Bio and CV

Personal Profile

Roland Palencia, MA, is an executive leader with experience in leading and managing multi-million dollar non-profit and philanthropic entities. He is an organizational and leadership development consultant, executive coach, program designer, evaluator, and retreat and meeting facilitator who focuses on what makes teams functional.

He is a Professor at California State University Northridge (CSUN) in the Diverse Community Development Leadership program, a leadership and management Master of Arts graduate program. As Executive Producer, his documentary films on community-led leadership include a co-production with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), which has garnered him numerous awards.

Palencia is the Founder and President of Breakspell Consulting, a firm committed to developing organizational leadership and management competencies. He is the former Community Benefits Director and corporate trainer at L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest public health plan in the nation with an over $9 billion budget and close to three million members in Los Angeles County. He is also the former Executive Director of Clinica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), and Equality California. He is the former multi-county Regional Director at The California Endowment and the Chief of Operations and Vice President at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a multi-national nonprofit.

Some of Palencia’s accomplishments include leading and training teams of over 100 staff members, designing and delivering communications, leadership, and effectiveness courses, and training over 1,400 employees, including over 400 managers in management communication skills at one company. His multiple philanthropic initiatives include a fund that supported over 1,000 community projects, including community-based clinics and social services agencies, totaling over $150 million in funding while providing technical assistance to applicants and grantees. These projects included support in health information technology, community clinic infrastructure, oral and dental health, quality improvement, organizational fiscal acumen capacity, patient informatics, social determinants of health such as housing, food security, earned income tax income, racial equity, and integrated clinical systems of care among other health initiatives that impacted thousands of safety net patients.

Palencia received a B.A. in History from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and an M.A. in Depth Psychology and the Humanities from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Montecito, CA. In recognition of his leadership, he has received numerous awards from elected officials, organizations, associations, universities, and other entities. He has been featured in several books, publications, documentary films, and PSAs. The 165-page Master thesis by David Guzman, M.A. (CSUN 2014) records Palencia’s life journey as a recognized community leader and advocate in the greater Los Angeles area, promoting the well-being of marginalized populations such as immigrants, LGBTQ+ communities, youth, and the elderly, the uninsured, and low-income individuals. His motto is "Transformational leaders transform organizations and communities."

CURRICULUM VITAE

June 2022 to Present

Breakspell Consulting, Founder and President, Los Angeles, CA

Leadership and Organizational development Consultant Trainer and transformational executive coach.

Program planning, design, and implementation.
Retreat facilitator for companies, governing Boards, management & staff, and teams.
Grant proposal design and reviewer.

August 2022 to Present

California State University, Northridge - Tseng College

Professor, Diverse Community Development Leadership, Master of Arts program

Professor, Building Community-Government-Private Partnerships course, DCDL 620.

Design and deliver a yearly course for Master’s level students who learn the art and structure of community partnerships and grant proposal planning, design, research, and writing.

November 2006—May 2022

L.A. Care Health Plan, Los Angeles, CA

Community Benefits Director for a $9 Billion Public Health Plan with 3 million members

Led and managed a $20 million yearly grant-making program.
Funded over 900 community projects, including community-based clinics and social services agencies, totaling over $150 million, securing 99% of Board of Governors’ grant approval.
Designed, funded, and monitored the implementation of multi-million-dollar initiatives in health information technology, community clinic infrastructure, oral and dental health, quality improvement, fiscal acumen capacity, patient informatics, social determinants of health such as housing, food security, and earned income tax income, racial equity, and integrated clinical systems of care among other health initiatives that impacted thousands of safety net patients.
Leveraged 90% of funded grants by securing multi-million-dollar funding partnerships.
Re-designed the department’s blueprint and created a robust system that includes grant review processes, policies and procedures, staff reassignment, and grants management database.
Spokesperson in varied English and Spanish media outlets, including print, radio, television, telephone, and digital social media, promoting the agency’s philanthropic achievements and addressing safety net issues. This resulted in dozens of interviews and featured speaking engagements and presentations.
Official agency representative and speaker at ribbon-cutting and ground-breaking ceremonies, press conferences, and other public forums.
Designed and delivered the Human Resources-credited “How We Listen is How We Communicate,” “Mastering the Language of Health,” and “Transforming Complaints into Commitments” training to over 1,400 employees, including over 400 managers.

July 2006 – Nov 2006

Healthcare and Organizational Development Consultant

Provided coaching and consulting services to non-profit organizations in grant writing, fund development, program development, implementation, and monitoring.

October 2003 - July 2006

The California Endowment, Los Angeles, CA

Senior Program Officer for five Southern California Counties

Managed a $25 million annual grantmaking program:

Provided leadership, strategic thinking, and grant-making priorities in five Southern California counties (Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, and Riverside).
· Funded close to 200 community-based projects in five counties.
Designed, developed, and implemented a $1.5 million health and human services initiative for a cohort of community-based organizations in East Los Angeles to address disparities.

March 1999 - Sept 2003

Clinica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero, Los Angeles, CA

Executive Director of a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)

Responsible for strategic planning and implementation, fundraising, hiring of executive team, and overall operational supervision. Budget of $5.5 million and 95 employees:

Grew the clinic’s pre-Affordable Care Act revenue from $1.5 to $5.5 million, a 300% increase.
Implemented and expanded Federally Qualified Health Center status, resulting in over $600,000 in multi-year annual grants and revenues, plus higher Medi-Cal (Medicaid) reimbursement.
Raised millions of dollars annually from private foundations, government, corporations, and private individuals to meet growing budgets. Revenues also included programs that generated ongoing and sustainable fee-for-service reimbursements.
Extensive outreach to elected officials, diverse funders, opinion makers, English and Spanish media, community leaders, and patients impacted by our services.
Expanded from one site to three sites. Secured two entirely donated buildings with no mortgage debt. One site was gifted by a private donor (Alvarado St. and 3rdAve. site) and the second by L.A. County USC Hospital through the office of Supervisor Gloria Molina (Marengo St.).
Reduced staff turnover from 20% to 5% per year, improving staff morale, reduced expenses, and improved patient quality of care, making Clinica Romero an employer of choice.
Developed an effective partnership with SEIU Local 660, the staff labor representative.

July 2011- Nov 2011

Equality California (EQCA), Los Angeles, CA

Executive Director for $3.5 million Statewide LGBTQ Advocacy Organization

Led a coalition of over 50 statewide groups and grassroots organizations to successfully oppose a signature-gathering referendum against SB48, a progressive law in California public schools that teaches the contributions of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities.

California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law 12 legislative bills, the most by EQCA at that time, to protect transgender populations, LGBT students, domestic partners, and married couples.
Secured several grants to design and implement campaigns on breakthrough conversations of LGBTQ+ populations, their families, and children.

May 1991 - October 1997

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Los Angeles, CA

Vice President and Chief of Operations

Managed eight departments with over 150 employees. Administrative responsibility for hospice and primary care HIV/AIDS clinics.

Authored grant proposals that generated over $8 million, plus yearly renewals.
Instrumental in creating the organizational blueprint that enabled the agency to grow from $4.5 million in 1991 to over $40 million in 1999. The projected global budget for fiscal year 2025 is over $2.5 Billion. Chaired interdisciplinary teams to meet State of California health regulations.
Extensive outreach to elected officials for funding and advocacy purposes.

EDUCATION and TRAINING

· Master of Arts in the Humanities, focusing on depth psychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute.

· Bachelor of Arts, History, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

· Competent Communicator and Competent Leader Certification, Toastmasters International

· Trainer Certification, Association for Talent Development

· Master Instructional Design Program, Association for Talent Development

· Team Management Leadership Program (TMLP), Coach, Landmark Worldwide

· International Coaching Federation, Professional Coaching Certification, Goldvarg Coaching Group, December 2024. Associate Certified Coach Credential- Est. December 2025.

· Fully Bilingual in English and Spanish

ACADEMIA

Professor, California State University, Northridge, Tseng College, Master of Arts, Diverse Community Development Leadership
Guest Lecturer, California State University, Northridge, Central American Studies Department

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE

Provided services access to marginalized and underserved populations, including women, youth and children, undocumented immigrants, LGBTQ+ populations, elderly, and the uninsured, among other underserved and under-resourced communities and populations.

PARTIAL LIST OF COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARDS

“Local Hero” by Union Bank of California and KCET (U.S. National public television station)
Chancellor Emeritus Award for Community Service, Pacifica Graduate Institute
Community Service Award, MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund)
Spirit of Solidarity Ally Award, The TransLatin@ Coalition
Community Clinic Week Award, Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina
Outstanding Contributions to the Community Award, Gil Cedillo, State Senator and Chair of the California State Assembly Committee on Health Access
Spirit of Solidarity Award, The TransLatin@ Coalition
Solidarity Award, KIWA (Korean Immigrant Workers Advocates)
Community Service Award, Guatemalan Embassy and Los Angeles Consulate

COMMUNITY AND BOARD LEADERSHIP ROLES

ONE Archives Foundation, Board Member
Antioch University Los Angeles, Board of Trustees
Quality and Productivity Commission, Member, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa appointee.
Los Angeles County Hospitals and Healthcare Delivery Commission, Member, L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina appointee.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Board Member.
Alianza HIV/AIDS Latino Conference, Fiscal and Fundraising Committee Chair, the largest conference of its kind in the Americas, with over 1,000 yearly attendees.
Los Angeles County Community Clinic Association, Chair, Public Partnership Program.
Award-winning Film Executive Producer of “TransVisible: Bamby Salcedo’s Story” and “UNIDAD: Gay & Lesbian Latinos Unidos,” and film Associate producer of “Homebound.” Additional film credits include “Art as Activism,” depicting the history of Self-Help Graphics & Arts, the seminal East L.A. arts organization founded in 1970, and Ninety Minutes Later, which chronicles the last tragic moments of Vanessa Marquez, an actor in the iconic Stand and Deliver film.
VIVA! , Founder, 501 (c) (3) nonprofit community organization that supported LGBTQ Latino artists who promoted human rights and HIV/AIDS prevention and education.

· A 165-page Master thesis by David Guzman, M.A., (CSUN 2014) records life journey as a Guatemalan political refugee and multi-movement community activist.

Featured in several books and publications such as “Gay L.A.: A History of Sexual Outlaws, Power Politics, and Lipstick Lesbians” by Stuart Timmons and Lilian Faderman (2006). “Central Americans in Los Angeles” by Rosamaria Segura (2010); and “The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle” by Lilian Fad

For videos related to Palencia’s leadership and advocacy, click this link COMMUNITY LEADER