Our People

Executive Leadership Team

 

Cristina De La Rosa

Executive Director

Cristina is serving as the Interim Executive Director of Erie Neighborhood House.  Previously, as the Senior Director of Programs, she oversaw the direction and scope of all Erie House programming, provided stewardship of the agency’s mission through program excellence, and identified new funding sources and opportunities to increase agency revenue. Before coming to Erie House in 2011, she worked for 7 years at the Chicago Federation of Labor as a program coordinator and case manager.

Education
BA: Public Policy, DePaul University

Contact Cristina: cdelarosa@eriehouse.org

Cristina De La Rosa

Executive Director

Leslie Okamura

Senior Director of Finance

Leslie Okamura directs the Erie House finance department and manages our annual budget comprised of private and public revenue streams. She came to Erie House in 2013, having worked previously at Casa Central Social Services in the world of corporate finance. 

Education
BS: Accountancy, Northeastern Illinois University
Registered Certified Public Accountant (Illinois)

Contact Leslie: lokamura@eriehouse.org

Leslie Okamura

Senior Director of Finance

Jessica Rodriguez

Sr. Director of Development & Communications

Jessica Rodriguez is a committed servant leader who believes in serving the needs of others by building trusting relationships that lead to healthy communities. She is passionate about addressing the complexities of homelessness, immigration advocacy and policy reform, cultivating community accountability and ensuring future leaders have accessible mentorship.

Having joined the Erie House family in August 2021, Jessica is the Sr. Director of Development & Communications where she oversees all fundraising and marketing activities. She brings over 12 years of nonprofit fundraising, marketing & communications, volunteer management, and grant writing experience with her. Prior to joining Erie, Jessica was the Director of Development at La Casa Norte, a local community-based social services organization in Chicago.

Education

Business Administration: DePaul University

Contact Jessie: JeRodriguez@eriehouse.org 

Jessica Rodriguez

Sr. Director of Development & Communications

Jessica Rodriguez is a committed servant leader who believes serving the needs of others and building trusting relationships lead to healthy communities. She is passionate about addressing the complexities of homelessness, immigration advocacy and policy reform, cultivating community accountability and ensuring future leaders have accessible mentorship.

Having joined the Erie House family in August 2021, Jessica is the Sr. Director of Development & Communications where she oversees all fundraising and marketing activities. She brings over 12 years of nonprofit fundraising, marketing & communications, volunteer management, and grant writing experience with her. Prior to joining Erie, Jessica was the Director of Development at La Casa Norte, a local community-based social services organization in Chicago.

Education

Business Administration, DePaul University

Contact Jessica: JeRodriguez@eriehouse.org 

Jessica Rodriguez

Senior Director of Development & Communications

 

Isaias Solis

Senior Director of Programs

Raised in Detroit, Michigan, he attended Cass Technical High School and graduated Magna Cum Laude, considering himself a proud product of the Detroit Public School system. Along with his mother and older sister, he migrated to the United States from Mexico City as a child and was undocumented for almost 9 years, some of them spent rising in the ranks in the non-profit and government sectors.

He possesses a combined 20 years of service in education, government, non-profit, public health and health center operations with proficiency in financial management, organizational leadership, fund development, and positive clinical operations and outcomes.

Education

Michigan State University, James Madison College (Honors College) in 2005 with a degree in Social Relations & Policy and a specialization in Chicano/Latino Studies. 

The University of Michigan- Ann Arbor with a Master of Social Work degree in 2009

Harvard University Graduate School of Education with a Master of Education degree in 2022

Contact Isaias: isolis@eriehouse.org

Isaias Solis

Senior Director of Programs

 

LaTanya Pumphrey

Senior Director of Operations

Born and raised on the Southside of Chicago LaTanya has been working in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years. She has a BA in Human Services, an MS in nonprofit Management, and is finishing a Master of Accounting and Financial Management.

Over the course of her 20-year career, LaTanya has started a grassroots tutoring program, worked in various primary and secondary positions, and has focused the last six years of her career in nonprofit operations. Her passion has been working with underserved populations by providing resources and strategies through organizational goals. 

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Human Services, National Louis University 

Masters of Science in Non Profit Management, Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership 

Masters of Accounting and Financial Management, Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University 

Contact LaTanya: lpumphrey@eriehouse.org

LaTanya Pumphrey

Senior Director of Operations

Leadership Team

Megan Davis

Director of Legal Services

Megan Davis joined Erie House in August 2017 as an immigration attorney with our Citizenship and Immigration (now Legal Services) department. As Director of Legal Services, Megan provides legal representation to immigrant clients, as well as oversees and supervises our legal staff. Our program focuses on providing access to justice for immigrants and their families, to help them obtain lawful status, family reunification, or protection from deportation.

Prior to coming to Erie House, Megan was a staff attorney at Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors (NIJFON).

Education
DePaul College of Law, cum laude

BA: International Studies and Spanish, Missouri Southern State University

Contact Megan: mdavis@eriehouse.org

Megan Davis

Director of Legal Services

Marco Gonzalez

Director of Facilities

Contact Marco: magonzalez@eriehouse.org

 

Marco Gonzalez

Director of Facilities


Josh Johnson

Director of Expanded Learning Programs

As Director of Expanded Learning Programs at Erie House, Josh directs our programs for children and youth, including after-school and summer programs for school-age children, and mentoring and apprenticeship programs for youth. Josh joined the Erie House team in 2020, bringing experience as Youth Development Director for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and as a teacher for the Children's Defense Fund's Freedom Schools program in Detroit.

Education
BA: Elementary Education and Teaching, Michigan State University

Contact Josh: jjohnson@eriehouse.org

Josh Johnson

Director of Expanded Learning Programs

Mario Martinez

Director of IT

Contact Mario: mmartinez@eriehouse.org

Mario Martinez

Director of Information Technology

Maria Deniz

Director of Early Childhood Education

I have been in the field of Early Childhood Education for over 20 years serving high-needs communities. In the last 8 years, I have been in the administrative part of ECE. I really enjoy helping children and their families to achieve their goals, this is always a satisfaction.  As Director of Early Childhood Education, I aim to ensure that program development, organization, and implementation take place to ensure that children and their families receive the necessary services for them to succeed.
 
Education
BA-Early Childhood Education
Minor- Children with Special Needs
Director Credential 

Contact Maria: mdeniz@eriehouse.org

Maria Deniz

Director of Early Childhood Education

America Perez-Garcia

Director of Finance

America has been a part of the Erie House finance team since February 2006. In her role as Director of Finance, she oversees the daily functions of the accounting department.

Education

BS: Accounting, National-Louis University
Currently pursuing a master's degree in Business Administration

Contact America: aperez@eriehouse.org

America Perez-Garcia

Director of Finance

 

Gloria Razo

Director of Human Resources

 

As the Director of Human Resources, Gloria oversees the daily management and overall function of the department and also provides supervision to the HR Generalist. Gloria serves as a reflective thought partner to all staff. 

Gloria joined Erie House in 2006 after completing her Bachelor's Degree and has carried a variety of positions along the years starting off in the ECE Department. Previously working directly with families, Gloria now carries her love of Erie's House's mission to the staff in the day to day work that she carries out. 

 

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a minor in Spanish & Communications: Aurora University 

Master's in Social Work : Dominican University 

Contact Gloria: Grazo@eriehouse.org

Gloria Razo

Director of Human Resources

Rosa Sanchez Totochenko

Co-Interim Senior Directors of Programs

Rosa Sanchez Totochenko is serving as the Co-Interim Director of Senior Programs.  Previously, as the Proyecto Cuídate Director, Rosa oversees daily management and implementation of direct services for the program in addition to providing supervision for Social Work interns and therapy for participants at Erie House’s Little Village site.
Rosa joined Erie House in 2014 and in July 2015 transitioned to working with Proyecto Cuídate.
She also served in Peace Corps Ukraine between 2009 and 2012, teaching English and working with the local Non-Government Organization on community and youth development efforts in Sovietski, Crimea.

Education

MSW: University of Wisconsin-Madison

BS: Sociology and Spanish and minor in Social Work, Benedictine University

Contact Rosa: rsanchez@eriehouse.org

Rosa Sanchez Totochenko

Director of Proyecto Cuídate


 

Soo-Lyon Yon, Ph.D.

Director of Community Resources & Education

Soo-Lyon previously worked as the Program Director of Behavioral Health, Center for Asian Health Equity at the University of Chicago, as the Strategy Consultant at Chicago Mental Health Institute, and as the Director of Community Education at HANA Center. In close collaboration with many organizations, Soo-Lyon developed collaborative strategic planning, various applied research projects, and many new programs pertaining to changing community needs. Soo-Lyon also served as a Mayor’s advisory council member for Commission on Human Relations on Asian Affairs, City of Chicago to be a liaison between the city government and the community to promote equity in our community. Moreover, Soo-Lyon has led research projects funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and served as a steering committee member of ‘Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities (ARCC)’ at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
 
As the Director of Community Resources and Education, Soo-Lyon manages the operations of CRED programs and ensures the stability and growth of the programs by focusing on the accomplishment of the strategic objectives of the program. Soo-Lyon also works closely with community partner organizations to build a strong community infrastructure that will allow the organizations to create and develop culturally tailored programs for our community members.
 
Born in Seoul, Korea, Soo-Lyon was raised and received her undergraduate education there.
 

Education

Ph.D.: Political Science, University of Tennessee in Knoxville
BA: English

Contact Soo-Lyon: syon@eriehouse.org

Soo-Lyon Yon, Ph.D

Director of Community Resources & Education


Roberto Mendez

Director of Marketing and Communications

As Director of Marketing and Communications at Erie House, Roberto oversees Erie House’s promotion, brand recognition, and social media efforts to raise awareness, fundraise to support programs, and bring about change by showing how YOU can also be an agent of change in the City of Chicago.

Roberto joined the Erie House team in June 2022, bringing his experience as a development professional for four years and nonprofit experience of eight years. He’s worked to help end homelessness, provide access to education, and served on an LGBTQ advocacy group in the city of Chicago.

Contact Roberto: rmendez@eriehouse.org

Roberto Mendez

Director of Marketing and Communications

Board of Directors

Nicolas Guzman

President

Faegre Drinker, LLP

Craig Castelli

Vice President

Caber Hill Advisors

Heather Mejia

Treasurer

Allstate

Carlos Ramirez

Secretary

Illinois Department of Transportation

Executive Committee Members-at-Large

Dan Hartnett

Commscope, Inc. (Retired)

Gail Taggart

L3 Hospitality Group

Committee Chairs

Frances Delgado

Resource Development

Teamsters Local 705

Kahlil Hogan

Operations

VistaNational

Chris Terzich

Government & Oversight

CIBC Bank USA

Alex Zafivoski

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Amanda Gomez

ComEd

Anne Howaniec

CIBC

Ashley Galston

K&L Gates LLP

Chris Miceika

PNC

Edgar Montalvo

Kirkuk Global, LLC

Emily Kastner

PepsiCo

Elizabeth Binkley

PwC

Lavine Douglas

Motorola Solutions

Librada Killian

JP Morgan Chase & Co

Lou Leonardi

Wintrust

Monique Mervin

The University of Chicago Law School

Nadine O'Malley

HOME

Paula Yen Loubane

Prinova USA

Risa Josias

BMO Financial Group

Sadie Salazar

Sage Therapy Group

Stephanie Maldonado

ECE Parent Policy Committee

Sandy Pundmann

Deloitte & Touche, LLP

Verónica Cortez

Erikson Group

Honorary Life Trustees

Charles W. Armstrong*

Phyllis Armstrong*

Elmera Brooks

Elizabeth S. Bryan

May R. Burns*

Ann S. Carton

R. Gerald Fox

Steve Fox

Robert A. Gielow*

Elizabeth S. Graham*

John R. Hall

Mark A. Jolicoeur

John D. Leslie*

Marie Leslie*

James J. McClure, Jr.*

Lynn McClure*

Victor "Sy" Nelson

Jack O'Kieffe

Bertha H. Pepe

Donald E. Quinn

Lois Quinn

Sarah Rios*

Rev. Paul Rutgers*

Rose Ann Savino

Marjorie G. Schuham

John Van Pelt

Harry Vincent*

Nancy Vincent

Carol Wiley

Robert Wiley*

Richard Wiley

Kathy Wiley

 

*deceased member