Housing is the Heart
of What We Do.
Our skills, responsibilities, and job descriptions may vary widely, but we’re all working toward the same goal: to help individuals and families create pathways out of homelessness and into stable, long-term housing.
We’re always looking for people with a passion for housing to join our team. Apply for open positions on our Careers page, or sign up to lend a hand on our Volunteer page
Executive Team
Phil Kramer
Chief Executive Officer
Phil leads the Housing Matters team in identifying solutions to homelessness and championing community efforts that lead to stable, permanent housing for individuals and families. Since becoming CEO in 2015, the organization has tripled its operating budget and successfully housed more than 1,800 individuals and families in Santa Cruz County.
Previously, Phil worked as director of strategic development at Goodwill Central Coast and as director of 180 Together, a multi-agency initiative. He held positions in advertising and marketing at Google, AOL, and The Wall Street Journal early in his career before deciding to follow his passion for social justice and mission-driven work and join the Peace Corps.
Mer Stafford
Chief Impact Officer
Mer leverages more than a decade of nonprofit development expertise in cultivating relationships with donors, funding partners, foundations, and organizations. Since joining Housing Matters in 2021, she has helped raise significant financial support for Housing Matters programs and capital projects.
Previously, Mer served as executive director of a prominent, internationally renowned retreat center. Mer attended Bay State College in Boston.
Tom Stagg
Chief Initiatives Officer
Tom Stagg brings more than 14 years of experience in nonprofit management to his role as Chief Initiatives Officer. He manages Housing Matters’ many programs — from emergency shelter and day services to housing services and employment training.
Prior to joining Housing Matters in 2017, Tom served as program manager for Central City Concern, a Portland-based housing nonprofit. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
Jane Stokes
Chief Administrative Officer
Jane Stokes joined Housing Matters in November 2021 with more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit management. As Chief Administrative Officer, she oversees all things admin and budget-related, from operations to cash flow and financial planning.
Previously, Jane was the Director of Finance and Administration at Firelight, a local nonprofit working with community-based organizations in Southern and Eastern Africa. She also served as Director of Development at Kirby School. Jane holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities from San Jose State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Board of Directors
Ray Bramson
Director
Chief Operating Officer,
Destination: Home
John Dietz
Director
President, PrimeMuse
Yana Jacobs
Director
Mental Health Activist
S. Phoenix MacKinnon
Director
Peer Counselor
Maggie McKay
Director
Retired, County Mental Health
Tony Nethercutt
Director
Retired Advertising Sales Executive
BeaJae North
Director
Organizational Wellness Consultant
Martina O’Sullivan
Director
Ron Slack
Director
Former Publisher, Good Times
Staff
Raine Armanino
HR Manager
Rebecca Bergstrom
Accounting Clerk
Nikki Brown
Guest Experience Coordinator
Julian Crown
Policy and Research Associate
Miriam Newman-Gerhardt
Contract Analyst
Gianna Nicolich
Executive Assistant
Tyler Oswalt
Systems Analyst
Joann Roccanova
Accounting Officer
Shona Sullivan
Director of HR
James Weaver
Data Specialist
Lynn Welter
Grants and Contracts Specialist
Han Zhang
Grants and Contracts Specialist
Marlena De Castro
Community Education Specialist
Andrea Feltz
Community Conversations Program Manager
Marsa Greenspan
Volunteer Program Manager
Emily Lowdermilk
Development Associate
Abi Mustapha
Artist-In-Residence
Michael Norris
Communications Manager
Louis Powell
Director of Fundraising
Kenneth Blas
Maintenance Technician
Julio Chavez-Aguilar
Custodian
Gregory Eiman
Facilities Manager
Josue Esqueda
Custodian
Norman Glode
Custodian
Ernest H. Ortiz
Maintenance Technician
Maria Santos
Lead Custodian
Priscila Balderas-Delgado
RFS Case Manager
Hailey Blair
Direct Services Coordinator
Sonia Bot
Direct Service Coordinator
Erica Brigger
Loft Case Manager
Crysten Bush
BFH Case Manager
Cynthia Cabrales
Direct Services Coordinator
Stephen Campos
Housing Now Case Manager
Oscar Corcoles
Director of Services/Housing
Veronica Delaney
Assistant Direct Services Manager
Ellen DeRoin-Davidson
CHAMP Case Manager
Daniel Diaz
Direct Services Coordinator
Mayra Dominguez
Housing Now Case Manager
Sierra Douma
RCC Housing Navigator
Andrea Eaton
RCC Program Manager
Edward Estrada
SSVF Housing Navigator
Stephanie Flores
CHAMP Case Manager
Halie Fox
Direct Services Coordinator
Katelyn Gale
Loft Housing Navigator
Berenice Gutierrez
CHAMP Housing Stabilization Specialist
Sean Hamil
SSVF Case Manager
James Henderson IV
Direct Services Manager
Patricia Ibarra – Alvarez
RFS Case Manager
Zuzu Ingram-Beale
Direct Services Coordinator
Guadalupe Iniguez
BFH Case Manager
Randa Johnson
RFS Program Manager
Cory Laborde
Direct Services Coordinator
Brian Lands
Guest Experience Program Manager
J-Bear Lawson
SSVF Outreach Specialist
Justin Lew
Direct Services Coordinator
Jakob Locke
Outreach Specialist
Lauren Lynch
CFET Employment Specialist
Sean Lynch
Direct Services Coordinator
Maria Martinez
Housing Now Case Manager
Danielle Meidan
SSVF Program Manager
Joseph Moens
Cook
Kimberly Moore
HDAP Program Manager
Basil Lynn
RRH Case Manager
Pan Narez-Mendez
Housing Now Program Manager
Elliot Newton
HDAP Case Manager
Kris Ochi
Loft Program Manager
Oscar Padilla
HDAP Housing Navigator
Dulce Pardo Vega
BFH Case Manager
Joseph Pellegrini
Direct Services Coordinator
Lindsay Peterson
BFH Program Manager
Anthony Pignoli
Kitchen Manager
Chad Platt
Housing Now Lead Case Manager
Nicole Ramirez
Housing Now Case Manager
Evyn Robles
Director of Campus/Housing
Andrea Rosas Herrera
Housing Navigator II
Kevin Rothwell
Mail Services Coordinator
David Rowe
Housing Now Housing Stabilization Specialist
Aliyah Stanley-Ibarra
Direct Services Coordinator
Anthony Steinberg
Direct Services Coordinator
Crystal Tapia Leon
CHAMP Case Manager
Megan Tapiz
Housing Now
Case Manager III
Tomas Tkoch
Direct Services Coordinator
Ruben Torres
Loft Case Manager
George Urbano
Cook
Isaiah Vega
Outreach Specialist
Frabrizio Velazquez
CHAMP Program Manager
Jordan Wall
SSVF Case Manager
Collin Webb
Housing Now Housing Stabilization Specialist
Thomas Zabonik
SSVF Healthcare Navigator