Our passions and skills are a compilation of our life’s experiences. Jennifer is an example of how varied experiences lead to a passion for youth and education born of an ideal mix of managerial, financial, strategic, and creative skills helping non-profit organizations realize their missions.Believing in the power of education and community, Jennifer works to ensure that every student, regardless of their ethnicity, neighborhood, or learning style has the resources to realize their hopes and dreams for the future.A Journalism degree from the University of Missouri provided the basis for her talents as a skilled writer and a curiosity for understanding the story behind the story, skills she has applied throughout her professional journey.Jennifer has always had a passion for community and volunteerism. It was natural, as a mother, she would volunteer in her children’s schools. Drawn to leadership positions, she became a PTA President and eventually an executive board member on the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation, lobbying state representatives for school funding, leading community-based fundraising campaigns, and grass roots efforts to pass local bond measures and parcel taxes. These rewarding experiences led her to a life-changing opportunity to become the first Executive Director of MBX Foundation, with responsibilities that included managing after school enrichment and summer school programs, as well as oversight of over fifty booster clubs.Creating, supervising, and growing educational programs instilled a vision for what is possible in a high quality, enriched educational environment and the passion to bring this vision and opportunity to ALL children. She recognizes our current educational system is in a period of profound transformation with non-profit organizations at the forefront and is proud to be a contributor to this change. She believes in alternative and diversified learning environments and loves collaborating with educators, helping them realize their visions and meet programmatic and financial challenges.Her entrepreneurial spirit has inspired her to always move forward with intent and creativity. Jennifer is enthusiastic about design, completing a post-graduate Certificate in Interior Architecture at UCLA. She founded Simple Transitions, a business helping customers with remodeling, organization, and relocation. A business owner, she understands the challenges of running a business, including accounting principles, and grassroots marketing, valued experience when managing non-profits.