Volunteer Spotlight: August 2021

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- PATH Ventures: Housing Development
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Jennifer Hark Dietz, LCSW

A 15-year advocate in homelessness, Veterans, and mental health services, Jennifer leads PATH’s strategic direction, business management, and person-centered efforts across California. She guides the organization’s statewide initiatives, working alongside 900 staff with a shared commitment to establish permanent solutions to homelessness that are faster and more affordable. As the CEO, Jennifer manages the organization’s assets, direct mergers and acquisitions, analyzes risk for new projects and programs, and coordinates legal issues. Under Jennifer’s mission-driven leadership, PATH’s programs statewide have increased by more than 20 percent each year, increased operations from $15M to $140M, and expanded its reach from 4,000 Californians across 90 cities to 26,000 across 150. She also works with PATH’s real estate affiliate, PATH Ventures, with its housing portfolio’s rapid expansion to 2,150 units completed or in the pipeline.

Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Prior joining PATH, Jennifer worked at the Greater Los Angeles Department of Veterans Affairs, where she managed the nation’s largest program to help Veterans and their families find supportive housing. She currently serves on the Los Angeles Regional Community Veterans Engagement Board and is a partner with Social Justice Partners Los Angeles. Jennifer received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, double majoring in psychology and anthropology. She holds a master’s degree in social work (MSW) from the University of Southern California, where she later became an adjunct lecturer for the MSW course, Policy and Practice in Social Service Organizations.

Joel John Roberts

Joel John Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, has led PATH for 25 years, was the founder and CEO of PATH Ventures, PATH’s real estate affiliate, and the CEO of PATH Partners. Joel joined PATH as its Executive Director in 1996 when the agency was a single-location agency in West Los Angeles. Under his leadership, the agency has grown into a statewide agency, serving 150 cities and 20% of California’s homeless population. Joel is a board member of CalNonprofits, San Diego’s Regional Task Force on Homelessness, 2-1-1 San Diego, and Santa Clara County’s Destination: Home. Joel also serves on San Diego’s New Market Tax Credit Advisory Board and was co-chairperson for the previous Governor’s California Interagency Council on Veterans/Interventions to Solve Homelessness Sub-Committee.

He is the author of the book, How to Increase Homelessness, and frequently pens opinion pieces for news outlets across the state. Joel completed his bachelor’s degree in communications at California State University, Long Beach and master’s degree in cross cultural studies at Fuller Seminary. When Joel has spare time, he likes to travel to exotic places around the world.

Georgeanne Barrett

Georgeanne Barrett joined PATH in June 2016 as the Director of Development. Georgeanne oversees PATH’s private giving, fundraising events, and volunteer program with an emphasis on engaging new individual and corporate support.

Her background includes several years of experience in the nonprofit sector doing development work for organizations benefiting at-risk youth, children, and families. She has experience in volunteer management, event planning, and community engagement. Georgeanne received her Bachelors of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Arizona.

Michuan Flemming

Michuan Fleming is a Human Resources executive with more than 15 years of experience. She is currently the Senior Director of Human Resource for PATH. Michuan is responsible for creating innovative ways to engage all employees and establishing the culture, systems, and training that will develop leaders and empower employees to solve problems. She has also led efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our Human Resource function.
Prior to our company, Ms. Fleming was Director of Human Resources at FVO Solutions and at Pacific Protection Services. Ms. Fleming holds the SHRM – Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and HRCI – Senior Professional in Human Resource Certification (SPHR).

Steve Fiechter

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.

Chuck Flacks

Chuck Flacks joined PATH in November of 2017 as the Program Director of PATH Santa Barbara, where he oversees operations and case management of clients. Chuck has over 25 years of experience in nonprofit programs. Prior to PATH, Chuck worked at the Central Coast Collaborative on Homelessness (C3H). C3H is a county-wide collaborative that works in partnership with a broad group of service providers and stakeholders, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, business leaders, foundations, faith communities, and volunteers, to harness all resources available to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness, as well as minimize the impacts of homelessness in Santa Barbara County.

Chuck holds a Bachelors in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz, and a Master of Public Policy Degree from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. He also completed a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy at San Diego State University.

Megan Colvard

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.

Maria Brown

Maria Brown joined PATH as the PATH Ventures Director of Permanent Housing in 2013. She oversees program delivery at seven PATH Ventures sites. In December 2000, Maria earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology/Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University in Texas.

Prior to joining PATH Ventures, she worked with the Dallas office of the Corporation for Supportive Housing, providing statewide technical assistance and policy support. Maria has extensive experience in the areas of street and jail outreach, behavioral health, and permanent supportive housing. She’s made presentations on supportive housing at various statewide conferences in Texas.

Meredith Berkson

Meredith joined PATH in May, 2015. As the Regional Director of South County, she acts as the SPA 7 Coordinated Entry System lead for single adults, and directs PATH programs throughout the 44 cities (across SPA’s 6, 7, and 8) in South Los Angeles County. These programs include the Gateway Cities Council of Governments program, Gateways Connections, as well as the South Bay Council of Governments Homeless Outreach Program.

In 2016, Meredith was elected to serve as the SPA 7 Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Regional Homelessness Advisory Committee representative. Before coming to PATH, Meredith worked in homeless services for five years, first in the Bay Area at Glide Foundation, and more recently, at OPCC, where she was program manager of their Access Center. Meredith holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from UC Berkeley, where she graduated with highest honors in Sociology.

Tescia Uribe

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.

La Keishia Childers

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.

Jonathan Castillo

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).

Charlie Chang

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.

Catalina Catacutan

Catalina Catacutan joined PATH in December, 2007 as the Senior Accountant. Her duties include supervising the accounting associates and working closely with Compliance to manage contracts. Before joining PATH, Catalina worked at KPMG-Philippines, where she gained extensive audit experience and at Elias Aziz-Lavi, CPA in Beverly Hills as an accountant. Catalina earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Accounting and Economics at the University of the East, Philippines. She spends her free time volunteering with the elderly and infirm in her community and watching movies with her son.

Sandy Oluwek

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.

Sarah Kolish

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.

Katie Hill

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Carlos Gonzalez

Carlos joined PATH in 2009 and currently serves as the chief innovations officer. His professional expertise ranges from implementing the latest in Information Technology and Software application development, to re-envisioning employee and client service facilities. Before stepping into this role, Carlos served as the chief compliance officer, where he led PATH’s organizational infrastructure through fiscal compliance practices and program and service quality assurance initiatives.

Carlos also served as the director of programs at PATH, and successfully operated PATH’s Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing programs that served over 2,000 individuals, Veterans and families throughout Los Angeles County. Additionally, Carlos was instrumental in launching and operating the nation’s largest HUD-VASH contract between PATH and the Department of Veteran Affairs. In this contract, he helped establish permanent housing and case management services to over 1,100 men and woman experiencing homelessness.

Carlos has over 10 years of senior and executive management experience in the nonprofit sector and over 15 years of experience in social services. Currently, he is pursuing his Master of Business Administration.

Iris Alcantara

Iris Alcantara-Reynolds joined PATH Ventures in March 2021. Iris was first introduced to the affordable housing industry after graduating high school at a nonprofit in Venice, CA. She immediately knew that she wanted to remain in the industry and be part of serving low-income communities.

Iris has over 15 years of experience in asset and property management in affordable housing. She is currently the Director of Asset Management and is responsible for all PATH Ventures projects in operations in LA County, San Diego, and San Jose, California.

Iris holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and a Master of Business Administration from Biola University.

Lilian Najarro

Lilian joined the PATH Ventures team in November 2020. Lilian is responsible for providing financial leadership in real estate development and managing all financial activities of the organization. She has more than 20 years of progressive experience in financial accounting, financial management, and real estate for non-profit organizations. She holds an Master of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Rafael Landivar, Guatemala and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Working in the non-profit sector is the fuel of her passion and brings meaning to her career.

Matt Huerta

Matt Huerta joined PATH Ventures in October 2019 and is currently the Housing Director for Northern California. Matt has over 20 years of experience in affordable housing and community development. He has managed large portfolios of real estate development, led public-private initiatives and provided leadership coaching to young non-profit professionals primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area. At PATH Ventures, he oversees all aspects of the development process for our Northern California pipeline of projects including acquisition, pre-development, construction, and financing. He holds a bachelor’s degree in community and regional development from the University of California, Davis and is the owner and principal of Matt Huerta Consulting, LLC where he continues to support other non-profit and civic leaders with high impact community initiatives.

AJ Azara

AJ Azara joined PATH Ventures in January 2019 and is currently the Housing Director for Southern California. Prior to joining PATH Ventures, AJ held various development management roles at market-rate hotel and multifamily development companies. At PATH Ventures, he oversees all aspects of the development process for our Southern California pipeline of projects including acquisition, pre-development, construction, and financing. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Irvine and is also a licensed real estate broker and general contractor in the State of California.

Elizabeth Suarez

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.

Ernesto Espinoza

With a background in architecture and a passion for social justice, Mr. Espinoza has extensive experience in providing affordable housing throughout the Southwest. In his 23-year career he has developed over 2200 units of affordable housing in CA, AZ, and NM.

Ernesto’s vast knowledge in affordable housing finance, entitlements, design, project feasibility and community integration has made him successful at identifying development opportunities. He is currently the Deputy Executive Director at PATH Ventures located in East Hollywood. His role is to lead PATH Ventures statewide development program to provide quality permanent supportive housing.

His role also includes looking for future development opportunities, development partners, and joint-venture opportunities as well as remain up to date on affordable housing finance policy, regulations, and funding. Ernesto also advocates for public policy as it relates to affordable housing development and new federal, state, and local funding streams.

Emily Hsieh

Emily joined PATH in May 2020 and currently serves as the Director of Community Affairs for PATH San Jose. In this role, Emily is responsible for overseeing community partnerships and advocacy activities under the direction of the PATH San Jose Regional Director. She works to build relationships with constituents throughout the Silicon Valley region, helping to connect the community to PATH programs and clients.

Emily holds a Master of Public Policy and Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia and worked as a policy analyst in Washington, D.C. for over five years. In her free time, Emily enjoys being outdoors, traveling internationally, and spending time with her husband Nate.

Lois Starr

Lois serves as the Acting Executive Director of PATH Ventures, which builds and operates high-quality, affordable rental homes. Previously, Lois was a housing development consultant for for-profit housing development entities, non-profit housing and service agencies, and local governments.

Lois spent the previous 15 years at the Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles overseeing the Housing Development and Preservation Department. A native of Los Angeles, Lois completed her undergraduate work at Cal. State Northridge and graduate work at Pepperdine.

Con Howe

Chief Housing Officer

Bernard Cody

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.

Tyler Renner

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.

Trisha Davis

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.

Michelle Rivera

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.

Tiffany Shirley

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.

Nikki Thomas Rhoden

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.

Zachary Schlagel

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.

Benjamin Perdue

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.

Melodie Iwai

Deputy Chief Financial Officer

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.

Hanan Scrapper

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.

Allison Riley

Managing Director, Real Estate Development

As Managing Director, Allison oversees the real estate development activities of PATH Ventures. She joined the organization with 14 years of experience in affordable housing, most recently as Senior Housing Finance Consultant at the California Housing Partnership Corporation (CHPC) where she provided financial consulting services and training to nonprofit affordable housing developers throughout California. Prior to CHPC, Allison was Senior Project Manager at LINC Housing Corporation where she spent over five years financing and developing a wide range of affordable housing developments including homes for families, seniors, and special needs populations. Her previous five years were focused on financing in project management roles at WNC and Associates, Inc. and HUD’s Multifamily Development Department in Denver. She earned her master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Colorado.

Tara Pak

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.

Jennifer Lee

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.

Craig Joyce

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.

Jesus Torres

Director of LA Metro Programs

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.

Brutus Lamour

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.

Melissa Khamvongsa

Senior Director of Giving and Strategy

Melissa Khamvongsa joined PATH in February 2016 where she oversees statewide revenue goals through public and private funding while maintaining the organization’s strategic plan. Melissa and her team create and implement long-term strategies for funding opportunities and ensure consistent foundation, corporate, and government growth. Melissa has helped PATH identify and maintain new philanthropic relationships that support our mission of ending homelessness.

Melissa has expertise in fundraising campaigns, grant writing and research, event planning, public policy, and strategic planning. Throughout her career, Melissa has raised more than $45 million for grassroots and large nonprofit organizations that include Youth Speak Collective, Hillsides, The Burn Foundation, and Southern California Grantmakers. Melissa received her Bachelors of Art from Loyola Marymount University and her Masters of Public Administration in Nonprofit Management from the California State University Northridge.

Elizabeth Heger

Deputy Chief Program Officer

Elizabeth Heger joined PATH in 2015. As Deputy Chief Program Officer, she provides oversight to PATH’s Family Programs, the West LA and South County programs, and the Housing Partnership Program.

Before joining PATH, Elizabeth worked at LA Family Housing as Director of Grants and Strategic Development. She also served as the Director of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program for over 10 years, working with more than 200 agencies throughout Los Angeles County and managing a 25 member Local Board. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in the homelessness sector, Elizabeth has developed a keen eye for service delivery from a programs and funder’s perspective. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience to continue the mission to end homelessness.

Elizabeth holds a Master of Counselor Education degree and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and National Certified Counselor.

Haley Fuselier

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.

Brian Byron

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.

Dexter Egleston

Dexter Egleston is a retired United States Marine, a proven leader, and a strategic thinker. Dexter developed a passion for supporting individuals struggling with behavioral concerns while running a military prison during his time in the Marine Corps. Dexter continued to serve his community after retiring by earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Southern California with a certificate in Military Social Work. He is currently a candidate for an Arizona State University Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) Management degree.

Dexter has built and managed programs across the continuum of homeless services, from outreach to permanent housing. Dexter brought his passion to PATH in 2021 as the director of housing initiatives in San Diego, where he leads a high-powered team that manages contracts covering outreach, system navigation services, and permanent supportive housing.

Glen Hilton

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.

Claudia Garcia

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.

Manvir Kaur

Manvir Kaur joined PATH in 2018 as a Program Manager for interim housing sites with Metro Los Angeles team. Now, she serves as Director of Programs for PATH Orange County.

She currently oversees all regional programs including interim housing, rapid re-housing, housing navigation, and other supportive service programs. Her background includes over 10 years of experience working in the non-profit sector creating programs focused around domestic and workplace violence, physical disabilities, mental health, diversity and inclusion, cultural competency, culture of safety, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Manvir holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, with a Minor in Community Health, from Eastern Washington University. She also has a dual master’s degree in public and health administration with a concentration in safety and quality, law and policy, and emergency preparedness from Eastern Washington University.

Laura Sandoval

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 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.

Charity Mostafa

Charity Mostafa
She/her/hers
Associate Director, Yale Navigation Center
Orange County

Charity Mostafa is passionate about serving our residents with respect and dignity in her role as associate director of the Yale Navigation Center in Orange County as a part of her three-year journey at PATH. She is passionate about providing our guests with warm meals, assisting them with housing navigation, and serving them with compassion. Her daily goal is to advocate among community partners to defeat the social justice issues and biases around homelessness and ultimately better serve our unhoused neighbors.

In addition, Charity also has the privilege of serving this population with a cohesive, empathetic team, which has sparked her interest in learning new skills to help develop and boost the member moral at PATH. She looks forward to her continued growth and is excited to join her colleagues in the first cohort of the PATH Academy.

Andrew Tisbert

Andrew Tisbert
Program Manager, Metro LA Outreach
Los Angeles

Andrew Tisbert is program manager with PATH’s Metro LA outreach team, co-supervising four interdisciplinary teams who conduct outreach on the metro transit system. They provide services beyond triage and referral, assisting highly vulnerable individuals and families on the road to sustainable housing through engagement, holistic support, and advocacy.

Before coming to PATH, Andrew built an in-depth career in the human services industry, from management of services and care facilities for people living with intellectual disabilities and autism, to outreach, case management and supervision of services for unhoused people—while also spending time honing his skills as a writer and musician. Andrew is driven by the opportunity to listen and provide support to those who are discarded, excluded, alienated, and marginalized, on their own terms.

Elizabeth Suarez

Elizabeth Suarez
She/her/hers
Director of Finance
Los Angeles

Elizabeth Suarez joined PATH in 2017, elevating in the organization to her current role of director of finance. She and her team manage all of PATH’s payment disbursements that help ensure that clients receive much needed resources. Elizabeth has brought a wealth of professional and educational experience with her to PATH. She has more than 11 years of experience in finance and business analysis in both for-profit and non-profit settings. Additionally, Elizabeth has 15 years of research, project management, and data analysis experience in academia related to metal toxicity and public health.

She has a Master of Business Administration in finance from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Loyola University of Chicago. Elizabeth also earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a PhD in chemistry from Northwestern University.

Sara Sgarlata, MSW

Sara Sgarlata, MSW
She/her/hers
Associate Director of Quality Assurance and Compliance
Los Angeles

Sara Sgarlata joined PATH in September 2020 and currently serves as associate director of quality assurance and compliance for the organization’s statewide operations. She brings more than 10 years of experience in nonprofit leadership roles, overseeing program operations, community organizing, capacity building, and a larger commitment to tackling financial insecurity for Angelenos. Her dedication to these passions led her to pursue and complete a Master of Social Work, with an emphasis in community, organizing, planning and administration, from the University of Southern California. Further diversifying her background, Sara is a certified income tax preparer and financial coach; serves as a board member for Legacy LA; sits on California State University, Los Angeles’s field education advisory board; and provides field instruction to student interns across Los Angeles.

Mary Quinones

Mary Quinones
Program Manager, Metro LA Outreach
Los Angeles

Joining PATH in 2017, Mary’s career has been dedicated to working with marginalized groups in community mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice, and homeless services. She currently serves as a program manager of the Metro Transit Multidisciplinary Outreach Team, a unique program that delivers services to people experiencing homelessness on Los Angeles County’s public transit system.

Mary’s life experiences have been touched by violence, substance abuse, and mental health issues. She overcame these challenges and persisted along a pathway to individual, educational, and career success. Her personal history informs her work as she helps at-risk populations overcome barriers and adversity so they can thrive. She earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and religious Studies from Whittier College and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Boston College. Mary is also certified as a peer professional and a counselor advocate for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Waverly Paradox

Waverly Paradox
She/her/hers
Associate Director of Community Affairs
Los Angeles

Waverly Paradox, associate director of community affairs, is a savvy non-profit professional with more than eight years of professional experience managing volunteers and community partnerships. After pursuing a graduate degree in nonprofit management, Waverly joined PATH as the volunteer manager for Los Angeles County in 2019. As she has grown in her career at PATH, Waverly has simultaneously strengthened our infrastructure further to amplify organizational impact, build sustainable programs, and develop passionate community leaders and advocates more effectively. Waverly has enjoyed being a part of a dynamic team of like-minded individuals at PATH who are actively engaged in creating proactive solutions to complex problems.

Abel Martin, MSW, PSS

Abel Martin, MSW, PSS
He/him/his
Program Manager, Veteran Interim Housing
West Los Angeles

Abel Martin is a program manager at the PATH West Los Angeles Community Hub, serving medically fragile Veterans experiencing homelessness who are residing in our dedicated interim housing program. He was born and raised in Los Angeles as a first generation Mexican American, or Chicano, nurtured by immigrant parents who came to the United States with the hope of making life better for themselves and their children.

His lived experience has positioned him to effectively reach the population he serves. Before PATH, Abel served in the United States Navy for nearly five years before moving on to work in Veterans Services for more than a decade. As a Veteran who has personally experienced homelessness, he brings a great deal of passion and consideration to his role at PATH. Abel believes that his experience as an unhoused Veteran brings him a unique perspective and informs his work in important ways.

Anissa Lopez-Flores, MA Psychology

Anissa Lopez-Flores, MA Psychology
She/her/hers
Program Manager, Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program
San Diego

Anissa Lopez-Flores works as the program manager for PATH’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program in San Diego. In her current role, she supports a team of three employment specialists, with the goal of helping Veterans fully reintegrate back into the labor force. She joined PATH in 2019 and leverages her commitment to humanitarianism, compassionate leadership, and servitude as she helps unhoused Veterans gain employment and permanent homes. Her work is fueled by her passion for mental wellness, social and racial justice, and community engagement.

Before joining PATH, Anissa worked with children who have autism, providing ABA therapy to them and their families. She completed her bachelor’s degree in exercise science and master’s degree in psychology. In her free time, she enjoys seeking out authentic Southeast Asian restaurants, eating street tacos, trail running, Disneyland, and spending time with her family.

Shannon James-Keeper

Shannon James-Keeper
She/her/hers
Outreach Specialist, Downtown Region
Mobile Homelessness Resolution Team
San Diego

Shannon James-Keeper is an outreach specialist with PATH’s new Mobile Homelessness Resolution Team serving Downtown San Diego, strategically providing concentrated street outreach in localized areas. In her current role, Shannon assists individuals experiencing homelessness in maintaining their needs and reaching personalized goals on their unique path to housing.

Born and raised in San Diego, Shannon began her position with PATH in January 2021, bringing with her 10 years of professional customer service experience and six years of volunteer outreach experience to our unsheltered neighbors downtown. Shannon received her Bachelor of Arts in mass communications and media studies with a minor in justice studies from Arizona State University. Working at PATH has helped realize Shannon’s goal to use her education to advocate for marginalized communities within her hometown.

Gabrielle Jablonski

Gabrielle Jablonski
She/her/hers
Digital Media Specialist
Los Angeles

Gabbie Jablonski, digital media specialist, helps spearhead the strategy of PATH’s virtual platforms to provide a voice for our unhoused neighbors. An Arizona native and recent Master of Public Health graduate with an interest in using technology and digital marketing to enhance human health and wellbeing, Gabbie enjoys working with nonprofit organizations to help build their digital voice and use creative storytelling to engage their community and followers. She is passionate about nonprofit digital marketing and enjoys brainstorming unique and creative digital media campaigns with the goal of raising awareness and inspiring people to act and get involved with their communities.

When not at the beach, trying out new coffeeshops, or brainstorming digital campaign ideas, Gabbie can be found exploring new places in California, learning about environmental sustainability, trying delicious foodie spots, or enjoying a good book.

Lauren Hofmann

Lauren Hofmann
She/her/hers
Program Coordinator, Rapid Re-Housing
Santa Barbara

With a professional background in property management, Lauren Hofmann joined PATH in April 2019, currently serving as the rapid re-housing coordinator in Santa Barbara. Lauren began her career at PATH as the LeaseUp program coordinator, expanding PATH’s LeaseUp program from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara County. Lauren takes great pride in representing PATH within Santa Barbara County and has served as an active participant on the Coordinated Entry Committee, developing policies and procedures to improve homeless services countywide. She is enthusiastic about applying her skills and experience to connect with community members and propel PATH’s mission of ending homelessness within individuals, families, and communities.

Before she began working with human services, Lauren attended the University of California, Davis where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English and communication. When she is not at work, Lauren loves spending time with her four cats, listening to podcasts, and making ice cream.

Michelle Herson

Michelle Herson
She/her/hers
Lead Clinical Case Manager, Rapid Re-Housing
San Diego

Michelle Herson joined PATH in 2019 as a clinical case manager in our rapid re-housing program shortly after moving to San Diego and transitioned to a lead clinical case manager in January 2021. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in family and human services from the University of Oregon in 2010 and Master of Social Work degree from Colorado State University in 2018. She is on track to be approved for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) by the end of 2021 and is pursuing an additional registration as a horticultural therapist. Born and raised in Northern California, Michelle’s favorite things include drinking water, drinking tea, eating kale, swimming, hiking, getting things for free, wearing scarves, her nieces, Ocean Beach Town Council meetings, hanging in OB with her partner, and all the plants.

Jesse Gomez

Jesse Gomez
He/him/his
Activities and Volunteers Coordinator
San Jose

Jesse Gomez has served as the activities and volunteers coordinator at PATH for nearly two years. He is dedicated to creating meaningful events and workshops while also engaging volunteers and encouraging their passion for their community.

As he began his professional journey, Jesse was motivated by other people who worked with human services. This admiration inspired Jesse to build a purposeful, mission-driven career. While working at various healthcare facilities, Jesse was driven by an enthusiasm for meaningful work. Born and raised in San Jose, California, Jesse had observed firsthand the growing urgency of the homelessness crisis. The moment Jesse was introduced to PATH, he realized an enthusiasm for bettering the lives of those who are unhoused. He is grateful to help those in need and looks forward to carrying out person-centered work each day.

Lucero Garcia

Lucero Garcia
She/her/hers
Problem Solving Specialist, Family Solutions Center
Los Angeles

Lucero Garcia is a problem solving specialist for PATH’s Family Connections program in Los Angeles. In this role, she helps individuals maintain their current housing or identify an immediate and safe housing alternative within their network of family, friends, and social support. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California to Mexican immigrant parents, she is passionate about creating social change amongst her community to support those experiencing homelessness. Specifically, she centers the essential role of engagement in the policy-making process, through advocacy and direct services, to help put an end to this crisis.

Before coming to PATH, she worked for nonprofit organizations that focused on child welfare and rehabilitation services. Lucero earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from California State University, Long Beach. She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in nonprofit sector management from the California State University, Northridge.

Mae Case

Mae Case
She/her/hers
Program Associate
Co-Chair, DEI Steering Committee
San Diego

Mae Case joined PATH in March 2020 as a program associate, providing administrative support to PATH San Diego’s regional director and leadership team. She also serves as the chair of PATH’s DEI Committee, which gives her the unique opportunity to build meaningful and productive relationships with individuals across the state who are passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Over two decades, Mae had built a career in communications, manufacturing, audio/visual engineering, business development, and higher education. However, world events at the time had compelled Mae to pivot her career goals and explore one of her passions—social justice. Today, she is passionate about her role in advancing PATH’s mission to become an anti-racist organization. In her spare time, Mae continues her long-time dedication to community organizing. She also enjoys live music; taking care of her 50+ house plants; and making time for daily reading, journaling, and meditation.

James “Jaime” Caraballo

James “Jaime” Caraballo
He/him/his
Outreach Specialist
San Diego

Jaime Caraballo has always centered his career around helping others. After leaving the military, where he was a U.S. Marine, Jaime dedicated his time to person-oriented work and volunteering. He was drawn to homeless services and gathered a wealth of experience across multiple roles before he found his passion as an outreach specialist with PATH, where he can offer resources and assistance to all our unhoused neighbors.

Today, Jaime is a program manager supervising his own homeless outreach team in North County San Diego, where he coordinates care and services for clients with other providers while also guiding his staff to implement successful placements. He is passionate about advocating for his clients and helping them build skills to achieve independence and is driven by helping the most vulnerable members within his own community.

Nicole Buccalo

Nicole Buccalo
She/her/hers
Community Affairs Associate
San Jose

A community affairs associate at PATH, Nicole Buccalo draws upon three years of experience as a clinical case manager in supportive housing programs. Today, Nicole is a social worker and currently works with PATH community affairs department in San Jose. Her focus is to gather feedback from people with lived experience of being unhoused and using this information to create recommendations that will improve the quality of services provided by the City of San Jose. In this role, Nicole amplifies our clients’ voices to ensure they are incorporated in local policy and systems change.

Nicole also sits on PATH’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee and is excited to continue helping PATH grow to be an anti-racist organization. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and spending time with her family.

Shantal Bridgewater-Thomas, AMFT # 104276

Shantal Bridgewater-Thomas, AMFT # 104276
She/her/hers
Clinical Case Manager, Whole Person Wellness
San Diego

Shantal Bridgewater-Thomas joined PATH in 2020 as a clinical case manager for the Whole Person Wellness Program in San Diego, serving medically fragile individuals in partnership with managed care plans. Her work is informed by her personal knowledge, professional experiences, her eagerness to make a societal impact, and dedication to equity.

In 2017, Shantal earned her master’s degree in counseling psychology from Argosy University and has since committed her focus to the social work field. She is an unapologetic and unabashed advocate for the well-being and stability of individuals in her community and other underserved populations. In her free time, Shantal enjoys discovering new hiking trails and taking part in community volunteer projects.

Lauren Benjamin

Lauren Benjamin
She/her
Mental Health Specialist, Metro LA Outreach
Los Angeles

Lauren Benjamin currently serves as a case manager on the Metro LA night outreach team. Inspired by her faith, she strongly believes in the innate dignity and worth of every person. She incorporates this philosophy in her work and life and provides high-quality services for our unhoused neighbors. In addition to her role as a case manager at PATH, she serves in several leadership capacities in her community, focused on arts and music, justice, and faith. Some of her efforts have included leading outreach teams in the fight against sex trafficking; providing spiritual leadership; mentoring musicians and artists; and providing statewide leadership for the grassroots organization and movement, Civil Righteousness. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts in kinesiology from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a Master of Social Work degree from California State University, Long Beach.

Phillip Benavides

Phillip Benavides
He/him/his
Associate Director of Administration
Los Angeles

Phillip Benavides joined PATH in June 2014 and serves as the associate director of administration. With over 15 years in non-profit office administration, facilities, operations positions, Phillip has overseen administrative, operations, security, and maintenance staff, coordinates vendor negotiations contracts/projects, works with auditors, and strategic partner relations.

Prior to PATH, Phillip was a senior executive office administrator for a community-based nonprofit public health organization. His team helped run the site’s $14M operations in addition to breast/cervical cancer detection; medical professional credentialing; quality assurance, safety/audits, employee wellness; and the annual patient giving, which raised over $100K annually.

Phillip is a true believer in lifelong learning and DEI and is passionate in helping our most vulnerable unhoused neighbors. In his free time, Phillip enjoys cooking, spending time with family and is currently training for a half-marathon while volunteering with two Los Angeles-based running groups.

Jennifer Barillas

Jennifer Barillas
She/her/hers
Project Coordinator, PATH Ventures
Los Angeles

Jennifer Barillas is a project coordinator at PATH Ventures, supporting the project management team through construction, financial closings, and supportive service plans, while also coordinating communications across PATH and PV. Long before joining PATH, Jennifer was an avid community organizer and volunteer, participating in protests for immigrant rights even as a young girl. She joined PATH in 2020, inspired by her drive to help and connect with her community, and soon after discovered a passion for affordable housing development.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and uses her background in multicultural advertising and marketing as an asset to her work. Jennifer is grateful for the opportunity to make an impact every day at PATH Ventures, helping our neighbors find a home and advocating for our community’s housing needs on a broader scale.

Alicia Albertson

Alicia Albertson
She/her/hers
Housing Navigator III, SPA 7
Long Beach

Alicia Albertson is thrilled to be a part of the PATH Academy so that she can maximize her impact as a new housing navigator on the South County SPA 7 recovery housing navigation team. She joined PATH in early 2021 and appreciates the organization’s commitment to ending homelessness and its exacerbating factors, particularly systemic racism.

With an extensive background in education, project management, and community development, Alicia is committed to identifying creative solutions to help Los Angeles’ most vulnerable residents—including strengthening programming for undocumented people experiencing homelessness. Her other passions include anti-racism, environmental justice, and immigrant rights. To relax, Alicia does yoga, cooks, and binge watches every murder mystery show available with her partner, Oscar. Her personal goal this year is training her cat, Leo, to be comfortable enough on his leash to join her on hikes.

Viron Vargas

Viron Vargas
He/him/his
Outreach Coordinator, SPA 7
Los Angeles

Viron Vargas is an outreach coordinator in East Los Angeles County, working with unsheltered individuals and families to help them move into safe, stable, and healthy environments. Born and raised in Long Beach by migrant parents, Viron has always been involved with his community. His professional experience has ranged from corporate settings to local community centers, and he has discovered a home with PATH, happy to be giving back to his community every day.

He has always been interested in innovating solutions to homelessness and is grateful to have a hands-on opportunity to pursue them at PATH. His role also allows him to strategically pinpoint the hardest-to-reach individuals experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles and provide them with direct services. Viron is excited to develop his leadership skills and personal growth through PATH Academy.

Cynthia Wong

Cynthia Wong
She/her/hers
Assistant Project Manager, PATH Ventures
San Diego

Cynthia Wong is an assistant project manager with PATH Ventures, currently managing four development projects that require her to consume at least two cups of black coffee every day. After growing up in government-assisted housing, Cynthia developed a robust educational and professional background in urban studies and planning, with a focus on land use planning and affordable housing.

She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in urban planning and has always been inspired by architecture and urban design and how they intersect with equity. Cynthia is passionate about creating beautiful and equitable living spaces so she can help prove that affordable housing does not have to look institutional or built to lower standards. She resides in San Diego but visits Los Angeles often to manage most of her projects. In her free time, Cynthia enjoys camping and exploring her newfound hobby of sport fishing.

Volunteer Spotlight: August 2021

Mattel: Los Angeles

Amory Fratoni: San Diego

Kaleidoscope Flowers and Teleflora: Santa Barbara

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