meet our team

Phil Kramer has been dedicated to creating pathways to housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness for more than 10 years. As CEO, Phil leads the Housing Matters team to identify solutions to homelessness, develop creative housing plans, and lead system-change efforts that lead to stable, permanent housing for individuals and families. Since becoming the CEO of Housing Matters (formerly Homeless Services Center) in 2015, the organization has tripled its operating budget and successfully housed more than 1,800 individuals and families in Santa Cruz County.

Prior to joining Housing Matters, Phil held leadership positions with nonprofits including as director of strategic development at Goodwill Central Coast and director of 180 Together, a multi-agency homeless housing initiative where Phil was instrumental with the launch and implementation.

Early in his career, Phil held positions in advertising and marketing for Google, AOL and the Wall Street Journal before deciding to follow his passion for social justice and mission-driven work and join the Peace Corps.

Phil holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Arizona State University.

Pursuing her passion for communications and relationship building, Mer Stafford joined Housing Matters in April 2021. As Chief Impact Officer, Mer leverages more than 10 years’ expertise in non-profit development and management to cultivate new and existing donors, funding partners, foundations, and organizations to support the financial needs of Housing Matters programs and capital projects.

Prior to joining Housing Matters, Mer served as executive director of a prominent retreat center where she led and managed staff and volunteers, facilities and operations, program implementation and development, and visitor services. Mer has also provided consulting services to nonprofits on a range of topics.

Mer earned management certification from UC Irvine and attended Bay State College in Boston.

Tom Stagg brings more than 14 years of experience in non-profit management, including ten years specifically dedicated to implementing programs that support homeless services, including program design and management, sustainability and evaluation.

Joining Housing Matters in 2017, Tom serves as the Chief Initiatives Officer, a role in which he is responsible for managing shelter, support services, housing, employment, and day services programs.

Prior to Housing Matters, Tom served as program manager for Central City Concern, a Portland-based non-profit that provides a comprehensive continuum of affordable housing options integrated with direct social services, including health care, recovery and employment.

Tom holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.

Jane Stokes joined Housing Matters in November 2021 with more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit management. Jane serves as Chief Financial Operator and is responsible for overseeing the operating budget, cash flow, and financial planning. Additionally, Jane’s background includes expertise in auditing, design and implementation of accounting systems, and fundraising for nonprofits.

Before joining Housing Matters, Jane was the Director of Finance and Administration at Firelight, a Santa Cruz-based nonprofit working with community-based organizations in Southern and Eastern Africa, and previously, the Director of Development at Kirby School.

Earlier, Jane had a consulting practice that provided audit, accounting, and management advisory services to nonprofits and small businesses.

Jane holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities from San Jose State University, as well as Certified Public Accountant experience with KPMG in San Jose.

Dean Turkalj joins Housing Matters as Chief Facilities Officer. In this role, Dean is responsible for identifying and managing the maintenance, renovation and safety needs of existing Housing Matters facilities as well as supporting the planning, design and construction of new facilities.

Dean brings 30 years of experience in facilities and operations management to Housing Matters. Prior to joining Housing Matters, Dean served as Assistant Facilities Manager for Eden Housing Corporation, a non-profit organization providing safe and affordable housing in California. In this position, Dean supported the management of a new facilities department including annual budgets for more than 130 mixed use properties as well as leading on emergency response. Dean also served as Facilities Operations Coordinator for MidPen Housing Corporation, non-profit developers, owners and managers of high-quality affordable housing in Northern California.

Earlier in his career, Dean served in the roles of General Manager, Project Analyst for Asset Management and Compliance Specialist for Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation in San Francisco. Dean holds a Master’s degree in International Management and Marketing from Portland State University.