and Rylan.
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CFO
Tammy Buckley
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​Tammy Buckley serves as a board member for Step of Love, contributing her experience and guidance to the organisation’s mission. She is a native of the Bay Area, earning her bachelor’s degree in political science from Stanford University with a minor in mathematics, and holding a master's degree in teaching from The American University. Tammy has taught at middle and high schools across the country and currently teaches high school math at Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton.​
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Secretary
Ellen Eder
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​Ellen Eder is deeply committed to community service and serves on the board of Step of Love. She is a proud fifth-generation Californian from the Bay Area. She earned her Bachelor's degree in History from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master's in Business from Santa Clara University. Ellen has spent over 30 years at Oracle Corporation, where she currently serves as Senior Vice President, leading the Global Business Practices function. and having been a founding board member of the local chapters of the National Charity League and Young Men’s Service League.