Key Staff at Venice Community Housing Corporation
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Steve Clare A Venice resident and community activist since moving to Venice in 1968, Steve was one of VCHC’s founders and its first and only executive director. He has guided the organization from inception to its current position as a mature and successful community development organization with 50 employees and an annual budget in excess of $2.5 million. Prior to his employment at VCHC, Steve worked as a housing attorney. Other organizations he has helped to found and direct include the Westside Tenant Action Center which provided free counseling and advocacy for low income tenants for over twenty years and Inquilinos Unidos, a tenant organizing project in Westlake and Hollywood. Steve was named one of the 100 most influential people in the Westside of Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Times, and Advocate of the year in 1998 by the Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing for his leadership in leveraging more than $50 million in job money for inner city, at risk youth. Steve graduated with a BA in anthropology from University of California at Berkeley and a JD from the Peoples College of Law.
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR: Kristen Laskaris joined the staff of VCHC in 2001, and brings over ten years of experience in fundraising for non-profit community-based organizations throughout the Los Angeles area. Prior to joining VCHC, Kristen was the Associate Director of Development for the Venice Family Clinic and the Development Program Manager at AIDS Project Los Angeles. Kristen also consulted for several non-profits where her clients included the UCLA AIDS Institute, Clinica - Monsignor Oscar Romero and Pasadena’s AIDS Service Center. Her knowledge spans a variety of fund-raising disciplines including public relations, targeted communications and event planning. Kristen continues her commitment to issues affecting Venice and surrounding communities by volunteering for various Westside organizations. Kristen received her BA in psychology from Boston University and her law degree from Loyola Law School.
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR: Mary Beth Abella oversees VCHC’s administrative functions, including human resources, technology, and all the behind the scenes operations of the organization. With a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Denver, Mary Beth has managed nonprofit programs and organizations and provided direct services to disadvantaged populations for over 15 years. In addition to managing programs in low income neighborhoods, at homeless shelters, and for the elderly, she has also done extensive work in youth violence prevention. She provided safe school planning training and technical assistance to schools in Colorado and was the Interim Assistant Director of an after school program for at risk and incarcerated youth. She has also worked as a planning and research consultant and trainer, most recently training Los Angeles County Probation Officers in the implementation of a new juvenile assessment tool. A singer songwriter and activist, Abella also founded and chaired an organization for female musicians and has organized numerous fundraising concerts. She continues to volunteer her musical talents to nonprofit causes and performs in venues around Los Angeles.
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR: Carmen R. Navarro brings over 25 years of experience in program administration and social work to VCHC. Prior to joining VCHC, Carmen was the Director of Family Services at Para Los Ninos and worked for L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services for twenty years in various positions. She also has experience as a field instructor in social work for Cal State Long Beach, Hebrew Union University and U.S.C. Carmen has been a consultant to the UCLA Depression and Genetics Study, USC School of Social Work Language and Cultural Immersion Program, and the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese. She has been recognized by the State of California Assembly for her work in the area of Family Preservation and the State of California Head Start Program in the area of Child Welfare. Carmen is a member of various professional associations and holds a Bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a M.S.W. from the University of Southern California.
L.A. BRIDGES PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Bridgett Bell brings her wide range of experience working in various academic and community service environments. Through her domestic work at 1736 Family Crisis Center and Haven Hills, Inc. she provided staff supervision and program administrations, and client services to families with challenging case needs. Bridget received her Master’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Kansas State University.
DIRECTOR OF HOUSING: Terry A Simons brings 25 years of experience in the construction and rehabilitation industry. Terry is responsible for managing all phases of Property and Asset Management at VCHC and also manages the HandyWorker Program. Prior to joining VCHC, Terry owned his own construction company, High Country Interior Trim, in Colorado. Prior to working in the construction industry, Terry spent nine years as an Applications Engineer for Amicon and Memtech America Corporation. Terry received his BA in Computer Science from the Computer Processing Institute. He also holds a degree in Enology from Allentown College. He received numerous awards during his years as a Master Winemaker. Terry is a Licensed Contractor, a Certified Lead Abatement Supervisor and a Certified Mold Abatement Contractor in the state of California.
CONTROLLER: Priscilla Smith brings over twenty years of accounting experience in property management and non-profit accounting. Prior to joining VCHC, Priscilla was the General Ledger Supervisor at Goldrich & Kest Inc (G&K). She has also held accounting positions at Maguire Thomas Partners, Lowe Industries and was the Chief Financial Officer at DOVES of Big Bear Lake. While at G&K Priscilla worked with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the California Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) where she taught training sessions in government accounting for HUD seminars. Priscilla received her BA in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin and continues ongoing studies in the non-profit accounting sector.
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