FUSE is thrilled to announce the arrival of our Fall 2024 cohort, a group of dynamic and experienced professionals ready to tackle pressing challenges within local governments across the nation. This new cohort will join FUSE’s mission to foster innovative solutions and drive impactful change in communities, enhancing the capacity of local agencies to serve their populations effectively. As the FUSE Executive Fellows embark on their year-long assignments, they will engage in transformative projects that address critical issues, from public health to the homelessness crisis, ensuring that their expertise translates into meaningful improvements for the communities they serve.
Columbus, OH
Stephen Kelch
FUSE Project: Advancing Public Safety Sensor Technology with Transparency
Stephen Kelch is an accomplished IT Executive with extensive experience in project management, system integration, and infrastructure development across various industries, including logistics, retail, and manufacturing. Previously a Senior IT Project Manager at NiSource, he led a significant SAP S/4HANA cloud and Salesforce integration project, showcasing his expertise in implementing advanced technologies.
As a FUSE Executive Fellow, Kelch is now focused on enhancing public safety in Columbus by integrating innovative sensor technologies like real-time cameras and noise detectors. He aims to create a data-driven framework for technology selection, benchmark best practices from other cities, and establish a public safety advisory committee to ensure community engagement and trust. Through this initiative, Kelch is committed to equipping Columbus with sustainable tools for improving neighborhood safety.
What drew me to the FUSE Fellowship is the opportunity to combine my passion for public service with my extensive experience in technology-driven solutions. This project offers a unique opportunity to leverage data, IT infrastructure, and cross-functional teams to make a real and tangible difference in public safety. The idea of developing data-driven protocols for deploying sensor technology to enhance public safety and enable transparency resonated with me, as it aligns with my belief in using technology as a tool for positive social change.
I see this project as an opportunity to contribute to something bigger. By working closely with the City of Columbus Department of Public Safety, I am excited to design systems and processes that prioritize transparency, accountability, and community trust. I believe that through the successful implementation of these technologies, we can build stronger connections between law enforcement and the community, ensuring that public safety initiatives are equitable and accessible to all.
My hope is this project will bring about change, while creating a safer, more connected community where technology prioritizes safety and transparency using a data-driven approach which supports decision-making, resource allocation, and policy creation. Ultimately, I aim to help community to implement public safety systems effectively, which are trusted and facilitate collaboration and contributes to the sense of security for all residents.
Nicole Jackson
FUSE Project: Assessing and Addressing Housing Insecurity
Nicole Jackson is a seasoned technology leader with over a decade of experience in product development and digital transformation. Having held high-level roles such as Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, she excels in creating scalable solutions across various industries. As a FUSE Executive Fellow in Columbus, Ohio, Jackson is leading a vital project to combat housing instability through a data-driven early warning system that addresses rising rents and displacement, particularly in marginalized communities.
The project struck at the heart of the experiences I’ve witnessed in recent years and it continues to impact those I know and love, as well as my broader community. To much is given, more should be required and I felt comfortable taking a year to help bring impact to a community that helped me develop into the professional and person I am today.
Lisa White
FUSE Project: Responding to Mental Health Needs in Vulnerable Communities
Dr. Lisa White is a distinguished mental health professional with over 20 years of experience. She combines her expertise in clinical practice and organizational consulting. She holds a doctorate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, a Master’s in Social Work, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. Notably, she served as a consultant for the City of New Albany’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Action Committee (IDEA) in 2021.
Currently, as a FUSE Executive Fellow, Dr. White is leading an important initiative with Columbus Public Health (CPH) to expand mental health services for vulnerable communities facing systemic barriers. Her project involves conducting a gap analysis, engaging stakeholders, and developing a strategic business case to ensure that CPH effectively addresses the mental health needs of the city’s most underserved populations. Through her work, Dr. White is dedicated to creating sustainable and coordinated care solutions that will significantly enhance community well-being.
The project really excited me because it is an opportunity to marry my experience in mental health with my interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is the right time for me to pivot in my career and use the skills I have while simultaneously gaining experience. My long-term goal is to obtain my license as a psychologist, however working on this project will allow me to become a well-rounded clinician. Mental health services are often elusive because of socioeconomic barriers that are too challenging to overcome. I am keenly aware that the results of my work can have real-life positive benefits for the people of my own community and I am committed to being a part of the solution.
Los Angeles County, CA
Susana Santana
FUSE Project: Reimagining Homelessness Prevention and Response for the Latino Community
Susana Santana is a seasoned communications professional with a strong background in nonprofit management and a passion for addressing social issues. With a BA in Communication Studies from UCLA and a Master’s in Communication Management from USC’s Annenberg School, Santana has honed her skills in strategic planning, operational efficiency, and program performance monitoring[3]. Her expertise extends to technology implementation, HR advisory, and communications strategy.
Currently, Santana is making a significant impact as a FUSE Executive Fellow, collaborating with Los Angeles County to tackle the pressing issue of homelessness among Latino residents. In this role, she is instrumental in implementing task force recommendations and developing culturally responsive services to address the unique challenges faced by the Latino community, including language barriers, immigration status concerns, and overcrowded housing. Santana’s work is crucial in creating sustainable systems that aim to reduce disparities and improve long-term housing outcomes for Latino residents, aligning with broader equity-driven homelessness initiatives in the county.
This project brings me the opportunity to contribute to an underserved community in great need. I saw this as a door that opened for me to grow as a servant leader while learning from those around me and the community itself. Being a Latina immigrant, I can relate to some of the struggles faced by families of this group, but I am aware there is still a lot to learn and look forward to the collaborations that may form with other agencies and public sector partners in this fight against homelessness while addressing issues of systemic racism.
Game Quan
FUSE Project: Financial Systems Improvement and Change Management to Strengthen Los Angeles County
Game Quan is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in nonprofit higher education and financial management. Over his 30-year career, he rose from an administrative assistant to chief financial officer, demonstrating his dedication and expertise in the field. Quan’s diverse background includes notable achievements such as revitalizing the Claremont School of Theology, contributing to the establishment of the Digital Theological Library, and significantly boosting patient revenues for a nonprofit dental practice.
With a BS in Economics/Systems Science from UCLA, Quan brings a strong analytical foundation to his work. His current role as a FUSE Executive Fellow with Los Angeles County’s Internal Services Department (ISD) showcases his commitment to improving public sector operations. In this capacity, Quan is focusing on enhancing ISD’s financial processes, including streamlining rate-setting and billing, automating financial systems, and developing tools to support staff in adopting improved practices. His efforts aim to ensure equitable service pricing, empower frontline workers, and bolster ISD’s capacity to support County-wide initiatives, particularly in areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
I feel I still have a lot to contribute.
I have applicable experience with implementing enterprise software solutions as a project sponsor, and as a project lead. My project is to assist in implementation, and to attempt to achieve additional process efficiencies. I do not know how far our government partner has gotten in the process. I will listen and learn, and contribute when and where I can.
Ni Kal S. Price
FUSE Project: Developing an Accountability Framework to Address the Needs of Black People Experiencing Homelessness
Ni Kal S. Price is a seasoned marketing and strategic planning professional with over two decades of experience spanning both corporate and non-profit sectors. Her diverse background includes executive roles at Paramount Pictures, where she managed brand marketing teams for multiple distribution partnerships. Price’s commitment to community service is evident in her work strengthening underserved populations through education advocacy and engagement, as well as her service on the planning commission.
With a strong educational foundation, including a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Howard University and an MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business, Price brings a unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen to her roles. Currently, as a FUSE Executive Fellow, she is supporting a critical initiative in Los Angeles County to advance racial equity in the homelessness response system. Price’s work focuses on developing an accountability framework, tracking progress across County departments, and fostering collaboration with key stakeholders to ensure equitable, culturally responsive services for Black residents and all individuals experiencing homelessness.
When I first read about the FUSE Fellowship project, I saw it as the perfect intersection of my professional experience, my most recent community advocacy focusing on underserved populations, my work ensuring more equitable systems, and my role as a planning commissioner in local government. Then, I thought deeper about shelter as one of humanity’s most basic needs as I glanced through the reports and viewed video content of the committee already at work addressing the black homeless population in LA County. I thought about how government decisions and systems should not be a contributing factor to those experiencing homelessness but should be an equitable solution provider. I even reflected on my own experience with the apartment search and later the pursuit of homeownership many years ago.
While what home looks like will not be the same for all, you can’t make it home safely where home doesn’t exist. I hope the goals met from this project will help to improve the livelihood of the black community and will be evidence that the humanity of this community is both seen and heard. I believe that the larger community of LA County will be changed because local government will have sustained inclusive practices for the reduction and prevention of the largest population of the unhoused.
Duane Johnson
FUSE Project: Making Marina del Rey and Los Angeles County Beaches More Equitable, Accessible, & Resilient
Duane Johnson is a strategic communications leader with extensive experience in driving impactful results across healthcare, education, and entertainment. A former Vice President at LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS, he has successfully led campaigns for organizations like the California Department of Public Health and Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. With a degree in English Literature and Professional Writing from Barry University, Johnson is now focused on fostering social impact through community engagement.
Currently, he is contributing to Los Angeles County’s initiatives aimed at enhancing coastal resilience and promoting inclusive access to Marina del Rey and its beaches. His expertise in strategic planning and transparent communication is vital in ensuring that these efforts prioritize historically underserved communities while maintaining sustainable coastal assets for future generations.
What drew me to this FUSE Fellowship is the opportunity to combine climate resilience and social equity. I’m passionate about using strategic communications to create lasting impact, and this project offers a unique chance to protect our coastline while ensuring Marina del Rey is accessible and welcoming for all residents, especially those from historically marginalized communities.
Through this work, I hope to help the community feel a stronger connection to the public spaces and to foster greater inclusion. My goal is to ensure that both the beaches and Marina del Rey remain vibrant, equitable spaces for diverse communities for generations to come.
Gary Campanella
FUSE Project: Building Effective, Inclusive Approaches to Countywide Coordination of Equitable Services
Gary Campanella is a seasoned professional with a remarkable track record in operational transformation and strategic alignment. As a certified Project Manager (PMP) with multiple certificates and two degrees, Campanella brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role as a FUSE Executive Fellow. His diverse background includes serving as Senior Operations Manager for Capital Group Companies, where he collaborated with nonprofit organizations across Los Angeles, and working as a Mediator in the LA Superior Court system.
In his current role with Los Angeles County, Campanella is supporting efforts to enhance service coordination across departments through the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative and the Prevention and Promotion Coordination and Implementation Team (PPCIT)[2]. His mission is to align resources, streamline services, and develop sustainable processes that ensure equitable access for all residents, with a particular focus on BIPOC and underserved communities. Campanella’s unique blend of operational expertise and commitment to social impact positions him as a key player in creating long-term, user-friendly coordination frameworks that will empower Los Angeles County to deliver inclusive and effective services for its diverse population.
What drew me to FUSE is the desire, at this stage of my career, to be of service to my community. Nothing more – or less. What drew me to this particular fellowship was both the opportunity to leverage skills I have developed during my private sector career, and the opportunity to take my career ‘full circle.’ I began my career thousands and thousands of years ago with a very similar grant-funded position with the City of Boston.