Barbara Sachs, Ph.D., MFT, Acting Executive Director & Board Vice President
Barbara Sachs Ph.D. is a teacher, spiritual mentor, trainer, social investor, Psychologist, and Licensed Marriage Family Therapist. She has taught elementary school and trained teachers in West Oakland and in Los Angeles for what was called the "culturally disadvantaged." Barbara was a demonstration teacher at UCLA's Lab School, and has created curriculum for Contra Costa Schools when she was the Mental Health Training Consultant for Contra Costa County. She taught TRIBES (group processes for classrooms), and created and facilitated staff development at schools and at alcoholism agencies as well as creating and implementing peer counseling programs for the junior high and high schools. Barbara taught in Mexico at the Jesuit Universities in Guadalajara and Mexico City, led workshops and women's groups, and has led workshops with Carl Rogers Ph.D., "On Becoming a Person" in Mexico for people of the oppressed. Barbara co-founded and facilitated "dorm listening groups" at UC Santa Barbara as well as leading encounter and growth groups and a radio show with the inmates at Lompoc prison. Barbara was on core faculty at JFK University and was the Clinical Director of the Counseling Clinic. She starts women's giving circles, and teaches and leads workshops with parents on "The Path of Parenting: An Everyday Spiritual Approach".
Barbara received her BA from UC Berekeley, her MA from UC Santa Barbara in Confluent Education, and her Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology at The Institute for Transpersonal Psychology in Menlo Park.
J.C.Lee, Program Director
J.C. Lee completed his undergraduate degree in Secondary Education / English from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in 2005. While there, he founded the Omicron Theatre Project, a theatre company dedicated to producing relevant work for young adults outside the Philadelphia area which he led as Artistic Director for 5 years. J.C. helped found Rainbow Youth, a support group for LGBT youth in high schools in northeastern Pennsylvania and worked for the Obama Campaign as director of youth voter operations in the Lehigh Valley during the Pennsylvania Primary in 2008. He served on the Theatre Faculty at the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts for 3 years and is a noted writer and director. He blogs daily at Rants, Raves and Rethoughts, where you can read more about his work as a playwright as well as his daily musings on politics, art & other random things.
Jennifer Merket, Web Content Manager
Jennifer is interested in the Internet and the way in which users interact with web interfaces. She has always sought to use her skills in a socially responsible way, so she was naturally drawn to the FLI's innovative program. Jennifer is responsible for the content and maintenance of www.thefli.org, as well as the design of the e-newsletter.
Jennifer graduated from Oklahoma Wesleyan University with a B.A. in Communications. While there, she received the Received the Creative Intellect Award in spring 2005 for her ability to problem-solve in an innovative fashion. After graduating, she worked for a local non-profit doing web content for two years before moving to the Bay Area with her husband.In addition to her work in web design, Jennifer is interested in sewing and coffee. She has also modeled for many local designers in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Board of Directors
Brian Mendelsohn, Board President
Brian Mendelsohn is an entrepreneur and executive currently working for Abatix Corp, a $70 Million distribution company focused on the environmental industry. Mr. Mendelsohn's titles at Abatix Corp have included; Branch Leader, Division Manager, and Vice President Sales and Marketing, as well as officer of the company. Brian is also the founder of three successful companies that have raised over $75 million in Venture Funding, served as president of Telekenex, a local phone company, and was Chief Operating Officer of Includix Corporation, a technology firm specializing in cyber security management and assessment for critical network and system infrastructures.
Brian has provided professional coaching and strategy to companies and individuals, utilizing both fundamental and specific consulting to achieve results that make a difference and has been leading and designing personal development programs for businesses and individuals that have touched many lives over the past ten years.
Barbara Sachs, Vice President
Barbara Sachs received her BA at UC Berkeley and her MA in Confluent Education at UC Santa Barbara. She has taught elementary school and trained teachers in West Oakland and in the inner city of Los Angeles. Barbara was a demonstration teacher at UCLA's Lab School, and has created curriculum for Contra Costa Schools when she was the Mental Health Training Consultant for Contra Costa County. She taught TRIBES (group processes for classrooms), and created and facilitated staff development at schools as well as creating and implementing peer counseling programs for the junior high and high schools. Barbara went on to receive her Ph.D in Transpersonal Psychology and has had a clinical practice as a Licensed Marriage,Family Therapist for twenty eight years. Barbara was on core faculty at JFK University and was the Clinical Director of the Transpersonal Counseling Center. She has retired from teaching the Diamond Approach and presently, she inspires women to begin women's giving circles where their collaborative giving empowers other women as well as she teaches and leads workshops with parents on "The Path of Parenting: An Everyday Spiritual Approach". She is taking her three passions of education, parenting,and giving into action.
Michele Lee, Secretary
Michele currently works at Genentech, Inc. where she provides commercial direction on the development of new cancer products in hematology. Her past roles have included brand planning, medical education, thought leader engagement, market research, forecasting, and supporting pre-launch activities.
Prior to Genentech, Michele worked for several years as a strategy consultant at Arthur D. Little in the chemicals and life sciences arena. She has a Master of Business Administration from Kellogg at Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Katherine Eley, Board Member
Katherine Eley is the Founder and Principal Consultant for KAE Validation Services, LLC, a firm of professionals specializing in providing commissioning, validation and FDA compliance services for Biopharmaceutical and Pharmaceutical manufacturers. She is responsible for the strategic leadership and growth of the organization. In addition to her leadership roles within the company, she is responsible for developing and executing business development strategies and driving the company’s marketing efforts.
Prior to the formation of KAE Validation Services, LLC, Kathy held the role of Senior Validation Engineer with Human Genome Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical research and manufacturing company located in Rockville, MD. Her work at HGS included start-up and validation of 2 clinical manufacturing suites and a large scale pilot plant. From 1995 to 2000 Kathy worked with Baxter Pharmaceuticals (formerly Amvax, Inc). There she was responsible for plant start-up and supervising manufacturing operations in both fermentation and purification. Kathy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Maryland.
David Bash, Board Treasurer
David Bash, CEO of WineQuest, is responsible for advancing the company's industry leading products and services to improve the guest experience with beverages. WineQuest currently works with thousands of restaurants and hotels globally and has trained hundreds of thousands of hospitality professionals.
David has been with WineQuest for four years. Prior to that, David spent 10 years doing internet product strategy for software companies including Salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM), Hyperion (NASDAQ:HYSL), and Harte-Hanks (NYSE:HHS).
John Watkins, Board Member
John Watkins received his BA in Art History from Amherst College and his MEd and EdD in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has taught in Outward Bound and in various adaptive experiential education programs, and was a high school art and tech theater teacher for many years. He has been a consultant in educational change for the past twenty-two years. John coaches, consults, and conducts research and evaluation in schools, school districts, government agencies, non-profits, and select private sector companies. His work supports innovative leadership, team development, and purposive organizational change. His mission is to help build wise networks in and across wise organizations to serve a more democratic, socially just, and ecologically sustainable community. John is an avid backpacker and Anusara yoga practitioner. He is the proud father of two grown sons, both professional musicians.
Coimbra Jackson & Theo Olsen: Co- Presidents of Alumni Board
Eve Cowen, Ed.M., Founder
After five years of founding and developing FLI, Eve Cowen transitioned out of the role as FLI's Executive Director. Founding and developing The Future Leaders Institute was Eve's dream come true. It was always her plan to develop the organization and empower others to carry on the legacy. She is grateful to all of you who have helped to make this opportunity and vision a growing reality. Though she has stepped down as FLI's Executive Director, Eve remains active in contributing to the organization's ongoing success and growth as FLI’s Founder. She is grateful to you, the board, staff and the greater FLI Family in their awesome support for FLI in developing young social entrepreneurs and socially responsible leaders to better our world.
