Location: New York, NY, USA
Areas of Expertise: Innovative and visionary leader in cultural programming with more than 20 years experience in both the entertainment industry and the nonprofit sector, including senior roles in the holistic wellness space. A creative, big-picture thinker with the ability to identify emerging social trends and business opportunities while maintaining a strategic focus to maximize success. Depth of experience in creative concept development that includes marketing strategies, budget management through to event leadership, fundraising and philanthropy. Thought leader in the field of wellness education.
Affiliations: Current founder and CEO of Hoffman Group, a holistic-wellness consultancy firm; former president of the New York Open Center; former program director at Hollyhock Leadership Institute; award-winning film producer and content developer; former board member and community advocacy leader for the National Council of Jewish Women/LA; former board member of the Georgia Straight Alliance in beautiful British Columbia. Dual citizen of the USA and Canada.
Services: Provide support to organizations to help them plan strategically for the future while honoring the legacy that created them. Strategic planning. Content development. Marketing & program strategy. Organizational change management. Development of new business strategies to identify areas of potential growth.
Bio: Over the years Leslie has acquired cross-disciplinary skills that make her uniquely qualified as a project manager, planner, and strategist. Her diverse and varied work history has focused primarily in the areas of content development, production, marketing and fund raising in both the entertainment industry and nonprofit sector.
Leslie began her career by coordinating commercials and independent films in Los Angeles. She was named Director of Development of the Lorimar-based Andrew Adelson Productions where she helped develop the Emmy-nominated made-for-television movie, “I KNOW MY FIRST NAME IS STEVEN.” She then went on to serve as Vice-President of Motion Picture Development at 3-Arts Entertainment and Vice-President of Kelbeth Productions at Columbia Pictures. In 1996, she co-produced the Academy Award-winning short live-action film, “LIEBERMAN IN LOVE,” directed by Christine Lahti.
Leslie has also worked as both an advocate for women and youth and a media-literacy consultant. She was the Director of the Women Helping Children program, a project through the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) that serves at-risk children in the Los Angeles area. As well, Leslie served as Director of Public Affairs for NCJW where she participated in several lobbying trips to Washington D.C. and Sacramento. Leslie has served on the Board of Directors for NCJW and worked on behalf of the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project.
As media-literacy consultant, Leslie worked with entertainment industry leaders to improve media images of girls and young women. On behalf of the non-profit organization, Girls Inc., she produced the Girls Incorporated Town Hall Meeting, a candid dialogue between top TV executives and girls about the role women play in front of and behind the camera.
In 2004, Leslie moved with her family to Vancouver, British Columbia where she initially worked as an independent contractor in the area of major gift fundraising before being hired as Program Director at Hollyhock Leadership Institute, located on Cortes Island. As such, Leslie created and implemented programming initiatives aimed at fulfilling this socially and environmentally conscious organization’s vision, mission and values, while managing the day to day operations of on-the-ground programming.
Most recently, Leslie served as the President of the New York Open Center and led the team to develop and implement a rich array of high-quality programs that are relevant, sustainable, marketable, and fundable. The Open Center team translated a tried-and-true mission into clear priorities, objectives, and initiatives that will serve them well into the future.
Leslie originates from Baltimore, Maryland where she studied Political Science at Towson State University. During her time in Vancouver, she also completed the Marketing & Fundraising Management certificate program at the BC Institute of Technology where she graduated with distinction.