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Lynda Schueler
Paul Goyette

Lynda Schueler, MPAChief Executive Officer

Lynda has devoted her career to helping men, women, and families transition from housing crisis to housing stability. As executive director since 2001, Lynda provides strategic vision and organizational leadership at Housing Forward. Her leadership has enabled the agency’s growth from a $450,000 a year shelter provider to a $13M agency offering a full continuum of housing and prevention programs in addition to safety-net services. Over the years, she has formed numerous collaborations whose expertise and resources have guided hundreds of Housing Forward clients on their paths toward self-sufficiency. Lynda is a founder and current board member of the Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County and a founding member of the Oak Park Homelessness Coalition. She has received awards for her work from the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Housing Action Illinois, West Cook Y, the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, the Maywood Chamber of Commerce and was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Oak Park Rotary. In 2020, Lynda was named Villager of the Year in Oak Park for leading the agency’s COVID response.  

Lynda has a Masters of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Illinois State University.

Favorite Housing Forward value: Innovative Solutions

“We’re not afraid to venture into unknown territory to end homelessness. We look to communities to help feed the innovation and partner with us to solve homelessness.”

In her spare time, Lynda enjoys riding her bike around town and traveling with her family.

Lynda Schueler, MPA

Chief Executive Officer
Misti Faust

Misti Faust, MFAChief Financial Officer

Misti Faust was a key member of the finance department from 2007 to 2018, and has returned to Housing Forward in the role of CFO.  She is responsible for the financial management strategy including direct responsibility for the agency’s accounting, finance, forecasting, budget, strategic planning, oversight of all public contracts/agreements, financial compliance, and risk management.

Misti has spent her career working in the nonprofit field with various homeless agencies, including New Moms, Inc., Bobby E. Wright MHC and Bridge Communities. The past 15 years, she has focused on executive leadership roles. Prior to rejoining Housing Forward, Misti worked for Illinois Public Health Institute as the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer overseeing the agency’s finances, human resources, and administrative operations. Her work continues to be about building administrative and financial capacity and improving financial and human resource systems and processes.

Favorite Housing Forward value: Person-Centered Approaches

"My favorite value is 'person-centered approaches'. This is my favorite because as individuals we are unique and similar at the same time. Each of us have a background or history, beliefs, experiences, values, thoughts, expressions, motivations, successes and defeats that are common but they are also different at the same time. Because of our uniqueness, our approach should not be self-centered, standard or generalized but centered around our individualities."

Misti has a MFA (Masters of Financial Accounting) from Keller Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science Degree from DeVry University.

Misti Faust, MFA

Chief Financial Officer
Chris Martinez
Paul Goyette

Chris Martinez, MBA, CFPChief Operating Officer

Chris Martinez brings more than 25 years of corporate operations, technology, and program management expertise to the role of Chief Operating Officer. Most recently, Chris was managing director at Oakbrook Solutions, where he aligned people, platforms, and processes to support growth and change, and led the strategic management consulting practice for wealth management and family office clients. Prior to consulting, Chris held leadership roles with The PrivateBank, Wilmington Trust, Bingham Legg Advisers, and Webster Management Group.

Favorite Housing Forward value: Meaningful Impact

“As a former management consultant, one mantra that has resonated with me is, 'What gets measured gets improved.' This not only helps emphasize the difference we are making in advancing our mission, but helps us focus on the end goal, develop plans to achieve the intended outcome(s), and be more mindful of how to focus our efforts. For example, in my triathlon training, all of the data from fitness trackers help me discover new PRs, understand and push my perceived limits, be more aware of strengths and weaknesses, giving me both confidence to keep going and humility to adapt as needed. It also validates that I am spending time on things that are important to me.”

Chris has a Bachelors degree in computer science from The University of Southern California, a Masters of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and is a Certified Financial Planner™. He is dedicated to housing and human services and is a member of the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity Chicago as well as and longtime volunteer for Catholic Charities of Chicago. In addition to volunteerism, Chris keeps active swimming, biking, and running (as a triathlete and guide for paratriathletes) and playing tennis.
 

Chris Martinez, MBA, CFP

Chief Operating Officer
Erik Johnson
Paul Goyette

Erik JohnsonChief Development Officer

Erik Johnson brings more than two decades of non-profit leadership experience to his role as Chief Development Officer. He joined the Housing Forward team in January 2020 where he provides strategic and operational direction for fundraising and communication activities. Erik has significant experience building successful development and communication teams; he served as Vice President of Development at Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley and Vice President of Advancement at Aspire. Erik is passionate about social entrepreneurship and has created two social enterprises. Prior to the development arena, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of Vital Bridges and Executive Director of Community Response. He has served on the Board of Directors of Michael Teolis Singers and AIDS Cycle, Inc., as well as in a wide variety of consultative and volunteer roles in the areas of HIV, housing, developmental disabilities, and the arts.

Erik has a Bachelor of Music and Business degree from Drake University and an Masters of Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Business in Chicago.

Favorite Housing Forward value: Engaged Community

“When we bring partners and collaborators together to focus on the common goal of ending homelessness, great things can happen.”

Outside of work, Erik is an amateur musician and enjoys a rousing game of fetch with his German Shepherd, Otto. 

Erik Johnson

Chief Development Officer
Armando Smith
Paul Goyette

Armando Smith, LCSWChief Program Officer

As Chief Program Officer, Armando Smith is responsible for providing leadership, direction, and oversight of Housing Forward's integrated service delivery system through six program areas – housing, interim housing, medical respite, outreach & diversion, prevention, and wraparound services. Armando has more than 35 years of leadership and counseling experience with prominent social service agencies such as The Night Ministry, Teen Living Programs and AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Most recently, Armando was Associate Director of Healthcare Clinical Operations for Vital Bridges, a division of Heartland Health Outreach. In that position, he was responsible for all program operations, quality assurance and improvement, outcome measurement and budget management. He is part time staff at the Cathedral Counseling Center and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and member of the National Association of Social Workers. 

Favorite Housing Forward value: Person Centered Approach

“When we put clients at the center of our work, we are guided by the very reason we exist as an organization: to be of service to those who seek and rely on us.”

Armando, a native of Panama, is fluent in Spanish.

Armando Smith, LCSW

Chief Program Officer

Emergency Overnight Shelter

Dannette Kennedy-Salaam
Dannette Kennedy-Salaam
Shelter Manager
Ken Cozzi
Ken Cozzi
Shelter Engagement Specialist
Allisin Johnson
Allisin Johnson
Shelter Engagement Specialist
Vivian Lott
Vivian Lott
Shelter Relief Worker
Luis Mercado
Luis Mercado
Shelter Relief Worker

Interim Housing

Janet Hotch
Janet Hotch, MS, MA
Director, Interim Housing
Adam Axley
Adam Axley
Resident Assistant
Lalema Bakate
Lalema Bakate
Lead Coordinator
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Reginald Burton
Program Associate, Weekend Lead
Paul Frierson
Paul Frierson
Resident Assistant
Calvin Jefferson
Calvin Jefferson
Resident Assistant
Vincent Johnson
Vincent Johnson
Resident Assistant
Laterriaus Lawry
Laterriaus Lawry
Resident Assistant
Cataline Lemon
Catalina Lemon
Resident Assistant
Rachel Lockhart
Rachel Lockhart
Case Manager
Aneesha Moore
Aneesha Moore
Program Associate
Mary Rinder
Mary Rinder
Resident Assistant
Eric Swiecki
Eric Swiecki
Resident Assistant

Medical Respite

Holly Rotman-Zaid
Holly Rotman-Zaid, MA
Director, Medical Respite
Crystal Bryant
Crystal Bryant
Medical Respite Case Manager
Denise Call
Denise Call, RN
Registered Nurse
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LaChaina Conwell, MPA
Engagement Specialist
Tiffany Isom
Tiffany Isom, MA
Engagement Specialist
Josephine Martey
Josephine Martey
Medical Respite Case Manager
Tamera Russell
Tamera Russell, MA
Medical Assistant
Housing Forward
Rosalind Sellers, MA
Medical Assistant
Veronica Spicer
Veronica Spicer, MA
Medical Assistant
Monica Tolliver
Monica Tolliver, RN
Registered Nurse
Tamika Watson
Tameka Watson, MA
Medical Assistant

Outreach & Engagement

Kadima Palles
Kadema Palles, MSW
Manager, Outreach
Hugh Boswell
Hugh Boswell
Street Outreach Specialist
Cassandra Cruz
Troy Garcia
Street Outreach Specialist
Reyna Gutierrez
Reyna Gutierrez
Street Outreach Specialist
Jennifer McWhorter
Jennifer McWhorter, MA
Supportive Service Coordinator
Maria Salinas
Maria Salinas
Street Outreach Specialist

Prevention & Diversion

Romiesha Tucker
Romiesha Tucker
Program Manager, Stability Services
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Teneshia Kuykendoll
Homeless Prevention Case Manager
Lauren Lofton
Lauren Lofton
Homeless Prevention Coordinator
Elvis Lomeli
Elvis Lomeli
Homeless Prevention Case Manager
Dorothea Pantelios
Dorothea Pantelios
Homeless Prevention Case Manager

Supportive Housing

Carla Gordon
Carla Gordon
System Navigator
Patricia Stokes
Patricia Stokes, MSW
Senior Director, Supportive Housing
Teneesha Perry
Cathy Bracco
Substance Use Specialist
Gem Canada
Gem Canada
Housing Case Manager
Shannon Chatman
Shannon Chatman
Housing Navigator
Claudette Cosby Bond
Claudette Cosby Bond
Substance Use Specialist
Cassandra Cruz
Cassandra Cruz
Housing Case Manager, Victory's Path
Gail Diop
Gail Diop
Housing Case Manager
Donna English
Donna English, MS, LCPC
Behavioral Health Specialist
Tunisia Frazier
Tunisia Frazier, MA
Housing Case Manager
Cedric Frison
Cedric Frison
Housing Case Manager
Anthony Hemphill
Anthony Hemphill
Case Manager Supervisor
Prentice Hill
Prentice Hills
Housing Coordinator
Pamela Howard-White
Pamela Howard-White
Housing Coordinator
Terri Hunter
Terri Hunter
Housing Case Manager
William Jones
William Jones
Housing Navigator
Demetrius Lawry
Demetrius Lawry
Housing Case Manager
Porcha Lucas
Porcha Lucas
Housing Case Manager
Tiffany Moore
Tiffany Moore, MBA
Housing Case Manager
Sean O'Gara
Sean O’Gara
Clinical Supervisor
Teneesha Perry
Teneesha Perry
Housing Case Manager
Cecilia O'Neill
Cecilia O'Neill
Rental Assistance Manager
Aaron Rapoport
Aaron Rapoport, LCSW
Housing Case Manager/Internship Coordinator
Todd Sher
Todd Sher, MSW
Housing Case Manager
Douglas Smith
Douglas Smith
Housing Coordinator
Clarice Shackelford
Clarice Shackelford
Housing Case Manager
Fabia Stafford-Ilevbare
Fabia Stafford-Ilevbare
Housing Case Manager

System Performance & Wraparound Services

Michelle Blau
Michelle Blau
Director of Impact & Systems Performance
Arletta Curtis
Arletta Curtis
Community Health Nurse
Teneesha Perry
Chelsea Dare
Coordinated Entry Assessor
Tiffani Gardner
Tiffani Gardner
Family Support Specialist
Erin Harmon
Erin Harmon
Data Support Specialist
Michael King
Michael King
Community Case Manager
Erica Knighton
Erica Knighton
Community Case Manager
Ebony Martin
Ebony Martin
Family Support Specialist

Administration & Operations

Wanda Billups
Wanda Billups
Accounting Specialist
Susan Cronin
Susan Cronin
Manager, Human Resources
David Flint
David Flint, MPA
Manager, Compliance
Cristy Harris
Cristy Harris
Project Consultant
Lorie Reid Fuller
Lorie Reid Fuller
Accounting Operations Manager
Ryan Russ
Ryan Russ
Facilities Manager
Sandra Stillo
Sandi Stillo
Office Manager
Shemika Stinson
Shemika Stinson, MBA
Grant Administrative Accountant
Emmanuel Vazquez
Emmanuel Vazquez
Senior Grant Accountant
Tammy Verticchio
Tammy Verticchio, MBA
Business Systems Coordinator
Patrick Schrantz
Patrick Schrantz
Intern, Finance

Development

S Catalano headshot
Sarah Catalano
Events & Engagement Manager
C Jackson Headshot
Cherrell Jackson
Volunteer & Community Outreach Manager
H Rafee Headshot
Hana Rafee
Communications Coordinator

AmeriCorps & VISTA

Kevyn Williams
Kevyn Williams
PSH Program Associate VISTA
Chad Williams
Chad Williams
Medical Respite Case Aide