Our Team.

Executive Director

Chris Cano

Chris Cano brings over 25 years of experience in organizational leadership, with a diverse background spanning grief education, Christian ministry, and funeral service and education. His unique blend of life and professional experiences has equipped him with a deep understanding of both human needs and organizational dynamics. Chris is especially passionate about serving communities through compassionate leadership, and he is well-positioned to guide Forward Endeavors and its affiliated community services into impactful and sustainable growth.

Director of Operations & Marketing

Liz Luevano

Liz is a nonprofit professional with experience in communications and operations. She is passionate about empowering communities through storytelling and is focused on building strategy, growing brand recognition, and providing operational support to help organizations fulfill their mission. Liz has honed her skills in increasing engagement and fostering strong connections with the community. Motivated by the impact of organizations, she is eager to get involved in opportunities where she can develop and expand communications and strategic plans.

Program Director

Jill Arbini

Jill Arbini is an Associate Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work and a professional focus on grief, trauma, and community-based healing. With years of experience designing programs, facilitating grief groups, planning events, implementing curriculum, and training volunteers she brings both clinical insight and practical leadership to her work. She is passionate about convening people in meaningful ways by creating spaces where individuals feel seen, supported, and connected. Her dedication to this work is motivated by the support she experienced through a compassionate community after experiencing significant grief and loss in her own life.

Program Coordinator

Sheila Hambrick

Sheila believes in the power of connection, compassion, and presence. Her work centers around supporting individuals and families navigating grief, loss, and the vulnerable process of healing. Her love for this work stems from a
lifelong calling to create safe, nurturing spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported.

Our Board.

Bill White

Board President

Bill White is Co-Pastor of City Church of Long Beach and Co-Founder of Small Church Big Table, a nonprofit advancing inclusion and justice within the faith community.

Nancy Manriquez-Dowell

Board Member

Nancy began her career as a school counselor in 1985. She received her master’s in educational psychology/counseling from CSULB. She has worked at various school districts over the years and is recently retired. Nancy is the mother of 3 daughters and has one granddaughter.

In addition to her career as a school counselor, Nancy has been involved in community service: She volunteered for Camp Fire for over 20 years, presently she serves on the boards for Young Horizons, child development centers and
International City Theater. She also serves on the Advisory Committee for Confluence Rising, formally CCEJ. Nancy is also a member of the
Lakewood/Long Beach Soroptimist club. Nancy has been involved in grief counseling through her job for many years. She has led children’s groups, teen groups, adult groups and Sunburst. She attended grief groups when she became a widow in 2016. Volunteering for grief organizations has been a way to give back to the community in appreciation for all those that have supported her. She hopes to continue to give back in this field. Nancy enjoys reading, birdwatching and planning fundraisers.

Katie Larson

Secretary

Katie (Kimbell) Larson is a Broker Associate with Keller Williams Pacific Estates and a former corporate manager with United Airlines, where she spent 25 years before launching her real estate career in 2013. She brings more than 15 years of nonprofit leadership and fundraising experience, including long-standing service with Pathways to Independence and Friends of Pathways, as well as prior board service with Long Beach Basket Brigade, Young Horizons Child Development Centers, and New Hope Grief Support Community, where she also chaired the Fund Development Committee from 2020–2025.

Katie currently serves as Chair of the Long Beach Airport Advisory Commission and is a UCLA graduate and Leadership Long Beach alum. Her commitment to grief support is deeply personal, shaped by the loss of her father and brother, and reflects her belief that grief should be openly acknowledged and compassionately supported within our communities.

Andrew Nishimoto

Board Vice President

Andrew has over 15 years of leadership experience in a wide range of roles. Having served as an Executive Director for multiple nonprofits focused on meeting basic needs and community development, he brings practical solutions to enhance organizations in every project as a nonprofit consultant. Throughout his professional journey and to continue to enhance his work, Andrew earned certificates in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace and Nonprofit Human Resource Management. He loves playing soccer, basketball, pickleball, eating Taco Bell, and watching movies with his kids!

Amanda Waters

Board Member

Amanda is Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a focus on social equity, education, and community development.

Michael Guitar

Treasurer

Michael Guitar has served on Forward Endeavor's Board of Directors since the organization’s founding. He is an appellate attorney based in Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife and their two dogs. In his free time, Michael enjoys playing tennis and fostering dogs.

Katrina Chen

Board Member

Katrina Chen is a project manager bringing expertise in global health strategy and cross-sector partnerships.