Bios - Leadership

 Frances Williams is the Director, Business Pathways at Mi Casa. She leads the team of consultants and instructors as Mi Casa has transitioned to virtual and hybrid learning platforms. For almost two decades, Frances has assisted clients and their trusted advisor teams with multi-national business succession strategies. Frances’ strategic financial approach has been sustainable protection and preservation of business for future generations. Over the last several years Frances has founded her own businesses, two of which are located in Latin America. Frances is of Colombian descent and speaks fluent Spanish. Her love, pride, and passion for her family and culture fueled Frances to join the Mi Casa team in service to minority small business owners.  

Leonor McCall-Rodriguez, Mi Casa’s Director of Development, is a Rotarian, a serial entrepreneur, and a bilingual marketing/ business development professional. Her corporate career across industries and geographies led her to engage in and love board and community outreach. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and the former Executive Director of Regis University Dual Language Campus. Leonor has been recognized with inclusion in both Hispanic Business magazine’s Elite Latinas and Latino Corporate Elite, honoring high-ranking Hispanics in Corporate America. Her proudest career achievements, though, involve securing funding for Hispanics and minorities for education, science, and technology programs. She has partnered with Mi Casa in the past and is eager to contribute toward its mission.

Kevin Burdi, CPA is Mi Casa's  Director of Finance. He joined Mi Casa in early 2019. Kevin has worked solely with nonprofit organizations since graduating from Siena College with a B.S. in Finance, and subsequently earning his Master’s in Accountancy from American Public University. Previously, Kevin worked as an auditor gaining extensive experience in all aspects of U.S. GAAP audits, employee benefit plan audits, and Uniform Commercial Guidance audits in the nonprofit industry. Kevin is also proficient in the preparation of Federal Form 990 for tax-exempt entities. Kevin is passionate about using his knowledge to contribute to the success of Mi Casa as a whole, as well as its valuable programs and participants. He strives to continue to ensure Mi Casa is accountable and transparent and remains an invaluable resource in our community. 

 Nishana John is Mi Casa's  Director of Human Resources & Administration. She oversees all human resources activities, including hiring, onboarding, employee relations, and benefit administration. Nishana joined Mi Casa in 2015 after having volunteered with the organization for nearly two years. Nishana received her MS in Organizational Leadership and is passionate about helping organizations build success relationships with their greatest asset – their people. Her volunteer time helped her see the impact of Mi Casa’s work in the community and aligned with her need to give back to the community. 

Allie Rasmussen is Mi Casa's  Career Pathways Manager. Prior to joining MCRC, she worked at a nonprofit providing direct services including food and rental assistance. That experience made her passionate about career development and a strengths-based style of working with participants. She is passionate about ensuring all people have access to quality information, opportunities, and support as they work towards their goals.

Bri Barnes is the  Educational Attainment Manager at Mi Casa Resource Center®. Bri’s background is in non-profit & higher education. She supports participants of Mi Casa with navigating higher education & helping them get back to school. She believes that education can be the pathway to success for many & enjoys breaking down barriers to create equity within higher education. Her role at Mi Casa allows her to bring both of her passions together in one position & she enjoys helping people create new pathways for themselves & their families.

Jessica Wilson is a Career Pathways  Lead Trainer at Mi Casa Resource Center®. In her role, Jessica facilitates a variety of career readiness trainings, including the Financial Services Training where she brings six years of first-hand experience in the industry.  Jessica loves to motivate and support others as they explore their dreams and identify their career goals. She is passionate about cultivating a learning environment that is inclusive to all members of the community.

Brenna Johnson is an Employment Success Coach at Mi Casa Resource Center. Prior to joining Mi Casa Brenna worked with a not-for-profit organization in the Dominican Republic where she coached and mentored university students. At Mi Casa Brenna works directly with individuals seeking employment through resume building, job searching and more. Brenna is passionate about helping people find work that helps these individuals, and their families, thrive. 

Brenna Johnson es una consejera para personas que buscan empleo en Colorado. Antes de trabajar en Mi Casa, Brenna trabajó tres años en la Republica Dominicana como consejera y líder de un grupo para estudiantes universitarios. En Mi Casa, ella trabaja directamente con personas que buscan empleo para equiparlas con los recursos necesarios para conseguir trabajos que les ayuden a ellos y sus familias a prosperar. 

Chris Santangelo is the College and Career Readiness Coach at Mi Casa Resource Center. A Denver native, Chris is passionate about his community. He is motivated by a desire to give back to the home that he loves and to see all its residents grow and thrive. His background is in secondary education, and he deeply enjoys working with culturally and linguistically diverse students, as well as in underserved communities. Chris believes that education is a key vehicle of social change and equity, and he is dedicated to breaking down barriers to ensure access to higher education and a better future for all.

Diana Brooks is an Employment Success Coach at Mi Casa Resource Center®. She has extensive experience in community-based work including bilingual crisis counseling, career coaching, and case management with different communities such as military veterans, immigrant families, and minority populations. Diana is passionate about helping individuals and families conquer barriers that they may be experiencing. She loves to empower those around her so they thrive in any environment. 

Diana Brooks es una Consejera de Empleo en Mi Casa Resource Center ®. Tiene una amplia experiencia en el trabajo comunitario que incluye asesoramiento bilingüe en caso de crisis, asesoramiento profesional y gestión individualizada con diferentes comunidades, como veteranos militares, familias inmigrantes y poblaciones minoritarias. A Diana le apasiona ayudar a individuos y familias a superar las barreras que puedan estar sufriendo. Le encanta empoderar a quienes la rodean para que prosperen en cualquier entorno.

Veronica is a Career Pathway Trainer at Mi Casa Resource Center®.  Veronica brings 7 years of experience in the education field where she taught primary education to young learners. In Veronica’s most recent role as a 3rd Grade Founding Teacher and Social Justice, Equity, and Liberation Coordinator, she had opportunities to develop and facilitate professional development workshops for school staff around inclusive language, stress resilience, and creating culturally affirming classrooms. As a former educator, Veronica is passionate about educational equity. She strives to create opportunities that expand and improve educational and economic outcomes for individuals and communities. 

Kathryn is a Career Pathway Trainer at Mi Casa Resource Center®.  She brings a variety of technical knowledge from her time at Indiana University where she received a degree in Informatics. She has experience developing and facilitating STEM curriculum for a science museum and for a year-round environmental education program and is excited to use these skills to serve Mi Casa. New to Denver, she is ready to get involved with the community and to make the city feel like home.

Crystal Ayala is the Student Services Coach at Mi Casa Resource Center®. As a first-generation college graduate from Denver, CO, she has witnessed first-hand many of the barriers that stand in the way of post-secondary credential attainment. Because of this, Crystal’s passion lies in post-secondary access and attainment for all people. As the Student Services Coach, Crystal supports participants in the Financial Services Pathway in attaining their post-secondary credentials at Community College of Aurora and Metropolitan State University of Denver. 

Crystal Ayala es la Consejera de Servicios Estudiantiles en Mi Casa Resource Center®. Como graduada universitaria de primera generación de Denver, ha experimentado de primera mano muchas de las barreras que se interponen en el camino hacia la obtención de credenciales postsecundarias. Debido a esto, su pasión vive en el acceso y el logro postsecundarios para todas las personas. Como Consejera de Servicios Estudiantiles, Crystal apoya a los participantes en el Programa de Servicios Financieros para que obtengan sus credenciales postsecundarias en el Community College of Aurora y Metropolitan State University of Denver.

 Javier Martinez is the bilingual Business Advisor and Instructor for Business Pathways at Mi Casa Resource Center®. Javier joined our team in August of 2019 in Career Pathways, working directly with individuals to assist them with education and employment. In addition to being a point of contact for workshops and classes, Javier worked with each one to identify their career goals and develop customized plans to reach them through the resources available at Mi Casa. Javier has a Sociology degree and spent time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala. He is enthusiastic and passionate about helping community members achieve their business goals and fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams.  

Mark Wideman is a Senior Bilingual Business Advisor and Trainer at Mi Casa.  A native of Alabama who has spent most of his life in Colorado and Arizona, as well as New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Iowa, and New Mexico. Mark is motivated by the desire to help communities succeed and support people from all walks of life.  He has a background in secondary education, healthcare, the restaurant business, and real estate, along with some Radio/TV.  After living and traveling in Mexico and Germany, Mark gained a passion for those who are different, from another country, speak another language, and those who are oppressed.  Mark currently hosts a Podcast on Immigration called “Immigration Consciousness” and is a member of the Aurora Immigrant and Refugee Commission as well as the Interfaith Immigration Network.  He works hard to encourage unity amongst all communities and to support the growth of local communities and businesses through education, empowerment, and compassion.

 Sue Munro joined Mi Casa Resource Center®.  as the ProBoPat Program Administrator in January 2021. She oversees the ProBoPat program, which connects low-income inventors with pro bono (free) patent preparation and prosecution legal services. Sue’s dad was a patent attorney, so this position has a lot of personal meaning for her. She brings over 25 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations across the country with a background in social work, case management, and program outreach. Sue is passionate about working in the nonprofit field and excited to be a part of the Mi Casa team, contributing to the great work of the agency! 

 Daniela Ramirez Arias holds the position of Business Pathways Operations Coordinator at Mi Casa Resource Center®. In her capacity, she oversees everyday operations; including classes, events, workshops, and consulting sessions. Daniela received her Law Degree from the University of Manizales, Colombia, and has ample experience assisting diverse groups focused on legal issues and everyday procedures from the private and the public sector. As a staunch supporter of nonprofits and her community work in Colombia, it was inevitable for Daniela to have volunteered with various organizations in Colorado. As a Mi Casa team member, Daniela looks forward to supporting and making a meaningful contribution in her community. 

Ana Sanchez is the Bilingual Business Consultant and Instructional Design Advisor, La Receta™ at the Women’s Business Center at Mi Casa Resource Center®. Ana has extensive experience in business ownership, entrepreneurship, marketing, communications, and public relations. Most recently, she worked as the Deputy Administrator of Operational Services at the Government of Puerto Rico’s Department of Family Affairs. Prior to this, she was the President and Owner of Ani Cooks where she designed unique dining experiences to promote networking opportunities for individuals. Ana has also worked for multiple years with the Foundation of Puerto Rico and the Office of the Governor of Puerto Rico in support of Economic development efforts.  Ana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Columbia College, PR. 

 Ben Warner serves as a Navigator on the Business Pathways team at Mi Casa Resource Center®. He is responsible for accompanying participants as they start or grow their own businesses, providing support and connections to resources in the community. Prior to joining Mi Casa in June of 2020, Ben lived in Mexico City and worked at a shelter for Central American migrants. He is passionate about issues of social justice and immigration, and he has spent time on the U.S.-Mexico border to witness the effects of U.S. border policies. Originally from Wisconsin, Ben is excited to be living in Colorado and is eager to use his Spanish skills to support individuals in the Denver area. 

 Martin Diaz is the Business Pathways Outreach Coordinator at Mi Casa.  Martin will answer your questions and help you get started on your business path to improvement and success. Martin joined the Mi Casa familia in 2019 after working at several other organizations in the supply chain field for major metals distributors and sugar cooperatives in CO. He also volunteered with several nonprofits like United Way – Metropolitan Chicago school mentor programs, the Chicago Latino Network, and CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategies with the Chicago Police Dept.) for 15+ years. He brings his passion for community service and compassion for his fellow residents, from the Windy City to the Mile High!  

Jamie Roth is the Senior Manager of Resource Development at Mi Casa Resource Center®. Her role at Mi Casa is to devise and implement a revenue strategy to support the organization’s growth and meet the needs of vulnerable community members in Colorado.  She comes to Denver from Chicago where she supported programming for youth and families with workforce, education, and social-emotional learning services. She moved to Denver two years ago to pursue her Master of Public Administration which will be completed in May. Jamie is passionate about supporting community voices and thinking strategically to break the cycle of poverty.

Kimberly Trauner is a Grants Manager at Mi Casa Resource Center®. As part of the Resource Development Team, she manages proposals and reporting for Mi Casa’s foundation, corporation, and government partners. Before joining Mi Casa in 2020, Kimberly worked as a teacher in Santiago, Chile and the Strategic Initiatives Officer at a nonprofit in Washington, DC working to end child labor in global supply chains. Kimberly is passionate about giving people the skills and opportunities they need to succeed in their own way, and is proud to support that work in her home state of Colorado. 

Josh Gaydos is a Grants Manager at Mi Casa Resource Center®. Josh’s role is to develop corporate relationships that will assist in achieving Mi Casa’s goals of advancing family prosperity. He comes to Denver from South Carolina where he helped found the first nonprofit run through a political campaign. Josh loves seeing Mi Casa’s impact first hand and he wants to help instill self-belief in the communities that we serve.

Nancy Enriquez is Mi Casa's Marketing Coordinator. She is responsible for the coordination and implementation of MCRC’s marketing strategy and works closely with the Business Pathways, Career Pathways, and Development teams to market Mi Casa and its programs. Nancy joined the team in December 2019 after earning her Master of Science in Marketing degree from the University of Denver and also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Denver. Nancy is passionate about marketing and serving underserved communities in Denver. 

Iriana Corral is the Executive & Donor Relations Associate at Mi Casa. Iriana supports our CEO, is liaison to our Board of Directors, and chiefly, works to support the Development team by engaging individual donors. Iriana’s long term dedication to her community is evident in her history working and volunteering with foster youth, labor unions, and a variety of other organizations committed to improving the lives of the people in her community. Iriana joined the Mi Casa family because she believes that the best way to uplift a community is to provide every person with the opportunity to realize their dreams.

Kasey Herndon is Mi Casa Resource Center's Data & Outcomes Manager. She is responsible for Salesforce CRM management, programmatic outcome analysis, evaluation & quality assurance, knowledge management, and communication of results related to MCRC’s impact. Kasey has an extensive background in program development, evaluation, database management, and leadership. She holds a Master of Nonprofit Management degree from Regis University and is passionate about serving and advocating for underserved communities and people of color.   

Louis Pantalacci is the Accounting Specialist in Mi Casa's Administration Department. He is responsible for receiving, organizing, and processing various accounting transactions including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and contracts. Louis joined Mi Casa in 2018 after spending four years working in the for-profit world. He made the transition to the nonprofit sector since it is a more suitable environment for his passion – serving people. He knew Mi Casa would be a great place to contribute to people’s lives in the Denver community. 

Sonya Rodriguez is Mi Casa's Accounting Specialist II in the Administration department. She is responsible for receiving, organizing, and processing various accounting transactions including accounts payable, accounts receivable, contracts, and payroll. Sonya joined the Mi Casa familia in 2003 after spending a decade in a corporate banking environment. She is passionate about giving back to the community and joining Mi Casa has helped her find meaningful ways to give back.