TAC .::. Staff

Kevin Martone, L.S.W.

Executive Director

Kevin Martone is nationally recognized for his expertise in behavioral health policy, system financing and design, Olmstead and community integration, homelessness, and best practice models of housing for persons with disabilities. His 25 years of executive leadership at the national, state, and provider levels in both the public and private sectors have given him a unique understanding of the complexity of systems in these areas. Kevin incorporates his knowledge of interrelated issues in health care, homelessness, social services/welfare, community development, public health, and criminal justice systems — and their intersection with the political environment — into his work. Kevin joined TAC in 2011 as Director of Behavioral Health before becoming Executive Director in 2012. Prior to joining TAC, he served as president of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, advancing key policy issues on behalf of the nation’s public mental health systems before Congress; with federal agencies including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; and with stakeholder groups. As Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Kevin managed a $1.5 billion operating budget and led a statewide systemic transformation of public behavioral health to advance recovery, expand peer-delivered services, improve access to community-based programs, and decrease reliance on acute care. He has since helped several states to implement Olmstead by advancing recovery, community integration, and social inclusion — particularly through the use of evidence-based practices such as permanent supportive housing and care coordination. He is currently the president-elect of the National Association for Rural Mental Health.

Marie Herb, M.A.

Managing Director

Marie has over 30 years of experience working with systems and communities to solve the housing needs of homeless individuals and families and other vulnerable populations. She is an expert in using federal, state, and local affordable and special needs housing programs to address these issues, and is nationally recognized for her expertise regarding U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) McKinney-Vento homeless assistance programs. Marie has worked with numerous states and communities, facilitating long-range strategic planning and partnerships to create systemic approaches to expand permanent supportive housing, adopt plans to end homelessness and chronic homelessness, develop effective homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing approaches, and more effectively allocate and use resources. In addition to serving as TAC’s Managing Director, with oversight responsibility for overall office management, personnel, and human resources, Marie has led TAC's technical assistance efforts funded by HUD including successful interventions in more than 21 states in partnership with HUD headquarters and 15 HUD field offices across the country. In addition to conducting community and provider needs assessments, developing customized tools and training curricula, and delivering direct technical assistance, Marie has facilitated over 100 training workshops for housing and service providers, public housing agencies, and state and local governments on topics related to homelessness, permanent supportive housing, linking mainstream housing and services resources, grant administration, reporting, and financial management. Prior to joining TAC, Marie was the executive director of the AIDS Housing Corporation where she assisted nonprofit organizations in developing and operating housing programs for persons living with HIV/AIDS and others experiencing homelessness, and advised local communities on developing their overall Continuum of Care strategies.

Ruthanne James

Director of Business Operations

Ruthanne James has over 35 years' experience in business and financial management for nonprofit and for-profit organizations. As Director of Business Operations at TAC, she directs financial management, contract administration, client liaison, facilities management, asset management, compliance, purchasing, human resources and benefits management, and general administration. She provides executive assistance and support to all TAC staff members and the Board of Directors. She is also the liaison with the company’s IT provider, CPA firm, and building management group. Ruthanne prepares TAC’s annual A133 audit. Prior to joining TAC, Ruthanne was Corporate Manager of Operations of a 50-person CPA firm, U.S. Administration Manager for a 10,000-person international IT consulting firm, and Vice President of Business Development and Administration for an environmental consulting firm.

Aggie Douglas

Assistant Director of Business Operations

With over 20 years of experience in accounting, Aggie Douglas is an expert in federal contracting and ensures compliance with federal requirements on TAC projects funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). She holds a certificate in Financial Management of Federal Grants for Recipients. Aggie served as coordinator of TAC’s monitoring grant with the VA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, and currently oversee the billing and compliance for TAC’s U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) contracts. She also serves as TAC’s benefits manager, overseeing the staff time reporting system and managing accounts payable and receivable for the agency. She coordinates with TAC’s IT provider, and performs other administrative duties as needed. Before joining TAC, Aggie worked as a Junior Accountant at William P. Owens, CPA.

Francine Arienti, M.A.

Human Services Director

Francine Arienti has 25 years of experience working to address the housing and service needs of people with disabilities and people who experience homelessness through direct service, technical assistance (TA) and training, evaluation, and policy support. As TAC’s Human Services Director, Francine works with TAC’s Executive Director and Senior Consultants to coordinate project development and management for all of TAC's human services work. She also manages and provides direct TA and consulting support for several large federal and state-funded projects, including intensive TA on state Medicaid and housing agency partnerships as part of the federal Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program, and TA to Washington State to implement Medicaid-funded supportive housing and supported employment services. She directs TAC’s work with the state of Massachusetts to evaluate and improve the quality of care in its Medicaid-funded children’s behavioral health services, and directed TAC’s participation in the national evaluation of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services' (SAMHSA) homeless grant portfolio, which included assessing fidelity to evidence-based practices for people who are homeless and have mental health and/or substance use disorders. Francine has managed several large homeless TA grants and contracts for SAMHSA and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and has co-authored publications on evidence-based and promising practices for people who are homeless and have behavioral health needs.

Lisa Sloane, M.P.A.

Senior Policy Advisor, Housing Group

Lisa Sloane has over 35 years of experience working with federal, state, and local governments as well as nonprofit agencies, to address the supportive housing needs of people with disabilities and of individuals and families experiencing homelessness. At TAC, she manages complex consulting projects for state and federal government agencies. Lisa has worked with the states of Virginia, Massachusetts, Oregon, Louisiana, and Maryland to develop and implement permanent supportive housing programs for people with disabilities and people who are homeless. In Massachusetts, she played a key role in the development of innovative cross-disability housing programs, including a housing locator system, a state housing bond fund, and a state home modification loan program. She is an expert in the area of fair housing. Prior to joining TAC, Lisa was principal of Sloane Associates, a woman-owned business that provided affordable housing and human services consultation, specializing in the development of housing programs and policies for persons with disabilities, including those experiencing homelessness.

Sherry Lerch

Senior Consultant, Human Services Group

Sherry Lerch has over 30 years’ experience in the mental health and substance abuse service systems, ranging from direct service provision to system administration. Sherry draws on her past experience in the public sector in the areas of developing and implementing standards and approaches to serving individuals with mental illness and co-occurring physical health, developmental, and substance use disorders; integrating physical and behavioral health care; and identifying inter-agency and cross-systems approaches and solutions to resolve complex issues. Sherry’s areas of expertise include systems assessment, strategic planning, group facilitation, program development, and financing strategies. Sherry has spent much of her career in county and state government, including serving as the Acting Deputy Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in Pennsylvania. Other roles have included Director of Policy, Planning and Program Development, Director of Operations, Special Assistant for Substance Abuse Services, and Chief of Care Management.

John O'Brien, M.S.

Senior Consultant, Human Services Group

John O'Brien has more than 30 years of experience in behavioral health systems design, financing, and implementation. He has worked with Medicaid, mental health, and substance abuse authorities in numerous states to develop federal Medicaid waivers, Medicaid state plan amendments, and federal grant applications. John directs TAC's work on substance use disorders (SUDs) with an emphasis on helping states increase access to services, integrate SUD treatment and primary care, and reduce unnecessary costs by using Medicaid and other sources to support effective systems. He is the subject matter expert for several states in their efforts to implement systems of care for children and families with serious mental health conditions and on community integration strategies for adults with serious mental illness. Prior to joining TAC as a Senior Consultant, John worked for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in leadership roles with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). At CMS, he led the Innovation Accelerator Program for Substance Use Disorder and Primary and Mental Health Integration and coordinated the agency's efforts on developing guidance regarding parity for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. John played a significant role in the implementation of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act and in developing the Home and Community Based Services regulations. At SAMHSA, John was Senior Advisor to the Administrator on Health Care Reform.

Dayana Simons, M.Ed.

Senior Consultant, Human Services Group

Dayana Simons has over 20 years of experience in children’s behavioral health, Medicaid, and managed care. She is a nationally recognized expert in behavioral health policy and service design, development, and implementation with extensive experience in contract and project management. Prior to joining TAC, Ms. Simons served as Health Program Director at the Institute for Innovation & Implementation at University of Maryland-Baltimore School of Social Work where, as part of core leadership for the National Technical Assistance Network for Children’s Behavioral Health (TA Network), she co-led a national collaborative to improve the use of psychotropic medication with youth in residential care settings, oversaw the Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) peer curriculum, and was the primary technical assistance resource and coach to U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) System of Care grantee sites in multiple states.

David de Voursney, M.P.P.

Senior Consultant, Human Services Group

David de Voursney brings over 15 years of federal experience and significant expertise in a broad range of issues related to behavioral health policy, programs, and financing, as well as experience managing national projects. His work has included research, implementation, evaluation, and policy development related to primary and behavioral health care integration, supports for adults with serious mental illness, child and youth services, criminal justice, and other topics related to mental health and substance use disorders. In his recent position at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), David oversaw a team of project officers and experts working to improve community-based services for adults with serious mental illness. This included managing SAMHSA’s grant programs focused on primary and behavioral health care integration, supported employment, diversion from the criminal justice system, Assertive Community Treatment, assisted outpatient treatment, and consumer engagement. Previously, he worked at the office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, where he oversaw research projects evaluating provisions of the Affordable Care Act, care integration programs, state behavioral health systems, and innovative behavioral health service models.

James M. Yates, M.A.

Senior Consultant, Housing Group

Jim Yates has over 28 years of experience in affordable and permanent supportive housing development for vulnerable populations. Jim provides technical assistance (TA) and consultation to community organizations and state and local governments regarding the development and financing of permanent supportive housing for low-income disabled persons and other vulnerable populations. He is an expert in housing development, real estate finance, community planning, federal programs and regulations, program development, and grant writing. Jim has demonstrated expertise in effectively utilizing and layering a wide array of federal housing programs. At TAC, Jim provides TA and consultation to state agencies, local governments, and community-based organizations. He is a nationally recognized expert in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care system and programs serving homeless Veterans and other “Veterans in need.” Jim is currently a Colonel in the Army National Guard. He has performed three overseas deployments in key leadership positions supporting a peace enforcement mission in Bosnia and two combat tours in Afghanistan.

Kyia Watkins

TA & Training Coordinator

Kyia Watkins has over 17 years of experience organizing events, managing schedules, providing technical assistance (TA) to peers and colleagues, and coordinating and facilitating trainings. At TAC, Kyia is responsible for the administration of a multi-year federal grant with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for its Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) TA program. She coordinates all logistics for SSVF regional meetings, trainings and webinars and provides support to TAC and its partners in the provision of TA to grantees. Prior to joining TAC, Kyia worked as an administrative coordinator for one of Boston's leading medical centers where she ensured proposed research and personnel compliance with government regulations and with the medical center's guidelines. She also assisted research personnel with the submission of projects to the Institutional Review Board to ensure protection of human subjects.

Kim Wilder

Federal Contracts Assistant

Kim Wilder is responsible for TAC’s federal grant billing process, ensuring timely and accurate submissions and reporting. She also acts as liaison to HUD and external technical assistance (TA) providers, ensuring successful completion of TA and policy projects and initiatives. She also assists in coordination, logistics, and other duties for federally funded trainings and conferences. Kim serves as TAC’s liaison to BACHome, the City of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development Consumer Advisory Council. Prior to joining TAC, Kim managed the daily functions of the Simmons College Center for Academic Achievement, coordinating with faculty and staff to provide a wide range of support services for students.

Ayana Dilday Gonzalez, M.A.

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Ayana Dilday Gonzalez has over 15 years of experience in policies and practices related to affordable housing development and permanent supportive housing. She has worked in private and public sector affordable housing development, and in public sector health and human services. Ayana has extensive knowledge of federal and state programs used to finance housing and supportive services for low-income and vulnerable populations, including the National Housing Trust Fund, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 811 Project-based Rental Assistance (PRA) Program, and the HUD Continuum of Care Program. She is an expert in the design, financing, implementation, and evaluation of publicly funded permanent supportive housing programs. Prior to her work at TAC, Ayana worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on its HUD 811 PRA program, National Housing Trust Fund program, and the Balance of State Continuum of Care.

Lauren Knott, M.S.W.

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Lauren Knott has over 10 years of experience in policies and practices related to affordable housing and homelessness. She has extensive knowledge of federal programs serving low-income populations. Ms. Knott is the one of the lead technical assistance providers for HUD’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, working with Seattle, Boston, and Vermont Balance of State Continuums of Care (CoCs) to draft plans to end youth homelessness. Ms. Knott also leads TAC’s efforts on youth homelessness, including facilitating community planning processes, developing products for community use, and helping communities ensure that youth voice is central in their strategies. She helped to author HUD’s Guidebooks on Ending Youth Homelessness series and has been a featured speaker on youth homelessness at national conferences. Additionally, Ms. Knott works with communities on designing and implementing their coordinated entry systems, applying a Housing First philosophy at both the agency and community levels, and navigating the requirements of the HUD CoC Program. Prior to joining TAC, Ms. Knott was the Policy Coordinator at the North Carolina Housing Coalition, working on national and statewide policy initiatives. In other nonprofit settings, she has coordinated housing search programs and provided technical assistance to other shelter providers to improve their housing search programs.

Ashley Mann-McLellan, M.P.H.

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Ashley Mann-McLellan has over 16 years’ experience in policies and practices related to affordable housing and permanent supportive housing. Ashley is a specialist in designing and implementing coordinated entry systems; creating and evaluating Continuum of Care governance and decision-making structures; creating outcome- and performance-driven contracting practices; conducting system performance assessments and making improvement recommendations; and centering consumer voices in efforts to end homelessness. She has extensive knowledge of Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Department of Veterans Affairs programs serving low-income populations, as well as mainstream affordable housing programs such as the Housing Choice Voucher program and HUD’s public housing and multifamily portfolios. She has helped nonprofits navigate local and federal regulations in order to access affordable housing resources, and has been instrumental in forging public-private partnerships to create housing opportunities for homeless households. Ashley has helped many communities to introduce homeless and move-on preferences in mainstream affordable housing, adopt a Housing First approach, and develop interventions to end youth homelessness. Prior to joining TAC, Ashley served as Deputy Director at New Lease for Homeless Families, forging an innovative public-private partnership of housing developers, service providers, and government partners to reduce family homelessness throughout Massachusetts.

Melany Mondello, M.B.A.

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Melany Mondello has over 20 years of experience working with nonprofit agencies and government entities to build partnerships and develop permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, prevention programs, and supportive services for people with disabilities. She is an expert in the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) Program and community process, supportive housing, Veterans’ homelessness and housing programs, and in helping to develop quality improvement systems. Melany has experience in providing technical assistance to local communities to build programs and systematic responses to end homelessness, as well as assisting agencies in administering federal and state contracts, coordinating the development and delivery of housing-based services, performing provider-based program evaluations, and developing best practices. Melany currently helps communities comply with HEARTH Act and CoC Program requirements; provides Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veteran Families program technical assistance; helps states develop and implement housing plans to address local needs, and helps communities to improve the housing systems that serve their vulnerable populations. Prior to joining TAC, Melany was the statewide grant coordinator for Maine’s Shelter Plus Care (S+C) and Bridging Rental Assistance subsidy programs. She served as co-chair of the Maine Balance of State CoC and its Data/Homeless Management Information System subcommittee for seven years.

Rachel Post, L.C.S.W.

Senior Associate, Human Services Group

Rachel Post is a Senior Associate at TAC with over 20 years of experience designing and implementing innovative, evidence-based, and nationally recognized programs to improve the social determinants of health for vulnerable populations — including people exiting homelessness or incarceration and those with complex primary and behavioral health conditions. Prior to joining TAC, she served as Public Policy Director at Central City Concern in Portland, Oregon, where she led federal, state, and local advocacy efforts; built cross-system collaborations; and contributed to the city’s plan to end homelessness. Rachel designed and implemented the country’s first evidence-based supported employment program for people with primary substance use disorders exiting homelessness, and a program to expedite the acquisition of Supplemental Security Income benefits. The Housing First team in Portland that Rachel designed and implemented to serve individuals experiencing chronic homelessness received a SAMHSA Exemplary Program award; she also oversaw implementation and supervision of the Denver Housing First team at Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Rachel has also contributed her expertise to Portland’s HUD-recognized recovery housing program, which serves individuals with primary substance use disorders who are exiting homelessness. Rachel has presented at housing and health care conferences nationwide and in a congressional briefing, and has served as an adjunct professor at Portland State University. She has engaged with federal, state, and local officials, and with community-based organizations and coalitions, to create and sustain successful policy, programs, and cross-system initiatives.

Tyler Sadwith

Senior Associate, Human Services Group

Tyler Sadwith has worked for over seven years on advancing strategies to help states introduce behavioral health system reforms and address complex policy, operational, and strategic challenges. Most recently, as a Technical Director for the Center for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Services at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), he oversaw reviews of Section 1115 substance use disorder (SUD) demonstration applications and helped implement the agency’s opioid strategy. Tyler also managed the SUD portfolio of the Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program, a cross-agency strategic support and technical assistance (TA) platform designed to support service delivery and payment innovation. Tyler has extensive knowledge of federal and state programs used to finance and deliver addiction treatment services. He is an expert in federal Medicaid behavioral health policy and operations, and has collaboratively engaged key stakeholders and officials at every level of government in the design, implementation, and evaluation of policy, programs, and cross-system initiatives.

Gina Schaak

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Gina Schaak has over 18 years' experience helping nonprofit housing and service agencies to navigate federal, state, and local programs in order to access and create more permanent supportive housing for the most vulnerable populations. In addition to being a skilled TA and training provider with extensive experience providing support and consultation to nonprofit homeless and housing organizations, Gina serves as TAC's national policy researcher and public liaison. In this role, she tracks federal congressional activity related to relevant homeless and housing legislation, and disseminates information to the public. Prior to joining TAC, Gina worked for the City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development managing multiple federal homeless Supportive Housing Programs.

Elizabeth Stewart

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Liz Stewart has over 15 years of experience in policies and practices related to affordable housing development and permanent supportive housing. Through her experience in the nonprofit and public sectors, she has helped supportive housing and services agencies to navigate local and federal regulations and restrictions in order to access resources to support permanent supportive housing. Liz has extensive knowledge of federal and state programs used to finance housing and services for low-income and vulnerable populations including the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program, the Housing Choice Voucher Program, the 811 Project Rental Assistance Program, and HUD Continuums of Care. She is an expert on underwriting and evaluating financial feasibility for mixed-finance housing developments including the use of Section 202, Community Development Block Grants, HOME, and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Nicole LiBaire

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Nicole LiBaire has nearly two decades of expertise in affordable housing and federal programs — most recently as Executive Director of the Louisiana Housing Authority. In this role, she oversaw the state’s 3,000-unit permanent supportive housing and homeless programs, including the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care. Nicole was responsible for developing Louisiana’s plan to end homelessness and chaired the Governor’s Council on Homelessness. She was also instrumental in the state's nationally recognized hurricane relief efforts, and administered several federal programs that aided in rebuilding.

Douglas Tetrault

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Douglas Tetrault has worked for more than nine years on issues related to affordable housing and homelessness, with particular focus on permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, homelessness prevention, and the integration of health care and income supports for vulnerable populations. Douglas has developed and delivered on-site, web-based, and written trainings; administered federal and state contracts; coordinated the development and delivery of housing-based service projects; performed provider-based program evaluations; developed, disseminated, and informed best practices; and analyzed public policy and legislative issues. He is also experienced in the coordination and conceptual development of Pay for Success contracts. At TAC, Douglas is responsible for managing a multi-year federal grant with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for its Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Technical Assistance (TA) program. In this role, he manages the planning and implementation of direct TA services, contributes to the production of program guidance and tools, prepares and delivers direct training, and provides one-to-one consultation to multiple localities and states. Under federal, state, and private contracts he also provides management support and direct TA to HUD's Vets@Home initiative, the Continuum of Care Program, and other Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) homeless assistance programs. Prior to joining TAC, Douglas worked as the program manager at the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance where he was in charge of the administration, management, and evaluation of a wide range of publicly funded housing and service programs. As an intern for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, he researched legislative issues related to human rights and advocacy law.

Phillip Allen, M.A.

Associate, Housing Group

Phil Allen has over nine years of experience working on issues associated with ending and preventing homelessness. He has expertise in rural homelessness solutions, accessing Veteran services, implementing rapid re-housing and homelessness prevention programs, and building community collaboration to find systemic solutions to help vulnerable populations. Phil played an active role in the community process of Maine’s Continuums of Care: developing Veteran partnerships, helping to develop coordinated entry, improving data quality, and serving as a committee lead. At TAC, Phil is a member of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Technical Assistance team, helping grantees and communities to develop and implement effective programs. Prior to joining TAC, Phil was the program director for Maine’s statewide SSVF grant and worked on the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing grant in Portland, ME. Phil has also worked in rural Colorado, San Diego (CA) County, and Tijuana, Mexico on issues associated with extreme poverty and homelessness. In 2007, Phil participated in the “Baja Challenge” in rural La Mesa, Mexico, helping to set a world record for the most homes built in a single day.

Jenna Espinosa, L.C.S.W.

Associate, Housing Group

Jenna Espinosa has over four years of experience as a community practitioner, program developer, group facilitator, and rapid re-housing manager, with particular knowledge of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families program and best practices in landlord engagement efforts. At TAC, she provides technical assistance in the administration of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants such as the Continuum of Care (CoC) and Emergency Solutions Grant programs, systems planning for youth experiencing homelessness, and rapid re-housing efforts. In her previous role at the Pine Street Inn in Boston, MA, Jenna developed policies and procedures for an inter-agency rapid re-housing (RRH) initiative; supported partner organizations in housing people experiencing homelessness and in complying with federal, state, and local regulations; organized stakeholder committees; and supported housing search staff in engaging property owners to rent to RRH program participants.

Ellen Fitzpatrick

Associate, Housing Group

Ellen Fitzpatrick has worked with homeless and low-income populations for over six years. She has provided direct on-site monitoring of Department of Veterans Affairs homelessness assistance program grantees, and now supports the creation and implementation of a learning management system focused on both practice improvement and program compliance. Ellen works with the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Program, directly assisting state grantees with program implementation. She also participates in TAC’s youth homelessness projects, including facilitating community planning processes and helping communities ensure that youth voice is central in their strategies. Ellen has expertise in both the Continuum of Care and Emergency Solutions Grant programs, regularly staffing both programs’ national help desks. Prior to joining TAC, Ellen managed the Emergency Solutions Grant rapid re-housing program in Boston, MA — helping hundreds of individuals and families with the transition from homelessness to permanent housing — and co-led a rapid re-housing working group as part of the City of Boston’s Action Plan to End Veteran and Chronic Homelessness. She has also worked in direct service as a housing advocate, assisting homeless households with developing individual housing plans, navigating the challenging rental market and affordable housing system, and overcoming barriers to housing.

Eric Gammons

Associate, Housing Group

Eric Gammons has over 35 years of experience working in the social service field, specializing in supportive housing, Housing First, rapid re-housing, and ending homelessness on a community-wide basis. He is skilled in the development and implementation of programs that address the core issues of homelessness, and is a proven evaluator. Eric is an expert on configuring, implementing, and monitoring federally funded projects in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) according to HUD/VA standards, and on incorporating coordinated entry systems within HMIS to create a seamless housing priority system. He has direct experience as a coordinator of regional efforts and as a direct service provider for people with mental illness who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Eric is a Veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Storm serving with the Louisiana Army National Guard.

Amy Horton

Associate, Human Services Group

Amy Horton has over eight years of experience managing homelessness and behavioral health technical assistance (TA) and evaluation initiatives. She is a skilled project manager with experience in program evaluation and quality improvement methods, including the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle for improvement. Amy coordinates an annual qualitative evaluation of Medicaid-funded Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI) services in Massachusetts. She also manages multiple training, consultation, and workforce development initiatives designed to improve practice in the CBHI service system, including the CBHI Licensure Reimbursement Program, which provides financial support to CBHI staff seeking independent licensure. She previously participated in the national evaluation of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s Cooperative Agreements for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals States and Communities grants and conducted compliance reviews for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran’s Families (SSVF) grants. Amy was previously the TA and Training Coordinator for TAC’s TA contracts with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the VA. Prior to joining TAC, Amy worked at a Community Development Corporation, overseeing a HOME-funded first-time homebuyer program and a neighborhood revitalization initiative funded by a Community Development Block Grant.

Jennifer Ingle, M.S.

Associate, Human Services Group

Jennifer Ingle has 17 years of experience working with elders and people with psychiatric disabilities, first as a case manager and program manager, and more recently as a coordinator of grants and projects related to Medicaid and Medicare programming. She has expertise in stakeholder engagement, quality oversight, and program evaluation, and has led work on state initiatives, evaluation, and quality improvement projects in programs for elders and people with disabilities. Jenn has helped managed care organizations in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Virginia respond to requests for proposals to design long-term services and support systems. At TAC, Jenn’s focus is on mental health systems design and Medicaid programming. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.

Amanda Tobey, L.I.C.S.W.

Associate, Human Services Group

Amanda Tobey brings 13 years of experience in the children’s behavioral health sector, including direct clinical experience in the residential system and in outpatient/emergency services in the Medicaid service sector. She has overseen a full spectrum of behavioral health services at the state and regional levels, facilitating the development and dissemination of provider-level reports on access to care, quality indicators, and utilization trends. Amanda’s previous clinical experience now serves to inform TAC’s support for Massachusetts’ efforts to evaluate the quality of care delivered to youth receiving behavioral health services.

Mayra Pabon

Administrative Assistant

Mayra Pabon has experience in banking, sales, and human resources. She holds overall responsibility at TAC for office administration, procurement, purchasing, and inventory. Mayra ensures that all staff federal expense reports are accurate and in compliance with federal standards, keeping detailed records and accurate documentation files. She is responsible for reconciliation of the company's credit account, and provides administrative and clerical support to staff. Before joining TAC, Mayra was an Office Assistant at Luna Press and a Human Resources Intern at Boston Private Bank & Trust.

Laura Harris

Project Support Specialist

Laura Harris has five years of direct service and management experience in the social services field, with a focus on women experiencing homelessness and women escaping domestic and sexual violence. Prior to joining TAC, Ms. Harris was part of the advocacy team at Rosie’s Place, a drop-in center for women experiencing poverty or homelessness.

Ari Rogers

Project Support Specialist

Ari Rogers brings four years of administrative experience in support of complex, high-stakes projects serving diverse professionals and constituents. Ari works closely with TAC’s team of consultants to ensure that events, deliverables, travel, and communications projects meet deadlines and function smoothly. Prior to joining TAC, Ari provided administrative support to the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General, supporting counsel and working to improve service to constituents in the office’s Public Charities Division.

Sara Burke

Communications Director

Sara Burke has over 20 years’ experience in nonprofit communications, with significant expertise in the fields of public health, education, and social justice organizing. She is experienced in meeting the priorities of funders, constituents, and consumers, and is familiar with the specialized communications requirements of federal agencies. Sara oversees TAC’s outreach and education projects, and edits reports and presentations for funders and clients. Prior to joining TAC, Sara was a senior editor/writer at the SAMHSA-funded Suicide Prevention Resource Center, where she oversaw social media production, developed reports and educational materials, coordinated web writing projects, and produced a weekly electronic newsletter for the behavioral health community. She served as editor of the AIDS Action Committee’s magazine for people living with HIV/AIDS, and went on to edit an award-winning magazine for organizers published by the American Friends Service Committee.

Jeff Nguyen, M.A.

Communications Designer

Jeff Nguyen has eight years of information and graphic design experience, developing websites and online learning resources, producing editorial layouts and external communications for print and the web. While studying at Harvard, he refocused his energies from pursuing a doctorate in English towards a graphic design position at the University’s chief repository of rare objects and manuscripts, Houghton Library, where he collaborated with curators to mount quarterly exhibitions and programs. Now at TAC, Mr. Nguyen manages the production and design of publications, proposals, training materials, and client deliverables, and co-manages the TAC website. He is a published reviewer of contemporary letters and speaks Spanish and Vietnamese.

STAFF

Kevin Martone, L.S.W.

Executive Director

Marie Herb, M.A.

Managing Director

Ruthanne James

Director of Business Operations

Aggie Douglas

Assistant Director of Business Operations

Francine Arienti, M.A.

Human Services Director

Lisa Sloane, M.P.A.

Senior Policy Advisor, Housing Group

Sherry Lerch

Senior Consultant, Human Services Group

John O'Brien, M.S.

Senior Consultant, Human Services Group

Dayana Simons, M.Ed.

Senior Consultant, Human Services Group

David de Voursney, M.P.P.

Senior Consultant, Human Services Group

James M. Yates, M.A.

Senior Consultant, Housing Group

Kyia Watkins

TA & Training Coordinator

Kim Wilder

Federal Contracts Assistant

Ayana Dilday Gonzalez, M.A.

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Lauren Knott, M.S.W.

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Ashley Mann-McLellan, M.P.H.

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Melany Mondello, M.B.A.

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Rachel Post, L.C.S.W.

Senior Associate, Human Services Group

Tyler Sadwith

Senior Associate, Human Services Group

Gina Schaak

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Elizabeth Stewart

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Nicole LiBaire

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Douglas Tetrault

Senior Associate, Housing Group

Phillip Allen, M.A.

Associate, Housing Group

Jenna Espinosa, L.C.S.W.

Associate, Housing Group

Ellen Fitzpatrick

Associate, Housing Group

Eric Gammons

Associate, Housing Group

Amy Horton

Associate, Human Services Group

Jennifer Ingle, M.S.

Associate, Human Services Group

Amanda Tobey, L.I.C.S.W.

Associate, Human Services Group

Mayra Pabon

Administrative Assistant

Laura Harris

Project Support Specialist

Ari Rogers

Project Support Specialist

Sara Burke

Communications Director

Jeff Nguyen, M.A.

Communications Designer

Policy Leadership

TA & Consultation

Resources

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