Larry Clark is passionate about social change. He recognized the need for entrepreneurial thinking and leadership in the health and human service sector through his extensive work with nonprofit organizations across the country. Inspired by the work of his own organization as a successful social enterprise, Larry led the team in September 2005 that founded MissionWise, the division of C.H.E.F. that helps nonprofits become stronger and more sustainable in their efforts to eliminate health inequities.

During his twenty-four-year career at Comprehensive Health Education Foundation, Larry has led several important strategic initiatives that have shaped the vitality and future direction of the organization. Most recently, he recognized the rapidly-changing health education landscape and marketplace, and determined the need to position the organization’s school-based products for intellectual-property sale to Discovery Communications. Over the years, these products contributed significantly to the growth and financial well-being of the organization. In addition, Larry led the strategic initiative to refocus the organization uniquely on the elimination of health inequities among health and human service nonprofits, specifically through grant-making, public policy, and direct consulting work.

Through his extensive work in philanthropy and with health and human service organizations, Larry is nationally recognized by both sectors as a cutting-edge thinker and innovative leader. He is a frequent and distinguished speaker on topics pertaining to social enterprise and entrepreneurial thinking in the nonprofit sector, and has developed unique expertise in income generation, intellectual property development, and strategic partnerships.

Larry has been active on several national boards representing a combination of foundations, community-based organizations, and coalitions. He currently serves on the Grantmakers in Aging board, the Center for Social and Emotional Education advisory, and recently, served on the boards of Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America, the Social Enterprise Alliance, Philanthropy Northwest, and the Local Initiative Funding Partners advisory for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Larry earned his BS in Community Health Education from Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington.

Ned is responsible for identifying, managing and maximizing the impact of numerous partnership relationships and programs, including relationships with philanthropic partners, knowledge partners, and other social sector partners. In addition, he provides business and strategic planning consultation, training, and coaching to organizations in the social sector. Ned also assists with the development of the MissionWise model and provides guidance to other staff and consultants.

Ned has worked in the social sector for over 14 years, predominantly in social services and philanthropy. In 2001, he joined the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to develop program substance and was also responsible for the development and management of a portfolio of grants. Prior to that, Ned was a program assistant in the MacArthur Foundation’s Conservation and Sustainable Development Program. Ned holds a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco. Ned joined C.H.E.F. in 2006.

Crystal is responsible for providing strategic and business planning consultation and training to organizations in the Health and Human Services sector. She also assists the Director of Partnerships Development in identifying, managing and maximizing the impact of numerous partnership relationships and programs, including relationships with philanthropic partners, knowledge partners, and other social sector partners. Crystal assists with the development of the MissionWise model and provides guidance to other staff and consultants.

Crystal Vann has more than ten years of experience in brand development, management, strategy, and research and analysis for Fortune 500 clients and local nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining MissionWise, Crystal worked at Landor Associates and received a Master's in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco. The combination of her professional experience and education gives her the unique ability to understand the complexities of a nonprofit organization, and to develop, implement and manage a strategic brand that helps each organization deliver on its mission.

Laura is responsible for establishing, monitoring, and facilitating the systems and processes required for the effective delivery of MissionWise offerings, including Webinars, developing and overseeing project plans, budgets and timelines. She is also responsible for developing, monitoring and refinement of the systems to support the MissionWise division, including internal communications.

Laura received her Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health from Central Washington University. She is a current member and former board member of the Pacific Northwest Society of Public Heath Education, as well as a current member of Eta Sigma Gamma, a professional honor in Health Education, and the Social Enterprise Alliance. Laura joined C.H.E.F. in 2000.

Kathy is responsible for collaborating on the content development and the evaluation of MissionWise programs, products and services to assure measurable outcomes on investment. She provides leadership and expertise for integrating current research findings into the development process and conducting outcome evaluations across the organization. In addition, Kathy provides leadership, vision and management of the Philanthropic division and works to establish key strategic relationships with individuals, state and national governmental agencies, corporations and other agencies and organizations. She is responsible for both short and long range planning of the organization’s business and social objectives.

Kathy has been working in the prevention field for over 25 years, both as a practitioner and as a researcher. Kathy has a bachelor’s degree in political science and education, a master’s degree in counseling, and a PhD in educational policy and leadership. She joined C.H.E.F. in 2002.

Michelle supports the MissionWise team in all aspects of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, project tracking, invoicing and accounts receivable.

Jeanne Anderson has worked in the nonprofit field in the Puget Sound area for many years. She has been an Executive Director for three organizations and an Interim Executive Director for nine. Jeanne has also led processes that resulted in three mergers involving five organizations. Jeanne led the merger of Big Sisters of Puget Sound with Big Brothers of King County, Big Brothers Big Sisters of King County with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pierce County and Pathways for Women with the YWCA of King County. She has also worked with organizations to assist them in determining whether or not a merger is feasible for them.

Jeanne has been a trainer and facilitator for 25 years and does workshops and trainings in Strategic Planning, Board-Staff relations, Succession Planning, Generative Discussions and Mergers. Jeanne has conducted numerous board retreats and performed Organizational Assessments on over 350 organizations.

Jeanne as a BA in Psychology from the University of Hawaii and an MS in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Arizona.

Cindy Coney is an energetic, enthusiastic consultant who strongly supports the work of non-profit organizations nationwide. For 26 years, she was Executive Director of the Mendez Foundation in Tampa, FL. In this capacity, she was able to capitalize on the Foundation’s intellectual assets; including educational products and training, and create a funding stream that far exceeded the Board of Director’s expectations. She clearly understands the balance between providing services and building organizational capacity.

Cindy provides consulting services to individuals and organizations in designing programs and services, has worked with a large school system to develop the infrastructure for delivering health services, and has lead numerous trainings to non-profit organizations. Cindy is currently a Master Trainer for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Center for Prevention Workforce Development.

Cindy holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and considers herself an educator who loves to empower both individuals and organizations to reach their highest potential. She currently serves as the Vice President of the Lupus Foundation of America, in Washington, DC. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the United Way, the Children’s Board of Tampa, the Junior League of Tampa, and the Gasparilla Distance Classic. She has been recognized many times for her outstanding service to the Tampa community.

Colette has more than 15 years leading creative and engaging programs for Fortune 500 companies, government and nonprofit organizations across the United States. Her expertise includes Organization Development, Stress Management, Team Building and Workplace Diversity. Adept at learning her client’s needs, she has coached and trained numerous individuals in communication skills and leadership principles. Her business and consulting experience spans the Consumer Products, Financial Services, Healthcare, nonprofit, and Professional Service industries.

Colette graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in English, and from New York University, where she was a Dean’s Scholar, with an M.P.A. in Public Finance.

For over 30 years, Pat has worked to improve the quality, availability and accessibility of health and social services for diverse populations. Committed to social change, her passions include training and facilitation, and the development of culturally-sensitive, client-centered approaches to health and mental health. She has extensive experience as both an independent consultant and senior manager working with community clinics, hospitals, managed care plans and public sector agencies.

Pat began her consulting practice in NYC after serving as the Executive Director of a community health center in East Harlem and as the Associate Executive Director for Strategic Planning for a large public hospital. Relocating to California in 1991, her consulting practice now includes: training and facilitation; coaching; program design, implementation and quality improvement; organizational development; grant writing; community organizing and coalition building; and the design of culturally sensitive health education materials and approaches. Her areas of specialization include public and community health, mental health, palliative and end-of-life care, and health education.

Over the past eight years, Pat has been active in the end-of-life movement, serving as an Executive Director of Access to End-of-Life Care, a trained Zen Hospice volunteer, a consultant to the California Coalition for Compassionate Care and On Lok Lifeways, and a member of the Steering Committee for the SF Network for End-of-Life Care. She is also a certified Advance Care Planning Facilitator.

Pat has an MPH from Columbia University, and a Masters in Psychology from the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology. Building on her process and mentoring skills, she has recently been trained as a Life Coach and has a small private practice.

Kirsten has a broad background in developing strategy and conducting business planning for nonprofit, business, and government clients. She is particularly adept at working with clients to turn challenges into opportunities and is skilled in bringing diverse stakeholders together to realize a common vision.

Kirsten is a principal and founder of Social Enterprise Group, LLC, where she specializes in assisting nonprofit and business clients in developing comprehensive strategic plans, developing social enterprise business plans, and building organizational capacity. Earlier in her career, she was Administrator of Strategic Planning at Casey Family Programs, where she led the development and implementation of their five-year plan, and consulted on organizational management and strategy issues. Kirsten was also a consultant with KPMG Peat Marwick, specializing in management, technology, and organizational development consulting for health and human service agencies.

Janette Gitler has over 20 years of experience in program and organizational development, strategic planning, communications, and branding for media and nonprofit organizations. She is especially focused on the role that communication plays in creating a healthy, productive internal organization and its relationship to maximizing external communication, branding, marketing, and fundraising. Her experience includes working in executive and management positions for several television network affiliates as well as public television. As Global Communications Manager and Senior Program Director with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, she played a critical role in developing the vision, mission, strategies, policies and communication processes for the organization.

Janette’s background in utilizing various forms of media as tools for social change has won her numerous accolades and awards including the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. She currently serves as a non-profit consultant helping organizations accomplish their mission through strategic planning, program and organizational development, communication, marketing and branding. Janette has a bachelor’s degree in strategic communications from Skidmore College.

Greg Hessel is located in New England where he helps organizations grow, change, and manage conflict. Greg works with non-profit, for-profit and public sector clients to improve efficiency, develop effective strategic plans, improve communication, strengthen linkages, and manage conflict and change.

Greg has a Masters in Science in Organizational Development from American University in Washington DC, a BA in psychology from St. John’s University in MN, and a certificate in conflict management from Woodbury College in Montpelier, VT. He has also taught as an adjunct faculty in Woodbury College’s Master in Mediation program.

By assessing organizational dynamics through multiple lenses at the individual, group and systems level, Greg takes pride in customizing interventions and trainings so that each client’s individualized needs are met. Greg’s recent clients include The Vermont Department of Health, the Vermont Office of Child Support, the New Hampshire Bureau of Education and Training, and numerous United Ways in New England. He has also worked extensively the health care industry.

Prior to his consulting career, Greg worked for social change in Bosnia, El Salvador and Nicaragua. While in Nicaragua, he was part of a team that successfully negotiated the release of a kidnapped member of the Italian clergy.

Jeff Leschensky has 18 years experience in all areas of management and resource development (capital campaigns, annual funds, planned giving, grant writing, prospect research, and stewardship programs.) Jeff’s professional experience includes: Founding Executive Director of the Alaska Community Foundation; Director of Development and Foundation Director of the Cedar Rapids Symphony (an orchestra called "a model for the nation" by TIME Magazine in 1993), prospect research consultant and grant writer to the Northland Foundation (Duluth, MN), Prospect Researcher and Associate Consultant for two national fund-raising consulting firms, and Interim Executive Director of the American Lung Association of Alaska. Jeff recently completed 9 years as a faculty member and Research Coordinator at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in their Philanthropy & Development graduate program. Jeff holds a Master of Arts Degree in Philanthropy & Development from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (Winona, MN) and a Bachelors Degree from Luther College (Decorah, IA).

Jessica is a management consultant, working in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors of Seattle. She has managed everything from the outreach efforts of grassroots educational programs to the internal personnel and training systems of virtual companies to the reduction of environmental impact by large Microsoft conferences. Additionally, Jessica volunteers as the president of the board for Passages Northwest, a local non-profit dedicated to inspiring courage and leadership in girls through outdoor experiential education. She is a graduate of the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, holding an MBA in sustainable business.

Denise enhances communication and productivity between and among diverse groups through organization development practice, project management, and promoting diversity as organization strategy—building capacity in organizations to anticipate and thrive in change. She has over 15 years experience in operations and communications, working within philanthropy as well as the for-profit sector, including work at "Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation" and David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Denise brings a unique set of skills as a behavioral specialist with a knack for process design and implementation. Her background includes internal communication strategy, group facilitation, training, and cross-cultural and international consulting. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, received her project management certification from the U.C. Berkeley Extension, and has a master's of science in organization development from Pepperdine University.

Michael Oxman was one of the founding members of MissionWise when it was launched in September 2005. Since then, Michael has worked with a broad range of community-based agencies, coalitions, and foundations in the health and human service sector.

Before joining MissionWise, Michael was an advertising and communications executive at Euro RSCG in the firm’s Chicago office. During his time at Euro RSCG, Michael led strategic brand development for Walgreens, one of its largest private sector clients, and also initiated his strategic work in the public sector for Comprehensive Health Education Foundation (C.H.E.F.). Prior to joining Euro RSCG, Michael worked as Senior Vice President at D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles in its Detroit office, leading strategic brand development for the Cadillac Motor Car Division of General Motors. Earlier in his career, Michael held executive positions at other leading advertising agencies, advising large clients on brand strategy such as Chiquita Brands Worldwide, The Iams Pet Food Company, and The Stroh Brewery Company.

Michael earned his BA in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his MS in Advertising from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in Chicago.

Susan brings a rich background to the work of MissionWise, with over 25 years experience in health care policy, planning, administration, research, education, and evaluation in the non-profit, for-profit, foundation, and public sectors. She opened Susan Poor Consulting in San Francisco in 2000; in previous work, she served as Director of Patient and Family Services for the ALS Association Greater San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, Director of Planning and Evaluation at the Health Plan of San Mateo, Vice President of Hospice of Marin, Operations Manager of PruCare of California, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood of Marin, and as a legislative assistant and lobbyist in Washington, D.C.

The "common thread" in Susan’s work has been promoting innovation in health care delivery systems. Her current professional focus is on services, programs, policies, and innovations/best practices for older adults and their caregivers who wish to remain in their homes and communities as they age. Areas of policy and program expertise include aging-in-community models, community-based housing and medical care options, caregiver needs and support, care coordination and management, "hospital-to-home" transitional care, advance care planning, and hospice and end-of-life care.

Susan served as Consultant/Interim Executive Director of San Francisco Village from 2006-2008 and now serves on the San Francisco Village Board of Directors. She is a member of the San Francisco Long Term Care Coordinating Council, an Advisory Board Member of the San Francisco Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network collaboration, a Steering Committee Member of the San Francisco Network for End-of-Life Care, and the West Coast Director of Outreach and Volunteers for Share The Care.

Susan has an MPH in Health Policy and Administration from the University of California Berkeley and a BA in Political Science from Brown University.

As a MissionWise consultant, Melissa provides training, coaching, and other direct services to our clients. She has more than 20 years experience as a leader in both the profit and nonprofit sectors. Previously, she was vice president at one of the nation’s top ten public relations firms. With an emphasis on entrepreneurial and mission-oriented clients, her work generated visibility and credibility for companies and causes in health and human services, technology, retail, finance, communications and automotive fields. Her background also includes leadership roles in the social sector, as director of product development and chief operating officer for the creators of some of the most widely used health education programs in the country. Melissa has a bachelor’s degree in visual communications from Western Washington University.