 |
|
 |
Cal Winslow
Chief Executive Officer
After serving for four years as the Chief Development Officer of Orangewood Children's Foundation, Cal Winslow was promoted to Chief Executive Officer on July 1, 2007. Cal came to Orangewood in May of 2003 with 30 years of unique and extensive experience in fundraising, community relations, public service, management and leadership. Prior to joining the Foundation, he was Vice President of Major Gifts for eight years at Volunteers of America, Los Angeles. He also held positions as President and Director of Development and PR at Deaconess Medical Center Foundation in Billings, Montana. Previously, Cal served for four terms as a Montana State Representative where he chaired the Appropriations Committee on Human Services. In that capacity, he was exposed to the critical need for private and public sector cooperation to meet the ever-increasing demand for social services.
Cal has received special recognition as: Distinguished Alumni by Montana State University, Billings; Montana Big Brother of the Year; and Montana Fundraiser of the Year. He was also appointed by President George H.W. Bush to serve on the President's Advisory Council for the Arts at the Kennedy Center. In addition, he taught “The Art of Fundraising” course at UCLA for three years.
Cal has a degree in education from Montana State University, Billings and has done post graduate work in Public Administration at Cal State Long Beach. He is also a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). A native of Montana, Cal now resides in Fountain Valley. He is married with two grown daughters. |
|
Gene Howard
Chief Executive Officer, Orangewood Children's Foundation Academy
Since 1995, Gene Howard, former Chief Executive Officer of Orangewood Children's Foundation, provided the leadership that sustained the organization, guiding its volunteer board of directors and paid staff, and providing direction for the Foundation's highly successful programs, including the Guardian Scholars Program, Children's Trust Fund, Independent Living Program, and Rising Tide Communities (a transitional housing program). Now Gene will use his experience and expertise as the Chief Executive Officer of the Orangewood Children's Foundation Academy to help reach the goal of building a residential high school academy for Orange County foster youth.
Gene has an extensive background in the field of children's issues, having previously served over ten years as Director of Children's Services for the County of Orange. In this position, he was responsible for the administration of a variety of services to children including Child Protective Services, the Orangewood Children's Home, Foster Care and Adoptions.
Gene moved to Orange County from the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Administration for Children, Youth, and Families, where he worked as a consultant to licensed residential facilities, assisting with program development and mentoring.
Previously, Gene served as Program Administrator for the State of Arizona, where he was responsible for the operation of children's services programs statewide. His Administration was composed of 654 staff with an overall budget of approximately $75 million. Gene worked extensively with local, state, and other governmental and private entities to fulfill the mission of the agency. The State of Arizona at that time had significantly increased its commitment to family preservation services that resulted in a 50% reduction of the number of children in residential treatment facilities.
Gene holds a Bachelors Degree in Sociology with a social work emphasis. He routinely is asked to make presentations on the issues of child abuses and neglect to local, state, and national organizations such as the American Public Welfare Association, the American Society of Public Administration, and the Child Welfare League of America. |
|
Chris Simonsen, C.P.A.
Chief Financial Officer
Chris Simonsen joined Orangewood Children’s’ Foundation in September, 2007. He brings 20 years of finance and accounting experience to the Foundation, including the last 10 years at Automobile Club of Southern California. Most recently he was the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer there, responsible for setting the financial strategy for the organization and identifying opportunities and implementing solutions that would improve its financial results. Previously he was with Balboa Life & Casualty Group and Ernst & Young.
Chris holds a B.S. in Accounting from California State University Dominguez Hills, graduating Cum Laude. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Chris is a Southern California native, having grown up in the South Bay area. He is an active volunteer with AYSO, the YMCA and his church. Chris and his wife, along with their four children, reside in Trabuco Canyon. |
|
Carlos Leija
Chief Development Officer
Carlos Leija was added to our management team in September, 2007, and comes to Orangewood from California State University, Fullerton, one of our Guardian Scholars Program partner universities. He brings nine years of fundraising experience to Orangewood, along with a passion for helping former foster youth succeed. Most recently at CSUF Carlos was the Executive Director of Alumni Relations for three years. Prior to that position, he was the Director of Development for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and Guardian Scholars program. Previously Carlos had a Chiropractic practice in La Habra for 11 years.
In October, 2007, Carlos was selected as one of fifty honorees for Cal State Fullerton’s Empowering Minds: Querer es Poder photo exhibit which is part of the university's 50th Anniversary celebration. The goal of the project is to increase awareness of the university’s designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution and their strong commitment to serving the Latino community. The photo exhibit aims to represent the rich diversity of CSUF Latino alumni in their path to higher education, their college experience, and respective careers.
Carlos earned a B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton. He has a Certificate in Fundraising Management from the Fundraising School at Indiana University/Purdue University (IUPUI). In the past he has volunteered for Orange County Teachers Federal Credit Union, the CSUF Alumni Association and the affordable housing committee for the city of Fullerton. Carlos and his wife live in Fullerton. |
|
Robert B. Theemling
Chief Operating Officer
For more than twenty-five years Bob Theemling has worked with county youth services. His experience includes four years as a Probation Counselor, seven years as a social worker and supervisor with Orange County's Children's Services, and ten years as a Senior Manager in Children's Services.
Bob maintained a private practice as a Marriage, Family and Child Therapist for five years. Just prior to joining Orangewood in February, 2001, he served for five years as Executive Director of David and Margaret Home for youth, an $8.5 million multi-service nonprofit organization, located in Los Angeles County.
Bob holds a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from the University of Southern California; and a Masters of Science in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton. He has completed coursework for a Masters in Public Administration at California State University, Long Beach. He is currently licensed as a Marriage, Family and Child Therapist. |
|
Mary Ann Soden
Chief Community Programs Officer
Mary Ann Soden is Chief Community Programs Officer at Orangewood Children's Foundation, specifically assigned to direct Orangewood's projects at FaCT (Families and Communities Together). Before joining the Foundation in April of 2002, Mary Ann served as Executive Director of Boys Hope/Girls Hope of California, a privately funded non-profit providing homes, education and guidance to at-risk youth, from 1997 to 2002. Prior to that she practiced law, specializing in civil litigation, and worked as a systems analyst and consultant based in New York for American Express and Price Waterhouse, respectively.
Mary Ann has a B.A. in Political Science from University of California, Berkeley, an M.S. in Public Administration and Public Policy from the London School of Economic and Political Science, and a J.D. from the University of Southern California. |
|
|
|
