Staff Biographies

Eric Christen

Eric Damian Christen was born and raised in Tigard, Oregon graduating from Tigard high School in 1984. He graduated from Corbin College in Salem, Oregon, in 1991 with a degree in History (Cum Laude) and a certificate in Education. After college, Eric taught for four years in the Oregon public school system.

In 1999 Eric became the Executive Director of the Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction, and has since been fighting for open competition in the construction industry to protect all California contractors and their workers from discriminatory and unfair Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). Since joining CFEC, Eric has grown the group from 50 to over 300 companies. Eric has helped to create regional coalitions to more effectively fight PLAs at the grassroots level. Eric was instrumental in helping to pass a first-of-its-kind ordinance banning PLAs in the City of Fresno in 2000.

His work has led to the defeat of over three dozen PLAs throughout the state.

In 2002, Eric was named as one of the 40 under 40 by the East Bay Business Times, a recognition given to young professionals making an impact in California. He is married to Major Karyn Christen, a pilot in the United States Air Force Reserve. Eric and Karyn have three beautiful children, Damian, Sophia, and Gabriel.

Alicia Pivirotto

Nicole Snider

Nicole Snider graduated from San Diego State University with a B.S. in Business Administration and specialized in Marketing. 

She held the position of Executive Vice-President for the American Marketing Association (SDSU Chapter), where she managed the Directors of Corporate and Community Development in creating and implementing marketing plans for local organizations. Nicole also received her Certified eMarketing Associate (CeMA) Certification from the eMarketing Associaton, which is the world’s largest association for internet marketing.

Karyn Christen

At age 16, Karyn Christen graduated as valedictorian of her class at Crater High School in Central Point, Oregon.  Too young to attend the United States Air Force Academy, she went to the Academy Prep School as a volleyball recruit for a year before entering the Academy at age 17.  In addition to her academic and military duties, Karyn played varsity volleyball for her entire four years there.  In her senior year, she led her team to the conference championship as team captain.  In 1995, she graduated as a Distinguished Graduate in the Top 5% of her class, then attended the University of Texas at Austin.

After earning her Master of Science in Engineering in less than a year, Karyn attended flight school at Laughline AFB in Del Rio, Texas.  In 1997, she was awarded her pilot's wings.  Major Christen is a veteran of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Allied Force, and the Kosovo Campaign.  She currently serves in the Air Force Reserve.

Philip Kim

Philip Kim is currently attending San Diego State University and plans to graduate in December 2008 with a B.S. in Business Administration (with a concentration in Human Resource Management). He is a member of the SDSU Environmental Business Society and volunteers at the San Diego River Park Foundation.