Who am I?
Hello, I’m Marlenia!
With over 20 years of communications, management, and fundraising experience, I have helped organizations realize their overarching revenue and social impact goals through
high-impact storytelling,
message development,
relationship building,
grant writing, and
strategy.
My success is based on the ability to unite individuals under a common goal and a targeted approach to achieve organizational objectives. I aim to help businesses, large and small, achieve their goals and unleash more bandwidth to do the work instead of the writing.
Do you have expensive pieces of framed paper hanging on your wall a.k.a. credentials?
Yes, I have a master’s degree from California State University, Northridge in Public Administration, specializing in Public Sector Management and Leadership. I earned a dual MFA in Creative Writing (Nonfiction) and MA in Urban Sustainability from Antioch University, Los Angeles. I served as a copy editor for Antioch University’s literary magazine, Lunch Ticket. As a writer and advocate for environmental justice issues, I was a panelist at the AWP 2019 Conference, “Back to Basics: Untangling Environmental Stories.”
I serve as an advisory board member for the Design Thinking Executive Program at the University of California, Riverside, and in 2021, I became a California licensed real estate sales agent specializing in commercial real estate. I am also a proud alum of ULI’s Project REAP program.
I would like to help you return to the work you were called to do.
I want to meet you where you are and take you where you need to go. Your organization’s vision will be the guide and if the vision is unclear, we will have some “blue-sky thinking” to do in the conference (or Zoom) room.
Fun Facts
I love dogs (big and small, from Dobermans to Dachshunds).
My favorite books to read as a child were Charlie Brown’s Encyclopedia, Ripley’s Believe or Not, and Beverly Cleary’s Ramona series.
My Starbucks barista friends call me, “Ms. Iced Chai” (Grande with an extra pump of chai, please).
Top 5 attributes according to Gallup (Clifton) StrengthsFinder: Input, Maximizer, Intellection, Relator, and Ideation
I am a native of Los Angeles and the “native” part is pretty rare these days.
I do not know how to ride a bicycle. The last time I tried to learn (10 years ago), I broke my ankle. An adult trike is likely in my future.
I love nature photography so you will usually not find people in my photos, but butterflies and ladybugs are welcome.
Testimonial
Marlenia's expertise and thought leadership have already greatly benefited the organization. Personally, her leadership coaching has helped me to "level up" in so many ways and for that, I am immensely grateful!
Kimberly Brown | President of AAREP LA and Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield