The People Powering Purpose Built Communities®

Carol Redmond Naughton is the Chief Executive Officer of Purpose Built Communities®, the national leader in holistic neighborhood transformation designed to generate upward economic mobility and improved health outcomes for residents. Purpose Built Communities forms long-term partnerships with local organizations fully invested in the hard work of transformation in their neighborhoods. Through expert pro-bono services and support, Purpose Built helps these local organizations center the voices of residents and advance their strategy through its proven model.  Carol is responsible for setting the strategic vision of the organization, with a focus on expanding the impact and reach of Purpose Built, its Network, and the communities it serves.  Carol has been with the organization since its inception in 2009 and became CEO in 2020. Under her leadership, Purpose Built has grown into a transformative force and a national leader in strengthening neighborhoods to create more access to the American dream for families across the country. 

Prior to joining Purpose Built, Carol served as the executive director of the East Lake Foundation, where she played a critical role in shepherding the comprehensive revitalization of the East Lake neighborhood to put more families on a pathway to prosperity. Her prior experience includes serving as general counsel and deputy executive director of The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, where she was instrumental in developing the legal and financial model for mixed-income housing. Carol began her career as a commercial real estate lawyer in private practice in Atlanta. 

Beyond her work with Purpose Built, she’s volunteered her time for a number of local and national organizations, including the Low Income Investment Fund Board of Directors, the Charles Drew Charter School Board of Directors, the Fifth Third Bank National Community Advisory Forum, Build Healthy Places Network National Advisory Council, and others.  

Named to Forbes Magazine’s 2025 50 Over 50, selected as one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Women of Influence Honorees, Atlanta Magazine’s Atlanta 500, and Georgia Trend’s Georgia 500, Carol is a nationally sought-after voice on economic mobility, health, community transformation, education, and housing. Nationally recognized as a leader in place-based partnerships and community development, her published works have been featured in The Huffington Post, TEDx Atlanta, and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Nonprofit Finance Fund’s book Investing in Results, among others. 

Carol graduated from Colgate University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and from Emory University School of Law with a J.D.  

Michelle Matthews is the Chief Strategy & Operations Officer for Purpose Built Communities Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to implementing resident-centered, holistic neighborhood revitalization. As a senior leader, Michelle provides guidance to Network Members who implement the Purpose Built model as leaders, conveners and catalysts of holistic transformational change at the neighborhood level.

Prior to joining Purpose Built in 2016, Michelle founded Matthews Consulting Group (MCG). For more than two decades, she served as a trusted advisor with expertise in organizational development, change management and consulting. Her passionate leadership has benefitted nonprofit organizations like Families First, the Task Force for Global Health and Communities in Schools of Atlanta. She also sits on the Build Healthy Places Network Advisory Council.

She has also served educational institutions like Spelman College and Atlanta Public Schools as well as Fortune 500 companies including Delta Air Lines, Kimberly Clark and Georgia-Pacific.

Michelle's prowess in adapting to changing environments has positioned her as an authority in the field. She has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Black Enterprise and Smart Money, and she appeared on CNN where she shared her perspective on leadership and change.

Michelle graduated summa cum laude from Spelman College with a degree in economics.

Ellen Newton is the Chief Financial & Administrative Officer (CFAO) at Purpose Built Communities. As a senior executive, Ellen oversees internal operations, including Finance, Talent and People Services, Risk, Building/Office Management and Information Technology. In her role, she ensures the effective implementation of Purpose Built's mission by providing essential resources to support staff in fulfilling the organization's goals.

Prior to joining Purpose Built, Ellen served as the CFO at Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta (GSGATL). She assumed this position in 2017 after holding various managerial roles within the organization since 2011. During her tenure at GSGATL, Ellen played a key role in leading the finance and information technology departments, contributing significantly to the council's success in achieving its mission.

Ellen graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering. She furthered her education with a Master's in Accountancy from Kennesaw State University and obtained her CPA license in 2007.

Zenith Houston is the Chief Strategic Partnership Officer, for Purpose Built Communities. As a strategic senior executive, Zenith leads fundraising, communications, and marketing to advance Purpose Built Communities’ mission.

Before joining Purpose Built, Zenith launched her management consulting firm, GaillardHouston, and spent ten years as the Atlanta Director with The Posse Foundation. For over 25 years, she has demonstrated proven experience in successfully driving innovation to build growth and long-term sustainability for diverse, national, and local organizations.

Currently, Zenith serves on the boards of the Veritas School of Social Science and Alliance Theatre. She has received numerous recognitions for leadership including the Atlanta Hawks Forever 404 Honoree, Atlanta Business League’s Top 100 Black Women of Influence, 100 Black Men of North Atlanta Image Award, Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Award, and Kenny Leon’s True Color Theatre Company’s 52 Weeks of Women. She is an alumnus of Leadership Atlanta, the Atlanta Regional Leadership Institute, and REALITY Impact Israel.

A native of Columbia, SC, Zenith holds a bachelor’s in science and a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in Criminal Justice.

Katie Delp is the Chief Network Officer for Purpose Built Communities. As a senior executive, Katie leads the Network Member Success team. To ensure Network Members have coaching and resources, her team brings a strategic suite of support to Network leadership to accelerate and deepen their work in neighborhood transformation.

Katie has committed her career to developing communities into thriving socially, economically and racially equitable neighborhoods. She previously served as Executive Director of Focused Community Strategies (FCS) and led multiple initiatives creating mixed-income housing, economic development, job creation, youth development and food security in neighborhoods on Atlanta’s south side.

She serves on the boards of Tapestry Development Group, Carver Cluster Foundation, Wesley International Academy, and Friends of South Atlanta Parks. Katie has been a member of several cohorts for leaders in her field including ULI Atlanta Center for Leadership, Christian Community Development Association - Emerging Leader Cohort, and New Leaders Council, which awarded her Alumni of the Year. Katie has also been interviewed by 60 Minutes on the topic of Black American health and racism.

Katie holds a Bachelors in Business Administration in Management from Texas Tech University, and is a candidate for an MBA in Real Estate from Georgia State University.

Alexandra Wiggins is a Vice President of Network Member Success for Purpose Built Communities Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to implementing resident-centered, holistic neighborhood revitalization. In her role, she provides direct support and strategic guidance to Network Members resulting in the successful capacity development and advancement of the Purpose Built model implementation.

Prior to joining Purpose Built in 2015, Alexandra served in roles supporting public policy and education. She has worked as a Policy Fellow with Georgia Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) under Governor Nathan Deal, Legislative Aide for state and local education issues with United States Senator Mary Landrieu, and as an elementary school teacher and Teach For America corps member in Metro Atlanta. Outside of work, she serves in multiple community roles including as a member of the Junior League of Atlanta, Charles R. Drew Charter School Mission Committee Member, State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia Independent Commission Expert & Adjudicator, and Atlanta Botanical Gardens Volunteer. She is also recognized as a University of Georgia 1961 Club Member.

Alexandra graduated from The University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the Grady College of Journalism. She continued her education at the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert College of Law where she graduated with her Juris Doctor and Diploma of Comparative Law. She has also earned an International Law Certificate in Human Rights Law and Advocacy from the University of Central London, as well as been named a United Way of Greater Atlanta Volunteer Involvement Program (VIP) Fellow and Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE) Education Policy Fellow.

As a senior leader, Catalina leads the development of the organization’s Cradle to College Education Framework and provides direct support to Network Members in implementing the Purpose Built educational model.

Prior to joining Purpose Built, Catalina served as a career educator in Metro Atlanta in roles including teacher, principal, and district level leader in both the public school and independent school sectors. Her passion for education has led her to volunteer her time outside of work as a volunteer religious education leader in her church. Her prowess as an educator has led to elected volunteer positions on multiple school councils and Go Teams within the Atlanta Public Schools, and has served on the election committees for several local principal election processes.

Catalina graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications and from Emory University with a Masters in Teaching with a focus in Middle School Education. She also holds an Educational Leadership Certification from Georgia State University.

Kevin Rafter is the Senior Vice President, Impact and Learning at Purpose Built Communities. In this role, Kevin guides a data and evidence strategy for Purpose Built and its network that strengthens impact and continuous improvement. He supports Network Members in collecting and analyzing key metrics, and building their capacity to measure impact.

Kevin has over 20 years of experience leveraging insights from research and evaluation to strengthen strategies and support organizational learning. Prior to joining Purpose Built, Kevin held senior roles at Project Evident, Harder+Company Community Research, and the James Irvine Foundation. In his work with nonprofit, for-profit, and philanthropic organizations, Kevin has collaborated with diverse stakeholders and led teams through growth and improvement. His interest in place-based initiatives stretches back to graduate school, where he was part of a team that evaluated a foundation-sponsored neighborhood change initiative across four different communities in Harlem and the South Bronx.

Kevin is a co-chair of the board of Gateway Public Schools and has served as an evaluation advisor to 826 Valencia, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting under-resourced students ages six to eighteen with their creative and expository writing skills.

He holds a Ph.D in Environmental Psychology from the City University of New York.

Melissa Devereaux is the Senior Vice President, Network Member Engagement and Resources at Purpose Built Communities. In her role, Melissa oversees the development of partnerships, resources, and products aimed at enhancing the value of Purpose Built Network Membership and expediting model implementation. As a member of the Network Member Success team, she collaborates across the organization to identify needs, develop innovative products and partnerships, and implement Network Engagement strategies supporting model implementation.

Joining Purpose Built in 2016, Melissa has held integral roles, supporting Network growth, fundraising, and policy. She brings over 25 years of nonprofit management and development experience to her role. In her current position, she manages geographically-aligned Network Member cohorts, oversees the subgranting process and ensures the success of Purpose Built's holistic approach to neighborhood revitalization.

Outside of her role at Purpose Built, Melissa serves on the Selection Advisory Council for the GreenLight Fund Bay Area and actively volunteers with her church and in her neighborhood.

Melissa graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and History. She also earned a Master of Science from Florida State University.

Tanya Thompson brings more than a decade of leadership experience in social impact nonprofit organizations, with a focus on civil rights, education, and social justice. She has deep expertise in strategic people management, talent acquisition, and human resources, and has played a key role in advancing mission-driven initiatives. Tanya is a thoughtful leader and dedicated advocate, committed to strengthening workplace culture through innovative approaches to HR, organizational design, and talent development—all grounded in a strong racial equity lens.

Vicky leads marketing and communications for the organization as part of the Strategic Partnerships team. She is a proven expert in strategic marketing and communications designed to amplify our brand, expand advocacy and increase our collective support for network members.

Vicky Free Sistrunk is a proven expert in brand-first marketing and communications strategy focused on driving value and impact. For more than 25 years, Vicky has helmed teams responsible for developing purposeful, innovative, and impactful marketing strategies for blue chip global brands including McDonald’s, Time Warner Media, VIACOM/BET Networks, The Walt Disney Company, adidas and the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A South Carolina native, Vicky holds an executive MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the University of South Carolina. She has extended her leadership and business acumen through certifications with Harvard, UCLA, and Stanford.

Throughout her career, Vicky has been a mentor, sponsor, and coach to many young professionals to nurture their career into full potential. She and her husband, Christopher Sistrunk, Ph.D., are the proud parents of a precocious fur-baby, Symba, and reside in Irmo, South Carolina.

Andrea Arroyo joins Purpose Built Communities as Vice President, Network Member Success with over 15 years of experience as a manager, strategist, and advocate in public education and community development. In her role, she supports a portfolio of leaders, their staff, and stakeholders to design, direct, and accelerate neighborhood revitalization initiatives in communities nationwide.

Passionate about expanding high-quality educational opportunities and fostering authentic community engagement, Andrea has worked alongside educators, families, and communities to implement tailored and impactful solutions to issues ranging from educational equity to mixed-income housing to food security.

Initially a 2nd-grade teacher, Andrea has held leadership roles with Urban Recipe, Purpose Built Schools Atlanta, Georgia Charter School Association, Citizens of the World Charter Schools, LA Promise Fund, and Teach For America. Andrea successfully led strategic initiatives in these capacities, fostering cross-sector partnerships that have accelerated the expansion of high-quality educational options, secured vital wrap-around services, and boosted economic advancement and food security for students and families.

Beyond her education and nonprofit roles, Andrea has supported local governments in the development of over 45 affordable housing projects, and assisted city administrators in making strategic investments and improvements in their communities.

Andrea has a master’s in Public Policy from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s in Political Studies and Sociology from Pitzer College. She is an alumna of the CORO Fellows Program in Public Affairs and lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband and their dog Oliver.

April Callen is the Vice President, Narrative Strategy for Purpose Built Communities. In her role, April designs and implements a comprehensive suite of strategies that enable the organization and the Purpose Built Network to strengthen relationships and partnerships at the local level through compelling and affirming stories about people and place.

Prior to joining Purpose Built, April served as a Principal Strategist for the FrameWorks Institute, a Washington, DC-based communications think tank, where she worked closely with national nonprofit organizations focused on important issues like education, early childhood, housing, and health. Before that, she held key communications and strategy roles for Chicago-area nonprofits The Chicago Community Trust, and Chicago Foundation for Women, among other organizations.

April has worked in the space of communications and narrative change for more than fifteen years, authoring articles exploring narrative and its intersection with education policy, health, and other topics, featured in K-12 Dive, Chronicle of Philanthropy, and Education Post. While in Chicago, April was also a longtime on-air contributor to Vocalo Radio, a nonprofit NPR station that blends music, culture, and art.

April graduated from Oglethorpe University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Rhetoric Studies and from DePaul University with a Masters in Media, Culture, and Society.

Ben Lewis is the Vice President of Learning and Innovation at Purpose Built Communities. Within this role, he leads the Purpose Built Communities Solutions Lab, coordinates organizational learning, and drives field building efforts.

Prior to joining Purpose Built, Ben studied leadership and comprehensive community development at Harvard University. Before that, he led a high school at Strive Preparatory Schools in Denver, CO, elevating the school by two tiers on the Colorado state assessment. He also served as an assistant principal at KIPP and Northeast High School in Philadelphia, where he launched a writing program, coordinated testing, and led a school culture plan that increased on-time student attendance by 60%. Ben began his career as a high school humanities teacher at Freire Charter School, where he achieved a 92% yearly college acceptance rate as the senior team lead, authored a social sciences curriculum, and coached the varsity track and field team.

Ben’s accolades include the Penn Club of Philadelphia Social Impact Award, Philadelphia regional representative for the Sue Lehmann Award for Teaching Excellence, Harvard Graduate School of Education Entrepreneurship Award, and The Harvard Krinsky Entrepreneurship and Innovation Award. He also actively participates in advisory boards like Partners in Democracy and is an Aspen Pahara Fellow.

Ben earned his doctorate in educational leadership from Harvard University. He also holds a Master of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Africana Studies, both degrees from the University of Pennsylvania

Damon Bailey, a seasoned nonprofit executive, brings over fifteen years of expertise in empowering marginalized communities across the South. Starting his journey as a middle grades teacher in Southwest Atlanta with Teach For America in 2009, Damon recently served as the Executive Director for Teach For America Alabama. In this role, he spearheaded the development and execution of strategies to enhance educational outcomes for children statewide.

Damon's impactful leadership resulted in overseeing the recruitment and training of nearly 300 teachers, securing over $8 million in funding, including an increased Alabama state legislative appropriation, and orchestrating one of the largest state education conferences with 400 attendees. Damon earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Hampton University in 2009.

As a Vice President of Network Member Success, Daniel works to advance strategies that drive equitable community transformation. With a deep commitment to social justice and systems change, he has dedicated his career to addressing opportunity gaps and advocating for underrepresented communities.

Before joining Purpose Built Communities, Daniel served as Vice President for Community Impact at the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, leading philanthropic efforts focused on education, economic opportunity, community development, and crisis response. His career spans leadership roles in philanthropy, nonprofit advocacy, and policy, with a focus on issues such as LGBTQ+ and gender rights, criminal justice reform, affordable housing, healthcare access for the homeless, and HIV/AIDS prevention. In recognition of his work, he was inducted into the prestigious National Culture of Health Fellows Program in 2017.

Daniel’s expertise lies in building cross-sector partnerships, engaging communities at the grassroots level, and working with national decision-makers to drive systemic change. A self-described “purposeful disruptor of broken systems,” he is committed to creating solutions that lead to lasting impact.

He holds degrees in Psychology, Theatre Studies, and Social Work, bringing an interdisciplinary approach to his work. Outside of his professional life, Daniel is a stage and screen actor, an accomplished singer, and a former competitive swimmer.

Davon is a seasoned advocacy and policy strategist with over 25 years of experience leading lobbying, Political Action Committees, and grassroots campaigns, driving action on various policy issues.

Davon is passionate about building and empowering leaders to impact the world around them. He designs strategies that leverage communications and messaging techniques and the latest in advocacy technologies and build relationships that put people first and get measurable results.

Davon is a proponent of serving local communities, having served as a court-appointed member of the Prince William County Zoning Appeals board, addressing growth issues, and as a Commissioner for the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA).

In 2020 and 2023, Davon was recognized for his work in advocacy, being named to the top twenty list by the National Institute of Lobbying and Ethics and the Advocacy Association. These awards are given to professionals who show innovation in leadership and mentorship, as nominated by their peers in Washington, DC.

Davon has appeared on the CSPAN television network, syndicated talk shows, and radio and wrote a political column for a local newspaper for 12 years. He is also a 12-year veteran, serving in the United States Army National Guard and Reserves.

Davon has been married to his wife, Sherri, for 28 years. Davon and Sherri both have two adult daughters.

Drew started his career as an elementary school teacher in Washington, DC Public Schools before moving into administration as an instructional coach, assistant principal and eventually principal.

Recognizing the need to reimagine the school experience, as principal, Drew and his team at Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School joined the initial DC Public Schools Design Lab, centering movement and physical activity for students and staff. Later, to further expand the school design and increase student opportunity, his school joined the first Whole Child Collaborative in partnership with Transcend Education.

As the Whole Child Model began to further spread, Drew joined the Transcend team as a school design partner and later moved into a project lead role, supporting 21 schools across Washington, DC implementing the model. After seeing the positive shift in the day to day experience for students and adults, when wellbeing and equitable opportunity are centered, Drew is motivated to support similar community-driven educational innovation across the country.

Drew has a B.A. from the University of Buffalo, a M.A.T. from American University and a Post-Master’s Leadership Certificate from George Washington University. After growing up in Buffalo, NY, Drew now calls Washington, DC home alongside his wife and two small kids.

Evan Smith is a Vice President on the Network Member Success Team for Purpose Built Communities, a nonprofit organization dedicated to implementing resident-centered, holistic neighborhood revitalization. Evan provides consulting and technical assistance to local leaders, assisting them in implementing Purpose Built’s proven neighborhood revitalization strategy designed to create a healthy, mixed-income neighborhood with pathways to prosperity.

Prior to joining Purpose Built, Evan served as an educator and teacher coach. As a teacher, he led his students to achieve significant academic progress. As a manager and program director at Teach For America, he developed and led professional development efforts on both a regional and national level to increase classroom rigor and student achievement. He began his career as a 7th grade math teacher and soccer coach in Edcouch, Texas. He continues to support schools in a volunteer capacity in Atlanta, serving as Community Engagement Co-Chair and Saturday Show-up Coordinator at The Nest Nursery School and School Performance Committee Member at Charles R. Drew Charter School.

Evan graduated from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science. He has also completed the Senior Leaders Program for Nonprofit Professionals certificate program at Columbia Business School.

Joe is the Vice President of Neighborhood Planning at Purpose Built Communities. In this role, he collaborates with Prospects, Network Members, and Purpose Built staff to design data-driven systems and planning processes that support the implementation of the Purpose Built model. His work spans the core pillars of Mixed-Income Housing, Education, Community Wellness, and Economic Vitality, helping communities create pathways to prosperity.

Before joining Purpose Built, Joe worked extensively in planning and community development, most recently at the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), where he led an applied research portfolio focused on centering children and caregivers in housing, child care facilities development, climate policy, and urban design. He also has experience in federal early childhood policy at Education Counsel and in affordable housing policy and finance at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

Joe holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts from Furman University. He currently lives in Washington, DC.

Karen Cramer is the Vice President of Data, Technology, and Impact at Purpose Built Communities and leverages over two decades of nonprofit management and development expertise. In her role within the Impact Team, she implements Purpose Built Communities' measurement framework and implements an integrated data system for Purpose Built Communities, Network Members, and Community Partners.

Prior to joining Purpose Built, Karen served as the Chief Community Impact Officer at TechBridge, where she led initiatives in hunger relief, housing support, social justice, and workforce development. She pioneered TechBridge’s Performance Measurement Consulting group, blending data strategy and technology implementation for enhanced data collection, reporting, and visualization. While at Techbridge, she also published a white paper on implementing a nonprofit data strategy.

Karen's philanthropic engagement extends to serving on the DeKalb/Fulton Emergency Food and Shelter Program Board and the Lutheran Community Food Ministry Board. She actively participates in volunteer organizations like Caring for our Unhoused Neighbors in Decatur. As Co-founder of Helping Mamas, the baby supply bank for Georgia, she received the United Way Atlanta’s inaugural spark prize.

Karen holds a certification as a Licensed Master Social Worker and earned a master's degree in social work from The University of Texas at Austin. She also obtained a bachelor’s degree in social work from James Madison University.

Michael Williamson is the Vice President of Housing and Community Development at Purpose Built Communities. In this role, he advises and supports Network Members at various stages of developing and executing their housing and community development strategies. He also helps ensure Purpose Built Communities' position on housing and community development is clearly communicated to Network Members, prospective Network Members, and the broader field.

With more than 15 years of experience in community planning, affordable housing, and nonprofit management, Michael previously served as the CEO of Network Member Northside Development Group. Since 2020, he led the organization’s efforts to expand opportunities for mixed-income housing and enhance economic, educational, recreational, health, and social resources for residents through a resident-led community transformation approach.

Michael’s background also includes serving as a Community Development Project Manager for the City of Greenville, South Carolina, where he supported the city’s affordable housing initiatives, collaborated with neighborhood residents on master planning, and facilitated owner-occupied repair programs. He has also held leadership roles in the nonprofit housing sector with Habitat for Humanity of York County and Community Link.

A graduate of Leadership Greenville Class of 45, Michael was named one of the Upstate Business Journal’s Best and Brightest 35 and Under in 2019. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture and a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Development from Clemson University.

Nichelle is the Vice President of Network Member Success at Purpose Built Communities, where she supports Network Members in designing and implementing strategies that drive holistic neighborhood transformation. With more than 15 years of experience in community development, economic strategy, and advocacy, she has worked across nonprofit and higher education sectors to advance cross-sector initiatives that strengthen communities and improve economic outcomes for families.

Before joining Purpose Built Communities, Nichelle served as the Executive Director of the Partnership for Community Action in New Mexico, a community advocacy organization committed to investing in people as leaders and advancing community-driven solutions for lasting change. In this role, she led the development and management of a social enterprise center—an innovative economic model designed to address local needs and foster economic growth. Her work, in collaboration with partners and community leaders, has shaped statewide policies and initiatives focused on economic opportunity and expanded investment in early childhood education.

Nichelle’s expertise in place-based strategies, collaborative leadership, and policy development fuels her commitment to supporting communities in creating pathways to prosperity.

She holds an MBA in Strategic Management and Policy from the University of New Mexico.

As Vice President of Housing and Community Development, Whitney advises, counsels and supports Network Members in the planning and implementation of their housing and community development strategies to ensure neighborhood-centered impact and alignment with the Purpose Built model. With experience in both architecture and real estate development, Whitney brings a wealth of expertise in site selection and land acquisition, nonprofit partnership development, project underwriting and feasibility, sourcing public and private financing and directing project design and construction.

Over the last 20 years, Whitney has been a senior developer for several regional and national housing development companies including Brinshore Development, Bridge Housing, and The Michaels Organization. She was responsible for expansion into new markets, creating development opportunities through public-private partnerships and managing high level client relationships with local partners, city agencies, housing authorities and elected officials.

Whitney facilitated master planning efforts for the revitalization of several large-scale public housing developments with 5,000 new units of housing in Chicago, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The transformation plans for both Los Angeles and Las Vegas lead to Choice Neighborhood Implementation grants of $50M. In addition, Whitney has developed 1600 mixed-income housing units across the Midwest and West Coast with a value of $1 billion.

Whitney holds a BS in Design from Arizona State University and an MS in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. In addition, she attended the HUD Community Builder Program at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University.

Amy Clear is the Director of Development for Purpose Built Communities Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to implementing resident-centered, holistic neighborhood revitalization. In her role, Amy oversees and implements fundraising strategies to secure financial support, cultivates and maintains donor relationships, and plans strategic partnership events.

Prior to joining Purpose Built, Amy spent several years at Coxe Curry & Associates, where she provided strategic fundraising counsel and management to numerous Atlanta-area nonprofits. Outside of work, she gives her time to Community Legal Services in their efforts to ensure fair housing practices in Central Florida.

Amy graduated cum laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance.

Ashley Bozarth is Director of Network Engagement and Resources at Purpose Built Communities, where she plays a central role in building relationships among Purpose Built Network Members. This work focuses on building and supporting the Purpose Built community of practice, with peer-to-peer engagement, and documentation of best practices and innovation, in order to strengthen the ability of neighborhood revitalization leaders to apply effective strategies in their respective communities.

Ashley began her career as a kindergarten and second grade teacher in Philadelphia through Teach for America. Before joining Purpose Built, Ashley was a community and economic development research analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, specializing in workforce development policy. She helped to launch the Center for Workforce and Economic Opportunity and coordinated the publication of Investing in America’s Workforce: Improving Outcomes for Workers and Employers, an anthology of best practices in workforce development written by practitioners and policymakers around the country.

While attending Georgia Institute of Technology, Ashley’s applied research focused on permanent supportive housing and Housing First policies, equitable local economic development practices. as well as how planners and city officials can better engage with and incorporate immigrant/refugee perspectives into policymaking processes.

Ashley has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and French from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Georgia Tech.

Dennis is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Purpose Built Communities, where he leads strategic efforts to amplify the Purpose Built brand and strengthen engagement across the Network. With over a decade of experience in marketing and public relations, he has developed and executed communications strategies for major brands, including Disney, L’Oréal, Warner Bros. Pictures, RA Sushi, Points of Light, and BMW.

Dennis began his marketing career at Matlock ADPR, a mid-sized multicultural agency in Atlanta, GA, where he worked on media relations, public relations, and social media strategies for clients such as 100 Black Men of America, Inc., Youth Entrepreneurs Georgia, Macy’s, Koch Industries, Publix, and Georgia-Pacific. He later transitioned into the tech sector as a senior account executive, managing PR initiatives for startups and fintech companies in Atlanta’s Transaction Alley.

His passion for impact-driven work led him to the nonprofit sector, where he most recently served as the communications director for redefinED Atlanta. In this role, he oversaw external communications, brand messaging, social media strategy, content creation, and media relations for an organization advocating for K-12 public education in metro Atlanta.

Dennis is an active member of the Public Relations Society of America, Georgia Chapter, and the Black Public Relations Society of Atlanta. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in broadcast journalism from East Carolina University.

Outside of work, Dennis enjoys volunteering in his community and advocating for social and racial equity. A few fun facts: he has auditioned for three reality shows, once considered a career in culinary arts, and is the proud dog dad of a French Bulldog named Thai’Darius.

Linda Roberts serves as the Director of Talent and People Services at Purpose Built Communities, where she holds a key responsibility in recruiting, retaining, and fostering the growth of exceptional talent within the organization. Before joining Purpose Built, Linda carved her career path through diverse leadership roles encompassing executive administration, account management, and sales across both private and nonprofit sectors.

Outside her professional pursuits, Linda calls Dawsonville, GA, home, where she resides with her husband, three children, and their boxer. Linda is equipped with a bachelor's degree in business management complemented by a certificate in Human Resources.

Nikki Palmer is a seasoned development professional who currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida, but originally from Columbus, Ohio. With over a decade of experience specializing in fundraising campaigns and annual giving, Nikki has demonstrated expertise in driving philanthropic success and community impact.

Nikki holds an MBA in Organizational Leadership from Ohio Dominican University, where she honed her skills in strategic management and leadership. Her career includes notable roles at prominent organizations such as the American Heart Association and the University of Kansas Endowment, where she played a pivotal role in shaping and executing effective fundraising campaign strategies.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Nikki is passionate about community development and youth mentorship. She dedicates her time to initiatives that support these causes, including reflecting her commitment to fostering positive change and empowering the next generation.

In her personal life, Nikki enjoys traveling and creating lasting memories with her husband and their four children. Her diverse interests and values underscore her well-rounded approach to both her professional and personal endeavors.

Nikki Palmer is excited and honored to join the Purpose Built Communities team and looks forward to making a meaningful impact.

Sherian is the Process and Change Director at Purpose Built Communities, where she leads strategic initiatives to enhance organizational efficiency, foster collaboration, and drive transformative change. With more than a decade of experience in organizational development, change management, and leadership consulting, she specializes in designing and implementing processes that empower teams and streamline operations.

Before joining Purpose Built, Sherian served as a Senior Transformation Consultant at August Public, where she led cross-functional initiatives to implement innovative organizational practices. Prior to that, she was a Transformation Delivery Advisor at KPMG, directing change management strategies for large-scale projects and aligning leadership and stakeholders to support seamless statewide technology transformations. She also brings experience in program management from Harvard Business Publishing, where she designed and implemented sales effectiveness training for global teams.

Sherian’s expertise includes process improvement, strategic consulting, and learning and development. She is skilled at facilitating leadership workshops, fostering a culture of trust and innovation, and driving measurable improvements in organizational effectiveness.

She holds a Master of Science from The New School and a Bachelor of Science from Savannah State University.

Cynthia McGuinness joins the Purpose Built team after serving as the Grants Manager for network member Focused Community Strategies, where she helped establish and grow a successful grants program that raises millions of dollars to support the organization’s programs, operations, and capital projects. Prior to her time with FCS, Cynthia provided professional grant consulting services for a host of nonprofits in metro Atlanta and around the country. Some were small start-ups learning how to apply for grants for the first time. Others were well-established organizations with multi-million dollar budgets that needed an extra pair of expert hands. Their areas of focus varied widely – youth development, homelessness, refugee resettlement, disability services, substance use recovery, adoption and foster care, gender and sexual diversity, faith-based services, food security, disaster response, arts, health, education, and more. All of them shared a passion for making our world a better place, and Cynthia was honored to play an instrumental part in connecting them with the resources they needed to advance their missions.

She is an active member of the Grant Professionals Association, former Board President for the Grant Professionals Association’s Georgia chapter, and a former professional dancer.

She and her husband of more than thirty years, Alexander, are the proud parents of their newly flown-the-nest young adult son Jacob, who lives in Minneapolis, and daughter Rachel, who is a student at University of Georgia. When Cynthia is not at her laptop crafting compelling grant proposals you can find her coiling pine needle baskets, going for walks, or curled up with a cat in her lap and a good book.

Jessica, a Dallas native, moved to Alabama to begin her career as a middle school science teacher in Birmingham City Schools. As a Teach For America corps member, she inspired fellow educators and significantly expanded STEM opportunities for her students, including partnering with The Globe Program and achieving recognition in the Southeast Student Research Symposium. Her commitment to creating supportive learning environments led her to a principal role, where she championed a culture centered on social-emotional learning. Her holistic approach to education fostered strides in enhancing student engagement and academic performance.

Recognizing the need for innovative approaches in education, Jessica transitioned into roles that allowed her to make a broader impact. In her role as Recruitment Manager for Teach For America Alabama, Jessica collaborated with Breakthrough Birmingham to create an integrated pipeline for developing top talent and future leaders. Her innovative approach not only doubled the number of accepted fellows in just six months but also led to the development of the Accelerate recruitment strategy. This strategy has since become a national model for cultivating exceptional talent and fostering leadership.

Joining Purpose Built Communities, Jessica is eager to apply her experience to holistic community development. She is excited about contributing to the Purpose Built model’s mission to transform neighborhoods through integrated, community-centered approaches.

Jessica holds a Bachelor's degree in Race, Gender, and Ethnicity from Texas A&M University and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Arizona State University.

Reagan Perkins is a dynamic leader with a knack for balancing the big picture and intricate details. She’s handled multi-million-dollar budgets in both non-profits and corporate sectors, known for her organizational skills and outcome-driven approach. With deep experience in managing complex projects and engaging diverse stakeholders, Reagan shines in simplifying tasks and driving collaborative results. She’s excelled as a Communications and Data Asset Manager, particularly in the entertainment app space for a cruise line corporation. Reagan is celebrated for her emotional intelligence, relationship-building skills, and dedication to community impact.

She holds a Political Science degree from the University of Central Florida, that she never really uses, and lives in Orlando, FL with her husband and teenage son.

Vicki serves as the Prospect and Database Manager at Purpose Built Communities where she is responsible for the day-to-day operations of advancement services including CRM management, prospect research and identification, donor analytics and reporting, system updates, and staff training.

She brings with her over ten years of experience in development having worked at national and international non-profit organizations in sectors such as higher education, animal welfare, nature conservation, and poverty eradication. Throughout her career, she has brought definition and coordination to all aspects of fundraising with a focus on portfolio optimization, prospect identification, and data management.

She considers herself a mission-driven individual and is enthusiastic about supporting Purpose Built Communities’ efforts to ensure every neighborhood has the resources and amenities needed to achieve racial equity, improved health outcomes, and greater economic mobility.

Vicki holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Francis Marion University and a master’s in public administration from the University of South Carolina. She currently serves on the Apra-Carolinas Board as secretary.

During her free time, you can find her practicing yoga, reading a good book, or trying out a new recipe.

Juan Zamarripa is the Salesforce and Tableau Administrator at Purpose Built Communities. In this role, Juan manages and optimizes Purpose Built Communities’ Salesforce system, ensuring that the organization maximizes the benefits of Salesforce to support the organization’s mission and drive operations forward. He also builds Tableau dashboards that enhance Purpose Built’s data visualization and reporting capabilities.

Prior to joining Purpose Built, Juan was the Senior Manager, Data Strategy and Salesforce Administration, at Credit Builders Alliance overseeing and managing CBA’s technological resources and CBA’s data collection and analysis initiatives. Juan is a proud AmeriCorps alum having served in Arlington, VA coordinating and facilitating a college access program for Latinx and other immigrant high school students and starting a robotics club for sixth grade Latinx students. While completing his master’s degree Juan served as a data analyst for the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee of McLean County in Illinois. He worked on measuring the relationship between persons with mental illness and the criminal justice system. He also helped evaluate the use of the Public Safety Assessment tool as an alternative to the use of financial conditions of release.

Juan holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in applied economics with a concentration in community and economic development from Illinois State University.

Ximena Pérez, originally from Bogotá, Colombia, holds a degree in Government and Economics from Minerva University. Her academic journey took her to seven countries, sparking a deep commitment to equity and community-led development through cross-cultural collaboration. She has contributed to international development projects across Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia, leading operations, communications, and knowledge-sharing efforts to support co-created, community-centered initiatives.

Ximena has also worked with nonprofits, legal aid organizations, and government agencies to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence, work that has strengthened her ability to foster trust-based partnerships and manage cross-sector collaborations. At the heart of Ximena’s work is a strong belief in the power of connected, resilient communities. She is passionate about initiatives that are locally driven and grounded in the needs and voices of the people they serve.

In her free time, she enjoys embroidery and is currently on a mission to read 50 books by women and authors of color as a way to uplift diverse perspectives.

Amy Odle is the Executive Coordinator of Network Member Success at Purpose Built Communities, providing administrative support to the Purpose Built Network Member Success team, as well as leading tour logistics and event planning, and fulfilling Office Manager responsibilities.

Prior to Purpose Built Communities, Amy worked at Wesley International Academy in Atlanta as an Executive Assistant, Front Office Manager, and Human Resources Assistant. Since 2010, she has also served as a bookkeeper for Remerge, a nonprofit facilitating collaborative opportunities to accelerate belonging & flourishing in local communities. Amy also serves as a Member of Wesley International Academy’s Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) team.

Amy formerly spent 17 years working for Starbucks, managing several stores and opening new stores in both the United States and the United Kingdom. She resides in Atlanta with her husband, four children and their dog.

She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Western Washington University.

Kelli Ashwell is the Executive Coordinator of Strategy & Operations for Purpose Built Communities Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to implementing resident-centered, holistic neighborhood revitalization. In her role, Kelli provides administrative support to the Purpose Built Strategy and Operations team. Proficient in complex calendar management, travel coordination, and event planning, Kelli brings organization and efficiency to daily operations.

Prior to Purpose Built, Kelli worked at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta as an Executive Assistant and has 10 years of experience in executive support.

Kelli graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Risk Management and Insurance.

Kim Graves is the Executive Coordinator for the Strategic Partnerships Team for Purpose Built Communities Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to implementing resident-centered, holistic neighborhood revitalization. In her role, Kim provides support to the Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and the Fundraising, Marketing and Communications Team.

Prior to joining Purpose Built, Kim has served as an Executive Assistant for over 30 years, most recently supporting the Founder/CEO of Choate Construction Company, one of the largest General Contractors in the Southeast.

Sarah Freeman is the Executive Coordinator to Carol Naughton at Purpose Built Communities. In her role, Sarah is dedicated to providing comprehensive executive coordination and support. In this capacity, she plays a vital role in ensuring seamless operations and facilitating efficient communication within the organization.

Prior to her tenure at Purpose Built, Sarah garnered valuable experience through diverse roles within sales and account management. Her professional background has equipped her with a multifaceted skill set, enhancing her effectiveness in her current position.

Sarah is an alumna of the University of North Georgia, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in business management.

Shena has a vast background in Human Resources, finance and with a love for technology. She brings strong organizational skills, a creative problem solver, and the ability to support senior level stakeholders both internally and externally. She is a recent data analytics graduate known for her attention to detail, adaptability to new systems and work environments, and a proactive approach to tasks. Shena has experience creating and implementing processes and procedures to bring uniformity within a corporate environment.

Shena received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and her MBA in Data Analytics from LSU (Geaux Tigers). She is very organized, self-motivated, ambitious, and is eager to build relationships and be a part of the Purpose Built Team.