MEET THE COACHART STAFF
GREG HARRELL-EDGE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
213.545.7705
213.545.7705
Greg is a second-generation nonprofit executive from Virginia. He was previously the Development Director of Friends of the Urban Forest in San Francisco, and has consulted for nonprofits in the arts, environment, LGBT and education sectors to optimize their online fundraising. Prior to his nonprofit work, Greg served on the staff of Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and created monologue content for seasons 3 through 6 of Jimmy Kimmel Live. Greg was also a walk-on member of the basketball team at the University of Virginia, where he earned a degree in Politics.
LOS ANGELES
COLTON ALEXIO
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Born and raised in San Diego, Colton is a southern California native with a devotion to traveling, sports, and helping others. While earning his degree in History at UCLA, he discovered his passion for giving back as a volunteer coach for disadvantaged youth in Los Angeles. He entered the nonprofit sector with Coaching Corps and Coaches Across Continents. After a year-and-a-half as CoachArt’s Volunteer Manager, Colton is excited to help bring the organization to new heights as part of the Development team.
DOROTHY CHOU
DEVELOPMENT EVENTS MANAGER
Dorothy, a Los Angeles native, has a passion for making people laugh and feel at ease. Her spirit and infectious energy fuels her creativity. After earning her degree in psychology at San Diego State University, she knew she was meant to work in some capacity where she could uplift her community and positively impact youth outside the traditional classroom setting. Her expertise in special events, graphic design and hospitality led her to CoachArt. In her spare time, Dorothy enjoys snacking and scribbling in calligraphy.
EMILY COLDIRON
SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER
Emily is a Midwestern native with a passion for social justice and youth programming. She attended Denison University in Ohio where she focused on college access for first generation students while volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, sewing, and distance running. In 2015, Emily made the leap from the corporate world to join CoachArt as a Program Coordinator.
ASHLEIGH CORREA
SPORTS SPECIALIST
Ashleigh Correa is a broadcast coordinator with Spectrum Sports Networks in Los Angeles. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a Communications degree. She enjoys volunteering as a coach with CoachArt and impacting lives through sports and art. She grew up in a large Latino household in La Habra of Orange County and resides in Redondo Beach. She comes from a sports background, and played softball and volleyball on varsity. Ashleigh has coached girls’ volleyball and softball with the Boys and Girls Club and continues to work with young student athletes. She enjoys playing her ukulele, singing, and running in half marathons and triathlons.
ROXANNE DOCHE
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Roxanne has more than 12 years of executive experience in marketing, specializing in content, branding, social media, and digital strategy. Always having a passion for philanthropy, she sat on the board of directors and spearheaded outreach for a nonprofit that helped improve the lives of children in foster care and domestic violence shelters. A New England native, Roxanne attended Northeastern University in Boston where she majored in communications and minored in marketing. Now residing in Los Angeles, she is the mother to three children, her eldest a longtime CoachArt student and cancer survivor.
VICTORIA GAVIA
OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE
Victoria has lived in Los Angeles all her life — with the exception of her time at the University of Puget Sound, where she earned a Bachelors degree in Sociology & Anthropology. During that time she was active in the struggle for immigrant rights. She is proud of her Chicana roots and is always looking for ways to serve, empower, and uplift her community. She has a background in journalism, administrative support, and library services, and loves working with young children. She’s interested in all things photography-related, and hopes to see the world one day.
SARAH HUIZAR
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Sarah is a first generation American born and raised in Los Angeles. She attended Denison University in Granville, OH where she majored in Philosophy and Gender Studies, organized students around women’s and LGBTQ rights, and served as the Music Director of her campus radio station. She has previously interned with Teach for America and Planned Parenthood. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains, watching more TV than is probably good for her, and spending time with her friends and family. She is excited to improve the operational efficiencies of an organization that greatly improves the lives of children who need it most. She is proud to be part of such an intelligent and compassionate team.
JASMIN IRAHETA
PROGRAM ASSISTANT
Jasmin was raised in the Filipino Town, Echo Park, and Pico-Union communities of Los Angeles. Her personal mission is to transform youth through arts and movement. Her commitment to empowerment and inclusiveness for CoachArt students was inspired by a cousin who had cerebral palsy; he wanted to dance but did not have the support or guidance that would have helped him do so. Jasmin has a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and she’s a bilingual English and Spanish speaker. Previously she worked at the Bresee Foundation, Chapter Two Inc., and Homies Unidos. She’s an artist with the Comfort/Disturb Healing Cooperative. She loves dancing and writing (and performing) poetry.
LIZZIE NEFF
PROGRAM MANAGER
Lizzie grew up in Northern California. She has a degree in Visual Communications from The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. While living abroad in India for a year she traveled through Europe and Asia, explored her maternal roots, and further committed to her passion for yoga and meditation. She is devoted to sharing their transformative benefits with CoachArt students, her private clients, and local teen rehab facilities. She is certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Group Personal Training Specialist and strives to cultivate growth and provide healing outlets for the community’s overall well-being. She enjoys reading, doodling mandalas, and writing out in nature.
ERICK RODRIGUEZ
SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER
Erick is an experienced youth mentor, guide and instructor with a commitment of supporting young people within and beyond the classroom setting. He has led several teams of teenagers through 8 day treks through the Appalachian Trail in Maine, through the White Mountains in New Hampshire and through Big Horn National Forest in Wyoming to teach life skills and lessons to apply to everyday life. He has recently joined CoachArt to help children unlock their potential.
MAIA VILLA
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
Maia is a Los Angeles native. She graduated from Bennington College, where she studied Drama and Community Development, and co-founded Check All That Apply, a student network organized around equity and inclusion advocacy. She’s passionate about liberating underserved residents of Los Angeles through creative expression and cultural enrichment, and has worked with Q Youth Foundation and CASA 0101 Theater to bring opportunities for emerging LGBTQ and Latinx storytellers to write for the stage. She enjoys performing, writing, cooking, and rock-climbing. Maia is thrilled to be part of an organization that enriches the lives of kids and provides a community of support to their families.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
MELISSA BIRDWELL-MARCHI
PROGRAM MANAGER
Melissa is a California coastside local and Bay Area native. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Intensive Sociology. Melissa is an improv actress, Warriors fan, and animal lover. She has worked as a camp director, curriculum manager, sports coach, STEAM instructor and field trip coordinator. She’s delighted to use her passionate positive playful energy to bring smiles to children’s faces.
BEN CARLSON
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Ben grew up in Boston and moved to California after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Illustration. His work in graphic design, branding, and website development eventually morphed into a career in public relations. Ben has provided strategic communications counsel for start-up businesses and non-profit organizations in a variety of sectors. In his free time he enjoys hiking and backpacking.
MOLLY DIRR, M.S.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Molly Dirr began working at CoachArt in 2011. Prior to joining the CoachArt team, Molly was the Site Director for an HIV/AIDS case management program at Community Healthcare Network in New York City. Molly has an M.S. in Health Care Services Management and Policy from The New School University and a B.A. in Theater Performance from Ohio University. Molly completed 2 years of service in Swaziland Africa as a health education and community development volunteer for the U.S. Peace Corps. Some of her other adventures have included a 3,000 mile cross country bicycle ride, an ultra-marathon, and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
PATRICIA SUFLITA WILSON
CHIEF OPPORTUNITY DIRECTOR
Patricia grew up in Ventura County and the Washington D.C. area. After becoming a mother, she pursued a career with a focus on social responsibility. She held leadership roles at public broadcasters WHRO and KQED, and produced several educational public TV series. She was executive director of a science and wildlife environmental museum. As CEO of Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area she created a permanently restricted endowment for future sustainability and led the creation of the viral Batkid phenomenon. At CoachArt she will primarily focus on national expansion and funding diversity.
