LEADERSHIP TEAM
Beth Southorn
Executive Director
beth@lifestepsusa.org
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Beth Southorn, Executive Director
Beth Southorn has been a leader in the social services field for over 30 years. Experienced in working with numerous special needs populations, her approach to housing and the prevention of homelessness was shaped and has continuously evolved from her spent time working at Mills/Peninsula Hospital and the Shelter Network of San Mateo County. Beth has built a career out of a unique combination of experience in diversity, leadership, training, and program development that have allowed her to form successful national models that are inclusive of vocational rehabilitation, supportive services, and affordable housing programs.
As Executive Director of LifeSTEPS, Beth has propelled LifeSTEPS to its current status as one of the premier social services providers in affordable housing, now serving over 36,000 homes representing over 100,000 residents throughout the entire state of California from the border of Oregon to the edges of San Diego County. Beth has not only created and grown a successful model of resident empowerment for affordable housing communities throughout California, but has also been actively addressing the “Missing Middle” paradigm faced by many seniors, in her efforts to assist older adults to age in place.
Additionally, through her leadership, LifeSTEPS currently serves over 600 special needs residents in six counties throughout California, with 266 formerly homeless residents now housed in permanent supportive housing. In 2020, LifeSTEPS’ housing retention rate was 98.3% with 20 fulltime staff providing services. The successful program additionally connected 98% of special needs residents with a primary care physician within first 30 days of services and the Family Self Sufficiency Program moved from less than 100 participants to over 400. In 2022, LifeSTEPS has added Enhanced Care Management services to this successful program.
In 2016, LifeSTEPS’ robust after school program was enhanced with a Summer Reading program designed to mitigate the “summer slide” wherein according to Summer Matters children in low-income households fall behind an average of two months in reading during the summer, with these learning losses building up summer after summer. LifeSTEPS’ Summer Reading program has consistently seeing 96% of participants statewide maintaining or increasing their reading levels during the summer reading portion of our After School Program.
Elizabeth Hudson
Deputy Director
elizabeth@lifestepsusa.org
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Elizabeth Hudson, Deputy Director
Coming soon.
Ann Elias
Director of Community and Resident Services
ann@lifestepsusa.org
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Ann Elias, Director of Community and Resident Services
Ann Elias is a strategic leader with over 25 years of experience in non-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She is currently responsible for affordable housing resident services operations at LifeSTEPS, overseeing a team of 180 staff serving nearly 100,000 residents throughout the state of California.
A dedicated educator, Ann has created and delivered workshops, presentations and programs to optimize human performance and leverage world-class outcomes. Throughout her career she has directed organizational effectiveness initiatives, including talent management, training and development, workforce engagement, diversity and inclusion, performance development, succession planning and is passionate about building interdependent teams to deliver outstanding results.
Ann has an MBA in Marketing from Webster University and holds certifications as a master trainer, strengths coach and change management professional. She has directed collaborative initiatives with diverse key stakeholders to deepen culture and develop talent across large and complex organizations.
Ann has also served as a life coach and consultant. She enjoys collaborative working relationships and empowering people to fulfill their personal mission and life goals. She resides in Roseville, California with her family and enjoys traveling, reading, sports, history, volunteering and writing.
Dedria Black
Director of Supportive Health Services
dedria@lifestepsusa.org
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Dedria Black, Director of Supportive Health Services
Prior to joining LifeSTEPS, Black served as Deputy Director of Programs for the City and County of San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. In collaboration with the Department of Public Health, the Human Service Agency and the Department of Emergency Management, Black led the department’s COVID-19 response which included the development of a COVID-19 Command Center, the launch of 25 shelter-in-place hotels providing safe housing for over 2,000 COVID-vulnerable San Francisco residents experiencing homelessness and the implementation of other COVID-19 response initiatives. She previously served as Adult/Older Adult System of Care Director for Calaveras County, where she planned, organized, and directed programs and special projects for the Behavioral Health Care Division.
In 2022, Black will complete her PH.D in Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University and recently completed The Public Leadership Credential Program at Harvard University. Black currently holds an MBA in Organizational Development from Upper Iowa University and three BS degrees in Criminal Justice, Human Services and Paralegal Studies.
Jenny Kolander
Controller
Jenny@lifestepsusa.org
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Jenny Kolander is a finance professional who has worked in non-profit accounting her entire career.
She oversees all financial aspects of the organization including Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Payroll, oversight of funds with donor restrictions, budget preparation, management of special contracts, account/receipt reconciliations, financial management and reporting, tax filings and annual audit preparation. Jenny has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Finance emphasis) from Wisconsin Lutheran College and has taken several Non-Profit accounting certification courses through the Association of International CPA’s, Blackbaud and the California Society of CPA’s, of which she in an associate member. Jenny enjoys collaborating with others in the Finance Department and throughout the organization to improve efficiencies and simplify processes. She is highly motivated by the mission of LifeSTEPS and strives to serve the organization and community with excellence.
Pam Moore
Director of Program Development and Quality Control
pam@lifestepsusa.org
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Pam Moore, Director of Program Development and Quality Control
Pam provides leadership throughout the organization finding strategic solutions to improve the quality of life for at-risk and underserved populations through direct services and community partnerships. After spending nearly a decade working with LifeSTEPS expanding our business model across the State, Pam truly knows how to make an impact developing and implementing diverse programs and has revolutionized the agencies database infrastructure and reporting that continually drives performance to a higher level – and it’s not from just mastering nonprofit leadership. It’s how well she is able to connect with a committed group of professionals, honor individual talents, and communicate the value we bring to our partners.
For 20 years, Pam has also worked with and provided consultations to The Community College Foundation to bring young adults with disabilities work experience opportunities and the necessary job skills and education for them to realize their dreams. In addition, as an Assistant Director for Ride to Walk, she promoted the human physical and mental health that horseplay therapeutic riding brings to children with physical, cognitive and/or emotional disabilities.
Pam enjoys living on three acres with her husband and son in Rocklin. Family, friends and nature are her true source of happiness. She likes taking photos of nature and animals around her pond and loves to read.
Pam holds a BS in Organizational Behavior from National University.
Tracy Garcia
Director of Human Resources
tracy@lifestepsusa.org
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Tracy Garcia, Director of Human Resources
coming soon
REGIONAL STAFF CONTACTS
Lynette Jones
Sacramento Regional Director of Social Services
ljones@lifestepsusa.org
Esmeralda Mendoza
Northern Regional Director of Social Services
emendoza@lifestepsusa.org
Belinda Glass-Lee
Bay Area Regional Director of Social Services
belinda@lifestepsusa.org
Coming Soon
South Bay Regional Director of Social Services
Lizette Chavez
Central California Regional Director of Social Services
lchavez@lifestepsusa.org
Rosa Hernandez
LA Valley Regional Director of Social Services
rhernandez@lifestepsusa.org
Nancy Gonzalez
Orange County/San Diego County/South LA County Regional Director of Social Services
ngonzalez@lifestepsusa.org
Zoila Parodi
Desert Senior Regional Director of Social Services
zoila@lifestepsusa.org
Rachel Roguski
Northern CA Regional Director of Supportive Services
rroguski@lifestepsusa.org
Rochelle Williams
Southern CA Regional Director of Supportive Services
rochellewilliams@lifestepsusa.org
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