AVENUE - Key Persons


Alejandra Rangel

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • Employee Staff
  • Resident Services Instructor at Redwood Heights
Alejandra Rangel is the Resident Services Instructor at Redwood Heights. She was born and raised in Houston, TX, and is of Mexican and Central American heritage. She's currently a junior at the University of Houston-Main Campus and is studying Communication Sciences and Disorders, with a minor in Psychology. She loves to stay busy and learn as much as she can.

Alexandra M. Clements - VP

Job Titles:
  • Vice President
  • Vice President of the Staff for - Board

Angela Guerrero

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • Employee Staff
  • in 2016 As a Community Coordinator
  • Manager of Realty Services
Angela joined Avenue in 2016 as a Community Coordinator and now serves as the Manager of Realty Services. As a third-generation resident of Northside, she has a passion for community transformation and civic engagement and is privileged to not only live in the neighborhood but also to work in it. Angela has several years of experience working in the health and nonprofit sector. Angela holds a B.S. in Social Sciences and minors in Public Policy & Administration, Sociology, and Urban Studies from the University of Houston-Downtown.

Blanca Gonzalez

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • Employee Staff
  • Program Assistant, Lending
Blanca holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from Mexico and earned an...

Brenda Bocanegra

Job Titles:
  • Administration & Accounting
  • VP of Human Resources
Brenda currently serves Avenue in the role of VP of Human Resources,...

Cassandra Silvernail

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Staff for - Board
Cassandra joined the board in 2010. She is Senior Vice President, Community Development Lending at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. A lifelong Houston-area resident, she has been involved with affordable housing financing since 2002.

Christian Greaser

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • CDC As a Housing Counselor
  • Director of Lending
  • Employee Staff
Christian joined Avenue CDC as a Housing Counselor in February 2019 and now heads Avenue's lending operations as Avenue Community Capital. Previously, Christian taught Spanish at the university level for several years in his home state of Wyoming as well as at UT Austin. He is dedicated to community building and brings a mentality of empowerment through education to his work at Avenue.

Cindy Tessler

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • Employee Staff
  • Vice President, Programs & Operations
Cindy joined Avenue in 2017 as Counseling Program Manager for the Homeownership...

Daniel Candelaria

Job Titles:
  • Program Coordinator, Community Advocacy
Daniel joined Avenue in 2019 as the Census Community Organizer and currently...

Daniel Ortiz

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board

Darla Berry

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • Employee Staff
  • VP of Fund Development & Communications
Darla joined Avenue in 2016 and serves as the VP of Fund...

David Barron

Job Titles:
  • Controller
  • Administration & Accounting
David completed a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Strayer University and is pursuing a Master's of Public Administration at Belhaven University. He has over 15 years of accounting experience working in a multitude of industries as a Senior Cost Accountant for a publicly traded corporation and as a Director... Continue reading

Denia Martinez

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • Employee Staff
  • Program Assistant, Resident Services
Denia is a native Houstonian and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration...

Diana Martinez

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • Director of Homeownership
  • Employee Staff
Diana joined Avenue CDC in February 2018 as a Housing Recovery Counselor...

Diane Jasso

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • Employee Staff
  • Housing Counselor
Diane is a native Houstonian and fourth generation Texan. She attended and...

Donna Espadas - Treasurer

Job Titles:
  • Treasurer
  • Treasurer of the Staff for - Board
Donna joined the board in 2015. She serves as the Senior Project Manager at Houston's VA Patient Safety Center and has over fifteen published articles in her field. A long time Northline resident, Donna serves as President of her local civic club and is a committee member of GO Neighborhood's...

Elgin Weaver

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Staff for - Board

Elizabeth Luna

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • Employee Staff
  • Resident Services Instructor
Elizabeth Luna is a first-generation Mexican-American, and a graduate of Houston Community College with an Associate's Degree of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies. She is currently attending The University of Houston Downtown and is planning to graduate with her Bachelor's in Psychology. Elizabeth has five years of nonprofit experience and currently serves as a Resident Services Instructor at Avenue's multi-family properties.

Emilia Torres

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • Employee Staff
  • Resident Services Instructor
Emilia joined Avenue as an intern in 2018 and is now a...

Frances Valdez

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Staff for - Board

Imel Lopez

Job Titles:
  • Property Manager
  • Administration & Accounting

Janis Brackett

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Staff for - Board

Jason Holoubek

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • Director of Acquisition and Rehabilitation
  • Employee Staff
As the Director of Acquisition and Rehabilitation, Jason manages the acquisition and...

Jennifer Martinazzi

Job Titles:
  • Accounting Associate
Jennifer is the Accounting Associate responsible for assisting the Finance Director in accounting and cash management tasks. She joined Avenue in 2009 after working for AIG in their Re-insurance Accounting department. She has an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington.

Jessica Fuentes

Job Titles:
  • Community Building & Engagement Program Manager
Jessica has been active in neighborhood initiatives in a number of communities...

Jesus Andres DeAnda

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
Jesus joined the board in 2017 and is a lifelong resident of Houston's Northside. He has always been passionate about serving and improving his community. As an active member in the Northline Leadership Committee, he hopes to improve the quality of life for residents. A founding member of the University...

John J. Price

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Staff for - Board

Jose Eduardo Sanchez

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Staff for - Board

Katie Fine

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • Employee Staff
  • Fundraising Specialist / Grant Writer
  • in 2022 As the Fundraising Specialist
Katie joined Avenue in 2022 as the Fundraising Specialist/Grant Writer. Katie was born in Dallas, received her BA in Sociology and Spanish from Trinity University in San Antonio, and received her Masters in Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin. Katie has spent the majority of her career in the nonprofit sector and is committed to advocating to improve the quality of life for both humans and animals. Katie is an animal lover with two dogs of her own and has fostered over 20 d0gs in her lifetime.

Kim Arenas

Job Titles:
  • Director of Communications and Marketing
  • MEDIA INQUIRIES

Luisa Chavez

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • Employee Staff
  • Project Manager, Single - Family New Construction
Luisa joined Avenue in 2017 as a Single Family Developer. Luisa's passion...

Margaret Garcia

Job Titles:
  • Accounting Assistant
  • Administration & Accounting

Marie Arcos

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Staff for - Board
Marie joined the board in 2009. She is a native Houstonian who grew up in the Near Northside and still works there, as the Executive Director for the M. D. Anderson Family YMCA. She received her Master's degree in Social Work and her undergraduate degree in Human Development from the...

Mary Lawler - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Executive Director
  • Executive Leadership
Mary Lawler has served as Avenue's Executive Director since 1996, leading Avenue's growth in impact, programming, funding, and staffing. Mary is well-known for her expertise in affordable housing and community development and was featured in the Houston Chronicle's 2019 "Houston Gives" publication for her leadership of Avenue's successful programs. Mary was recognized as a 2019 "Most Admired CEO" by the Houston Business Journal" and as a "Hometown Hero" by Wells Fargo. She currently serves as Chair of the Executive Advisory Board for Bauer College of Business Real Estate Program at University of Houston, as Co-Chair of the Real Estate Advisory Committee for NeighborWorks America, on the Steering Committee for Kinder Institute's Houston Community Data Connections and as a member of the Board of the Greater Northside Management District. She has a Master's in Public Policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School and a B.A. in Economics from Duke University.

Meena Rupani

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board

Melissa Diaz

Job Titles:
  • Asset Management Analyst
Melissa joined Avenue in 2022 as the Asset Management Analyst. Prior to...

Michael "Tate" Barkley - President

Job Titles:
  • President
Michael "Tate" Barkley joined the board in 2018. He is a resident of the Museum District. Tate has been a practicing trial attorney in Texas for 27 years. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Jack Valenti School of Communication at the University of Houston for the past 17...

Opal Andraka

Job Titles:
  • Program Specialist, Community Initiatives

Osiel Serrano

Job Titles:
  • Lead Maintenance

Pam Marshall

Job Titles:
  • Executive Assistant
Pam joined Avenue in 2019 as the Executive Assistant to Mary Lawler,...

Raymundo Escobar

Job Titles:
  • Staff Accountant

Richard Campo

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Staff for - Board

Rosalia Eguia

Job Titles:
  • Program Assistant, Homeownership
Rosalia Eguia joined Avenue as the Homeownership Program Assistant in 2022. She is currently working towards earning a degree in Business Administration. Prior to joining Avenue, Rosalia worked at BridgeYear, a nonprofit agency where she taught students in underserved communities about career opportunities that take less than four years to...

Sandra Robicheaux

Job Titles:
  • Regional Property Manager
Sandra is a Regional Manager with more than 11 years of extensive...

Selena Alvarez

Job Titles:
  • Client Services Coordinator
Selena holds a B.S. degree in Education from the University of Houston....

Stephen J. "Jamie" Bryant - VP

Job Titles:
  • Vice President
Jamie joined the board in 2017. He serves as Executive Vice President of Midway, guiding the company's overall investment strategy and operations. Since joining Midway in 2002, he has helped implement the company's goals of expanding commercial investment activities into multiple new segments, including hospitality, mixed-use, affordable housing, and public/private...

Tamika Stewart

Job Titles:
  • Property Manager
Tamika Stewart joined Avenue as a Property Manager and has been in the industry for 10+ years. She is an unfeigned team player that is known for her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Tamika is excited to have joined an awesome team...

Tyler Fuller

Job Titles:
  • Director of Construction
Tyler started in Avenue's repair program where he focused on helping Houston's...

Veronica Garcia Luke

Job Titles:
  • Events Coordinator
  • in 2022 As Events Coordinator
Veronica joined Avenue in 2022 as Events Coordinator. She is a native...

Victoria Garcia

Job Titles:
  • Housing Counselor
Victoria joined Avenue's Asset Building Team in 2018 to assist with post-Harvey...

Viola Solomon

Job Titles:
  • Secretary
Viola joined the Avenue board in 2012. She is a Banking & Finance Professional and is active with several community organizations and her church. Viola is affiliated with the Houston Association of Realtors, an African American Real Estate organization; the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, and the Asian...

William McPherson

Job Titles:
  • Lead Maintenance

Winnie Kwok

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
Winnie joined the Avenue Board in 2021 and is an experienced Senior Tax Manager with a demonstrated history of working in public accounting. She is skilled in Expatriate Tax, Tax Treaties, Tax Equalization Policies, Expatriate Payroll, International taxation for High Net Worth Individuals, Foreign Trusts and Accounting and certified to...

Yesenia Flores

Job Titles:
  • Director of Resident Services
Yesenia joined Avenue in March 2018 as the Program Assistant for the...