Our Leadership

Executive Leadership Team

Ariel Zwang
Chief Executive Officer
Ariel Zwang is the CEO of Safe Horizon, the nation’s leading provider of services to victims of crime and abuse. Last year, Safe Horizon provided support, prevented violence, and promoted justice for hundreds of thousands of victims and their families and communities. From 2001-2008, Ms. Zwang was Executive Director of New York Cares, which, under her leadership, became the city’s largest volunteering organization, deploying 40,000 volunteers annually. Her previous experience includes serving as a Vice President of the Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation in the South Bronx, and as Special Assistant to the Chancellor of the New York City Board of Education. Ms. Zwang is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School.

Emily Sachs
Chief Financial & Administrative Officer
Emily Sachs joined Safe Horizon in 2008 and is responsible the Finance, IT, Human Resources, and Facilities departments. Before joining Safe Horizon, Ms. Sachs filled a similar role for the Spence-Chapin adoption agency. Ms. Sachs has previously worked in leadership positions in various businesses and nonprofit organizations, including running her own consulting firm for eight years. She has been involved in evaluating and implementing many information technology projects and well as several significant real estate and construction projects. Ms. Sachs has a BA in English from Yale and an MBA from Harvard.

Alesia Soltanpanah
Chief Development Officer
Alesia is responsible for leading a team of dedicated fundraising professionals at Safe Horizon so that programs can continue to thrive and help survivors of violence. Alesia has over 10 years of fundraising experience. She was most recently the Vice President of Development and Marketing at Bideawee and also led fundraising programs at North Shore Animal League and Save the Children. Alesia has an MBA in Management from Golden Gate University and a BA in Political Science from California State University, Sacramento.

Michael Williams
General Counsel
Michael Williams joined Safe Horizon as General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Board of Directors in 2007. As General Counsel, Mr. Williams represents the legal interests of Safe Horizon, including contractual, real estate, policy, litigation, regulatory, employment, not-for-profit governance, and tax-related matters. He also manages the organization’s relationships with outside counsel. Prior to joining Safe Horizon, Mr. Williams served as Deputy General Counsel of Phoenix House Foundation and as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the New York City Law Department. Mr. Williams is admitted to practice in the State of New York and is a graduate of Tufts University and Brooklyn Law School.