Meet the Newest Members of the Catalyst Team

Please join us in welcoming Anna Maria Maybury and Louis Gonzalez to the Catalyst team. Each brings a thoughtful approach to building connection, supporting learning, and strengthening how our network shows up for the region. Keep reading to learn a little bit more about them.

At Catalyst, I design learning experiences that don’t just inform members, they help guide how they think, act, and show up in our community. I spend my days translating big ideas around equity, impact, and social change into spaces where people can wrestle with important questions and build skills that ultimately improve the lives of all residents in our region. My work lives at the intersections of strategy, humanity, and logistics. I am part builder, part convener, part gentle disruptor. If I’ve done my job well, our members don’t just gain knowledge, they experience the kind of connection and courage that actually move resources differently.

If I wasn’t in the nonprofit sector, I would create global opportunities rooted in one question: what becomes possible when we truly see each other?  I’d design experiences that create authentic connection across cultures and lived realities, the kind that open minds and quietly shift perspectives. I’m deeply drawn to the idea that we’re not as different as we think, and that our world would change if more of us could see ourselves, our families, and our loved ones reflected in people who look, live, or believe differently.

I’m grateful we all bring different passions to this work, and our region is stronger because people choose to show up for a wide range of causes. For me, it’s educational equity and dismantling the power imbalance between families and systems. So much of a person’s path is shaped by the circumstances they’re born into. Socioeconomic status, family circumstances, race, gender, learning differences, etc., all intersect in ways that can either open doors or close them. I’m passionate about transforming our school systems and expanding access to student advocacy so circumstance doesn’t dictate what’s possible for a child.

Being a mom to my identical twin daughters is my favorite part of life. It’s just the three of us, and that experience has stretched and shaped me in ways nothing else has.

Random fun fact: I once managed an eco-farm nestled between two volcanoes in a rural cloud forest village in Central America!

In my role as Controller, I help ensure the organization meets its financial reporting needs, and deadlines while also looking for ways to strengthen and streamline internal processes.

A big part of how I approach the work is taking the time to understand what each team does, so I can better support them, and help reduce duplication of efforts. I’ve always believed that finance shouldn’t feel like a separate world.

When people feel comfortable understanding the numbers behind their work, it helps everything run more smoothly and leads to better decisions across the organization. The is a quote I’ve carried with me for years: “knowledge is power, but when it is shared, it becomes wisdom.”

As the proud owner of a 1974 VW Supe Beetle convertible, I enjoy following Vocho News. I’s a great community that shares photos and stories of classic cars from all over the world. There’s something about seeing these cars still on the road that I really appreciate.

I also follow Leadership First. It’s a simple reminder that leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about how you support others, and how you carry yourself day to day.

Growing up in a very religious family, I always thought I would become a Pastor. Over time, I realized my path was different and chose to follow what had always come naturally to me: understanding and working with numbers. In a way, though, that early intention never really left. I still find meaning in supporting others, building trust, and helping people feel more confident in what they do.

One of my favorite things to do is get in the car with my partner in crime and take unplanned drives around San Diego County. Sometimes we end up at familiar spots, other times we discover something new, but that’s part of the fun.

I also enjoy visiting Julian. The open landscape and mountain views never get old. It’s one of those places that naturally makes you slow down and take it all in.