Visionary

Elaine is co-founder and visionary of Saffron Communities. Throughout her life, Elaine has been driven by the power of human connection, leading to her belief that strong relationships are the key to happiness. Her design firm, Tajima Creative, began in her Palo Alto living room and grew to an award-winning business with her intuitive sense to recruit extraordinary talent, matched with clients who valued her big ideas. As the creative force in the company, she enjoyed successes with clients like Levi Strauss, Airbnb, Oakley, and many more.

Other projects, such as The Good Business Network, World of Children, Alliance Ted K. Tajima High School, and Women Beyond Borders focused on her goal to give back to the community, both locally and globally. Her commitment to creating and offering positive holistic experiences continues with Saffron Communities.

President

Mark’s career began with Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants as Controller for properties including Grand Café and Hotel Monaco. Later, as CFO for the Berkeley Rep, he managed a finance and capital campaign that secured $30M to build a state-of-the-art theater.

Raised in Palo Alto, Mark drank from the Silicon Valley entrepreneurial waters. In 1999, he co-founded Modernbook with Bryan Yedinak – which expanded into Modernbook Editions, a publishing house, and Themes+Projects gallery at the Minnesota Street Project. Mark brings his financial acumen and expansive business perspective to Saffron Communities.

Director, Retail & Experiences

John g Martin is driven by a relentless passion for innovation. He is renowned for his ability to think outside the box pushing the boundaries of traditional interior design. This pioneering spirit has earned him a reputation as a visionary in the field, challenging conventions and exploring new frontiers in everything he does.

Throughout his journey, John has continuously honed his skills as both a painter and sculptor, with a particular focus on creating organic sculptures that seamlessly integrate with residential interiors. His artistry has graced the homes of numerous clients, adding layers of depth and personality to their living spaces.

At Saffron Communities, John reminds us that beauty is not simply a luxury but woven into the very spirit of who we are, that it has the power to uplift spirits, foster connections, and enrich the human experience.

Director, Marketing & Communications

Kathleen is a veteran of the museum, film and marketing world. And what she loves is finding new ways to connect like-hearted people.

Her career delivered her to NYC’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Bay Area’s Lucasfilm and Pixar, with various retail stops along the way. She produced museum exhibitions around the world for Lucasfilm and Pixar, and served on the Board for the Docents at the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. The arts and music, film, theatre and dance are her life’s joys.

The Holliday family recently moved their headquarters to Petaluma CA, and the Saffron Communities drew her to the events, retreats and the properties Saffron provides. Here Kathleen has found the things that make her heart sing.

Operational Wrangler

Kelly is native to Southern California and began her career in the design industry but shortly after transitioned to the food and wine industry. She partnered with retailers and wholesalers to promote and execute events for consumers and the trade for 25 years.

Saffron Communities provides a space to explore one’s interests and expand one’s world. Kelly enjoys the emphasis on community and loves collaborating on projects and meeting new people.

Kelly now has a great passion for connecting and bringing people together through food, wine, lifestyle and art because of Saffron Communities!

Editorial Content

Born into a family of hotel owners, nestled among the tropical rain forests of Nicaragua, Lorna loved food and could always be found in the kitchen. She started cooking seriously while in college, when she realized that if cooking were left up to her roommates, she would never eat well.

In Sebastopol, Lorna realized her dream of having a kitchen full of fresh vegetables harvested right outside her front door. A true culinary whiz, she can create an incredible farm-to-table meal from pounds of pattypan squash grown in her garden.

Lorna has always been an adventurous home cook. With Saffron, she makes home-based cooking fun and delicious, using simple, quality ingredients.

Art & Culture

Bryan is the most warm and engaging art afficionado and dynamo you’re likely to meet. In 1999, he co-founded Modernbook with Mark Pinsukanjana, revolutionizing the art and architecture bookshop experience in Palo Alto and Westwood. Modernbook has evolved into Modernbook Editions, a publishing house, and Themes+Projects, a San Francisco gallery. As Director/Curator, he has a keen eye for talent and trends, partnering with artists, art consultants and museum curators to create popular corporate and public exhibits.

As a lifestyle influencer, Bryan oversees the creation of transformative workshops, events and experiences, like Saffron Communities Art + Dinner in the Barn.

Retail & Community Projects

Evelyn began her career in retail merchandising and store design where she worked with many prominent retailers such as Nordstrom and Macy’s. Her love and commitment to the environment drew her into the non-profit world, serving as Executive Director of an environmental water association. She has served on the board of Sight and Insight Art Center, now the O’Hanlon Center for the Arts in Mill Valley.

For the last 18 years, Evelyn and her partner have lived on and managed an heritage apple ranch in the Sierra Nevada, bringing the community together to harvest the fruit for donation to local food banks, senior centers and other resources. As an avid student of herbal studies, she has integrated her experience with the plants into daily life by cultivating, harvesting, and preparing remedies and products from the native plants. She has led and participated in spiritual and women’s circles for over 40 years focused on earth centered rituals and ceremonies.


Community Experiences

Bill has lived in our Petaluma community since 1998 and is co-owner of Digital Grange Fine Art Services. He loves being part of our vibrant art scene and is on the board of directors of the Petaluma Art Center.

Bill is known nationally and internationally as a fine artist. His photographs and mixed media works have been extensively exhibited in the US, Europe and Asia. Since 1980 he has been honored with over 20 solo shows and 60 group exhibitions.

He was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship twice, in 1980 for Photography and again in 1991 for Painting. Bill was also awarded grants from the San Francisco Eyes and Ears Foundation twice, in 1979 and again in 1984. And he is included in the Who’s Who in American Art. His work also appeared in both deYoung Open exhibitions at the prestigious San Francisco museum in 2020 and 2023. Bill’s amazing talent and open heart make him a perfect fit for Saffron Communities and beyond.

Inspired Spaces

Tom is an environmental designer, builder, and artist living and working in California. He is known as a sketchpad connoisseur and a “C’mon kids, let’s put on a show” kind of guy. Tom balances two universes. Known to most as the founder of kitHAUS, manufacturer of modern pre-fab modules that have been featured in the New York Times and Dwell Magazine, he is also an accomplished fine artist who studied painting with Johanna Poussette Dart and McCarther Binion and sculpture with Jay Wholley. He has had two mixed-media shows at Minnesota Street Projects in San Francisco. 

Tom draws on his talent in designing innovative environments to realize our clients’ vision for their living spaces.

Community Projects

Jacqueline is a lifelong learner. With degrees in Psychology and Environmental Studies, she is fascinated by social interaction and connection - and their interplay with the natural world. With a grant from the University of California, she visited regenerative agriculture farms across the state employing the then-emerging Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, culminating in a CSA economic and social viability paper.

Most recently, Jacqueline’s work took place further afield with the United Nations in Africa and the Middle East, supporting the protection of human rights for vulnerable and displaced populations.

Residing back in California, she helps create and manage inspiring experiences and retreats with Saffron Communities.