LEADING THE WAY

HOPE BUILDERS LEADERSHIP TEAM.

shawna smith executive director

Shawna Smith, Executive Director

Since joining the staff in 1998, Shawna has held various roles and led the development of numerous strategic initiatives including successfully managing the transition of the organization’s founding director in 2008. In her role as CEO, she has led the development of Hope Builders' social enterprise ventures.... She has worked in numerous capacities in the nonprofit sector in the areas of workforce development, re-entry, intervention programming, emergency assistance, housing instability and volunteer service. She received her degree in English from Santa Clara University. She spent a year as a Jesuit Volunteer living and working among the poor of Central Orange County providing emergency assistance services to families on the edge of homelessness. In 2006, she was named a Marano Fellow by the Aspen Institute.In 2012, she was named one of 40 Under 40 in Orange County by the OC Metro. More recently the LA Times OC acknowledged Shawna as a 2022 OC Visionary for her work with Hope Builders. She currently serves on the board of directors for Charitable Ventures and the advisory board for the CSJ Center for Spiritual Development.

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christa sheehan Deputy Director

Christa Sheehan, Deputy Director

Christa Sheehan joined Hope Builders in 1998, assisting in the long-term planning efforts, including strategic planning, fundraising campaigns, marketing campaigns and advocacy initiatives. Prior to Hope Builders, Christa was a Program Associate at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. and the... Managing Editor of the Environmental Change and Security Project Report. Christa earned her BA, cum laude, in French/International Studies from Dickinson College and her MA in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh. She became a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) in 2005.
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Jessica Lugo website

Jessica Lugo, Senior Director of Operations

Jessica Lugo joined Hope Builders in 2026 to lead key priorities across HR, Finance, Facilities, and IT. Jessica translates strategy into action, enhances the flow of internal communications, and manages high-value special projects. She brings over 10 years in the nonprofit sector and 9 years in facilities and operations.
laura stagner Senior Director of Development

Laura Stagner, Senior Director of Development

Laura Stagner joined Hope Builders in 2007 to focus on the agency’s annual fund donor activities. In 2018, Laura transitioned to the role of Senior Director of Development to assist in strategic planning efforts and the development and implementation of the Hope Builders Career Connections social enterprise. ... She now oversees fundraising and earned income activities. Laura earned a BA in Sociology from Georgetown University, and became a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) in 2012.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

ALEX CALABRESE
Chair
Bio
ANNETTE MORGAN
Vice Chair
Bio
MIKE SMITH
Treasurer
Bio
Tim Blett
M-GAP Chair
Bio
MICHAEL CAWLINA
Director
Bio
TARA COWELL
Director
Bio
OLIVIA LINDSAY
Director
Bio
ELIZABETH MIRZA
Director
Bio
MARIA ELENA PERALES
Director
Bio
JEFF RANDOLPH
Director
Bio
ED RODRIGUEZ
Director
Bio
ABE VOGEL
Director
Bio
KATHRYN WEBSTER
Director
Bio
Bruce Young
Director
Bio

HOPE BUILDERS’ STAFF.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

SHAWNA SMITH
Executive Director
Ext. 109
ssmith@tsjhopebuilders.org
CHRISTA SHEEHAN, CFRE
Deputy Director
Ext. 107
csheehan@tsjhopebuilders.org
JESSICA LUGO
Senior Director of Operations
Ext. 1002
jlugo@tsjhopebuilders.org
LAURA STAGNER, CFRE
Senior Director of Development
Ext. 123
lstagner@tsjhopebuilders.org
SHAWN CAPISTRANO
Chief Financial Officer
scapistrano@tsjhopebuilders.org
 

ADMIN AND OPERATIONS

TAHLIA CALVILLO
Operations Assistant
Ext. 403
tcalvillo@tsjhopebuilders.org
TANYA CAMPOS
HR Operations Manager
tcampos@tsjhopebuilders.org
CORRINE HILL
Data and Learning Manager
Ext. 159
chill@tsjhopebuilders.org
 

FINANCE

DIANE BALLEZA
Staff Accountant
Ext. 215
dballeza@tsjhopebuilders.org
ZAJID COVA
Controller
Ext. 114
zcova@tsjhopebuilders.org
ELYSSA OTERO
Contracts Coordinator
Ext. 108
eotero@tsjhopebuilders.org
AZUCENA VERA
Accounting Coordinator
Ext. 100
avera@tsjhopebuilders.org
 

FUNDRAISING

TONY DO, MA, MFA
Foundation Relations Manager
Ext. 418
tdo@tsjhopebuilders.org
JESSICA HUBNER, MPA
Donor Relations Manager
Ext. 124
jhubner@tsjhopebuilders.org
KRISTA LANGFORD
Annual Fund Manager
Ext. 406
klangford@tsjhopebuilders.org
SARAY PALLARES
Development Coordinator
Ext. 126
spallares@tsjhopebuilders.org

ENROLLMENT

ROSARIO ESPARZA
Outreach Specialist
Ext. 302
resparza@tsjhopebuilders.org
SONIA HERNANDEZ
Outreach Coordinator
Ext. 165
shernandez@tsjhopebuilders.org
ERICKA RIOS
Enrollment Manager
Ext. 163
erios@tsjhopebuilders.org
MARIE STEWART
Enrollment Specialist
Ext. 414
mstewart@tsjhopebuilders.org
CINTHIA TORRES
Admissions Specialist
Ext. 221
ctorres@tsjhopebuilders.org
 

TRAINING

SOFIA DIAZ
Clinical Medical Assisting Training Supervisor II
Ext. 157
sdiaz@tsjhopebuilders.org
LAUREN EDDY
Program Manager
Ext. 275
leddy@tsjhopebuilders.org
MANARA MCCOBB
Clinical Medical Assisting Training Supervisor I
Ext. 245
mmccobb@tsjhopebuilders.org
SYDNEY NISHIDA
Child Development Training Supervisor
snishida@tsjhopebuilders.org
MICHAEL O'NEILL
Construction Training Supervisor
Ext. 139
moneill@tsjhopebuilders.org
MARIA PLANCARTE
Trainee Success Supervisor
mplancarte@tsjhopebuilders.org
SABINE SHAH
Trainee Success Supervisor
Ext. 167
sshah@tsjhopebuilders.org
 
Employment readiness icon

EMPLOYMENT READINESS

CINDY MENDIZABAL
Employment Readiness Manager
Ext. 195
cmendizabal@tsjhopebuilders.org
BLANCA VALENZUELA
Employability Skills Specialist
Ext. 409
bvalenzuela@tsjhopebuilders.org

HOPE BUILDERS CAREER CONNECTIONS

MANNY GARCIA
Recruiter
Ext. 103
mgarcia@hbcareerconnections.org
SANDY CASTILLO
Recruiter
(714) 790-8768
scastillo@hbcareerconnections.org
SYDNEY KELLEY
Recruiter
Ext. 225
skelley@hbcareerconnections.org
JACOB KIM
Sales Development Rep
Ext. 228
jkim@hbcareerconnections.org
LAURA RANTLOLE
Sales Development Rep
lrantlole@hbcareerconnections.org
 

Career Opportunities

Hope Builders is always looking for talented and dynamic individuals to join our team.

For questions on any job positions, please contact: (714) 543–5105 or email hr@tsjhopebuilders.org