Coffee & Connections: Meet the Funders

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

8:30 am - 10:30 am
California Lutheran - Oxnard Campus
2201 Outlet Center Drive, Oxnard, CA 93036

Individual Members: No Additional Fee
Organizational Members: No Additional Fee
Non-Members: No Additional Fee

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Vanessa Bechtel

Ventura County Community Foundation -- President & CEO

Vanessa Bechtel, AIFA, CSPG, serves as President and CEO of the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF). Over the last five years, because of the support of thousands of generous donors, the foundation has been able to grant over $111 million in service to our community, advancing a wide range of causes, including access to education, health care, housing, the environment, animal welfare, arts and music, disaster relief and response, and so much more!

Prior to her work with VCCF, Bechtel served as executive director of the Santa Barbara City College Foundation. She co-founded Monarch Wealth Strategies in 2008 and was honored as Business Woman of the Year by the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce in 2010. Bechtel was recognized as Nonprofit Leader of the Year by the Ventura County Leadership Academy in 2019 and Humanitarian of the Year by the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation with her spouse, Jim. In December 2020, Bechtel was named Woman of the Year for 2020 by both the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce and the 19th Senatorial District and 37th Assembly District.

Bechtel graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Law and Society. In 2016, she received her master’s degree from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. She also received her master’s certificate from the International Institute for the Sociology of Law in Onati, Spain in 2002.

Araceli Centeno

McCune Foundation -- Program Officer

Araceli currently serves as a Program Officer for the McCune Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering and mobilizing excluded populations in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Araceli was born in Ventura, CA, to farm working parents and grew up in Oxnard’s Colonia neighborhood. She has a B.A. from San Francisco State University and an MPH from Keck School of medicine at USC.  She has worked as a community organizer conducting direct actions, tackling issues such as environmental justice, workers’ rights, and gentrification. Araceli has trained and mentored aspiring organizers in topics such as campaign building, grassroots fundraising, direct actions, community building, and other organizing tactics. Araceli is a firm believer that people have the power to build healthy self-autonomous communities through community organizing. 

Verena Kwan

Southern California Edison -- Corporate Philanthropy Advisor

Verena has worked 10+ years supporting the community development and corporate responsibility space.  As a Corporate Philanthropy Advisor at Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the nation's largest electric utilities,  she creates and manages impactful philanthropic programs that align with SCE's vision, values, and goals for a clean energy future. Her mission is to maximize the positive influence and value of philanthropic giving and volunteerism through meaningful partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including nonprofit organizations, government agencies, community leaders and members.

Mary Noor

Bank of America -- SVP, Market Executive - Ventura / Santa Barbara

Mary currently serves as Bank of America's lead local market representative for the Ventura / Santa Barbara region.  Beyond her broader role to drive local market strategies that grow revenue, boost employee engagement and enhance the bank's reputation, Mary manages community partnerships, sponsorships and philanthropic efforts that align with Bank of America's corporate priorities. This includes executing local grant making and sponsorship initiatives that support community development.