Charles T Watson, MBA 

Mr. Watson has over 36 years of experience in the nonprofit field with fifteen of those years in Executive Leadership.  For the past 13 years he has also been actively engaged in technical assistance, training and consultation.  He did his undergraduate work in Community Psychology and holds an MBA in Organizational Development.

Since his entry in the field, he has overseen residential care, child abuse prevention, adoptions, counseling, domestic violence, in-home therapy, drug diversion, family crisis and youth services programs in a variety of positions. He has extensive expertise in 2-1-1, First 5, Workforce Investment Boards, Children's Services Networks and United Way.

He is the past President and CEO of Interface Children Family Services of Ventura County. Interface is a multi-service non-profit agency with over 187 staff and 1200 volunteers with an operating budget of around $9 million dollars.

Mr. Watson has served as Chair of the Western States Youth Service Network, National Network of Runaway and Youth Services Board of Directors, Vice-Chair of the California Child Youth and Family Coalition, Chair of the Ventura County Council of United Way Executive Directors , Treasurer of the CAN Insurance Services Board of Directors and Chair of the California Association of Nonprofits Board of Directors. In addition, Mr. Watson has served on the following boards and task forces:

  • Appointed by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors as a Policy Academy Team Member for Ventura County - 1994/95
  • Co-authored the 1994 Community Profile of Health and Human Services in Ventura County.
  • Appointed by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to the Mandates Review Committee (Vice-Chair) - 1995/96
  • Appointed by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to the Private Industry Council (oversees local JTPA activities) - 1996/99
  • Appointed by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to the First Five – Children and Family First Commission – 1999 – Served as Chair for 2 years
  • Appointed to the American Humanics Board for Oxnard College - 1998
  • Wrote a weekly column for the five editions of the Ventura County Star Newspaper on health and human service issues, questions and resource information.
  • Committee member of the Task Force for Welfare Reform in Ventura County Project PRIDE – Chair of Welfare to Work Committee.
  • Chair and previous Co-Chair of the Ventura County Children’s Coordinating Council - 1993/99
  • Appointed to the Multi-Agency Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council - 1996/97
    Appointed to the State Department of Health Services Data and Evaluation Committee 1995/99
  • Ex Officio member of the State Domestic Violence Advisory Group 1995/99
  • Appointed to the State Department of Social Services (OCAP) Prevention Council 98/99
  • Appointed by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to The Workforce Investment Board – 1996/2002
  • Taught a 12 day intensive Institute for Organizational Health focusing on nonprofit management for the California Department of Health Services. 1998/2003
  • Recognized by the Ventura Downtown Rotary and awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship for excellence in Community Service and citizenship.
  • Recognized by Temple Beth Torah with the “Gesher” Award 2003
  • Appointed by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to the Tobacco Settlement Evaluation and Allocation Oversight/Advisory Committee
  • Elected to the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence Board of Directors - 2005

Mr. Watson is a well-known expert in the management and leadership of nonprofit organizations. He has been active as a member of the California Youth Authority "Cadre of Consultants", "SafeNetwork" Technical Assistance and Training Project and the Office of Child Abuse Prevention "Strategies" Training and Technical Assistance Project. He has lectured on Executive Leadership, Organizational Improvement, Financial Management Systems, the Art of Collaboration, Nonprofit technology and numerous other management issues.

He regularly teaches courses at the Center for Nonprofit Management on fiscal management, budgeting and cash flow.  He is also Treasurer of the Board for CAN Insurance Services and the Chair of the Administration and Finance Committee for First 5 Ventura. He has recently joined the Cal State University at Northridge (CSUN) faculty teaching Nonprofit Management.