Natalie Alvarez has been with the Greater Phoenix Urban League (GPUL) for over 25 years and is now the Chief Operating Officer. She has dedicated her career to working with children and families; the GPUL provides one of the largest Head Start programs in the city of Phoenix, providing services to Phoenix’s most vulnerable populations. Natalie partnered with State of Black Arizona on the No Ceilings on Success. The team has been meeting with the community to not only bring awareness around the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) State plan, but to hold the State leaders accountable. Natalie has served in several roles on the Executive Board for the Arizona Head Start Association for over 14 years.

Wassy Tesfa, Executive Director of Pacific Clinics Head Start in Los Angeles, California. Ms. Tesfa is the longest standing Chair of the Region 9 Head Start Association. Under her leadership, Region 9 Head Start Association has grown from a voluntary lead organization with one annual event, to a high impact community resource, staffed by three professionals, and touching over 5000 individuals this past program year. In collaboration with her colleagues on the Board as well as national consultants and advisors, Wassy has steered Region 9 Head Start Association to be a force of change and innovation.

Colleen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Studies and Master’s Degree in Leadership and Organizational Design. She possesses more than 19 years of experience in leading, evaluating, restructuring, and providing professional development opportunities to Early Childhood Education programs across the nation.

As a Board Member for both the Region 9 Head Start Association and Head Start California, Colleen is actively engaged in advocacy efforts for our nation’s youngest and most vulnerable children at the state and national levels. She remains grounded in intentionality related to strategic program planning, service delivery, and professional development opportunities for all Head Start and Early Head Start staff. Additionally, Colleen feels strongly about promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion for all through program leadership, staffing, curriculum, and professional development in all (children’s, parent’s, staff’s) learning environments.

In her new role as the Chair of the Board for the Region 9 Head Start Association, Colleen is dedicated to supporting the transformational changes needed by the Region’s Head Start programs as state funding, thus preschool age slots, becomes increasingly more available. We know that Head Start programs will continue to persevere through these changes, as they always have, by focusing on community and agency needs, and the critical role of planning, continuous quality improvement, and strength-based professional development opportunities. And, through collaboration, intentional planning, and a passion for what we, and Head Start programs do, the Region IX Head Start Association will be here to support Head Start programs excel through these changes every step of the way. Through this commitment and collaboration, long-lasting and positive impacts on children’s development, parent engagement, workforce competencies, and program excellence are achievable and sustainable.

As a human rights advocate, Larry deeply cares for people.  He has dedicated his professional career defending the dignity of all persons regardless of age, ethnicity, religion, income, or any other status.  He believes strongly that every family is worthy to receive parenting supports that empower them to raise children to their full potential and to love unconditionally.

To this end Larry has served Head Start families for 15 years in the capacity of senor management and executive director roles.  “One of my greatest joys throughout my Head Start career was working with families in policy council,” affirms Larry.  He found it incredibly rewarding to see parents, guardians, grandparents, or other caring family units dedicate themselves to advocacy and learning transparent governance practices.

Prior to coming to Head Start Larry worked on federally funded Ryan White grants that provide HIV care and treatment services to low-income people with HIV/AIDS who are uninsured or underserved. In this capacity Larry did outreach to high-risk population groups, conducting HIV testing and linking HIV positive persons to case management services.

Throughout the 1990’s Larry spent 10 years working oversees in Argentina, South America where he provided faith and hope to vulnerable families and children living in poverty and in need of spiritual resources.

Larry has had the privilege to serve on the Region 9 Head Start Association Board of Directors since 2017 and currently serves as the Treasurer on the Executive Team.  Understanding the demanding work required to run a great Head Start program and with a strong passion to help Directors, Larry began consulting and organizational development coaching in 2019 helping them build strong leadership teams.

Following his graduate master’s program, he continues investing in his personal and professional development.  Larry is a graduate of the UCLA Fellows Program, holds three professional certifications from the Certified Coaches Alliance, and a certificate from Cornell University in Change Management.

Married, he and his wife reside in Phoenix, Arizona along with their three adult children.  Larry has four grandchildren under the age of three.  “I loved parenting my children, but I never imagined the tender spot in my heart that grandchildren would fill with joy,” reveals Larry.

Bill’s career started in Seattle in the early 80’s in business banking, with specialized training from the American Institute of Banking (AIB) and a finance degree from Columbia Pacific University.

Shortly after, Bill started volunteering in the community with United States Triathlon Series and a few years later, with Head Start. In 1985, Bill moved from Seattle, Washington to Davis, CA.

Bill has spent 20 years in the non-profit sector serving in a multitude of positions from line staff to executive roles. He thoroughly understands partnerships and collaboration and has proven his ability to bring groups and individuals together for a common cause throughout California. Bill was instrumental in utilizing a Domestic Peace Corps program, known as AmeriCorps, in social and health services, where it had never been done before. This effort led to maximizing nonprofit existing resources, therefore
expanding services, and building partnerships throughout California.

Bill is highly recognized for his creative management solutions to address administrative, fiscal and program needs of non-profits. For the last fifteen years, he has served as a full-service broker and has a proven track record with current clients to reduce overhead, maximize employee benefits and increase efficiencies in all areas of non-profit administration.

Bill has been a guest speaker on several issues regarding leveraging existing
resources, assessing liabilities of the organization, understanding benefits and developing tailored specific employee benefit packages with various organizations and for conferences.

Bill serves as the President and Chairman of the Board for Mindful Insurance Solutions, Inc. He is excited about his role and he acts as a change agent in many cases, negotiating strategically to benefit the clients.

Bill is also a council member for two insurance carriers specializing in non-profits and is an executive board member of the Region 9 Head Start Association, Finance Committee Member of Yolo Hospice and the National Head Start Association. In addition, .Bill is a trainer for the California Head Start Association and advisor for the Training & Leadership Community.

Natalie Alvarez has been with the Greater Phoenix Urban League (GPUL) for over 25 years and is now the Chief Operating Officer. She has dedicated her career to working with children and families; the GPUL provides one of the largest Head Start programs in the city of Phoenix, providing services to Phoenix’s most vulnerable populations. Natalie partnered with State of Black Arizona on the No Ceilings on Success. The team has been meeting with the community to not only bring awareness around the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) State plan, but to hold the State leaders accountable. Natalie has served in several roles on the Executive Board for the Arizona Head Start Association for over 14 years.

Colleen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Studies and Master’s Degree in Leadership and Organizational Design. She possesses more than 19 years of experience in leading, evaluating, restructuring, and providing professional development opportunities to Early Childhood Education programs across the nation.

As a Board Member for both the Region 9 Head Start Association and Head Start California, Colleen is actively engaged in advocacy efforts for our nation’s youngest and most vulnerable children at the state and national levels. She remains grounded in intentionality related to strategic program planning, service delivery, and professional development opportunities for all Head Start and Early Head Start staff. Additionally, Colleen feels strongly about promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion for all through program leadership, staffing, curriculum, and professional development in all (children’s, parent’s, staff’s) learning environments.

In her new role as the Chair of the Board for the Region 9 Head Start Association, Colleen is dedicated to supporting the transformational changes needed by the Region’s Head Start programs as state funding, thus preschool age slots, becomes increasingly more available. We know that Head Start programs will continue to persevere through these changes, as they always have, by focusing on community and agency needs, and the critical role of planning, continuous quality improvement, and strength-based professional development opportunities. And, through collaboration, intentional planning, and a passion for what we, and Head Start programs do, the Region IX Head Start Association will be here to support Head Start programs excel through these changes every step of the way. Through this commitment and collaboration, long-lasting and positive impacts on children’s development, parent engagement, workforce competencies, and program excellence are achievable and sustainable.

Wassy Tesfa, Executive Director of Pacific Clinics Head Start in Los Angeles, California. Ms. Tesfa is the longest standing Chair of the Region 9 Head Start Association. Under her leadership, Region 9 Head Start Association has grown from a voluntary lead organization with one annual event, to a high impact community resource, staffed by three professionals, and touching over 5000 individuals this past program year. In collaboration with her colleagues on the Board as well as national consultants and advisors, Wassy has steered Region 9 Head Start Association to be a force of change and innovation.

Bill’s career started in Seattle in the early 80’s in business banking, with specialized training from the American Institute of Banking (AIB) and a finance degree from Columbia Pacific University.

Shortly after, Bill started volunteering in the community with United States Triathlon Series and a few years later, with Head Start. In 1985, Bill moved from Seattle, Washington to Davis, CA.

Bill has spent 20 years in the non-profit sector serving in a multitude of positions from line staff to executive roles. He thoroughly understands partnerships and collaboration and has proven his ability to bring groups and individuals together for a common cause throughout California. Bill was instrumental in utilizing a Domestic Peace Corps program, known as AmeriCorps, in social and health services, where it had never been done before. This effort led to maximizing nonprofit existing resources, therefore
expanding services, and building partnerships throughout California.

Bill is highly recognized for his creative management solutions to address administrative, fiscal and program needs of non-profits. For the last fifteen years, he has served as a full-service broker and has a proven track record with current clients to reduce overhead, maximize employee benefits and increase efficiencies in all areas of non-profit administration.

Bill has been a guest speaker on several issues regarding leveraging existing
resources, assessing liabilities of the organization, understanding benefits and developing tailored specific employee benefit packages with various organizations and for conferences.

Bill serves as the President and Chairman of the Board for Mindful Insurance Solutions, Inc. He is excited about his role and he acts as a change agent in many cases, negotiating strategically to benefit the clients.

Bill is also a council member for two insurance carriers specializing in non-profits and is an executive board member of the Region 9 Head Start Association, Finance Committee Member of Yolo Hospice and the National Head Start Association. In addition, .Bill is a trainer for the California Head Start Association and advisor for the Training & Leadership Community.

As a human rights advocate, Larry deeply cares for people.  He has dedicated his professional career defending the dignity of all persons regardless of age, ethnicity, religion, income, or any other status.  He believes strongly that every family is worthy to receive parenting supports that empower them to raise children to their full potential and to love unconditionally.

To this end Larry has served Head Start families for 15 years in the capacity of senor management and executive director roles.  “One of my greatest joys throughout my Head Start career was working with families in policy council,” affirms Larry.  He found it incredibly rewarding to see parents, guardians, grandparents, or other caring family units dedicate themselves to advocacy and learning transparent governance practices.

Prior to coming to Head Start Larry worked on federally funded Ryan White grants that provide HIV care and treatment services to low-income people with HIV/AIDS who are uninsured or underserved. In this capacity Larry did outreach to high-risk population groups, conducting HIV testing and linking HIV positive persons to case management services.

Throughout the 1990’s Larry spent 10 years working oversees in Argentina, South America where he provided faith and hope to vulnerable families and children living in poverty and in need of spiritual resources.

Larry has had the privilege to serve on the Region 9 Head Start Association Board of Directors since 2017 and currently serves as the Treasurer on the Executive Team.  Understanding the demanding work required to run a great Head Start program and with a strong passion to help Directors, Larry began consulting and organizational development coaching in 2019 helping them build strong leadership teams.

Following his graduate master’s program, he continues investing in his personal and professional development.  Larry is a graduate of the UCLA Fellows Program, holds three professional certifications from the Certified Coaches Alliance, and a certificate from Cornell University in Change Management.

Married, he and his wife reside in Phoenix, Arizona along with their three adult children.  Larry has four grandchildren under the age of three.  “I loved parenting my children, but I never imagined the tender spot in my heart that grandchildren would fill with joy,” reveals Larry.