New Faces at LAS
We are excited to introduce our new staff members
Interim Executive Director
LAS is pleased to welcome Mary Vradelis as the Interim Executive Director. Mary brings 20 years experience as a nonprofit administrator and consultant. Her two most recent positions as an Interim Director were at the Marin Theatre Company and The Sanville Institute, a doctoral program in clinical social work. Previously, she served as Executive Director of California Poets in the Schools and Back on Track Tutoring in San Francisco. As a consultant she has worked with dozens of Bay Area nonprofits providing critical services such as strategic planning, retreat facilitation and graphic recording; grant writing and development planning; and administration and program planning support. Her education includes a B.F.A. in Theatre and a Master's Degree in Therapy. She is presently enrolled in the Executive M.B.A. program at St. Mary’s College.
Staff Attorney
Jeremiah Guerin comes to LAS with experience in low-income legal services programs where he practiced public benefit, housing, consumer and family law. Most recently, Jerry worked with the San Francisco HICAP program as a counselor and advocate. He enjoys running,hiking and outdoor, do-it-yourself projects. Jerry's next project is building an outdoor shed.
Development Associate
Sandra Heidrich joins LAS after working in Changamwe, Kenya, to
promote HIV/AIDS youth education. Before escaping to Africa, she
graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Development Studies and
worked at the Association for Community Health Improvement. She is
excited to have the opportunity to be a part of LAS and looks forward
to meeting everyone at future events and conferences.
Community Education Advocate
Legal Assistance for Seniors is very pleased to welcome Sue Han to the staff. Sue started July 15th as our Community Education Advocate and is responsible for coordinating the agency’s outreach and educational programs. Sue brings over twenty years of experience in community service, much of it in Alameda County. Most recently Sue was with the Korean Senior Center where she was the Social Services Coordinator, and before that she worked with Korean Community Services of the East Bay and the Asian Community Mental Health Services. Sue is fluent in Korean.
Sue says, “I have always been excited to educate the community about Medicare and public benefit information, and LAS/HICAP is the primary source for this information.”
She is currently in training to become a registered HICAP Counselor and will soon be immersed in Medicare Part D education when the Annual Enrollment Period begins in the fall. Please give Sue a call if you are interesting in a legal or health insurance presentation for your group in Alameda County.
Public Benefits Advocate
Rachel Lawrence is the newest addition to the LAS staff. She has worked as a Social Security claims representative and as a staff counsel at health and social services agencies. Rachel is from Los Angeles and attended Pomona College. She moved to Northern California in 2001. When not cutting bureaucratic red tape on behalf of her clients, Rachel enjoys movies and reading.
