Leading with Expertise, Vision & Compassion

René is a seasoned executive with nearly 30 years of experience in the nonprofit and government sectors, focusing on housing, homelessness, and community services. With a background that includes pivotal roles at HomeFirst, Alum Rock Counseling Center, Silicon Valley Education Foundation, and the City of San José, he has demonstrated expertise in scaling organizations, securing funding, and building high-performing, inclusive teams. Throughout his career, René has led critical initiatives such as expanding HomeFirst's capacity from a $10M agency to a $60M organization, developing California's first modular interim housing site, and overseeing strategic and crisis management efforts, all while fostering a culture of equity, collaboration, and operational excellence. Born and raised in San José, and a graduate of San José State University, René is passionate about supporting the underserved communities in the Bay Area. René holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology.

Kelly joined HomeFirst in November of 2014 and currently oversees the Operations department, ensuring the creation and delivery of strategic initiatives, agency transformation, and impact. She previously served as the organization's Chief Programs Officer, providing oversight to programs and services, including a team of nearly 400 employees and over 40 unique programs. She has extensive experience working in the rapid rehousing arena as well as emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing programs specializing in ending Veteran homelessness. Kelly has been selected as a presenter for numerous educational webinars on behalf of federal and local partners, with subjects ranging from data-driven decision-making to equity-informed system design and management. Kelly has a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from San Jose State University.

Bea is a passionate champion for ending homelessness. She believes that innovative solutions and community collaboration can create lasting change. As Chief Program Officer, she leads HomeFirst's comprehensive approach to serving our neighbors in need—from prevention services that keep families housed to emergency shelter, interim housing, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and specialized Veteran services. A proud East San Jose native with authentic community connections, Bea brings cultural competency and lived understanding to her executive leadership role. She has dedicated over 20 years to pioneering solutions that meet people where they are, including launching California's first Emergency Interim Housing model in San Jose, CA. What drives Bea is her unwavering belief that everyone deserves a home, and housing is a fundamental human right. She champions HomeFirst's team-centered approach, working collaboratively with staff, community partners, government agencies, and program participants to build bridges between immediate crisis intervention and long-term stability. *Please contact Sr. Executive Assistant, Sheila Tayama, for any inquiries.

Lori brings more than 30 years of nonprofit knowledge to HomeFirst, with over two decades in senior and executive roles across international, national, and local organizations. Her path to HR oversight is grounded in her extensive work in programming, fund development, and strategic communications—areas that honed her ability to connect with people, tell authentic stories, and drive collective influence. That people-first perspective now guides her approach to workforce development, compliance, and employee well-being. Since joining HomeFirst in 2017, Lori has leveraged her diverse background to help build a collaborative, resilient, and mission-aligned workplace. Her leadership continues to shape a strong employee experience that supports growth, belonging, and impact at every level of the organization.

With more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit finance leadership, Shantel brings deep expertise in financial leadership, operational effectiveness, and mission-driven strategy to her role overseeing financial strategy, budgeting, accounting, and IT. Prior to joining HomeFirst, Shantel served as the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Director at a San Francisco-based nonprofit, where she led a multi-million-dollar budget, strengthened internal controls, supported significant program expansions and built new, mission-aligned programs. She has dedicated her career to being of service to her community and believes we all have an obligation to be of service to each other. Shantel holds a BS in Finance from San Francisco State University. She currently serves as Treasurer on the board of directors for California Collaborative for Long-Term Services and Supports.

Amy brings more than two decades of nonprofit leadership to her role at HomeFirst that sits at the intersection of development, marketing, and community engagement. She has spent her career helping mission-driven organizations grow by strengthening fundraising programs, building data-informed systems, and deepening the philanthropic relationships that make sustained impact possible. Her executive experience spans education and community-based organizations, where she has worked alongside boards and senior leaders to raise visibility, modernize operations, and connect more people to the mission of each organization. Amy is the founder of the Pad Party—a grassroots initiative she started to support women and teens experiencing homelessness in Santa Clara County. What began as a community effort has grown into an ongoing, county-wide program. It's a reminder that often what starts small can make a big impact and inspire others to keep showing up in the process. Amy's approach to philanthropy reflects the same attitude. She believes that generosity is most powerful when it's rooted in accountability, relationships, and a genuine understanding of the communities served.