Bill Faith, Executive Director

COHHIO Staff

Bill Faith, Executive Director, Ext 12
billfaith@cohhio.org
Bill Faith has served as COHHIO's executive director since 1994. Throughout his career, Bill has worked to develop housing solutions for people with disabilities; directed agencies serving the needs of the homeless and promoted affordable housing, especially for very low-income people. He has had extensive involvement with all of the key state and federal government agencies on a wide range of housing and homelessness assistance programs. On the national level, Bill has served as Chairman of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) for six years and also as President of the Board of Directors for the National Coalition for the Homeless.

Suzanne Gravette Acker,
Communications and Development Director, Ext 11
suzannegacker@cohhio.org
Suzanne Gravette Acker, a well-known freelance writer in Columbus, joined COHHIO as communications/development director in October 2005. Her 25-year freelance writing career includes print and electronic communications and marketing campaigns for profit as well as not-for-profit organizations. Most recently, Suzanne was a regular contributor to Columbus Monthly and Columbus CEO magazines. Her feature articles have garnered her numerous statewide awards. Suzanne earned a BA in Journalism from the University of Utah.

Douglas Argue, MSW, LISW, Managing Director, Ext 13
douglasargue@cohhio.org
Douglas Argue joined COHHIO as managing director in October 2005. Douglas brings vast managerial experience to COHHIO, having promoted decent, safe, fair and affordable housing for more than 10 years in Dayton. He served as shelter director at Dayton's Daybreak and was active in the Dayton Emergency Housing Coalition. Before that, he was director of Housing and Emergency Assistance Programs at the Damien Center in Indianapolis. Douglas serves as the co-chair for the Policy Team of the Interagency Council on Homelessness and Housing, is a member of the Ohio Justice Alliance for Community Corrections board, serves on the Mental Health Housing Leadership committee and is working with various other homeless related work groups in the state. Douglas earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana and earned a Master's degree in Social Work from Indiana University.

Nick Bates, Youth Advocacy Program Coordinator, Ext 26
nickbates@cohhio.org
Fostering a passion for volunteering and helping homeless youth, Nick Bates joined the COHHIO team as an intern in 2004 and a VISTA member in 2005. He has exercised his passion working with YEP by participating in housing, homelessness and youth advocacy. In addition, Nick delivers leadership trainings, works to raise awareness among students, churches and the rest of the state and researches social justice issues. He graduated from Capital University with degrees in Political Science and Religion. While at Capital, he coordinated many social justice events including Capital's Hunger and Homeless Awareness weeks for three years. He is currently enrolled at Trinity Lutheran Seminary.

Jonda Clemings, MSEd, LSW, Rural Housing Program Coordinator
jondaclemings@cohhio.org
COHHIO is bringing a voice to rural housing issues by hiring Jonda in May of 2007 as the newly created Rural Housing Program Coordinator. Jonda comes to us from Newark, Ohio where she previously worked as Housing Coordinator for Moundbuilders Guidance Center, a community mental health agency. Jonda participated and held leadership roles in Knox County’s Emergency Needs Coalition and Licking County Housing Initiatives – Continuum of Care groups where her passion for rural housing and homelessness issues developed. Jonda also represented the communities as part of the Mental Health Housing Leadership Institute and Rural Homeless Initiative of Southeastern and Central Ohio. Jonda received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ashland University and Master of Science in Education in Social Agency Counseling II from Dayton University. Jonda is a licensed social worker.

Kelan Craig, Federal Policy Associate, Ext 27
kelancraig@cohhio.org
Kelan Craig joined COHHIO in August 2006. Prior to his arrival at COHHIO, Kelan worked as a housing specialist at Freedom House, a homeless veteran's shelter in Portage County, and for the Portage County Regional Planning Commission. He completed two years of AmeriCorps service working closely with individuals served by the Portage County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Kelan earned a dual degree in Political Science and Economics from Kent State University. While at Kent State, Kelan served as an intern for COHHIO. He will soon be completing a dual Masters degree program at Ohio State University in City and Regional Planning and Public Policy and Management. His studies are focused on housing and economic development.

Paula Jenkins, HMIS Support Coordinator, Ext 25
paulajenkins@cohhio.org
As COHHIO's Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) coordinator, Paula Jenkins shares her knowledge of database technology with agencies gaining access to the Ohio-Balance-of-State HMIS. Through comprehensive trainings, she helps participating agencies enter data and establish standards for data quality. In addition, Paula assists with HMIS data analysis and development of its policies and procedures. Her extensive knowledge of computer science stems from her customer service experience with AmeriCorps*VISTA, handling software application questions. Paula also worked as a project manager with Compuserve and a customer support engineer for Lucent Technologies. Paula earned a BS degree in Computer Science from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Cathy Johnston, Advocacy Director, Ext 16
cathyjohnston@cohhio.org
Cathy Johnston joined COHHIO in 1997 serving as director of COHHIO's 50-member AmeriCorps Houses the Homeless Program. She has directed advocacy efforts at COHHIO since 2000 and brings more than a decade of experience in grass-roots community organizing. Cathy is a graduate of The Ohio State University.

Angela Lariviere, Youth Empowerment Director, Ext 17
angelal@cohhio.org
Angela Lariviere, a former homeless youth herself, is the founder and facilitator of COHHIO's Youth Empowerment Program (YEP), has a passion for helping youth. She joined COHHIO in 1997 as the AmeriCorps project coordinator, facilitating member trainings and conferences and organizing statewide and regional planning committees. As YEP director, she conducts leadership and advocacy trainings for homeless youth and maintains youth councils across Ohio. Angela writes grants, contributes to legislation and advocates for funding to support programs and education. In recognition of her dedication to social justice and working with homeless youth, she received the 2004 Purple Heart Award and the 2002 National Cardinal Bernadine Leadership Award.

Erica Mulryan, Housing and Service Coordinator, Ext 18
ericamulryan@cohhio.org
Erica Mulryan joined COHHIO in August 2006 as the housing and services coordinator. Previously, Erica worked as a policy associate with the Mid-America Institute on Poverty of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights, a service-based human rights organization in Chicago, where she coordinated their immigrant asset-building research project. Erica's professional and academic background has largely focused on anti-poverty research and policy analysis as well as issues involving violence against women. She earned her undergraduate degree in social work from Kansas State University and went on to earn a Master's degree in Social Work (A.M.) from the School of Social Service Adminstration at the University of Chicago.

Jocelyn Travis, OhioVOTES Director, Ext 23
jocelyntravis@cohhio.org
Jocelyn Travis has worked on voter participation issues throughout her career. In 2004 she directed the Election Protection program of People for the American Way. She has been active in the Greater Cleveland Voter Coalition and serves as Cleveland Branch Secretary for the NAACP. She serves as COHHIO's OhioVOTES director. Jocelyn is a graduate of Alabama State University.

Ande Ucubagabriel, Finance Director, Ext 14
andeucubagabriel@cohhio.org
Ande Ucubagabriel immigrated to the United States from Eritrea in the early 1980s, after which he earned a degree in accounting from the Ohio State University. Ande came to COHHIO more than 10 years ago with a wealth of accounting and finance knowledge. Ande is the model steward of modern accounting practices and has been praised by our board of directors, staff and community partners for his expert handling of COHHIO's finances in his role as finance director. He has devoted much of his life to social change, having earlier worked for the Columbus Urban League and Lutheran Social Services.

Spencer Wells, Tenant Outreach Coordinator, Ext 24
spencerwells@cohhio.org
Spencer Wells joined COHHIO in October 1999 as tenant outreach coordinator, organizing tenants living in HUD-subsidized buildings as a part of the Preserving Ohio's Affordable Housing project. He previously served with the Cleveland Tenants Organization as executive director and lead organizer for 19 years. During this time he received the Cuyahoga Bar Association's Liberty Bell award for consumer legal education. He also worked at Garden Valley Neighborhood House. He earned a Master's degree in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University and has been a field instructor for social-work student placements. He serves on the curriculum committee of the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences.