Staff

 Kara Zordel, CEO

Kara Zordel MS, MSW began her career as a case manager over 15 years ago, and it was as a case manager that she found her passion for creating sustainable change in the lives of those who are vulnerable and in need. That passion led her to obtain a master’s degree in Public Policy and Social Work from Columbia University. Over the years, Kara has moved from direct service to innovative program creation, evaluation and management. She has also worked in policy, creating lasting change in effective service delivery in international and local areas where she has served. Kara has created programming for UNICEF Tanzania, managed a large family shelter in the South Bronx, piloted a homeless eviction prevention program which is now an award winning national model, and created the first supportive housing of its kind in New York City.

Meghan Freebeck, Acting CEO

Meghan Freebeck, MA, has worked in a variety of nonprofit services, including as Director of Communications for a Shakespeare theater and as Deputy Director of San Francisco Suicide Prevention. It was through her work with an Interim Housing Shelter in Chicago that she became passionate about working toward the shared goal of ending homelessness. Motivated by the belief that every person deserves to have their basic needs met regardless of income or housing status, she founded the nonprofit Simply the Basics, which has received national recognition for innovation and service. Meghan has been honored as a national “Change-maker” and in 2016 was a “40 Under 40 Person” by the San Francisco Business Times.

Tawny Bailey, COO

Tawny has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and has over 10 years of experience in the social profit sector.  Since moving to San Francisco in 2010, she has had the distinct pleasure of leading best-in-class programs to provide homeless relief assistance and advocacy.  Tawny believes in the power of collective action to create sustainable change.  She is proud to work at Project Homeless Connect, improving outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness, and healing our whole community.

Amy Golsong, Director of Logistics & Special Events

A 20-year veteran of the nonprofit sector, Amy has been with Project Homeless Connect for 9 years. She brings experience from The American Red Cross, the YMCA, and the National Council of Jewish Women. She is honored to be a part of a great team that has grown PHC into a best practice model implemented in over 200 cities around the world. Her desire to learn, teach, and create an inclusive environment fuels her work at PHC.

Caleb Plakun, Operations Manager

Prior to moving to San Francisco last year, Caleb spent several years living throughout Asia and Africa. He worked on a variety of projects in various roles, including training mining personnel in the Gobi Desert, teaching Mongolian children in Ulaanbaatar’s slum districts, and establishing a health clinic in rural Kenya. A graduate of Reed College, he is originally from western Massachusetts.

Kim Anderson, Marketing Associate

A California native, Kim moved to San Francisco in 2004. She studied design at City College of San Francisco and received a grant from the city to study Experiential Design at the nonprofit BAVC. Her work since has focused on bringing good design, technology, and innovation to social justice organizations and grassroots political campaigns.

Emily Brunts, Logistics Manager

Emily was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri before moving to southern California and earning a BA in Psychology from Pomona College. During college, she worked with Jumpstart and developed a passion for community outreach while providing educational support for preschool students from low-income households. After graduation, she moved to San Francisco and worked in sales and public health research before joining the PHC team in 2013.

Leyla Ghaffari, Volunteer Manager

Leyla received her Bachelors in International Development from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has been working in the nonprofit sector in San Francisco for over two years and harbors a deep-rooted passion for social justice and equal access to healthcare. She regularly volunteers at the Berkeley Free Clinic and enjoys playing lacrosse. She loves promoting volunteerism and using that passion to mobilize Bay Area residents around the paramount issue of homelessness.

Solange Bonilla-Leahy, Director of Services

Originally from Peru, Solange has been living in the United States for more than 20 years. She has a BS in Biological Sciences and a Master of Public Health. Solange has worked with diverse populations that include at-risk youth, battered women, homeless, and people with substance use issues and HIV/AIDS. She is passionate about engaging and partnering with disadvantaged and underserved populations to learn together about their needs and strengths, and how they can use them to strive for a healthier and stronger community.

Alison Van Nort, Services Manager, Every Day Connect

Alison moved to San Francisco from Columbus, Ohio where she was working as a case manager for homeless families. She is an alumna of The Ohio State University with a BS in Human Development and Family Science and a Master of Social Work. Alison is proud to be part of a team that is making a difference in the community and in the lives of the individuals they serve.

Brittany Horwich, Resource Specialist, Every Day Connect

Originally from New Jersey, Brittany received her M.A in Crisis and Trauma at Tel Aviv University. Living abroad for the past few years, both traveling and working, Brittany has gained experience through teaching in Thailand and supporting at-risk individuals and refugees in Tel Aviv. Brittany has dedicated her life to social development and justice and hopes to bring a sense of equanimity to those in need.

Leah Campos, Resource Specialist, Every Day Connect

Originally from upstate New York, Leah is passionate about human rights and social justice issues. She has over four years of experience working with vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ youth, domestic violence survivors, refugees and populations at risk for HIV/AIDS. Leah earned her Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Social Behavior and Community Health from SUNY-Albany. She is also a certified yoga teacher. Leah is excited to serve homeless communities in San Francisco through her work with Project Homeless Connect.