Leadership Team
Gregory C. Scott
President & Chief Executive Officer
Gregory C. Scott, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Weingart Center Association, leads a dynamic team at a rapidly growing organization, measuring success in terms of individual life transformations and impact on the community. A passionate visionary, Mr. Scott focuses on producing solutions to the challenging social issues affecting low-income communities such as homelessness, education, workforce development, healthcare, mental health, permanent housing, and youth development. His nonprofit and private sector executive leadership and management experience illustrates that he is a true agent for social change.
Mr. Scott was born and raised in a public housing project in Paterson, NJ with a loving mother, an alcoholic father, and his older brother. Mr. Scott learned first-hand how drugs and alcohol, gang violence, homelessness, and poverty have a major impact on a community. In fact, he often states he really didn’t realize he was even poor until he became an adult, and engaged with people outside of his community. This was an amazing realization that then put him on track for dedicating his life to working in low-income and disenfranchised communities.
Mr. Scott joined the Weingart Center in February 2006 as the Vice President of Programs and Services, and then became the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer before moving into his current role a year later. His leadership rapidly turned around an agency that was financially challenged and on the verge of closing its doors. Since then the organization has experienced strategic growth, added new programs and community support, and is financially stable in a very challenging economy.
Mr. Scott is currently leading an aggressive 25-year strategic plan with over-arching goals to create long-term sustainability that will address the issues of permanent supportive housing, family services, workforce development, health care, and the creation of micro-enterprises. Accomplishments already achieved include: creating an effective Workforce Development model with onsite job training programs and contacts in the community for job leads for our participants and graduates; and opening an expanded, state-of-the-art health center located in skid row to provide downtown Los Angeles’ homeless and low-income population with integrated physical and mental health care.
Prior to his tenure at the Weingart Center, Mr. Scott served as the Executive Director of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation of Orange County; Regional Vice President for Sylvan Learning Systems; Executive Director of the Neighborhood Youth Association (NYA); and National Director for YouthBuild USA, the national headquarters and intermediary for the YouthBuild program.
In addition to his work at the Weingart Center, he currently serves as the Vice Chair on the Bresee Foundation Board of Directors, and is Chair of the Los Angeles Center of Community Economic Development, a start-up organization. He also serves on the advisory committee of the Downtown LA Professional Network, and is a
former board member for the Orange County YMCA Community Services Branch. Prior to coming to the Los Angeles area Mr. Scott was appointed by the Governor of Massachusetts to serve as Vice Chairman of the Board for the Massachusetts Service Alliance Commission to allocate funds to public service organizations and initiatives; Board Member for the National and Community Service Coalition; and the National Youth Employment Coalition.
Mr. Scott received his Bachelors degree from William Paterson University, and earned his Masters of Science degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University. Mr. Scott and his wife, Christine, have three children.
Sonny Santa Ines
Chief Financial Officer / Chief Adminstrative Officer
Sonny Santa Ines specializes in finance, accounting, budgeting, contract compliance, management information systems and purchasing. Sonny joined the Weingart Center Association in October of 2007 ans serves as as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) / Chief Administrative Officer.
Prior to joining WCA, Sonny was CFO of Children’s Dental Group, which has five offices in Southern California, and Vice President of Finance and Administration at Child Care Resource Center (CCRC). During his eight-year tenure at CCRC, he successfully managed the finances of the agency whose budget increased from $14 million to $90 million. He also successfully organized the agency’s quality assurance function to serve as liaison with parents and child care providers and monitor contract compliance. Sonny also served as Division Controller for Sunkist Growers, Inc. and Senior Auditor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He also worked in the Philippines as Audit Supervisor for a public accounting firm which is an affiliate of Deloitte & Touche.
Sonny received Business Administration degrees from California State University, Long Beach (Masters), and the Philippine School of Business Administration (Bachelors) where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. A Certified Public Accountant in the Philippines and a Certified Internal Auditor, Sonny also received his Certificate in Early Childhood Education from UCLA. Sonny is very active in his community. He is a Planning Commissioner for the City of Bellflower and a Board Member of the Los Cerritos YMCA.
Deborah Villar
Vice President, Development and External Affairs
Deborah Villar is Vice President of Development and External Affairs at the Weingart Center Association. Prior to joining the Weingart Center Association, Deborah was the Chief Development Officer for JWCH Institute in Los Angeles. She was responsible for the day to day operations of the Development efforts as well as the Marketing efforts for the organization. Deborah led the movement to broaden the funding base for the organization and over the course of her tenure the organization diversified both public and private grant funding. Deborah leveraged her knowledge of the community and funding initiatives that resulted in building the infrastructure of the organization while adding new programs and capabilities for JWCH.
Prior to JWCH, Deborah spent 6 years collectively with Clinica Romero as Director of Development and External Affairs and prior to that she was the Director of the Northeast Clinic. Before her tenure as a staff person with Clinica Romero, she served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Clinica Romero for 7 years.
Deborah began her career serving the homeless community through her efforts at Community Health Foundation in East Los Angeles where she held positions of increasing responsibility in Community Relations, Marketing and Business Development, and as Chief of Operations participated in the JACHO accreditation for the organization.
Deborah sits on the Advisory Board of L.A.’s Best After School Enrichment Program and has been an active “past” Board Member of Bienvenidos Family Services. Deborah has a BA in Liberal Arts from California State University, Los Angeles. Deborah was born and raised in Los Angeles and she is a proud Angeleno.
Jana Plasters
Vice President, Programs and Services
Jana Plasters has been a consummate advocate for the mentally ill throughout her 25 years of working for leading community mental health service agencies, including 17 years of experience in clinical and senior administrative posts. Jana joined the Weingart Center Association in the spring of 2007 as the Vice President of Programs and Services where she is responsible for clinical leadership, program assessment and development, regulatory compliance and contracting, hiring, and staff training and coaching. Jana is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Jana has directed numerous residential and outpatient treatment programs for both adults and children. Before working at the Weingart Center Association, Jana served as Chief Program Officer and Clinical Director for Portals, a mental health rehabilitation agency specializing in child abuse issues, alcohol and drug treatment, and child welfare. Prior to Portals, Jana was Director of the Outpatient Clinical Department at The Help Group where she oversaw the operations of 13 clinical programs serving parents and “special needs” children. Jana began her career at the Children's Institute International where she worked for 18 years, first as a clinician then director of several mental health programs serving adults and children.
She received a Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Colorado plus a Masters in Marriage and Family Treatment from Azuza Pacific University.
Maurice Ochoa
Vice President, Facilities Services
Maurice Ochoa recently serves as the Vice President of Facilities Services at the Weingart Center Association. In this role, Maurice oversees the maintenance, housekeeping, and security of the organization, which has over 175,000 sq. ft of space in six buildings. Maurice is adept at streamlining procedures to improve safety levels, increase productivity and control costs. Maurice will also be responsible for the food services department that prepares 225,000 meals annually.
Maurice has progressive management experience in union and non-union environments, including eight years as Maintenance Manager at Unified Grocers, Plant Engineer at Pentab Industries and Chief Engineer at Sportsmen’s Lodge.
Maurice holds a Bachelors in Business Administration from LaVerne University as well as an AS in Electrical Construction and Maintenance from Los Angeles Trade Technical College.
Janelle Anwar
Vice President, Human Resources
Janelle Anwar is an affluent Human Resource professional specializing in compliance and risk management. Janelle recently joined the Weingart Center Association as the Vice President of Human Resources and will oversee a full service department for a staff of 150+ employees in five facilities.
She segued into the Human Resource arena via the Workers' Compensation sector and soon became very acquainted with labor laws. With a passion driven by success, Janelle quickly found a true purpose in helping organizations reach maximum potentials by effectively managing people assets. Over the last nine years, she has contracted Human Resource services for various companies ranging from healthcare, major media and manufacturing companies. Her most recent success was serving as the Human Resource Manager for Inglewood Park Cemetery where she was awarded "Rookie of the Year" in 2008.
Janelle's educational background was derived from the California State University of Long Beach.
Troy Vaughn
Vice President, Community Development and Public Policy
Troy Vaughn serves as Vice President of Community Development and Public Policy for the Weingart Center Association. He is an experienced senior administrator and has developed and facilitated programs for homeless men and women for over 15 years.
Troy possesses dual graduate degrees in Business Administration and Theology (Concentration in Urban Development). He is certified as a Chemical Dependency Counselor, Fund-Raising Marketing Specialist, Grant-Writing Specialist, Notary Public (Signing Agent), as well as holds graduate certification in Christian Ministry and Organizational / Non-profit Management.
Troy is currently pursuing his Juris Doctorate from Concord Law School. He has served on the Ambassador Counsel Advisory Board for the Union Rescue Mission, as well as the Advisory Board for The King’s Alumni Association. Troy is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals, National Contract Management Association, National Notary Association, Inglewood Area Minister’s Association and the American Counseling Association, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Lighthouse of Costa Mesa’s Recovery Ministries.
