Charlotte Lesser

Charlotte Lesser

Charlotte Lesser
Leadership Advisory Board Member


Charlotte Lesser received her BA in Biology from the University of California Santa Barbara and worked as a medical technologist until 1971. She then began volunteering for school PTAs along with investing in teen girls at risk for substance abuse, both supporting groups of girls and parents as well as educating in the area. She also became a Sunday School teacher at the St. Cross Episcopal Church, where she is still involved, and assumed roles there ranging from program chairman to confirmation mentor to leading a pilgrimage to Europe. Charlotte also founded a Neighborhood Watch in her community in Manhattan Beach which has been recognized as one of the best in the country, and which she has directed for the past 42 years.

She worked for the Beach Cities Health District as the Director of Health Education and Promotion Services, overseeing the Health Resource Center creation, seminars and educational workshops for women, and producing several conferences. She additionally served on the American Heart Association Board. Charlotte also served as Chairperson of the Board of the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce and as President of the Junior League of Long Beach.  

Post employment, Charlotte continued to invest in supporting women, including putting on a summit determining the health needs of women for the Office of Women’s Health policy board. Charlotte has received a variety of awards, including the Switzer Center’s Woman of the Year Award, the MB Women in Business Woman of Service Award, and the Rose and Scroll Award for volunteer service, which she received jointly with her husband. She has also received Los Angeles County’s Woman of the Year award for her work in crime prevention and health education. She is part of the Board of Trustees of Torrance Memorial Medical Center. She is also a Member and Chair of the LA County Commission for Women.