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Walter Philips
Walter has been at the helm of San Diego Youth Services as the Chief Executive Officer since 2000. He reports directly to our 14-member Board of Directors on our agency performance, including the 17,000 youth we help annually, our more than 200 staff members and 100 volunteers. During Walter’s tenure, SDYS has grown from a small agency with a $6 million annual budget and 16 programs to one of San Diego’s largest youth serving agencies, with a $24 million annual budget and more than 30 programs. Walter has worked in San Diego County as a social worker for three decades, including more than 25 years in leadership positions.
Richard Gutierrez
Richard has been a Chief Financial Executive in the nonprofit sector for more than 20 years. He has extensive experience in fiscal oversight and operations, spearheading complex projects, identifying new opportunities and providing financial consultation. At San Diego Youth Services, Richard oversees and implements long-term financial and operational strategies, oversees our financial activity and manages our finance and accounting teams. Richard’s team consists of six staff members who manage over 70 separate federal, state and local contracts. Prior to joining SDYS, he was the Chief Financial Officer for Casa Pacifica.
Steven Jella
Steven is the Chief Program Officer at San Diego Youth Services. He is a licensed psychologist and a licensed marriage and family therapist. Since 2008, Steven has designed, implemented and overseen SDYS’ programming, including juvenile diversion, prevention and intervention, homelessness housing and support, mental health treatment, LGBTQ+ services, suicide and anti-bullying prevention and intervention, human trafficking prevention, domestic violence prevention, foster care services, workforce development and adoption support. He also manages program funding, analyzes the effectiveness of programs and develops strategies to improve existing programs, as well as oversees program directors and staff.
Kristen Diggs
Kristen is San Diego Youth Services’ Chief Human Resources Officer. She has held leadership positions in nonprofit organizations for the past 17 years. Kristen oversees all aspects of human resources, including analyzing and improving existing HR policies, practices and operations, as well as developing strategies and policies that promote sustainable growth. In addition, Kristen also ensures business objectives are achieved, manages talent acquisition, SDYS' diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, employee relations, compensation and cultural development. Before joining SDYS, she served as the Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Board of Directors
San Diego Youth Services
Chair
Principal, Laura Shanley Consulting
Laura spent 14 years in Employee Communications and Engagement at a Fortune 500 company in San Diego. She has since transitioned to part-time consulting to have more time with her three children.
Vice Chair
Community Partnership Prosecuter - East County, San Diego County District Attorney
Monique works in the community building relationships, identifying public safety issues and improving the quality of life and safety in those areas. She has served on the planning committee for the Human Trafficking Research and Data Advisory Roundtable conference for 4 years.
Secretary
Principal, San Diego Unified School District
Precious has spent 15 years in education as a K-12 educator and administrator where she is working to advocate for students who require additional supports and services. Precious is a member of the local chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc., a sorority of educators and counselors who provide mentoring and professional and professional development.
Treasurer
Vice President, JMI Equity
Christian works at JMI Equity, a growth equity firm focused on investing in leading software companies, and previously worked in the technology investment banking group of Wells Fargo Securities. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California.
Director
President & CEO, Council for Supplier Diversity
Ronald is President and CEO of the Council for Supplier Diversity, which has a mission to use Supplier Diversity initiatives as an engine for economic development in economically under-served communities. He is a Certified “Master Trainer” and his broad background in executive management, sales, distribution, operations, and human resources provides a unique combination of experience and competency when it comes to improving strategy.
Director
President, Mesa College
Ashanti is responsible for 25+ departments rooted in student success and equity with services supporting basic needs, foster youth, formerly incarcerated, undocumented students and more. Her WHY is to create conditions that matter for students to succeed. She is 100% invested in Mesa’s vision of becoming the leading college of equity and excellence.
Director
Sr. Processing Developmental Engineer, Illumina
Jesse is a process engineer serving to bring STEM focused initiatives to underserved communities and expand inclusion of people of color. In his spare time, he tutors students of San Diego Refugees. He enjoys basketball and all things NBA.
Director
Deputy City Attorney, San Diego City Attorney's Office
Kelly has been on the Board for 12 years. Kelly defends the City of San Diego and its employees in a variety of civil lawsuits. Prior to practicing civil law, she served the community as a prosecutor, both in San Diego County and in Cook County, Illinois. Kelly is an active member of the Wallace Inn of Court, San Diego County High School Mock Trial Committee, and City Attorney Legal Internship Committee. Outside of work, Kelly enjoys running and is an active member of her Parish.
Director
Owner & Principal Consultant, L Factor Consulting and Coaching
Laurie is a social impact consultant and certified coach who earned her M.A. degree in Nonprofit Management and specializes in social enterprise business operations, CSR, and program development. She has served in the nonprofit sector for the last 15 years as a volunteer, advisor, and program director at some of Los Angeles’ top nonprofits and employment social enterprises.
Director
Teacher, Poway Unified School District
Katie is a high school teacher in Poway Unified School District. She was named 2018-2019 San Diego County Teacher of the Year. She was also the Youth in Transition Coordinator for the district by serving homeless families.
Director
Lecturer at University of San Diego and San Diego State University
Sobeida Velazquez has been in education
for over 20 years. She has been a classroom teacher, a resource teacher, a charter school CEO/Principal and an Elementary School principal. She is currently a lecturer at USD and SDSU while completing her Ph.D. in Education for Social Justice at the University of San Diego.
Director
Senior Associate, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Jeff works in the field of Intellectual Property Law. His professional highlights include being named the 2020 Distinguished Pro Bono Attorney of the Year at the Casa Cornelia Law Center; 2019 Pro Bono Publico winner at the Casa Cornelia Law Center; and the Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Working Father of the year in 2020. Jeff and his wife Katie are the proud parents of three active kids.
Director
SVP, Commercial Banker
at U.S. Bank
Yandro has been involved with various charities and not for profit organizations. He is an associate board member of The Covenant House, active with the Chamber of Commerce, volunteers for Junior Achievement, and is an advocate for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Director
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, Mesa College
San Diego Youth Foundation
Chair
Deputy City Attorney, San Diego City Attorney's Office
Kelly has been on the Board for nearly 11 years. Kelly graduated from Notre Dame
Law School in 2001. She has served her community as a prosecutor both in San Diego County and in Cook County, Illinois. After nearly ten years in that field, Kelly transitioned to civil law, and now serves
as a Deputy City Attorney for San Diego defending the City in a variety of lawsuits.
Vice Chair
Community Member
Secretary
Senior Manager, PHD Media
Jessalyn has 7+ years of advertising and marketing experience in digital and traditional media. One of her first jobs was an intern in the Marketing & Development Dept. at SDYS while studying for her undergrad degree at SDSU. She is a recent graduate from Pepperdine University with her MBA specializing in marketing. She is passionate about helping the children of San Diego and has been a volunteer with since 2013.
Treasurer
Vice President, JMI Equity
Christian works at JMI Equity, a growth equity firm focused on investing in leading software companies, and previously worked in the technology investment banking group of Wells Fargo Securities. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California.
Director
General Sales Manager, iHeartMedia
Cathy works at iHeartMedia, a leading global media and entertainment company specializing in radio, digital, mobile, social, live events and on-demand entertainment. She prides herself on supporting fellow women through networking and mentorship, and served on boards that help women and children throughout San Diego.
Director
Principal, Laura Shanley Consulting
Laura spent 14 years in Employee Communications and Engagement at a Fortune 500 company in San Diego. She has since transitioned to part-time consulting to have more time with her three children.
Director
Councilmember (District 5),
San Diego City Council
Marni von Wilpert is a member of the San Diego City Council, representing District 5. She and has spent her life in public service, including serving in the Peace Corps, working for the Obama Administration in Washington, D.C., and starting a legal clinic in Mississippi.
Director
Community Member
Director
President & Chief Visionary Officer, Shyne
Cynthia Austin has over twenty years of experience in the non-profit and youth development fields. She is the Founder of Shyne, a national small business consulting agency for human trafficking survivor entrepreneurs. Mrs. Austin is a proud San Diego native who received her degree from SDSU. She enjoys giving back to the community through social impact investing, helping the homeless and mentoring youth.
Director
President and Regional Radio General Manager, Univision Communications Inc.
Sabina Widmann oversees operations of Univision Communication Inc.’s (UCI) radio stations in Las Vegas, San Diego and McAllen. Widmann joined Univision in 2005 as an Account Executive, and has also been Director of Sales and President, General Manager for Univision San Diego before becoming Regional Manager. Widmann represents Univision on the executive committees of the Southern California Broadcasters Association and the Radio Advertising Bureau. Widmann is bi-lingual and bi-cultural having lived over 5 years of her adult life in Latin America.
Director
Real Estate Broker
Director
IT Project Manager, Staff, Qualcomm
Mary is an experienced Project and Program Manager currently working at Qualcomm, a semiconductor company headquartered in San Diego. She has over 20 years of experience in technology, specializing in application development, implementation, and management. Mary serves on the board of Qualcomm Women Employee Network and has been involved with multiple non-profits supporting San Diego youth including Big Brother Big Sister, Junior Achievement, and Voices for Children.
Foundation Trustees
Trustee
Vice President, Tenant Representation
Jones Lang LaSalle
Trustee
Community Volunteer
Trustee
Attorney
Smith, Steiner, Vanderpool & Wax
Trustee
Community Volunteer
Trustee
CEO, Revenue Frontier
Trustee
Senior Vice President, Alliant Insurance Services
Trustee
Senior Manager, Public Relations, Qualcomm
