Liz has held senior staff and advisory positions with nonprofits, international economic development organizations, startups, and corporations. After a decade assisting companies in their international expansion planning, Elizabeth has refocused on local opportunities for regenerative economic development. Liz began her career raising funds during the AIDS crisis in San Francisco, then moved to LA to work with arts and youth organizations (Spirit Awards, FIND and Project:Involve). She helped develop and secure funds for Words of Our Ancients (1994), a documentary about the Hopi. She went on to serve as the initial Executive Director for the Tavis Smiley Foundation's Youth to Leaders, multi-city advocacy and leadership program for Black youth held in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago and NYC. Liz has helped with the launch of several internationally recognized San Diego-based educational companies. She currently serves as a University of California Irvine admissions reader.Liz specializes in developing novel and innovative strategies for sustainable growth. She also has broad media and marketing experience, having produced an internal diversity training film for Microsoft (Diversity Drives Innovation) and the Swiss government where she developed seminars on international expansion opportunities, tax, and biotech. Liz is a graduate of University California Berkeley and continues as a lifetime alumni. In 2017 she began volunteering at the San Diego Botanic Garden, and knew she had found "her people." She received a Permaculture Design Certificate from the LA Permaculture Academy in 2018, and continues to focus on herbalism, women's wellness and aging as an Ellementa Leader. She also serves on the Santaluz Wine Committee, and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Berry Good Foundation. Liz spends her time in both San Diego and Los Angeles, where she is an advisor for Pando Populus, a nonprofit addressing Los Angeles's sustainability plan.