Leah joins MidPen as Chief of Staff for Resident Services after two years consulting for MidPen on the organization’s Learn & Earn program and Economic Mobility initiatives. She brings nearly 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector, specializing in cross-functional team leadership, project management, stakeholder stewardship, and strategic communications. Prior to her work at MidPen, Leah served as Associate Director of Foundations and Initiatives at KABOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to playspace equity, where she turned large funder investments into actionable plans, leading teams on multi-million-dollar projects to build play infrastructure. Her efforts helped secure over $10 million dollars in revenue through renewals and cause marketing campaigns, and supported the creation of hundreds of new playspaces that will support children for generations to come. She also played a pivotal role in KABOOM!’s racial equity journey, as a member of the organization’s first staff-led DEI committee and documenting the organization’s experience.
Leah began her non-profit journey as an organizer for Chicago’s campaign to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, then transitioned into the health sector as the second hire for Bright Pink, a national non-profit dedicated to early detection and prevention of breast and ovarian cancer in young women.
A dedicated volunteer, spokesperson and advocate, Leah served as a founding member of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Greater Illinois Chapter Junior Board. She has also served as a Partner at Social Venture Partners Portland and a Mom’s Demand Action volunteer. Leah resides in Portland, Oregon with her partner and daughter. Outside of work, Leah is an avid trail runner, board game lover, and aspiring gardener.
Leah is committed to collaboration, open communication and mentorship while supporting cross-functional skill development; and she strives to embed an equity-centered approach in all her work.