Skip to main content

Who We Are

Staff & Board

Our Staff:

A team of 50 dedicated staff members working collaboratively to battle poverty by empowering youth and families in Los Angeles with the skills, resources, and relationships necessary to thrive.

 

Staff Leadership

  • Seth Eklund, Executive Director
  • Dunia Perich, Associate Executive Director
  • Rene Lopez, Director of Operations
  • Roxxi Bartlett, Director of Development

 

Our Board Members:

Our board is an integral part of the Bresee leadership team. Members of the board offer their diverse backgrounds and experiences to share their expertise, community influence, guidance, and resources to support the Bresee Foundation in the following ways:

  • Ensure effective organizational planning and oversight
  • Manage public relations and media
  • Ensure adequate resources are available for continued success of the organization
  • Support and oversee the Executive Director
  • Manage available resources effectively
  • Participate in meetings and financial planning
  • Develop recruitment strategies for a vibrant, successful board
  • Ensure the legal and ethical integrity of the organization

Board of Directors

  • Rich Orosco- Board Chair
    Rich Orosco- Board Chair

    Rich is a 20-year entertainment, consumer products, and sports marketing veteran who has conceptualized and executed award-winning product launch campaigns. He is currently the Executive Vice President of Brand & Community at the Los Angeles Football Club. Prior to LAFC, he co-founded American-made menswear brand Exley, Vice President of Marketing at Warner Bros. Television, and Executive Director of Advertising and Promotion at CBS Paramount Television. Rich is a co-founder of the LAFC Youth Leadership Program and a member of the Delta Aeromexico Latino Outreach Leadership Advisory Board.

  • Maki Villacarillo- Vice Chair
    Maki Villacarillo- Vice Chair

    As a commercial banking relationship manager, Maki is responsible for providing comprehensive expertise to help clients navigate an increasingly complex environment. Maki has worked in the banking and financial services industry since 1996. She spent a few years at U.S. Bank and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and is active in her community, sitting on the Bresee Board of Directors. She enjoys food, wine, and international travel.

  • Heidi Feng - Treasurer
    Heidi Feng - Treasurer

    Heidi is a partner in the PwC deals practice. For over 16 years, she has advised public and private companies primarily in the entertainment, media, and technology sectors. Heidi is a certified public accountant and a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She attended UCLA and graduated with high honors, majoring in business economics and minoring in accounting, with a specialization in computing. She is fluent in English and Chinese.

  • Juan Fontenla- Secretary
    Juan Fontenla- Secretary

    Juan is a banking professional, strategic advisor and wealth manager with over two decades of experience. He received his M.B.A from the Johnson School at Cornell where he was the first Latino President in the school's history. He obtained a B.A in History with a Psychology and a Business concentration from the University of San Diego, where he was a member of the Division I soccer team. Within his community, Juan serves on various non-profit boards and volunteers (since 2000) at St. Francis High School’s soccer program where he attended during his formative years.

  • Linda Kim
    Linda Kim

    Linda is a Senior Vice President, Private Client Manager with Bank of America Private Bank. Linda’s main objectives are to help identify their needs, provide guidance and coordinate with the appropriate representatives of the Bank of America Private Bank platform of extensive resources to support each client’s overall wealth strategy. Linda is a four-time recipient of Bank of America’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Award. Linda has been recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2020 for Women’s Leadership “Volunteer of the Year” finalist. Linda earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Portland State University and an MBA from the Executive program at USC Marshall School of Business.

  • Tim Martin
    Tim Martin

    Hailing from Belfast, N. Ireland, Tim moved to the U.S. in 1982, working in the restaurant industry before entering the tech industry in 1994. In 2001, he founded DataMate Global, Inc. providing one of the first Corporate Instant Messaging platforms. Since 2009, he has been leading the Business Development team in the U.S. for Action Point. In addition to sitting on Bresee’s board, Tim mentors several young tech entrepreneurs, and he is on the Board of Directors for The Martin Trust and helped establish the LAFC Youth Leadership Program.

  • Craig Beatty
    Craig Beatty

    Craig is a Partner in KPMG’s Private Equity practice. He serves as the global lead partner on some of the Los Angeles office’s largest and highest priority private equity clients and is focused on bringing the best of KPMG’s talent and information to private equity owned companies and their capital providers. In addition to his service on the Bresee board, Craig serves as the Partner Sponsor for the Los Angeles Chapter of KPMG Family for Literacy, where he's part of a commitment to provide over 60,000 books to students in the LA school system.

  • Ramon Pack III
    Ramon Pack III

    Ramon serves as the Chief Compliance Officer at First Republic Bank. He joined First Republic in 2018 with over 20 years of experience in the legal, trust, and private banking industries. Previously, he managed the Trust Administration and Estate Settlement Departments at CIT Bank within their Private Bank Division. Ramon earned his Juris Doctor degree from USC, his bachelors in sociology, cum laude, from UCLA, and his high school degree, cum laude, from Loyola High School.

  • Chris Garcia
    Chris Garcia

    Chris is the Community Reinvestment Officer and Foundation President of Banc of California. He maintains company-wide responsibility for community reinvestment performance in lending, investments and services with a primary focus on low and moderate income individuals and communities. Chris was introduced to Bresee thru the Bank’s partnership with the LAFC and the YLP program. He is inspired by the work that Bresee does in a community that lacks exposure to opportunities and works to further their mission and vision in the battle against poverty.

  • Mirei Claremon
    Mirei Claremon

    Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Mirei is a marketing strategy and consumer insights consultant, and is the founder and CEO of Illumirai, LLC. In her work, she focuses on helping organizations understand cross-cultural differences in people’s psychology and behaviors. She has always been passionate about education and social equity, and is inspired by the lasting positive impact Bresee makes on the community it serves and beyond. She earned her PhD and MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management, and her BA in psychology from Cornell University. She also holds a certificate in sustainability from UCLA.

  • Jennifer Brown
    Jennifer Brown

    Jennifer is an account manager at Western Audio Visual, and has served on the Bresee Board of Directors since 2004. Her involvement with Bresee started in 1999 and for Jennifer, it was both the programs and staff that captured her attention, both of which strive to meet the people at their deepest needs and make those needs their own. Jennifer is inspired by the way the Bresee affirms the dignity of all people, and is able to motivate them to take responsibility for and improve their situation.

  • John Torres
    John Torres

    John is an American songwriter and recording artist from Los Angeles, California whose music has been featured on various television shows, as well as multiple short and feature length films. As a songwriter, John has received numerous honors including a John Lennon Songwriting Award, an L.A Stage Alliance Ovation Award, and nominations by the American Independent Music Awards. He’s a founding member of the indie folk band, Towers of Temple City. Most recently Torres co-composed the music and lyrics to the now award winning musical theater adaptation of the 1980 Warner Bros film “Bronco Billy.”.

  • Jose Puentes-Adame
    Jose Puentes-Adame

    Jose is the Unit General Manager overseeing sales and operations in San Fernando for PepsiCo. In his role he directly and indirectly manages 340+ employees. He is passionate about his teams and helping them grow and develop leadership skills. Jose also leads a team of board members within a PepsiCo Employee Resource Group named Adelante that supports their Hispanic employee base. He is currently completing his MBA from the University of Arizona.

  • Ani Jinian
    Ani Jinian

    Ani is a Sr. Vice President and Relationship Manager for U.S. Bank’s Commercial Banking, focusing on middle market companies in Los Angeles with revenue of $25 million to $1 billion. Ani is responsible for leading a team of specialists focused on understanding each client’s unique needs to deliver strategic financial guidance and solutions. With 26 years of experience, Ani began her banking career at Bank of America where she spent 24 years in various capacities, joining U.S. Bank in 2019. Ani was born and raised in Los Angeles, and graduated with a B.S. degree in Business with an emphasis on Business Law from California State University, Northridge

  • Frank Chen
    Frank Chen

    Frank Chen leads his family office, FMC Capital, LLC, with a diversified portfolio of real estate and equity investments. With more than twenty years of real estate experience, Frank has strategically grown the real estate portfolio focusing on industrial and retail investments domestically and globally. In addition to real estate asset management, Frank is Executive Chairman of Pioneer Industries Inc., a leading manufacturer of kitchen and bath fixtures. Frank’s true passion is in education and youth, particularly working with underserved communities. He has worked with Bresee since 2015 in various roles and recently joined the Board.

 

 

Young Professionals Board

NAME ORGANIZATION
Angie Aramayo City of Los Angeles
Kassandra Aguilera Jobs for the Future
Adriana Cabrera FirstGen LA
Luis Cruz FactSet
Henry Duke Keller Williams Realty, INC.
Louie Gonzaga Citibank
Megan McLaughlin The Walt Disney Company
Betzayda Montoya Hill and Piibe Immigration Attorneys
Kujo Osei Integrity Group
Kam Pok Toyota Motor North America
Fredy Salguero Comerica Bank
Conor Williams Accenture

 

 

Advisory Council

NAME ORGANIZATION
Deputy Chief Robert Arcos LAPD
Americo Cascella Brouweij West / Ares Management (retired)
Frank Chen Pioneer Industries Inc. / Aristo Capital Ventures, LLC
Ted Dorsey Tutor Ted
Malik Ducard YouTube
Susan E. Hill Hill & Piibe Immigration Attorneys
Dr. Melina B. Jampolis Celebrity Nutritionist M.D.
Mike LaHoud MLS Soccer
Tom Martin III, Esq. Martin & Bontrager APC
James Riley MLS Soccer
Reno Wilson Actor, Comedian

Our Impact: 2020-21

  • People Served

    9,323

  • Volunteer Hours

    1,780

  • Emergency Housing Assistance

    $11,124,863

  • Scholarships Granted

    $80,760

  • WM Keck Foundation
  • CA Coastal Commission
    CA Coastal Commission
  • Tuthill Family Foundation
  • Ballmer Group
  • Annenberg Foundation
  • Bank Of America
  • GRYD
  • The Eisner Foundation
  • Californina Community Foundation
  • Beyond The Bell
  • LA84 Foundation
  • The Clubhouse Network
  • Best Buy TTC
  • City of Los Angeles
  • DELTA AEROMEXICO
  • The Parsons Foundation
  • LAFC
  • S. Mark Taper Foundation
  • DWIGHT STUART YOUTH FUND
  • QUEENSCARE
  • West Coast Sports Association
  • FARMER JOHN
  • BANC OF CALIFORNIA
  • PUREGAME
  • IIRP
  • Hollywood Family Source
    Hollywood Family Source
© 2024 Bresee Foundation

Powered by Firespring