CEO of Human Options, Maricela Rios-Faust, was recognized by OC Register as one of the top 2021 influencers. Congratulations and thanks to Maricela for igniting social change for survivors of relationship violence in Orange County.

To learn more about Orange County’s 125 Top influencers for 2021, click here.

Maricela participated in the 2007 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group and was coached in the 2010 Executive Coaching Program.

After 31 years as the founder of Working Wardrobes, Jerri Rosen has retired! By providing workforce readiness services in an atmosphere of dignity that enhances the lives of their clients, Jerri helped tens of thousands of men, women, young adults, and veterans transform their lives. Before her retirement and to secure the future of the organization, Jerri worked with the board to develop a three-year strategic plan and created the "Say Yes!" fund. The board also created the Jerri Rosen Legacy Fund in her honor.

Jerri participated in the 1999 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 1999 Executive Coaching Program.

In addition to her role as Director of Communications and Marketing at The Wooden Floor, Payal Kumar Avellan is running for Aliso Viejo City Council! The election will be held in November of 2022.

For details on her campaign, click here.

Payal participated in the 2012 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

President and CEO Debora Wondercheck of The Arts & Learning Conservatory has joined the board of the OC Theatre Guild. The Orange County Theatre Guild, founded in 2015, aims to bring Orange County theatres together to make greater change and build a more united community. Together they strive to bring the benefits of theatre to individuals and society at large.  

Debora was coached in the 2021 Executive Coaching Program.

Meals on Wheels Orange County announced the newest members of their staff:

Tammy Peng, Senior Director of Community Engagement. Tammy brings a strong background in both government and nonprofit sectors, most recently as Constituent Services Manager for the office of Senator Josh Newman. Tammy also acted as the Asian-American Communities Liaison at the Pacific Symphony and spent eight years as Staff Attorney for Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles.

Bianca Delgado, Director of Marketing. Bianca will be responsible for outreach and marketing efforts, including the Direct Mail program and print & digital media channels, such as newsletters, email, and social channels. Bianca brings a strong background in fund development, most recently with Newport One, a marketing firm, where she oversaw the efforts of a handful of rescue missions. Bianca also previously worked as the Director of Integrated Marketing for Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles.

Holly Hagler, President & CEO, participated in the 2014 Executive Learning Group, was coached in 2015 and is one of our esteemed Executive Coaches.

Arab American Civic Council invited the newly-appointed Anaheim Councilwoman Gloria Ma'ae for a mini tour of Anaheim's unofficial Little Arabia to listen to community and business leaders' concerns to get a taste of what Little Arabia has to offer. During a lunch meeting hosted at Aleppo's Kitchen, Arab-American community leaders discussed ways to work with the councilwoman's office towards an official designation of Little Arabia. 

Rashad Al-Dabbagh, Founder and Executive Director, was coached in the 2021 Executive Coaching Program and is a current member of the 2022 Executive Learning Group.

Elizabeth Andrade, Chief Executive Officer of Family Assistance Ministries, was recognized as one of forty outstanding next-generation professionals at the Greater Irvine Chamber’s 40 Under 40 awards presentation. Elizabeth's demonstrated leadership and accomplishments advancing their industries in the Orange County community was highlighted.

Elizabeth participated in the 2015 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group and is currently being coached in the 2022 Executive Coaching Program.

Congratulations to Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, gifted facilitator of the Fieldstone Leadership Reading Group, who just saw another short story of hers published in the anthology, Coolest American Stories 2022.

Washington Independent Review of Books wrote, “Some of the characters who populate this collection can only save themselves by sacrificing others, as in Barbara DeMarco-Barrett’s noir ‘Blue Martini,’ where a woman tries to escape her abusive meth-head boyfriend. The sensory details of Palm Springs and the surrounding desert are painted so precisely that you can feel your skin crackle with dryness.”

Click here to learn more about our Leadership Reading Group, where fiction, non-fiction and trade books are discussed and analyzed- all through a leadership lens.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange & the Inland Empire partnered with Community Action Partnership of Orange County's Clementine Food Trolley to serve 62 families with fresh produce, dry goods, canned goods, frozen meals and diapers for those who needed it. This partnership comes from a need that has been highlighted throughout the pandemic that many of their families have food insecurities. This food trolley will be hosted every other month at the BBBS office. 

Brianna Rios, Director of Match Engagement and Enrichment for BBBS, participated in the 2020 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

Brenda Rodriguez, Executive Director of Affordable Housing Clearinghouse was elected to the 2022 board of Hope Through Housing Foundation. As a housing industry professional, she will share her experience and perspective to help support clients, advocate for a worthy cause and contribute to the mission of the foundation. Brenda is excited to serve and witness transformations of households focused on breaking the cycle of generational poverty.  

Brenda was a participant in the 2015 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 2017 Executive Coaching Program.

Project Access has found creative ways to support their residents in achieving their goals of getting better grades, establishing a savings fund, and eating healthier, just to name a few. They work with their residents to set goals by creating monthly planners to keep them on track and by designing vision boards, so they have a visual roadmap of what they want to accomplish.

Kristin Byrnes, Executive Director, was a participant in the 2006 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group; Karyn Mendoza, Vice President of Resident Services participated in the 2010 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group; Chris Baiocchi, Chief Development Officer, was coached in the 2018 Executive Coaching Program, and Allison Stanley, Human Resource Manager participated in the 2017 and 2020 Leadership Reading Group.

Brian Dozer, former President of Vital Link, whose mission is introducing students to CTE pathways and careers that will secure their future, announced he will spend the rest of his career laser-focused on students and career technical education. Brian will accomplish this in his new position as Superintendent of Coastline Regional Occupational Program. Coastline ROPs five school districts include Huntington Beach, Irvine, Newport Mesa, Saddleback Valley, and Tustin. Vital Link has been an active Network member for many years.

The Council on Aging - Southern California announced the appointment of Todd Hanson as Chief Operating Officer. Todd will oversee the program management of county contracts for the Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program in Orange, Riverside, Inyo, Mono, and San Bernardino Counties, and the Senior Protection Program and ReConnect EIOSA Program in Orange County, in addition to leading the undertaking to improve efficiency across critical business functions.

Prior to joining COASC, Todd was Vice President of the Center for Engaged Philanthropy at Orange County Community Foundation. During his 20-year career , Todd contributed to the growth of the Community Foundation’s annual grants from $10M to $100M, and the growth of their asset base from $40M to $500M.

Kahana & Field, LLP recognizes partner, Ron S. Brand, as a super lawyer! He's been selected by his peers for the 4th year in a row as a Thomson Reuters Southern California Super Lawyer. Ron offered his services several times during the shutdown to our Network members through our Fieldstone4U program.

Congrats, Ron- we think you are a Super Lawyer, too!