Children's Institute, Inc.: Staff
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Staff
Mary M. Emmons
President and CEO
Mary M. Emmons’ professional experience includes more than 32 years in government and nonprofit health and children’s services. For more than 27 years, she has held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer at CII. Through her leadership, the organization has developed an extensive range of community-based child and family services, growing from an annual budget of $1 million per year in 1981 to a current budget of over $32 million. She has also held positions with HeadStart, the U.S. Office of Child Development, and the City of Chicago Model Cities Program. Ms. Emmons has long been an advocate for vulnerable children, serving on numerous public policy boards and committees, including the Governor’s Child Development Programs Advisory Committee, the Child Welfare League of America’s National Advisory Committee on Chemical Dependency and Child Welfare, and their Management and Governance Standards Committee.
Nina Revoyr
Executive Vice President, Office of the CEO
Nina Revoyr is Executive Vice President for the Office of the CEO, providing leadership to internal and external strategic initiatives. In addition to serving as a key liaison with CII’s Board, support groups, government and community relations, and larger constituency, she is responsible for the planning and implementation of CII’s four-year, $20 million capital campaign in support of its new Otis Booth Campus. Over the past 10 years at CII, Nina has served as Vice President for Development and External Relations, where she oversaw both government and private funding efforts for CII’s program operations. She was also responsible for the agency’s communications program, including its “re-branding” efforts in 2004-5, and coordinating the development and implementation of CII’s strategic plan. In addition to her experience at CII, Nina has worked for Head Start, for the social service agency Safe Space in New York City, as a visiting professor in the English departments at Cornell University, Antioch University, and Occidental College, and as chief of staff to the former president of the Los Angeles City Board of Education.
Stephen A. Ambrose, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Programs
Dr. Stephen Ambrose is Senior Vice President of Programs at CII. In this capacity, he provides leadership to all of the agency’s direct service programs. His career as a clinical psychologist at CII spans 25 years during which he has provided treatment to thousands of children and their families who have been impacted by abuse and neglect, substance abuse, family violence and other trauma. Dr. Ambrose is a frequent presenter on issues related to child abuse and neglect, and has appeared on numerous local and national media programs to share expertise on these subjects. He has also served on the Los Angeles Juvenile Dependency Court Panel of Experts and is routinely called upon as an expert witness by the Dependency and Criminal Courts.
Jeffrey J. Catania, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Development
Dr. Jeffrey Catania is Senior Vice President for Development at CII. As the senior staff member responsible for funding, he directs all private funding development and government grants. In addition, he is responsible for the agency’s marketing and communications program, including print and multimedia materials, event production and public relations. Over the past 30 years, Jeff has served in senior development positions at Vista del Mar Child and Family Services, Venice Family Clinic and several other leading nonprofit agencies in Los Angeles. His accomplishments include the development and implementation of successful multimillion dollar fundraising and public relations campaigns, as well as leading strategic planning efforts resulting in significantly stronger annual revenues, expanded donor bases and higher public recognition of agency activities. Jeff holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Southern California and an undergraduate Psychology degree from Occidental College.
Jo Dennis, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Program Quality and Standards
Dr. Jo Dennis is CII’s Senior Vice President for Program Quality and Standards. She oversees policies, procedures, coaching, program management training and accreditation support to ensure the effectiveness, growth and success of agency programs. Dr. Dennis has been with CII for more than 16 years, serving in senior leadership positions. Prior to joining CII, Jo worked in the public school system and Head Start for 12 years and holds California School Psychologist, Administrative Services, and General Elementary teaching credentials. As a licensed psychologist, Jo’s clinical interests include assessment, early identification and intervention, children with behavioral disorders, and organizational psychology.
Mark Engel
Chief Financial Officer
Mark Engel has been the Chief Financial Officer for CII for the past 12 years. He is responsible for the development and management of an annual operating budget of more than $32 million, which encompasses federal, county, city and community-based grants and contracts. He also oversees all financial operations of the agency, including accounting, reporting, audit and contract management functions. Before joining CII, Mark was Vice President Finance and Controller for the American Heart Association, Los Angeles Affiliate, and an auditor for Texaco, Inc.
Kendis Heffley, MBA
Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration
Kendis Marcotte is Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration at CII, responsible for directing all finance and administration for the organization, including financial services, information technology, human resources, facility operations, risk management and operational planning. She started her career as a public accountant with KPMG, later returning to graduate school to earn her MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. As an independent consultant and interim executive, Kendis has spent the past 20 years assisting nonprofit organizations in building sound management practices to more fully achieve their important mission. She has served as a founder, a funder, a practitioner, an advocate, a trainer and an executive mentor. Her experience includes, Founding Executive Director, The Virginia Avenue Project; Financial & Organizational Consultant, Prototypes Centers for Innovation in Health, Mental Health and Social Services; and Board Development & Strategic Planning Consultant, Bienvenidos Children’s Center.
Hershel K. Swinger, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Leadership Center
Dr. Hershel Swinger is Senior Vice President of the Leadership Center at CII, providing leadership to CII’s research, training and policy initiatives, as well as overseeing the development of numerous model and demonstration programs. He is also a professor of Counselor Education at California State University Los Angeles and a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 30 years experience in treating individuals and families involved with violence and substance abuse. Dr. Swinger is a Project Director for Project FatherhoodSM and has developed a father-specific intervention which will reduce intra-familial, gang and community violence. He has served on many national and local boards of organizations designed to treat at-risk children and families. Dr. Swinger is a nationally recognized trainer and expert in the cultural aspects of intra-familial violence, community violence and drug abuse. He has been involved as a senior clinician and leader at CII for the past 25 years.
