Board & Staff – Dorothy's Place

Our Board of Directors

Daniel Griffee

President

Daniel Griffee is a local attorney who has worked in Salinas and Monterey County since 1995. In the recent past, Dan observed a marked increase in the number of homelessness in and around Salinas. Dan was moved to assist Dorothy’s Place not only by its goal to provide for the immediate needs of homeless individuals but also addressing homeless individuals’ long-term needs to help elevate these individual up from homelessness and returning them to a sustainable permanent housing situation.

Claire Borges

Vice President

Ms. Borges is a family law attorney and works at the Monterey College of Law, where she is a professor to the students there. She has experience with legal issues that commonly challenge people of low income. She enjoys helping people and coaching them toward a better life.

Kevin Little

Treasurer

Mr. Little is a retired Comptroller and Director of Finance for the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. His financial expertise and continual oversight keeps Dorothy’s Place accountable for every dollar spent. His passion as our treasurer, like many on our board, is driven by his commitment to do good works and his faith.

Steve Nejasmich

Secretary

Steve Nejasmich is a retired educator who most recently served as the Deputy Superintendent of Schools at the Monterey County of Education. He also served as the principal of three high schools and worked for many years in the inner cities of Watts, Hunter’s Point and North St. Louis. During those years, Steve worked closely with the poor and homeless and desires to continue this in his retirement.

Miriam Little

Program

I am a former Federal attorney, having worked for the United States Department of the Interior and the Food and Drug Administration. Currently, I am a registered Marriage and Family Therapist with the State of California. I chose to serve on the Board as I believe in what the Franciscan Workers are working to accomplish in providing a compassionate and loving presence, alongside practical resources, for those who have the greatest needs and the least support in our society. For many years, I was part of a team providing dinner for the Women Alive program. Service on the board is a natural extension of those efforts.

Edward Moncrief

Strategic Planning

Mr. Moncrief retired from a forty-one-year career in nonprofit housing development and finance. During most of those years, he held the position of Chief Executive Officer. His responsibilities included assisting his Boards of Directors in strategic planning, fundraising, program development, administrative oversight, and public relations. His career focused on the shelter needs of low-income - primarily minority families and working - families. Mr. Moncrief has embarked on a second career as an author.

Ronnie Thompson

Resource Development

I'm Ronnie Thompson and I've lived, as well as worked, in Salinas for over 30 years. I serve on the Board because I care about the homeless and people who are down on their luck. I believe that what Dorothy's stands for and the good work done through the organization is something that needs to endure in our community for a long time to come.

Martin Vonnegut

Facilities / Finance

Mr. Vonnegut is our longest serving board member at Dorothy’s Place. He’s been with our organization since its incorporation. We rely upon his expertise in finance, facilities maintenance, and his desire to serve the weakest among us with compassion, as well as common sense. Retired now, Mr. Vonnegut’s career was in manufacturing.

Administration

Jill Allen, Executive Director

Subbha Padmanabhan, Finance and Administrative Director

Tawni Gott, Assistant Bookkeeper

Lee Hulquist, Senior Executive Assistant

Carmen Lombardino, Bookkeeper

Francisco Figueroa, Office Manager

Maintenance

Javier Rodriguez, Facilities Maintenance Supervisor

Javier Moreno, Facilities Maintenance

Dorothy’s Drop-In Center

Tony Colin, Program Director

Itzel Aguilar, Community Health Worker I

Courtney Clark , Community Health Worker I

Tiffany Degama, Community Health Worker I

David Fernando, Drop-In Center Coordinator I

Lupita Gamboa, Community Health Worker Lead I

Esmeralda Lopez, Facility Assistant

Esperanza Rangel, Community Health Worker I

Nathalie Suarez, Community Health Worker I

Christopher Warner, Community Health Worker I

Dorothy’s Kitchen

Nic Bianchi, Program Director

Julieta Borges, Program Manager

Aaron Melendez, Donation Logistics Coordinator

Nelsy Montes-Romero, Kitchen Assistant

Juan Ortiz, Kitchen Maintenance Specialist

Norberto Silva, Cook

Streets to Homes

Martin Alvarez, Jr., Program Director

Carina Aguilera, Social Worker I, Housing Navigator

Jena Barrera, Social Worker I, Housing Navigator

Lidia Escalera, Social Worker I, Housing Navigator

Jaqueline Gacayan, Social Worker I, Housing Navigator

Veronica Lara, Social Worker I, Housing Navigator

Sonia Moreno, Social Worker I, Housing Navigator

Dale Rogers, Facility Assistant

Venessa Villa-Martin, Social Worker I, Housing Navigator

LeiLani White, Social Worker I, Housing Navigator

House of Peace Transitional Residence

Roman Perez, Program Director

Jennifer Islas, Social Worker I, Housing Navigator

Alisa Silva, Social Worker I, Housing Navigator

Hilda Martinez, Resident Manager

Dorothy’s Place, with the support of partner agencies, recently sheltered 42 homeless persons that meet the state and federal guidelines for high risk of COVID infection. These particularly vulnerable unsheltered people had no place to shelter inside, isolated from other people. “Project Refuge”, which is akin to the state’s program, “Project Roomkey”, offered safety from the coronavirus for some of the hundreds of people who live on our streets, in tents and cars, in Monterey County, and throughout California.