education, resources, and advocacy
education, resources, and advocacy
Meet the THN Board
Marissa Vogel
Board Chair
Marissa Vogel has a passion for helping companies and organizations incorporate mission-aligned social
impact and community engagement initiatives into their business strategies. She has held leadership and
management roles across a variety of industries and sectors, spending 13+ years in a corporate environment supporting mid-sized to large global companies in strategic marketing and sales support
roles, and 12 years in the nonprofit sector in service leadership roles as the Founder and Executive Director of Generation SERVE and Founding Executive Director of Social Venture Partners Austin. She has been recognized in the community for her vision, leadership, and service, including receiving the Governor’s Volunteer Award for Community Leadership in 2011 and 2018.
She recently joined the City of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office working in the Policy and Planning unit which conducts data analysis and research to inform strategies for homeless interventions. In her current role, she supports internal and external capacity-building initiatives and engagement activities. Marissa received her MBA from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and her BA from the University of California at Davis. She has a certification in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School and is currently working on a Social Entrepreneurship Certification from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. Marissa has resided in Texas for 27 years and in Austin for 18.
Dr. Melissa Escamilla
Board Secretary
Melissa A Escamilla has over 19 years of experience in the field of rehabilitation including 13 years in independent living services. Since 2006, Dr. Escamilla has been a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and is currently a licensed chemical dependency counselor intern. She has worked as a part-time Lecturer in the School of Rehabilitation Counseling and Services at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley since 2009. Melissa is a legacy student of the University of Texas Pan American now University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. In 2019, Melissa obtained her doctoral degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Her dissertation focused on Veteran Wellness and Reintegration: Factors Contributing to their Success in the Community. Her interest in veteran wellness and community reintegration were initiated through personal and professional experience in the field of rehabilitation.
Melissa has spent the past 5 years working with veterans experiencing homelessness or veterans at risk of homelessness with comorbid disorders throughout South and Southeast Texas. She is currently the Program Director for the Veteran Supportive Services program at Endeavors. She currently serves as chair of the Cameron and Willacy County Homeless Coalition, and co-chair of the Rio Grande Valley Community Veterans Engagement Board.
Melissa was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. She enjoys spending time with her family when she is not at work. She looks forward to representing South Texas on the Texas Homeless Network Board.
Paul Charles
Board Treasurer
For more than twenty years, Paul Charles has led NRCDC in the development and redevelopment of affordable housing and commercial real estate projects. NRCDC recently created the Community Loan Center of Greater Houston which provides an alternative to predatory consumer lending.
Mr. Charles holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Technological Institute (now the McCormick School of Engineering) at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He is also a graduate of the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, with a Master of Business Administration in General Management. Mr. Charles is a registered, licensed engineer in the State of California, where he worked as an engineer and a real estate consultant for a number of years. He has also held positions with large scale master-plan developers, as well as other community based organizations.
Mr. Charles is active in a number of civic, community and professional activities both locally and nationally. He is a member of the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, where he serves as a Trustee and director of the Visual Arts Ministry, and has served as president of the Youth Council and sponsor to a host of youth auxiliaries and teaches Youth Bible Study and Sunday School. He is also Immediate-Past President of the Houston Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, a member of Class XVIII of Leadership Houston, a board member of Scenic Houston, Treasurer for Urban Harvest, the Tuck Alumni Advisory Program, a member of the Community Advisory Board of Comerica Bank and BluePrint Houston, vice-chair of the Houston Community College System Bond Oversight Committee, former Treasurer of the CDC Association of Greater Houston, President of the Texas Association of Community Development Corporations, Assistant Treasurer of the National Congress for Community Economic Development (co-chair of the Budget and Finance Committee), a member of the Texas Department of Insurance’s Economic Development Roundtable, Chairman of the Third Ward Redevelopment Council, an Inner City Advisor for the Urban Land Institute, the Executive Committee for the Urban Land Institute Houston District Council. He is also a graduate of the “Advanced Practitioner Program” through the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He serves as a mentor and chaperone to the Leaders of Tomorrow (a mentoring program). He has also served as national treasurer of the National Society of Black Engineers.
Mr. Charles has received numerous civic awards among them, three times Outstanding Young Men of America, the Leadership Award from the American Legion and is listed in Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals and Who’s Who in Black Houston.
In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, exploring new food experiences (restaurants, cooking, etc.), photography, collecting art, professional sports, fixing an “old” house, nature, and learning. He has visited seven continents.
Valerie Hallam
Board Member
Valerie has a passion for using data and systems thinking to address social challenges, particularly those affecting young people transitioning to independence. She currently serves as Director of Systems Advancement at the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services, where she leads initiatives focused on transition-age youth. In this role, she advocates for programs and practices that improve long-term outcomes for young people across Texas, with a focus on youth-led approaches and elevating lived experience.
Valerie’s commitment to addressing homelessness stems from decades of volunteer work across interconnected systems, supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, those involved in child welfare, diversion programs, and juvenile and criminal justice systems. This hands-on experience has shaped her understanding of the complex pathways that can either support or undermine individual success.
After beginning her career in the energy industry, Valerie transitioned to social services in 2021, driven by a desire to apply her energy and dedication to more meaningful work. Originally from Arkansas, Valerie lived in Houston from 2010-2013 before eventually settling in Austin in 2017. Outside of work, she enjoys learning new skills like sewing and rowing, exploring Austin neighborhoods on foot with an audiobook, embarking on mountain trekking adventures, and almost always has a jigsaw puzzle going.
Howard Bookstaff
Board Member
Howard Bookstaff is a Partner in the Hoover Slovacek multi-family practice area primarily concentrating in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, landlord/tenant law and community association law for over 30 years. Mr. Bookstaff received his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center and his undergraduate degree in Real Estate and Finance from the University of WisconsinMadison. He is board certified in the areas of commercial and residential real estate and property owners association law. He has consistently been selected to the Texas Super
Lawyers® list. Mr. Bookstaff has been honored to serve as general counsel of the Houston Apartment Association since 1995, has authored amicus curia briefs and is actively involved in the apartment industry’s legislative efforts, both locally and in Austin. He has assisted in drafting a number of city ordinances as well as the state’s
landlord/tenant laws. Mr. Bookstaff is a frequent speaker at various landlord/tenant and fair housing seminars. He is also a fair housing trainer with the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs. Mr. Bookstaff authors a monthly article in Abode, the Houston Apartment Association magazine, where he provides insight on a variety of topics of interest to the
apartment industry. Mr. Bookstaff represents an array of clients who own and manage various types of real estate. He provides legal counsel ranging from the purchase and sale of real estate to litigation matters including premises liability cases in the district and appellate courts to evictions in the justice courts and administrative proceedings under the federal and state fair housing acts.
Michelle Friedman
Board Member
Dr. Jill Gumbs
Board Member
Jill Gumbs, Ed.D. is a distinguished leader in educational administration and a valuable addition to the Texas Homeless Network (THN) Board. As the Director of Federal Programs for Round Rock Independent School District, she brings a wealth of knowledge in strategic planning and managing multi-million-dollar federal grants. Her work with the Families in Transition (FiT) Program involves ensuring compliance with the McKinney-Vento Act, establishing community partnerships, and implementing strategies to identify and provide essential services to vulnerable students and families experiencing homelessness.
With over two decades of experience, Dr. Gumbs has dedicated 15 of those years to the Texas education sector, with a proven track record of driving rapid school improvement and closing achievement gaps for at-risk youth. She previously served as a Director of Leader Development and a Principal at schools in Texas and Arkansas, successfully turning around underserved campuses, and earning numerous distinctions and awards for academic growth and community outreach. A committed lifelong learner, she holds a Doctor of Education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and has advanced her studies, earning leadership program certificates from Harvard University and Rice University.
Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Gumbs is deeply committed to community service. She has served as a Professional Mentor for honor students at Huston-Tillotson University, an active leader in her church, and a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She also serves on the advisory team for Mission Accomplished. A resident of the greater Austin area, Jill enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. She is passionate about leveraging her skills to help THN make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring throughout Texas.
Tana Kauffman-Hubbard
Board Member
Tana Kauffman-Hubbard is the Housing & Community Development Director for the Abilene Housing Authority. She began her career in the Affordable Housing Industry in September 2014. Her professional background consists of Property Management and Sales Marketing.
Tana is originally from Phoenix, Arizona. She has been a resident of Texas for more than 20 years. She holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Management from the University of Phoenix.
Tana is active in the community through volunteer work with the Salvation Army, West Texas Homeless Network, Noah Project, and the Alzheimer’s Association.
She resides in the Abilene area with her husband, two children, and their dog and cat. Her hobbies include traveling, baking, and reading.
Billy Moyer
Board Member
Billy Moyer is a leadership expert, entrepreneur and author
with over three decades of experience teaching others about
leadership. He currently serves as Chief Operations Officer
(COO) and Chief People Officer (CPO) at HEXAH, a collective
of industry leaders and partners creating connected and
complete communities. Highly skilled in people development
and operations, he has served as interim CEO or COO of
several companies in transition and has personally trained
thousands of leaders. Moyer is passionate about growing
businesses and helping leaders reach their full potential – he
believes that leaders who build up their team and put their
people in a position to succeed are essential to creating a
thriving business.
Moyer joined HEXAH as a fractional CPO in 2018 and helped
establish systems for the start-up to run more efficiently. He
quickly transitioned into his current role where he has shaped
the culture of the organization. As COO/CPO and right-hand to HEXAH’s founder and CEO, Fayez Kazi,
Moyer plays a part in every aspect of the business, contributing to the company’s continued growth and
development. His essential functions also include providing guidance in devising new companies and hiring
and developing new talent. Moyer’s personal philosophy is that people are the solution to any problem, and
he exemplifies this in how he leads– with strategic empathy and a people-first approach. This perspective
is foundational to HEXAH’s values of bringing together individuals and maximizing human potential.
Prior to HEXAH, Moyer dedicated his life to helping others through personal development. At 7 years old,
he had his first speaking engagement where he shared his experience overcoming a speech impediment.
He went on to continue sharing the simplicity of goal setting at several speaking gigs across the United
States throughout his youth. During his final semester of college, he started SOS Leadership, a leadership
development resource center that provides training, coaching, and consulting focused on building human
capital to organizations. Moyer still leads SOS along with his role at Hexah. He has founded 10 other
companies and authored four books on personal development, leadership and business.
Moyer is a board member of Texas Homeless Network, a non-profit membership-based organization
helping communities strategically plan to prevent and end homelessness across Texas. As one of the first
members and previous chairs of the Austin Young Chamber, an organization focused on developing a
young professional workforce into dynamic business and community leaders, his mentorship helped
transform the organization into the establishment it is today. He also founded Concordia University’s
Emerging Leader Board, a group that provided guidance on the development of an MBA program and
helped increase the university’s community engagement. In 2021, Moyer was an Austin Under 40 Awards
finalist in 2022 and 2023. He and his wife were also honored with the Real Heroes Award by the American
Red Cross for their philanthropic efforts.
Moyer holds a bachelor’s of arts in communication from St. Edward’s University and a master’s of arts in
organizational leadership from Gonzaga University. He also earned a certificate in servant leadership from
Gonzaga University and a certificate in real estate investment and development from Rice University. In his
free time, Moyer enjoys cheering on Philly sports with his family. For more information, please visit hexah.com.
Tamika Perry
Board Member
Tamika Perry transitioned into the role of CEO at Dallas Hope Charities in 2021 following her contributions as a volunteer and then House Manager. She welcomes the opportunity to directly serve the community after 25 years of nonprofit experience primarily in Chicago, where she expanded service programs at Gilda’s Club, Vital Bridges, and Catholic Charities, as well as obtained a Masters in Nonprofit Management from Spertus Institute. More recently, Tamika developed partnerships and community engagement as Highland Park United Methodist Church’s Impact Coordinator.
Tamika grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois with her mother and two sisters. Committed to paying it forward, Tamika seeks to share the many skills she’s learned from her family and ultimately create an environment that feels like home for both DHC’s clients and staff. Grateful to work alongside some of those who have been involved since the organization’s beginnings, Tamika is motivated by DHC’s board, staff, and volunteers—all of whom consistently prove their dedication to DHC’s mission.
When she’s not building partnerships or planning events, Tamika enjoys playing video games and staying active. Most of all, Tamika loves spending time with her partner of more than 20 years, who consistently pushes her to become the best version of herself.
Stacey Lastovica
Board Member
Stacey Lastovica joined New Hope Housing in 2009 and currently serves as Vice President, Property Management, where she is responsible for operating and maintaining more than $200 million in assets. This portfolio includes eight single room occupancy (SRO) supportive housing communities and three family properties, collectively serving more than 1,171 adults and 407 families.
In her role, Stacey oversees all day-to-day property management operations, including the supervision of 100+ personnel, as well as the full scope of physical asset management and maintenance for New Hope’s nonprofit residential portfolio. She works closely with the Compliance team to ensure adherence to all public and private funding requirements and partners with architects and project managers on new developments, contributing operational expertise to ensure durability, efficiency, and practicality in design.
Stacey also ensures that property management staff actively support and promote New Hope’s Resident Programs, which provide life-stabilizing services and vital connections to supportive resources for the residents and families who call New Hope home.
As part of New Hope’s housing + services model, Stacey has developed and maintained strong collaborations with the Houston Housing Authority and numerous social service partners, including Star of Hope, SEARCH Homeless Services, Harmony House, Career and Recovery, Health Care for the Homeless, Avenue 360, and US Vets. Through these partnerships, residents—many of whom are formerly homeless, aging, or living with complex health and cognitive challenges—receive not only high-quality, affordable housing, but also intensive case management, health education, and supportive services.
Stacey also serves in key leadership roles within the housing industry. She is a Board Member of the Houston Apartment Association and joined the Texas Homeless Network Board in 2025.
Her professional credentials include the Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor (CAPS) and Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) designations from the National Apartment Association; certifications in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and Fair Housing from the National Center for Housing Management; Dare to Lead™ certification; and Six Sigma Black Belt Level 1 certification. Stacey is a graduate of the University of Houston, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Media Production, Cum Laude.
Jeff Pinsker
Board Member
Jeff Pinsker has founded three companies and sold four, in businesses ranging from toys to children’s television and publishing to practical jokes.
Accomplishments include:
- inventing products that have sold 41+ million units at retail
- establishing an international distribution network spanning 104 countries
- starting a division that converted legacy game IP into mobile apps
- running a media company that gave The Disney Channel its first-ever
Black lead character, and became it’s #1-rated show at the time
Pinsker is EVP at University Games, one of the U.S.’s largest board game
manufacturers, where he oversees M&A and international sales, and dabbles in product development, e-commerce, key accounts, and strategic planning.
Current and previous non-profit board service includes the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, Literacy First, Stanford’s Entrepreneurs Group, and Stanford Health Library.
Pinsker has written 14 children’s and puzzle books, earned a master’s and two bachelor’s degrees from Stanford University, and is the proud father of two grown children and a 20-year-old stepson on the autism spectrum. He counts himself lucky to be married to Brandi Pinsker, the CEO of Project Genius.
Troy M. Wheeler
Board Member
Billy Moyer
Board Member
Billy Moyer is a leadership expert, entrepreneur and author
with over three decades of experience teaching others about
leadership. He currently serves as Chief Operations Officer
(COO) and Chief People Officer (CPO) at HEXAH, a collective
of industry leaders and partners creating connected and
complete communities. Highly skilled in people development
and operations, he has served as interim CEO or COO of
several companies in transition and has personally trained
thousands of leaders. Moyer is passionate about growing
businesses and helping leaders reach their full potential – he
believes that leaders who build up their team and put their
people in a position to succeed are essential to creating a
thriving business.
Moyer joined HEXAH as a fractional CPO in 2018 and helped
establish systems for the start-up to run more efficiently. He
quickly transitioned into his current role where he has shaped
the culture of the organization. As COO/CPO and right-hand to HEXAH’s founder and CEO, Fayez Kazi,
Moyer plays a part in every aspect of the business, contributing to the company’s continued growth and
development. His essential functions also include providing guidance in devising new companies and hiring
and developing new talent. Moyer’s personal philosophy is that people are the solution to any problem, and
he exemplifies this in how he leads– with strategic empathy and a people-first approach. This perspective
is foundational to HEXAH’s values of bringing together individuals and maximizing human potential.
Prior to HEXAH, Moyer dedicated his life to helping others through personal development. At 7 years old,
he had his first speaking engagement where he shared his experience overcoming a speech impediment.
He went on to continue sharing the simplicity of goal setting at several speaking gigs across the United
States throughout his youth. During his final semester of college, he started SOS Leadership, a leadership
development resource center that provides training, coaching, and consulting focused on building human
capital to organizations. Moyer still leads SOS along with his role at Hexah. He has founded 10 other
companies and authored four books on personal development, leadership and business.
Moyer is a board member of Texas Homeless Network, a non-profit membership-based organization
helping communities strategically plan to prevent and end homelessness across Texas. As one of the first
members and previous chairs of the Austin Young Chamber, an organization focused on developing a
young professional workforce into dynamic business and community leaders, his mentorship helped
transform the organization into the establishment it is today. He also founded Concordia University’s
Emerging Leader Board, a group that provided guidance on the development of an MBA program and
helped increase the university’s community engagement. In 2021, Moyer was an Austin Under 40 Awards
finalist in 2022 and 2023. He and his wife were also honored with the Real Heroes Award by the American
Red Cross for their philanthropic efforts.
Moyer holds a bachelor’s of arts in communication from St. Edward’s University and a master’s of arts in
organizational leadership from Gonzaga University. He also earned a certificate in servant leadership from
Gonzaga University and a certificate in real estate investment and development from Rice University. In his
free time, Moyer enjoys cheering on Philly sports with his family. For more information, please visit hexah.com.
Tamika Perry
Board Member
Tamika Perry transitioned into the role of CEO at Dallas Hope Charities in 2021 following her contributions as a volunteer and then House Manager. She welcomes the opportunity to directly serve the LGBTQ+ community after 25 years of nonprofit experience primarily in Chicago, where she expanded service programs at Gilda’s Club, Vital Bridges, and Catholic Charities, as well as obtained a Masters in Nonprofit Management from Spertus Institute. More recently, Tamika developed partnerships and community engagement as Highland Park United Methodist Church’s Impact Coordinator.
Tamika grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois with her mother and two sisters. Committed to paying it forward, Tamika seeks to share the many skills she’s learned from her family and ultimately create an environment that feels like home for both DHC’s clients and staff. Grateful to work alongside some of those who have been involved since the organization’s beginnings, Tamika is motivated by DHC’s board, staff, and volunteers—all of whom consistently prove their dedication to DHC’s mission.
When she’s not building partnerships or planning events, Tamika enjoys playing video games and staying active. Most of all, Tamika loves spending time with her partner of more than 20 years, who consistently pushes her to become the best version of herself.
Jeff Pinsker
Board Member
Accomplishments include:
- inventing products that have sold 41+ million units at retail
- establishing an international distribution network spanning 104 countries
- starting a division that converted legacy game IP into mobile apps
- running a media company that gave The Disney Channel its first-ever Black lead character, and became it’s #1-rated show at the time
Marissa Vogel
Board Member
Marissa Vogel has a passion for helping companies and organizations incorporate mission-aligned social impact and community engagement initiatives into their business strategies. She has held leadership and management roles across a variety of industries and sectors, spending 13+ years in a corporate environment supporting mid-sized to large global companies in strategic marketing and sales support roles, and 9 years in the nonprofit sector as the Founder and Executive Director of Generation SERVE, a nonprofit that provides family service experiences and youth leadership programs to educate children about their community and how they can get involved, inspiring lifelong volunteerism. She has been recognized in the community for her vision, leadership, and service, including receiving the Governor’s Volunteer Award for Community Leadership in 2011 and 2018.
In addition to serving on the Board of The Texas Homeless Network, she has been an advisor for Impact Austin’s Girls Giving Grants program since 2018. In her current role as Executive Director at Social Venture Partners Austin, she is leading efforts to relaunch the organization as an affiliate of a global movement to reimagine giving in Central Texas. She received her MBA from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, her BA from the University of California at Davis, and also received certification in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School. Marissa has resided in Texas for 24 years and in Austin for 15. She is married with two children, ages 17 and 19.
Join Our Board of Directors
Looking to make a big impact with your time? As a board member with THN, you will have a meaningful difference toward ending homelessness across our state. THN is at the forefront of this movement, driving change through our advocacy initiatives, comprehensive data collection and research, annual statewide conference, and our pivotal role as the host agency for the Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC).
What We Offer You:
- Opportunities to make a statewide impact
- Broaden your connections
- Gain expertise
- Make a difference with remote meeting opportunities
What You Bring to the Table:
- Commitment to our mission.
- Collaborative, innovative thought-partners.
- Experience in governance, development, and strategic planning aimed to advance the work of a nonprofit.
You must be logged in to post a comment.