Board
Meet our Board of Directors
Len Lanzi: Chair, Finance/Investment Committee, Strategic Planning Committee
Leonard Lanzi and his husband of 32 years live in Topanga Canyon. Together, they enjoy the Los Angeles Football Club and the LA Rams as season ticket holders. Len is the Managing Director of the Stubbs Alderton & Markiles Preccelerator program in Santa Monica. He has over 30 years of organization management and fund development experience, having served as the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Venture Association since 2007. Len brings a well-rounded knowledge from such diverse human service organizations as the Community Kitchen of Santa Barbara, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Junior Achievement of Southern California and the Boy Scouts of America. Leonard graduated from the University of Rochester with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He has professional certification from Pepperdine University on Private Capital Markets. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Santa Monica, serves as Board Chair for Meals on Wheels West, Board Treasurer for the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, President of his homeowners association.
Anastasia Foster: Secretary, Board Development Committee, Governmental Relations Committee
Anastasia Foster is an elected member of the Santa Monica Rent Control Board. She credits her 11 years of driving Meals on Wheels in Santa Monica with helping her to build, develop and operate her very own Assisted Living Community, both of which give her a unique perspective into the daily living needs of seniors. Anastasia is also a Committee Co-Chair at the CA Democratic Party, sits on the steering committee of Communities for Excellent Public Schools and is a volunteer for Santa Monicans’ for Renters’ Rights. She’s been an actress and broadcaster for over 20 years and lives in Santa Monica with her son.
David Brodie
David joined the board of Meals on Wheels West in 2018. Originally from Kansas City, Kansas, David has lived in Los Angeles since 2007, editing and directing through Rock Paper Scissors in Santa Monica. His work includes music videos, trailers, documentaries, and commercials, including the Subaru “Share the Love” campaign he directed in 2017, featuring clients and volunteers from Meals on Wheels West. In 2009 David received an Emmy Award for his editing on Errol Morris’s “Survivors”. His films as editor include the Academy Award-nominated documentary “The Witness” and most recently, the Netflix film, “Struggle: The Life and Lost Work of Szukalski.”
Nancy Grass
Currently serving as Chair of Communication and Media Studies at Santa Monica College, Dr. Nancy Grass helped to lead the efforts to create a comprehensive food security program for students at Santa Monica College. She has served on the Basic Needs and Social Justice work groups and has worked with the State’s Chancellor’s office in their efforts to address statewide student housing and food insecurity. Dr. Grass began her career as a professor and author teaching Communication Studies for over 25 years and authoring the internationally sold book, Public Speaking in American English. Dr. Grass received her Master’s degree in Communication Studies from California State University, Northridge and her PhD in higher education from Capella University where she researched methods for improving institutional communication climates in large public institutions.
Billy Hartman
Billy joined as a Member of the Board of Directors in June of 2019. A Midwesterner at his core (born and raised in Michigan), he’s now an LA local having been on the Westside since 2001. Having a soft-spot with personal experiences of his own, enriching the lives of our homebound friends and neighbors by “delivering more than a meal” strikes a special cord – some of our wisest storytellers are tucked away in our community with so much to share. Mr. Hartman has held various leadership roles in streaming audio, technology and distribution. With 20+ years of experience in corporate development and revenue, he has a diverse background having worked at companies including SXM Media, Pandora, Yahoo!, Nissan, Orbitz, and Tribune along with Lettuce Grow, a consumer product that empowers people to grow food at home. Bringing this variety of experience to Meals on Wheels West will support the mission to continue serving our LA Coastal Communities.
Rob Sherman: Treasurer, Executive Committee, Musical Event Chair
Rob Sherman is the founder and chief strategist at Sherman Marketing, specializing in SEO (Search Engine Optimization), Content Marketing, and website improvements that increase relevant visitors. With 20+ years of brand building experience and an extensive background in emerging technology and interactive marketing, Rob is expert at helping clients exceed their online goals. He has led new digital product and web initiatives for Disney, BBC and Apple. Prior to founding Sherman Marketing, he was Vice President Business Development at Getty Images where he launched a series of digital products into the global marketplace. He also opened several Getty international offices and was content director of the first Getty film website. When he’s not in the office, Rob enjoys composing music and performing with The Beatles Yoga group and others.
Melissa Sweeney: Chair July 4th Event Committee Chair, Marketing Committee, Volunteer Breakfast Chair, Governmental Relations Committee
Melissa Sweeney is the President of Eumenides Consulting, a Santa Monica-based public relations/community relations firm. A third generation Angeleno, she has provided communications and community organizing services to a wide variety of for-profit, political and non-profit clients in the Southern California region, including Providence Saint John’s Health Center, the Miramar Hotel, Procter & Gamble and Expo Light Rail. In addition, she has written for screen, theatre and multimedia, and has lent her composition skills to numerous recording projects. She received dual Bachelor’s Degrees in anthropology and religious studies, and holds a Master’s Degree in religious studies from UC. Melissa brings her energy and expertise in service of the mission of Meals on Wheels West.
Lou La Monte: Former City of Malibu Mayor & Executive Producer/Director ITG/Epix
Lou La Monte was elected to the Malibu City Council in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014 and served two terms as Mayor. While on the council, he was also elected President of the California Contract Cities Association, representing 75 Southern California Cities. He has Directed and Executive Produced over 3000 TV Commercials in 45 Countries and won every major award in advertising. He serves on the LA County Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs. He was also recently appointed to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Financial Oversight Committee by the SMMUSD Board of Education.
Julian Brew: Partner at Cypress LLP
Julian is a veteran business and trial attorney with experience in a wide range of industries and areas of the law. With clients that range from the world’s largest multinational companies to small businesses and entrepreneurs, Julian approaches all his matters with the same creativity, energy, and determination, while never losing sight of his clients’ interests and objectives.
Penelope M Deihl: Attorney at Clark Hill
Penny Deihl is an effective litigator and negotiator with more than 25 years of experience representing individuals, corporations and other entities in a range of commercial and civil disputes. Focused on developing and pursuing legal strategies that work, Penny’s extensive trial experience is unique among her peers. On behalf of her clients, she has argued and won numerous jury awards and judicial decisions in open court.
Kevin Khalili: CEO & Partner
Kevin Khalili is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of multiple hospitality concepts: Kevin’s goals are to have a positive impact on the food industry through offering quality cuisine in a variety of atmospheres, and has done just that through various concepts that he and his partners have created and implemented over the past decade. Prior to getting involved within the hospitality industry, Kevin had practiced law for over eight years; he remains an active member of the California State Bar Association.
John F. Goeders: Coastal Service Area CFO, Providence St. Joseph Health
As Coastal Service Area CFO for Providence, John Goeders serves as executive finance lead over Saint John’s Health Center, Little Company of Mary Medical Center – Torrance, and Little Company of Mary Medical Center – San Pedro. Prior to joining Providence in March of 2020, John was VP, Strategic Planning and Revenue Cycle at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. Prior to Huntington, he worked at Ernst & Young LLP. John received his BA, Business Economics at University of California, Santa Barbara, and his MBA at Redlands University. John takes pride and grateful to serve on the Meals on Wheels West Board, as MOW West provides much needed sustenance for the very community in which his grandparents raised his mother while running their upholstery shop on Santa Monica Blvd.