Sycamores Announces New Board Members

Sycamores, a Pasadena-based behavioral health and child welfare agency serving Southern California communities, has appointed Stephen P. Smith and Tiffany Heartley to its Governing Board.

The appointments were announced at Sycamores’ Annual Board Meeting this past week. Smith is a Managing Partner at Vaco Los Angeles. Heartley serves as the Senior ESG Specialist & ESG Business Manager at Capital Group.

“We are truly fortunate to have such talented and dedicated community leaders volunteering to serve on Sycamores’ Governing Board,” Sycamores President & CEO Debra Manners said. “Tiffany and Stephen each bring valuable experience and knowledge to their roles as Board members.”

Smith, who holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Fairfield University, brings extensive experience with over 35 companies in Los Angeles, including Fortune 500 companies like Disney and NBCUniversal. He is responsible for $28M in project consulting revenue as a Managing Partner at Vaco Los Angeles.

Heartley has over 15 years of experience managing strategic initiatives, and brings to Sycamores a passion for fostering inclusivity within organizations. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies degree from California State University Northridge.

The Annual Board Meeting also saw John Drinker completing his two-year term as Board Chair, and Sonia A. Solin transitioning into the Chairperson’s role.

Drinker, the Founder, President & CEO of MDS West, has been acknowledged for his leadership during a period of significant change at Sycamores, including the opening of a new clinic in Palm Springs and a Family Resource Center in Palmdale, and the launch of Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams. While he will no longer serve as Board Chair, Drinker will continue as an active member of the Board, the company said.

A marketing and communications executive, Solin has spent over a decade working in healthcare – including increasing access, equity, and health justice for vulnerable Californians.

“Sonia’s commitment and passion for helping the children, young adults, adults and families we serve create a better life is inspirational,” Manners said. “We look forward to continuing to positively impact the lives of the vulnerable individuals in Southern California with Sonia at the helm.”
Sycamores serves over 18,000 vulnerable children, youth, adults, and families each year, offering a wide range of programs and services, including residential treatment, foster care and adoption, transitional living assistance for young adults, mental health services, crisis outreach teams, and educational support services.

The agency is licensed by the California Department of Social Services, certified by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, and funded by LAHSA.

For more information, visit www.sycamores.org.