OUR LEADERSHIP

Bill Bedrossian
Chief Executive Officer
BBedrossian@covca.org

Bill has served as the CEO of Covenant House California (CHC), since 2014. With just about 25 years of child welfare and homeless services experience, Bill’s passion for working with youth, came from his parents, who have been foster parents for 30+ years and adopted 8 of his 11 siblings through the child welfare system. Bill began his career in social work doing street outreach, residential care and behavioral modification therapy in Chicago, Illinois in the mid-1990s. He subsequently spent 13 years with the L.A. County Department of Child and Family Services, leaving in 2008, as the agency’s South County Regional Director.  In 2010, Bill became the Executive Director at Olive Crest, Los Angeles, and was subsequently appointed as ED of Olive Crest’s Southern California operations in 2012.  Bill has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Finance from Taylor University, a Masters of Social Work from Loyola University, and has served as an adjunct professor in USC’s Graduate School of Social Work since 2012.  When he’s not leading the movement to end youth homelessness in CA, you’ll find Bill spending time with his lovely wife, chasing after his two young sons, and rooting for any sports team from his hometown of Philadelphia.  Go Eagles!

Marissa Espinoza
Senior Vice President, Southern California
MEspinoza@covca.org

Marissa started her career as a Resident Counselor at Aviva Children & Family Services, where she was gradually promoted up to the position of Director of Residential Treatment.  In 2003, she transitioned to Masonic Homes of California in Covina as the Director of Children and Family Services.  In 2008, Marissa’s career took her to Ventura County as the Program Manager of Casa Pacifica’s Wraparound Program, where she soon became Director of Campus Programs. Marissa received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of La Verne, her Masters in Sociology at CSU-Northridge, and her Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the University of Michigan. Marissa is a trainer with UC Davis Extension Program, providing support and training in Family Focused Practices.  With over 20 years of experience, Marissa is passionate about providing services and advocacy for vulnerable youth and their families.  At CHC, she leads our Southern California program operations.  If you ever visit her office, you’ll be overwhelmed with beautiful pictures of her family, especially her son, Max!

Lailanie Jones
Chief Operating Officer
ljones@covca.org

Lailanie has dedicated her life to improving the education and well-being of children in need. From her summers as a young girl, serving in orphanages all over the world, to her previous role in working with children and families experiencing homelessness, Lailanie is passionate about helping and empowering others. She comes to Covenant House CA with over twenty years of experience in early childhood education, most notably serving for fourteen years as Executive Director of Precious Lamb Preschool in Long Beach, California.  The school served children of parents who were experiencing homelessness, and provided support for the families.  Through her visionary leadership, Lailanie brought about a dramatic expansion in all areas of the organization.  Most importantly to her, she created and nurtured a diverse and inclusive culture centered around compassion, integrity, and dignity, for both her staff and for the families she served. Lailanie has received numerous awards and recognition for her leadership in the community of Long Beach, CA and LA County.  When not at work, you can find Lailanie cooking for and hosting friends and family, and most of all enjoying time with her husband Scott and their two beautiful girls, Juliana and Evelyn. 

Paida Ndemera
Senior Vice President, Northern California
pndemera@covca.org

Having started off her career as a Psychiatry Nurse Practitioner 20 years ago, Paida`s career trajectory shifted into healthcare administration where she has an impressive record of setting up and establishing health care facilities in London, Melbourne and the Bay Area. Over the last few years her focus has been working with marginalized communities and being an active advocate for the communities she serves. Paida is passionate about the concept of whole person care which is premised on the recognition that the best way to care for individuals with multifaceted needs is to consider their full spectrum of needs and Paida believes housing tops this list of needs .

Paida is a biological mother of 2 and also supports 18  children at an orphanage founded by her and husband, Simba.

Tyrone Potts
Chief Financial Officer
TPotts@covca.org

Tyrone comes to us with a wealth of experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors.  He has served as a CFO before, and has most recently served as the Controller for Charles Drew University, where among other things, he provided oversight of 200+ government grants.   Tyrone is also a published author of three personal finance books, and a seasoned speaker and trainer on financial literacy. Tyrone obtained his bachelor’s degree in business administration (accounting major/theology minor) from Georgetown University.  He received his master’s in business administration from Louisiana State University (concentration in entrepreneurship). Tyrone, a native of Los Angeles , is a bowler, loves the Lakers and the New Orleans Saints (family from LA).  In his free time, he enjoys bowling, working out at Redondo Beach, and karaoke with his family.

Ami Rowland
Chief Program Officer
ARowland@covca.org

Ami’s lives her life, and leads her team with the conviction that “there is no such thing as someone else’s child.”  With more than 20 years of experience working in residential treatment programs for at-risk children and youth, Ami oversees all programmatic operations for CHC.  Ami and her family recently relocated to the Bay Area to provide increasing leadership and support for our expansion in Northern California.  Prior to joining the team at CHC, she was the Southern California Regional Director of Residential services for children and transitional-age youth at Olive Crest. It was there that she handled all program guidelines, development, strategic planning, budgeting, supervision of management employees, and was an advocate for transitional housing programs and the extension of ‘Foster Care Until 21’ across the state.  Ami is a passionate voice for all youth experiencing homelessness, and currently serves as a member of the board of directors for California Coalition for Youth. When she’s not providing love, hugs and encouragement to our youth and staff at the Cov, you’ll find her soaking up time with her hubby, two sons and super cute puppy!

Amanda Sattler
Chief Development & Communications Officer
ASattler@covca.org

Amanda is passionate about serving causes that support life changing programs for young people. With nearly 20 years of increasing experience in non-profit leadership, Amanda oversees all fund-development and external communications for CHC.  Before transitioning to CHC in 2015, she led all fundraising activities at Junior Achievement of Southern California, where she honed her skills in major gift cultivation, board development, strategic planning, communications, staff recruitment and management. Amanda has a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy & Management, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and an Executive Master of Leadership degree from the University of Southern California.   When she’s not actively raising funds to end youth homelessness, Amanda loves to travel, read, and spend time with loved ones … including a 19-year-old teenage mother she is a CASA for.  Amanda serves on the boards of RealityLA and USC’s Executive Master of Leadership Alumni program.