Kathie Lester

Executive Director

Kathie brings over 20 years of comprehensive experience in management and oversight of activities relating to organizations’ operational and financial health. She is a graduate of The University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN where her career in Social Services began. While working for the American Lung Association, she focused on nonprofit management, fund development, program development, financial management, communication strategies, and event management. Her philanthropic interests in local and global environmental and social issues motivated her to advocate on behalf of underrepresented communities. In Spokane, WA she worked as an Agency Program Director managing a homeless shelter that provided emergency services to victims of domestic violence. She provided support and resources to clients, as well as leadership and direction to staff and volunteers. She then relocated to Southern California, where she spent 8 years in a private medical practice responsible for billing best practices and oversight of the financial solvency of the company. Her most recent accomplishment was with a prominent Malibu Treatment Center, where she developed an in-house billing system. She was also responsible for the company’s accounting functions, payroll, and client financial matters.

Kathie has trained a Therapy Dog, Gator, that loves to bring a loving and calming vibe to PTT clients.