The Orange County Community Foundation Team

Shelley Hoss
President
949.553.4202 ext. 25

With 26 years of experience as a nonprofit executive, Shelley Hoss has served as president of the Orange County Community Foundation for 12 years. She works with the Board of Governors to oversee the mission and direction of the Community Foundation and also works with donors to help them achieve strategic impact with their giving. Prior to joining OCCF, Shelley served as the executive director of Girls Incorporated of Orange County and in several leadership positions at the Orangewood Children's Foundation. Shelley serves as Chair of the Orange County Funders Roundtable, immediate past Chair of the League of California Community Foundations, and is a member of the Council on Foundations. She is a Phi Beta Kappa scholar with a joint Master's degree in Business and Public Administration from the Merage School of Business at UC Irvine, and serves as a guest lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Merage School of Business.

Lisa Calvino
Philanthropic Services Officer
949.553.4202 ext. 42

Lisa Calvino is responsible for supporting all aspects of the Foundation’s donor-advised fund development and philanthropic services in the community. Prior to joining the Foundation in December 2011, Lisa served on the major gift team at CHOC Children’s Foundation, where she worked closely with donors and support committees. She also oversaw all aspects of resident services for Millennium Housing’s communities, serving as a liaison between residents and various community resources. Lisa is a graduate of University of California, San Diego, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in human development with a minor in teacher education.

Liane Hoar is responsible for providing support to Orange County Community Foundation’s Philanthropic Services department. She started with the foundation in November 2009 as the Administrative Assistant; she also brings four years of Administrative Assistance with her previously having worked for Financial Advisors in Cypress, California. She is currently working on completing coursework in Sign Interpretation and Communications at Saddleback College.

An invaluable resource for donors and nonprofits alike, Todd Hanson is vice president of donor relations and programs at the Orange County Community Foundation. He helps donors by developing personalized giving plans, arranging agency tours, organizing presentations on community issues and providing research reports on nonprofits. He visits more than 100 local charities each year to stay informed on the latest programs, services and results. He has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofits, including ten years at OCCF, and is the former executive director of Camp Fire USA in Orange County. He is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton.

Patricia Benevenia came to the Foundation in July of 2005. Prior to joining the Foundation, she was a Program Coordinator at the Orange County Bar Foundation, educating young Latinas and their mothers in substance abuse and HIV prevention. Previously, Patricia worked at Girls Incorporated of Orange County, where she worked on numerous projects at the Main Center. As a Program Officer, Patricia provides grant management for the Community Foundation and acts as a liaison on behalf of nonprofit organizations. She is an advocate for the nonprofit community, connecting organizations to resources, funding and donors. Patricia is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.

Carol Ferguson 
Donor Relations Officer
949.553.4202 ext. 27

Carol Ferguson came to the Community Foundation in October 2010. Carol brings several years of corporate business development experience to her role as Donor Relations Officer. She began her career at Xerox Corporation and spent several years providing technical services to mid- to large-size companies. In her role, Carol supports our donors by developing personal giving plans, researching nonprofits and arranging agency tours. By keeping a pulse on the Orange County nonprofit community, she maintains a broad understanding of the changing needs in the community and uses this knowledge to work with donors to meet their giving goals. Carol graduated with a business degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and earned her MBA at Pepperdine University.

Marisa Conner
Donor & Community Engagement Associate
949.553.4202 ext. 48

Marisa Conner provides administrative support for the Donor Relations and Programs department, assisting with granting and program activities, donor relations and other special projects. A recent graduate from Chapman University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in art, Marisa has been very active in the local nonprofit community, interning with Casa Teresa, Orange County Therapeutic Arts Center and Girls, Inc. She also led a number of philanthropy and service projects through Chapman.

Michelle Abril
Scholarship Associate
949.553.4202 ext. 46

In her role as Scholarship Associate for the Donor & Community Engagement team, Michelle facilitates the scholarship application process and acts as a liaison on behalf of OCCF's many donors.  She brings eight years of education and nonprofit experience that includes coordinating successful youth programs and serving on volunteer fundraising committees for leading Orange County nonprofits.  Michelle holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from California State University San Bernardino.

Aava Nami
Donor & Community Engagement Assistant
949.553.4202 ext. 30

Aava Nami graduated in May 2011 from Cal State University, Fullerton with a bachelor's degree in Communications and an emphasis on Entertainment Studies.  She provides vital support services to the Donor and Community Engagement team including processing grants and charitable distribution requests as well as donor relations and special project support.  Aava is a key point person in establishing lines of communication between grantees and OCCF staff.

Nazeli Dzhanikyan
Assistant
949.553.4202 ext. 30

Nazeli Dzhanikyan provides administrative support for the Donor & Community Engagement team, specifically assisting with scholarship activities and donor relations tasks. Nazeli is a senior at UC Irvine where she is a SAGE Scholar pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Nazeli brings several years of customer service and finance administration expertise to her role at OCCF from her prior work experience at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank.

Tracy Branson is responsible for managing the accounting of the Orange County Community Foundation's more than $140 million in assets. She oversees the foundation's management and financial reporting, including quarterly statements for donor-advised funds. Before joining OCCF in 1991, Tracy was an auditor with Ernst & Young for nine years. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is a Certified Public Accountant. Tracy is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Diane Cleary joined the Orange County Community Foundation family with an extensive accounting background in the real estate industry. Diane has served as a senior accountant for companies such as D.R. Horton and Classic Pacific Homes, where she was responsible for supervising staff and overseeing a variety of projects. At the Orange County Community Foundation, she is responsible for general accounting and finance tasks relevant to daily operations. Diane holds a B.A. degree in finance from California State University, Northridge.

With the Orange County Community Foundation since 1996, Joanne Udell handles human resources, internal operations and processes donor stock gifts. She acquired an HR Management Certificate from the University of California, Irvine in 2002 and became a member of the Irvine Police and Fire Authority's Community Emergency Response Team in 2006.

Dan Ball brings to the Orange County Community Foundation seven years of experience in accounting and more than eight years working in the field of commercial property management. Dan is responsible for the processing of grants, scholarships, and operating disbursements, as well as assisting with cash receipts.

As the welcoming face of the Orange County Community Foundation, Priscilla Valdez is responsible for managing the front office, which keeps the organization running smoothly. Priscilla brings over eight years of customer service experience to OCCF and is a graduate of Taller San Jose's Office Careers Academy.

For the past five years Cynthia Ragland, APR, has served as vice president of marketing and communications for the Orange County Community Foundation in Newport Beach, Calif.  She works to raise visibility of the foundation among a wide range of stakeholders including philanthropists, nonprofits, and business and community leaders.  She has led marketing and outreach of OCCF's community engagement site ConnectOC.org, which launched in November.  ConnectOC takes a hard look at the myths and realities about life in Orange County and suggests ways we can move the needle to improve life for those who call the county home.  Cynthia serves on the steering committee for CommA, a communications affinity group of the Council on Foundations.  She is also past president of the Orange County Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.  She holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a bachelor's in journalism From California State University, Fullerton.

Stephanie Christian
Marketing Associate
949.553.4202 ext. 47

As Marketing Associate, Stephanie is responsible for advancing the foundation's presence online and offline, as well as coordinating communications to key audiences such as donors, nonprofit organizations and professional advisors.  She brings 5 years of marketing and outreach experience in the nonprofit sector to OCCF. Stephanie graduated with honors from California State University Fullerton and holds a bachelor’s degree in art education.

Courtney Doeing
Marketing Assistant
949.553.4202 ext. 45

Courtney Doeing provides administrative support to the Vice President of Marketing and Communications as well as for the department, assisting with special projects and marketing related activities.  A recent graduate from California State University Fullerton with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology, she brings an eagerness and passion to serve the community.  Courtney's marketing experience includes an internship in the Communications Department at Mesa Water District where she supported general public relations activities and participated in a variety of outreach events within the community.