LaRae Mardesic Bechmann brings to our firm’s clients 20 years of professional fundraising experience in philanthropy. She has held development management positions at the University of Southern California, Petersen Automotive Museum, Heart Association and United Way.  Throughout her career LaRae has worked closely with governing boards and volunteer leadership in reshaping and creating environments for fundraising success. She has provided professional leadership in major capital campaigns for Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles and various new buildings on the USC campus.  Prior to joining our firm LaRae’s consulting assignments included projects for Saint John’s Health Center, and Little Company of Mary Hospital. She most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Chrysalis. 

A native of Los Angeles, LaRae attended California State University Long Beach and the University of Southern California, Annenberg School.

Helen Bechtolt brings fundraising and program management skills from 25 years of not-for-profit and institutional experience.  Prior to joining Phillips & Associates, Helen spent more than seven years at Claremont McKenna College where she served as Director of Special Gifts and Director of Major Gifts working on the College's successful $100 million campaign. 

In addition to larger gift and annual campaign experience, Helen has worked extensively with volunteers, coaching volunteer solicitors and directing volunteer program managers.  Since joining Phillips & Associates, her work has included designing strategic development plans for new and experienced organizations, conducting feasibility and prospecting studies and leading workshops and board retreats.  Recent client assignments include California State Universities at San Bernardino and Los Angeles, Good Samaritan Hospital, Huntington Hospital, Loyola High School of Los Angeles, Maryvale, The Oaks School, Portals House, Sierra Madre Community Foundation and Southwest Chamber Music.  Helen is a graduate of Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.

Victoria Meadows Lenton, Senior Counsel, has over 30 years experience in the field of not-for-profit institutional development as a consultant and professional staff member. Her staff positions have included Director of Community Relations for the College of Continuing Education at USC, Director of Development for the London Business School (University of London), and Vice President of Development of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).

During her distinguished consulting career Victoria has served over 24 schools, colleges and universities; 12 cultural and arts organizations; and, 18 membership and community action groups in the U.S and abroad. In serving our firm's clients Victoria specializes in campaign readiness assessments, campaign counsel, and major gift solicitation strategies. Her clients have included the Francine and Sterling Clark Art Institute – Massachusetts, Mount St. Mary's College, Reed College, University of California - Irvine, Cate School, Huntington Library, and KCET Public Television. In addition to her fund raising expertise, Victoria specializes in development program resources budgeting, strategic planning and organizational development for start-up non-profit organizations. Victoria is a graduate of UCLA.

Susan has an outstanding reputation and over 30 years of broad-based experience in institutional advancement. Her particular expertise as counsel is in development program management, strategic planning, private foundation organizational planning, feasibility studies, training and planning workshops, and campaign planning and management. Some of her recent and current client assignments with the firm include the James S. Bower Foundation, California State University Los Angeles, Center Theatre Group, and the International Myeloma Foundation.

Susan has been with our firm over 12 years. Before that, she served as Vice President of the Unified Fund of the Music Center of Los Angeles County. Prior to that, she was Vice President for College Advancement at Whittier College and Director of Development at Caltech. She is a graduate of UCLA.

Gary W. Phillips has counseled clients in all essential areas of institutional advancement. His special expertise is in the areas of developing volunteer and staff leadership; facilitating strategic planning and organization management; counseling in capital and endowment campaigns. He has also served a number of private family foundations assisting them to define their charitable mission along with the essential roles and responsibilities of their governing boards.

Gary has served 13 of the University of California and California State University campuses; 17 private colleges and universities; Orange County Performing Arts Center and Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Huntington Library, and Clark Art Institute-Massachusetts; Los Angeles and San Francisco Zoos; Marlborough, Laguna Blanca, Loyola High and Polytechnic Schools; Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, UCLA Medical Center and USC School of Medicine.

Prior to founding our firm in 1971 Gary served as Director of Development for UCLA, Assistant Director of Development for Stanford University , and director of both a corporate and private foundation. Gary is a graduate of Stanford University.

Kellie Stockdale Webb brings to our firm's clients a wide-ranging background and skill set from 17 years of not-for-profit and corporate experience. Prior to joining Phillips & Associates, Kellie served as the Director of Development for the Orange County Museum of Art and Associate Director, Expansion Campaign and Associate Director, Individual Gifts for the Orange County Performing Arts Center. In addition to major annual fund and capital campaign experience, Kellie has extensive experience with membership programs, special events, corporate sponsorships, support groups, technology infrastructure and management, marketing and public relations. Prior to entering the non-profit world, Kellie provided technical training, writing, business process assessment and systems integration as a Microsoft Certified Instructor for major corporations throughout California.

Kellie received her B.A. in Communications from University of California, Santa Barbara and her M.A. in Arts Administration from Golden Gate University, San Francisco.

Lawrence J. Wilker has developed his considerable talent, valued insights and international reputation in arts management over that past 30 years. He brings to select clients of our firm his special skills and perspectives in the areas of strategic planning, organizational development and arts programming. Larry is a Tony Award-winning, Emmy-nominated performing arts executive, most recently serving as President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts following his Presidency of Cleveland's Playhouse Square Foundation, Director of Theatre and Real Estate Properties for the Shubert Organization, and Vice President of the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Foundation. He recently co-founded TheatreDreams, Inc. and ShowOnDemand taking full advantage of his arts management and marketing capabilities.

Larry received his B.A. in Economics and M.F.A. in Theatre from the University of Massachusetts, and his Ph.D. in Theatre from the University of Illinois.