WE GIVE!
Board of Directors
Nina Ball, Chairperson
Nina received her Master's Degree in Audiology from California State University, Los Angeles in 2003. She is licensed by the state of California in Audiology and hearing aid dispensing, and is currently employed by Audiology Associates in Valencia. She has always been passionate about helping and enriching the lives of others, especially children. She has been involved in a variety of volunteer opportunities that include: AIDS Walk LA, Pasadena youth enrichment events and better hearing health programs. For the past two years she has been fulfilled with the chairperson responsibilities for Fostering Imagination (FI) and is very excited for what the future holds for FI. Nina is also building a relationship with one of the youth of Fostering Imagination with the hopes of becoming a long-term mentor.
Ashley West, Treasurer
Ashley is a certified public accountant who has worked in finance and accounting for more than five years. She currently works as a senior financial analyst at LegalZoom.com in Los Angeles, CA. Ashley is in charge of revenue recognition and planning, as well as, internal control implementation. Ashley previously worked for Ernst and Young in Los Angeles, California where she audited the financial statements and implementation of Sarbanes Oxley on several Fortune 500 companies. Ashley graduated cum laude from University of North Carolina at Asheville with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration.
Amanda Kozlowski, Secretary
Amanda Kozlowski is an established marketing manager with experience in brand management, grassroots marketing and promotions in the entertainment industry. She is currently a Brand Manager at Lionsgate Entertainment, overseeing multiple specialty, foreign and independent libraries distributed by the leading next-generation studio. Prior to Lionsgate Amanda held marketing roles at A.D.D. Marketing, a boutique grassroots marketing and promotions agency in Hollywood, and the nonprofit entertainment organization Film Independent. She received her B.A. in print journalism from the University of South Carolina and has been recognized for excellence in the field of journalism with three South Carolina Press Association awards.
Ilia Jauregui, Executive Director/Founder
Ilia Jauregui is the Founder and Executive Director of Fostering Imagination, as well as an attorney. As a child advocate her experience includes work with the Children's Law Center, Alliance for Children's Rights, Children's Advocacy Institute, and the Adoptions Division at the Juvenile Dependency Court. Ilia received her Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law and her Bachelor’s Degree with Honors from California State University of Los Angeles in Liberal Studies with a Multi-Subject Teaching Credential Option.
Ruben Hovhannisyan, CPA
Ruben Hovhannisyan is a professional in the field of portfolio management and is currently employed at Metropolitan West Asset Management (MetWest) as a Performance Analyst within the Risk Management Group. Prior to joining MetWest, Ruben Hovhannisyan was an associate at Los Angeles office of KPMG Structured Finance Group. Ruben Hovhannisyan holds a B.A. in Business/Economics with Accounting minor from UCLA. Prior to relocating to the USA from Armenia, Ruben Hovhannisyan completed two years of law school curriculum in Yerevan State University (Yerevan, Armenia) and is a graduate of Sayat-Nova School of Music (Yerevan, Armenia) seven year violin program. Ruben Hovhannisyan is a Certified Public Accountant and is currently enrolled in CFA Program in order to become a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Honorary Board
Known as "Jim" to his friends, family and colleagues. Jim graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1981 and earned his law degree from UCLA in 1985. From 1987 to 1990, he was a staff attorney at Westside Legal Services, in Santa Monica, California where he was the lead trial lawyer representing lower income families and individuals who could not afford a lawyer.Jim was admitted to practice law in California in 1985 and has dedicated his law career to providing vigorous and ethical representation and making a difference for those whose civil and constitutional rights are violated by corporations or government entities.In 1990, he joined Ben Schonbrun to form Schonbrun & DeSimone. The firm represents plaintiffs in civil rights cases, with an emphasis on employment discrimination and harassment and constitutional rights violations, including government and police misconduct.
Josh Cobb, Sr. Director, Publisher Revenue Optimization at Yahoo
Josh is the Sr. Director, Publisher Revenue Optimization at Yahoo. He previously held the titles of Sr. Director at Yahoo!/Right Media and Director, Publisher Professional Services at Yahoo! Search Marketing. His professional experience includes global relationship management, trusted advisor consulting, business process management, revenue optimization, business intelligence gathering, complex-issue rapid problem solving, enterprise syndication and content management strategy development. Josh is also a private pilot and has flown Fostering Imagination's youth to Catalina while teaching them the basics of aviation.
Andrea was the Animation/VFX Producer at Incredible Mr. Limpet in 2009. Prior to that she was the vice president of Sony Pictures Animation. Andrea graudated from the University of London.
Advisory Board
Edgar "Eddie" Jauregui, Business Owner
Eddie is the co-owner and founder of Business Smarts. Business Smarts provides friendly, efficient, professional and affordable services in Computer Support, Web Development and Software Troubleshooting. Please browse our website for more information on how Business Smarts can help you. Eddie also helped start and continues to be a vital part of Fostering Imagination.
Jeanette earned her Masters in Clinical Psychology, specializing in children, from Antioch University in June of 2002. She treats children with serious psychological problems secondary to histories of abuse, neglect, and /or multiple placements. She has specialized for the past 10 years in the treatment of children who manifest serious deficits in their emotional, cognitive, and behavioral development. Jeanette's desire to become a child therapist with a special focus on adopted and foster care issues derived from her own experience of being adopted and moving through the foster care system. Her personal experience has informed her education and provided insight into the unique stresses involved with these issues.
Brian is the owner and founder of Next Wave Productions. Next Wave Pro is an Integrated Advertising and Marketing firm that utilizes cutting edge methods to reach your audience. That’s a fancy way of saying that whatever it takes to break through the clutter – we’ll plan it and do it! Social and digital media marketing, television, radio, effective web development, videos and more – we have proven, successful experience to accomplish your unique objectives.
Christina serves as CAI Staff Attorney in the San Diego office, primarily handling CAI's litigation and related activities. Before joining CAI, Christina worked as staff attorney with the Children's Law Center of Los Angeles, where she represented minor clients in dependency court proceedings. Prior to that, she interned with the Honorable Susan Huguenor, currently the presiding judge in San Diego Juvenile Court. Riehl is a graduate of the USD School of Law, where she participated in the CAI academic program.
Christina was also one of the founding board member's of Fostering Imagination.
Jennifer Palais Professional Organizer
Jennifer Palais clears chaos and brings order to professional offices and is known as an organizing expert and coach. Her approach for successful entrepreneurs and visionary artists is 10-years in the making. Jennifer inspires, simplifies and transforms. Her work addresses anything and everything to do with clutter, work flow and organizing.
Jennifer graduated valedictorian from Loyola Marymount University and then attended University College Dublin, in Dublin, Ireland where she completed her MA in literature on a Rotary Club International Ambassadorial Scholarship.
Professionally she worked in advertising in L.A. for over five years with national and international clients such as Mitsubishi Motors and DIRECTV.
