Orange County Staff

Noel Burcelis has been appointed as Executive Director for the Orange County Ronald McDonald House (OCRMH), a program of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California (RMHCSC). Noel takes on this new role after serving as Director of Operations at OCRMH for three years and has an extensive background in non-profit management. Noel has served as Executive Director Community Development for the YMCA of Greater Long Beach and has been a Lecturer at Cal State L.A. and graduated from California State University Long Beach. He has B.A. and M.S.W. degrees.

Katie Russell has been with the Orange County Ronald McDonald House for over ten years and during her tenure with us has held a variety of positions such as: Guest Services Associate, Volunteer Coordinator, and Guest Services Manager. Her experience outside the charity include serving as Director of Operations for an Interior Design Company and over nine years with the Disneyland Resort as a Guest Relations Manager. Katie has displayed commitment to our mission.

Susan Kenny is the Development Director for the Orange County Ronald McDonald House. After 10 years in the corporate world, Susan found the opportunity to marry her love of volunteering and business development to start a fundraising career with the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Over the last 15 years in the nonprofit sector, she has created long-lasting relationships with donors, nonprofit partners, volunteers and client families all over the country. Susan is responsible for business development, special events, grants and cause-related marketing campaigns. She has worked with teams to coordinate health care clinics and summer camps. Over the last 3 years with the Ronald McDonald House, she has collaborated with other nonprofits to provide a full spectrum of services for families with critically ill or injured children. She is one of the founding members of 100 Women Who Care OC, on the membership committee for Advisors in Philanthropy and an active member of the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce. Susan has a BA in Communication from the University of Arizona and a Human Resources Certificate from the University of California, Irvine.  She has volunteered her time with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Project Cuddle, Leukemia & Lymphoma’s Team in Training, Smith Elementary School and Huntington Valley Little League. She is a proud mom of 2 amazing boys and loves her Wildcats.  

As the Special Events Manager, Ruth is responsible for executing all the House’s fundraising events and third party fundraisers. In addition to events, she is also responsible for maintaining the House’s social media presence on a variety of social media sites including the monthly newsletter that circulates to over 8000 subscribers. Prior to becoming the Special Events Manager at the Orange County Ronald McDonald House, Ruth was the Volunteer Manager for the House and had a role in planning the annual alumni family pancake breakfast, Trunk or Treat and the Family Holiday Party.

Before joining the House, Ruth was the Operations Manager at the Children Youth and Family Collaborative, in South Los Angeles, for eight years where she managed 25 after school sites and over 50 full and part-time staff. Ruth received her BA from Pepperdine University in Malibu and is a proud alumni who continues to stay involved with the school by hosting alternative spring break “externships” for current students.