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| Meet the Bet Tzedek Staff . . . |
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"wE ARE Bet Tzedek"
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Administration
MITCHELL A. KAMIN, President/CEO
Mitch joined Bet Tzedek in 2003. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated with a B.A. degree, Phi Beta Kappa and with highest honors, in 1989. He graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1993. Following a clerkship with the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York, Mitch began his legal career as a Skadden Fellow at the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem. Upon completion of his two-year fellowship, he was hired as a supervising attorney. While there, Mitch represented poor residents in the North Manhattan neighborhoods of Harlem and Washington Heights in areas of public housing, civil rights, family law and criminal law. During his four years with NDS, Mitch took a six-month hiatus to work in the capital punishment project of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
After working in private practice for one year in New York, Mitch returned to his native Los Angeles where he worked at O’Melveny & Myers and eventually joined the law firm of O’Neill, Lysaght & Sun in 2000, where he became a partner. His practice focused on complex civil litigation, business crimes and civil rights. Mitch is admitted to practice in the State of California and the State of New York, and has tried cases in both state and federal courts. He is an Adjunct Professor at Loyola Law School and presently serves on the the Funding Committee of the State of California Commission on
Access to Justice and the Fee Waiver Subcommittee of the AOC Working Group on
Enhanced Collections and proudly serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Association of California. Mitch also served as a California delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in Washington D.C. in December of 2005.
MICHELLE WILLIAMS COURT, Director of Litigation
Michelle Williams Court is Bet Tzedek's Director of Litigation. She is a graduate of Pomona College where she earned a B.A. degree in 1988 and Loyola Law School where she was awarded a J.D. degree in 1993. Prior to joining Bet Tzedek in 2002, Michelle litigated state and federal discrimination cases, First and Fourth Amendment constitutional claims, predatory lending cases, and a wide variety of other public interest and civil rights cases on behalf of plaintiffs. In addition, Michelle served as a Civil Rights Fellow with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development where she participated in several ground-breaking Fair Housing Act cases. Michelle is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and serves as Vice Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities Elder Rights Committee. She was recently appointed by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George to serve on the Judicial Council Probate Conservatorship Taskforce and also serves on the California State Bar Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE Commission). Michelle is an Adjunct Professor at Loyola Law School and is a volunteer faculty member for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA). Michelle has held several leadership positions in women’s bar associations, was featured as a 2006 Southern California Super Lawyers "Rising Star" and was named one of the 2006 “Top 20 Under 40” by the Daily Journal.
Wendy Marantz Levine, Deputy Director of Litigation
Wendy Marantz Levine proudly joined Bet Tzedek Legal Services in 2005. Wendy has extensive litigation experience at the trial and appellate level, including two cases decided by the United States Supreme Court. Wendy came to Bet Tzedek from Irell & Manella LLP in Los Angeles where she practiced in the appellate and litigation departments and served on the firm's pro bono committee. Prior to Irell, Wendy served as a Clinical Teaching Fellow in the Appellate Litigation Clinic at Georgetown University Law Center where she supervised third-year law students in litigating appellate cases and co-taught a weekly seminar on appellate advocacy. Under Wendy's direction, the Clinic received an award from the United States Department of Justice for representing indigent clients in immigration appeals. From 1999-2000, Wendy clerked for the Honorable A. Wallace Tashima on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Wendy graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Duke University in 1995 and graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School in 1999. At Michigan, Wendy was Executive Editor of the Michigan Law Review, won the Campbell Moot Court Competition and was a legal writing instructor. Before attending law school, Wendy worked as a Production Coordinator for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and later consulted for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Wendy has served on Duke University's Board of Visitors and Council on Women's Studies and recently co-chaired her ten-year college reunion. Wendy and her husband Eric are active in L.A. Couples, a young leadership group of the Jewish Federation.
GRANT R. SPECHT, Deputy Director of Litigation
Grant joined BTLS in 2002 and is a Deputy Director of Litigation. He graduated cum laude from Yale University in 1980 and received his J.D. degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1985. Grant’s previous work includes 12 years with Channel Counties Legal Services Association, first as a staff attorney and later as Managing Attorney of the firm’s Ventura County office in Oxnard. Prior to his work with Channel Counties, Grant served as a Deputy Public Defender with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office. Grant’s litigation experience includes class actions, administrative appeals and writs of mandate, unlawful detainer defense, and civil litigation on behalf of plaintiffs. He has represented indigent clients in a wide variety of civil legal matters: Social Security and government benefits, housing, health care, employment, education, consumer issues and individual rights.
GUS T. MAY, Valley Bet Tzedek Director
Gus graduated from Northeastern University Law School in 1991. Gus joined Bet Tzedek in 2001 and serves as the Director of Valley Bet Tzedek. His legal career has been devoted entirely to working in the public interest. Before joining Bet Tzedek, Gus was the Legal Director at Public Interest Investigations where he oversaw employment discrimination investigations for the Los Angeles City Office of Discrimination Investigations. Prior to that, Gus worked as the Litigation Director at the Center for Law in the Public Interest, as a Public Interest Fellow with a private public-interest oriented law firm, and as a law clerk for two federal district court judges, the Hon. Lawrence K. Karlton in the Eastern District of California, and the Hon. A. Howard Matz in the Central District of California.
ELISSA BARRETT, Pro Bono Director
In 2007, Elissa Barrett was appointed Bet Tzedek Legal Service's first Pro Bono Director. Previously, she served as Director of Bet Tzedek's Sydney M. Irmas Housing Conditions Project, focusing on slum housing litigation and housing policy. Before joining Bet Tzedek, Ms. Barrett was a business litigator at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP and Loeb & Loeb LLP, and served as a Bates International Fellow with the Palestinian Women's Center for Legal Aid & Counseling in East Jerusalem. She is the recipient of the National Association of Women's Lawyers Emerging Leaders Award and a long-term member of the Board of Directors for the Progressive Jewish Alliance. Ms. Barrett is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Law.
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Attorneys
JOSE D. ALARCON, Staff Attorney
Jose joined Bet Tzedek in 2003. He graduated from Loyola Law School in 1997 and received his B.A. degree in philosophy from UCLA in 1993. Before joining Bet Tzedek, he was a staff attorney at the HIV & AIDS Legal Services Alliance (HALSA). Jose managed the HIV Legal Checkup Project at HALSA, which focused on legal education and prevention.
KIRSTEN W. ALBRECHT, Kinship Care Attorney
Kirsten joined Bet Tzedek in 2001 and heads the Kinship Care Program, offering legal representation to relative caregivers functioning as custodians, legal guardians or adoptive parents to minor children. Kirsten was the Founder and President of the TransRacial Adoption Group (TRA), a national, non-profit organization representing clients in domestic and international adoption hearings. Prior to her work with TRA, Kirsten worked as a litigation associate with Kaye Scholer Fierman Hays & Handler, LLP. Before coming to Bet Tzedek, she also worked in the field of new media, first as Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at Digital Entertainment Network (DEN), and later as a co-founder of the Convergence Law Group. Kirsten received her A.B. degree from the University of Chicago and her J.D. degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law.
DEBORAH BALDWIN, Public Benefits Director
Deborah Baldwin has been specializing in public benefits law at Bet Tzedek since 1986. Before joining Bet Tzedek, she worked as a staff attorney at California Rural Legal Assistance and at Senior Adults Legal Assistance. She received her B.A. cum laude in sociology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and her J.D. degree from Golden Gate University School of Law.
MARC L. BENDER, Litigation and Training Supervisor
Marc graduated from San Francisco State University in 1984 with a B.A. degree and received his J.D. degree from Hastings College of Law in 1987. He joined Bet Tzedek as a staff attorney in 1988 and in 1993 became a Litigation & Training Supervisor. Marc works at Valley Bet Tzedek where his work emphasizes workers' rights and general legal services law, including housing, public benefits and bankruptcy. Marc twice served as president of the Bet Tzedek Legal Services Union from 1994 to 1996 and from 2002-2004.
ANNA BURNS, Consumer Protection Attorney
Anna Burns is a 1979 graduate of Loyola Law School. She has been a staff attorney at Bet Tzedek Legal Services since 1981. Anna currently is a member of the Consumer Protection Unit, where she specializes in saving the homes of elderly low-income persons who have been the victim of a variety of fraudulent practices. Prior to her work with the Consumer Protection Unit, Anna focused on eviction defense and other tenant's rights issues for Bet Tzedek.
ALLA CHASNIK, West Hollywood Staff Attorney
Alla is a staff attorney for the West Hollywood Project where she specializes primarily in handling Unlawful Detainer defense and other landlord-tenant disputes. Alla joined Bet Tzedek in 2000 following work for a high-profile sole practitioner specializing in civil litigation. Alla received her J.D. degree from the University of La Verne College of Law in 1996 and a B.A. degree in psychology from California State University, Northridge in 1992.
MATTHEW E. DECAROLIS, Jewish Federation Fellow
Matthew DeCarolis is the Jewish Federation Fellow at Bet Tzedek's Valley office, where he has worked since 2005 with low-income and elderly clients. He graduated summa cum laude with a degree in economics and Latin American studies from the University of Notre Dame and received his J.D. degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. Before entering law school, Matt lived and worked with immigrants at Casa del Migrante, a shelter house in Tijuana, Mexico, founded by Roman Catholic missionaries of the Scalabrinian order.
EDWARD J. ELSNER, Litigation and Training Supervisor
Ed has been a Bet Tzedek staff attorney since 1997, serving at Valley Bet Tzedek. He graduated from U.C. San Diego in 1990 and received a J.D degree. from Boalt Hall at U.C. Berkeley in 1993. Although Ed handles a variety of cases--including Social Security, conservatorships and consumer issues--his main area of practice is landlord-tenant law.
YOLANDE ERICKSON, Staff Attorney
Yolande volunteered at Bet Tzedek in 1997 and 1998 and joined the staff in 1999 as a staff attorney. Her responsibilities include representation of eligible clients in court and at administrative hearings. She also supervises attorneys, clerks and interns who volunteer at Bet Tzedek. Additionally, Erickson visits senior centers in the City and County of Los Angeles to conduct intake. She received a B.A. degree from Swarthmore College and a J.D. degree from Southwestern University School of Law.
LISA HOFFMAN, Holocaust Services Attorney
Lisa joined Bet Tzedek’s Holocaust Services Project in 2007, where she assists survivors who are seeking reparations and other forms of compensation from various European countries and engages in advocacy on a variety of issues affecting the survivor community. Lisa came to Bet Tzedek after working for seven years in the Litigation Department of Morrison & Foerster LLP. She earned her J.D. at UCLA School of Law in 1998 and her B.A. at Yale University. She also worked at Bet Tzedek as a summer law clerk while at law school in 1996. Before attending law school, Lisa worked for five years as a field representative and legislative aide to U.S. Representative Anthony C. Beilenson (Ret.).
PEGAH KAMRAVA, Consumer Protection Attorney
Pegah is a staff attorney with the Consumer Protection Unit . She represents victims of home equity fraud including elderly victims who become prey to fraudulent mortgage related practices. She also provides legal assistance and representation for tenants with housing and eviction matters. Prior to joining Bet Tzedek, Pegah represented low-income tenants in unlawful detainer trials at the Eviction Defense Network. She received her J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law, where she was a board member and mock trial competitor for the Interscholastic Trial Advocacy Program.
MICHELLE KEZIRIAN, Sydney Irmas Housing Conditions Project Director
As Director of the Sydney Irmas Housing Conditions Project, Michelle litigates complex multi-plaintiff affirmative matters and is a public policy advocate for affordable housing throughout Los Angeles. Michelle received her law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Davis. She has practiced in both the private and nonprofit sectors and comes to Bet Tzedek after serving as a Senior Staff Attorney at Inner City Law Center. While in private practice at Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May (now Reed Smith), Michelle taught Honors Moot Court as an adjunct faculty member at Santa Clara University School of Law. Her work has been recognized with her naming as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2007, and she remains active in the community serving on the Board of Directors of Downtown Women’s Center. Michelle is also serving as the President-Elect of Junior League of Los Angeles, and will assume the presidency in June of this year.
KEVIN KISH, Skadden Fellow
Kevin Kish joined Bet Tzedek’s Employment Rights Project in 2004 as a Bet Tzedek fellow representing workers in wage and hour claims in various low-wage industries in Los Angeles. After leaving for a year to clerk for Judge Myron Thompson of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Kevin returned to Bet Tzedek in 2006 as a Skadden Fellow. His current project involves combating illegal retaliation against low-wage workers who seek to enforce minimum labor standards in the workplace. Kevin graduated from Yale Law School in 2004, and holds a B.A. in sociology/anthropology from Swarthmore College.
CAROLINA KRAWIEC, Social Justice Fellow
Carolina joined Bet Tzedek in 2006 as a Social Justice Fellow. She received her B.A. degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley and her J.D. from Hastings College of the Law. During law school, Carolina worked as volunteer with the Workers’ Rights Clinic at the Employment Law Center of the Legal Aid Society of San Francisco, and as a law clerk in the Employment Unit of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. Before attending law school, Carolina was a research assistant in the Labor and Social Policy Center at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C.
JANET R. MORRIS, Long Term Care Project Director
Janet Morris has practiced in the area of elderlaw for the past 18 years. For 10 years, Janet served as project attorney for the El Portal Latino Alzheimer's Project, a federally funded demonstration project in Los Angeles assisting victims of Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. She has recently expanded her work with dementia victims to service the entire county of Los Angeles, through her participation in the Dementia Care Network of the Los Angeles Alzheimer’s Association. She has also served as a past Director of Bet Tzedek’s Nursing Home Advocacy Janet has also served as a chair of the California State Bar Legal Services Section’s Standing Committee on Legal Problems of the Elderly. She has served on numerous statewide committees and as technical advisor to many projects concerning the legal rights of elderly and incapacitated individuals. Janet is currently advising the State of California Alzheimer’s Guidelines Committee on Legal Issues. She has co-authored numerous articles and publications, and has delivered hundreds of speeches in both English and Spanish. Janet received her B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and her J.D. degree from the University of San Francisco. She is a past and current faculty member of Continuing Education of the Bar training attorneys in elderlaw issues.
VOLKER J. SCHMIDT, Holocaust Services Attorney
Since 2003, Volker J. Schmidt served as a Bet Tzedek volunteer in the area of German pension benefits. Volker received the State Bar of California "Wiley W. Manuel Award" for pro bono legal services to the poor in 2004, 2005 and 2006. From August 2006 through July 2007, Volker worked as a law clerk for the German Federal Constitutional Court (German Supreme Court). Volker was responsible for drafting responsive briefs on behalf of the Court in challenges of the Court's decisions before the European Court of Human Rights and the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in cases concerning economic rights and due process issues. Volker is admitted to practice law in California and Washington, D.C. For almost eight years, Volker worked as a attorney in private practice in Los Angeles and in Germany. Volker was qualified as a consulting attorney for the German Consulate General in Los Angeles and the German Embassy in Washington D.C. in the areas of German and U.S. business and immigration law. While in private practice in Los Angeles, Volker participated in the 4 Lunches meetings. Before private practice, he served with the German State Department as a foreign service officer and staff legal counsel in France and Germany.
JODY L. SPIEGEL, Nursing Home Advocacy Project Director
Jody is Director of the Nursing Home Advocacy Project at Bet Tzedek. She received her B.A. degree from Wellesley College in 1982, and her J.D. degree from the University of Southern California Law Center in 1985. Prior to joining Bet Tzedek in 2001, Jody was a trial attorney with a private law firm and litigated cases in federal and state courts throughout the country. Jody specializes in the law governing long-term care facilities, including nursing homes and residential care facilities. She counsels, advises, and litigates on behalf of facility residents and their families. She also is a frequent lecturer to community and professional organizations, and has written consumer guides on the laws and practices of long-term care facilities. Jody is a member of the WISE Long-Term Care Ombudsman Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee, the Elder Abuse Multi-Agency Task Force, and the Los Angeles Metro Multi-Disciplinary Team for Consultation on Elders at Risk.
DEBRA M. ZIMMERMAN, Consumer Protection Attorney
Debra joined Bet Tzedek in 1999 as a staff attorney with the Consumer Protection Unit. She currently works at Valley Bet Tzedek, where she specializes in representing elderly victims of home equity fraud. She is recognized in the community as an expert in real estate fraud and is often sought for consultations and presentations. Debra graduated from Boalt Hall School of Law in 1991 and has devoted her entire legal career to legal services. Prior to joining Bet Tzedek, Debra worked for the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Westside Legal Services in Santa Monica and DNA-People's Legal Services on the Navajo reservation in Arizona.
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Paralegals
NORA L. GHAMARI, Hearing Representative
Nora received an A.A. degree in paralegal studies from Mt. San Antonio College and attended Peoples College of Law for a year. Prior to joining Bet Tzedek in 1998, she served as Paralegal at Pasadena-Pomona Valley Legal Services, where she represented clients on housing and government benefits issues. She also worked as a Paralegal at Inland Counties Legal Services, where she represented senior citizens on a variety of legal issues. At Bet Tzedek, Nora visits senior centers throughout Los Angeles County.
MICHELLE GONZALEZ, Hearing Representative
Michelle Gonzalez recently joined Bet Tzedek as the SOVA Advocate. She earned her B.A. in English from California State University Los Angeles and completed her Paralegal Certificate from the UCLA Attorney Assistant Program. Michelle is currently pursuing her J.D. from Glendale University College of Law. In her long lasting interest in the legal field, she continues to volunteer for the Housing Rights Center and previously volunteered with LAFLA’s employment and immigration unit. Prior to joining Bet Tzedek, Michelle worked as a paralegal with two private immigration law firms in Los Angeles.
SPENCER LORD, Hearing Representative
Spencer joined Bet Tzedek in 1988, after serving 22 years in the U.S. Army, where he retired with a rank of Master Sergeant and Chief Legal NCO. He received an A.A. degree in paralegal studies from University of Maryland; a B.A. degree in history and political science from Ohio Northern University; an M.P.A. degree from John Jay College; and a J.D. degree from Howard University. Spencer is one of only 10 certified advocate representatives in the country certified by the Veteran’s Administration to provide hearing and appellate representation. At Bet Tzedek, he specializes in government and veteran’s benefits.
CARMEN MARTINEZ, Hearing Representative
Carmen has worked in the legal field since 1996. In 2000, she joined Bet Tzedek as a Litigation Secretary. In 2007, Carmen became part of the outreach paralegal group as a Hearing Representative. Her duties include interviewing and representing clients on a variety of legal issues at various Senior Centers throughout Los Angeles as well as making presentations in the community. Carmen holds an AA degree in English Literature from West Los Angeles College and is currently a student at California State University at Dominguez Hills majoring in English Literature with a minor in Criminal Justice and plans to attend law school upon graduation.
JUANA M. MIJARES, Volunteer Pre-Screener Supervisor
Juana joined Bet Tzedek in 1998. She trains and supervises client pre-screeners, ensuring that legal issues are documented and are reviewed for possible appointments and that those who do not qualify for Bet Tzedek services are appropriately referred. Juana also represents clients at administrative law hearings and assists attorneys and other staff with Spanish-language translation as needed.
THERESA RODRIGUEZ, Volunteer Liaison/Advocate
Theresa joined Bet Tzedek Legal Services in 1990 and became a Paralegal in 1992. During her 15 years of employment, she has trained, mentored and supervised countless volunteer paralegals, law clerks, and lay professionals. She has also acted as a Litigation Paralegal for numerous volunteer and staff attorneys. Currently, she is the Volunteer Liaison/Staff Advocate, assigning pro bono cases to over 200 volunteer attorneys and firms. Theresa continues to coordinate in-house volunteers who work at the Fairfax office.
BERTHA SANCHEZ, Hearing Representative
Bertha joined Bet Tzedek in the spring of 2006. With a strong commitment to public interest law, Bertha has previously clerked with: Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Federal Public Defender Office of San Jose, and Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office, Consumer Protection Unit. At Bet Tzedek, Bertha works with our Senior Legal Services Program. Her duties include representing clients at government administrative law hearings and providing legal services to low-income senior citizens at many multi-purpose senior centers throughout Los Angeles County. Bertha received her B.A. in English with an emphasis in creative writing from Santa Clara University. She is currently pursuing her J.D. from Whittier School of Law.
KIM WILLIAMS, Caregiver Advocate
Kim Williams is a Caregiver Advocate at Bet Tzedek Legal Services. She specializes in elder law issues and meeting the needs of family caregivers. Under the direction of an attorney, she provides legal planning and advice to elders and their families and represents them in administrative court hearings. Kim has been with Bet Tzedek since 2001. She received her paralegal certificate from UCLA Extension and a B.A. degree from the University of Maryland.
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Development & Administration
KATHY ENGLISH, Special Events Coordinator
Kathy joined Bet Tzedek in 1999 and brings with her more than 25 years of fund-raising and community activism. She has received commendations from the Los Angeles City Council, Governors Jerry Brown and Gray Davis, and President Jimmy Carter for her humanitarian efforts in establishing a scholarship program for disadvantaged students and holiday food drives for AIDS impacted families. As Special Events Coordinator, Kathy produces the annual dinner, The Justice Ball®, and all other fund-raising events. She is a third generation native Los Angeleno and remembers attending baseball games at Gilmore Field and watching movies at the Gilmore Drive-In, adjacent to the Farmer’s Market, directly across the street from Bet Tzedek.
VELINDA MACKEY, Director of Municipal Grants/Intake Manager
Velinda joined Bet Tzedek in 1995 as the Grants Administrator. In 2001, she also assumed the duties of Intake Manager. She was later promoted to Director of Municipal Grants/Intake Manager in 2004. In addition to supervising the Intake staff, Velinda is responsible for managing eight municipal grants that come from the City and County of Los Angeles, as well as the City of West Hollywood and the United Way. Velinda holds a B.A. degree from U.C. Riverside, a Masters in Public Administration from USC, and received her J.D. degree in 1994 from Western State University, College of Law.
AMY PECKNER, Individual Giving Officer
Amy joined Bet Tzedek in 2008 as the Individual Giving Officer. Prior to moving back to Los Angeles and joining the Bet Tzedek staff, Amy lived in Boston for 12 years, and taught high school social studies for three years. After leaving teaching, she worked at several non-profit organizations, including Temple Israel of Boston, Facing History and Ourselves, and National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association. Amy holds a B.A. in History from the University of California, Santa Barbara, which included a year abroad at the University of Exeter, England. In addition, she holds a Masters of Art in Teaching from Tufts University.
LESLY MENDOZA, Executive Assistant
Lesly joined Bet Tzedek Legal Services June 2006. She received her B.A. from the University of Southern California (USC) in December 2003 with a major in Psychology and a double minor in Business and Children and Families in Urban America. Lesly is a founder of Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc. at USC, a predominately Latina sorority focusing on academic excellence and community outreach. Before coming to Bet Tzedek, Lesly worked at the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate as a Development Associate where she helped convene industry leaders at annual retreats and seminars. At Bet Tzedek, Lesly aids the development department with numerous tasks, including managing the donor database and assisting in the preparation of events. She also works directly with Bet Tzedek’s Board of Directors and prepares bi-monthly Board Meetings while assisting the Executive Director with administrative tasks.
FERNANDO SALGUERO, Director of Finance and Administration
Fernando, who was born in Argentina, spent 20 years in Boston before coming to California. He holds a BSIE and an MBA from Boston University. Fernando has comprehensive accounting and business experience from working in both the profit and nonprofit sectors and has been an auditor and commercial lender in the Northeast.
MATT SCELZA, Marketing and Development Director
Matt Scelza started at Bet Tzedek as the Associate Development Director in 2004, and was promoted to Director of Development in December of 2005. Prior to joining Bet Tzedek, Matt served as the Statewide Programs Director for California Literacy and taught ESL in adult education classrooms. As a VISTA volunteer in Boston, he was part of a team that earned the Mayor's Award for Innovation in Education. He graduated with a B.A. in American Studies, Phi Beta Kappa, from Stanford University in 1994, and earned an M.A. in Education from Stanford in 1995.
QUINTAN ANA WIKSWO, Associate Director of Development
Quintan Ana Wikswo joined Bet Tzedek Legal Services in 2006 as Associate Director of Development and Marketing. Quintan’s career has been exclusively devoted to non-profit arts and social justice organizations, including The Los Angeles Free Clinic, Smuin Ballet, and Amnesty International. In 2004, Quintan spent a year working with various agencies fighting domestic violence, sex trafficking, LGBT discrimination and hate crimes on the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation and along the rural southern Arizona border with Mexico. Her writing and research has been honored with fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the University of Sydney, Australia, Dorland Mountain Center for the Arts, and The Caldera Center, where her publications have focused upon diverse sub-cultures within equal rights and social change movements. Quintan studied critical theory at The University of Texas at Austin, where she graduated with honors in American Studies; she holds an M.F.A. in Writing with Presidential Honors from San Francisco State University.
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Support Staff
DENA BERGMAN, Administrative Coordinator
RACHEL FARIAS, Legal Secretary
JUDY GALLEGOS, Receptionist/Date Entry Clerk
CONNIE HETH, Legal Secretary
CELIA KIRILOVER
VERONICA LEICHTER, Legal Secretary
RON SMITH, Messenger/Process Server
GREG DEOGARD, Computer Systems Manager
IRENA PORTNOY
MARIA URIBE, Pre-screening Supervisor/Secretary
GLADYS VALENCIA-KUMAR, Legal Secretary
PURA VISTAL, Accounting Manager
JORGE ZENDEJAS, Mail/Office Services Clerk |
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