Meet Our Team
Leading Hope In Action
We Share the Vision and Values of Our Community
We’re driven by the idea that the best work is born from support, accountability, compassion, and a will to support justice and peace in solidarity with those in need.
Executive Team
LORNA LITTLE, MSW
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
A driving force behind the organization’s “Thriving Families: Brighter Futures” motto, Lorna Little, MSW serves as the President and CEO of St. Anne’s Family Services where she has developed innovative programs for children and families since 2018. With a focus on underserved communities that often live in the shadows, she has a successful history of leading and developing exceptional programming that addresses the physical, behavioral, and emotional components that lead to an optimal life trajectory. Lorna has extensively worked with parenting youth, youth in foster care, and in all aspects of adoption. Leveraging her Master’s Degree in Social work, licensure as a clinical social worker, and a Post Masters Certificate in Foster and Adoption studies, she creates quantifiable results for those who St. Anne’s serves. Further demonstrating her diverse expertise, she has served as a training professional, adjunct college professor, and cultural diversity program manager, which helps her lead during this time of change and evolution in our world. She continues to advocate to remove systemic barriers to ensure success for children and families. In order to work effectively and have an impact, Lorna believes that you have to care for the children and families wholeheartedly—believing that the work and the resiliency of the program participants can bring about life-changing transformation.
What makes her even more of an exceptional ally is that Lorna’s background melds an interesting mix of social services leadership and media entertainment. She is the author of Mums the Word!, her personal story of late discovery adoption. She is also a media producer and television personality, previously hosting her own local television show with national guests and celebrities. Understanding the power of communication and connection from sharing our stories, Lorna sees the golden thread that connects her media experience, public speaking and her work in the field of social services. With an unwavering belief that we are all connected, her efforts bring about hope, joy, healing and empowerment. She unapologetically uses her purpose and voice to provide “A Little Guidance.”
A member of the Board of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, Black Women Leaders of Los Angeles, and the Membership Committee for Association of Community Human Service Agencies, Lorna finds time to give back outside of St. Anne’s. She is also a member of The Links, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Lorna proudly utilizes her professional and lived experience to provide the leadership and guidance to carry out vision and strategy for St. Anne’s Family Services. With her dynamic Executive leadership team and a fantastic team of staff, she implements initiatives and services to achieve positive outcomes. Tackling Early Childhood Education, Supportive Housing, including Residential, Transitional, and Permanent, Mental Health Services, and Family and Community-Based programs, Lorna’s leadership will have lasting impacts for generations to come.
GINA PECK-SOBOLEWSKI, MA, LMFT
CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER
As the Chief Program Officer, Gina Peck-Sobolewski is responsible for extensive programming to ensure successful cross-coordination that allows participants to thrive. Gina earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Northridge and her Master’s degree in counseling psychology from National University. A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 2008, she brings an intense knowledge of outpatient and inpatient programming in both residential treatment and community based mental health programs.
In her previous role as Vice President of Permanency at Sycamores since 2016, Gina managed all aspects of residential, psychiatric, shelter care, and foster family services. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Association of Children’s Residential Centers and Community services (ACRC) since 2019 and facilitates a national Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) affinity group. She has trained nationally and locally on topics including clinical assessment/treatment, trauma informed treatment, risk management and CSEC.
ALEXANDRA ZANDUETA
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Alexandra oversees the diversified financial contracts, budgeting operations and compliance for St. Anne’s, a highly regarded social service agency that focuses on family services through supportive housing, early childhood education, mental health services and family based services. She most recently served as the Vice President of Planning, Reporting & Analysis at Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services where she was responsible for overseeing the finance operations, compliance, and billing for government and private contracts and grants, including the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health; Department of Children and Family Services; Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority; and education related contracts. Alexandra has spent more than 10 years of her 18-year career in social services and has also worked with Five Acres Boys and Girls Club in Pasadena and Bienvenidos Children’s Center in Los Angeles.
Alexandra earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton; and her Master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of Southern California.
DANA VALENZUELA
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
With more than two decades of experience in marketing, event management and nonprofit development, Dana leads St. Anne’s fundraising and communications team. She oversees St. Anne’s individual, foundation, corporate and planned giving programs, as well as special events and volunteers, which all support St. Anne’s vision of thriving families and brighter futures.
Dana has a wide range of experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. She most recently served as the Director of Development at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles where she oversaw fundraising for The Heart Institute and worked closely with the Heart Ambassadors, a group of grateful patient families. She was also responsible for launching Los Compadres at CHLA, the Latino philanthropic outreach group focused on individual and corporate fundraising and outreach for the hospital. In her role at CHLA, Dana managed high profile relationships with the Los Angeles Kings, the Los Angeles Galaxy and Katy Perry, to name a few.
Prior to joining CHLA, Dana served as the development director of Dolores Mission Church and School, the birthplace to several influential nonprofit organizations whose focus is to provide educational services and opportunities in an underserved area of Los Angeles. Dana also spent 16 years in public relations and marketing; for 10 of those years she owned her own company that focused on the fashion, food, and luxury industries. Dana earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of California, Los Angeles.
CARMEN ANDREASEN, MA
CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER
As Chief Human Resources Officer, Carmen develops, implements, and aligns HR programs with business objectives, serving as a strategic partner to the senior management team, while supporting employees in their day to day HR needs. Carmen ensures that all Human Resources Department functions support St. Anne’s vision of thriving families and brighter futures. She is incredibly passionate about talent development and has over 20 years of training and development experience.
Carmen has experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. She most recently served as the Director of Training at Vallarta Supermarkets where she led the efforts in leadership development. Prior to joining Vallarta Supermarkets, Carmen spent 11 years in a variety of roles in the Human Resources Department at St. Anne’s, including HR Manager and Director of Training. Carmen has a Master’s in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Development, Learning, Instruction and Evaluation from California State University, Northridge.
Program and Department Leadership
ANNA M. LÓPEZ
VICE PRESIDENT, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
As Vice President of Early Childhood Education, Anna M. Lopez oversees St. Anne’s Family Services Early Learning Centers and Home-Based program, as well as all content areas and specialty services for children in ECE. Anna has been involved in the development, implementation, and management of Early Head Start/Head Start programs for more than 10 years and has over 20+ years of experience in the early childhood education field.
Anna began at St. Anne’s as an Early Head Start Home Based Manager in 2016 were she ensured children were ready to learn and families were ready to support their children’s learning. She transitioned into the Associate Director of Education for Early Head Start in Spring 2020, during the time of the pandemic, and ensured all families and children received educational services remotely through connected learning. In Winter 2020, she stepped into the role Director of Early Childhood Education and ensured that all education programs in ECE were focused on school readiness goals and outcomes. In Spring 2022 shifted into interim VP of ECE and is committed to high quality child and family outcomes. Anna Lopez holds a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies and Chicano/a Studies from Cal State University of Northridge, a Family Development Credential from the University of Connecticut, and is an alumnus of the UCLA Head Start Management Fellow program from UCLA Anderson School of Management.
SARAH MACHAT, MSW
VICE PRESIDENT, ORGANIZATIONAL QUALITY & IMPACT
Sarah is responsible for the team that oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of the agency-wide Quality Improvement, Learning & Development, Compliance and Risk Management programs. She ensures agency-wide compliance with governmental/contractual requirements and our accreditation status through the Council on Accreditation (COA). Sarah oversees our continuous quality improvement systems that facilitate the achievement of program goals and maximize program impact. She identifies best practices to address emerging issues and trends related to organizational strategy, drive learning & development, improve quality of services, and achieve intended outcomes.
Her time at St. Anne’s began as an MSW intern where she reinforced her passion for improving employee engagement, building sustainable business practices, and nurturing a data-informed culture. She went on to work for The Walt Disney Company in the Diversity & Inclusion and Learning & Development departments. In Spring 2017, Sarah returned to St. Anne’s to assume the role of Director of Quality Improvement and has led the agency through two successful re-accreditation cycles. Sarah earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine; and received a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California with a concentration in Social Work & Business.
DANIELE VEGA, LCSW, PPSC
VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS
Daniele Vega earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Classics from the University of California, Berkeley. She began at St. Anne’s in 2009 as a therapist where she provided community based individual and family therapy striving to ensure her clients received much needed trauma informed care. Daniele now oversees the programs of our Family-Based and Mental Health Services departments, and provides key leadership throughout our program operations. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), holds a Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC) that focuses on counseling school-aged children, and is Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) trained and certified for Los Angeles County. Daniele has been certified in multiple Evidenced Based Practices including Managing and Adapting Practices (MAP), Nurturing Parenting, and Seeking Safety.
JORGE ALCOCER
DIRECTOR, FOOD SERVICES & CONFERENCE CENTER
Jorge is responsible for preparing and planning hundreds of meals per day for St. Anne’s residents, children, cafeteria customers and catering clients, and supervising hundreds of events per year for St. Anne’s conference center space. This includes maintaining the highest standards in food preparation and serving, in compliance with local, state and federal agency requirements as well as keeping records and filing reports in connection with the National School Lunch program and Child Care Food Program. He began his career as line cook at St. Anne’s and has risen through the ranks over several years. Highly respected by his colleagues and peers, Jorge says “St. Anne’s has been like my school. I have had so many incredible mentors, from my predecessors to senior division directors. St. Anne’s has really offered me growth, support, and amazing experiences.”
JULIA ARTEAGA, SHRM-CP
DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES
Julia Arteaga is a passionate and dedicated professional who has spent her vast career in various roles in non-profit management with accredited and highly respected organizations prior to joining St. Anne’s Family Services as the Director of Human Resources. She began her tenure with the agency in February 2020, just before the world shut down. She pivoted quickly to adjust to the growing demands of the newly remote workforce.
Julia brings a unique perspective to her role, combining her understanding of global dynamics with her expertise in people management. Her strategic approach to human resources allows her to align the company’s objectives with its most valuable asset—its employees. Julia’s leadership and expertise empower the team to thrive and grow, nurturing a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. She believes in the importance of investing in people, recognizing their success is intrinsically linked to the organization’s overall achievement.
Julia earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in international development studies from the University of California, Berkeley.
CATALINA CATACUTAN
DIRECTOR, FINANCE
Catalina Catacutan has expansive experience in the auditing and accounting world. She brings this experience to St. Anne’s Family Services as the Director of Finance. In this role, she manages the audits, and the teams responsible for accounts receivable and payable; and the accounting team.
Catalina worked at KPMG-Philippines as Senior Auditor for five years where she received comprehensive audit training for various business types and reporting of audited financial statements. She then turned her knowledge to the U.S. and worked for Elias Aziz-Lavi, CPA in Beverly Hills as an accountant for six years. Catalina obtained full accounting experience for various entities and review of financial statements.
Catalina turned to the non-profit sector and worked at PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) in Los Angeles as the Senior Director of Accounting for eleven years. She oversaw the daily operations, consolidating all financial data for transparent business outcomes for all funding sources inclusive of state, federal, foundation, corporations, and private donations. Her goal is to be in compliance with the regulations around contractual agreements which results in good standing with various regulating bodies.
Catalina graduated from the University of the East in the Philippines with a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in business administration with a focus in economics and accounting
TASHAY JENKINS, MA
DIRECTOR, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS
Tashay Jenkins’ experience in social services spans more than two decades. Tashay specializes in working with the adolescent population who have experienced life-long trauma while growing up in the foster care system. She worked as an independent counselor providing services to youth were considered at risk for becoming victims of various traumas.
Tashay began working at St. Anne’s Family Services in 2022. She oversees the Transitional Housing Program and Permanent Supportive Housing Program and the teams managing the day-today operations and advocacy for the youth and families associated with these programs.
Tashay earned her Masters of Arts Degree with a concentration in psychology from Argosy University, located in Sarasota, Florida.
MILENA MELKONYAN, LCSW
DIRECTOR, SHORT-TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM
As Director of Residential Clinical Services, Milena oversees the overall mental health treatment program for clients placed in the short-term residential therapeutic program and is responsible for managing the program in compliance with laws and regulations.
Milena began working at St. Anne’s in 2013 as a therapist providing comprehensive mental health services to children, youth, and families. In 2016 she was promoted to Assistant Director of Mental Health Services supervising clinical staff working in the Full-Service Partnership (FSP) program, Transitional Housing Program (THP), and Residential Treatment Program (RTP). Milena earned her Masters of Social Work from Columbia University in the city of New York, with a focus in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), trained and certified in various evidenced-based practices including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), Individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP), Seeking Safety (SS) and Child and Parent Psychotherapy (CPP).
MARIANNA OGANESYAN, LMFT
DIRECTOR, FAMILY BASED SERVICES
Marianna Oganesyan began working at St. Anne’s in 2006 in the Residential Treatment Program. She worked as a Residential Counselor and later a Milieu Manager. After earning her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, Marianna worked as a therapist in the Mental Health Services Program. In 2011, Marianna was promoted to an Assistant Director where she managed multiple sectors of mental health services in the following programs: Transitional Housing Program, Residential Treatment Program, and Community Programs, including Prevention Early Intervention (PEI), New Village Charter High School, and Full Service Partnership (FSP). Marianna is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, holds a Lanterman-Petris (LPS) certification for Los Angeles County, and is a Managing and Adapting Practices (MAP) Supervisor and Train-The-Trainer.
SARAH SILVA
DIRECTOR, FACILITIES
A distinguished professional in the construction industry, Sarah Silva joined St. Anne’s Family Services in the fall of 2022. She brings a remarkable blend of experience and education to St. Anne’s Family Services and almost two decades of involvement in the industry, Sarah has demonstrated her versatility and proficiency in various aspects of construction. Her skill set encompasses preconstruction, estimating, bidding, field coordination, project closeout, and property management, making her a well-rounded and invaluable asset.
Having worked with one of Southern California’s leading construction management firms, Sarah excelled in managing complex projects. These endeavors encompassed a diverse range of sizes, scopes, and dollar values, including ventures valued up to $52 million.
Sarah’s professional journey led her to collaborate closely with St. Anne’s Family Services a commendable partnership that yielded remarkable results, working tirelessly to accomplish their two new Head Start Early Learning Centers within the Lynwood School District. As the Facilities Director at St. Anne’s Family Services she is dedicated to achieving remarkable milestones and cultivating safe, nurturing environments for program participants and staff alike. Her team consists of the facilities, housekeeping and maintenance divisions.
Sarah actively participates in professional organizations, including the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), Women in Facility Management, and the National Association of Women in Construction. She graduated with honors from California State University Northridge, with a bachelor’s degree in science with a major in interior design.
CARLOS TOBAR
DIRECTOR, QUALITY ASSURANCE
Director of Quality Assurance Carlos Tobar has 17 years of child welfare experience in contract management and resource development. Carlos joined St. Anne’s in 2006 to oversee and monitor the agency’s multi-faceted contractual agreements. Carlos plays an integral role in agency compliance and reporting activities and oversees the implementation and tracking of ongoing outcome measures for all five of St. Anne’s programs.
MARIA VAZQUEZ, MA, LMFT
DIRECTOR, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Maria Vazquez holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Oaks College, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine. Maria first joined St. Anne’s as an Assistant Director in Family Based Services in 2019. There she worked within the Wraparound Program to continue our agency’s reputation of excellence in community based services to families.
As Mental Health Services Director, Maria is now responsible for the maintenance and delivery of mental health treatment in the following programs: Full Service Partnership, Prevention and Early Intervention, Supportive and Chronically Homeless Housing, Community Outpatient, and the New Village Girls Academy Charter High School. Additionally, Maria oversees the county’s Innovations 2 initiative, collaborating with community partners, St. Anne’s Early Childhood Education Division, and the Los Angeles Unified School District to nurture Healthy Neighborhoods designed to reduce trauma with preventative intervention.
Maria is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and is a Trainer of Trainers for Risking Connections, a training model that emphasizes a trauma-informed approach for engaging with program participants.