PBO: Board of Directors

Paul Swatek
Treasurer
Chair, Finance Committee
Cornerstone Campaign Committee

Board member since: 1999

Bio: Paul grew up in Western Pennsylvania and went to school in New England and California. He has a B.S. in Chemistry from Caltech and a masters in Chemistry from Harvard, but left science to become involved with environmental work. In 1970, he wrote "The User's Guide to the Protection of the Environment" for Ballantine Books, and went on to establish the Environmental Affairs Department at the Massachusetts Audubon Society, serving also as a television news commentator on WGBH in Boston on environmental topics. This work led to various volunteer and staff positions with the Sierra Club, including 8.5 years as the administrative head of the Club's Conservation Department (in San Francisco). Subsequently, he served as a legal administrator (8 years) and as a church administrator (6.5 years). Along the way he picked up an MBA through the Saint Mary's College Executive MBA program.

Music has always been a love, one he inherited from his father. Paul sang in glee clubs in high school, college and graduate school (Harvard Glee Club) and in church choirs and has built an extensive collection of recordings of early music and other classical music predominantly. He first attended a PBO concert in February, 1983 and has been a regular member of the audience since. In 1999 he joined the Board and serves as Treasurer.

In 2000, he retired from his position as church administrator at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church to devote himself to volunteer activities and other interests.

Other volunteer activities: Paul sings in a mixed 18-voice chamber chorus, named Chorus Cappella, which has twice conducted study tours in England. He is active in his church, Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, serving recently as Moderator of its Board of Deacons. He is now in his seventh year on the Board of PBO and is Treasurer. Back in 1972-1975 he also served on the national Board of the Sierra Club and as its Treasurer. For eight years, he was also Treasurer of the Alii Kai II condo association board.

Hometown: Lafayette, CA

Special Interests: Paul and Linda love travel, hiking, music and the arts. They enjoy visits to Kauai, where they own a condo. Paul enjoys backpacking occasionally, regularly works out to keep fit and is an avid reader. He enjoys being a grandfather and is fortunate to have two granddaughters (ages 3 & 5) who also live in Lafayette.

Instruments: As a child, Paul briefly played the trombone. His participation in music performance today is as a singer (bass) in church choirs and a chamber chorus and as an appreciative member of many audiences.

Favorite composer/composition: Claudio Monteverdi, Vespro della Beata Vergine (1610)