Manny Hidalgo • Executive Director
Haile Gebregziabher • Deputy Executive Director
[email protected]
X206301-792-5229 (Cell)
Daniella Burgos • Director of Development and Communications
Daniella joined Shepherd’s Table leadership team in January of 2022. With a background in development and communications, Daniella has experience developing communications and fundraising strategies for non-profits and community organizations. Previously Daniella created and supported public relations campaigns, as well as media outreach and logistics projects for Scott Circle Communications. Daniella first started out in her career as the development and communications associate for Suited for Change, where she supported the non-profit’s programs and execution of strategic communications campaigns, including social media, e-newsletters and traditional media outreach. Daniella holds a bachelor’s degree in global studies from The College of William and Mary and a master’s degree in strategic communications from American University.
Jerome Chambers • Director of Social Services
Jerome joined the team in May of 2021. He leads our Social Service Department, handling all aspects of case management, the Resource Center, the Eye Clinic and our Weekend Day Program. Prior to his time at Shepherd’s Table, Jerome worked as the Director of Social Services for various long-term care facilities for the elderly throughout Maryland and South Florida. He holds both a Master of Divinity degree from Morehouse Scool of Religion and a Master of Social Work degree from Howard University. Jerome grew up in Silver Spring and excited to serve his community.
Christina Moore • Director of Meal Services
Christina joined the Army Reserves at 17, spending 9.5 years as a Human Resources specialist, including a one-year tour in Baghdad, Iraq. From there, she enrolled in culinary school, graduating from Le Cordon Bleu in New England in the Advanced Honors Program and earning an AA in Culinary Arts, as well as a Diplome de Art Culinaire, the French equivalent of a Culinary Certificate. After completing an externship in Massachusetts, she relocated to Virginia. A series of unfortunate circumstances led to a fall into, and subsequent climb out of, a period of homelessness. After overcoming this difficult time, she became the Sous Chef of a busy restaurant in Virginia, and came to Shepherd’s Table out of a deep yearning to do something more important for the world, and a sense of wanting to “give back.” In November 2020, Christina became our Director of Special Programs and in late 2022 was promoted to Director of Meal Services.
Evert Vargas • Social Services Program Manager
Evert has been with Shepherd’s Table for over 11 years, bringing extensive experience in serving the needs of the Spanish-speaking community through his work with Neighbor’s Consejo, Clinica del Pueblo, Casa of Maryland and Identity Inc. In the past, Evert received training in HIV/Aids testing and counseling. He has served as a case manager, counselor, and health educator. Additionally, he has also worked with the homeless population in Montgomery County as an outreach emergency worker and assisted clients in housing, employment, social services, legal, medical and immigration services. At Shepherd’s Table, in addition to ensuring a smooth operation at the Resource Center, Evert also coordinates the Eye Clinic Program and provides services as the Bilingual Counselor.
Tinsae Adugna • Social Services Program Associate
Tinsae has worked in case management since earning her Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Frostburg State University. She most recently served as a housing case manager for Cornerstones in Northern Virginia, honing her expertise on the intersection of mental health and homelessness. A local to the area, she grew up volunteering at Shepherd’s Table and has always appreciated its significance to the community. She’s committed to helping Shepherd’s Table continue to grow and expand services.
Sharon Flynn • Philanthropic Gifts Advisor
Kara von der Stitt • Development Associate
Kara joined the Shepherd’s Table team in June 2022 to serve the Development & Communications team, working in grant writing and fundraising. She graduated with a degree in Communication from the University of Maryland, College Park and has worked with unhoused communities in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County and Baltimore City throughout the past 10 years. Before joining Shepherd’s Table, Kara was a local Event Coordinator primarily executing weddings and birthdays. She’s passionate about helping people and serving her local community, and she’s excited to begin her career at Shepherd’s Table.
Brenna Olson • Advocacy Coordinator
Brenna began her work with Shepherd’s Table in the fall of 2022 after graduating from American University with a degree in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government. Previously interning with the National Low Income Housing Coalition, she’s focused her academic and vocational pursuits on housing justice. Personal experience with housing insecurity instilled a passion for working in this subject matter. Now, she’s eager to apply her experience and policy expertise as Shepherd’s Table develops a robust advocacy program. Additionally, she’s a big fan of coffee and cooking– making ST just the right fit.
Mindy Hofmann • Volunteer Coordinator
Mindy joined as our Volunteer Coordinator in April 2022. She’s spent the bulk of her career in the nonprofit world, working in areas such as mental health, developmental disability and abuse prevention. She brings vast experience working with volunteers, most notably managing and training volunteers to advocate on behalf of children experiencing abuse and neglect. A D.C. native, she earned her M.A. in Human Resource Development from Marymount University. Her work has always been tangental to Shepherd’s Table, and she’s eager to support our volunteers in any way possible as they serve our community. In her spare time, Mindy enjoys exploring the outdoors, yoga, curling up with a good book, and spending time with her two children.
Debbie Boger • Urban Garden Coordinator
Debbie serves Shepherd’s Table as the organization’s first Urban Food Garden Coordinator, with a passion for teaching people about caring for the earth and for transforming outdoor spaces into productive, sustainable gardens. She has experience teaching students how to grow and harvest their own food with the Audubon Naturalist Society and has led the development of an outdoor classroom for two local public schools. Previously, she worked in environmental advocacy in both the government and nonprofit sectors, most recently directing a U.S. Climate Policy program at a think tank in Washington, DC. Debbie holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Pomona College and a master’s degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Paola Ortiz • Lead Chef
Paola has 12 years of experience in the culinary field, having graduated from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute of Arizona in 2009. She’s lived in Maryland for the past eight years, working as the Head Chef and Facility Manager at The Cottage at Curry Manor in Bethesda before joining the Shepherd’s Table staff. She initially joined to assist the then-newly established Beyond the Table program, but was promoted to the kitchen’s Lead Chef in late 2021. She leads the team with passion and excellence as we serve our clients the very best curated meals.
Gary Bullock • Chef
Dao Huynh • Chef
Dao joined the team in 2021, bringing nine years of international culinary experience with him. He has a particular specialty in French cuisine. A desire to serve the community and drew him to Shepherd’s Table, where he’s able to steward his expertise to create delicious meals for our guests. In his free time, Chef Dao enjoys backpacking and collecting chopper motorcycles.
Russell Smoot • Chef
Russell, known as Ruggz, has extensive experience working as an Executive Chef across a variety of restaurants. Constantly driven to learn new things, he’s mastered an array of cuisines and techniques. For the past several years, he’s focused his practice on healthy, plant-based foods and loves to show clients how delicious healthy-eating can be. He began volunteering at Shepherd’s Table during the pandemic and was asked to join the team six months later. He’s passionate about serving the public and enjoys utilizing his gifts to do so.
Abdoulaye Sylla • Chef
Abdoul joined our staff as a Chef in August 2022 after serving the organization as the summer culinary intern. Several years prior to his employment, Abdoul first visited our dining room as a meal guest. He battled homelessness and hunger with marked determination and resilient positivity, finding community and acceptance among our staff and meal guests. Throughout life’s challenges, he remained rooted in his goal of returning to work in the culinary realm where he could utilize his formal culinary training. He successfully worked his way back into the arena he loves, most recently working in the George Washington University Hospital cafeteria before finding his way back to our team.
Sonji Owens • Business Manager
Mohamed Banya • Senior Operations Assistant
Robert Savoy • Operations Assistant
Roberto Maravilla • Operations Assistant
Nancy Martinez • Operations Assistant & Receptionist
Nancy joined the Shepherd’s Table team with years of experience as a GNA. Poised at the front of our building, Nancy is the first staff member many of our clients ever meet. Her experience caring for patients has equipped her to empathetically engage our guests and meet them wherever they are. She plays a crucial role in building relationships with clients, and works to ensure all of our on-site programs run smoothly and safely.
Board of Directors
Since 1983, Shepherd’s Table has been governed by dynamic community volunteers who tirelessly share their time, talents, and treasure to fulfill our mission of ending and preventing homelessness.
Interested in joining our board? Complete our board application here.
Torey Carter-Conneen, Chair
Paul Kaplun, First Vice-Chair
Chaz D. Brooks, Second Vice-Chair
Heidi Weber, Secretary
Sonya Snedecor, Treasurer
Helaine Resnick, At-large Representative
Board Members at Large
Ken Farber
Amber Harris
Laura Henderson
Steven Jacobs
Debra Liang-Fenton
Debra Magidson
Gary Phoebus
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