WHO WE ARE
About Us
WHO WE ARE
Helping Nonprofits Reach Their Full Potential
At Lee+ Associates, we bring a comprehensive approach to help nonprofits grow capacity, strengthen leadership and most effectively deliver on their mission. Our team’s experience means Lee+ Associates provide you with professional counsel, accurate information and proven strategies,to help nonprofits reach their full potential.
Our Approach Encourages Success
For nonprofit organizations seeking the highest level of operations and mission delivery, we are a one-stop shop. We offer comprehensive services around four major organizational pillars:
Successful and effective organizations must achieve a balance between these four elements for organizational health and sustainability. Utilizing a single firm for different phases of nonprofit growth and planning fosters shared relationships and knowledge.
Throughout the past 25 years, nonprofits choose to work with us again and again, seeking additional guidance and expertise for their next phase of growth or change. Our consultants understand the sector, and have worked with a variety of non-profit organizations.
Our Customized Approach
At Lee+ Associates we help all non-profits in major cities and in rural areas, all across the country. We work with schools, libraries, universities, museums, arts organizations, faith-based groups, animal/environmental groups, and health and human services. We believe every nonprofit is unique.
Mission Statement
To empower nonprofit organizations by providing resources, expertise and guidance to help them build better communities.
Lee+ Associates Values
Integrity
We always do what we promise. Always.
Respect
We show respect for our clients and colleagues by listening, maintaining confidences, and being responsive to their needs.
Curiosity
As thought partners to the nonprofits we work with, we keep up with trends and best practices in our fields of expertise. We have a genuine interest in our clients’ work, their motivators, whom they serve and what they value.
Potential
We help nonprofits, and their leaders, discover and reach their highest potential by offering practical and tested solutions.
Community
We care deeply about our communities’ work, believing that together we can do more, better.
Our Team
Lee+ Associates brings together a collaborative team of nonprofit professionals committed to thoughtful strategy, meaningful relationships, and lasting impact. We work alongside our clients to connect the pieces that matter most—helping organizations grow stronger from within.
Marion Therese Lee
Chief Executive Officer
Twenty-five years ago, we coined the phrase, “Your mission matters most.” It is as true today as it was in 2000.
For 35 years, Marion has worked to help nonprofit organizations build stronger communities. Her goal is to keep our consulting services relevant to contemporary nonprofit needs and to always be flexible and open to the changing landscape.
Karen Kegg
Senior Associate
Karen Kegg has more than 17 years of fundraising and development experience in special events, campaigns, and major gifts.
She served as Director of Development at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, where she was primarily responsible for the fundraising efforts for the School of Management and Business, as well as the University’s library.
Rhonda Serna
Chief Administrative Officer
Rhonda joined Lee+ Associates in 2011, bringing more than 20 years of administrative and operational experience to our organization. No organization can function without that essential support behind the scenes. As CAO, Rhonda manages all areas of Lee+ Associates office and is developing significant experience in strategic planning, fund development and recruitment. Rhonda’s passion for working with the nonprofit sector is rooted in her experience.
Barbara Marrou
Chief Financial Officer
Barbara has traveled the world as a military dependent living in Germany, New York, Chicago, Southern California, Detroit, Philippines and now has made her home in San Antonio.
Multi-talented, Barbara is a skilled musician and fluent in Spanish and German. Her career has included working at USAA, and for 26 years as the accountant and practice manager for Loop 410 Veterinary Hospital.
Priscilla G. Cortez
Associate
Priscilla Cortez has more than 25 years of experience working with local and national nonprofit organizations in Public Media, Education, and the Human Service sectors, providing direction on community-based program design, management and partnerships; fund development; and nonprofit administration and governance.
Priscilla currently serves as Senior Director of Volunteer Leadership at UT Austin.
Mike Bennett
Principal at mlb, npc, llc
Mike offers nonprofit sector consultancy services to organizations and individuals. He provides diverse expertise in interim executive leadership, strategic and operational planning, development, external communications/relations and advocacy, quality control/compliance, leadership coaching, and governance/Staff development. He has undertaken interim CEO assignments at The Children’s Shelter, Animal Defense League of Texas, and the Dee Howard Foundation.
Elizabeth M. Lorenz
Founder and Managing Partner
EML Strategic Advisers
Associate
Elizabeth Lorenz is the Founder and Managing Partner of EML Strategic Advisers, a national corporate and communications strategy firm headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.
Prior to founding EML Strategic Advisers, she served as Director of Political Affairs for Charles Butt, as well as Executive Director of the Charles Butt Public Education PAC.
Laura Dean-Shapiro
Associate
Laura is a philanthropy and social-impact strategist who helps funders and mission-driven organizations bring clarity, discipline, and equity to their work. With more than 15 years across philanthropy, research, and social-impact advisory, she specializes in designing strategies and systems that turn complex challenges into actionable, measurable outcomes.
Laura’s consulting practice is rooted in a structured yet human-centered approach.