Leadership Team

 

Jill Jacobson, EduCare’s Chief Executive Officer, has been with EduCare for 16 years, first as the Finance Director (2008-2015), next as Vice President of Finance and Human Resources (2015-2018), and then as Chief Operating Officer (2018-2024). 

In her 16 years with EduCare, Jill has skillfully overseen EduCare’s finances and daily business management, Human Resources systems and policies, organizational and grant compliance, risk management, as well as Afterschool Programs and Specialized Student Services operations. 

Jill has more than 30 years’ experience in finance, operations and human resources management, legal contract negotiation and management, project management, strategic planning and development, and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining EduCare, Jill’s career in Finance began with a decade as a Vice President of the Institutional Trust Department of Bank of America; followed by five years as a Network Manager with The Capital Group Companies researching international markets and strategic local market access. Immediately before joining EduCare, she served as Vice President and Manager of security operations at IndyMac Bank. 

Jill has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, both from California State University Long Beach.

Jill
Jacobson

Chief Executive
Officer

Armando Diaz has over 20 years of experience in non-profit management and youth development. He has worked to improve and expand the lives of families, at-risk and incarcerated youth, the underserved and victims of violence.

Prior to his role at EduCare, Armando was the Associate Executive Director at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Venice. He was responsible for operations, grants management and the lead facilitator of community partnerships. Under his leadership, the Club received National Awards for its sailing program, arts program and family strengthening initiatives.

Armando is the past president and an active member of the Playa Venice Rotary Club. He served on the Advisory Council for Communities in Schools Los Angeles. In 2014 he was elected on the board of the North Hills West Neighborhood Council. He was named Gondolier of the Year in 2014 by the Venice High School Alumni Association and in 2011 was selected Person of the Year in Venice by the Venice Patch. Armando completed the USC Marshall School of Business’ Management Development Program in 2014.

Armando Diaz

Chief Growth &
Innovation Officer
Robert Underhill has more than 25 years of experience in accounting and finance, primarily working with financial statements, budgets, and forecasting. Prior to joining EduCare Robert spent 24 years working for the Walt Disney Company’s Cable TV di…

Robert Underhill has more than 25 years of experience in accounting and finance, primarily working with financial statements, budgets, and forecasting. Prior to joining EduCare Robert spent 24 years working for the Walt Disney Company’s Cable TV division as an accounting manager.

Robert has a passion for working with at-risk youth and has been volunteering at Sylmar Juvenile Hall for the past 20 years running a group mentoring program and spent 15 years coaching youth basketball at Ritchie Valens Park in Pacoima.

He earned a bachelors degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance from California State University at Fullerton.

Robert Underhill

Vice President
of Finance
 
 
 

Sergio Sicairos

Director of
Afterschool Programs

Lynn
Farwell

Administration
Director

Mike has more than 25 years of experience in Institutional Advancement and Fundraising. 

His passion for coaching and working with youth led him from the corporate world into secondary education, where he became a Hall of Fame coach, educator, and administrator. He has spent 40 years coaching basketball for middle school, high school, and college athletes.

Before Mike began working in secondary education, he served as CEO of a manufacturing firm. Prior to joining EduCare, he was the Director of Advancement for Notre Dame Academy and Palisades Charter High School.

He holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Economics with a minor in Accounting from Santa Clara University.

Michael Rawson
Development
Director
 

Administrative Staff

Robert
Gonzalez

 Regional
Manager

Daniel
Cortes

 Regional
Manager

Manuel
Chan Pool

 Regional
Manager

Jeanaah
Sampson

 Regional
Manager
 

Geneva (Gigi)
Barba

 Special Projects
Manager

Sandra
deTovar

 Human Resources
Manager

Vanessa
Senteno

 Senior Program
Manager

Coila
Romero

 Senior
Finance Manager
 

Joseph
Montesdeoca

 Human Resources
Associate

Adriana
Razo

 Case
Manager

Rocio
Rodriguez

 Program
Manager

Zeltin
Baez

 Case
Manager
 
 

Louis
Vargas

 Logistics and Supplies
Coordinator

Brianna
Zavala

 Special Projects
Coordinator

José
Sanchez

 Finance and Administrative
Coordinator

Arturo
Garay

 Compliance
Coordinator
 

Lynn
Farwell

 Executive Administrator and
Communications Coordinator

Sergio
Montero

 Compliance
Coordinator

Carol
Sanchez

 Special Projects
Assistant

Gloria
Mendoza

 Logistics and Supplies
Assistant
 

Howard
Doria

 Staff
Accountant

Samantha
Martinez

 Elementary LAP
Coordinator

Denise
Jauregui

 Special Projects
Coordinator – LAP

Darlene
Ku

 Special Projects
Coordinator – TUPE
 
 

Arturo
Cabral

 Human Resources
Assistant

Andre
Yacapin

 Compliance
Assistant
 

Program Locations