Congratulations to Kathryn Lembo, President & CEO of SBCS (formerly South Bay Community Services) and our Executive Coaching Program facilitator! As SBCS celebrates their 50th Anniversary, Kathie was awarded the San Diego Business Journal's CEO of the Year for Nonprofit Large. To watch the virtual award ceremony, click here.

Kathie's organization went above and beyond this March, when they were tapped by the federal government to handle the day-to-day operations of the convention center as a Department of Health and Human Services “emergency intake site” for the children who were apprehended by Border Patrol. For the complete article, click here.

Best wishes to Cathy Michaels on her retirement after forty-five years as a nonprofit arts administrator and development professional! Raising over $50 million dollars for arts and education causes during her career, Cathy most recently served as the Vice President of Development at Orange County School of the Arts. She was also named the Outstanding Fundraising Professional in 2013. 

Cathy was a frequent participant in our Crossroads & Turning Points and Fieldstone@4 programs. Please keep in touch, Cathy!

Kudos to Margaret Bayston, Executive Director of Laura's House, and her team for being featured in the Orange County Business Journal as part of its OC Philanthropy special report. The feature outlined its Power of the Journey campaign efforts and the ways in which the Domestic Violence Resource Center will be delivering on unmet countywide needs for comprehensive domestic violence programs and services.

To read the complete article, click here.

Margaret was a participant in the 2003 Executive Learning Group and became an Executive Coach in our 2011 Executive Coaching Program and several of her staff have participated in our Nonprofit Leaders Learning Groups.

Congratulations to Vince Beresford, the new California State Director of The Way-Out Homeless Initiative for The Salvation Army. The Way-Out goal is to reduce unsheltered homelessness by 20% across the state by providing 25,000 new beds in the next five years. The three divisions in California currently house approximately 9,000 beds.

Vince participated in the 2015 Executive Learning Group and is a trained and beloved Creative Encounters by Fieldstone facilitator.

Congratulations to Dawn S. Reese, CEO of The Wooden Floor on becoming Board Chair of the Passkeys Foundation! With her leadership and unique blend of expertise in business, technology, education, and the arts, Dawn joins a distinguished Board of Directors at Passkeys to further bring attention to unmet community needs while resourcing and mobilizing leaders, individuals, and organizations. 

Dawn was a participant in the 2007 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group and was coached in the 2012 Executive Coaching Program and became an Executive Coach in 2013.

Kudos to Rashad Al-Dabbagh, Founder and Executive Director of Arab American Civic Council, who shared an essay written last year that was highlighted in LAist, 'White' Without The Privilege: An Arab American's Quest To Be Counted.

To read the complete article, click here.

Rashad is a participant in our 2021 Executive Coaching Program.

Congratulations to Bonni Pomush, who will be the new CEO at Working Wardrobes when valued Network member Jerri Rosen retires at the end of the year. Bonni received her master's degree in Family Resources and Human Development from Arizona State University and made her move to Orange County in 2009 where she joined our nonprofit community at The Samueli Center for Progressive Judaism, formerly Temple Beth El.

Jerri participated in the 1999 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 1999 Executive Coaching Program. We can't wait to welcome Bonni to our Network!

Kudos to Je’net Kreitner, CEO & Founder of Grandma's House of Hope, who was named by Thrive Global as one of nine women to lead the charge for diversity and inclusion in the United States to empower the invisible populations of Orange County.

For the complete article, click here.

Je'net was a participant in the 2014 Executive Learning Group.

Congratulations to Karen Wallace, the new Outreach and Development Coordinator at Teen Leadership Foundation. In her new role, she will be supporting their fundraising operations from database management to deepening donor relationships while sharing the TLF story with the community. Karen also manages the details of events including the Loads of Love drive and Virtual 5K.