TEAM
Dedicated, passionate, and industrious, our experts are united in their commitment to promoting justice, equity, and inclusion through their work.
Associates
Dedicated to positive social change, Lisa Watson began her career in the nonprofit sector over twenty years ago. As Executive Director and later CEO of The Downtown Women’s Center from 2000 through 2014, she provided leadership through DWC’s transformation from a small agency that served 300 homeless women annually into a nationally recognized homeless services organization and anchor agency within Los Angeles County. With a focus on eliminating barriers to ending homelessness, Lisa Watson worked to dramatically expand the capacity of DWC to serve residents of Skid Row. From 2015 to 2018 Lisa served as the Inaugural Director of The Laspa Center for Leadership at Scripps College. Under her leadership, the center strived to create a diverse community of knowledgeable women leaders who are prepared to take on global challenges and advance the role of women in contemporary leadership positions.
Lisa’s years of experience working with business planning, fund development, financial and social impact analysis, and strategy complement her MBA and inform her expertise. She is proficient in helping nonprofits succeed in meeting their financial and social goals, and adept at strategic partnerships. She is also experienced in entrepreneurial endeavors, having developed three social enterprises from the ground up.
Honors: Lisa Watson has been honored as a Local Hero by KCET, was named one of Los Angeles Magazine’s Top 50 Women Changemakers and has been recognized by The Annenberg Foundation as a Visionary Leader.
Passion: Applying vision to overcoming challenges
Molly Moen brings over 20 years of nonprofit management and development experience to her role at Watson Consulting Group. In senior leadership positions at both Chrysalis and Downtown Women’s Center, Molly was responsible for fundraising, communications, and advocacy efforts; guided strategic work on mission, vision, values, intended impact, and theory of change; provided oversight for fiscal management; led Board development work; and more, ensuring both the funds and strategic capacity for dramatic organizational growth. Molly has also worked with Phoenix Houses of California and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. She is passionate about helping organizations build the capacity they need to achieve their mission and helping communities work towards resilience and equity. Molly holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Wells College and a Master’s in International Business from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School.
Honors: Wells College Young Alumna/us Award Winner (2016), Wausau School District Hall of Fame Inductee (2015), Pepperdine University George Awards Community Service Award Winner (2014)
Passion: Social justice, capacity building, and her family
Irene Marsh-Elmer’s strong belief in social equity has driven her education and career. Passionate about the role of policy in improving economic equity, health outcomes, and quality of life, Irene completed degrees in Public Policy and Public Health from Claremont Graduate University. Irene’s experience implementing programs as well as working with public and private sector partners behind the scenes has given her a range of knowledge that informs her work. Irene has administered federal, state, and local grants and holds expertise in programs focused on housing, homelessness, and human services. She strongly believes in the power of research and evaluation to improve the impact of nonprofits and governmental organizations who serve marginalized and underserved populations.
Passion: Environmental sustainability, ethical treatment for all living things
Zaneta brings 10+ years of experience with non-profits and social enterprises to her role with the Watson Consulting Group. A former White House Intern in the Obama Administration, Zaneta discovered she had a knack for explaining macro-level data to the masses. She returned to Los Angeles to serve high-risk young adult populations at the beginning of Assembly bill 109 being instituted in CA. Her training in clinical practice & social enterprises while pursuing her master's of Social Work (MSW) led her to serve various social enterprises in Los Angeles including, Downtown Women's Center and LA Kitchen. The latter at which she created clinical programming to increase impact and long-term outcomes. Zaneta developed a passion and expertise for workforce development often working in tandem with housing professionals. Zaneta has a desire for macro level work and systems change to better assist direct-service professionals. She received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago and her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Spelman College.
Honors: Zaneta has received many accolades, including Nike Legacy Project - Changemaker (2021), Biddy Mason Award (2019), Rising Champion (2018), and Impact Maker to Watch (2017)
Passion: Reading, traveling, and eating (not in any particular order)
Prior to joining social work, Geli worked in an eclectic array of settings. She developed keen insight into many aspects of community building and connection. Being born and raised in the heart of Los Angeles has enabled Geli's drive to support the community most near to her heart. Having a well-rounded education and challenging life experiences has influenced Geli to take the route of being a macro social worker. Geli completed a one-year internship with Ascencia, a nonprofit agency with a mission of lifting people out of homelessness, one person, one family at a time. She continues to be active in supporting other nonprofits in her free time that includes advocating for LGBTQI+, former foster youth, and people experiencing homelessness.
Geli received multiple degrees from Pasadena City College and a BASW from California State University of Los Angeles. She also received a Master of Social Work degree from Cal State LA’s Advanced Standing Program.
Honors: Summa Cum Laude (4.0 GPA), California State University of Los Angeles (2023)
Passion: Photography, Art, Music, Food, Traveling, Culture, Advocacy, Social Justice, and Equity.
Other Support
Lauren provides social change-based leadership development for nonprofit leaders and agencies. Lauren received her BA in Ethnic Studies from Mills College where she also served as the Coordinator of Engagement and Inclusion, leading support services for first-generation college students and leading underrepresented student retention programs at the Social Justice Resources Center. She has facilitated social justice programming ranging on topics of social identity, inclusion, oppression, power, privilege, and liberation. Lauren has specialized in providing leadership development and student support services and participated in AmeriCorps Public Allies, advocating for better access to community resources. Lauren's interests include staff wellness and morale, retention, engagement, and diversity and inclusion work with agencies and individuals from underrepresented communities and coaching support to developing young leaders of color.
Passion: Diversity, community, and engagement
As a newcomer to the profession of social work, Kevin knows he has a lot to learn but he also has a lot to give. After graduating from UCLA with his BA in psychology from UCLA, Kevin decided to pursue the social change innovation track in the USC MSW program. Kevin believes that social justice and social change is at the heart of the social work profession. Kevin played a central role during the foundation phase of a nonprofit organization in China that is dedicated to providing quality education for children in secluded parts of the country. As a Chinese American, he is dedicated to promoting racial equity. In his free time, Kevin has been actively participating in various projects that prioritizes the underserved population of the community.
Passion: Traveling, nature, outreach, community coalition.
After obtaining her B.A. in Health and Society and International Relations from Beloit College, Stephanie returned home to Los Angeles to pursue work centered around health equity. Her work in homeless health services and her commitment to social justice led her to pursue her Master of Social Work degree at Cal State Los Angeles.
Stephanie is passionate about community work and is involved with mutual aid efforts in the San Gabriel Valley. Her dedication to promoting health and racial equity and improving the lives of marginalized communities drives her work.
Passion: Health and racial equity, community, environmental justice, photography, reading, traveling.
Alexis Obinna has been volunteering and giving back to various communities since age eight and has over 10 years of experience working to improve the child welfare system. An Alumnus of California State University Los Angeles, Alexis uses her Bachelor's in Social Work degree to give back to various communities. Alexis is a huge social and racial justice advocate and has fought for the rights of many people of color. When she is not working on her two small businesses, Alexis supports nonprofits as an independent contractor specializing in outreach, engagement, small business support, and foster youth education guidance. She also teaches as an Instructor Development Coordinator at UC Davis. Alexis has collaborated with many governmental and nonprofit agencies and works towards creating spaces that provide the equitable resources and fair chances that she was denied.
Lisa has supported all of Watson Consulting Group’s efforts since the firm’s start. She has supported principal Lisa Watson over the course of her 25-year career in a variety of roles as a thought-partner, technical writer, and operational assistant. As WCG’s operations administrator, Lisa is available to assist matters large and small of every kind, and can otherwise be found (very) busy in her painting studio.
Passion: Social Equity, all things art