Meet the team
Dr. April Smith - President and Treasurer
Dr. April Smith - President and Treasurer
Dr. April Smith - President and Treasurer
Fun Facts
🍳 I love anything and everything about food, especially cooking it
🏇 I grew up boarding and training horses
🎾 I am a National Champion in World Team Tennis
Why I am here
I believe that small businesses are the lifeblood of their communities. I see M4L Community Services as a way to help small businesses succeed which, in turn, will help their communities thrive.
At M4L Community Services, I can lean into my leadership style of fostering collaborative problem-solving while maintaining mission focus and driving success for our clients.
John Kircher - Executive Director
Dr. April Smith - President and Treasurer
Dr. April Smith - President and Treasurer
Fun Facts
🐟 I love to fish and enjoy pretending I can cook
🎸 I am determinedly a child of the 80s and still rely on rock and metal to decompress
🎾 Previously, I was a tennis coach and instructor, but now Ienjoy watching and following the game
Why I am here
Small businesses should be the backbone of communities, but without strong support, that can’t happen. Providing that support and backing is exactly what M4L Community Services is here to do.
I have worked for and alongside small businesses since the beginning of my career. Understanding the obstacles they face fuels my desire to problem solve and find solutions, and to help provide information that can guide them forward.
Dr. Emma Beatty - Communications & Outreach Director
Dr. Emma Beatty - Communications & Outreach Director
Dr. Emma Beatty - Communications & Outreach Director
Fun Facts
🧲 My first career as a biochemist sparked a lifelong love of science (and magnets)
🤿 I love to travel and be outdoors—skiing, kayaking, tennis, hiking, photographing and scuba diving
⛰️ One of my proudest achievements was hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with my dad in 2024
Why I am here
I have worked as a communications professional for many years and have recently found my niche supporting small to medium-sized nonprofits and small businesses with their communications and community outreach.
I strongly believe that local organizations, nonprofits, and businesses can work together to support and strengthen the communities they serve.
Sebastian Howells - Communications Associate
Dr. Emma Beatty - Communications & Outreach Director
Dr. Emma Beatty - Communications & Outreach Director
Fun Facts
⛷️ I am studying kinesiology at Santa Barbara City College
🎮 My hobbies are, tennis, skiing, surfing, snowboarding, and playing video games
🎾 I’ve broken 10 bones and somehow I’m still on two feet playing sports and adventuring
Why I am here
I believe that local organizations, nonprofits, and businesses are more effective when they work together because it builds community, and it shows that big conglomerates don’t just run the world.
I also really want to help people in any way I can - I've been helped all my life, and I want to give back to the communities that have helped and supported me throughout.