Our Board
Carol Melville
Secretary
Carol Melville is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who worked as Regional Director for South Bay Jewish Family Service Mental Health Center providing counseling and psychotherapy to underserved populations. In her role with Jewish Family Service, she developed community programs, supervised student interns, and administered an on-going professional development program for staff members. She has also worked as a private practice clinician specializing in working with adults with eating disorders, addiction and depression. Carol has also worked as a volunteer mentor for Walk with Sally and completed the Manhattan Beach Leadership program (May 2020). She resides in Manhattan Beach and is the mother of a college-age daughter.
Mara Grobins Nasatir
Mara Grobins Nasatir is an attorney licensed in New York and is the director of safety, compliance & ethics at Westbrook, Inc., a production company, where she oversees initiatives and projects to ensure worker safety and satisfaction. Mara is an advocate for the physical and psychological safety of employees in the workplace. Prior to working at Westbrook, Mara was at TIME’S UP and worked with survivors to design and implement initiatives to improve safety from sexual harassment and assault in entertainment industry workplaces. She is a member and secretary of the board of STOKED, a nonprofit that builds confidence, strengthens social-emotional skills, and bridges the opportunity gap for underserved youth through mentorship and immersion in action sports culture.
Robert Koseff
Treasurer
Robert Koseff is a financial executive with over 30 years of experience in the consumer products, entertainment and food brokerage industries. He is currently the CFO at Carole Incorporated, a wholesaler of accessories and costume jewelry. Robert grew up in South Africa and moved to the U.S. over 30 years ago. He is passionate about animal rights, human rights, sports, and running on the beach. He lives in Santa Monica with his actress wife, Jessica, college-age child, Sam, and their two cats Dexter and Maizie.
Bridget Gordon
Bridget Gordon is the Co-Chair of the Integration Advisory Board for LA County Health Departments (Health Agency). The Integration Advisory Board (IAB) advises Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors on the Health Departments integration of three departments, Public Health, Mental Health and Health Services. Bridget founded the Bridget B Foundation in 2004, a charitable organization dedicated to creating awareness & resources on reproductive healthcare issues for women with focus on providing practical support for women living with HIV/AIDS, and currently serves as its Executive Director. She is a member of the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV and of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment. Bridget previously served as a Board Member, Community Advisory, Maternal Child & Adolescent Center, Los Angeles County. Recognition of her work includes an Honoree for the IMPACT Champions of Change, Washington, DC, 2012. She has a degree in Engineering from the University of Washington and worked for many years in the tech industry as an engineer, manager and consultant. Bridget and her daughter reside in Los Angeles.
Dana Brown
Chair
Dana Brown is the ACEs Science Statewide Facilitator, Learn4Life Organizational Liaison, ACEs Connection, and Executive Director, Youth Voice A social entrepreneur, Dana founded a character development program at Tierrasanta Elementary in San Diego, CA; co-founded OurSOLES (Our Students of Leadership ~ Empowerment ~ Service), founded Youth Leadership TICS (Trauma-Informed Community Schools) and Youth Leadership with McGill School of Success. Dana is a Commissioner on the City of San Diego Commission on Gang Prevention & Intervention and Chair of the Youth Committee., co-chair of the San Diego Trauma-Informed Guide Team , on the Advisory Council of the University of San Diego’s Character Development Center, the steering committee of the Clinton Health Matters Initiative, Strong Families, Thriving Communities, and the leadership team of the Southern California Warrior Spirit with Indigenous communities. An author, Hidden Treasures, Ms. Brown has received many awards over the years, including, the Joy McAllister Advocacy Award from Mental Health America in 2014, President Obama’s USA Volunteer Presidential Award in 2013 (with San Diego Compassion Project), and the City of San Diego’s Human Relations Commission Award in 2009.
David J. Sampson
David J. Sampson is a communications professional with four decades of experience in newsroom and non-profit medical & scientific communications. He currently serves as the senior director of media relations at UCLA Health, where he leads a team of seven public information officers to promote the science and expertise of a top-ranked medical school and health system. Prior to this, he spent over 18 years at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, where he directed medical and scientific communications for the nation’s largest health non-profit. Prior to moving into public relations, David was a medical journalist at KGO-TV in San Francisco and KCAL-TV and Dateline NBC in Los Angeles. He received a bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University and lives in Los Angeles. He has one son who now resides in NYC.
Echo is proud to honor Linda Keston for her lifetime dedication to families and her community. Linda’s career has always involved supporting others with compassion and expertise, including as an elementary school teacher, school counselor, school psychologist, and licensed marriage and family therapist.
Linda’s connection with Echo dates back to its roots. She met our founder, Ruth Beaglehole, while Ruth was leading a teen parenting program at LAUSD Business School, signing on to mentor several teens during this time. When Ruth founded the Center for Non-Violent Education and Parenting (still Echo’s legal name), Linda was instrumental in its creation and growth. Her 20-year tenure as an Echo Board Member – including 12 years serving as Board Chair – was marked by wisdom, grace, and an unwavering commitment to our mission.
Even in retirement, Linda’s legacy lives on through the Keston family, who continue to be major supporters of Echo’s work with families. Linda’s kindness and dedication have impacted many, and she remains deeply loved and respected by board members and staff, both past and present.
Linda’s legacy of compassion and service continues to inspire us all. We thank her for her extraordinary contributions.