Headquartered in Long Beach, The Guidance Center provides comprehensive mental health services to more than 3,000 children and parents in three clinics, local schools and co-located partnerships throughout greater Long Beach, Compton, Lynwood, Paramount, San Pedro and Avalon on Catalina Island. Founded in 1946, The Guidance Center is guided by a volunteer board of directors consisting of leaders from various segments of the communities The Guidance Center serves.
“We are pleased to welcome these five individuals to our board of directors,” said Eric Adler, Esq., chair of The Guidance Center’s board of directors and partner at Magee & Adler. “Their connections to the community and experience in their respective industries will be invaluable as we guide and support The Guidance Center’s important mission of leading children and families struggling with mental illness and abuse toward positive and productive futures.”
Neal is a minister, activist and policy-maker. He currently serves as the civic engagement advocate for Molina Healthcare, establishing and building strong relationships between Molina Healthcare and the community by engaging residents and raising awareness of healthcare issues and resources available to address those issues. From 2010-2014, Neal represented north Long Beach as the 9th District councilmember.
“As a community advocate, I’ve seen first-hand the challenges our families face, particularly homelessness, substance abuse and mental health,” Neal said. “Early intervention and preventative services are so important to making a difference in the lives of families and our youth. I am honored to join The Guidance Center’s board of directors because, as an agency, they are doing just that by working in our schools and throughout our community.”
Allen is vice president and senior bank manager of First Bank Bixby Knolls branch in Long Beach, and is a former board member of The Jackie Robinson YMCA in San Diego. Allen volunteered with Junior Achievement for nine years and Habitat for Humanity for nearly 17 years.
Snare recently retired after serving 25 years as a healthcare account executive with Siemens Medical Solutions, working with different healthcare organizations to improve patient care and business operations. Experienced with raising awareness of the importance of children’s mental health and as an equestrian, Snare has also volunteered with children’s horse therapy organizations.
Walsh, a Long Beach resident of 46 years, served as a federal prosecutor in Washington D.C., Chicago and Los Angeles for 43 years before retiring recently. Before law school, Walsh graduated from Rutgers University and served in the U.S. Navy for seven years.
Wilson is currently a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice, specializing in grief and loss. He is also the clinical director of New Hope Grief Support Community in Long Beach and on the board of directors for The Gestalt Therapy Institute in Los Angeles. A former educator, Wilson has lived in Long Beach for more than 30 years.
“We have an incredible board of directors, and I’m thrilled that these dynamic community members have joined,” said Patricia Costales, LCSW, CEO of The Guidance Center. “I’m looking forward to working with them all as The Guidance Center continues to anticipate the needs of the community and offer programs to meet them.”
The 2016-2017 Guidance Center Board of Directors includes: chair, Eric Adler, partner, Magee & Adler, APC; vice chair Ana Perez, real-estate consultant; secretary Susan Cooper, accountant, Cooper Tax Services; Kris Allen, vice president and senior bank manager of First Bank Bixby Knolls Branch; Frank Baker, editor, The Associated Press; Tiffany Brown, EdD, assistant superintendent, School Support Services, Long Beach Unified School District; Joanna Exacoustos, language-arts consultant; Nancy Foster, mental health advocate; Luis Maimoni, MS, marriage and family therapist intern; Elaine Marks, retired, LA County Probation Department; Mike Nelson, senior managing director, CBRE Consulting; Steven Neal, civic engagement advocate, Molina Healthcare; Ahmed Saafir, administrator/owner, Orange Community Care, Inc.; Tim Sailor, principal, Navigo Consulting Group; Betsy Snare, retired healthcare account executive, Siemens Medical Solutions; Jim Walsh, attorney; and Jerry Wilson, LMFT, therapist.
Source: The Guidance Center
