Board of Directors
Officers
Dan Carrillo
Chairperson
North By Northwest Capital Inc.
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Gail Kennard
Chairperson-Elect
Kennard Design Group
James Gallagher, Esq.
Secretary
Pillsbury Law, rtd.
Margo Kaatz, RN, MA, Esq.
Treasurer
Whittier College
Charlene Dimas-Peinado, L.C.S.W., E.M.L.
President and CEO
Wellnest
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Directors
Wayne Chen, M.D.
Blue Shield of California
Carrie Hidding, CPA, MBA
teamCFO
David L. Hirsch, Esq.
MASCO Corporation, rtd.
Shelly Holmes
Holmes Associates
Alicia Jacobs, MBA
The Ajament Partners
Alejandro Lara
Good Housing Partnership LLC
Sal Mendoza
City National Bank
Levente Orosz
Pfizer
Raymond Perry, M.D., M.S.
Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
William Vasquez, CPA, Esq.
Vasquez & Company
Emeritus
Quinton C. James, M.D.
Retired Psychiatrist, School Mental Health, Los Angeles Unified School District
Carlos Perez
Retired Partner, Deloitte & Touche
Thomas F. Trott, M.D., Ph.D.
A Medical Corporation, rtd.
Dan Carrillo
Chairperson
North By Northwest Capital Inc.
Dan Carrillo’s 40-year career in the real estate and housing industry is filled with a broad range of experiences and leadership roles. In the residential and commercial brokerage community, Dan’s experience with successful real estate firms as an executive, sales manager, trainer, business development expert and director of relocation and corporate services are a hallmark of his profession. His leadership roles in the industry over his career is based on a firm foundation in organized real estate, as a local association president, former state director of the California Association of Realtors, (where he became a Regional Chair and member of the Long Range Strategic Planning Committee) and as a long time member of the National Association Realtors.
His focus on the multicultural markets, strategic business planning, issues related to sustainable homeownership, asset management/REO disposition services, e-commerce and work force mobility translate in his past leadership roles as a founding board member of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, a member of the World Wide Employee Relocation Council, former member of Fannie Mae’s Western Region REO Broker Advisory and past member of the Lending Tree/Realestate.com Broker advisory council and as a former board member of the Wescom Credit Union Holdings Board.
As current President of Global Mobility for HouseStay.com, Dan is responsible for developing, managing and profitably growing the relocation and broker network portion of the HouseStay online service platform both nationally and internationally. HouseStay offers a curated selection of fully furnished turnkey homes and apartments available for rent for 30 nights or more. Businesses and Individuals seeking a more homelike alternative to extended stay hotels use HouseStay to book temporary residences.
As Principal and Managing Partner of North By Northwest Capital Inc., a Los Angeles based development firm specializing in sales, leasing, funding and Green development of commercial and residential properties throughout the South West. His role within the company is administration & organizational development which includes managing the day-to-day operations, supporting the development and construction activities of all ongoing projects, and the sales and marketing of the firm’s real estate portfolio.
Dan is the marketing and sales team leader at Douglas Elliman Real Estate. Established in 1911, Douglas Elliman Real Estate is the largest brokerage in the New York Metropolitan area and the second largest independent residential real estate brokerage in the United States by sales volume. With more than 7,000 agents, the company has approximately 118 offices in New York City, Long Island, The Hamptons, Westchester, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida, California, Colorado and Massachusetts. Moreover, Douglas Elliman has a strategic global alliance with London-based Knight Frank Residential for business in the worldwide luxury markets spanning 60 countries and six continents.
Dan is making a difference in the community of Los Angeles through his work on the board of directors for Wellnest, formerly known as the Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic. Wellnest is a non-profit mental health provider for children and their families in Central and South Los Angeles which has been in operation for over 90 years. Dan has used his expertise, influence and contacts to help Wellnest develop an affordable housing program providing needed housing for transition aged youth and to promote the development and opening of the Avis & Mark Ridley-Thomas Life Learning Center. Dan is the incoming Chairman of the Wellnest board for 2020.
Named after his great grandfather who immigrated here from Mexico in 1910, Dan is a fourth generation Los Angelino who lives in the foothills of Pasadena California with his wife Christine. He is a gourmet cook, wine enthusiast and sings tenor with various local choirs.
Charlene Dimas-Peinado, L.C.S.W., E.M.L.
President and CEO
Wellnest
Charlene Dimas-Peinado is the President and CEO of Wellnest, a seasoned and visionary executive with over 25 years of experience. Throughout her career, Ms. Dimas-Peinado has been inspired by the communities and people she serves. “Every child and family have a story and their stories have meaning and like a ripple of water … they affect our community,” she has said. “Our objective is to make a positive impact on those we serve — one that improves a life, one that improves our community.” She combines the big-picture strategic perspective of a hands-on executive and the insights of an experienced psychotherapist in her quest to help children, young adults and families lead emotionally healthy lives.
As President & CEO of Wellnest, she provides the overall organizational leadership and strategic direction for one of the regions’ most innovative mental health service providers. She has broadened the organization’s base of financial support and expanded its best-in-class, compassionate, trauma-informed care to underserved children, youth and adults in Los Angeles. She provided the leadership for the organization’s new brand identity – Wellnest; the capital campaign and construction for the Avis & Mark Ridley-Thomas Life Learning Center; and, expanded core services to include transitional housing for TAY (transition age youth). Additionally, Ms. Dimas-Peinado serves as the organization’s overall spokesperson, representative and executer of change, and cultivates strong working relationships with elected officials, public agency leaders, community leaders, donors and others.
She previously served as CEO of The Whole Child, a Whittier-based mental health and social services organization, which served abused, homeless and at-risk children and families. Under her strategic leadership, the agency increased its overall operating budget three-fold which resulted in serving significantly more children and families. In addition, The Whole Child expanded its school-based mental health services in Southeast L.A. County, introduced an Early Success School Program, Birth to Five Services, and developed a range of housing services to aid homeless families or those in need of housing interventions.
Ms. Dimas-Peinado has a double Masters Degrees, a Master of Social Work (MSW) from California State University, Long Beach, and an Executive Master of Leadership (EML) from the University of Southern California. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with training in psychotherapy and serves on multiple boards: Board of Governors, Natural History Museum of L.A. County; Empowerment Congress (Second Supervisorial District) Mental Health Committee Co-Chair; Board of Directors, Rotary LA5; and, Board of Governors, City Club LA.
Lisa Hirsch Marin, L.C.S.W., M.S.O.D.
Chief Operating Officer
Lisa Hirsch Marin is a bilingual/bicultural Mental Health-Child Welfare-Community Strengthening leader with more than 25 years of experience developing therapeutic systems and programs serving the most vulnerable children, youth and families in Los Angeles County. She specializes in prevention and intervention strategies that transform children and family experiences from trauma living with community violence and poverty, abuse and neglect, systemic inequity, historical racism, homelessness, and mental health issues, to healthy, thriving lives. As Chief Operating Officer at Wellnest, Emotional Health & Wellness, she leads crisis, intensive programming, evidence-based, clinical prevention and intervention programs that ensure positive, measurable outcomes for children and youth 0-25. In addition, she leads the Psychiatry department, Professional Development and Training, Total Quality Management, Transition Age Youth Housing programs, and Technology Innovation. Lisa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and has double Master’s Degrees, a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and Social Welfare, and a Master of Science in Organization Development and Leadership (MSOD) from the Graziadio School of Business at Pepperdine University. She lived in Central America and Mexico alongside psychologists and social workers working with children, youth and families healing from war trauma, gang warfare and the effects of immigration. Lisa has been recognized by the Los Angeles County Commission for Women as Woman of the Year award recipient.
Margaret Lopez, CPA, MAcc
Chief Financial Officer
In her position as chief financial officer at Wellnest,, Margaret Lopez, a certified public accountant, oversees all agency business matters including banking, finance, registrations and filings, tax returns and investments. She supervises two staffs at Wellnest: financial operation and government contract billing. In addition, among her many duties, she is playing a significant role in the agency’s $5.3 million capital improvement project of the Life Learning Center.
Margaret brings more than two decades of professional experience in the nonprofit sector. Before coming to Wellnest, Margaret served for eleven years as controller, director of financial services and senior director of financial services for Hillsides, a residential children’s mental health agency located in Pasadena. Margaret received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Accounting from University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Paco Retana, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Vice President of Programs
Paco Retana’s passion is serving underserved and marginalized communities. As Vice President of Programs at Wellnest, he is responsible for all clinical services, including program evaluation and training. He also oversees Wellnest’s Division Directors in areas of outpatient, early intervention, intensive services, and life learning/transition-age youth services. Previous roles Paco has held include: Clinical Supervisor at Green Dot Public Schools, Regional Director of Community Mental Health Services at Children’s Institute, Inc., Director of Outpatient Services at Wellnest, Co-founder of the Youth Development Project of St. John’s Health Center, and Clinical Coordinator of the Child and Family Development Center at DiDi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center.
Paco is the co-chair of the Latino Underserved Cultural Communities for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) and was a voting member of the System Leadership Team and former co-chair of the Service Area Advisory Committee for South Los Angeles. Paco is a Board of Director for the UCLA Alumni Association and serves as the co-chair for its Diversity Advisory Committee. As an expert in Boys and Men of Color work, he is invited to conferences and forums as a panelist, speaker, and mental health expert.
Paco is the recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice, and an Honoree of NAMI Urban Los Angeles. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Masters in Social Welfare from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Laura Alvarez, PHR, SHRM-CP
Vice President of Human Resources
Laura Alvarez is the Vice President of Human Resources at Wellnest. Ms. Alvarez is responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction to support the Clinic’s objective to recruit, develop and retain the best talent to advance their mission. She oversees the areas of benefits administration, compensation, compliance, employee relations, performance management, recruitment, training, and development.
Prior to joining Wellnest, Ms. Alvarez served as the Vice President of Human Resources for Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, the largest charter school network in Los Angeles. During her tenure at Alliance, she led the development and implementation of the organization’s HR policies, procedures, and programs to support the organization’s rapid growth in their first decade. Prior to that, Ms. Alvarez served as a Certificated Personnel Specialist & Credential Analyst for Soledad Enrichment Action, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to providing high-risk youth with tailored educational services and a variety of wrap-around and support services. There, she supported the restructure of the organization’s HR department, which helped her gain the foundational knowledge and skills to excel as an HR professional. Ms. Alvarez has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Southern California. In 2014, she obtained a Certificate in Human Resources Management from Cal State University, Long Beach and obtained her PHR and SHRM-CP certifications.
Andrea Salazar
Vice President of Advancement and External Affairs
As Vice President of Advancement and External Affairs for Wellnest, Andrea Salazar is responsible for overseeing all development activities for the organization in addition to raising awareness for Wellnest’s innovative initiatives and programs throughout Los Angeles County. A highly creative, results-driven, professional, Andrea has over 18 years’ experience in development and is skilled in cultivating strategic partnerships to secure funding for some of Los Angeles’ leading non-profit organizations. Before coming to Wellnest, Andrea held key leadership positions in fundraising and development for Olive Crest, the Whole Child, Boy Scouts of America, and Good Shepard Center for Homeless Women and Children. Andrea’s drive and passion for service comes from a desire to use her skills, personal experience, and influence to make a difference in the lives of underserved communities – in particular at-risk youth and children who have been in foster care.
Andrea received her Bachelor of Science in Business with an Emphasis on Organizational Management, from the University of La Verne. She also received a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Center of Nonprofit. She also serves on the Board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Los Angeles and serves on the Figueroa Corridor Board.
Executive Staff
Charlene Dimas-Peinado, L.C.S.W., E.M.L.
President and CEO
View bio
Lisa Hirsch Marin, LCSW, MSOD
Chief Operating Officer
View bio
Margaret Lopez, CPA, MAcc
Chief Financial Officer
View bio
Laura Alvarez, PHR, SHRM-CP
Vice President of Human Resources
View bio
Paco Retana, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Vice President of Programs
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Andrea Salazar
Vice President of Advancement and External Affairs
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Division Directors
Adam W. Sternberg, Psy.D.
Director of Outpatient Services, Exposition Park Office
Alina Molina, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Director of Clinical Training and Intern Development
Amanda De Loera-Morales, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Director of Life Learning and Housing
Amber Rickert, L.C.S.W., M.P.H.
Director of Outpatient Services, Leimert Park Office
Anthony Durham, L.C.S.W., D.P.A.
Director of Intensive Services
Damian Zavala, L.C.S.W., M.P.A.
Director of Children & Adult Outreach Triage Team
Jenna Haeflinger-Kurtz, L.M.F.T., I.F.E.C.M.H.S., R.P.F. II
Director of Early Intervention and Community Wellness
Socorro D. Gertmenian, Ph.D.
Director of Total Quality Management