Leadership Council

Marguerite E. Adams

Marguerite E. Adams partners with social impact leaders who are ready to invest in their growth and lead with greater clarity and confidence. With 30 years of experience at one of Orange County’s largest employers and as a Human Resources professional, she brings deep expertise in organizational development, hiring strategy, performance management, and leadership training.

Marguerite’s coaching style combines thoughtful inquiry with practical organizational experience. She is known for creating a grounded, supportive space where leaders can work through real challenges, build resilience, and grow into the next version of their leadership. Clients value Marguerite’s ability to stay alongside them through challenges and her commitment to meeting them exactly where they are in each conversation.

Allison Alvarez

Allison Alvarez. As a thoughtful listener with a strong ability to understand organizational dynamics, I partner with clients to identify needs, develop practical strategies, and solve complex challenges. I also help leaders develop healthy workplace communication and boundaries as well as create sustainable plans to support work / life balance.

With a well-rounded background in both the nonprofit and business sectors, I help leaders run their organizations with the effectiveness of a successful enterprise. In addition to individually coaching our non-profit leaders, I have enjoyed working with clients on Board retreats and strategic plans.

Christy Cornwall

Christy Cornwall. Grounded in servant leadership and systems thinking, I support individuals in clarifying their vision, leading with integrity, and building collaborative, values-based teams. My experience spans over two decades in the non-profit sector, leading strategic planning, teams of multi-disciplinary professionals at all levels of their careers, fundraising (including grant-writing and donor relations), as well as managing multi-million dollar budgets in complex, matrixed systems. I have held leadership roles on 4 non-profit boards and was a county-appointed commissioner for homelessness.

I seek to help changemakers deepen their impact, sustain their energy, and lead with heart. I believe in the transformative power of reflective leadership and community-rooted action.

Shaheen Husain

Shaheen Husain is the Principal at Accelerating Impact, a practice focused on fundraising strategies for nonprofits. She is creating impact in Orange County with her involvement in Girls Inc., United Way, Working Wardrobes, and OneOC.

Shaheen’s career began in banking and shifted to architecture, then higher education, and nonprofits. Her personal and professional experiences have driven her to focus her efforts on education, income, and social responsibility, both on an individual and corporate level. Shaheen was born in Khartoum, Sudan and was educated on four continents before high school!

Martha Ryan

Martha Ryan. I began my career in technology at General Electric and later served as CIO of a large international corporation. That leadership path led me to focus on helping nonprofits. While working in San Francisco, I served on the Board of Directors of The Women’s Building and coached corporate high achievers through Mentium 100. As an executive coach with Executive Coaches of Orange County,

I have served as Board Chair, Leadership Council member, CEO, and Chair of the Marketing Committee. My expertise includes leadership, board development, strategic planning, and fund development. I help clients reach their full potential through clear goals, strategies, action plans, and accountability.

Nader Nemati

Nader Nemati is CEO of Healthesus, an investor-backed AI-enabled healthcare IT company delivering independent medical examination solutions for the federal government. He is also Managing Partner of On Demand Managers, providing advisory board services and fractional/interim executives to help organizations define and execute strategy. Nader has held executive roles at Lockheed Martin, Leidos, and Honeywell, founded multiple startups, and serves on national and local for-profit and nonprofit boards.

He volunteers coaching Orange County firms, teaches as a university adjunct professor, and helps nonprofits plan, measure, and report mission impact to their respective community and working closely with nonprofit boards on strategic planning, board retreat and board excellence.

Barry Ross

Barry Ross RN, MPH, MBA, Executive Director, Justice Partnerships, Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, has over 40 years of health care leadership experience. He is the founder of three non-profit organizations and has served in leadership roles on eight non-profit boards of directors. He has provided coaching to the nonprofit sector for the past five years, facilitated many board strategic planning retreats, and served as a thought partner for several CEOs.

Barry has a passion for addressing upstream issues through policy, system, and environmental change. He currently serves as Vice Chair, Buena Park Navigation Center Oversight Commission, Board Member of Providence Humboldt County and is an adjunct faculty member in the MPH program at CSUF.

Linda Smith

Linda Smith. With my experience as both a for profit and nonprofit leader, and my advanced training in the Myers Briggs Temperament Indicator™, I can help you identify and utilize your strengths to maximize your impact within your organization, improve your team’s performance and communication and help you navigate the rapidly changing world of the nonprofit environment more effectively.

My background includes extensive merger and acquisition experience, strategic planning, sales and marketing, board growth, development and retention and fund development expertise. It would be an honor to work with you!

Larry Tucker

Larry Tucker. Let me help you engage your staff and your board. My 25-year career consulting with clients on people issues, gives you access to my knowledge and experience in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, retaining and engaging employees. Also, my experience in serving on nonprofits boards, including as chair, will provide you with valuable insights on board engagement, recruitment and development.

My experience also extends to working with nonprofit boards in developing effective board retreats and practical strategic plans, both of which require a comprehensive process of planning and partnering between staff and board.