Meet the People Behind Hope

Bradley Whisenhunt oversees resident services throughout north San Diego County, expanding educational, wellness and community engagement opportunities for residents.  

Deondra Gutierrez oversees resident services across the Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario and Montclair region, strengthening resident engagement and community well-being. Before joining the foundation, she spent six years in property management and relocation services, giving her a unique understanding of residents' needs. 

Claudia Roman oversees resident services throughout Orange County, leading staff, programs and community partnerships that enhance the well-being of families and seniors. With nearly three decades of social services experience, she has worked extensively with older adults, at-risk youth, individuals experiencing homelessness and people living with mental health challenges. 

Christine Alcala leads resident services throughout the foundation’s Los Angeles portfolio, connecting families and seniors with educational opportunities, services and community resources. She brings more than 30 years of experience serving underserved communities through education and housing. 

Lakeshia Johnson oversees resident services across the foundation’s Texas and Florida communities. She brings more than 20 years of experience in public health, public administration and community services with a focus on expanding access to resources for underserved populations. 

Stephanie De La Torre oversees resident services across Orange County and San Diego, leading programs, partnerships and grant initiatives that improve quality of life for families, seniors and formerly unhoused residents. She brings more than a decade of experience in affordable housing and social services with expertise in program development, strategic planning and community engagement. 

Sandra Bowers oversees resident services throughout the Inland Empire and Los Angeles regions, leading programs that promote housing stability, economic mobility and community well-being. She brings more than 20 years of experience in real estate, lending and foreclosure prevention, including helping families remain in their homes during the national mortgage crisis. She also drew on her skills as an underwrite to aid low and moderate-income families realize their dream of homeownership. 

David Gonzalez Summers leads financial stability and workforce development initiatives, overseeing programs that help residents build savings, strengthen financial literacy and prepare for meaningful careers. He brings leadership experience spanning financial services, operations, logistics and customer experience.  

Clarence Sydnor leads workforce development efforts that prepare residents for meaningful careers through industry-driven training and employer partnerships. He brings a multidisciplinary background spanning military service, law, affordable housing and workforce development, providing a unique perspective on building career pathways that create lasting economic opportunity. 

Victoria Mendez provides guidance and oversight for case management teams serving residents in permanent supportive housing communities. Victoria played a key role in establishing Hope through Housing as an Intensive Case Management Services provider in Los Angeles County, expanding access to coordinated services that help residents achieve long-term housing stability and improved health outcomes. 

AJ Galka leads the development and implementation of innovative service models that help residents achieve long-term housing stability and improved quality of life.  She is a nationally recognized leader in supportive housing with more than 23 years of experience designing, launching and strengthening resident services for seniors, veterans, individuals living with chronic health conditions and people transitioning from homelessness.  

Dixie Torres leads Resident Services, Programs and Compliance & Data across California, Texas and Florida. She partners across teams to assess community needs, strengthen program strategy and ensure resident services are delivered with both quality and compliance in mind, using data to guide decisions and cultivate lasting impact. With 20 years in the nonprofit sector, beginning as a volunteer at a local organization, Dixie has built a career centered on program integrity and community impact. 

Sunni Dill cultivates relationships with donors and supporters while helping oversee fundraising initiatives that strengthen the foundation's impact. With a background in social work and philanthropy, she manages donor stewardship, oversees the Building Bright Futures Scholarship and coordinates community donation drives. 

Suzanne Sproul leads foundation and corporate grant development for Hope through Housing Foundation, identifying funding opportunities and building strategic partnerships that expand services for residents. After a 35-year career in journalism, she joined the foundation to help secure the resources needed to grow its impact. 

Daisy Macias develops community partnerships that strengthen programs and expand opportunities for residents. She works closely with nonprofit organizations, businesses, sponsors and civic leaders to increase community engagement, coordinate in-kind support and raise awareness of the foundation's mission. 

Derick Perry leads fundraising and philanthropic partnerships throughout Texas, working with individuals, businesses and community organizations to expand opportunities for residents. He brings more than 15 years of fundraising experience and holds a master's degree in organizational development from Teachers College at Columbia University. 

Andy T. Le oversees the systems, processes and strategy that support the organization's growing philanthropic efforts. He focuses  on fundraising operations, improving organizational effectiveness and expanding capacity to serve children, families and seniors. 

Heather Parsons leads the organization's fundraising strategy, donor engagement and philanthropic partnerships. With more than 20 years of advancement and nonprofit leadership experience, she oversees major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations and revenue growth that support educational opportunities, economic mobility and resident services across the country. 

Stephanie Gala partners with executive leadership to boost organizational strategy, improve operational effectiveness and advance the foundation's mission. She brings more than 15 years of leadership experience overseeing cross-functional initiatives, grant-funded programs and strategic planning efforts that help translate vision into measurable results.