Pete Brzycki
Executive Director

Pete brings over 20 years of managerial experience to PAY. He was introduced to our cause while leading the United Way campaign as Senior Vice President of U.S. Trust. In succession, he became a GOALmodels speaker, a member of the board of directors, board chair, then our executive director after leaving the corporate world. Pete has served at the senior executive level for three large corporations - including one nonprofit - and has extensive experience in strategic planning, operations and finance/accounting. Pete received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University.

Donna Marie M. Ramos, MA, MFT
Director of Counseling Services

Donna started working at Bridge Focus as a Marriage and Family Therapy trainee. She graduated with distinction from Assumption College in the Philippines earning a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Psychology. Donna obtained her Masters Degree (with honors) in Clinical Psychology with Emphasis is Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. She is a California-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). While working at Bridge Focus, she functioned in various capacities: Program Manager for both the Sunland-Tujunga satellite office and the Monitored Visitation Program, Case Management Supervisor, and Clinical Services Coordinator. Donna has co-facilitated Parenting Groups, Women's Group, and Teen Groups. She has over a decade of experience working with youth at risk and their families. She is currently working on her Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPS) at Phillips Graduate Institute. She is bilingual (Tagalog) and bicultural and brings a breadth of experience to the agency.

Manny Velazquez
Director of Youth Development

Manny has spent the last 22 years as a gang intervention worker, violence prevention expert, community activist, youth advocate and muralist. Six of those years were also spent hosting a youth issues show for the popular Hip-Hop station, “Power 106”. Born and raised in Pacoima, Manny understands the issues so many of our youth are dealing with today. He uses art and music to draw kids in, offering them alternatives to gang life, drugs, crime and violence. We at PAY look forward to working with Manny for many years to come as we all strive to reach out to our kids that are in need.

Karissa Provost
Clinical Services Coordinator

Karissa holds a Bachelors degree in Social Sciences as well as a Masters degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. Both her Bachelors and Masters degrees were obtained from Chapman University in Orange, California. Karissa’s background includes working with at-risk children and their families. She has also conducted parenting classes, co-facilitated groups for children with divorcing parents, groups for women with depression, as well as many other counseling modalities with an array of clients with various presenting issues. Her background coupled with her passion for the counseling field are added benefits to our agency.

Sheron Maitland-Ames
Bookkeeper / Office Manager

Miguel Torres
Youth Coordinator

Miguel has been with PAY since 2001, starting off as our receptionist and after graduating with a degree in Sociologoy from Cal State Northridge, became a full-time Youth Coordinator, workign with our youth groups. Before joining PAY he worked as a production assistant for an MTV show.