Leadership development is a priority for you – and for us. You want to help build capacity in those you’re helping, and we want to help build capacity in your organization.
You believe in the value of what you’re doing – and we believe in the mission and value of social impact businesses and organizations to bring about change in individuals and society.
In working with stakeholders and donors, it’s your goal to cultivate long-term relationships and engage them for the long-term – and that mirrors our approach to your organization.
We know strategy, board and executive leadership development, staff support, and stakeholder engagement are most effective with full stakeholder involvement, so we prioritize increasing corporate and board support. We want your organizational strategic planning, stakeholder relationships, executive and staff development to make an impact, so we assess assignments and accept only those where we can help you make a measurable difference.
We understand that your purpose drives all you do. And our purpose is to support you.
Nationally recognized as a strategist, advisor, and executive coach, Valeria Lassiter empowers mission-driven organizations to achieve transformative growth. As the Founder and CEO of Lassiter & Associates, LLC, she is a trusted partner to executives, boards, and senior leadership teams, guiding them to elevate performance, build results-oriented cultures, and strengthen community engagement. With a career spanning corporate philanthropy, public affairs, and community-based initiatives, Valeria brings a unique blend of expert analysis, disciplined planning, and unmatched energy to every engagement.
As an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership, Valeria trains nonprofit executives in strategic resource development and philanthropic leadership. She has trained more than 2,000 executives in fundraising, governance, and leadership practices.
Valeria’s commitment to leadership is reflected in her extensive board service, including her roles as the former Board Chair of the NEA Foundation, a member of the East Carolina University Foundation Board of Directors, and Chair of its Women’s Philanthropy Roundtable. She is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery (Maryland) and served as a judge for the 2020 and 2021 .ORG Impact Awards.
Valeria holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from East Carolina University, a Master of Divinity from Colgate Rochester Divinity School, and an MBA from Babson College. She is the author of Exploring the Experiences of Leaders of Color in Philanthropy (2020) and 5 Things Nonprofits Can Control During Hyper Change (2020).
For more than 13 years, Gail has supported Lassiter and its clients with smart execution. She is a strategic business leader and project manager who partners with organizations to design and execute initiatives that drive performance, strengthen teams, and achieve measurable results.
With over 15 years of corporate experience in Accounting, Finance, Marketing, and Strategic Planning, Gail brings a unique blend of analytical rigor, operational insight, and people-centered leadership to every engagement.
Throughout her career, she has worked with Fortune 500 companies—including McDonald’s, Kmart, and Comcast—where she led cross-functional projects, managed complex business initiatives, and partnered with leaders on strategies to improve organizational effectiveness. Gail’s business approach is grounded in collaboration, clarity, and execution excellence—ensuring that strategic goals translate into tangible outcomes.
Gail holds a BBA in Accounting from the University of New Mexico and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Michigan. She is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) registered in Illinois. Known for her integrity, empathy, and pragmatic problem-solving style, Gail is deeply committed to helping teams and leaders succeed in dynamic environments.
Pat brings more than two decades of leadership experience across the nonprofit, workforce development and social-impact sectors. As Lassiter’s Manager of Strategic Learning & Program Design, Pat helps nonprofits, foundations, and corporate philanthropy teams translate complex ideas into actionable strategies—strengthening organizational clarity, leadership alignment, and community-centered impact.
Pat is known for turning vision into execution. His career reflects a consistent commitment to building community, advancing equity, and designing programs that lead to measurable outcomes. Across his earlier city government and foundation roles, Pat managed large-scale, multi-city initiatives that strengthened organizational capacity, expanded service reach, and improved outcomes for individuals facing systemic barriers to employment. He has secured significant public funding, directed large teams of volunteers, managed multimillion-dollar programs, and led national convenings of a variety of professionals.
Pat holds an MPA from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service and a Master of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology. He has lived and worked globally—including in the Netherlands, Senegal, New York, Baltimore, Kansas City, and Washington, DC—which shapes his culturally responsive and community-driven approach to leadership and social impact.
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