Millennium Magazine_2ndEd

A Marquis Who's Who Magazine 279 A skilled administrator with a background in integrated primary care and behavioral health, domestic and sexual violence, project management, facilitation, nonprofit management and social services, Maria-Elena Ochoa is an example of a professional whose greatest strengths include leading by example and making the right decisions at the right time. The recipient of a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Arizona State University and an MBA with an emphasis on health care administration from the University of Phoenix, Ms. Ochoa knew fromearly on in her career that she wanted to focus her life’s work on under served populations. Over a period of 24 years, she worked for Marc Center, a provider of residential, rehabilitation and social services for children and adults with developmental and behavioral health needs. Here she gained experience in grant writing, program development, contract negotiation and fundraising, as well as obtaining and managing over $8 million in funding as director of behavioral health services. Ms. Ochoa then served as chief operating officer at Valle del Sol and director of the division for women in the Arizona Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families. In the latter capacity, she coordinated the Governor’s Commission to Prevent Violence Against Women andmanaged several million dollars in statewide grant funding. She also organized statewide community events and facilitated collaborations between international, national and state agencies and regional organizations. Having most recently served as chief of medical operations and chief innovation and development officer for an integrated health care agency in Arizona, Ms. Ochoa is now working as the deputy director at Against Abuse, Inc., with a focus on trauma-informed services for adult and child victims of domestic and sexual violence. As the CEOof MEO&Associates, LLC, she offers her expertise as a consultant in the areas of nonprofit management, grant writing, fundraising, facilitation, culturally responsive services and strategic planning. As previous president of the Phoenix chapter of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs and a member of several civic organizations, she strives to make a positive impact in the local community. MARIA-ELENA OCHOA, MBA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MEO & ASSOCIATES, LLC Deputy Director, Against Abuse, Inc. Casa Grande, AZ