Senior Management

Avery Bell - Director of Corporate Relations
Titus Campos - Superintendent of Schools and Charter Elementary & Middle School Principal
Yoon S. Choi - Director of Foundation Relations
Hwesu Cobbs-Phillips - Director of Finance & Contract Compliance
Andy Herod - Director of Family Services
Joanne Brenner Leishman - Director of Early Childhood Services
Bryan Maxwell - Director of Special Events
Danette S. McBride - Director of Youth Development Services
Edith Medina - Director of Human Resources
Jorge Orozco - Director of Youth Workforce Services
Gina Papa - Director of Mental Health
Andrea Purcell - Para Los Niños – Gratts Primary Center Principal
Geovanni Rivas - Director of Information Technology

Avery Bell
Director of Corporate Relations

Avery Bell joined Para Los Niños in March 2008 as Director of Corporate Relations. In this role, he is responsible for the strategy, cultivation, and stewardship of corporate fundraising for Para Los Niños.  Avery is the central point of contact to maximize corporate gifts and build multi-layered, long-lasting relationships with businesses to meet the agency’s overall development and financial growth.
 
Avery brings to Para Los Niños over 20 years of corporate marketing experience in advertising, promotions, public relations, corporate alliances and sponsorships.  His former employers include The Walt Disney Company, AT&T Broadband, Bally Total Fitness and Wasserman Media Group. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the University of Pittsburg and University of Phoenix. Avery is an accomplished high altitude mountain climber successfully climbing the highest mountain on five of the seven continents during a 7- month trip around the world.

Titus Campos
Superintendent of Schools and Charter Elementary & Middle School Principal
Titus Campos joined the Para Los Niños family in July 2011 as principal of our charter elementary/middle school. Titus is an award-winning educator, accomplished scholar and published author who most recently served as the principal at Gratts Elementary School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. While at Gratts Elementary, Titus successfully helped lead the charge in converting the school to Pilot status. His children’s book Muffler Man was a finalist for the prestigious Tomas Rivera Children’s Book Award.

Titus is a Ph.D. candidate with two Masters degrees, numerous education credentials, and two decades of experience in the classroom and as an administrator. He recently completed the California Association of Superintendents and Administrators cutting edge mentoring program. Titus has received several awards, including a Special Community Activist Recognition from Councilmember Ed Reyes. He recently served as a member of the Superintendent’s Budgeting for Student Achievement Advisory Group (LAUSD) and served as Secretary of The Rampart Station’s Police Activity League (PAL) Board. Titus is thrilled to serve the children and families of Para Los Niños!

Yoon S. Choi
Director of Foundation Relations
Yoon S. Choi joined Para Los Niños as Director of Foundation Relations in March 2011. In this role, she develops and executes strategies to attract private and corporate foundation support to Para Los Niños.

Prior to joining Para Los Niños, Yoon worked as Programs and Communications Officer for the World Toilet Association (WTA) in Seoul, Korea, where she oversaw the selection of grantees for the ‘Toilets for Humanity Campaign,’ an international program designed to provide sanitation facilities in seven countries throughout Asia and Africa. In this role, she also developed and wrote Request for Proposals and Grant Evaluation criteria.

Yoon holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Scripps College, a Master’s degree in Humanities and Social Thought from New York University and a Ph.D in Socio-cultural Anthropology with a Critical Theory Emphasis from the University of California, Irvine. Yoon has been the author, editor and translator of several academic publications and has also served as master of ceremonies, moderator, and paper presenter in over twenty global conferences.

Hwesu Cobbs-Phillips
Director of Finance & Contract Compliance
Hwesu Cobbs-Phillips brings an extensive background in auditing and finance to his position as Director of Finance & Contract Compliance at Para Los Niños.

Hwesu has provided comprehensive financial management services to community-based nonprofit organizations and corporations in Los Angeles for over 10 years. Hwesu comes to Para Los Niños from Harrington Group, a CPA firm that exclusively audits nonprofit organizations in the state of Cailfornia. He also served as a Senior Associate auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers, working with clients in retail and manufacturing with revenues ranging from $15 million to $250 million.

Hwesu graduated from Morehouse College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Spanish. He is an avid reader, supporter of the local public library, and a certified AYSO coach for his young daughter’s team.

Andy Herod
Director of Family Services
Andy joined Para Los Niños in August of 2009 as Clinical Program Manager of Family Preservation. Today, he serves as the Director of Family Services and is responsible for managing all administrative, programmatic and financial aspects of the Family Service division, including developing and implementing strategies to ensure programs are addressing community needs.

Prior to joining Para Los Niños, Andy worked as Manager of Residential Services for Boys Continuum, Peninsula Village, a Residential Treatment center for treatment resistant teens, where he provided clinical leadership and directed over 60 employees through co-facilitating and directing multi-disciplinary treatment teams.

Andy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Biola University and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary's School of Psychology. Andy is also a Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT).

Joanne Brenner Leishman
Director of Early Childhood Services
Joanne Leishman began her work with Para Los Ninos as Director of Early Childhood Services in 2009. In this role she oversees all of Para Los Niños’ child development centers and develops and implements strategies to ensure these programs are addressing community needs and that the State Department of Education standards and those of other regulatory bodies are maintained at all times.

Joanne has been a part of the early childhood education field for more than 30 years, working as Director of the Early Learning Program at the El Rancho Unified School District, Director of Pre-school and Child Care Programs at the Rosemead School District and supervisor of child development programs for the Glendale Unified School District. She has also taught parent education and early childhood education courses at Pasadena City College.

Joanne holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development and a Master’s in Child Development and Family Studies from California State University Los Angeles. She also holds memberships in the National Association of the Education of Young Children, the Southern California Association of the Education of Young Children and the California Child Development Administrators Association.

Bryan Maxwell
Director of Special Events
Bryan Maxwell joined Para Los Niños in June of 2007 as our Director of Special Events. Prior to working for Para Los Niños, Bryan was Special Events and Public Relations Coordinator for Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services. He also excelled in public relations for companies such as GCI and Weber, Shandwick, Rogers and Cohen.  The foundation for his event construction and public relations skills lies in his education in writing. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in journalism, Bryan worked as a writer and editor for the newspaper and software industry. Bryan is happy to be working at Para Los Niños where he can utilize his talents to put kids first.

Danette S. McBride
Director of Youth Development Services
Danette S. McBride serves as the Director of Youth Development Services and oversees Para Los Niños’ Youth Development Services. With over six years of experience in managing family services and adoption programs, Danette is developing and launching Para Los Niños’ newest program to assist youth in foster care.

Prior to joining Para Los Niños, Danette served as a program manager at Children Uniting Nations where she managed and developed collaborative partnerships throughout Los Angeles County to provide youth residing in foster care with mentors. She also has previous experience with Excel Family Intervention Programs, and the Dangerfield Institute for Urban Problems. 

Danette has always had a passion for learning and teaching. She holds a bachelor degree in Psychology from Tuskegee University, Alabama, and a master of social work and  public administration from the University of Southern California.

Edith Medina
Director of Human Resources
Edith Medina, Director of Human Resources, began her work with Para Los Niños in 1989. She began her professional career in the insurance industry and discovered Para Los Niños as she searched for a meaningful way to contribute to the community. Edith oversees the human resource department, and addresses issues such as recruitment, orientation, professional development, benefits, employee relations, compensation and payroll. Crediting the powerful impact of Para Los Niños, she enjoys seeing firsthand how the organization enriches the lives of its clients, as well as its employees.

A native of El Salvador, Edith was born in La Libertad and moved to Los Angeles with her family at the age of 11. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix and has completed coursework toward a certificate in human resources management through UCLA Extension. She is a member of Professionals in Human Resources and an active member in the community. Edith resides in North Hills with her husband and their two children.

Jorge Orozco
Director of Youth Workforce Services
Jorge Orozco joined Para Los Niños in February 2005, working in Youth Workforce Services. He began as a Program Coordinator, later became an Employer Specialist, and in May 2008, was promoted to Director of Youth Workforce Services. In this position, Jorge’s responsibilities include: overseeing daily operations, ensuring that all contractual obligations are completed in a timely and effective manner, conducting site visits to monitor contract compliance and quality of services, and serving in the Equal Opportunity Compliance Unit for Para Los Niños and Power of One. He also provides direct supervision to Youth Workforce Services staff, is responsible for all reports to government and private contracts, and monitors subcontractor activities and services to ensure quality effectiveness.

Prior to joining Para Los Niños, Jorge worked for Maravilla Foundation’s Workforce Services as a case manager/job developer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, Los Angeles and several certificates, including as a Disability Service Specialist and an Equal Opportunity Compliance Officer. 

Jorge brings to Para Los Niños outstanding management skills, great enthusiasm, extensive experience in workforce development, and a vast network of employers and community partners.

Gina Papa
Director of Mental Health
Gina joined Para Los Niños in July of 2010 as Clinical Supervisor. Today she serves as Director of Mental Health Services, and is responsible for managing all administrative, programmatic and financial aspects of the Mental Health division, including managing our School Based Mental Health Program and developing and implementing strategies to ensure programs are addressing community and school needs.

Prior to joining Para Los Niños, Gina has been working in the Mental Health field for 20 years, as consultant for the Foundation of Early Education Head Start Programs, The Early Childhood Center, Primary Prevention Program for children ages 0-6, at the Department of Psychiatry of Cedars Sinai Medical Center, and as a Child Therapist and Developmental Therapist in Private Practice.

Gina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and Education, a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis in Child Development from Antioch University, Los Angeles. She received her training from The Early Childhood Center Foundation associated with Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Child Therapy and Infant and early childhood Mental Health. Gina is a Clinical Member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), and the National Association for Mentally Ill (NAMI)

Andrea Purcell
Para Los Niños – Gratts Primary Center Principal

Andrea Purcell accepted the position of Principal of the new Para Los Niños – Gratts Primary Center in 2010. In this role, Andrea will lead the operation of the LAUSD campus of 360 K-1 students and 24 staff members.

Prior to being named Principal, Andrea served as an educational consultant for Para Los Niños and was responsible for developing the Public School Choice proposal for PLN – Gratts and was a key player in developing the partnership between Para Los Niños, the Gratts community and LAUSD. Her background as a classroom teacher, charter school developer, and instructional program consultant has prepared her for leading her staff in implementing a program that will provide a solid academic and socio-emotional foundation for our students. A dedicated academic and educator, Andrea has both Ph.D. and Masters degrees in Educational Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in American Literature, and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential.

Geovanni Rivas
Director of Information Technology
Geovanni Rivas, Para Los Niños’ Director of Information Technology (I.T.), began his career at Para Los Niños in 2000, and has since held several positions, within the I.T. capacity, including Network Administrator and Manager of I.T. He has been the project leader for most of our I.T. projects, such as WAN/LAN design and implementation, as well as previous data storage upgrades, and our datacenter design. He has a certificate with Microsoft MCSE, Cisco CCNA, and a Graduate Certification in Information Technology Management from University of California, Los Angeles.

 

 

 

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