Our Team
PATRICK ERLANDSON
:Founder & Director
Patrick Erlandson was born and grew up in Los Angeles the 2nd of 7 children. He has been married to his wife Machiko since 1982 and has 2 adult daughters. He has travelled to Cambodia, Paraguay, Zambia, Israel, Korea, Thailand as well as Canada and Mexico in various capacities of service.
In 2010 while working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Los Angeles, USAforUNHCR, Patrick first learned of human trafficking in organs from field agents working in Africa. In 2012 he began leading the prevention subcommittee of the Long Beach Human Trafficking Task Force. He is a speaker, and activist, and organized a number of events such as two Youth Exploitation Safety Symposiums for the city of Long Beach. He founded Father-Con which has held 4 conferences. In 2018 he founded the See It End It Film & Arts Festival and in 2020 added a Global Platform for international online participation. He led a demonstration against human trafficking every month for over 4 years in Long Beach as Men Standing Against Trafficking, MSAT. Focusing on prevention, he has presented multiple workshops on the link between human trafficking and pornography and concentrates on the two areas of vulnerability and entitlement that contribute to both the supply and demand sides of human exploitation. He is a board member of Artists 4 Change and works in partnership with the YWCA which came aboard as the financial non-profit partner of See it. End it. Film & Arts Festival and Father-Con. In 2023 he was asked to present at both the plenary session and side event at the 32nd Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice of the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime in Vienna, Austria. He highlighted the urgent need to invest in fathers and to recognize that present fathers prevent greater poverty, criminal behavior and deterioration of education.
JOSEPH LUISI : Secretary
Joseph Luisi is a father of 2 young children and father-figure to many. He has been a community advocate for children and families since 2010, actively providing support for children who have suffered abused and homelessness, as well as inspiring fathers and parents to unite for their children’s benefit.
Seeing the importance of addressing domestic violence, Joseph earned certification as a Batterers Intervention Facilitator through the California Cognitive Behavioral Institute in 2019. By 2020 he added certification as a Domestic Violence Advocate. He currently is a facilitator with Second Chance.
As a board member of Father-con, Mr. Luisi supports educating families of the importance of fathers in the healthy development of children and prevention of human trafficking.
Joseph also works in the building industry as a BIM/MEP Coordinator for Electrical contractors in their engineering departments.
MARK WINKLER :
Board member
Mark Winkler is an author, family advocate, and motivational speaker. Through his non-profit organization, Manhood Camp/Fatherhood Circle, Mark provides guidance, leadership, and life-skills coaching to men and boys. Recently, Mark has centered his work around helping men and fathers take a new look at and approach to manhood through his work he calls De-Radicalizing Masculinity.
Before his work with Manhood Camp, Winkler worked as a music agent with United Talent Agency (UTA). During his tenure at UTA, Winkler signed and booked many artists including Nelly, Patti LaBelle, Teena Marie, Anthony Hamilton, Nas, and Mase. While at UTA Winkler worked very closely with talent management teams to package and route various regional/nationwide tours & negotiated and prepared booking contracts. In addition to his agent duties, Winkler facilitated UTA’s High School Youth Mentor Program.
Mark Winkler’s website: markrwinkler.com
“My Daughter’s Keeper”: Amazon
VIJAY PATEL :
Board member
Vijay Patel is a first generation American who became the first professional in his family. He worked at the AM Law 100 law firm with over 1,500 attorneys worldwide in the Medical Malpractice Department. Mr. Patel completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Southern California and went on to graduate with honors at the Indiana University of Law. Mr. Patel has successfully argued before the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and other US District Courts. Currently Mr. Patel is a criminal prosecutor for the city of Los Angeles and is on the board of directors of Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board, He is also a board member of the Downey Foundation for Educational Opportunities and is President Elect 2021–2022 of the Downey Los Amigos Kiwanis.
Finally, Mr. Patel is grateful to his parents who paved the way and his beautiful wife and two daughters for their unconditional love.
RICK RODRIGUEZ : Board member
Rick Rodriguez has been many things to many people in Downey, CA and around the world. The youngest of 6 siblings, he chose Downey to raise his family in. Two values became entrenched in Rick and his wife Lupe’s heart and lives: hard work will get you want you want and service to one’s community. Together Rick and Lupe started Rodbat Management Inc. (RMI), a privately held, Southern California professional security organization that would provide clients with quality security services that would employ 1000 people, work in 18 states and 3 countries. In 2014 they established the Living Tree Foundation, a Non-Profit Organization that benefits returning Combat Veterans and their families, providing job training, housing and arranging therapy dogs for those in need of assistance. Rick and Lupe are dedicated to serving their community. professional lives, it is through their passion to help others and volunteerism that gives them their greatest enjoyment. He has proudly served as Chairman of the Emergency Preparedness Committee for the City of Downey, Past-President of the Downey Chamber of Commerce, Chamber Street Faire Committee Chairman, Past-President of Gangs Out Of Downey (G.O.O.D.), and currently serves as Law Enforcement Chaplain with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Our community has a rich history and Rick wants to bring his strong leadership skills to the city that he loves. When Rodriguez was elected Mayor, he brought a spirit of collaboration to see actual results.
BOB LEVY Board Member
Due to Mr. Levy’s parent’s divorce, his father being a gambler and mother being emotionally and mentally unstable, Bob was placed into foster care from ages 10-13. He was then reunified with his father who realized how important his role as a father was. Later, after being married and having children of his own, as well as fostering and adopting children, Mr. Levy realize that as a man, there is no greater joy, privilege and honor than being a father. For the last 17 years, he has been very fortunate to work for an organization called FosterAll, that finds good homes for children in the foster care system, many of whom are there because of father absence. While on the one hand, he is dedicated to helping children without dads have a foster or adopted father in their lives, his ultimate effort is to see biological dads like mine, come to their senses and embrace fatherhood so their children don’t have to be in the foster care system. As a board member of Father-Con, Bob Levy brings a passionate dedication to the mission of protecting children from threats resulting from absent and distracted fathers, and inspiring dads to find their life’s fulfillment as parents of thriving children.
Andy Weiss Board Member
Andy Weiss been an entrepreneur for over 40 years opening many businesses from Miami, Florida to southern California. In his experiences as an employer, he has encountered many people in many challenging stages in life. “I believe in using my successes in business to enhance the lives of those suffering, and children suffering through the loss of a healthy father in their lives is more than deserving of support. I am honored to support the work of Father-Con and its goals of eliminating the conditions that make children vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking and able to thrive!”
A&S Flower Exchange Inc. selling over 7 million roses a year etc Miami
MBE (Miami Bouquet Exchange) distributing flowers in 150 Winn Dixie food stores in Maimi
ASAP Trucking operating 3 over the road tractor trailers nationwide Atlanta
A&S Booksellers Inc d/b/a Crown Books operating as many as 33 locations in 2002
RIP Halloween - pop up Halloween stores opening 62 stores over 5 years
Amazon Seller Pacific Prime1
Yardsale * Thrift stores 940 S Grand Ave, Glendora
Auxiliary Board
Amanda Pulley (Casey) has seven years of experience working in
anti-trafficking. As a survivor of human trafficking herself, she began her
career as an advocate for those still in the life. She quickly realized her passion
for impacting lives.
Ceclia Gonez is a passionate advocate for the end of human trafficking and liaison with the city of Downey. She has organized events to create awareness of domestic sex trafficking and has been an intrinsic part of Father-Con’s success and growth.