Stephen A. Leach
Community Relations Manager
Nestle
Stephen A. Leach was named Community Relations Manager at Nestle, U.S.A. in June 2011. In this capacity, Stephen supports community affairs, external relationships and sponsorships, corporate social responsibility initiatives, the Nestlé Sports Program, and many corporate volunteerism projects. In addition to his work with Nestle, Stephen serves on the Board of Directors for Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena and the American Diabetes Association Los Angeles Community Leadership Board. A native of Salisbury, N.C., Stephen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University and still continues to be an active member in their minority alumni association. He began his career in the non-profit sector providing direct services for such organizations as Big Brothers Big Sisters, the YMCA, and The Crosby Scholars Community Partnership. In 2002, Stephen relocated to Washington D.C. and continued working with children and families in his varied roles with community organizations. He worked for College Bound, Inc. helping high school students navigate the college process and Threshold Services as a community advocate. In May 2004, Stephen joined Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation’s oldest and largest child and family literacy organization serving one year as a Program Specialist working with coordinators from Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. In 2005 he joined RIF's government relations team, serving first as Coordinator, then Director of the department. In June 2009, he was promoted to serve on RIF’s executive leadership team when he assumed the role of Vice President of Government Relations and Community Outreach. His responsibilities included overseeing RIF’s Capitol Hill initiatives and educating members of Congress about children’s literacy. He has been a guest speaker at numerous congressional reading celebrations all over the country including New York, Florida, Illinois, Alaska, and Hawaii. Stephen also worked to strengthen RIF's multicultural literacy campaign by helping develop the South Texas Literacy Coalition, by partnering with community- and school-based national organizations such as National PTA and the National Urban League, and by leading RIF's outreach to American Indian tribes and advocacy groups. Stephen’s passion for children and the community continue to drive him to be better and do more. He prides himself on being a role model and advocate for the next generation of leaders and works tirelessly to be a voice for those without one.