Carolina Cortazar

Senior Director of Housing & Support Services 

Nelson Murcia-Chavez

Bio coming soon

Ileana Martinez

Since joining CRCD in 2018, Ileana has been a tireless advocate for youth, adults, and families across South Los Angeles. In her new role, she will oversee Time-Limited Subsidy Housing, Permanent Housing, and the Coordinated Entry System—advancing CRCD’s mission to foster housing stability and opportunity in our communities.

Ileana began her journey at CRCD as a Housing Navigator at Ruth’s Place Access Center, where she helped unhoused transition-age youth (TAY) secure housing. She later served as an ICMS Case Manager on the Scattered Site team, assisting participants in obtaining permanent housing through Section 8 subsidies. In 2021, she was promoted to Program Manager, where she oversaw contracts funded by LAHSA, DHS, and private foundations, while also building strong partnerships with landlords to support long-term housing outcomes.

As Associate Director, Ileana will provide strategic leadership for CRCD’s growing Scattered Site Programs and play a key role in expanding both scattered site and project-based permanent supportive housing. With deep experience in housing services, mental health, and substance use support, her leadership will help guide the next phase of growth and innovation in the Housing and Support Services Department.

Jose Guadron

Senior Director of Workforce Development

As the Senior Director of Workforce Development, Jose Guadron leads a dedicated team of workforce development, education, and economic development professionals to deliver innovative programming and services for youth, adults, individuals returning to society, and families in South Los Angeles.

Working closely with the Workforce Development team – the largest at CRCD – Jose strives to develop and implement services that eliminate barriers to employment, quality training, education, and high-touch case management. Jose Guadron previously served as the Director of Youth Development Programming at CRCD, where he provided oversight and guidance on the various education and workforce development programs for youth devoted to transforming the lives of young adults throughout South Los Angeles. As Director of Youth Development Programming, he supervised all workforce development and education programs’ daily operations while monitoring service implementation, data entry, and grant performance.

Jose has more than 15 years of nonprofit experience working to improve the lives of disconnected young adults through employment, training, and education. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from California State University Northridge and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Antioch University Los Angeles, where he also became a Certified Nonprofit Professional through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance.

Latea Davis

Director, Workforce Development

Born and raised in South LA, Latea Davis witnessed the everyday struggles of our service population and the barriers they are faced with daily. In August of 2012, Latea began her workforce development career with CRCD as an intake specialist, was promoted to youth advocate, later assumed a leadership role as the VCN YouthSource Center Manager, and most recently, stepped into the South Los Angeles YouthBuild Manager role.

As the Associate Director of Workforce Development for Youth, Latea leads a team of service providers and education professionals that work collectively to operate innovative workforce development and education programming for youth in the South LA area that face barriers when seeking education and employment. Latea oversees the daily operations of all youth workforce development and education programs while ensuring the implementation of CRCD’s client-focused service delivery model, confirming data entry, and safeguarding grant performance.

Latea’s leadership, youth development experience, and dedication to serving our South LA community exemplify CRCD’s core values. She holds a degree in Elementary Education/ English from Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas.

Krystal Rivera

Associate Director, Workforce Development

Krystal Rivera brings over 15 years of experience in youth development, education, and community engagement. At CRCD, she leads programs that connect young people ages 16–24—especially those facing systemic barriers—to education, careers, and support services. Her work includes overseeing youth employment initiatives, managing state and federal grants, and building strong partnerships with employers, educators, and community organizations.

Grounded in equity and empathy, Krystal is committed to transforming systems for foster youth, opportunity youth, and those navigating reentry or housing instability. Her previous roles include leadership positions at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, Upward Bound House, and the Los Angeles Education Partnership.

She holds an M.A.Ed in Education, Equity & Social Justice from Cal State Long Beach and a B.A. in Child & Adolescent Development from Cal State Northridge.

Ro’Lesha Coleman

Associate Director, Workforce Development

Ro’Lesha Coleman brings over 10 years of experience in workforce development, program design, and team leadership. As Associate Director of Workforce Development at CRCD, she oversees the daily operations of workforce programs, leads program design and implementation, supervises staff, and ensures program compliance and performance outcomes. Ro’Lesha specializes in building effective systems that remove barriers for participants and foster growth for both staff and community members.

Her leadership is rooted in collaboration, equity, and the belief that strong programs begin with empowered people. She sees herself as both a builder and a teacher—committed to sharing knowledge, guiding her team, and creating spaces where transformation is possible.

Born in Louisiana and raised in Georgia, Ro’Lesha’s dedication to community service began early, through volunteering in community centers and mentoring youth in her church. These experiences shaped her lifelong commitment to ensuring every young person has access to guidance, opportunity, and a support system that believes in their potential.

Ro’Lesha earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Savannah State University. Prior to CRCD, she held leadership roles at WorkSource Cobb/CobbWorks Inc., where she led Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs and collaborated with partners to expand access to education and sustainable career pathways.

Jerry Walker

Associate Director, Workforce Development

Jerry Walker serves as the Associate Director of Placement at CRCD, where he connects workforce programming with business development efforts to create lasting, meaningful job placements for South Los Angeles residents. With over 20 years of experience in financial services, business development, and the nonprofit sector, Jerry specializes in building partnerships that support wage growth and expand access to economic opportunities for underserved communities.

His leadership is grounded in the belief that while good things can be achieved individually, truly great things happen through collaboration. Jerry works across CRCD’s ecosystem to ensure programs align with employer needs, resulting in sustainable employment pathways for participants.

A strong advocate for economic equity, Jerry is driven by the understanding that job and wage growth are essential indicators of a thriving city. He takes pride in helping bridge opportunity gaps in Los Angeles—one of the largest economies in the world—by fostering access and equality for the communities CRCD serves.

Jerry holds certifications in Mortgage Lending, Commercial Real Estate, and Data Analytics & Visualization. Prior to CRCD, he held roles as a Commercial Banker and Relationship Manager at Chase Bank and City National Bank, and as an Account Manager and Staff Accountant in Business Management. He has partnered with key agencies including the City of Los Angeles, LAHSA, LAWA, LA Metro, and LADWP.

Veronica Vitela

Director of Economic Development, Southeast Los Angeles BusinessSource Center

Veronica Vitela is the Director of Economic Development at the Southeast Los Angeles BusinessSource Center, operated by CRCD. With over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Veronica leads initiatives that empower underserved communities through small business development & financial education.

She oversees a wide range of services to support entrepreneurs and small business owners, including access to capital, business planning, permitting, certifications, and workforce development. Veronica also manages CRCD’s Financial Education Services, including the VITA Tax Assistance Program, with a focus on current and former foster youth. Her team delivers workshops and coaching on budgeting, credit building, banking, entrepreneurship, and soon, homeownership. Equipping individuals and families with tools for long-term financial stability.

As a former small business owner herself, Veronica brings a personal connection to the work. It feels especially meaningful to now support other entrepreneurs through their journeys, offering the guidance and resources she once needed. Her lived experience helps her serve as both a coach and a connector, making sure no one feels like they have to figure it out alone.

Veronica studied psychology at Cal State LA, which continues to shape how she approaches economic development. She understands that building a business or changing financial habits isn’t just about tools, it’s also about mindset. The psychology of money and entrepreneurship plays a big role in how people take risks, recover from setbacks, and build confidence in their own potential.

Aja Adeagbo

Associate Director, South LA All In (SLAAI)

Aja Adeagbo is the Associate Director of South LA All In (SLAAI), bringing over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector with expertise in program operations, case management, and community engagement.

Previously, Aja served as the Community Engagement Manager for SLAAI, where she led initiatives such as the CD9 Grants Program, Best Start Region 2 Initiative, and the Evermont Project. These initiatives focused on addressing socioeconomic disparities and empowering marginalized communities in South LA. Her innovative outreach strategies enhanced SLAAI’s visibility and impact, while her collaborative approach fostered partnerships that created sustainable solutions for racial and economic equity.

Aja’s professional journey includes roles as Care Coordinator at Children’s Institute, Inc., Administrative Manager at the Yetunde Price Resource Center, and Cultural Broker Coordinator at Shields for Families. In these roles, she tackled systemic disparities and developed trauma-informed programs. She also contributed to the Compton Pledge Guaranteed Basic Income Program, documenting the transformative impact of economic support for marginalized families.

Deeply connected to South LA’s faith-based community, Aja is creating a collaborative network to enhance regional partnerships. As an ordained minister at Bryant Temple A.M.E. Church, she merges spiritual leadership with community involvement advocacy.

Aja earned a BA in Advocacy & Social Justice from Pacific Oaks College and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Center for Nonprofit Management.

Elyce Martinez

Senior Director of Learning & Evaluation  

Elyce Martinez joined CRCD in 2019 bringing her experience and enthusiasm for data inquiry to her new role as Director of Learning & Evaluation with CRCD. Elyce has dedicated her career to using data analysis to expose and improve inequities in opportunities for all youth, from her start in direct service delivery, working with at-risk high school students in San Francisco, to her current work in Los Angeles non-profits. She focuses on program evaluation, integrated data systems, and crafting compelling impact and advocacy reports. Before joining CRCD, Elyce served as Assistant Director of Research & Evaluation at Youth Policy Institute (YPI) where she managed the architecture and implementation of a new integrated data system and worked with cross-department leadership on data-driven performance management to assess and improve program outcomes for participants.

As the Director of Learning & Evaluation, Elyce leads a team in building an integrated systems architecture to track and monitor the progress toward achieving CRCD’s 5-year strategic plan goals and grant funder outcomes through analysis and data visualizations to measure overall effectiveness and impact of the organization.

Alex Medina

Director of Marketing & Communications

As the Director of Marketing & Communications at CRCD, Alex serves as the agency’s marketing and communications professional to develop and implement effective strategies for CRCD and its programs in support of the organization’s strategic plan. 

Alex brings more than 15 of non-profit communications experience and has served as the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. In this role, he developed comprehensive strategies that significantly increased audience engagement and brand visibility throughout Los Angeles County while also working to improve internal communications. Alex’s professional journey includes impactful tenures at APLA Health and the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County. His strategic insight and leadership have been instrumental in launching new digital platforms and producing engaging promotional media content. Beyond his professional achievements, Alex is also a governing board member of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, demonstrating his dedication to community service and local engagement.

He holds a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications from Kansas State University and an MA in Political Communications, Advocacy and Campaigning from Kingston University.

Alice Krieger

Director of Finance

Alice Krieger brings over 25 years of experience in nonprofit financial leadership to her role as Director of Finance at CRCD. Her work is grounded in a commitment to advancing equity, empowering communities, and uplifting youth as the foundation for long-term change.

At CRCD, Alice leads the Finance Department, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and accountability across all financial operations. Her expertise includes managing complex budgets, overseeing compliance, and navigating multi-stream funding with precision.

Before joining CRCD, Alice served as Controller at Union Homeless Station Services and as Finance Manager at Bondi Sands (KAO). She has successfully led site-wide financial audits, managed over 100 grants, and maintained full compliance resulting in clean audits for public and private funders.

Alice holds a BSc in Accounting from Colorado State University and has worked in partnership with organizations such as LAHSA. She is passionate about building strong, resilient communities and believes CRCD is a vital force for opportunity and transformation in South Los Angeles.

Diego Sepulveda

Director of Development

Diego Sepulveda serves as the Development Director at CRCD, where he leads the organization’s fund development strategy and oversees grants and revenue growth across all programs. He works closely with finance, program, grants, and communications teams to ensure a collaborative, data-informed approach to fundraising and relationship-building with key partners.

Diego’s leadership is grounded in inclusive, authentic practices with a focus on justice and opportunity. Born in Mexico and raised in Huntington Park—a city in Southeast Los Angeles known for its resilient and transformative community—Diego proudly carries the lessons and strength of his hometown into every aspect of his work.

With over 10 years of experience, Diego specializes in building strategic, diversified fund development portfolios. He has a proven track record of securing transformative gifts that help nonprofit organizations grow and deepen their impact.

Before joining CRCD, Diego served as Senior Advisor of Philanthropy at Liberty Hill Foundation and Donor Relations Officer at California Community Foundation. He currently serves as a board member for the Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges and as Board Treasurer for The LGBTQ Center Long Beach.

Diego holds a B.A. from UCLA, an M.B.A. in Enterprise Management and Social Impact from American Jewish University, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Culture at the University of Southern California (USC).

Stacey Yoo

Director of Human Resources

Stacey Cabling is the Director of Human Resources at CRCD, where she leads efforts to align human resources strategies with the organization’s mission and values. She oversees employee relations, recruitment, policy development, training, and compensation, always working to build systems that support both people and performance.

Stacey’s leadership is grounded in accountability, integrity, and the belief that people matter more than titles. She sees herself as a bridge—connecting leadership and employees, strategy and empathy—ensuring that CRCD remains a place where people can grow and feel valued. A defining moment in her career was when a caring HR leader supported her during a difficult time. That experience still shapes how she leads and shows up for others.

With more than 10 years of experience in the field, Stacey has helped modernize CRCD’s HR systems by streamlining onboarding, performance evaluations, and benefits administration. Her focus on automation and process improvement has reduced manual errors and created more space for meaningful employee engagement and growth.

Stacey holds a B.A. in Communications from Cal State Fullerton.

Darnetta Dartest

Associate Director of Human Resources

With over 25 years of experience, Darnetta is a seasoned Human Resources Director who has dedicated her career to enhancing employee engagement, fostering positive workplace cultures, and aligning HR strategies with organizational goals.

Darnetta’s expertise has shone throughout her career, including a pivotal role as Associate Director of HR at the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles. There, she streamlined processes to reduce turnover, ensured compliance with federal and state labor laws, and implemented strategic initiatives in Conflict Resolution, Talent Management, and Performance Reviews. Her ability to navigate employee grievances and champion professional development has cemented her reputation as a trusted leader.

Known for her innovative approach and strategic acumen, Darnetta consistently drives impactful change through insightful policy development and conflict resolution. Her work reflects a commitment to creating inclusive, collaborative, and thriving workplaces.

As an HR visionary, Darnetta continues to inspire and elevate the profession, leaving a lasting impact on organizations and individuals alike.