Each year, The Orange County Register shines a spotlight on people who make the county special. We are pleased to share that several of our FLN members were recognized: Rashad Al-Dabbagh, Arab American Civic Council, Lauren Brand, Be Well Orange County, LaVal Brewer, South County Outreach, Lisa Fujimoto, The Priority Center, Shelley Hoss, Orange County Community Foundation, Nishtha Mohendra, Families-Forward, Maricela Rios-Faust, Human Options, and Lucy Santana, Girls Inc. of Orange County. We are proud to be in such great company!

To access the complete list, click here.

The Wooden Floor recently completed a brand refresh. Their new logo is visually emblematic of the connection of their students, families, supporters, and staff coming together as “one community.” The icon and font choice also reflects movement, evoking dance partnering techniques and a sense of trust, asking “Where do I end, and WE begin?” The Wooden Floor’s updated mission statement is now, “to inspire and transform the lives of young people through the power of dance and access to higher education.”

Dawn Reese, Chief Executive Officer, participated in the 2007 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group, was coached in 2012 and became a Coach in the 2013 Executive Coaching Program.

Lisa Fujimoto, Executive Director/CEO of The Priority Center, was recognized by the Anaheim Ducks as a Community Champion AND received a Passkeys Foundation OC Influencer Award In Human Services.

Lisa participated in the 2021 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 2022 Executive Coaching Program.

Girl Scouts of Orange County, received a $2.8M donation from Mackenzie Scott, in addition to being selected by the Orange County Register as one of the Top Workplaces in 2022! This is the second time in recent history that GSOC has received this esteemed accolade. The first time was in 2020, a year when the pandemic created challenging conditions for so many. 

Wendy Weeks, Corporate and Institutional Giving Director, participated in the 2016 Executive Learning Group and is a Creative Encounters by Fieldstone facilitator.

Be Well Orange County recently partnered with Pretend City Children's Museum. Pretend City hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for their latest addition – a mini Be Well mobile van. This mini mobile unit will enhance Pretend City’s Mind & Body Studio, and emphasize the importance of mental health and supporting healthy families in our community.

Christy Weissmann, Executive Assistant and Project Manager of Be Well OC, and Maria Tinajero-Dowdle, Chief Operating Officer of Pretend City, are currently participating in the 2023 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group together.

Jessica Hubbard is the new Chief Executive Officer of Casa Youth Shelter, an organization with a history of serving the most at-risk youth in Orange County for over 40 years. Their mission is to serve and nurture youth in crisis with shelter, counseling, and support services, empowering them to come through their crisis with increased confidence, stability, and tools for continued growth. Jessica recently served as Chief Program Officer with Girls, Inc. of Orange County for the past five years.



Jessica was coached in 2016, participated in the 2017 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group, shared her expertise as a Fieldstone@4 presenter, and is in the 2023 Executive Learning Group.

American Family Housing, Inc. was given the community spotlight in CalOptima Health's 2023 Report to the Community. AFH has been able to cost-effectively expand and improve its housing services, thanks to its participation in CalAim Community Supports.

To view the full report, click here .

Milo Peinemann, Chief Executive Officer participated in 2019 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 2020 Executive Coaching Program. Francisco Flores, Director of Finance, and Luz Soto, Chief Operating Officer, are current members of two of our Nonprofit Leaders Learning Groups.

Innovative Housing Opportunities President and CEO, Rochelle Mills spoke at the Bisnow Southern California Women Leading Real Estate event in December. Rochelle spoke with several other women in the CRE industry about progress being made in the male-dominated field. The panel also discussed the need for parental leave to become less gendered, the lack of opportunities for advancement for women, and the pros/cons of women stepping away from the workforce force for long periods of time.

To learn more about SoCal women’s journeys in CRE, read Bianca Barragan’s article on Bisnow here.

Rochelle participated in 2019 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 2020 Executive Coaching Program.

Misha Houser, Fundraising and Development Coordinator at Vita Link was recently elected to the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Orange County's Board of Directors, one of the largest and most active chapters in the nation, offering members the opportunity to connect with colleagues, engage in creative thinking, network with new friends and achieve great results in their work.

Misha has been a member of our Leadership Reading Group since 2021.

Miguel Garcia, Director of Real Estate Development at Innovative Housing Opportunities, was recently elected as a board member for Grace Miller Elementary School Site Council in Los Angeles County.

Miguel participated in the 2021 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

Nadia Flores started a new role as Program Director for the Office of Kay Warren. She oversees BREATHE, a ministry to support parents of children with serious mental illness. BREATHE events include weekend respite retreats, online retreats, and free Zoom calls with mental health professionals. 

Nadia participated in the 2012 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group and was coached in the 2013 Executive Coaching Program