Nationally, Louie is known as an expert in impact investing and a social entrepreneur. Locally, he is recognized for his ability to bring together civic leaders, partners, and philanthropic investors to strengthen opportunities in under-resourced communities.

Before joining SAY, Louie was the founding Chief Investment Officer at Mission Driven Finance, where he applied twenty-five years of global investment experience to advance economic empowerment and youth development. 

Louie currently serves as a Trustee and voting member of the Investment & Finance Committee at The California Endowment.  He has also served on boards including San Diego City Employees’ Retirement System, the California Health Care Foundation, the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, and the San Diego Asian Film Festival.

Arriving in the United States as a young refugee, Louie’s lived experience informs his commitment to building communities where every person can achieve stability, opportunity, and lasting prosperity.

With over 36 years of experience spanning both nonprofit and for-profit sectors, Jane Drover has been a vital part of SAY San Diego since 2002. As Chief Financial Officer, she leads the agency’s fiscal and business operations with strategic financial expertise and a collaborative leadership approach that supports all areas of the organization.

Jane earned a Master’s in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the University of San Diego and a Bachelor’s in Finance from the University of Massachusetts. She is deeply committed to aligning financial strategy with programmatic goals, ensuring operational integrity and long-term sustainability.

Her leadership has been instrumental in sustaining SAY San Diego’s financial strength, fostering transparency, refining operational policies, and building trusted relationships with funders and stakeholders.

Passionate about community well-being, Jane focuses on initiatives that promote self-sufficiency, prevention, and strong family relationships. Reflecting on her commitment to service, she also raises and trains service dogs to support individuals in need.

With 25 plus years in leadership for both non-profit and for-profit sectors, Lisa’s leads with a deep commitment to building purpose-driven teams and workforce, rooted in shared beliefs, values, and goals. With a strategic focus on cultivating a broad, highly performing and rewarding organizational culture, Lisa champions the idea that a well committed workforce is valued not only for outcomes produced but for the passion, dedication and humanity they bring to their work. Through intentional leadership and a people-first philosophy, Lisa drives strategic internal initiatives that align with mission, culture, and talent. She is a passionate advocate for all employees to have meaningful opportunities to be known, seen, and heard.  

Lisa holds a master’s degree in Christian Studies: Urban Ministry, and a bachelor's degree in Business Management. For two decades she has worked on regional initiatives to prevent child exploitation and child sex trafficking, youth substance abuse, and the advancement of youth workforce development.  Lisa is well-connected to San Diego communities and is a Community Outreach pastor with a local church. 

With more than 35 years of service at SAY San Diego, Kelly Vales has devoted her career to strengthening children, families, and communities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Marquette University and a master’s in social work, along with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential, from San Diego State University. Licensed as a Clinical Social Worker since 1994, Kelly currently serves as Vice President of Youth, Adult, and Family Wellness.

In this role, she oversees programs focused on child abuse prevention, juvenile justice, behavioral and mental health, adult probation, fatherhood initiatives, and family self-sufficiency. A passionate advocate for trauma-informed care, Kelly was the founding chair of SAY’s Trauma Advisory Committee and helped lead the agency’s transformation into a trauma-informed organization.

Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to collaboration, innovation, and building systems of support that help individuals and families thrive.

With more than three decades of leadership at SAY San Diego, Chris Jewell serves as Vice President of the Child and Youth Development Division. She oversees a comprehensive team that delivers Before and After School programs across 43 elementary and middle schools within the San Diego Unified School District, as well as Early Childhood Education services for infants and preschool-aged children.

Chris was instrumental in creating SAY’s on-site workplace child care center, benefiting both employees and community families. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation and joined SAY San Diego in 1987 after teaching physical education in Pennsylvania and San Diego.

Known for her collaborative spirit and dedication to child development, Chris brings creativity and heart to her work. Outside the office, she enjoys outdoor adventures, coaching and playing Ultimate Frisbee, music, and spending time with her family—including her beloved dogs and cat.

Julie Schardin serves as Vice President of Donor Relations & Development at SAY San Diego, leading strategic philanthropy, donor engagement, and revenue growth to support youth, families, and communities across the region. A seasoned nonprofit leader, Julie has built a multi-decade career advancing mission-driven organizations through major gifts, foundation and corporate partnerships, campaigns, events, and community engagement.

She has previously held senior development leadership roles with organizations such as the Fleet Science Center, Living Coast Discovery Center, Alzheimer’s Association, KPBS, and other community-serving institutions. Known for her collaborative leadership, strategic mindset, and passion for strengthening community well-being, Julie works closely with partners, board members, and stakeholders to expand opportunity and impact. She is deeply committed to building meaningful philanthropic relationships that help ensure lasting, positive change for San Diego.

Mary Baum serves as Associate Vice President of Philanthropy at SAY San Diego, leading strategic fundraising initiatives, donor and corporate engagement, and campaigns that strengthen services and resilience for children, youth, and families. With more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience, she has advanced organizational growth, expanded program funding, and built impactful partnerships across government, foundations, and community organizations.

Mary is recognized for aligning vision with action and driving meaningful community impact. Beyond fundraising, Mary has led policy and systems-change efforts, including service as a California State Assembly Speaker Appointee to the Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee and member of the Office of the U.S. Attorney, Southern District of California, Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force. She is a graduate of the 2025 LEAD Advance Cohort and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Linguistics from the University of Arizona.