Bios - Leadership

Lauren Brown is Mi Casa's  Director of Career Pathways. She is responsible for the strategic advancement of the Career Pathways department, including Mi Casa’s work to connect youth and adults to successful education and employment. Prior to joining Mi Casa in 2010, Lauren was a community organizer in Mexico City, where she led community-driven, empowerment-based programs for over two years. As an active member of many alliances and coalitions across the Denver metro area aimed at increasing opportunity for underserved populations, Lauren is passionate about supporting all people on their own pathway to opportunity.

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 Student Services Coordinator 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.

Lesley Del Rio is a Career Pathways Trainer at Mi Casa Resource Center®. She brings a background in community engagement and experience in lesson facilitation to her role. She is fluent in Spanish and brings her passion for advocacy to the Financial Services Training. Lesley loves facilitating trainings and is passionate about supporting and helping empower community members to reach their potential.

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

Jessica Wilson is a Career Pathways 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.

Andy Figueroa is a Bilingual Business Consultant as part of the Women’s Business Center at Mi Casa Resource Center®. He provides 1-on-1 consulting for underserved entrepreneurs and business owners. Prior to joining Mi Casa in 2013, Andy worked as a Program Manager for the Secretary of Education in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. Andy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and is passionate about education and community development. He loves Mi Casa and its mission and believes in the power of education to advance family prosperity.

Brenna Johnson is the Business Pathways Recruiter at Mi Casa Resource Center®. Brenna works directly with individuals seeking to start and grow a successful small business. Brenna helps participants identify their needs and connect them to resources at Mi Casa that will best serve them. Before joining Mi Casa Resource Center Brenna earned a degree in Spanish at the University of Minnesota and work with a non-profit organization in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for three years. She is passionate about small business and connecting people to resources to help them thrive.

 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 Lead Business Advisor and Instructor, 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. 

Frances Williams is the Business Pathways Manager 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. 

 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. 

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. 

Martin Diaz is the Mi Casa's Receptionist. As part of the Admin/Development Team, he is the first person you meet or speak with when coming into or calling Mi Casa. Martin will answer your questions and get you to the right person and program to get you on your 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! 

Kasey Herndon is Mi Casa's Program Support Manager serving our Business and Career Pathways Programs. She contributes to overall program development and oversees organizational operations including marketing, evaluation, partnerships, and recruitment. Kasey has an extensive background in program development, evaluation, database management, and leadership. She earned her 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.