By Gene Aiken, Facilities Coordinator; Samantha Bologna, Operations Coordinator; Larry Ong, Development Coordinator; Jenny Rahn, Finance Coordinator; and Ereka Tinsley, Program Assistant
As parents, children and guests step into the Bing office, they are greeted by our wonderful Bing office team. Some team members work directly with parents, answering questions, providing tuition receipts and tracking our parent donations, and some work behind the scenes, making sure the school is maintained and the classrooms are fully stocked with woodworking materials. Meet our wonderful Bing office administrative staff:
Gene Aiken, facilities coordinator and carpenter
I was born and raised in San Carlos, in a house where my mother still lives today. I grew up surrounded by music. My mother and my grandmother both played violin their entire lives, and my grandfather was a professional pianist and composer. So naturally I played instruments growing up: piano, violin, saxophone and drums—accompanied by my father on trumpet and my brother on the drums. I went to College of San Mateo and then San Francisco State, majoring in television and radio production, and got a job at KOFY TV. But my true calling was woodworking. I worked at custom cabinet shops for many years and later ran my own cabinet business. I have two daughters, Emerson and Lily, and they were both fortunate enough to attend Bing. On Lily’s last day at Bing, I visited the school and heard there was an opening for a carpenter. I interviewed for the position and was hired! I work in the carpenter shop that is located in the Bing parking lot. These days, I am supplying the wood materials for the children’s projects and building structures in the yards. Come time for the annual fundraising auction, I create a one-of-a-kind furniture piece.
Fun fact: In the early ’60s, Gene’s grandfather played piano for the Leighton Noble Orchestra at Harrah’s South Shore Room in Lake Tahoe, hosting the biggest entertainers of that era.
Samantha Bologna, operations coordinator
I sit at the front desk in the office, where I help answer any and all questions about Bing. I also work closely with the enrollment administrator on school enrollment and applications. I have worked at Bing for five years, and my favorite part is getting to know the families and greeting the children as they arrive to the school, both at the main gate and when they come into the office. I graduated from California State University, Stanislaus, with a degree in English, and later completed my master’s degree in business administration at San Francisco State while working at Bing. My first job at Stanford was with student housing, but then I saw the operations coordinator position at Bing, applied, and was hired. Some things parents might not know about me are that I enjoy salsa and West Coast swing dancing and love learning new things, which has led to me recently becoming certified to scuba dive. I’ve only dived in Monterey but cannot wait to explore more places. Come say hi to me at the front desk!
Fun fact: Samantha studied abroad in Denmark for a summer a few years ago, and she loves to travel.
Larry Ong, development and accounting coordinator
I started at Bing 15 years ago as the development coordinator, and then for several years I also took on the accounting coordinator role, processing tuition for all of our families. I now take care of our development efforts, process donations, coordinate the Bing Fair and help coordinate our Harvest Moon Auction fundraiser. I enjoy interacting with the children and their families at Bing when I welcome them or bid farewell while monitoring the school’s main gate. My two boys are Bing graduates. One is finishing his collegiate career, and the other will be in high school next year. I went to college at the University of San Francisco and graduated with a degree in hospitality management and Asian studies. Before coming to Stanford, I worked for many years at UC San Francisco.
Fun fact: We call Larry the orchid whisperer. He takes care of and breathes life into all of the beautiful orchids in our office. He is also a master at origami. Stop by the office to see some of his creations.
Jennifer Rahn, finance coordinator
I have been part of Bing’s office staff for more than seven years. I am a native Californian, growing up in the Bay Area, but I’ve also lived in San Clemente, California, as well as Nashville, Tennessee. As a mom to three grown children, I spend most of my free time with family, including my beloved dog Bella. Having a love for animals, I have eagerly fostered Bing rabbits from time to time, including Peter Rabbit (now in the Twos class) before he came to Bing. I have a degree in finance from the University of Phoenix. As Bing’s finance coordinator, I am responsible for all the financial transactions at Bing, which includes tracking and processing children’s tuition. Of all my job duties, one has recently become my favorite. Along with my co-worker Larry Ong, I pick up and walk several Bing children to their afternoon program several times a week. I love that I can connect with the Bing children as well as their families at the end of their session.
Fun fact: Jenny loves creating special costumes to wear at our annual Harvest Moon auctions.
Ereka Tinsley, program assistant
I graduated from San Jose State University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and the next year I began working at Bing as a program assistant. This position allows me to have a well-rounded view of the duties throughout the school. I maintain and organize the school, and also assist with administrative duties and inventory. I don’t have a specific office space, as I work all around the school as well as in the Tower House next door. And I get a lot of exercise every day, as I don’t sit down very often. This last year, I also helped care for children during lunchtime in the Center AM classroom. I enjoy working with the children and talking with the parents at pick-up time. I was born and raised in California, and I am fluent in English and Tagalog, and I dance Tinikling, a traditional Filipino dance that involves dancing through large bamboo poles clapping on the floor, making sure your ankles do not get caught between the poles. I also enjoy drawing and singing in my free time. These are two activities that bring me peace and joy.
Fun fact: Ereka is an adventurous thrill-seeker: She has been skydiving as well as zip-lining over alligators!