Jennifer Hark Dietz, LCSW

Chief Executive Officer

Jonathan Castillo

Chief Regional Officer

Jonathan Castillo joined PATH in March 2014 and currently serves as the chief regional officer where he oversees the program operations for San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, and Sacramento. Programs under his purview include outreach, care coordination, interim housing, rapid rehousing, and permanent supportive housing. Since he joined PATH, he has held positions as the director of veteran services and regional director for San Diego.

Jonathan brings 14+ years of experience in Veteran, homeless, and child welfare services. He currently serves on the San Diego Housing Federation Board of Directors and the advisory board for the Regional Task Force on Homeless Continuum of Care. Prior to joining PATH, Jonathan worked at the Greater Los Angeles Department of Veteran Affairs, where he served as Associate Coordinator and Social Work Supervisor for the HUD-VASH program. Jonathan also previously worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.

Jonathan holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Azusa Pacific University and a Master of Science in Social Administration with a concentration in mental health from Case Western Reserve University. Jonathan is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW).

La Keishia Childers

Chief Compliance and Administration Officer

La Keishia Childers joined PATH in March 2013 and currently serves as the Chief Compliance and Administration Officer, overseeing PATH’s Corporate & Program Compliance, Quality Assurance, and Administrative operations. La Keishia manages a culture of continuous quality improvement and efficacy, emphasizing strategic initiatives that strengthen overall administrative functions, compliance, risk management, and operational improvements.

La Keishia’s professional background includes senior leadership roles in nonprofit operations and administration, corporate and program compliance, program development and evaluation, community engagement and strategic initiatives, and direct practice with vulnerable populations. La Keishia’s overall objective in her career has been to have an effective impact while maintaining a passion for nonprofit administration and the mission of service to individuals and communities.

La Keishia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, with a Minor in Behavioral Science, from California Baptist University and a Master of Social Work degree with a macro concentration in Community Organizations, Planning, and Administration from the University of Southern California.

Sarah Kolish

Chief Operating Officer

Sarah joined PATH in March, 2014 as the Chief Administrative Officer, and is now serving as the current Chief Operating Officer. Sarah is responsible for the oversight of several major operating divisions of the organization to include, Administration, Facilities and Operations, Information Technology, Quality Assurance and Compliance, as well as Human Resources.  

Sarah brings over 20 years of leadership and administration experience, both in the non-profit and corporate sectors, with significant experience in leading strategic operational change, policy and program development, business management and operations, employee development, organizational development, performance management, and developing effective service-oriented organizations. Sarah has played a key role in the growth and expansion of the organization over the last 7 years. 

Sarah is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and is a Certified HIPAA Privacy Security Expert (CHPSE). In her spare time, Sarah enjoys the slower pace of life by relaxing and spending time with her family and friends. 

Sandy Oluwek

Chief Financial Officer

Sandy has been PATH’s Chief Financial Officer since 2011 and oversees all financial management activities. She has over 30 years of accounting and finance experience in both the non-profit and for-profit worlds and is a former Certified Public Accountant. Prior to joining PATH, Ms. Oluwek was President of her own company, The Finance Oasis, Inc., which trained companies to understand their financial information and use it to improve their cash flow and profitability. She is the author of the book “Cash Flow Secrets”, an Amazon best seller. Ms. Oluwek has an Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Yale University.

Katie Tell

Chief External Affairs Officer

Tescia Uribe

Chief Program Officer

Tescia Uribe found her calling as a social worker in 2005 and has made an impact in the community by being a leader who puts the people she is serving first. With over 15 years of social work and nonprofit experience, Tescia now oversees PATH’s service-delivery programs throughout the state as chief program officer. She ensures a consistent approach and quality of services across all PATH and PATH Ventures programs, which serves Veterans, families, and individuals with disabilities in interim housing and permanent housing. She also oversees PATH’s outreach and engagement, housing navigation, and case management services across the state.  Since joining PATH in November 2013, she has held positions as the director of veteran clinical services and regional director of Metro LA.  

Tescia’s experience working with vulnerable communities struggling with homelessness, substance use, and mental and physical health difficulties fuels her passion in ensuring PATH’s programs meet every client’s needs. Tescia believes it’s her job to lift the fallen, restore the broken, and to heal the hurting. 

Tescia earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Azusa Pacific University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California, and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in 2012. In her free time, Tescia visits national parks, travels to tropical destinations, and barbecues with her husband, two kids, and her dog. 

Brian Byron

Senior Director of Facilities and Operations

Brian joined PATH in January 2021 as the Senior Director of Facilities and Operations, with over 10 years of experience overseeing policies and procedures for facilities, procurement security, and fleet management.

While Brian has tenure in upscale hospitality and has worked at companies such as Google and YouTube, he found himself gravitating toward the nonprofit realm and hasn’t looked back since; from career development and rehabilitation for former inmates, to enhancing the environments of youth with developmental delays and disabilities. He looks forward to continuing a meaningful career at PATH.

In his spare time, Brian enjoys going on hikes with his growing family and three dogs, adding accessories to his classic Volkswagens, and traveling abroad.

Andrea Carter

Director of Interim Housing

Andrea gained her bachelor’s degree in behavioral science at Cal Poly Pomona, and holds a Master of Science in Counseling, Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy from University of Phoenix. Andrea’s education combined with her natural leadership is what makes her a trailblazer amongst the PATH leadership family. Andrea has a background as a behavioral specialist and social worker serving individuals in need. She also led an all-women’s veteran shelter at Veterans Affairs as a program manager and held a position as a program director for transitional age youth. Andrea’s extensive 15-year background working in the social service field provided a foundation for her to exemplify her leadership skills as the director of interim housing at PATH.

Andrea began her journey with PATH in 2014. She started as a case manager in the Assertive Community Treatment pilot program and quickly moved her way up to a regional manager. In 2015, Andrea was promoted to associate director of Los Angeles Metro interim housing. The combination of PATH’s mission, Andrea’s leadership, sense of humor, and bubbly personality pushed the program to thrive, which presented the opportunity of expanding Los Angeles’ interim housing. In 2018, Andrea accepted the challenge of opening and leading PATH’s YWCA shelter, ABH: Schrader, ABH: Casa Azul, ABH: Sunset, and ABH: Riverside.

Today Andrea oversees six shelters, leads a team of over 100 professionals, and provides services to over 600 guests. She has built the blueprint that is being practiced by many of PATH’s programs and partner agencies. Andrea is honored to lead PATH’s Los Angeles interim team and divides all the credit of its success between PATH’s vision and her relentlessly ambitious team.

Charlie Chang

Director of Operations

Charlie Chang joined PATH in 2000 overseeing operations when PATH Los Angeles was a single-site agency in West Los Angeles. As PATH grew throughout the state, Charlie also grew within the PATH operations department. He now oversees operations and facilities in San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Jose, Long Beach, and Orange County. Prior to joining PATH, he was a general manager of a family-owned food services business in Asia and California. During his free time, Charlie is always in search of the best desserts.

Bernard Cody

Controller

Bernard Cody oversees PATH’s daily accounting operations which includes planning, directing, and managing the accumulation and consolidation of all financial data necessary for an accurate accounting of PATH’s business results. Bernard has been with PATH since October 2016.

Bernard has over 25 experiences in the financial reporting field. Bernard’s accounting career has span between both profit and non-profit industries.

Bernard earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from New York State University and his mechanical engineering degree from Grumman’s Aerospace Program.

Megan Colvard

Senior Director

As the Statewide Senior Director of Community Affairs, Megan currently oversees PATH’s external partnerships and statewide community engagement initiatives. In this role, she is dedicated to bringing the public and private sector together to create collective impact strategies designed to innovate bold and effective solutions to homelessness.

Prior to this role, Megan served as the Regional Director of the Silicon Valley, where she helped launch PATH’s activities in the Bay Area. There she managed the growth and expansion of PATH’s regional budget, programs, and supportive housing development portfolio, helping to bring 6 developments and over 475 units into the pipeline in under 6 years.

Megan’s brings over 10 years of experience working in the homeless services sector. She entered the field as a case manager providing direct services in a homeless drop-in center, before moving to South Central Los Angeles to assist unhoused families and veterans in obtaining permanent housing through Housing First, HPRP and SSVF Programs. She has since managed the implementation and development of programs ranging from Street Outreach, Rapid Rehousing, Medi-cal Intensive Case Management, Interim Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing. She holds her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley.

Trisha Davis

Director of Marketing

Trisha is excited to join People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) as their new Director of Marketing. A relationship builder who maintains positive connections with internal and external partners, Trisha has over 20+ years’ experience in the public relations, entertainment, non-profit, travel, and lifestyle spaces. Her passion for philanthropy began when working on NBC’s telethon Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope, which garnered an estimated $18.3 million for the American Red Cross International Response Fund following the 2004 tsunami. This drove her desire to work with non-profit organizations, as she experienced first-hand what it meant to see people coming together to help and be of service to others. Trisha has achieved top-tier media coverage across global clientele by spearheading innovative media campaigns, executing events and strategically communicating key messaging to expansive media networks. Trisha looks forward to strategically leading all marketing functions, guiding PATH in support of its mission and driving engagement for PATH’s statewide movement to end homelessness.

Christine Evans

Director of Human Resources

Christine is excited to join the PATH team as one of two Human Resource directors. Christine was born in Okinawa, to a Japanese native and an American military father, and grew up in San Diego. She went to college to pursue a career in social services. After graduation, she found a position as a human resources clerk. She soon learned that this was a career she wanted to pursue. She found a mentor who inspired and encouraged her growth and has been working in human resources for over 27 years in manufacturing and mental health care sectors. She earned her bachelor’s degree in behavior science from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and a Master of Business Administration from University of Phoenix. When not at work, Christine spends her time either camping or off-roading in the desert or playing in the ocean with her husband and daughter. Christine’s son is currently serving in the Army and she is excited to see him return from an international tour later this year. 

Steve Fiechter

Senior Director of Metro Los Angeles

Steve joined PATH’s Veteran Services Department in 2013, and in 2015 co-lead PATH’s Intensive Case Management Team. Now, as Senior Director of Metro Los Angeles, Steve oversees PATH’s outreach, interim housing, and supportive service programs in metropolitan Los Angeles. 

Steve has long been an advocate for change and the application of theory into effective practice. Whether working with community and faith-based groups through transformational processes or working to assist people experiencing homelessness struggling with mental illness, his work has focused on helping people thrive. Steve is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who received his MSW from CSU-Dominguez Hills, his BA in Economics from Montclair State University, and Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.  If you’re looking for him when he’s not at work, you might find him jogging somewhere in Hollywood or working in his garden.  

Haley Fuselier

Senior Director of Greater Los Angeles

Haley Fuselier, LCSW joined PATH in April of 2015. On initially joining PATH, she was overseeing the Veteran Interim Housing Program. Within a few months, she expanded her leadership role to oversee interim housing, outreach in the WLA area, and rapid rehousing programs as a Regional Director.  Haley is extensively involved in collaborations that work tirelessly to reduce instances of homelessness throughout Los Angeles County, while finding innovative ways to address the ongoing issues associated with homelessness.

Haley received her MSW from the University of Southern California in 2005. She has extensive experience in the area of Child Welfare and worked at the Department of Children and Family Services before moving into homeless services in 2008.  She successfully ran a homeless access center in Venice for 7 years focusing on harm reduction, housing the chronically homeless and mental health needs for dual diagnosis individuals.

Claudia Garcia

Director of Intensive Case Management Services

Claudia Garcia joined PATH in 2011 and currently serves as the Director of Intensive Case Management Services. She oversees scattered site permanent supportive housing, re-entry services, the outreach task force at Harbor/UCLA hospital, and care management and coordination for the Health Homes Program via Molina Healthcare. She is interested in organizational development, program management, and strategizing. Claudia strives to ensure her team has a supportive foundation to assist participants in making it home to live stable and enriched lives. 

Claudia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She earned her Master of Social Work in 2010 from the University of Southern California, where she also completed her undergraduate studies, earning a Bachelor of Music Industry, and two Minors in Sociology and Photography. 

When she’s not at work, she can be found reading to expand her worldview, organizing playlists on Spotify, and spending time with her daughter. 

Lynn Hannath

Director of Human Resources

Lynn Hannath joined PATH in September 2015 and currently serves as the Human Resources Director.

Lynn brings 40 years of experience in HR which spans the corporate, non-profit and government sectors. She has worked in the publishing and travel industries, in the District Attorney’s Office and for the Child Abuse Network in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Many of her professional years have been spent starting and developing HR Departments for small companies.

She is a long-time member of the Society for Human Resource Management, the American Payroll Association and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

Lynn holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in human resource management. She also recently obtained her certification as a Leave Management & Accommodation Specialist.

Glen Hilton

Director of Community Care

Glen Hilton joined PATH in May 2019 and has served in the roles of clinician and associate director for Whole Person Wellness/Health Homes. In his current role as Director of Community Care, Glen oversees PATH San Diego’s Whole Person Wellness, Health Homes, Community Care Coordination (C3) and Veteran and Community Services programs (Rapid Re-Housing, Supportive Services for Veteran Families, C3 for Veterans) as well as the PATH San Diego Housing team. His background includes 13 years as a licensed mental health professional focusing on work with adjudicated and at-risk youth, LGBTQIA+ TAY individuals and people experiencing homelessness. His experience also includes 15+ years’ experience in business consulting and seven years teaching for a graduate psychology program.

Craig Joyce

Senior Director of Special Programs

Growing up in San Diego and so close to the military bases, there were always friends and acquaintances who were in the service or Veterans. After obtaining his Master of Social Work and coming to the realization he wanted to be a social services professional; Craig was able to find employment with Veterans Affairs in Los Angeles. There, he worked for 7 years helping Veterans exit homelessness and enter permanent supportive housing.

Craig was fortunate enough to bring that experience to PATH in 2016 as the Director of Veteran Services and has since been promoted to his current role, overseeing multiple departments within the agency. When he’s not working, Craig loves to travel and play golf with his wife Lane. They enjoy spending time with family and friends, cooking meals every night, and winding down after work by watching an episode of a good series. 

Brutus Lamour

Director of IT

Brutus Lamour joined PATH in 2019 and is the IT Director with responsibilities ranging from vendor management to system enhancements. Brutus has played an instrumental role in bringing the IT department to a mature stage with excellent leadership and collaboration skills. One of his primary focuses from the start was choosing a provider that can support PATH’s growth and evolving technology needs. Other projects Brutus led involve optimizing PATH’s IT infrastructure, streamlining operations, and creating better lines of communication.

Brutus comes to PATH with a breadth of IT experience, spanning from the service industry with Marriott Hotels to a large conglomerate like Equinor. He successfully managed diverse projects, such as setting new office infrastructure in remote locations, adding new technology to conference rooms, and moving 900+ work staff to a new workspace.

In his spare time, Brutus enjoys woodworking and travels with his family.

Jennifer Lee

Director of Permanent Supportive Housing

Jennifer joined the PATH in June 2016, and currently serves as Director of Permanent Supportive Housing. She started her career as a Political Coordinator for a local labor organization, obtained her clinical skills as a case manager with multiple housing programs, including the VASH program at the Department of Veteran Affairs, and has spent time as a part-time lecturer in the Social Work School at the University of Southern California. She was most recently the Director of Housing Partnership Programs, and has come full circle in her housing work. She is dedicated to making sure people are supported in their housing, fostering collaborations, to make sure beneficial partnerships for all community partners working together.

Jennifer, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the state of California, holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Irvine, and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California. In her spare time, she is active with her local neighborhood council, and is most happy under the water, as she is an advanced PADI SCUBA diver.

Yesica Leiva

Director of Grants Budgeting and Analysis

Yesica Leiva has been working for PATH as a consultant overseeing the restructure and expansion of grant billing, compliance, and grant budgets management since 2016 and officially joined as PATH’s director of grants budgets & analysis in October 2021. 

Yesica has over 12 years of experience in contracts, grants, and partnerships management with many local and federal level funders. From 2010 to 2016, Yesica worked at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority as a fiscal auditor, CoC program finance analyst, and grant accountant before becoming professional consultant where she put her education and experience into helping numerous LA based non-profits improve their budget management, compliance, and contract billing procedures. Her contributions have been instrumental in helping organizations such as PATH through rapid growth and restructures. During her time off work, Yesica spends time with family and enjoys helping her community. 

Melanie McQueen

Regional Director of PATH Orange County

Melanie is regional director for PATH Orange County, overseeing the Yale and Placentia Navigation Centers, rapid re-housing and other regional programming. Melanie has over 20 years’ experience in homelessness, housing, supportive services and criminal justice fields. Prior to joining PATH in June 2022, Melanie managed care coordination for the County of Orange, supporting regional initiatives to reduce and prevent homelessness. She has formerly held leadership positions in five nonprofits and has extensive operations and programmatic experience, developing and managing interim housing, shelter, outreach and prevention projects for vulnerable populations.

Melanie is passionate about evidencing social impact and is skilled in developing performance frameworks, quality standards, outcome measures and audit tools, to support teams in achieving their potential. Achievements have included developing a tenancy ready toolkit to improve the independent living skills of those exiting homelessness and institutions; establishing a multi-sector, city wide hoarding protocol for vulnerably housed adults, implementing case management re-entry services for those leaving jails; and, implementing the UK ‘Making Safe’ program for domestic violence survivors and perpetrators.

Melanie holds a bachelor’s degree in applied social sciences, a professional trainer certification and accreditation as a domestic violence practitioner.

Swetha Medepalli

Director of Grants

Swetha joined PATH in April 2019 and currently serves as the director of grants. Prior to this role, she oversaw the management and administration of the agency’s 150+ government contracts. Swetha brings over a decade of experience in working with California’s most vulnerable residents, having held management positions at Blue Shield of California and Molina Healthcare where she worked to implement the Affordable Care Act.

Swetha holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. In her spare time, she enjoys watching movies and exploring Los Angeles with friends and family.

Tara Pak

Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships

As senior director of strategic partnerships, Tara Pak oversees PATH’s government, foundation, and corporate grants across California. She works alongside local stakeholders to invest capital into permanently resolving homelessness. Tara and her team’s efforts have supported the PATH’s revenue growth from $35M in 2017 to $140M in 2021 by securing public and private funds. 

Tara joined PATH in 2017 as its associate director of foundation relations. She brings a decade of experience leveraging institutional giving opportunities to advocate for our most marginalized neighbors. During her career, Tara has led and been part of teams that have raised $62M in grants to advance critical issues such as homelessness, youth development, and public health. 

She earned her bachelor’s degree in literary journalism with a minor in women’s studies from the University of California, Irvine. In her free time, Tara explores the late Jonathan Gold’s Los Angeles, embracing its creative and culturally diverse dining scene. 

Benjamin Perdue

Director of Veterans Services

Ben Perdue joined PATH in June 2017 as the Associate Director of Veteran Services, and now has direct oversight for PATH’s Veteran programs. Ben graduated with his MSW from Cal State Dominguez Hills and has specialized in homeless Veteran programs such as GPD, SSVF and HUD-VASH over the past decade.

Ben proudly served in the US Navy as a Boatswain’s Mate involved with multiple deployments in the Middle East and Asia. In his free time, he enjoys reading, running and exploring nature with family.

Tyler Renner

Director of Media

Tyler Renner has worked in a variety of public service roles focused on underrepresented communities. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and began his career as a Behavioral Therapist for youth on the Autism Spectrum. He dedicated several years to LGBTQ advocacy by working at LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS Community Centers in Santa Barbara and San Diego, serving as a Program Coordinator, Development Associate and HIV Test Counselor. Most recently, he served as Director of Community Outreach for San Diego City Council, District Three. There he focused on constituent engagement, communications and advancing policies that reduce homelessness.

Michelle Rivera

Director of Procurement

Originally, from Irvine, CA, Michelle began her passion for nonprofit work at an educational children’s museum, providing information on developmental milestones for adolescents, access to free health screenings and the start up of an autism based event, providing safe interactions with local families and practitioners. While assisting with floor staff management, Michelle discovered her drive to reduce costs, create local partnerships and develop company wide efficiencies.

Michelle relocated to Los Angeles and felt drawn back to the nonprofit world, specifically supporting our unhoused neighbors. After 10 years in purchasing, she joined PATH in 2019 to start the procurement department, constantly improving her skill set to best support PATH and our internal/external connections. Michelle has a deep love and passion for PATH’s mission and plans to continue to dedicate her time and efforts to supporting our team’s out in the field, whose dedication changes so many lives daily.

Laura Sandoval

Regional Director, Silicon Valley

Laura Sandoval joined PATH San Jose as the Director of Programs in July 2020, where she oversees all regional programs including outreach, supportive housing, and bridge housing programs. She now supports the Silicon Valley region as Regional Director of Silicon Valley. She has worked with persons emerging from homelessness in a range of settings including outreach, safe haven, VASH, individual therapy, rapid rehousing, property management, and permanent supportive housing.

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience in supportive housing and mental health services. Laura earned her Master of Social Work from California State University, Long Beach and a baccalaureate in Intercultural Studies.

Zachary Schlagel

Senior Director of Public Policy

As the Senior Director of Public Policy at PATH, Zach Schlagel leads government and community affairs across the State for this homeless service provider that serves over 10% of California’s homeless individuals. Mr. Schlagel is actively working with Federal, State and Local elected officials to collectively address and end the homelessness epidemic.

Prior to his arrival at PATH, Mr. Schlagel ran an award-winning government affairs program at UC San Diego Health. While there, he led the public outreach campaign that successfully built support for the $2B Hillcrest Health Campus Long Range Development Plan. He was also instrumental in the passage of a partnership with the County of San Diego around behavioral health.

Hanan Scrapper

Regional Director of PATH San Diego

Hanan Scrapper leads PATH San Diego as its regional director, overseeing its mission to bring equitable housing solutions to San Diegans experiencing homelessness. In her role, she oversees the region’s comprehensive programming that helps people move from street to home. Driven by the desire to help others and the community, she has extensive experience working with marginalized populations to overcome the most extreme adversities caused by homelessness, domestic violence, political torture, and human trafficking. Hanan leverages her 14 years of nonprofit leadership experience to oversee a team of 150 employees and help them achieve their vision of a world where everyone has a home.

Prior to arriving at PATH San Diego in 2018, Hanan served as PATH San Diego’s director of programs, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the several programs, including interim housing, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, Whole Person Wellness, Health Homes, Community Care Coordination, and Coordinated Street Outreach. She comes to the agency from Veterans Villages of San Diego, where she led their Supportive Services for Veteran Families and Veterans Homelessness Prevention Demonstration programs.

Hanan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in psychology from George Mason University.

Tiffany Shirley

Director of Family Services

Tiffany joined the PATH Families team in 2019. She has a decade of experience serving in the nonprofit sector – working with and advocating for marginalized populations, including families experiencing homelessness, foster youth, homeless teens, youth involved in the juvenile justice system and those identifying as LGBTQ+. Prior to joining PATH, Tiffany served as the Program Director for both Larkin Street Youth Services in San Francisco and the Coalition for Engaged Education in Los Angeles, California.

A native of North Carolina, Tiffany served as a print news journalist and copy editor before moving overseas to South Korea where she developed curriculum and taught elementary school, while traveling to various countries throughout Asia drafting freelance education articles. With a passion for youth advocacy and commitment to social responsibility, Tiffany has also facilitated a variety of staff, student and leadership trainings in restorative justice, trauma-informed care, de-escalation and crisis management.

Tiffany earned a bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis in public relations and journalism from East Carolina University, and she obtained her master’s degree from the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education.

Elizabeth Suarez

Director of Accounts Payable

She/her/hers
Los Angeles

Elizabeth Suarez manages all of PATH’s disbursements for PATH. Elizabeth has been with PATH since April 2017.

Elizabeth has over 11 years of experience in finance and business analysis in both for-profit and non-profit settings. Additionally, she has 15 years of research, project management, and data analysis experience in academia.

Elizabeth earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Loyola University of Chicago and her Master of Business Administration in Finance from the Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a PhD in Chemistry from Northwestern University.

Alex Tellez

Senior Director of Finance Grants Management

Alex Tellez joined PATH in July 2021 as senior director of finance grants management. Prior to his new role, Alex worked with PATH for five years as a finance management consultant. During that time, he oversaw the restructure and expansion of grant billing and fiscal compliance. Alex brings over fifteen years of experience working in administration and finance management within the nonprofit sector with organizations such as Tarzana Treatment Centers, LAHSA, and multiple Los Angeles County based nonprofits.

At PATH, Alex oversees the operational and longer-term strategies for financial grants management which includes budgeting, billing, and fiscal compliance. A combination of lived experience, education, and extensive work helping nonprofits allows Alex to look at finance management with a unique and service-minded focus. In his free time, Alex enjoys traveling with his partner and playing with his three energetic dogs.

Nikki Thomas Rhoden

Senior Director of Supportive Housing Services

Nikki joined PATH’s supportive housing services team in 2019. Nikki oversees scattered sites and project based permanent supportive housing services in Los Angeles. She has been in social services for over 15 years. She has worked with homeless youth in crisis on the west and east coast, intensive case management services, started drop in sites for transitional age youth, and worked on integrating individuals with intellectual disabilities into homes in the communities after being institutionalized.

Nikki has a MSW from Simmons University, a MPA from Cal State East Bay, and a BA in Psychology from Stockton University. Nikki is passionate about working for and with vulnerable populations in assisting them with living their best lives. When Nikki is not working she loves spending time with her family.

Jesus Torres

Director of LA Metro Programs

Aiko Yep

Director of Programs, San Jose

Aiko joined PATH in 2012 and currently serves as PATH San Jose’s director of programs where she oversees all regional programs including outreach, supportive housing, and bridge housing programs. Her background includes a decade of dedication to homeless engagement, advocacy, and outreach and working with nonprofits in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose. She has been recognized for her excellence in service to the unhoused community and received various awards including the Champion of Change Award from the National Association of Social Workers and a commendation from the City of San Jose. Aiko received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis where she studied sociology and community and regional development. She also holds a Master of Social Work degree from California State University, Los Angeles. Aiko became a licensed clinical social worker in 2017. In her free time, Aiko enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and traveling.