Maricela Rios-Faust, CEO

Human Options, Irvine

As CEO, Maricela Rios-Faust brings strong strategic leadership, nonprofit management, and fundraising skills to her multifaceted role at Human Options. She oversees the fiscal and programmatic direction, as well as its emergency shelter and 24-hour crisis hotline, transitional housing programs, Center for Children and Families (eight resource centers), a Prevention Education program and all administrative and fundraising functions. Each year, these programs serve approximately 38,000 individuals and more than 3,000 youth through community education and prevention programs. Additionally, Rios-Faust developed a robust Internship Program in partnership with five local universities' "Master's in Social Work" programs. As a leader in supporting survivors of domestic violence, working to educate youth, evolving cultural beliefs away from victim blaming and shaming, training law enforcement and more, Rios-Faust has become a soughtafter source of knowledge about domestic and relationship violence. Under Rios-Faust's leadership, Human Options' stellar reputation has been cemented within Orange County.