About Us

Dr. Ronald E. Brown was selected in a nationwide search as Children’s Bureau’s new President & CEO effective January 2, 2018.  Ron is responsible for all aspects of the $46 million nonprofit that operates 20 sites throughout Los Angeles and Orange County.  Ron joined Children’s Bureau in 2000 where he managed the operations of Children’s Bureau’s foster care, adoption, mental health and child abuse prevention programs. Under his leadership, these program grants and contracts grew from $11 million to over $30 million annually and now serve 40,000 children and parents throughout Southern California. He has been an integral part of the development of Magnolia Community Initiative, Children’s Bureau’s collaborative effort of over 70 organizations seeking to improve the well-being of vulnerable families and community outcomes in a targeted area of Los Angeles. Prior to coming to Children’s Bureau, Ron’s background was in healthcare development and management. He holds a B.A. in Social Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara, an M.B.A. from California State University, Long Beach, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University.

Stephanie Eversfield oversees all of Children’s Bureau’s private philanthropy efforts. She brings 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, most recently at Providence Health and Services overseeing fundraising programs (annual, digital and employee, along with donor engagement) to support five hospitals within the Southern California region.  She has a breadth of expertise in annual giving, major giving, donor engagement and special events, with a particular strength in strategy and implementation that has successfully resulted in increased donors and revenue for the organizations in which she has served.  Stephanie’s past portfolio of work includes serving as Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’s Assistant Vice President of Major and Annual Giving, where she led her team to raise $11 – $12 million annually.  Additionally, Stephanie launched CHLA’s Entertainment Industry Volunteer Fundraising Committee whose primary purpose was to raise major gifts to support the New Hospital Building Campaign, part of CHLA’s $1 billion dollar Living Proof Campaign. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Azusa Pacific University.

Gayle M. Whittemore is no stranger to Children’s Bureau and has been involved with our organization since 1990. In fact, Children’s Bureau was one of her first nonprofit audits when she moved to Los Angeles from the Bay Area. A CPA by trade with a Master’s in Business Taxation from Golden Gate University, Ms. Whittemore has 25 years of experience as a certified public accountant in the nonprofit sector. As Children’s Bureau’s Interim Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Whittemore is responsible for the oversight of the agency’s financial matters, IT department and FAF Software social enterprise.  A strong and respected voice in the community, Ms. Whittemore is a long-time planning committee member and twice past chair of the California Society of CPA’s NonProfit Conference

Jacqueline Meek was appointed to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer in February 2019. She is responsible for major projects, oversees senior-level activities in all organizational areas and in the development and implementation of organization-wide objectives, including policies and programs that contribute to the overall success of Children’s Bureau’s mission and vision. Through the CEO, Jacqueline provides direction of day-to-day management of key functions including but not limited to program delivery, budgeting, finance, administration, human resources, marketing, development, and risk management. Jacqueline joined Children’s Bureau as the Director of Individual Giving in July 2011 and became the Chief Development Officer in August 2012 where she was responsible for private fundraising efforts and overseeing the agency’s marketing and public relations activities. Jacqueline has spent more than a decade raising money for nonprofit educational institutions and serving on their boards. Her background is in accounting and finance and she has diverse management experience across domestic and international operations, with particular emphasis in the financial services industry. She has held senior management positions at Airport Group International, Union Bank of California, and Deloitte & Touche. She received her B.B.A. in Accounting at the University of Oklahoma and is also a Certified Public Accountant.

With over 30 years of progressive Human Resources experience in varying disciplines, Kymberly Garrett has a background using a holistic Human Resources Management style.  Kymberly supports all levels of professional development and has created cutting edge programs in Talent Acquisition, Talent & Performance Management and Executive Coaching.  Whether creating customized leadership training programs or facilitating change management initiatives – Kymberly utilizes her experiences in both Fortune 500 companies and start-ups, as well as, private and nonprofit organizations to help guide teams into becoming sustainable high-impact and high performing teams. Kymberly is certified through various Human Resources and Training organizations and also teaches Human Resources Practice.  Additionally, she serves on various Advisory Boards and is listed as a Subject Matter Expert with many labor-related governmental agencies. Kymberly, a Chicago native, has called Southern California home for the last 18 years.  She holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Corina has a 15-year-career in the child welfare arena, most recently at Wayfinder Family Services as chief program officer over the past 11 years. During her time at Wayfinder, the agency grew its contracts from $10 million to $20 million, added six group homes, a medically fragile residential program, and shelter care. She also took the program lead of a merger/transition with another organization. Prior to Wayfinder, Corina worked as a regional administrator at McKinley Children’s Center, a chronic care social worker at The Children’s Clinic, and as a foster care social worker/clinician at Concept 7 Family Support & Treatment Center. For the last 7 years, she has been an adjunct guest lecturer at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs where she teaches several courses to MSW graduate students. Corina holds a B.A. in political science and a B.A. in sociology from the University of California, Irvine and a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California.