Our People
Our Participants
Our program participants have entrusted Rubicon to partner with them to reach their long-term goals for economic stability, mobility and inclusion. We make decisions at every level of the organization with the wellbeing of participants, and the communities in which they live, at the forefront.
Our Staff
Rubicon actively recruits staff members who are not only highly skilled, but who consistently demonstrate a commitment to Rubicon’s vision of an East Bay without poverty, and are passionate about their work.
Meet Our Executive Team
Carole Dorham-Kelly
Carole Dorham-Kelly
Dr. Carole Dorham-Kelly joined Rubicon Programs in 2016 to build wellness services into Rubicon’s economic mobility programs in Contra Costa County. DC was promoted to Chief Program Officer in January 2018 and became CEO in November 2020. Prior to joining Rubicon, Dr. Dorham-Kelly served over 10 years providing therapy, mentoring and directing programs in community based programs. Immediately prior to joining Rubicon, she directed wellness, leadership, and workforce programs for transitional age youth.
DC double majored in Psychology and Criminology at Fresno State University, and earned her M.A. in Counseling, Family & Human Services and her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from University of Oregon. As a Black, female psychologist raised in Richmond, she is particularly committed to the mission of reducing stigma around mental health and increasing access to and utilization of medical and mental health services in communities of color and those chronically enduring trauma and loss.
When not working, she enjoys bowling, movies and laughing with family and friends. With her husband, DC is fueled by the love and labor of raising their school age children.
Jennifer Berger
Jennifer Berger
Jennifer Berger joined Rubicon Programs in 2019 to strengthen Rubicon’s institutional fundraising efforts. She was promoted to Development Director in August 2021 and became the Chief Development Officer in May 2025. Jennifer brings deep curiosity, passion, and collaboration to her work. She is committed to growing Rubicon’s philanthropic network across the region in support of its role as a leader in creating pathways to economic mobility through workforce development and reentry services.
With more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership, strategic partnership development, and systems-based thinking, Jennifer has a proven track record of advancing equity and impact. Before joining Rubicon, she served as Vice President of Program Services at Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco, where she spent 12 years mentoring teams and developing innovative youth programs. Jennifer holds a B.A. in Political Science and English from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Donté Blue
Donté Blue
Since 2013, Donté Blue has partnered closely with Rubicon in various capacities. As the former Acting Director of the Office of Reentry and Justice, Donté was intimately familiar with our comprehensive community-based programs, providing AB109 employment services across Contra Costa Costa County. Donté also served as Vice Chair of the Reentry Success Center, operated by Rubicon Programs, since its opening. As a county administrator, Donté partnered closely with the Contra Costa Workforce Development Board and is familiar with the landscape of workforce services. Prior to his leadership in Contra Costa County, Donté was a staff attorney with Bay Area Legal Aid.
Roger Contreras
Roger Contreras
Roger joined Rubicon in 2014. He manages Accounting, Facilities, Information Technology and Landscape. He brings diversified financial management, financial strategic planning, forecasting and reporting and budget development backgrounds in the non-profit, public, and private sectors. He has prepared operational and capital budgets in excess of $1.3 Billion, and has issued over $2.0 Billion in financing through diverse and innovative financing mechanisms. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the Autonomous University of Coahuila, Mexico. He is a graduate of the Disney Institute of Leadership and Business Excellence and also of the United Way’s Project Blueprint leadership academy.
Nancy Emery
Nancy Emery
As the Vice President of Landscape, Nancy is responsible for building Rubicon Landscape Group to support the mission of transforming landscapes by transforming lives. She leads a team of over 50 Account Managers, Operations Supervisors, Gardeners, and Day Porters. Through Nancy’s previous roles, she’s seen all aspects of the landscaping industry. Between running her own vineyard installation/maintenance business as a C-27 contractor, developing an innovative gardening service for a Silicon Valley tech startup, overseeing fine gardening operations in San Francisco, and teaching vocational training classes for gardeners just entering the industry, Nancy has perfected her skills on creating outdoor spaces that people love.
Adrienne Kimball
Adrienne Kimball
Adrienne Kimball was appointed Chief Talent Officer in 2017. She has been instrumental in building engagement, diversity, equity, belonging and inclusion, and capacity-building initiatives. Adrienne exists to reconnect people to their innate genius and leadership skills. She believes doing so is the only way to transform the world. Before Rubicon, Adrienne worked as a Human Resource Manager in the Biotechnology sector. Adrienne received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development from California State University, East Bay.
Ted Rivera
Ted Rivera
Ted Rivera is proud to join Rubicon Programs, bringing over twenty years of experience in commercial real estate operations. Ted’s extensive background in strategic planning, project management, and leadership has been marked by his dedication to efficiency and effectiveness, qualities he is eager to employ in service of Rubicon’s mission to equip individuals to break the cycle of poverty.
Ted is particularly motivated by Rubicon’s commitment to addressing systemic racism as a fundamental step towards eradicating poverty. He aligns with Rubicon’s anti-racism stance, understanding that meaningful change must begin internally within our practices and culture before it can effectively radiate out into the communities we serve.
Program Directors
Kimi Barnes
Kimi Barnes
Kimi Barnes, Director of Program Innovations and Experience
Kimi Barnes, Director of Program Innovations and Experience, joined Rubicon Programs in 2011 as an intern while obtaining her Master of Social Welfare degree at UC Berkeley. In 2012, she started her employment at Rubicon in the role of Supportive Housing & Healthcare Integration Program Manager and has held various positions over the years. Kimi enjoys the work of planning and process development in support of social justice. Currently, she is responsible for leadership of program innovations such as the Wellness and Connections components of our service model, Rubicon’s participant experience framework which includes channels for participant input and measuring participant satisfaction, and other strategic initiatives. Kimi is a proud Bay Area native and first-generation college graduate, which fuels her passion for supervising student interns. Kimi’s other interests include enjoying outdoor adventures with family and friends, volunteering for local farms and food justice efforts, and serving on the board of a youth leadership organization
Kimi pursued human services work in response to family experiences. Prior to Rubicon, she spent 10 years working in supportive housing and community mental health services for the City and County of San Francisco and the Hawaii State Department of Health. Kimi obtained her BA in Communications at University of San Francisco after transferring from Modesto Jr. College.
Rhody McCoy
Rhody McCoy
Rhody has been with Rubicon Programs Inc. since March 2010, where he started as Reentry Program Manager. Currently he is responsible for program management and development, including evaluating existing programs, creating new initiatives to increase opportunities for underserved populations, compliance, safety and risk mitigation, management and achievement of contract goals and objectives.
Prior to Rubicon, Rhody worked with The National Trust, where he facilitated transformational health and wellness programs in San Quentin Prison. Prior to working with The National Trust, Rhody worked in San Francisco with both The Private Industry Council as a Contracts Specialist and Asian Neighborhood Design as the Manager of their Employment Training Program. Additionally Rhody has over 15 years in real estate development, and project management experience. Rhody attended the University of San Francisco, majoring in Biology. and studied Urban Planning at San Francisco State University.
Rhody’s other passions and interests are spending time with his family, children and grandchildren, playing tennis, and exploring nature, and he is actively involved with his support group, Positive Directions Equals Change, that has helped people transition from institutions to healthy and sober lives.
Pat Mims
Pat Mims
Pat is committed to helping people actuate their potential so that their success and joy ripples into the evolution of our community. Pat is a long-time resident of Contra Costa County. He returned to the community after serving over 20 years in prison. He leverages his lived experience to cast light on the power of responsibility, healing, and vulnerability.
Specifically, he is instrumental in developing actionable and seamless opportunities for people who were formerly incarcerated, their families, and the communities they return into with a desire to contribute and thrive. He balances his work at the systems level with individualized coaching and meeting people where they are.
His work in the community has earned him numerous accolades and recognition by entities, including: the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, the District Attorney of Alameda County, Nancy O’Malley’s My Hero Award, Freedom House’s Stewardship Award, and the California Association of Black Lawyers Community Leadership Award. In 2016, Pat was acknowledged in a ceremony at the White House by President Barack Obama as an alumnus of the Prison University Project and staunch advocate for higher education in the prison system. He is passionate about Restorative Practices and the healing of harms committed against others.
Pat is the father of two children and enjoys family time as an opportunity to be a kid again.
Stacey Navins
Stacey Navins
Stacey joined Rubicon in 2022 as the Director of Finance. A Certified Public Accountant, she has over 25 years in financial leadership roles, including 10 most recent years in the nonprofit sector. She is the former Director of Finance at the Center for Domestic Peace, the former Director of Finance/Chief Operating Officer of Side by Side (formerly Sunny Hills Services), and the former Director of Finance and Operations at Marin Agricultural Land Trust. She loves numbers and spreadsheets and all of her non-profit experience has been in organizations with complex funding environments involving government contracts for services. Stacey is excited to contribute to Rubicon’s work using her financial management, data, and analysis skills.
Stacey is from New York and earned her Bachelor’s in Accounting from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She has called the Bay Area her home since 1992 and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and standup paddling.
Vi Ngo
Vi Ngo
Vi joined Rubicon Programs in 2011. Prior to her role as the Director of Workforce Services, she oversaw the operations of the Eden Area America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) career center in Hayward, CA and Alameda County public grants initiatives. Her work experience includes more than a decade working in a number of employment and workforce programs, including developing community partnerships, project management, employer engagement, and direct client services. Vi double majored in Psychology and Business Administration at University of California Riverside and earned her M.A. in Public Administration at California State University, East Bay. She also holds a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) credential.
Wes Reed
Wes Reed
As Rubicon’s IT director, Wes oversees the use and development of computer and phone technology. In this role, he enjoys creative problem-solving, systems analysis, and aligning technological innovation with organizational needs. Wes first joined Rubicon in 2005 to provide IT support, data analysis, and software development for Rubicon’s proprietary CICERO participant tracking system. Prior to joining Rubicon, Wes was a partner in Third Strand, a web-based software development company. He also worked as an IT manager and software developer at UC Berkeley and as the general manager of a restaurant in San Francisco’s financial district.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from UC Berkeley. When not working, Wes enjoys spending time in the mountains where he likes to hike, backpack, and cross-country ski. He also has a passion for producing good food and feeding people.
Jess Temple
Jess Temple
Jess Temple joined Rubicon Programs in January 2020 as a Staff Attorney, and was promoted to Director of Legal Services in January 2024. Prior to joining Rubicon, Jess amplified the urgent work of nonprofits and organizations seeking to increase access to justice and legal services at the state and international levels. Most recently at OneJustice, Jess lead a team focused on building capacity and increasing access to immigration and reentry legal services in rural communities across California. Previously, Jess contributed to regional and international human rights advocacy, technical assistance, and litigation at the International Justice Resource Center, Schonbrun Seplow Harris Hoffman& Zeldes, LLP and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Jess is driven by the principle that all people are equal in dignity and rights, and leverages her varied experience to deliver person-centered and community-based legal support. As a Bay Area native Jess is delighted to serve the communities that helped raise her.
Jess received her B.A. from UC Santa Cruz and her J.D. from UCLA School of Law. At UCLA, Jess served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs and received the Morris Greenspan Memorial Prize awarded to the top graduating student in international law. When Jess isn’t working, she enjoys hiking with her dog Maddi, listening to true crime podcasts, and spending time with family and friends.
Board of Directors
Tatiana Ware
Chair
Tatiana Ware
Tatiana Ware is a Bay Area-native currently living in San Leandro. She has a passion for solving problems, broadening social connections and being a champion for groups underrepresented in the workforce.
Tatiana is currently employed at Workday, Inc. as a Business Analyst who works with multi-disciplined teams using a combination of business and technical skills to drive results. Tatiana believes that leveraging data to solve complex problems is the key to success.
Tatiana holds a B.A. in Political Science from Howard University. When she’s not working or volunteering her time to various causes she enjoys traveling, salsa dancing and reading.
David Staley
Vice Chair
David Staley
David brings 25 years of experience in housing finance and financial services expanding and strengthening Fixed Income sales and trading platforms for top tier financial institutions. Prior to Prosper Marketplace, Dave spent six years at Barclays, where he was Managing Director and Head of West Coast Securitized Product Sales and Trade Capture Unit teams. Prior to Barclays, he spent 18 years at Lehman Brothers in various roles, including Senior Vice President of Sales in charge of all major institutional accounts in the western region. David graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and lives with his family in Piedmont, California, where he has co-founded and held leadership positions in community organizations focused on financial and mentoring support for students underrepresented in higher education.
Darius Brown
Secretary
Darius Brown
Paul opened the Center for Responsible Lending’s (CRL) California office in spring 2006 and directed its state policy and outreach efforts for 10 years. Prior to joining CRL, Paul was a public policy consultant focused on housing and community development, welfare reform, and other anti-poverty issues. Prior to 1999, Paul was a political appointee at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, serving as Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development from 1994 to 1998.
Amirh Morgan
Treasurer
Amirh Morgan
Amirh Morgan is a Talent Coordinator Lead at Adobe Inc. In this role, she manages 6 Talent Coordinators that support the North America talent team. She has lived and worked in the Bay Area for the last three years.
She is a transplant from Washington D.C. where she was a Program Manager for The Manufacturing Institute, the non-profit affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), whose focus is on workforce development within the manufacturing sector. In this role, she was responsible for developing and executing a plan to fund and support their women in manufacturing initiative. Additionally, Amirh managed the employer engagement strategy for a national STEM career training grant providing content creation and coaching on recruitment/ retention for 5 community colleges across the U.S.
Amirh graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from Howard University in Washington D.C. She is currently earning a Master of Human Resource Analytics and Management from American University virtually.
Justin Crum
Justin Crum
Justin Crum is Associate Vice President of Mission Advancement at the YMCA of San Francisco. Prior to his work at the Y, he worked with CCS Fundraising, an international fundraising consulting firm. His work with CCS focused largely on capital projects and fundraising strategy, helping lead volunteers and leadership teams to make transformative investments in their organizations.
Justin has over 15 years of experience in non-profit management. He has worked extensively with non-profits in the Bay Area, managing a fellowship program with over 50 Bay Area nonprofits in diverse impact areas delivering long-term capacity building. His work has also included training and supporting early career professionals in developing skills and career planning in the non-profit sector. Prior to his work in the Bay Area, Justin managed education programs with the Food Bank for New York City, where he created and executed programming, large-scale training events, and advertising campaigns.
A proud native Minnesotan, he now resides in Piedmont with his wife and daughter.
Danté Green
Danté Green
Danté Green is a healthcare executive with over 10 years of experience in progressive/executive leadership roles. Danté currently serves as Senior Vice President SVP/Area Manager East Bay Service Area.
Danté’s previous community involvement includes partnerships with Habitat for Humanity and the United Way to address housing needs in Eastern New Orleans. He also served as Vice-Chair of Community Academy Charter Management Organization (CMO), a four-school CMO with a strong focus on improving literacy for children. His professional affiliations include serving as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), adjunct professor for the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and founder/former President of the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE) Southeast Louisiana Chapter. Danté is also a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.
Danté received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Master of Health Administration from the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
Sophia Loh
Sophia Loh
Sophia started her career at Frank, Rimmerman, then served as a Controller for a real estate firm, and developed and implemented commercial accounting software packages. Sophia rejoined the firm in June 2012, and she has served as director of finance for several early-stage venture backed companies and closely held business. Her responsibilities have included managing start-up operations, accounting and business process, system implementation and conversion, financial reporting, audit preparation and budgeting. Sophia graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, earning a Bachelor of Science with a major in Accounting. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Sophia serves as the Treasurer on the Board of Sustainable Contra Costa, a non-profit organization which helps people and businesses create and maintain sustainable communities.
Corey McCants
Corey McCants
Corey McCants is currently a homemaker raising 2 daughters with his wife Monique and a resident of East Oakland for 10 years.
Corey is a purpose driven leader with over 15 years experience in operations management, talent acquisition, and team development across multiple industries.
Corey earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Elizabethtown College. Corey enjoys playing guitar, golfing and reading sci-fi/fantasy books.
Karen Wilson
Karen Wilson
Karen Norwood serves as the Community Relations Director for Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences in Richmond, CA. She is responsible for overseeing and leading Community Outreach initiatives involved with designing and implementing strategies for expanding outreach to high schools, colleges, and community-based organizations. She is responsible for providing daily operational leadership to increase overall awareness for prospective students, with the focus to educate and strengthen relationships within our community leading to career pathways at Kaiser Permanente’s School of Allied Health Sciences. Karen is a graduate of The University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Health Education. Karen also has a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from Aspen University in Denver, Colorado.
She is a a member of the Richmond Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County, the Kaiser Permanente African American Professional Association, and the Kaiser Permanente Care Volunteer Organization, and she serves on Chevron’s Richmond Economic Revitalization Committee. Karen has received three National Awards from the State of California for her work in Eliminating Health Disparities.
Vrinda Shah
Vrinda Shah
Vrinda Shah is the VP of FP&A at Grammarly. Before this role, she was the acting CFO at ThoughtSpot, an AI-powered analytics platform. She has 20 years of progressive experience in finance. Her career includes significant roles at Unity Technologies, where she served as Head of Corporate Finance and Strategy and Head of Strategic Finance and held leadership positions at Wells Fargo. Her expertise spans various aspects of finance, including financial planning and analysis, treasury, capital markets, M&A, balance sheet optimization, enterprise and credit risk, portfolio management, and structuring complex financial transactions. Vrinda has experience working in high-growth technology companies (public and private) and financial services institutions.
Vrinda earned her bachelor’s degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and is also a Chartered Financial Analyst. She lives in the East Bay with her husband and two children.
Participant Advisory Board
Darease Brown
Marquita Ealy
Marvin Galdamez
Rena Moore
Darcy Rose
Alex Thomas
