It’s All About the People: Staff and Board Updates at Catalyst

We are delighted to share several recent updates to the Catalyst board and staff. Read on to learn about our newest incoming and outgoing board members, hear about two staff promotions, and meet our newest full-time staff member. 

Neville Billimoria currently leads Community Relations at Mission Fed Credit Union, and has been an active and valued member of the Catalyst community for years. With a deep commitment to driving change, Neville’s leadership roles at organizations like the North County Philanthropy Council and Cause San Diego will further strengthen Catalyst’s connections with partners and members. We are excited to welcome him and look forward to the impact of his leadership!  

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Kyra Greene for six years of service on the Catalyst board. Kyra’s dedication and insights have strengthened Catalyst in ways seen and unseen, and we are thrilled that she will remain engaged with us in other capacities as she graduates from board service.  

We are celebrating two well-deserved promotions among Catalyst staff. Caroline Wright has been promoted to Senior Manager of Finance and Accounting, building on her leadership and expertise in strengthening Catalyst’s financial strategy. Zoe Luiz has been promoted to Senior Manager of Communications, where she will continue sharing stories from our region and highlighting the work of our members and philanthropy. 

Finally, Michele Silverthorn has joined the Catalyst team in a full time capacity as Director of Collaborations & Strategic Initiatives. Michele previously led Catalyst’s Far South Border North work over the last year and has supported the Nancy Jamison Fund for Social Justice. Keep reading to learn more about Michele and her expanded role! 

Your title sounds big and broad, what exactly are strategic initiatives?  

Strategic initiatives are the things happening beyond the Catalyst network that are strengthened through Catalyst’s expertise. This includes leading our funder collaboratives, being an implementation partner for State Grants, and serving as a fiscal sponsor to sponsored projects.  

What are you most excited for in this new position? 

Where to start?! I am so excited to jump in and build on Catalyst’s work over the years. The value of our funder collaboratives is unique in our region, and I am motivated by the opportunity to gather funders to learn, lead, and act. 

At the end of February, we will hold our first Imperial Valley Funder Collaborative, which is an opportunity for cross-sector funders to come together to invest, collaborate, and impact the Imperial region. I encourage any funder currently funding Imperial, or just interested in learning more, to attend.

If that doesn’t interest you, take a look at our current collaboratives and see where your interests align! The collaboratives are sparked by our member’s interest, so if there’s something you want to know more about that we don’t have, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

You’ve been a powerhouse in the philanthropic sector for years. What keeps you activated to keep doing this work? 

After nearly 20 years, there is still a lot of work to be done. I enjoy working as a connector, which is something that is always needed as communities and organizations grow and change. I learn about new opportunities in our sector every day, and I always like to ask myself: where has this been done before and who else is doing it? I hope to continue to be the person who connects those dots. 

Enough about work, let’s get to know you! Do you have a favorite place in San Diego or Imperial Counties? 

My favorite place is anywhere I can hike, with the bonus of having my dog along and spending overnight in my tent. The Laguna Mountains have captured my heart, and I enjoy weekly hikes with numerous trails to choose from. There is always an outstanding view – and every sunset is the best one you have ever watched – the wind blowing through the pine trees always brings me a smile.  

Recently, I have been exploring the desert areas of Imperial including Anza Borrego Desert State Park. I was astonished to find fossilized sand dollars and tons of shells among the wind caves and slot canyons on a recent hike. Over the last year, I hiked over 500 miles and I am hoping to inspire new hikers and to further learn about our two counties by training to become a Sierra Club outings leader. 

We are excited for all that Michele will contribute to our team! If you have any questions, or just want to get in touch, contact Michele here.