Donna Deutchman
Chief Executive Officer
Donna E. Deutchman is a leader in the development of direct services, university research, and policy focusing on the needs of veterans, families, and multigenerational groups. She has spent her career dedicated to providing non-profit organizations with the resources and expertise they need to grow and become self-sustaining leaders in their industries. This has included a strong focus on the creation of effective housing and social service models that address community needs in a fiscally responsible manner. Currently, she is C.E.O. of the Habitat for Humanity affiliate serving Northern Los Angeles County. This Habitat is among the top 5% of Habitat’s nationwide, having built over 230 homes. Currently, this Habitat is building over 100 homes for veterans, 99 of which are in collaboration with CalVet, 12 with the additional assistance of HCD. In addition, under Deutchman’s leadership, this Habitat has been making existing homes habitable by veterans though their home modification and repair program, housing an additional 10-20 per year throughout LA County. Deutchman is Chair of the Housing Committee of Governor Brown’s Interagency Council on Veterans.
Unique to this Habitat is its model of building quality self-help affordable housing that goes beyond subsidy to home-stability by including a supportive environment that provides training, resources, and a neighborhood culture that encourages self-sufficiency and upward mobility—coined the Habitat Enriched Neighborhood. Deutchman brings a strong history of developing innovative and effective services, including having been director of national development for the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, President/CEO of ONEgeneration, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing intergenerational programs, and leading positions at both UCLA and USC. She has written two pieces of legislation for the State of California and has placed her models front and center in the media, including national television shows such as Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and much more.
Donna is published most recently in the book Life Moments for Women: 100 Extraordinary California Women, as well as in the 2005 White House Conference on Aging: Future Needs of the Aging Baby Boomers; co-author of such books as Guiding Autobiography Groups for Older Adults and editor of The Concept and Measurement of Quality of Life among many other books and articles. Donna is active throughout the community on Boards and Committees.
Judi MacLean
Director of Finance
Judi is orginally from New Jersey and was hired at Habitat affiliate in 2009 as our Director of Finance. She has an amazing ability to multi-task, blending her skills and areas of expertise together. This comes from her diverse experience in the construction industry as she has worked for over 20 years in both the private and public sectors, as well as, for commercial and non-profit organizations, in both construction and land development.
Judi was attracted to Habitat because the position was a great fit with her background, which includes not only accounting and finance but also working as a purchasing agent, site superintendent and project manager. She loves the mission of Habitat and takes pride in her job knowing that her hard work is benefiting struggling families.
Judi enjoys working at our project sites when she gets a chance to and meeting the families and volunteers. She is married with two children, likes horses and travel.
Sherijo Damico
ReStore – Senior Manager of
Communications & Brand
Sherijo has been in sales and marketing for over 25 years. Her first career was working in retail for Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, and other high profile retailers in the stores and behind the scenes in the corporate offices. After many years, Sheri took a career turn and became a Real Estate Broker—with over 15 years of Real Estate expertise, providing a unique and valuable background for her work here at Habitat. Sheri then obtained her vast background in Marketing through her work in Telecommunications, which included PR and marketing for the Golf Channel, MTV, and Playboy Enterprises. A relatively new mom, Sheri is purposeful in her decision to now turn her talents to working for Habitat for Humanity and “giving back”.
Bill Cloyd
Construction Supervisor
Bill has over 20 years professional experience in construction, development, management, supervision and general contractors roles. He is an expert in High-End Custom, Semi-Custom and Entry Level Production Homes, Commercial, Tenant Improvements and Remodel. Bill has worked in construction management roles across the board over the last 20 years. He worked for three years as a Site Superintendent for Jama Construction Corporation in Beverly Hills, followed by two years as a Construction Manager and R.M.E. at Castle & Cooke Homes, Inc in Bakersfield. He has a year experience as a Purchasing Agent/Quality Control Manager at Coleman Homes, Inc. in Bakersfield and six years’ experience as Senior Project Manager/Client Liason at Asset Investment Management Company LLC in Denver. He worked for four years as a Construction Manager/Purchasing Agent at Kurowski Development Co. Inc. before settling in Santa Clarita California working as a Project Manager/Site Supervisor for The Preserve in Sand Canyon, LLC.
Included in his Superintendent Experience is an 80 unit apartment building in Van Nuys, Fuji Film Vault in Hollywood, Tenant Finish at the American Society of Cinematographers in Hollywood, Tenant Finish for the Hollywood Film Company in Hollywood, Group up two story Medical Office Building in Canyon Country, Tenant Finish Medical/Dental Offices
Bill is very familiar with our service area and their needs as he grew up in the San Fernando Valley and is currently living in Santa Clarita.
Steve Mercado
Site Supervisor
Steve is a longtime resident of Moorpark, California. He and his wife, Carthel, of 29 years, have four daughters, Maya, Jenny, Stephanie and Angela, and four grandchildren. Steve has been a member of the Carpenters’ Union for 19 years and has served as construction site superintendent for residential homes for 12 years. In 1999, the men’s group at his church participated in Volunteer Day for Habitat for Humanity, he was very moved by the work that Habitat did and later joined our team. Steve loves giving back and being a part of such a great, worthwhile organization.
Sarah Steffen
Manager of Marketing & Development
Sarah Steffen came on as the Marketing Coordinator in February 2011. She attended San Diego State University from 2006-2010. While at school she worked with the Associated Students for two and a half years; working with school organizations and student government. As a junior she worked a summer internship as a project intern at Entertainment Industries Council, Inc., a non-profit organization that promotes health and social issues in the Entertainment Industry and to audiences at large. In her senior year, she interned for the San Diego State Marketing and Communications Department, working on news and profile stories for SDSU NewsCenter and SDSUniverse, the faculty and staff newsletter. She graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with an emphasis in Media Studies and a minor in English. She enjoys doing what she loves while giving back and advocating for the community.
Nicole Hampsten
Volunteer & Family Services Coordinator
Nicole serves as the Volunteer & Family Services Coordinator at Habitat and oversees Volunteer Recruitment, the Youth United Program, Internship Program, the Nickels for Nails Fundraiser program, and Family Services for Habitat Homeowners.
Nicole grew up in the San Fernando Valley and attended California State University- Northridge where she studied Recreation & Tourism Management, with a focus on non-profit management, leadership, and childhood development. Nicole had the opportunity to serve low income families and special education students for nine years while working for Los Angeles Unified School District. After college, she had many wonderful experiences serving communities in Alaska and North Carolina which prepared her for current position. She spent a summer in Alaska as an Environmental Educator and Program Coordinator as an intern for the Alaska Conservation Foundation. Additionally, she served as an AmeriCorps *VISTA with North Carolina Campus Compact at Duke University recruiting volunteers and supporting the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership. At the end of the AmeriCorps experience, she was fortunate to stay at Duke, managing the America Reads/America Counts tutoring program, where she supported Duke Students employed as paid and volunteer tutors at schools within the Durham community.
When not at work, Nicole loves to do anything outdoors, from backpacking, snowboarding, to running. In fact, Nicole has solo thru-hiked the entire John Muir Trail and summited Mt. Whitney five times. Nicole is thrilled to be back home in California working for Habitat and enriching the community she loves, while working with Habitat Volunteers and Families.
Bridgett Mills
Neighborhood Revitalization Specialist
& Executive Assistant
Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, it has been Bridgett’s dream to develop her home town into a community of individuals that work together and help motivate them to take action about the concerns they have in our city. She graduated from El Camino Real High School in 2006 as a Captain on the Cross Country Team and on the weekends would volunteer for the local youth track team called the West Valley Eagles. Bridgett then went on to California State University of Northridge and graduated in Spring of 2010 with a major in Urban Studies & Planning and a minor in Philosophy. As a Freshman she got an internship at Calabasas City Hall in the planning department, gained experience in the city processes, politics and permits. As a Senior she wanted to be more involved in the community and got an internship with this Habitat for Humanity affiliate. As an intern Bridgett helped with the 2010 Womens Build and began research on how to make our Habitat homes more green with Jesseca Woywod then was asked to stay as the Assistant to the CEO and remains part of our Habitat family to this day.
Brittany Engh
Web/Graphic Designer & Marketing Assistant
Brittany was born and raised in New York, where she obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Digital Art and Design from Long Island University, graduating in May 2011. She moved out to Los Angeles in pursuit of a career using artistic ability. With some experience in marketing as well, Brittany joined the Habitat team in May 2012 as a Web/Graphic Designer & Marketing Assistant, and is excited to use her creativity to help Habitat better the lives of others.
Melissa Lee
Accounting/Applications Processing
Melissa Graduated from California State University, Stanislaus in Turlock, CA, with a BA in Liberal Studies. She taught 2nd grade at San Jose Christian Schools and 1st and 5th grades in Manteca, CA. After teaching she went to USMC Officer Candidates School and earned her commission in August, 2000. She graduated from USMC Basic Rifle Platoon Commander’s Course (TBS), and Ground Supply Officer’s Course. She was stationed at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan and got out in 2004 and, shortly after, married her Marine husband. She has been married for almost 9 years, and has 2 beautiful children. Melissa loves working with Veterans and helping them to access the different opportunities Habitat for Humanity SF/SCV has to offer them.