Speakers
Christine Achre
Founder & CEO | Community Health Solutions Group
Chicago, IL
Christine Achre is the Founder and CEO of Community Health Solutions Group and a nationally recognized leader in behavioral health, child welfare, early childhood systems, and family homelessness. She brings more than three decades of executive, clinical, and systems-level experience advancing integrated, trauma-informed services for vulnerable children and families.
Jennifer Alberding
Senior Manager | Enterprise Community Partners
Washington, DC
Jennifer was a compliance manager for ENMP from 2006-2010 and rejoined the team as an asset manager in 2013. Jennifer is now a senior manager and assists in the origination, structuring, underwriting, and closing of NMTC investments.
Dominique Alex
Chief Executive Officer | Mary’s Place
Seattle, WA
Dominique Alex became the Chief Executive Officer at Mary’s Place in 2023 after three years as the organization’s Chief Program Officer. Dominique has been instrumental in the development of Mary’s Place’s innovative three-prong approach to addressing and ending family homelessness through emergency shelter, outreach to unsheltered families, and homelessness prevention.
Jessica Almroth
Volunteer and Academic Program Director | Rose Haven
Portland, OR
Jessica Almroth has over 20 years of experience in the human services field. As a lifelong advocate for women and children, she first found Rose Haven through an internship in 2013, and has been connected and committed to the community ever since.
Dona Anderson
Executive Director | New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute
New York, NY
Dona Anderson is the Executive Director at the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, which is housed at the City University of New York. She leads the work of a dynamic, intelligent, and passionate team dedicated to building essential systems and services to ensure a highly effective early childhood workforce for New York so that all young children and their families have access to excellence.
Lusero Arias
Executive Director | La Casa de las Madres
San Francisco, CA
Lusero Arias is the Executive Director of La Casa de las Madres, San Francisco’s oldest domestic violence organization. With over a decade of experience in survivor services and public-sector leadership, she leads efforts to ensure survivors and their families have access to safety, healing, and long-term stability. Under her leadership, La Casa provides comprehensive services, including emergency shelter, advocacy, counseling, and prevention programming, while advancing innovative, survivor-centered approaches that address the behavioral health impacts of violence on youth and families.
Nikita Arias
Director of Adult Clinical Programs | Sundari Foundation, Inc. dba Lotus House Women’s Shelter
Miami, FL
Nikita is a licensed mental health counselor and qualified supervisor in the state of Florida. She graduated in 2015 with a Master’s in Counseling Education from Florida State University and has been practicing since. She is the Director of Adult Clinical Programs at Lotus House and has over four years of experience designing, scaling, and overseeing trauma informed mental health programs across the nonprofit system in Miami Dade County.
Muriel Ayala
Director of Children’s Services | Sundari Foundation, Inc. dba Lotus House Women’s Shelter
Miami, FL
Muriel Ayala is the Clinical Director of Children’s Services and leads an amazing team of well-trained child counselors, child and family assessors, research assistants, and engagement professionals that work together to provide evidence-based assessment and treatment for the families who stay at the shelter.
Muriel Ayala has been actively serving the Miami-Dade community since 2008. She has experience working with vulnerable populations such as immigrants, incarcerated, child welfare, at-risk youth, and mental illness.
Dorlie Banbanste
Program Director and Lead Mindfulness Trainer | Mindful Kids Miami
Miami, FL
Dorlie’s journey with Mindful Kids Miami began in 2015 during a period of personal challenge. She enrolled in her first Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training, where she discovered a practical way to relate differently to stress, anxiety, and depression. At the time, Dorlie was working as a mental health therapist with children, teens, and adults. As her personal practice deepened, she began integrating mindfulness into her work and witnessed its impact on emotional regulation and resilience.
Linda Bazerjian
Managing Director of Communications and Policy | Homes for the Homeless
New York, NY
Linda Bazerjian is the Managing Director of Communications and Policy for the Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness (ICPH) and its affiliate Homes for the Homeless (HFH). For the past 14 years she has helped raise awareness and advance the public conversation about family homelessness, particularly as it impacts children. Prior to her current role, she served as Director of Communications & External Affairs at the NYC Department of Homeless Services, where she led communications and community and government relations.
Ericka Benitez
Director of Supportive Services | National Women’s Shelter Network, Inc.
Miami, FL
Ericka Benitez serves as the Director of Supportive Services at the National Women’s Shelter Network (NWSN), where she leads a broad spectrum of initiatives aimed at supporting women, children, and families in need. In this role, Ms. Benitez oversees Coalition Manager, coordinates vital support services, and ensures that resources are effectively distributed across the NWSN Network. She plays a key role in advocating for the women, children, and families who rely on the network of shelters and safe haven programs.
Ann Bischoff
Chief Executive Officer | Star House
Columbus, OH
Since 2016, Ann has served as CEO of Star House with a deep commitment to creating safe, supportive pathways for youth experiencing homelessness. Ann brings two decades of impact across youth services, public policy, and systems reform. Prior to joining Star House, Ann founded mentorship programs for youth and alumni of foster care through Starfish Alliance.
Will Boggs
Co-Founder | Good Direction Consulting
Knoxville, TN
Will Boggs, alongside his wife- Katie, is the co-founder of an international nonprofit based in Knoxville, TN working with vulnerable and exploited women both locally and in four countries. He has firsthand experience starting and running a successful coffee enterprise, which includes the recently voted number one coffee shop in the city. Furthermore, Will has worked as a consultant for 7 years across the country helping other nonprofits start and develop profitable social enterprises to further support their mission and drive impact.
Patricia Bosman
President & CEO | The Haven of Grace
St. Louis, MO
Patricia R. Bosman is a visionary nonprofit executive and strategist dedicated to breaking cycles of generational poverty. As President and CEO of The Haven of Grace in St. Louis, she leads a respected maternity housing organization serving unhoused pregnant women and their children through housing, resources, and long-term support. With a background in corporate leadership, Patricia brings a high-performance mindset to the nonprofit sector, blending business discipline with measurable social impact.
Andrea Burke
Partner | Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen New Market Tax Credit Group
Miami, FL
Andrea joined Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen in 2013. Her practice has been focused on affordable housing and community development since her first days as an attorney. Andrea is a partner in the firm’s New Market Tax Credit group and represents investors, community development entities, lenders, nonprofits and developers in transactions utilizing new markets tax credits, historic tax credits and other forms of government financing.
Dr. Kerry Burns
Vice President of Clinical Services | Community Forward SF
San Francisco, CA
Dr. Kerry Burns is a mental health and non-profit leader dedicated to empowering individuals, creating programs and services that place community members needs and experience first. As Vice President of Clinical Services at Community Forward SF (CFSF), she provides strategic leadership for programs serving individuals experiencing homelessness, with a particular focus on trauma-informed care for women.
Natalie Carlascio
Account Manager| Foodbuy
Chicago, IL
Natalie Carlascio is an Account Manager with Foodbuy Hospitality, where she partners with members to deliver strategic procurement solutions aligned to their unique business needs.
Her career spans every level of hospitality—from restaurant operations to owning and operating an event company—providing a holistic perspective that informs thoughtful, client‑centric decision making.
Cam Canparzano
Director of Programs & Impact | The Delores Project
Denver, CO
During her undergraduate studies, Cam co-founded a philanthropy to help fund pancreatic cancer research and went on to graduate with Bachelors’ degrees in Pre-medicine and Psychology. Immediately out of college, she worked in an oncology lab while maintaining the intent to go to medical school. However, having discovered an unwavering desire to serve the most vulnerable, she began working with high-acuity populations.
Charlotte Cassel
Partner | FC Law
Miami, FL
Charlotte Cassel is dedicated to using her legal experience to support nonprofits working to change communities for the better. Charlotte began her legal career as an Equal Justice Works Fellow at Florida Legal Services. Her project focused on ensuring that low-income Floridians were able to receive access to health care under the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. She also has extensive experience having worked for numerous non-profit organizations, in both a legal and non-legal capacity, in Miami, Washington, D.C., New York City and San Francisco.
Chasity Chamberlin
Managing Director of Employment and Community Services and Vision Rehabilitation Services | CARF International
Tucson, AZ
Chasity Chamberlin has 20 years of experience in the health and human services field. Holding multiple executive level positions during her career has given her the opportunity to shape service provision for some of the most vulnerable populations. She shares her expertise with organizations and other professionals by regularly presenting at conferences and conducting trainings centered around continuous quality improvement, strategic planning and best business development practices.
Ann Chanecka
Director of the Housing and Community Development Department | City of Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Ann Chanecka is the Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of Tucson and has over 25 years of experience in planning and community development. As Director, she oversees the Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs, Homeless Solutions, Planning, and Community Development for the department. Ann led the Housing Affordability Strategy for Tucson planning effort, which outlines the city’s goals and priorities to help address the housing demand. Under her leadership the department recently completed 93 units of affordable housing and has another 1,200 units of housing currently in construction or pre-development.
Lisa Chastain
Chief Executive Officer | Union Gospel Mission
Tucson, AZ
Lisa, the granddaughter of Ray Chastain, founder of Gospel Rescue Mission (GRM), was born and raised in Tucson. In 2007, Lisa became CEO of Hope Network, the organization behind Hope Fest, a one-day event providing basic necessities of life and connecting participants with ongoing care with partner-ships from social services. Dental care, medical care, food, hygiene items, clothing and more were given away to support individuals and families facing poverty and homelessness.
Mary Jeanne “MJ” Chavez
Chief Executive Officer | Sister José Women’s Center
Tucson, AZ
Mary Jeanne “MJ” Chavez is a transformative operations executive and licensed clinician based in Tucson, Arizona, with over 20 years of experience in behavioral health, human services, and organizational leadership. Renowned for her ability to rapidly improve both service quality and operational performance, she has led large-scale teams and managed multimillion-dollar budgets in diverse healthcare and nonprofit settings. Mary Jeanne is honored to lead Sister José Women’s Center that provides services to unhoused or precariously housed women and their companion pets.
Srikar Chinam
CEO and Co-Founder | KarmaSuite
San Francisco, CA
Srikar is the CEO of KarmaSuite, the only post-award grants management system for nonprofits. Prior to this, he spent several years at QuickBooks driving innovations such as “Automated bank reconciliation” which saved 30M+ clicks/year across QuickBooks’ customers. Srikar also brings deep expertise in Strategy and Corporate Finance from his experience at McKinsey & Company.
Katrina Ciraldo
Medical Director | THRIVE Clinic, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Miami, FL
Dr Ciraldo is a double board-certified Family Physician and Addiction Medicine specialist with a focus on harm reduction, women’s health and pregnancy. She is trained to care for pregnant women with substance use disorders with an interdisciplinary approach. Before starting at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in November 2021, she completed the Primary Care Addiction Medicine Fellowship at UCSF/San Francisco General Hospital where she was a prenatal provider with Team Lily, a low-barrier clinic for pregnant patients who were experiencing homelessness, using substances and/or who had serious mental illness.
Constance Collins
President and Executive Director | National Women’s Shelter Network, Inc.
Miami, FL & Asheville, NC
Moved by the sight of a homeless woman bathing in the fountain of what would be her last commercial development, Constance Collins concluded a 20-year, highly successful, for profit, commercial real estate, finance and business career in 2004 to found the Lotus House Women’s Shelter in Miami, Florida. Ms. Collins shepherded Lotus House from its humble beginnings serving 34 women nightly to today’s model, state-of-the-art, comprehensive homeless services facilities, known as Lotus Village.
More here.
Julie Comiskey
Chief Development Officer | The Women’s Home
Houston, TX
Julie Comiskey serves as Chief Development Officer at The Women’s Home, a role she has held since July 2017. She provides strategic leadership for all fundraising, communication, and volunteer initiatives, and champions the Development team as they cultivate and strengthen relationships with individual donors, foundations, Cottage Shop patrons, and corporate partners. Under her guidance, the team works to build long-term philanthropic support that ensures The Women’s Home has the financial strength to fulfill its mission and advance its strategic growth.
Sarah Corcoran
Principal | Corcoran Strategies Group
Washington, DC
Sarah Corcoran is a nationally recognized expert in Washington, D.C. with more than a decade of success advancing behavioral health and crisis care policy. With deep experience navigating the intersections of public policy, government relations, systems transformation, and public affairs, Sarah brings a results-driven approach to advance complex initiatives in healthcare, housing, Medicaid, appropriations, and regulatory advocacy.
Anastasia “Ana” Cousins
Lead Worker for the Courtroom Clerks Districts | Miami Dade County Clerk
Miami, FL
Anastasia Cousins is a long-time resident of Miami-Dade County, Florida. Ms. Cousins is a graduate from Florida International University earning a Bachelor of Public Administration from the College of Health and Urban Affairs. She has worked for Miami Dade County Clerk of Courts for 25 years and is a Licensed Insurance Agent. Anastasia serves as a Board Member and Secretary of Lotus House.
Dr. Shana Cox
Chief Clinical Program Officer of Children’s Services and Research Project Director | Lotus House Women’s Shelter
Miami, FL
Dr. Shana Cox, the Chief Clinical Program Officer of Children’s Services at the Sundari Foundation, Inc. dba Lotus House Women’s Shelter in Miami, Florida, is an accomplished leader within the shelter community. She has led the two largest early childhood research projects in a shelter setting, which have resulted in publications in peer reviewed journals, including Addressing Mental Health and Trauma-Related Needs of Sheltered Children and Families with Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) in Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research and Early Intervention for Families Experiencing Homelessness: A pilot randomized trial comparing two parenting programs in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
Bere Craig
Vice President of Philanthropy | Saint Louise House
Austin, TX
Bere Craig is Vice President of Philanthropy at Saint Louise House, where she leads fundraising strategy and donor engagement to support families overcoming homelessness. Her journey with the organization spans more than 10 years of volunteer service and leadership — including serving as Board Chair — before stepping into executive leadership, reflecting deep mission alignment and long-term commitment.
Renee Da Silva
TBA | TBA
TBA
Bio coming soon.
Beatriz De La Rosa Perez
Program Director | The Anacortes Family Center
Anacortes, WA
Beatriz heads our program team, the group that provides direct service to clients seven days a week. She has served in this role since 2017, after four years as our Case Manager. Leading our talented program team, Beatriz ensures that clients successfully navigate AFC’s program from intake to graduation. She also oversees clients in our Family Transformation Center.
Sharonee Delevante
Operations Director | Sundari Foundation, Inc. dba Lotus House Women’s Shelter
Miami, FL
Sharonee Delevante is a dedicated and accomplished mother and professional. Though originally from Kingston, Jamaica, she has called Miami home since the age of four. Her lived experience is her strength. Like her favorite quote, “turn your wounds into wisdom” by Oprah Winfrey, she has used challenging moments as growth opportunities. After years experiencing homelessness since the age of 18, she moved into the Lotus House Women’s Shelter and successfully exited the program into her own home.
Isabella Dell’Oca
Executive Director | Sundari Foundation, Inc. dba Lotus House Women’s Shelter
Miami, FL
Isabella Dell’Oca is the Executive Director of the Lotus House Women’s Shelter, the largest women’s shelter in the country. She began her career after graduation from Loyola University Chicago, where she got her degrees in Social Work and International Relations. Passionate about making a lasting impact on her community, she joined Lotus House’s Employment and Education team, later transitioning to Community Outreach.
Kiera Derman
Director of Program Development | National Women’s Shelter Network, Inc.
Washington, DC
Kiera Derman is the Director of Program Development for the National Women’s Shelter Network (NWSN) leading efforts to grow the NWSN’s capacity to deliver on its mission of supporting women, children and families facing homelessness and the shelters and programs that serve them. Ms. Derman joins the NWSN after over a decade in international development. Most recently, Ms. Derman was with Save the Children US where she led business development strategy for multi sectoral programs.
Dr. Kim Despres
Chief Executive Officer | Circle the City
Phoenix, AZ
Dr. Kim Despres is Chief Executive Officer of the dynamic nonprofit organization Circle the City. Circle the City provides innovative healthcare solutions to men, women, and children facing homelessness in Maricopa County, Arizona. Dr. Despres oversees the operation of Circle the City’s two respite centers, two outpatient healthcare centers, a fleet of mobile medical units that provide care throughout the county, and a new street medicine team.
Hannah Dew
Assistant Director of MicroCommunities | Colorado Village Collaborative
Denver, CO
Hannah Dew is the Assistant Director of Micro-Community Operations at Colorado Village Collaborative in Denver, where she oversees low-barrier shelter communities supporting individuals transitioning out of homelessness. She leads trauma-informed, person-centered programs that prioritize dignity, safety, and housing stability.
Rachel Davis
Assistant Program Director | The Anacortes Family Center
Anacortes, WA
Rachel joined AFC’s program team as the Emergency Shelter Case Manager in April of 2022. Rachel became our Assistant Program Director in the Fall of 2025–adding oversight of our Resource Managers to her portfolio of work. Rachel graduated from Skagit Valley College’s Human Services program with a degree in Human Services and an emphasis in chemical dependency counseling. She most recently worked in Island County for a nonprofit flight museum.
Barbara Duffield
Executive Director | SchoolHouse Connection
Washington, DC
Barbara Duffield is Executive Director of SchoolHouse Connection. For more than 30 years, she has bridged policy and practice in early care, education, housing, and homelessness. Barbara began her career as a tutor for children experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC in 1990. She was the Director of Education for the National Coalition for the Homeless from 1994-2003, where she collaborated with service providers, educators, federal agencies, and Congressional offices to address children’s issues.
Christina Duncan
Executive Director | Milagro House
Lancaster, PA
Christina joined Milagro House as its Executive Director in 2017. She brings more than 25 years of experience working in nonprofit management, fundraising/development, and marketing. Christina has a strong personal commitment to align herself with organizations and initiatives that empower individuals and families to live full and productive lives free from the boundaries defined by poverty, lack of education and discrimination.
Dr. William Ellert
Chief Medical Officer | Circle the City
Phoenix, AZ
Dr. William Ellert is the Chief Medical Officer at Circle the City, where he oversees the organization’s clinical operations and leads a dedicated team of healthcare professionals. Dr. Ellert has a long-standing relationship with Circle the City, having collaborated with founder Sister Adele O’Sullivan, CSJ, MD, and serving as the board’s first Chairman.
Betty Espinoza
Community Health Worker Apprenticeship Program Manager | Homeless Prenatal Program
San Francisco, CA
Betty is the program manager for the apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship program at the Homeless Prenatal Program. Her day-to-day operations with the community health worker Apprentices include supervision, oversight of ongoing training and skill-building workshops for professional growth, and fostering a supportive environment. Additionally, Betty supports the assistant program manager and the employment and education coordinator, supporting them with their roles and day-to-day responsibilities.
Hannah Estabrook
Executive Director | Sanctuary Night
Columbus, OH
Hannah Estabrook is a dedicated mental health clinician with twenty years of experience, focusing on supporting individuals who have transitioned from the sex trade. Her passion for creating inclusive and safe environments has led her to establish Sanctuary Night, a pioneering harm reduction drop-in center for marginalized womxn at risk of sexual exploitation.
Farzana Farzam
Program Coordinator: Transitional Housing | Apna Ghar Inc.
Chicago, IL
Farzana Farzam, MA, is a Chicago-based program coordinator, researcher, educator, and advocate with years of experience advancing equity for survivors of gender-based violence, refugees, and marginalized communities. She currently serves as a Program Coordinator for Transitional Housing at Apna Ghar, where she leads trauma-informed, survivor-centered housing stabilization efforts aligned with HUD Continuum of Care standards. In this role, she provides crisis intervention, safety planning, and intensive case management while collaborating across legal, healthcare, and housing systems to remove barriers and promote long-term stability.
Jean Fedigan
Founder | Sister José Women’s Center
Tucson, AZ
Jean Fedigan founded Sister José Women’s Center with the sole purpose of helping women in need. She has built this community and space with compassion, dignity, and respect. Her passion and perseverance have changed numerous lives for the better. As homelessness continues to rise in Tucson, Jean will continue to advocate and support women on their path to a more sustainable future.
Kristen Feltner
Residential Program Manager | GreenHouse17
Lexington, KY
Kristen Feltner is a Residential Program Manager at GreenHouse17, where she has dedicated a decade to supporting survivors of domestic violence. She studied social work at Eastern Kentucky University and is a certified Healing Through Art facilitator, bringing a creative and trauma-informed approach to her work with residents. Outside of her professional role, she is a proud pet parent to two cats and a dog, which informs her commitment to supporting the important role of pets in survivors’ lives.
Danielle Fowler
Administrator & Educator | Tucson Poverello
Tucson, AZ
A seasoned fixture in the Tucson non-profit sector for over 15 years, Danielle is widely recognized for a professional style that masterfully blends humor, creativity, and radical honesty. After earning a Bachelors in Speech Communication from NAU, her foundational years were spent developing disability and youth programs before pivoting to LGBTQ+ education and homelessness. “My calling has always been to service – to be a voice for the voiceless.”
Hilda Fernandez
President | The H Factor
Miami, FL
Hilda M. Fernandez brings almost three decades of experience in the public and non-profit sectors to her role as president of The H Factor, a boutique consulting firm that focuses on issues relating to homelessness, housing and social services. Her diverse career includes the development and implementation of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Continuum of Care system beginning in 1994 and twice serving as the Executive Director of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust – the local CoC Coordinating entity and primary funding source for local, state and federal homelessness grants.
Martha L. Figueroa
Operations Manager | Thomas House Family Shelter
Garden Grove, CA
Martha Figueroa is a seasoned professional with a track record of success as an operations manager and bookkeeper. She possesses excellent communication and leadership abilities, enabling her to manage a dynamic and evolving service operation effectively. Martha is a skilled project and client manager with a strong ability to lead her team and motivate and develop team members.
Anna Frusciante
Partner | FC Law
Miami, FL
Anna Frusciante works with nonprofits from a place of firsthand understanding of the legal challenges they face. Before co-founding FC Law, Anna served as director and co-general counsel of Lotus House Women’s Shelter in Miami. She also serves as assistant counsel at a large nonprofit federally qualified health center in Miami.
Cindy Garcia
Program Director | Chicanos por la Causa
Phoenix, AZ
Cindy Garcia has dedicated over 15 years to working alongside survivors of domestic and sexual violence. She is a proud mother of three and has been with her husband for 21 years. Cindy currently serves as Program Director at Chicanos por la Causa, where she has overseen the De Colores program for more than seven years. De Colores has a shelter program and community based office that serves over 600 survivors a year.
Daniella Garcia
Retail & Resource Officer | Crisis Center for South Suburbia
Worth, IL
Daniella Garcia has been a dedicated member of the Crisis Center for South Suburbia for 18 years, bringing extensive leadership experience in retail operations, donation management, and community engagement. As Retail & Resource Officer, she provides comprehensive oversight of the agency’s Neat Repeats Resale stores, in-kind donation systems, and volunteer engagement initiatives.
Carol Gebhart
Former Executive Director | Opening Doors
Dubuque, IA
Carol Gebhart is the former Executive Director of Opening Doors, a nonprofit that serves unhoused women, with or without children, through a continuum of housing services and individualized case management, since 2017. Carol has a BA in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa and a Master of Education in School Administration from Sam Houston State University.
Antoria Gillon
Founder & CEO | From Ordinary to Extraordinary
Dallas, TX
Antoria Gillon is the Founder and CEO of From Ordinary to Extraordinary (FOTE), an
award winning nonprofit organization recognized by the State of Texas, designed to empower women who have experienced domestic violence, childhood trauma and teen pregnancy. Antoria’s most notable achievement is that although she was a teen mom at the age of 16, she became the first person in her family to attend college and earn a degree in Psychology. This in turn, enabled her to understand the mindset that is developed in individuals during and after trauma. As a result, she has been able to help traumatized individuals move past
mental, emotional, and financial barriers, and become stable and self-sufficient.
Ariana Gordillo De Vivero
Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives | National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
Alexandria, VA
Ariana Gordillo De Vivero is the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC), where she has served in a leadership role since 2011.
She leads national partnerships and oversees grant programs that expand access to high-quality, equitable healthcare for underserved populations, including women, families, and individuals experiencing housing insecurity.
Candace Gordon
Director of Programs | Marguerite’s Place
Nashua, NH
Candace Gordon is the Director of Programs at Marguerite’s Place, a nonprofit supporting families experiencing homelessness in Nashua, NH through housing, childcare, and community-based programming. She oversees residential services, childcare operations, and supportive workshops and events that strengthen families and build stability.
More here.
Carolyn Gordon
Chief Program Officer | Family Promise
Summit, NJ
Carolyn Gordon serves as the Chief Program Officer for Family Promise, shaping the national strategy on advocacy, housing development, and program innovation. Carolyn’s work with Family Promise began when they served as the Executive Director of the Northern New Castle County Affiliate in Wilmington, Delaware for 7+ years.
Dr. Paulo Graziano
Professor of Psychology – Department of Child Psychology | Florida International University
Miami, FL
Dr. Graziano is a Professor of Psychology at the Center for Children and Families (CCF) at Florida International University (FIU) and Director of the S.E.L.F.-Regulation Laboratory at FIU. His program of research strives to integrate theory and methods from developmental psychology and neuroscience to examine the development of children’s self-regulation skills (e.g., emotion regulation and executive functioning), and how such processes can be applied to the understanding and treatment of ADHD and disruptive behavior behaviors (e.g., conduct problems, callous-unemotional behaviors).
Shakoya Green Long
Chief Executive Officer | Thomas House Family Shelter
Garden Grove, CA
Shakoya Green Long, is an established professional in the behavioral health and social services field. A native of Southern California, she earned a bachelor’s in Child & Family Development from San Diego State University and a Master of Human Behavior from National University. She also obtained a second master’s degree in Social Work from California State University Dominguez Hills. Her fervor for human development and community awareness have sustained her professional proficiency and ensured longevity and success within her work.
John Greenwood
Executive Director | Homes for the Homeless
New York, NY
John Greenwood is the Executive Director of Homes for the Homeless (HFH) and the Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness (ICPH). John most recently served as Chief Operating Officer, after holding roles as Deputy COO, Administrator, Deputy Administrator, and Operations Assistant in his eight years with HFH.
Hyrum Grenny
Director of The Other Side Leadership Institute | The Other Side Village
Salt Lake City, UT
Hyrum Grenny is the Director of the Other Side Leadership Institute, a social enterprise of The Other Side Village that trains for-profit and nonprofit organizations to implement human-first, accountability-driven models of leadership and culture. With a background in Behavioral Science from Utah Valley University, he has worked at the intersection of business and impact, including helping to scale his previous firm to manage over $400 million in philanthropic and impact-investing capital.
Julie Grimes
Managing Partner | Hilton Bentley Hotel
Miami, FL
Julie Grimes is Managing Partner of the Hilton Bentley Hotel, and VP Philanthropy Heafey Group. An innovative, active and well-respected community leader in the City of Miami, Grimes has extended her reach well beyond her business operations. She co-founded the Miami-Dade College Hospitality Institute connecting thousands of Miami underserved residents with training and job opportunities in the local hospitality industry.
William Grogran
President | Planning Office for Urban Affairs
Boston, MA
William H. Grogan, President of the Planning Office for Urban Affairs, has been involved in affordable housing and economic development for over 25 years with a particular focus on complex legal and financial deal structuring to accomplish mission objectives. Bill was appointed President in July 2019 and has been with the Planning Office since 2005. Prior to becoming President, Bill was the Chief Operating Office & General Counsel.
Lorena Halwood
Executive Director | ADABI
Chinle, AZ
I am a recognized leader known for advocating for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and who has over 30 years of experience in advocacy for domestic violence and sexual assault victims and delivery of services to underserved communities on the Navajo Nation and beyond. I have the passion to work with the many lives that are affected by domestic violence and understand the difficulties women of Indian Country have when they come to ADABI shelter, their unique issues and the problems they face when and if they return home to the reservation.
Jennifer Hanlon Wigon
Chief Executive Officer | Women’s Lunch Place
Boston, MA
Jennifer Hanlon Wigon, MBA, is Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Lunch Place (WLP) in Boston, MA. During her tenure, Jennifer has led the agency’s transformation from a nutrition-focused daytime refuge into Boston’s leading model for women-centered housing, healthcare, and empowerment. Today, WLP serves as a vital catalyst for overcoming barriers to access. It is the only women’s shelter in Boston to provide a full continuum of care that centers women’s needs—from meals and basic care to comprehensive medical services, legal services, housing stabilization and an overnight shelter that bridges the gap between crisis and permanent housing.
John Hannon
Senior Resource Specialist | CARF International
Tucson, AZ
John Hannon is a Senior Resource Specialist at CARF International. He served for 4 years as an administrative surveyor for CARF, and he worked for CARF accredited organizations for 12 years. Prior to joining CARF in a fulltime capacity, Mr. Hannon was the Director of Adult Day Services for The Arc of San Diego. Mr. Hannon has over 20 years of experience in the social services field working to support a variety of populations.
Nancy Hashman
Clinical Case Manager | Sanctuary Night
Columbus, OH
Nancy Hashman is a survivor, advocate, and Clinical Case Manager at Sanctuary Night, where she provides vital support to women navigating exploitation/at risk for exploitation. A prominent leader in the anti-trafficking movement, she serves as an Ambassador for the Ohio Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Initiative and collaborates with Franklin County’s CATCH Court to facilitate healing and long-term self-sufficiency.
Jerry Heaney
Vice President of Transitional Housing | Samaritan Daytop Village
Briarwood, NY
Jerry Heaney serves as the Vice President of Transitional Housing at Samaritan Daytop Village, where he has spent decades leading large-scale shelter and housing programs serving families with children and single adults experiencing homelessness in New York City. Jerry oversees a $250 million portfolio of 11 family with children’s sites and 22 single adult sites. With more than 35 years of experience in the field, Jerry has guided frontline teams through multiple citywide emergencies, including Superstorm Sandy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recent migrant response.
Barbara Hitching
Trauma Coach, Author, and Speaker
Barbara co-founded and led a non-profit organization for twenty years, working with oppressed minorities and indigenous people to facilitate dignity and freedom of choice. For five years she was on call 24/7 at three hospitals as a volunteer crisis counselor for rape survivors. She is a domestic violence survivor and has over 30 years of experience working with other trauma survivors.
Galina Hitching
Artist and Trauma Healing Facilitator
Galina is a visual artist and is certified as a Trauma Healing Facilitator with the Trauma Healing Institute. Today, she’s cast off the constraints of her communication degree and paints with fresh hope. Her watercolor and oil paintings explore grief and suffering, but remain anchored in light and the promise of transformation.
Holly Hsu
Division Director of Housing Programs | Homeless Prenatal Program
San Francisco, CA
Holly Hsu serves as the Division Director of Housing Programs at Homeless Prenatal Program, where she provides leadership and oversight across a range of housing and shelter programs supporting families, pregnant people, and transitional age youth experiencing homelessness in San Francisco. In her role, Holly guides program strategy, operations, compliance, and cross-system collaboration to strengthen housing stability outcomes for the communities HPP serves.
Carolyn Iacobelli
Tax Manager | PricewaterhouseCoopers
Phoenix, AZ
Carolyn Iacobelli is a partner in PwC’s Trust Solutions Tax practice based in Phoenix. She has more than 20 years of practice experience. Carolyn has extensive partnership experience, including partial sales and contributions of companies with valuations in excess of $2 billion. Her experience includes working on many Phoenix based businesses and coordinating with family offices and individual owners.
Rebecca Jackson
VP of Reentry and Public Affairs | Community Forward SF
San Francisco, CA
Rebecca Jackson is the VP of Reentry and Public Affairs at Community Forward SF. She oversees and leads the organization’s advocacy efforts at the city, state, and federal levels and its Reentry program. Her personal experiences with domestic violence, racism, addiction, and incarceration inform her work and fuel her desire to be a positive example and role model of change for others.
Libby Jacobson
Vice Chair of the Board of Directors | Downtown Women’s Center
Los Angeles, CA
Libby Jacobson is a business development and strategy consultant for impact enterprises in the greater Los Angeles area. Libby’s background includes thirteen years Wall Street experience in institutional equity research and sales. While raising her four children, she spent many years volunteering. It was then that she realized the need to create sustainable solutions for issues affecting her local and global communities. Addressing homelessness has been her passion and priority. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at Downtown Women’s Center where she also chaired the Social Enterprise committee.
Liz Jarrard
Executive Director | Jubilee Women’s Center
Seattle, WA
Liz brings extensive experience in the affordable housing and emergency services sectors. Over the past decade at Compass Housing Alliance, she held multiple leadership positions, including Director of Advancement, Interim Executive Director, and Director of Human Resources. During this time, she also served as Board Chair for the Fremont Abbey Arts organization. Raised in the Seattle area, Liz earned her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Northwest University, specializing in trauma.
Grettel Jimenez Singer
Director | National Women’s Shelter Network, Inc.
New York, NY
Grettel Jiménez-Singer is the Director of the National Women’s Shelter Network overseeing the Network’s day-to-day operation; acting as a liaison between members, partners and allies; and advancing the NWSN’s mission through her commitment to uplifting women and children everywhere. Her creative eye and flair for communications are instrumental to the development of the NWSN media and community outreach campaigns…
Runisha Johnson
Farming Coordinator | Sundari Foundation, Inc. dba Lotus House Women’s Shelter
Miami, FL
Shortly after graduating high school, Runisha Johnson found herself at Lotus House. Following her stay of little less than a year, she successfully completed the program and has excelled as a Lotus House team member for over a decade. Starting as a Resident Manager, Runisha has made her way through the ranks as an Operations Manager, Quality Assurance Coordinator, Barista Manager, Thrift Store Manager, Programming and Operations Coordinator, and most recently the Farming Coordinator.
Marita Kay
Fundraising and Communications Officer | Crisis Center for South Suburbia
Worth, IL
Marita is a strategic fundraising, communications, and operations leader with over 20 years of experience spanning both corporate and nonprofit sectors. She has a proven track record of advancing mission driven organizations through relationship centered philanthropy and operational excellence. As Fundraising and Communications Officer at the Crisis Center for South Suburbia, she leads integrated development, marketing, and engagement strategies to drive revenue growth, strengthen donor relationships and expand community impact.
More here.
Piper Kerman
Bestselling Author | Memoirist | Social Justice Advocate
Berkeley, CA
Kerman is a social justice advocate and the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Woman’s Prison. This eye-opening memoir recounts the year that Piper spent in federal prison for a crime she had committed ten years previously during a brief involvement with the drug trade. Compelling, moving, and often hilarious, Orange is the New Black explores issues of friendship and family, mental illness, the uneasy relationship between prisoner and jailor, and the almost complete lack of guidance our society offers for post-prison life.
Laura Klinefelter
Director of Programs and Victims Services | National Women’s Shelter Netork, Inc.
Miami, FL
Laura Klinefelter is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a specialization in Trauma-Informed Care, Domestic Violence, Family Systems, and Crisis Intervention. She is also a Certified Addictions Professional (CAP). Laura serves as the Programs and Victim Services Director for the NWSN. Laura has over 10 years of experience working with Lotus House in various capacities and managed admissions for several years. Laura also serves as the CPI trainer for all Lotus House staff and specializes in conflict resolution. She is trained in restorative practices as well and facilitates restorative circles with guests and staff members.
Carol Klocek
Chief Executive Officer | Center for Transforming Lives
Fort Worth, TX
Carol Klocek believes every family deserves to experience financial and emotional well-being but knows firsthand how challenging that can be. Despite experiencing poverty and homelessness herself as a child, Klocek earned master’s degrees in social work and business. She brings her lived experience and more than 35 years of leadership in the social sector to her role as CEO for Center for Transforming Lives, where she and her team partner with women and children so they can thrive.
Kayla Kolar
Chief Executive Officer| House of Refuge
Mesa, AZ
Kayla Kolar has been in nonprofit executive leadership for over 30 years and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of House of Refuge since Jan. 1, 2021. Prior to that, she was President and CEO of HD SOUTH, Home of the Gilbert Historical Museum for 15.5 yrs. where she led the organization through $1.5 mil of a $2 million capital campaign and a complete rebranding from a history museum to a complex arts and culture nonprofit.
Adrienne Lane-Martin
Interior Design Principal | erstad Architecture + Interior Design
Boise, ID
Adrienne wanted to be an interior designer since she was in the 6th grade. Once she discovered that you could combine art with problem solving and your surrounding environment, a mix of both your left and right brains – she was hooked. Growing up in military base housing where nothing could be permanent, she learned creative ways to alter her environment via paint, furniture arrangement, etc. with the help of her partner in crime – her mom.
Sarah Lang
Senior Manager | PricewaterhouseCoopers
Phoenix, AZ
Sarah Lang is a CPA with over two decades of experience spanning public accounting, private equity, hospitality, healthcare staffing, and corporate tax environments. She is currently a Senior Manager at PwC, and has expertise in tax compliance, treasury management, investor relations, and corporate finance strategy. Sarah is known for her hands-on leadership, process improvement mindset, and ability to bridge complex tax and financial matters with strategic business objectives.
Kimberly Livsey
Chief Program Officer | Atlanta Mission
Atlanta, GA
Kimberly Livsey is currently the Chief Program Officer at Atlanta Mission. She received her Masters of Science in Community Counseling from Mercer University and earned her bachelors in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor by trade and also provides clinical supervision to emerging counselors. Kimberly’s professional experience includes managing various mental health clinics throughout metro Atlanta as well as providing individual and family counseling to children, adolescents, and adults.
Monique Lopez
Chief Executive Officer | UMOM New Day Centers
Phoenix, AZ
Monique Lopez is a visionary leader and changemaker with over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. As UMOM New Day Centers’ Deputy CEO, she’s dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness by restoring hope and rebuilding lives for the most vulnerable individuals and families in Arizona. Monique’s hands-on approach to data and evaluation has amplified UMOM’s capacity to both assess community impact and identify the programs and strategies that work in order to replicate success.
Michael Lorello
Chief Executive | Lamb Insurance Services
Conshohocken, PA
Michael advises nonprofit organizations nationwide on commercial insurance and risk strategy, with a specialization in mental and behavioral health providers and housing- focused nonprofits. His work includes supporting emergency facilities and shelters that improve stability and opportunities for individuals and families. Through years of hands-on advisory work, Michael has developed a strong command of the operational, safety, and compliance challenges that organizations serving women, youth, and families encounter.
Christina Love
Appointed Member | U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking
Juneau, AK
Christina Love (she/her) is a proud Alaska Native (Alutiiq/Sugpiaq) mother of two who brings her authentic voice and transformative spirit to the forefront as an internationally acclaimed speaker, thought leader, award winning advocate and broadcaster. Christina has been at the forefront of strategic initiatives for over 15 years, focusing on equity, organizational transformation, and community healing nationwide. She serves as a Senior Consultant on trauma and intersectionality with an emphasis on centering community and lived expertise.
Bill Mackey
Professor and Architect | University of Arizona, CAPLA
Tucson, AZ
Bill Mackey is a principal of Worker, Inc., a firm specializing in art and architecture. The work explores human connections to built environments and bridges the theory and practice of social sciences, planning, architecture and art. Engagement simultaneously includes public, academic and professional fields. For over 25 years Bill has practiced architecture in the Tucson region. Projects range from private to public, hi-end to low-end, private garages to a 182-unit multi-family housing development and restaurants, zoos, jails and elementary schools (sadly, programmatically similar).
Elizabeth Magnee-Schalch
Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer | Avatar Buddy
San Mateo, CA
Liz Magnee‑Schalch is the COO and Co‑Founder of Avatar Buddy, an Managed AI-as-a-Service solutions company that helps mission‑driven organizations use artificial intelligence in safe, practical, and human‑centered ways. With more than 20+ years of experience in technology, operations, product management and education in the Silicon Valley—including leading global teams though implementations and building employee, customer and partner education programs at Coupa Software—she specializes in building systems that actually work for real teams and the people they serve.
Christopher Mann
Vice President of Public Policy and Strategy | WIN (Women in Need)
New York, NY
Chris Mann is the Vice President of Public Policy and Strategy at Win, the City and Country’s largest provider of shelter and supportive housing to families with children. Chris is responsible for leading Win’s policy and advocacy work, focusing on reforms to address the structural drivers of family homelessness. While at Win, Chris has led a number of advocacy campaigns resulting in legislative victories on housing access and supports for families experiencing homelessness.
Sarah March
Program Director | Samaritan Daytop Village
Briarwood, NY
Sarah March is a NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor with Diagnostic Privilege, Licensed Master Social Worker and Master Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor who has dedicated her career to the field of addiction. She is the Program Director of the Samaritan Daytop Village Young Mothers Program, a residential treatment facility that treats addiction through a family systems, trauma-informed, gender responsive lens. She has overseen the implementation and development of a SAMHSA-funded service grant focused on providing care to pregnant and parenting women diagnosed with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders & their families.
Renee Marrone
Director of Supportive Services | St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children
Dorchester, MA
Renee Marrone is a dedicated and compassionate leader in the field of mental health and social services. Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Renee has been serving the greater Boston community for over a decade, and has been working within the St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children community since 2018. She began her work at SMC as a clinician, providing direct support to individuals and families. In 2021, Renee advanced into the role of Director, where she supported the creation and implementation of the organization’s clinical team.
Nettie Martinez
Vice President of Programs | Saint Louise House
Austin, TX
Nettie Gardiner-Martinez, LCSW is the Vice President of Programs at Saint Louise House in Austin, Texas, where she leads direct services, admissions, and community partnerships serving women and children experiencing homelessness. Using a solution-focused approach and trust-based leadership style, Nettie partners closely with teams to strengthen program delivery and drive measurable outcomes for families. Saint Louise House provides stable housing and highly individualized, wraparound services that support education, financial stability, family well-being, and long-term self-sufficiency.
Christina Mascitti
Bilingual Global Professional Manager | Crisis Prevention Institute
Milwaukee, WI
Since Christina’s arrival at CPI back in 2016, she passionately supports teams, across North America, in French and English, since 2016 as a Global Professional Instructor GPI. In 2025, Christina was promoted to Bilingual Global Professional Manager of Advanced Physical Skills teams. Christina directly supports and develops CPI’s Canadian & First Nation Certified Instructors by developing and translating (FR/EN) and culturally relevant products and experiences. Christina is qualified to teach Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention with Advanced Physical Skills, Emergency, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention with Emergency Skills.
Alicia McFarlane
Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer | Samaritan Daytop Village
Briarwood, NY
Alicia A. McFarlane, Esq., is a dynamic leader and legal strategist with nearly three decades of experience driving transformation in New York’s nonprofit sector. As Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Samaritan Daytop Village, Alicia oversees a $350 million portfolio encompassing more than 60 residential, outpatient, housing, and recovery programs that support nearly 35,000 New Yorkers annually.
Amy Meredith
Founder | UP for Women & Children
Louisville, KY
Amy Meredith is an author, leadership advisor, and the founder and former Executive Director of UP for Women & Children, Louisville’s first comprehensive daytime safe space designed specifically for women and children experiencing homelessness. Under her leadership, UP grew from a grassroots idea into a nationally recognized, seven-figure organization providing trauma-informed care, housing placement, and stability supports. Amy worked closely with frontline teams, partners, and funders to address complex needs—including human trafficking, chronic trauma, and housing instability—while maintaining a strong commitment to integrity, accountability, and dignity-centered care across the organization.
Lisa Michaelson
Vice President Women’s and Children’s Programs | Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities
St. Paul, MN
Lisa Michaelson is an inclusive servant leader with a proven ability to inspire and activate diverse people, partnerships, and resources to maximize social impact for individuals, organizations, and communities. Lisa currently provides strategic and visionary leadership as vice president of women’s and children’s programs at Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities.
Kristin Miller
Executive Director | Homeless Services United
New York, NY
Kristin Miller is a proven leader in the social services and housing fields. Using her thirty years of management and systems knowledge, she has built effective relationships that bring large, complex initiatives to fruition. She has worked in government, non-profit, and as an individual consultant. Ms. Miller is currently the Executive Director of Homeless Services United (HSU), a membership organization supporting nonprofits that provide shelter and homeless services in New York City.
Lashunda Mitchell
Founder & CEO | Community Health Solutions Group
Chicago, IL
Lashunda Mitchell is a distinguished systems leader with more than 23 years of experience advancing homelessness prevention, diversion, Medicaid compliance, and equity-centered service delivery across Chicago and Illinois. Currently she serves as Partner and Senior Consultant at Community Health Solutions Group where she specializes in strengthening homelessness response operations through end-to-end process mapping, workflow redesign, and regulatory alignment.
More here.
Leshan Mitchell
Senior Resource Specialist | CARF International
Tucson, AZ
Leshan Mitchell is the Subject Matter Area Lead and Resource Specialist for the Employment and Community Services and Vision Rehabilitation Services departments at CARF International. With over 25 years of experience in the human services field, Leshan has dedicated her career to empowering individuals and families, especially those with disability impairment needs, to achieve greater independence and an enhanced quality of life. Before joining CARF, Leshan served for seven years as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with the Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services.
Margaret Mitchell
Chief Executive Officer | YWCA USA, Inc.
Washington, DC
Margaret Mitchell anticipates trends and has a proven track record of creating competitive breakthrough strategies. She communicates vision, purpose, and core values. As a strong decision maker who builds consensus, she is a consistent top performer who pursues growth with energy and drive. Margaret strives for personal and organizational excellence. Recognized for savvy in building relationships at all levels inside and outside the organization, she guides an organization with a steady hand and maintains focus, even in challenging situations.
Jake Mon
Senior Client Executive | Lamb Insurance Services
Conshohocken, PA
A predominant risk advisor in the nonprofit sector, Jake manages the portfolios of numerous social service organizations nationwide. His experience is concentrated in the youth service and housing sectors, where he supports organizations operating shelters, affordable housing, and community-based programs serving vulnerable populations. Jake’s work is rooted in a deep understanding of the unique risks faced by nonprofits serving women, youth, and families—particularly those related to housing, safety, and regulatory complexity.
Dr. Rebecca Moran
Medical Director of Family Health Centers | Circle the City
Phoenix, AZ
Dr. Rebecca Moran is the Medical Director of the Family Health Centers at Circle the City, where she oversees the medical providers and staff at the organization’s two outpatient clinics. She joined Circle the City in February 2023 and is dedicated to advancing high-quality, compassionate care for individuals experiencing homelessness. Dr. Moran’s focus is on improving clinical workflows, standardizing care processes, and reducing barriers that patients face in accessing primary and specialty healthcare services.
Tonia Moultry-Pace
Interim President & CEO | National Network to End Domestic Violence
Washington, DC
Tonia Moultry-Pace is a nationally recognized leader in the domestic violence field with over 30 years of experience in nonprofit management and organizational leadership. Throughout her career, including senior leadership roles at the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) and the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN), Tonia has specialized in building organizational capacity, developing sound fiscal strategies, and leading complex, multi-state technical assistance projects.
Katie O’Brien
Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives | National Women’s Shelter Network, Inc.
Portland, OR
Katie O’Brien is the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives for the National Women’s Shelter Network, where she previously served as a founding board member for two years. A nonprofit leader with more than 30 years of experience, Katie brings deep expertise in strategic growth, fundraising, organizational leadership, and community engagement, along with a lifelong commitment to advancing services for women, children, and families experiencing homelessness and poverty.
Stephanie Padro
Deputy Director Clinical Programs | Lotus House Women’s Shelter
Miami, FL
Stephanie Padro has been serving South Florida for over 14 years. She is currently the Deputy Director of Clinical Programs at Lotus House Women’s Shelter, a homeless shelter in Miami for women and children. She has extensive experience in assisting the community through different evidenced based practices and currently provides oversight for adult clinical programs that serve over 520 women and children daily.
Erin Patterson
Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships | SchoolHouse Connection
Washington, DC
Erin brings eighteen years of experience in education and education policy, beginning her career as a high school teacher and carrying those classroom insights into roles in federal policy, local philanthropy, and national advocacy. In her current role at SchoolHouse Connection, she leads the organization’s early childhood and K–12 initiatives and advances SHC’s mission by building partnerships and expanding its reach to new audiences and networks.
Dr. Alexandra Pavlakis
Associate Professor | Simmons School of Education at Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX
Dr. Alexandra E. Pavlakis is an Associate Professor in the Simmons School of Education at Southern Methodist University. She holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a MSc. in Social Policy & Planning from the London School of Economics and Political Science, a MSc. in Teaching from Pace University through New York City Teaching Fellows Program, and a B.A. in History from Brown University.
Cynthia Perez
Deputy Director of Programming and Rainbow Lotus Coordinator | Lotus House Women’s Shelter
Miami, FL
Cynthia has been with Lotus House since 2019 and is the Deputy Director of Programming. She enjoys getting to know the residents to help them achieve their employment or education goals. In her role, she also oversees the programming department, ensuring services are well-coordinated and aligned with residents’ needs. Also, very importantly she monitors the education needs of the school-aged students to ensure that they are focused on their academics.
Jodi Peterson-Stigers
Executive Director | Interfaith Sanctuary
Boise, ID
Jodi Peterson-Stigers has served as the Executive Director of Interfaith Sanctuary in Boise, Idaho, since 2017, after joining the organization in 2007. Under her leadership, the shelter has grown from a place of overnight refuge into a trauma-informed, 24/7 service hub offering recovery and mental health programming, family services, job training, art and storytelling initiatives, and a guest-written newspaper. Jodi’s approach blends strategic vision with deep compassion, ensuring that Interfaith Sanctuary is not only a shelter but a place of second chances and community connection.
Dr. Charity Yelton Pugh
Consultant and Researcher
Louisville, KY
Dr. Charity Yelton Pugh is a consultant and researcher specializing in trauma-informed practice, frameworks, and strategies. Her article “Surviving to Thriving: A Qualitative Exploration of Direct Service Providers’ Trauma-informed Work with Human Trafficking Survivors in Kentucky” was published in the APA journal on Psychological Trauma. Charity holds a PhD in Education and Social Change from Bellarmine University as well as professional certificates in social and behavioral research, trauma resilience, change management, and inclusive workplaces.
Rachel Ramirez
Director of Health and Disability Programs | Ohio Domestic Violence Network
Founder | Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury
Columbus, OH
Rachel Ramirez, LISW-S, RASS, is the Director of Health and Disability Programs and of the Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury at the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. A bilingual licensed social worker and national expert, she brings over 20 years of experience to her work at the intersection of brain injury, trauma and domestic violence.
Sammie Rayner
Co-CEO | Community Forward SF
San Francisco, CA
Sammie Rayner is an entrepreneur and leader focused on bringing innovation, human-centered design, and compassion to care for the most vulnerable individuals. Before joining Community Forward SF, Sammie co-founded and served as Chief Operating Officer at HandUp, a fundraising platform for human service nonprofits that scaled across the United States. Sammie’s initial passion for designing programs to alleviate poverty started in West Africa, where she co-founded and served as Executive Director for Lumana, a microfinance organization in Ghana.
Raisa Reyes
Global Programs Manager | The Ali Forney Center
New York, NY
Raisa Reyes is the Global Programs Manager at the Ali Forney Center, where they support organizations across the U.S. and internationally in developing and strengthening services for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness. With more than 11 years of experience in direct service, crisis management, outreach, and program development, Raisa began their work at AFC as a Youth Counselor before moving into outreach coordination and global technical assistance leadership.
Viana Roland
Executive Assistant and Movement Practitioner | The Sidewalk Project
Los Angeles, CA
Viana Marie Lopez Roland is an Executive Assistant at The Sidewalk Project, organizer, researcher, and movement practitioner who actively explores the relationship between community care, harm reduction, and embodied healing. She studied Political Science and Conservation & Resources at UC Berkeley and has spent years organizing around housing justice, mutual aid, and policy.
Alex Roque
Executive Director | The Ali Forney Center
New York, NY
Alexander Roque has over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Over the past 15 years, Alex has led community and business development, fundraising, and communications for non-profit organizations. Alex was recruited to the Ali Forney Center in 2011 to launch the agency’s first in-house Development Department aimed at building capacity, community relations and business infrastructure. Alex has more than tripled the organization’s budget, increased program and administrative capacity, and has introduced robust programs bolstering AFC’s work.
Brenda Rosario
Provider Enrollment Processor | Blue Cross Blue Shield
Board of Trustees | St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children
Boston, MA
Brenda Rosario immigrated to Boston from Puerto Rico, over 20 years ago, in search of a better life for herself and her two young sons. Initially staying with family, she found herself without stable housing. With limited resources, she turned to St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children for support.
Laura Rossbert
COO + Housing Specialist | Shopworks Architecture
Denver, CO
Laura joined Shopworks Architecture in 2019 after co-leading the development of Arroyo Village in Denver, which created a new homeless shelter for women and transgender individuals, 35 units of supportive housing, and 95 units of workforce housing using a trauma-informed lens. Laura brings to Shopworks her experiences as a non-profit leader and community organizer/community engagement specialist.
Andrew Rubin
Partner | Nixon Peabody
Advisory Council | National Women’s Shelter Network, Inc.
Washington, DC
Andrew P. Rubin is a community development and infrastructure finance tax attorney. His practice is focused on helping nonprofits and state, local, and tribal governments finance development and redevelopment projects that support local communities. Andrew’s toolbox includes the full spectrum of tax-advantaged financing tools, including tax-exempt bonds, private activity bonds, 501(c)(3) bonds, new markets tax credits (NMTC), low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC), historic tax credits (HTC), property assessed clean energy (PACE & C-PACE), state and local tax incentives and tax increment financing (TIF), public-private partnerships (P3), and government loan guarantees (BIA, HUD, USDA) that can be used to fund infrastructure, transportation, affordable housing, community services, health clinics and hospitals, schools, and libraries.
Candice Russell
Program Director | Jubilee Women’s Center
Seattle, WA
Candice began her career in social services in 2007, transitioning from corporate headhunting to manage the Roots Young Adult Shelter in Seattle’s University District. During this time, she served on the board of the University District Service Providers Alliance. After a decade of advocating for women’s rights in the South, Candice returned to Seattle to continue her work in housing services. She most recently led program operations at Compass on Dexter and the Cascade Women’s Program for Compass Housing Alliance. Her return to the Pacific Northwest marked a meaningful homecoming when she joined Jubilee Women’s Center.
Gabriela Saenz
Director of Research, Policy and Public Education | National Women’s Shelter Network, Inc.
Miami, FL
Gabriela Saenz is the Director of Research, Policy and Public Education for the National Women’s Shelter Network supporting our members with a wide range of educational offerings to advance best practices, researching funding opportunities for our members across the country, identifying and helping to secure additional resources to serve women and children in need, and advancing the NWSN’s public policy initiatives.
Alyssa Sanchez
Asst. Vice President Transitional Housing | Samaritan Daytop Village
Briarwood, NY
As Assistant Vice President of Transitional Housing, Alyssa Sanchez-Cook, LMHC, oversees the clinical management and administrative operations of 34 family and single adult shelters throughout New York City. She has 20 years of experience in the fields of behavioral health, workforce development and homeless services. Ms. Sanchez-Cook joined Samaritan Daytop Village in 2017 as Program Director for a female adult shelter and was promoted to Senior Director of Transitional Housing with oversight for six shelters.
Mark Scarnitz
Hospitality Executive & Community Leader
Board Member | Lotus House Women’s Shelter
Miami, FL
Mark Scharnitz is a Miami-based hospitality and real estate executive, originally from Allentown, Pennsylvania. He is the Owner and Operator of the Cuckoo Clock Brauhaus, a full-service restaurant, and Hearts of Palm Catering & Events, an event catering company serving the greater Miami market. Through these ventures, Mark leads all aspects of food service operations, bringing decades of hands-on expertise in the culinary and hospitality industry.
Jason Schocklin
Client Executive | Lamb Insurance Services
Conshohocken, PA
Jason partners with nonprofits, primarily on the West Coast, to strengthen the insurance and operational foundations of transitional housing and rehabilitation programs. By combining risk management expertise with a deep understanding of mission-driven challenges, he helps shelters and recovery facilities operate safely, sustainably, and confidently. Specializing in the complex insurance and regulatory landscape of housing-focused organizations, Jason delivers tailored solutions that manage costs, reduce risk, and keep people and programs thriving.
Courtney Schriever
Volunteer Coordinator | Catholic Community Services of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Courtney Schriever serves at Catholic Community Services of Utah, where she is deeply committed to supporting individuals and families experiencing poverty, food insecurity, and housing instability. With a strong passion for service and community collaboration, Courtney brings compassion, professionalism, and a solutions-focused approach to her work.
Joe Serrano
Senior Enrollment Specialist | UST Workforce Solutions
Oxnard, CA
Joe Serrano is a Senior Enrollment Specialist with UST Workforce Solutions, supporting nonprofits nationwide in managing unemployment costs and strengthening workforce operations. With nearly 20 years of experience working with both nonprofits and the private sector, Joe helps leaders identify cost-saving strategies, improve efficiency, and navigate the reimbursing unemployment model as an alternative to traditional state tax systems.
Tony Smith
Partner & Executive Vice President | SB Friedman Development Advisors, LLC
Chicago, IL
Tony is a Partner and Executive Vice President as SB Friedman Development Advisors, LLC, a leading development finance consulting firm based in Chicago. Tony leads SB Friedman’s community and economic development finance practice, providing technical support and strategic guidance to clients seeking to implement challenging mission-driven development projects that serve disadvantaged communities.
Soma Snakeoil
Executive Director/CoFounder | The Sidewalk Project
Los Angeles, CA
Soma is Executive Director/Cofounder of The Sidewalk Project, which specializes in services for street-based sex workers, survivors, and cis and trans women fleeing violence. Soma has been a sex worker for over 20 years, doing the full spectrum of erotic labor, including survival sex. Soma is an expert in gender-specific harm reduction and lectures on this, the feminization of poverty, and structural violence against sex workers and drug users throughout the country.
Marjorie Solorzano
Director of Health & Wellness | Downtown Women’s Center
Los Angeles, CA
My name is Marjorie Solorzano and am a bilingual (Spanish/English) human services professional with over 17+ years of experience working in community-based settings, where I’ve dedicated my career to serving individuals who are often overlooked—those navigating homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use, and systemic barriers. My work has always been rooted in compassion, kindness, dignity, and a strong belief in everyone’s right to safety, housing, and healing.
Jeanne Sparks
Integrated Marketing Communications Director | The Lovelady Center
Birmingham, AL
Jeanne Sparks serves as the Integrated Marketing Communications Director at The Lovelady Center, leading mission-driven storytelling, media strategy, and creative communications in support of one of the nation’s largest women’s transitional programs. Jeanne’s connection to The Lovelady Center is both professional and deeply personal. She was born in the very building where the Center now stands and later returned as an adult, entering the program in February 2011.
Tyrone Squire
Associate Director of Programs | Homes for the Homeless
New York, NY
Tyrone Squire currently leads HFH Summer Day Camps and was the former Camp Administrator for HFH’s sleepaway summer camps. He brings more than a decade of experience in children’s programming and youth development, beginning as a general counselor with HFH in 2010. He later served as an Assistant Teacher and Education Specialist at HFH’s Prospect Family Residence Afterschool & Recreation program, supporting academic enrichment and student engagement.
Alexis Steel
President | St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children
Dorchester, MA
Alexis Steel joined St. Mary’s Center in February 2018 as Senior Vice President of Operations and Compliance; she was appointed as the Chief Operations Office in January 2020 and was named President of St. Mary’s Center in September 2020. In her role, Ms. Steel oversees all operations of the agency, including six residential, education, employment, and prevention programs. She also oversees government contracts, human resources, facilities management, finance, and fundraising.
More here.
Hannah Stohler
Executive Director | Marguerite’s Place
Nashua, NH
Hannah Stohler is the Executive Director of Marguerite’s Place, a non-profit providing housing, child care, and community programming to families experiencing homelessness in Nashua, NH. Before joining the team at Marguerite’s Place, Ms. Stohler was the founder and director of Believe in Success, a workforce development program for domestic violence survivors in Boston, MA.
Nadia Swanson
Senior Director of Advocacy and Global Programs | The Ali Forney Center
New York, NY
Nadia Swanson, LCSW is the Senior Director of Advocacy and Global Programs at The Ali Forney Center (AFC) and is the founder and leader of the NYC Trans and Queer Coalition(NYCTQC). They have worked with unhoused and foster care youth for 14 years in direct service and advocacy. As an advocate they increased city funded beds for 21-24 year olds, passed legislation to allow for unhoused minors to consent to their own medical care, advocated to pass The Immunity for Sex Workers Bill and launched The Campaign to End Homophobia and Transphobia in the Child Welfare System, which led to new affirming policies, legislation, and LGBTQIA+ prevention services within ACS.
Tisha Tallman
CEO | Primavera Foundation
Tucson, AZ
Tisha Tallman is the CEO of the Primavera Foundation. Primavera has served the Tucson area for 43 years co-creating pathways out of poverty. Tisha has 20 years of experience leading non-profit organizations. She is Vice Chair of Tucson’s Commission on Equitable Housing and Development and a member of the Board of Directors, Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness.
Abbie Teague
Vice President | Brown & Brown Insurance
Daytona Beach, FL
Abbie Teague serves as a member of the Brown and Brown Daytona Beach retail commercial insurance sales team. In her current role, she advises over 75 clients regarding their commercial insurance needs.Abbie joined Brown & Brown’s Daytona Beach Office in 2008 and served in various sales and leadership positions, including overseeing the commercial marketing team.
Darlene Thomas
Founder and Executive Director | GreenHouse17
Lexington, KY
Since December 2004, Darlene Thomas has served as the Founder and Executive Director of GreenHouse17, an advocacy organization working to end intimate partner abuse across 17 central Kentucky counties. With more than 36 years of experience in the movement to end power-based violence, Darlene has led efforts in direct service, comprehensive program development, and community engagement for lasting social change.
Danielle Threadgill
Director of Client Services | Community Forward SF
San Francisco, CA
Danielle Threadgill is a dedicated human services professional with over a decade of experience providing compassionate, trauma-informed, and LGBTQI+ inclusive care to at-risk women. From 2014 to 2025, Danielle worked in various capacities at A Woman’s Place, gaining extensive experience in both residential supportive services and long-term treatment programs. Throughout her career, she has witnessed the profound triumphs and challenges inherent in serving women from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, identities, and orientations—experiences that have deepened her passion and commitment to this work.
Amy Turk
Chief Executive Officer | Downtown Women’s Center
Los Angeles, CA
Amy Turk, LCSW, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC). Amy has held leadership positions in the field of social work and homeless services since 2001. Amy began her tenure at DWC in 2013 as the Chief Program Officer, where she administered all of DWC’s programs and social enterprise. In 2018, Amy served as DWC’s Chief Innovation Officer, providing leadership in the development and implementation of new organizational projects and fostering vital relationships with community partners.
Nicole Walton
Senior Director of Major & Planned Giving Strategy | FreeWill
Phoenix, AZ
Nicole D. Walton is Senior Director of Major & Planned Giving Strategy at FreeWill, where she oversees creative, data‑driven Content and Nonprofit Training strategy teams to benefit more than 1,900 nonprofit partners. In a highly collaborative role, Nicole designs, tests, and refines fundraising playbooks, supports digital experimentation, and helps codify effective customer journeys.
Laura Ward
Executive Director | Saint Louise House
Austin, TX
For more than three decades, Laura Ward has dedicated her career to advancing the well-being of women and children experiencing homelessness, poverty, and the many systemic barriers that stand in their way. A licensed attorney, she began her career in 1994 at Victim Services in New York City, advocating for survivors of violence and ensuring vulnerable families had access to safety, housing, and legal protections.
Geoffrey Wardle
Partner | Clark Wardle LLP
Boise, ID
Geoffrey M. Wardle is a partner with Clark Wardle LLP, a firm of development attorneys in Boise, Idaho. He is also the founder of MoRE for Nonprofits, a consultancy providing real estate management services to nonprofit entities. He previously was Vice President of Development and General Counsel for a regional developer with a portfolio of commercial, retail, and medical properties throughout Utah and Idaho.
Jennifer Westerbeck
Vice President & Sr. Business Development Associate | US Bancorp New Markets and Historic Tax Credit Investments
Pittsburg, PA
ennifer Westerbeck has worked for almost 20 years in New Markets and Historic Tax Credit (“NMTC”) investments at U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance (“USBIF”, formerly U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation). USBIF’s NMTC and Historic investment team structures and originates equity investments in tax credit related projects and real estate developments throughout the country.
Emily Sepulveda Wheeland
Chief Executive Officer | The Delores Project
Denver, CO
Emily Sepulveda Wheeland (she/her) is the CEO of The Delores Project (TDP), located on the ancestral and unceded land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Ute Nations in Denver, Colorado. TDP is named after Delores Big Boy, a Lakota Sioux woman who experienced chronic homelessness in Denver and died on its streets in 1999.
Michelle Wilcox
President and Chief Executive Officer | Crossroads Rhode Island
Providence, RI
Michelle Wilcox is the President and CEO of Crossroads Rhode Island, the state’s leading provider of housing and services for people experiencing homelessness, and she has earned a reputation as one of the most effective housing leaders in New England. Michelle has spent more than three decades at Crossroads, building programs that deliver real results. Under her leadership, Crossroads has expanded permanent supportive housing statewide and opened the Summer Street Apartments, the largest permanent supportive housing development ever completed in New England, providing nearly 200 people with safe, stable homes after years of homelessness.
Deby Wolford
Executive Director | Encompass Housing
Tucson, AZ
Deby Wolford has dedicated over two decades to serving homeless families and individuals across Orange County, Los Angeles, and Long Beach. With 23 years of experience, she is a leader in developing innovative housing and supportive service programs that create lasting pathways to stability. She began her career at Colette’s Children’s Home, where she spent 15 years supporting single mothers and developing key housing programs, while also serving as HMIS Agency Administrator and participating in the Orange County Continuum of Care.
Antonia Wright
Artist
Miami, FL
Antonia Wright is a Cuban-American artist born in Miami, Florida. Wright received her MFA in Art Practice from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, MFA in Poetry from The New School in New York City, as well as at the International Center of Photography for photo and video. Through a multimedia practice of video, performance, photography, sound, light, and sculpture, Wright responds to extremes of emotion, control, and violence in relation to systems of power. The body is a principal element in her work.
Colleen Wright
Manager Social Impact | Mattress Firm
Nashville, TN
After graduating from Rhodes College with a Business degree, Colleen began her career in the nonprofit sector at Hands On Nashville (HON), building a youth volunteer program through community events, grassroots marketing, strategic partnerships, and leadership development programs. Over three years, she increased program participation by 300% to over 2,400 volunteers. She also designed large-scale employee volunteer projects for corporations (Starbucks, Altria, Belk) that aligned their marketing, philanthropic, and business objectives.
Karen Yost
Program Coordinator | Anacortes Family Center
Anacortes, WA
Karen has worked for AFC since our founding in 2009, and she brings a diversity of experience to her role as Program Coordinator. Karen manages AFC’s volunteer engagement, including overseeing our weekly Life Skills classes, led largely by community members. Karen’s career has been dedicated to the children and families of Anacortes, where in the past she has served as the Director of an early learning program.
Gabriela Zapata-Alma
Associate Director | National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health
Lecturer | University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Gabriela Zapata-Alma, LCSW, CADC, (they, them, elle) is the Associate Director at the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health, as well as a Lecturer at the University of Chicago, where they direct the Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor Training Program within the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice.
Dr. Edie Zusman
Trauma Neurosurgeon | NeuroScience Partners
Morega, CA
Dr. Zusman is a nationally respected trauma neurosurgeon known for her clinical research on brain injury resulting from domestic/intimate partner violence, child abuse, sexual assault and trafficking. Dr. Zusman started Northwestern University Medical School at the age of 19, did general surgery internship and neurosurgery residency at the UCDavis level 1 trauma center in Sacramento, CA.