Elise has spent the majority of her career in both the healthcare and nonprofit world. Early in her career she worked in medical offices, specializing in Ophthalmology. From there she worked at Blue Shield of California implementing and managing a grant funded volunteer program of several hundred Medicare aged volunteers helping other seniors. Most recently she was the Associate Director of Healthcare Training Programs at JVS SoCal overseeing a nonclinical healthcare training program as well as a CNA training program.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in both Liberal Arts and Gerontology from Mount Saint Mary’s University and a Master’s Degree in Gerontology from the University of Southern California. She recently earned a certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from the University of South Florida and is a certified case manager and certified life and happiness coach.

She has been on the boards of the California Alliance of Information and Referral Services, the Alumnae Board of Mount Saint Mary’s University, The American Association of Ophthalmic Executives and most recently was a Board Member of the Northern Valleys Chapter of the Red Cross. She volunteers as a Senior Shift Supervisor of the Los Angeles Mayor’s Crisis Response Team and is part of a philanthropic family foundation (The Jewel Levine Foundation) which raises money for families in the Conejo Valley who are dealing with crisis.

Elise was born in Queens, NY but grew up in the San Fernando Valley and now lives in the Westwood area with her partner.

Lastly, I am very grateful to Norma Vega for taking time in addition to her day to day role to skillfully step in as our interim Executive Director during this important transition.