Brent M. Mason Named Chair of Hillsides Board of Directors

Hillsides, a Pasadena-headquartered charity, has appointed Brent M. Mason to a two-year term as the new chair of its board of directors.

Mason has been a member of Hillsides board of directors since 2009. He replaces Karen Tanji as chair. Tanji will remain on the board in an ex officio position.

Mason is the managing partner at Charles W. Mason & Associates, Inc, a Los Angeles financial planning firm. He specializes in investment management and employee benefits advice. Previously he was a vice president with Putnam Investments in Boston, Massachusetts. At Putnam, Mason was one of the youngest corporate officers in the company’s history. He lives in Pasadena with his wife Leah and three children.

Hillsides is also welcoming four new members to its board: Jennifer Brian, Gina Guerra, Catalina Haaga, and the Rev. Norman Hull.

Brian is an account management executive with more than 17 years of marketing experience. She currently serves as the vice president of production at Something Massive, a content creator and brand strategist boutique agency in Los Angeles.

Guerra is a former civil litigation attorney with Kaye Scholer in Los Angeles. She is an active volunteer in the community, and recently served as the wine co-chair for the Celebrity Chefs & Wine Tasting fundraising event for the Children’s Bureau of Southern California in 2012 and 2013.

Haaga is a former finance manager of global marketing and public affairs at The Walt Disney Company in Burbank. Previously she was a senior business analyst at McKinsey & Co. in New York City. She holds a degree in public policy studies and economics from Duke University.

Hull is the representative of the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in divinity, and is a chaplain at Campbell Hall School in Los Angeles.

“I look forward to working with Mason and our four new board members,” said Hillsides Chief Executive Officer Joseph M. Costa. “They bring a vast amount of expertise, talent, ideas, and energy to our board. I’d also like to thank our outgoing chair, Karen Tanji, for her incredible support and leadership during the past two years.”

Hillsides also bade a fond farewell to two outgoing members of the board of directors, Sam Garrison and Melinda Snyder.

The other members of the Hillsides board of directors are Katherine Newhall Yundt, first vice chair, Mary Dee Hacker, second vice chair, Stephen M. Gleason, treasurer, Lyn Spector, secretary, Deborah L.S. Booth, The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Donald Clark, William K. Covey, Jr., Tony Danz, Holly Davis, Jarita D. Davis, Gary W. Drake, Donna B. Ford, John S. Gong, LeeAnn Havner, Ronald C. Hillary, MSW, Kelly M. Johnson, James J. Keatley, Judy Kenyon, Nurit M. Kotick, Phaedra A. Ledbetter, Hank J. Maarse, Stephen A. McDonald, Catherine R. Morphy, David Nichols, Tina B. Nieves, Esq., Steve Nishibayashi, M.D., Susan Noce, Susan Pinsky, Barbara M. Scheper, Elizabeth M. Short, M.D., The Rev. Edward Sniecienski, Stephen M. Todd, Adam J. Walker, and Jeffrey C. Welch.

Hillsides is a premier provider dedicated to improving the overall well-being and functioning of vulnerable children, youth, and their families throughout Los Angeles County. For more information, please visit www.hillsides.org.