MCSC STAFF

Maxine Kozler
Executive Director, Mission Community Services Corporation

Maxine@MCSCorp.org

Maxine Kozler joined Mission Community Services Corporation in March 2023 and serves as its Executive Director, overseeing the nonprofit organization that is host to the Women’s Business Centers for San Luis Obispo, Kern and Monterey counties. Maxine started her career in the entertainment business with a specialty in protecting and growing intellectual property assets including licensing and partnerships. She continued her career by developing consumer product brands through public relations, social media, and influencer marketing. She was able to combine her experience with intellectual property, marketing, and operations to invest and advise startup founders by becoming a venture capital investor.

Maxi is the Co-Managing Director of LDR Ventures, a California based, female led consulting and venture capital firm. Her expertise includes early-stage capital raising, deal structuring and syndication, strategies for growth, marketing, and scaling. She invests in and advises founders to help grow their businesses from proof-of-concept to market leadership. With a focus on fundraising for non-profits and for-profit organizations through a curated network of high-net-worth individuals, family offices, foundations, private equity, and venture capital firms, Maxi has worked with the Make the Extra Pass Foundation, Cal Poly Athletics, the Boricua Allstars Baseball and Stuart House/The Rape Treatment Center.

Maxi also gives her time as a mentor for Declare, SheWorx, the Black Girls Making Millions Academy, Cal Poly Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Small Business Development Center and Hawai'i Found Her. She has also held committee positions for Cal Poly's Career Services and the San Luis Obispo Mayor's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force. She spearheads events called Women Who Invest in LA, SF and NYC for with other female investors to teach women how to invest at the Angel and Seed levels to address the funding disparity of capital that goes to female founders.

Maxi lives in San Luis Obispo, CA with her husband and two sons. She can frequently be found at one of many sports fields in the area watching her sons' baseball, basketball or flag football game and is a USTA tennis player herself.

Gabrielle “Gabby” Saunders

Program Coordinator, Women’s Business Center

Gabrielle@MCSCorp.org

Gabrielle Saunders joined the Women’s Business Center team in February 2022. Ms. Saunders has 12+ years’ experience as an Administrative Assistant/Executive Assistant in various industries. She brings a variety of skill sets and knowledge to our team. Gabrielle is currently taking classes to obtain her B.A. in Business Administration. When not working, Ms. Saunders can be found enjoying her free time with family and loved ones.

One of Gabrielle’s favorite quotes is, “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” - Langston Hughes